Exploring the Scriptures Together
II Kings 18:1-12; Isaiah 10:5-12:6 Several themes run through Isaiah that we would do well to recognize, but which I cannot possibly cover with any adequacy. We see a few of these today (as we have already in prior readings): Of course, this is just a sampling. Isaiah has much more to say than what …
Continue reading “June 17 / II Kings 18:1-12; Isaiah 10:5-12:6”
Isaiah 28-29; II Kings 17:5-41 Exile for the Northern Kingdom of Israel! Having walked through Israel’s sordid history, surely we could see this coming! After two centuries of persistent idolatry, despite warnings from numerous prophets, Israel must face the music. II Kings 17 provides all the explanation, so I need not repeat it here. The …
II Chronicles 27-28; II Kings 17:1-4 As mentioned yesterday, Micah alludes to child sacrifice: Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? Micah 6:7 With King Ahaz we see that Micah’s question is not just hypothetical. Micah is not expressing some abstract notion using a …
Continue reading “June 15 / II Chronicles 27-28; II Kings 17:1-4”
Micah 4-7 He has told you, O man, what is good;and what does the LORD require of youbut to do justice, and to love kindness,and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8 Simple. Not easy, mind you, but simple nonetheless. This verse encapsulates a theme that runs through the Scriptures. It stands as an …
Isaiah 14:24-32; II Kings 16:10-20; Micah 1-3 The LORD of hosts has sworn:“As I have planned,so shall it be,and as I have purposed,so shall it stand…” Isaiah 14:24 For the LORD of hosts has purposed,and who will annul it?His hand is stretched out,and who will turn it back? Isaiah 14:27 The context of these verses …
Continue reading “June 13 / Isaiah 14:24-32; II Kings 16:10-20; Micah 1-3”
II Kings 16:5-9; Isaiah 7-10:4; Isaiah 17 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 Sound familiar? Even if you have never read Isaiah before, it would be hard to have missed this one. We hear it …
Continue reading “June 12 / II Kings 16:5-9; Isaiah 7-10:4; Isaiah 17”
II Chronicles 26; II Kings 15:8-16:4 Today we finally get a more complete picture of King Uzziah (aka Azariah) of Judah. (A couple of days ago, we read II Kings 15:1-7, which gave us only the briefest overview of his 52-year reign. And then we read Isaiah 6:1: In the year that King Uzziah died …
Continue reading “June 11 / II Chronicles 26; II Kings 15:8-16:4”
Isaiah 3-5 For the look on their faces bears witness against them;they proclaim their sin like Sodom;they do not hide it. Isaiah 3:9a What month is this again? Woe to those who call evil goodand good evil,who put darkness for lightand light for darkness,who put bitter for sweetand sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20 When you …
Isaiah 6; Isaiah 1-2 Let’s see… What should we talk about today? Maybe we should talk about Isaiah’s glorious vision of the LORD on His throne with seraphim crying, “Holy, holy, holy!” (Isa. 6:3) Or maybe we should “gin up” enthusiasm for missions, with an appeal to Isaiah’s words: “Here I am! Send me.” (Isa. …
Hosea 10-14; II Kings 15:1-7 As we come to the end of Hosea, what’s our takeaway? It’s one thing to gain an academic understanding of Israel’s idolatrous rejection of God and His subsequent pronouncements of judgment, but letting God’s Word penetrate our own hearts is quite another. How is the Holy Spirit speaking to you …