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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 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.

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 209

Jul27

    Day 209—We are in the SEVENTH month of Bible reading. We’re continuing in the history of Israel.

    Day 209 – 2 Kings 19, Psalm 46, 80, 135. (A recounting of the siege of Jerusalem by the Rabshakeh and Sennacherib, Hezekiah’s desperate prayer, and God’s answer when His angel killed 185K Assyrians in a night. And glorious psalms of God.)

Whenever I read this story about the death of the Assyrian army, I think of Jesus’ answer to Peter’s drawing the sword in the garden when Jesus is arrested.

(Matthew 26:53-54) “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and He will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?  But how then should the scriptures be fulfilled that it must be so?” 

If ONE of God’s angels can wipe out an Assyrian army in a night, 12,000 of His angels could eliminate the entire population of the world. (Do the math!)  Instead, Jesus obeyed His Father and gave His life as an atonement for the sin of all who would believe. Praise God.

Psalm 46:1-3, 6-7, 9-11.  
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore, we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
He utters His voice, the earth melts.
The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
He burns the chariots with fire.

Be still, and know that I am God.
I WILL be exalted among the nations,
I WILL be exalted in the earth!
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. 

Psalm 80:1-3.
Give ear, O Shephard of Israel,
You who lead Joseph like a flock!
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim shine forth.

Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh,
Stir up your might and come to save us!
Restore us, O God; let Your face shine, that we may be saved!

Psalm 135:19-21.
O house of Israel, bless the LORD!
O house of Aaron, bless the LORD!
O house of Levi, bless the LORD!
Blessed be the LORD from Zion, he who dwells in Jerusalem!
Praise the LORD.

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 203 & 204

Jul22

    Day 203 & 204—We are in the seventh month of Bible reading, continuing in Israel’s history and Isaiah’s prophecies.

(Note: SUNDAY’s and MONDAY’s readings are combined.)

    Day 203 – Isaiah 28 – 30. (Isaiah preaches judgment and shows God’s mercy and another glimpse of the messiah)

Both Ephraim and Judah are indicted here by Isaiah for their drunkenness. (They stagger and reel, and their tables are full of vomit. Yuck.)

Here is a familiar passage about the messiah that Peter quotes in 1 Peter 2:4-6. ‘Behold I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation.”

There are three “woes” in these chapters. They begin with the word “Ah,”  28:1 suggests impending disaster for Ephraim.  29:1 suggests distress and moaning for Ariel (Lion of God), pointing to the supposed “strength of Jerusalem.”  And 30:1 shows things turned upside down for Judah for their plans to seek help from Egypt instead of the LORD their God.

“For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.’  But you were unwilling, and you said, ‘No! We will flee away;”

And to such as these (and to Us), the LORD will be gracious.  “He will be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you.”    “And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it.'”

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    Day 204 – Isaiah 31 – 34. (Isaiah continues with words from the Lord to various peoples, both in judgment and hope)

The “Woe” in chapter 31 is actually toward Judah for going to Egypt for help against the Assyrians, when their God is so much more powerful.  “The Egyptians are man and not GOD, and their horses are flesh, and not SPIRIT. When the LORD stretches out His hand, the helper (Egypt) will stumble, and he who is helped (Judah) will fall, and they will all perish together.”

Turn to Him…O children of Israel.  And the Assyrian shall fall by a sword, NOT OF MAN; and a sword, NOT OF MAN, shall devour him.

Chapter 32 again speaks of the KING WHO WILL REIGN IN RIGHTEOUSNESS (the Messiah).

Then condemnation and judgment on FOOLS and SCOUNDRELS and COMPLACENT WOMEN.

Chapter 33 begins with another “Ah” woe  to the “destroyer.” It’s probably Assyria, but it could also refer to any power that sets itself against Israel.

“The LORD is exalted, for He dwells on high; He will fill Zion with justice and righteousness, and he will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is Zion’s treasure.” 33:5-6

Chapter 34 is full of judgment on all nations and peoples and then, particularly on Edom. Its ground will be saturated with their blood, and wild animals of every kind will make their homes there.

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 200

Jul18

    Day 200—We are in the seventh month of Bible reading. Praise God!

    Day 200 –2 Kings 18, 2 Chronicles 29 – 31, Psalm 48. (Godly Hezekiah restores worship and Passover in Judah, then Sennacherib attacks)

The chapters in 2 Chronicles tell of the new King Hezekiah in Judah and how he “did right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done.” 

Hezekiah removed the high places of idol worship and broke the pillars and Asherah. He even destroyed the bronze serpent Moses had made in the wilderness because the people had started to worship it. 

Hezekiah “trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel, so that there were none like him among all the kings of Judah after him or before him. He held fast to the LORD. He did not depart from following Him but kept the commandments that the LORD commanded Moses. And THE LORD WAS WITH HIM. WHEREVER HE WENT OUT, HE PROSPERED.”

Right away, King Hezekiah gets the temple, the priests, and the Levites cleansed & concentrated so true worship of the LORD could be restored. The holy men responded and began the cleansing. They brought out the “filth from the Holy Place” and all uncleanness and dumped it in the Kidron valley.  For eight more days they consecrated the house of the LORD, putting back all the utensils used in the temple.

Then, with as many of the consecrated priests, they began the sin offerings to make atonement for all Israel. The Levites stood with instruments and encouraged the people to sing and worship the LORD. They sang the words of David and Asaph. They sang the songs with gladness, bowed down, and worshiped.

Psalm 48  

‘Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised,

in the city of our God!

His holy mountain,

beautiful in elevation,

is the joy of all the earth,

Mount Zion in the north,

the city of the great King.

