Archive | August 2024

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 221

Aug8

    Day 221—We are in the eighth month of Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history and prophecy (Jeremiah).

    Day 221 – Jeremiah 7 – 9 (God’s ultimatum, the people’s response, & dire results, Jeremiah’s grief for the people & God’s response)

Jeremiah 7.  The “faithless” people of Judah were holding the Temple of the LORD as a kind of “lucky charm,” thinking that as long as they worshiped God in the Temple, they could do whatever abomination they wanted outside the premises.

“Don’t trust in these deceptive words, ‘This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD,” to keep you from exile.” No!  God wants heart evidence of repentance.

“Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place.”   

“For if you TRULY amend your ways and deeds, if you TRULY execute justice one with another, if you do not oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, or the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own harm…. THEN I will let you dwell in this place.”

However, God knows their hearts.

“Behold you trust in those deceptive words (the Temple, the Temple) to no avail. will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known (all those 10 commandments) and then come and stand before ME in this house and say, “We are delivered!” — only to go on doing all these abominations?

“Has this house, which is called by My name, BECOME A DEN OF ROBBERS IN YOUR EYES?“

And then God gives Jeremiah instructions concerning them. “As for you, do NOT pray for this people or lift up a cry or prayer for them, and do NOT intercede with me, for I will not hear you.”

Wow, that is truly serious for God to tell him that there are people beyond prayer.

Jeremiah 8. The LORD tells His prophet that the land of Judah will be covered with their bones like dung. And death shall be preferred to life for all the Remnant that remains. Then Jeremiah mourns the unrepentance of the people of Judah.

“Why has this people turned away in perpetual backsliding…they refuse to return.”

“I mourn, and dismay has taken hold of me. Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why, then has the health of the daughter of my people not been restored? Oh, that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people.”

Jeremiah 9. The “weeping prophet” continues to mourn for the people and the land that will be desolate and destroyed. “I will take up weeping and wailing for the mountains, and a lamentation for the pastures of the wilderness, because they are laid waste…”

“WHY???” asks the sorrowful prophet, and God answers.

“Because they have forsaken my law that I set before them and have not obeyed my voice or walked in accord with it, but have stubbornly followed their own hearts and have gone after the Baals,”

And so, God says He will feed them with bitter food and give them poisonous water and scatter them among the nations and send the sword after them till they are consumed. I will punish ALL those who are circumcised merely in the flesh — all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in heart.”

EXTRA: Read God’s words in 9:23-24 about what a person should be boasting about, and compare with how Paul uses this in 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 220

Aug7

    Day 220—We are in the eighth month of Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history and prophecy.

    Day 220 – Jeremiah 4 – 6 (Continuous judgment is prophesied on Judah for their rejection of the LORD)

Jeremiah 4. This chapter begins with God holding out hope to Judah, if they would repent, turn from their wickedness, and “return to Him.” 

“Remove your detestable things from my presence…. and swear ‘As the Lord lives,’ in truth, justice, and righteousness.”

“Break up your fallow ground, and sow NOT among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the LORD: remove the foreskin of your hearts, O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest my wrath go forth like fire and burn with none to quench it, because of the evil of your deeds.” 

“O Jerusalem, wash your heart from evil, that you may be saved. How long shall your wicked thoughts lodge within you?”

And yet, they will not, so the destruction God forewarned about will surely come. 

 

Jeremiah 5. An offer of hope is held out if ONE just man can be found.

“Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem; look and take note! Search her squares to see if you can find a man, one who does justice and seeks truth that I may pardon her.”

But none can be found.  “They have made their faces harder than rock; they have refused to repent.”   

“Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not. Do you not fear me?’ declares the LORD. Do you not tremble before me?”

“But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; they have turned aside and gone away. They do not say in their hearts, ‘Let us fear the LORD our God.’

And the LORD’s response?  “Shall I not punish them for these things, declares the LORD, and shall I not avenge myself on a nation like this?”

 

Jeremiah 6. The prophet writes of impending disaster for Jerusalem, calling for the people to be warned. “This is a city that must be punished; there is nothing but oppression within her.”

“Behold their ears are uncircumcised, they cannot listen; behold the Word of the LORD is to them an object of scorn; they take no pleasure in it.  Therefore, I am full of the wrath of the LORD; I am weary of holding it in.”

Therefore, hear, O nations, and know, O congregation, what will happen to them. Hear, O earth; behold, I am bringing disaster upon this people, the fruit of their devices, because they have not paid attention to my words, and as for my law, they have rejected it. 

