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 Northern Kingdom of Israel is crushed by Assyria and deported into exile, never to be heard from again as a distinct people; hence, the “Ten Lost Tribes of Israel”.

Southern Kingdom of Judah: Be warned!

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One more thing…

As II Kings 17 explains, Assyria ships many of the people of Israel out while bringing in other conquered people from foreign lands. The result is a tremendous amount of syncretism, mixing Israel’s already-corrupted version of the worship of the LORD with yet more pagan practices. By New Testament times, the people of Judah (the Jews) want nothing to do with these adulterated Samaritans. Lest we think that is all ancient history, the Samaritans survive to this day.

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And another thing…

If in reading the Scripture you stumble on a good thought that is a “stumbling stone and a rock of offense,” blame yourself. For do not despair that this “stumbling stone and rock of offense” have meanings so as to fulfill the saying “And the one who believes will not be put to shame.” Believe first, and you will discover much holy aid beneath the supposed offense.

Origen on Isaiah 28:16 (See also I Peter 2:6.)

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 generous dose of hyperbole. No, human sacrifice is all too real, but it does nothing to expunge the sin of [one’s] soul, it just makes it much worse.

[Ahaz] walked in the ways of the kings of Israel. He even made metal images for the Baals, and he made offerings in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom and burned his sons as an offering, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel. And he sacrificed and made offerings on the high places and on the hills and under every green tree.

II Chronicles 28:2-4

Ahaz is not on a good path. As we know, Ahaz is attacked by the combined forces of Israel and Syria. Failing to understand (or accept) Isaiah’s message to him (Isaiah 7), Ahaz does not put his trust in the LORD, so he is largely defeated. Even so, the LORD fulfills His promise and uses Assyria to crush Ahaz’s enemies, Israel and Syria, saving Jerusalem, but instead of turning to the LORD in gratitude, Ahaz furthers his apostasy. He desecrates the Temple with a pagan altar copied from Damascus (II Kings 16:10-16), destroys various implements of worship, and effectively shuts the Temple. (II Kings 16:17-18; II Ch. 28:24)

As we walk through the history of Israel and Judah, seeing all the kings of Israel persisting in idolatry and seeing some of the kings of Judah (like Ahaz) following suit, one has to wonder what’s going on in their heads. They have the prophets speaking out against their practices, yet they persist in rebelling against the LORD. Do they know what they are doing? How do sons so radically depart from their fathers? Are they really that blind and deluded? Do they really believe that Baal or Asherah or Molech or Chemosh or whatever other false god is better or stronger than the LORD? Or are they cynically just using “religion” (of whatever form) to manipulate the people for their own political purposes (without truly buying in to any of it themselves)?

Of course, we cannot actually answer these questions because we cannot get inside their heads or know their hearts. But we can each look at our own hearts and ask similar questions there. What delusions might I be under? What lies do I believe? What worldly practices do I unthinkingly follow? What worldly practices do I knowingly follow? Do I persist in some sin? Why? Is that sin more desirable than the Lord? Why do I think so?

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One more thing…

Because of the practice of human sacrifice in the Valley of Hinnom, righteous King Josiah later defiles it (II Kings 23:10), and it becomes a trash pit. In New Testament times, it is known as Gehenna. With fires burning there continually, Jesus uses it to represent hell. See, for example, Matthew 23:15 or Mark 9:43.

Micah 4-7

He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the LORD require of you
but 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 answer to the rhetorical questions of Micah 6:6-7, asking what kinds of sacrifices we are to make to satisfy the LORD (including, horrifically, even child sacrifice). Here Micah echoes Amos 5:21-24 (June 5), Isaiah 1:11-17, Hosea 6:6, I Samuel 15:22 (March 25), Proverbs 21:3 (July 23, 2022), and Psalm 50, which we just read in church on Sunday — and the list goes on. We see again, that God is far more interested in how we care for one another, and how we actually relate to Him, than in sacrifice or ritual.

So take some time today and consider:

• What does it mean to do justice?
• What does it mean to love kindness?
• What does it mean to walk humbly with your God?

While the answers to those questions might well be simple, let’s not settle for simplistic. For example, it might seem like “justice” is all about the court system, but is it? It might seem like “kindness” would argue against spanking a disobedient child, but does it? Ask the Lord and think it through and take a step or two in humility, walking with our God.