 

Read the horrific details of the destruction of Jerusalem and its people in these chapters and know why Jeremiah cries “My anguish, my anguish! I write in pain! Oh, the walls of my heart! My heart is beating wildly; I cannot keep silent, for I hear the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. Crash follows hard on crash; the whole land is laid waste. Suddenly my tents are laid waste, my curtains in a moment. How long must I see the standard and hear the sound of the trumpet?” 4:19-21

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 219

Aug6

    Day 219—We are in the eighth month of Bible reading, with  Israel’s history and Jeremiah’s prophecy.

    Day 219 – Jeremiah 1 – 3 (the “weeping prophet” prophesies for 50 years, during the last 5 kings of Judah, and beyond the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon where he writes his last words of the book)

Jeremiah 1. Jeremiah is a young priest when God calls him to be a prophet to the nations.  At first, Jeremiah refuses, saying he is too young (20-25) and doesn’t know how to speak (much like the great leader Moses in Exodus 3).

But God, in both men, will take no excuses. He will empower Jeremiah and be with him to deliver him. And like Isaiah, the LORD then touches Jeremiah’s mouth, but with His hand, not a burning coal.

Right away, God tells Jeremiah that kings of the north will come and “set their thrones” at the entrance of Jerusalem. Disaster will come because Judah has forsaken Him.  And to Jeremiah, “But you, dress yourself for work; arise, and say to them everything I command you.”  “They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the LORD, to deliver you.”

Jeremiah 2. His first action was to go through Jerusalem and tell them about how it used to be. How they used to love God and follow Him. How Israel was holy to the LORD.  Then, that heartbreaking question Jeremiah was to ask them,

“What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless? 

The wrong was NOT on God’s part but on theirs.

“Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD, for my people have committed TWO EVILS;  they have FORSAKEN ME, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns FOR THEMSELVES…broken cisterns that can hold no water.”

Jeremiah 3. Through Jeremiah, God accuses his people of being harlots, whores with many lovers. Because of this pollution in the land, God has withheld the rain. Yet they refuse to be ashamed.

Jeremiah is to tell Judah to see how “faithless Israel” turned from God and would not return. And how God sent her away with a divorce decree… “because she took whoredom lightly.” (idolatry) “Treacherous Judah” is even worse!

And yet, God’s heart is one of forgiveness if His people will return to Him in repentance.

“Return, faithless Israel, declares the LORD. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the LORD; I will not be angry forever. Only ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR GUILT, THAT YOU REBELLED AGAINST THE LORD YOUR GOD, and scattered your favors among foreigners under every green tree; and that you have not obeyed my voice, declares the LORD. Return, O faithless children, declares the LORD.”

When Israel finally repents, God will restore their land and bless them. There will be shepherds to teach them the truth, God’s own presence will be on the throne in Jerusalem (NOT the Ark of the Covenant), all nations will gather to His presence, and they will no more stubbornly follow their own evil hearts.

NOTE: It’s unknown when/where the Ark of the Covenant went.  Did the Babylonians take it? Did it come back 70 years later when the exiles returned? Some say that Jeremiah hid it before the Babylonians took the city.

Whichever… verse 16 of this chapter states, “And when you have multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, declares the LORD, they shall no more say, “The ark of the covenant of the LORD.” It shall not come to mind or be remembered or missed; it shall not be made again.”

(Indiana Jones aside, we are not to look for it.)

1 Corinthians 3:16 states that today, believers are God’s temple, and He dwells in them by His Spirit.

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 217 and 218

Aug5

    Day 217 & 218—We are in the eighth month of Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history and prophecy. NOTE: Sundays and Mondays are posted together.

    Day 217 – 2 Kings 22 – 23, 2 Chronicles 34 – 35 (King Josiah’s reign, reforms, and death. Pharoah Neco)

2 Kings 22 and 2 Chronicles 34. After the disastrous reigns of Manasseh and Amon, the 8-year-old Josiah becomes king and reigns for 31 years.  He does what was right in God’s sight. (This reminds me of King Joash who began at 7 and was a good king, until the end. 2 Kings 11)

Josiah orders the clean up and repair of the Temple (the previous kings had put in all kinds of idols and paraphernalia). During the cleanup, the Book of the Law is discovered, and when read to Josiah, he tore his clothes and repented.  “Great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.”

The prophetess Huldah tells him that, indeed, all the terrible judgments of God WILL come upon Judah and Jerusalem, but because of Josiah’s heart for good, they will not happen until after his death.

2 Kings 23 and 2 Chronicles 35. So Josiah turns Jerusalem and Judah upside down, instructing all the people to walk after the LORD, and to keep His commandments with all their heart and soul, and to obey all the words written in the book. And he destroys, grinds to dust, burns, and kills all who were involved in pagan idol worship. He also puts away any medium or necromancer and other abominations. (A thorough housecleaning.)

And he restored the ceremony of Passover and Unleavened Bread according to all he read.