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One more thing…

With so much to consider, let’s not miss Micah’s most obvious reference to Christ:

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for Me
One who is to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days.

Micah 5:2 (cited in Matthew 2:6)

Glory!

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 is the LORD’s eventual judgment upon Assyria. But the principle that they express goes well beyond that scenario. These verses speak of the LORD’s omnipotence, His sovereignty over all. Nothing — and no one — can stand against the LORD’s determined purpose. Whatever He says He will do, He will do. There is no stopping Him.

Of course, we all know this, so we nod our heads in agreement. But do we believe it? Really? Do we live our lives in firm conviction of this truth? What would an outside observer, listening to what we say and watching what we do, say about us? Would the preponderance of evidence really reveal that we trust in an almighty God? I wonder.

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 every Advent season, every Christmas, because Matthew quotes it with regard to the birth of Jesus by the Virgin Mary. (See Matthew 1:18-25.) Naturally, knowing what we know of Jesus, and hearing the Christmas story year after year, we cannot help but recognize this verse as talking about Christ — and rightly so.

But how about Isaiah’s original audience (or even Isaiah himself)? Isaiah speaks these words to King Ahaz (not a good king) when the Kingdom of Judah is under threat by the combined forces of both Syria and Israel. This verse is part of the LORD’s declaration to Ahaz that he need not fear Syria and Israel, because they will soon instead by destroyed by Assyria. We cannot expect King Ahaz to hear anything here about the Virgin Birth of the Messiah some 730 years (or so) in the future. He instead is left expecting that some young woman — currently a virgin, but soon not to be — will conceive (in the usual way) and bear a son named Immanuel, and that before that boy grows up, the threat from Syria and Israel will be gone. (By the way, “Immanuel” would not at that time immediately imply “Messiah”, as it does now. It is only because Matthew, guided by the Holy Spirit, spells it out for us that we make that linkage today.)

Here we have a prophecy that obviously has two distinct applications and fulfillments. There is the local and rather immediate, short-term fulfillment for Ahaz and also the significantly broader long-term (even eternal) fulfillment in Christ. Both are valid. We will see similar “dual-meaning” prophecies as we continue through the Scriptures. (In fact, we’ve already seen another example. It should be clear that Hosea 11:1 speaks of the Exodus under Moses, yet Matthew 2:15 quotes it in reference to Jesus. Again, both are valid.) As we move forward we should bear in mind that prophecy is often like this. We have the short-term view, and the long-term view. We also have the first and second Advents of Christ: a humble baby born in Bethlehem, and the Lord of Lords; one Christ, but two significantly different appearances.

All of that goes to say that interpretation of prophecy can be a tricky business, and we therefore need to let Scripture interpret Scripture. And meanwhile we can stand in awe of our God and the richness of His Word. Isn’t it amazing that He can address Ahaz’s immediate situation and yet simultaneously point to Christ? Isn’t it amazing that He can speak across time, over thousands of years, into your heart — and into mine?

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 5:1-7, 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 I saw the Lord…) For the most part, Uzziah does what is right, and the LORD blesses him and his kingdom. But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. (II Ch. 26:16a) In fact, the LORD strikes him with leprosy, and his son Jotham has to step up as coregent for the final years of Uzziah’s life.

How often we take credit for the Lord’s work and turn from humility to hubris! It is not only in these ancient stories, but all around us — or within us. I know I have certainly fallen into that trap. I come to the Lord seeking His help. He rescues and blesses me. Eventually I get comfortable and cocky and say, “I’ve got this!” I try to do things on my own, my way. And so the Lord has to bring me back down a notch or two. Rinse. Repeat. I’ve been through those steps more than a few times. I’ve managed to avoid leprosy so far, but maybe I should wise up…

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Meanwhile, back in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, we run through a series of six kings: Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah, and Hoshea. (Spoiler alert: Hoshea is the last. No one comes after him in the Northern Kingdom…) Four of these six come to the throne by assassinating their predecessors. Such political upheaval within Israel and growing threats from without form the backdrop for Hosea’s preaching. For example, consider what Menahem does with Assyria:

Pul the king of Assyria came against the land, and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that he might help him to confirm his hold on the royal power.

II Kings 15:19

Although paying tribute looks effective in the short run, this is what the LORD has to say through Hosea:

For they have gone up to Assyria,
a wild donkey wandering alone;
Ephraim has hired lovers.
Though they hire allies among the nations,
I will soon gather them up.
And the king and princes shall soon writhe
because of the tribute.

Hosea 8:9-10

Maybe going after other “lovers” — and refusing to seek the LORD — isn’t such a good idea after all.

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?

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Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter!

Isaiah 5:20

When you turn on the news or read an article, pay attention to the words that are used, and think long and hard about what is really meant by them. What is portrayed in a positive light — overtly or subtly? What is negative? Is that portrayal consistent with God’s perspective? Or are they calling evil good and good evil? If they are “upside down” in one area, how likely are they to be “upside up” anywhere else?

And then consider: Are you in any way contributing to the confusion?

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. 6:8) Or maybe we should note that 99% of the time that people reference Isaiah 6, they stop at verse 8; no one seems to want to hear Isaiah 6:9-13, which then confirms that we — even within the Church — are just as dull of hearing as Isaiah’s original audience. We don’t want to hear the entire Word of God, just the nice bits, thank you very much.

Maybe we should recognize how similar Isaiah’s message is to Hosea’s, though Isaiah is mainly addressing the Southern Kingdom of Judah, while Hosea preaches primarily to the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Maybe we should also note the similarity of Isaiah 1:11-17 to Amos 5:21-24, that we read just the other day.

Maybe we should rejoice that the LORD in Isaiah 1:18 offers to wash our sins away! But maybe we should also peek at the following much less familiar verses, Isaiah 1:19-20, which speak of the need for repentance — and the consequences of refusal. (Just the nice bits, thank you very much!)

Maybe we should focus on Isaiah 2:2-4, with its portrayal of peace in the latter days — a vision that has yet to be fulfilled, looking forward to the reign of Christ. Maybe we should provide a teaser for our future reading of Micah, who contemporaneously says almost exactly the same thing in Micah 4:1-3.

Maybe we should mention the LORD’s coming day of judgment against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up. (Isaiah 2:12) (And what nation is now more lifted up than the U.S.A.?) Maybe we should see that those who now indicate no fear of the LORD, will one day cringe in utter terror of Him. (Isaiah 2:10,19,21)

Or maybe we should just highlight today’s final verse:

Stop regarding man
in whose nostrils is breath,
for of what account is he?

Isaiah 2:22

I don’t know. I just can’t seem to think of much to say today.

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 personally? Is He convicting you of anything, some way in which you are (or have been) pushing Him aside, looking elsewhere for satisfaction? Is He calling you to repentance? Do you hear His voice, assuring you of His tenderness and compassion, His mercy and forgiveness? If there is anything standing between you and the LORD, now is the time to get rid of it. Only in Him do we have hope.

Sow for yourselves righteousness;
reap steadfast love;
break up your fallow ground,
for it is the time to seek the LORD,
that He may come and rain righteousness upon you.

Hosea 10:12

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One more thing…

In his book, Gentle and Lowly, Dane Ortlund highlights Hosea 11:8-9 a couple of times. (pp. 72-75; 141-142) Ortland uses these verses to reinforce his thesis that, contrary to popular belief, God’s heart’s desire is to show mercy. That is a message many of us need to hear, and I think Ortlund is very much on target, so if you have not read the book, you should. But we need to be careful (as Ortlund actually is) not to pull these verses so far out of context as to miss the overall message of Hosea. Let’s not interpret “I will not come in wrath” (Hos. 11:9) as somehow obviating repentance and entirely negating the clear warnings of assured wrath to the unrepentant.

Hosea 5:8-9:17

For they sow the wind,
and they shall reap the whirlwind.

Hosea 8:7

If only the people who quote (or paraphrase) this verse had a clue! And if only our own country’s political leadership had a clue! We have the lessons of Israel’s history. We have God’s revelation through the prophets. We even have the revelation of Jesus Christ, God Incarnate. Yet, as a nation, we walk down Israel’s path, turning our back on God and refusing to listen to Him. (Let me see, what month is this? Is it Christian Heritage Month? No. Is it Celebrate Humility Month? No, not that either…) How, then, can we expect His continued blessing?

Make no mistake. We cannot pretend that moral issues are somehow peripheral to who we are as a nation and how God deals with us. We cannot push God to the side and exclude Him from the public sphere and then act surprised when He is hard to find. We cannot elect godless officials and then expect godly government. God is not mocked. We sow the wind. If we as a nation do not turn to the Lord in repentance, then we — like Israel — shall reap the whirlwind.