Unfortunately, at the end of the 31 years, Josiah sees Egypt’s Pharoah Neco going to attack and fight with the Assyrians and thinks to join the fray.  Neco tries to persuade him to go back, but Josiah refuses, and he is shot. He dies in Jerusalem. (2 Chronicles 35:22) says the message from Neco was from the LORD.  “nevertheless Josiah did not turn away from him, but disguised himself in order to fight with him. He did not listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God but came to fight in the plain of Megiddo.  And the archers shot King Josiah.”

All Jerusalem lamented him. Even the prophet Jeremiah wrote a lament about him.

2 Kings 23:31-37. Josiah’s evil son, Jehoahaz, reigned in his place for 3 months. Neco carried him off to Egypt till he died. Then the Pharaoh made Eliakim, another of Josiah’s sons, king in his place and re-named him Jehoiakim. This king paid silver and gold tribute to Neco.

Jehoiakim reigned 11 years and did what was evil in the LORD’s sight.

(The end of Judah and Jerusalem is near.)

   

   Day 218 – Zephaniah 1 – 3 (Prophecy in King Josiah’s time, but before all his reforms, lingering wickedness from Manasseh and Amon triggering the severe judgment prophesied, the Day of the Lord warning “is near”)

Zephaniah 1.  Zephaniah is a prophet of royal blood, the great-great grandson of Hezekiah.  He begins with the coming judgment on the remaining Southern Kingdom of Judah.  Although reform comes during King Josiah’s lifetime, it is too little, too late, and doesn’t outlast him.

The first verses are sweeping, including all the earth, then narrow to Judah, beginning with the wicked sons of the king.  The last verses seem to speak of the quickly coming invasion by Babylon, as well as echoing that great still future Day of judgment.

Zephaniah 2.  In the first verses of this chapter, God mercifully invites His people to repent, to entreat the favor of the LORD.  Then, although God uses the neighboring peoples to punish His people, they do not go unjudged – Philistia, Moab, Cush, and Nineveh.

Zephaniah 3.  Then, the prophet returns to Jerusalem, the city of their God, who has no excuses for their wickedness. “She listens to no voice; she accepts no correction; she does not trust in the LORD; she does not draw near to her God.  Her officials are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves. Her prophets are fickle, treacherous men; her priests profane what is holy.  The LORD within her is righteous, He does no injustice….. but the unjust knows no shame.”

Then follows the destruction of the city and land, the nations of the world, reminding me of Daniel’s prophecies.

In verses 9-20, the prophecy changes to blessing and restoration of God’s people and the nations.  God will gather a people of one pure language to call on His name.  It will be a humble and lowly people who see refuge in the name of the LORD.  They will do no injustice and speak no lies.

“Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, The LORD has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil.”

“The LORD your God is in your midst,

a might one who will save;

He will rejoice over you with gladness;

He will quiet you by His love;

He will exult over you with loud singing.”

“At that time, I will bring you in, at the time when I gather you together; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” says the Lord.”

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 216

Aug3

    Day 216—We are in the EIGHTH month of Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history and prophecy.

    Day 216 – Nahum 1-3 (Prophecy about the Assyrian capital of Nineveh; a sequel to Jonah)

Nahum 1 begins clearly as a prophecy (oracle) about Nineveh, stating the attributes of God that make her destruction inevitable.  God is jealous, avenging, and wrathful against His adversaries and enemies. He is powerful over all aspects of creation.

He is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble for those who know to take refuge in Him… but with an overflowing flood, He will make a COMPLETE END of the adversaries. 

It’s interesting that Nineveh had walls 100 feet tall and a moat 150 wide and 60 feet deep, but God caused the Tigris River to flood into the city, eroding the walls so that the Babylonians could overtake it.  “Thus says the LORD, though they are at full strength and many, they will be cut down and pass away.

And the prophet encourages Judah about them, “Behold, upon the mountains, the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace! Keep your feasts, O Judah; fulfill your vows, for NEVER AGAIN shall the worthless pass through you; he is utterly cut off.”

 

Nahum 2 details the imminent destruction of Nineveh, including the mad, confused race to mount an army to defend itself. “The chariots race madly through the streets; they rush to and fro through the squares.”   

“He remembers his officers; they stumble as they go, they hasten to the wall; the siege tower is set up.” 

“The river gates are opened; the palace melts away.”  (flood water destroying clay walls)

“Nineveh is like a pool whose waters run away.  “Halt! Halt! they cry, but none turns back.”   

“Desolate! Desolation and ruin! Hearts melt and knees tremble, anguish is in all loins; all faces grow pale!”

“Behold, I am against you, declares the LORD of hosts, and I will burn your chariots in smoke and the sword shall devour your young lions….”

 

In Nahum 3, three charges are listed against Nineveh: 1) unusual cruelty & treachery, 2) spiritual & moral harlotry, and 3) pride/arrogance in her own security. 

But to the LORD of hosts, all Nineveh’s fortresses were like “fig trees with ripe fruit – easily plucked.” 

All her troops were “women.” 

Her mighty gates “stood wide open.”

Her princes were like “grasshoppers,” her scribes like “locusts settling on fences.” When the sun rises they fly away. 

“Your shepherds are sheep, O king of Assyria.

There is no easing your hurt; your wound is grievous (fatal). All who hear the news about you clap their hands over you. For UPON WHOM has not come your unceasing evil?”

 

And Jonah would be clapping his hands loudest, I believe.

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 215

Aug2

    Day 215—We are beginning the EIGHTH month of Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history and prophecy.

    Day 215 – 2 Chronicles 32 – 33 (Review of Hezekiah’s glory days, his pride, and Manasseh’s reign and repentance, Amon)

Chapter 32 repeats 2 Kings 18-19 and Isaiah 36-37, showing the Assyrian king, Sennacherib invading Judah, trash-talking the God of Israel, Hezekiah’s prayer, and God’s deliverance by His mighty angel wiping out the Assyrian army in a night.

It also states again how Hezekiah’s pride grew about his very great riches and honor and how he made huge treasuries for himself. (Part of it came from the gifts the people gave to God and him when God defeated the Assyrian army). It also hints that the envoy from Babylon was “a test from God” to see what was in Hezekiah’s heart. (He failed.)

(Interestingly, those Babylonian representatives were sent to Hezekiah “to inquire about the sign that had been done in the land.” It seems that as far east as Babylon, the moving backward of the sundial ten steps was noticed.  It reminds me of the “star” that appeared in the East that prompted the Maji to come see Israel’s new king when Jesus was born!)

 

Chapter 33 tells the story of Manasseh’s reign. He began at age 12 (conceived during Hezekiah’s, extra, proud, fifteen years of life.)  He was horribly evil, undoing all the good that his father had done. He blatantly disregarded the laws of God about worshiping false gods and idols, sacrificing children, seeing out mediums and sorcery, and keeping holy the Temple of God. 

33:10 “The LORD spoke to Manasseh and to his people, but they paid no attention. Therefore, the LORD brought upon them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria, WHO CAPTURED MANASSEH WITH HOOKS AND BOUND HIM WITH CHAINS OF BRONZE AND BROUGHT HIM TO BABYLON.”

Interestingly, when Manasseh was in distress —– He entreated the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. He prayed to him —–, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem.  THEN MANASSEH KNEW THAT THE LORD WAS GOD.”

WOW!  Hezekiah began good and fell into pride. Manasseh began terrible and ended up humble and honoring God.

Unfortunately, it was too late for his son, Amon, who ruled after Manasseh. He DID NOT humble himself before the LORD but did evil and sacrificed to images.  He was assassinated after two years, and his son Josiah reigned.

It seems Josiah learned from his grampa and did what was RIGHT in the eyes of the LORD. 34:1-2

 

 

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 214

Aug1

    Day 214—We are beginning the EIGHTH month of Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history and prophecy.

    Day 214 – 2 Kings 20 – 21 (A repeat of Hezekiah’s sickness & foolishness, Manasseh & Amon)

Chapter 20 retells (from Isaiah 38) the latter years of King Hezekiah, how he became deathly ill, prayed, and was given 15 more years to live. He used those years foolishly, boasting to the visiting Babylonian well-wishers about all that he owned. Isaiah scolded him and foretold of when the Babylonians would ruthlessly attack and take it all away. Hezekiah was not concerned, however, because “at least it won’t happen in my days.”

Chapter 21 tells of his very wicked son, Manasseh becoming king at 12 years old. (He was born in Hezekiah’s last “foolish” 15 years!!). This guy was worse than any of the kings of the northern kingdom. Manasseh “did what was evil in the site of the LORD, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel.”

He rebuilt the high places. He erected alters for Baal. He made Asherah poles. He worshiped all the host of heaven. He built altars to them IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD. He burned his son as an offering. He used fortune telling and omens. He dealt with mediums and necromancers. He carved an image of Asherah and set in the house of the LORD. He led Israel astray to do more evil than the nations had done whom the LORD destroyed before the people of Israel.

And BECAUSE of this…..  The LORD vowed to bring “such disaster on Judah that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle.”

After many years of utter evil (2 Chronicles 33 tomorrow will tell of his repentance after a terrifying incident!!), Manasseh dies and his evil son, Amon reigns for two years.  Manasseh’s legacy continues in the son, as he served and worshipped idols. “He abandoned the LORD, the God of his fathers and did not walk in the way of the LORD. 

After two years, his servants killed him and made Josiah (at 8 years old) the new king.