We have thought on your steadfast love, O God,

in the midst of your temple.

As your name, O God,

so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth.

Your right hand is filled with righteousness.

Let Mount Zion be glad!”

Then King Hezekiah invited any who were left in the northern kingdom of Israel to come and join Judah in the Passover celebration, so long neglected. He got jeers and mocking, but some from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.

Hezekiah knew there wouldn’t be time for them to consecrate themselves and encouraged them with, “The LORD your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away His face from you if you return to Him.”   When they arrived, he prayed for them, saying, “May the good LORD pardon everyone who sets his heart to seek God, the LORD, the God of his fathers, even though not according to the sanctuary’s rules of cleanness.”  And the LORD HEARD Hezekiah. 

And there was such a joyous celebration of Passover! They stayed for the seven days of Unleavened Bread and extended it another seven days. The Levites and priests praised the LORD day by day, singing with all their might to the LORD.  So they ate the food of the festival, sacrificing peace offerings and giving thanks to the LORD, the God of their fathers.

“There was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the time of Solomon the son of David King of Israel there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem.”  And the prayers of blessing by the priests and Levites arose and came to His holy habitation in heaven.

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Then, as it always happens, after “mountain top experiences” come the “dark valleys.”

“After these things and these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib, King of Assyria, came and invaded Judah and encamped against them.”

And the Rabshakeh (commander and spokesman for Sennacherib) taunted the king and people of Jerusalem. “On what do you rest this trust of yours?   In whom do you now trust?  Egypt? They are nothing. If you say to me, ‘We trust in the LORD our God,’ is it not he whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed???  

And to the people on the wall, he called, “DO NOT let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to deliver you out of my hand.  DO NOT let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD by saying, the LORD will surely deliver us.  DO NOT listen to Hezekiah when he misleads you.  Has any of the gods of the nations EVER delivered his land out of the land of the king of Assyria???  Who among all the gods of the lands have delivered their lands out of my hand, that THE LORD SHOULD DELIVER JERUSALEM OUT OF MY HAND??”

However, the people were silent and answered him not a word, for the king’s command was, “Do not answer him.”  But the king’s chief of staff came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn and told him the words of the Rabshakeh. 

And we’ll see what the godly Hezekiah does in the next chapter (2 Kings 19) in nine days. Meanwhile, Isaiah.  

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 199

Jul17

    Day 199—We are in the seventh month of Bible reading and are continuing in Isaiah.

    Day 199 – Isaiah 23 – 27. (severe judgment, the Day of the Lord, and HOPE for God’s people)

Chapter 23 is the oracle of judgment on Tyre and Sidon. They are the traders of the world, and now the port cities are amazed at the judgment on them. Verses 8 & 9: “Who has purposed this against Tyre….”   “The LORD of hosts has purposed it, to defile the pompous pride of all glory, to dishonor all the honored of the earth.”

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Chapter 24 describes the judgment on THE WHOLE EARTH!  “Behold, the LORD will empty the earth and make it desolate, and he will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants.”   “The earth shall be utterly empty   plundered, for the LORD has spoken this word.” 

“The earth lies defiled under its inhabitants, for they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, broken the EVERLASTING COVENANT.  Therefore, a curse devours the earth, and its inhabitants suffer for their GUILT; therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are scorched, and few men are left.  (Maybe see Genesis 9:5-16.)

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Chapter 25 speaks of home in that God will end death.  “He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of His people He will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken.”

“It will be said on that day, ‘Behold, this is our God, we have waited for Him, that He might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for Him; let us be glad and rejoice in His salvation.”

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Chapter 26 continues with a song that will be sung in the land of Judah. “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.”

“Come, my people, enter your chambers and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the fury has passed. For behold, the LORD is coming out from His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth will disclose the blood shed on it, and will no more cover up the murdered.”

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Chapter 27. Israel will be redeemed. “In the days to come, Jacob shall take root, Israel shall blossom, and put forth shoots and fill the whole world with fruit.”   

“In that day, from the river Euphrates to the Brook of Egypt, the LORD will thresh out the grain, and YOU will be gleaned one by one, O people of Israel.  And in that day, a great trumpet will be blown, and those who were lost in the land of Assyria and those who were driven out to the land of Egypt will come and worship the LORD on the holy mountain of Jerusalem.”

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 198

Jul16

    Day 198—We are in the seventh month of Bible reading and continuing in Isaiah.

    Day 198 – Isaiah 18 – 22. (the oracles against the nations and cities continue, with messages of HOPE between dire destruction)

Cush is probably Ethiopia.

“Ah, the land of whirring wings (perhaps a fleet of sailing ships) that is beyond the rivers of Cush, which sends ambassadors by the sea in vessels of papyrus on the waters!  Go, you swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth, to a people feared near and far.” Judgment was coming, but also grace. 

Egypt. “Behold the LORD is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt, and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them”. But also grace. “In that day, there will be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD of hosts.  In that day, there will be an altar to the LORD amid the land of Egypt.”

Babylon. The vision is of her fall. “A stern vision is told to me; a traitor betrays, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, O Elam; lay siege, O Media; all the sighing she has caused I bring to an end.”  Babylon will fall to the Medes and Persians in 200 years. 

Dumah and Arabia do not escape; their glory will end.

And an Oracle Concerning Jerusalem. “Look away from me; let me weep bitter tears; do not labor to comfort me concerning the destruction of the daughter of my people.  For the Lord GOD of hosts has a day of tumult, trampling, and confusion in the valley of vision, a battering down of walls and a shouting to the mountains…”   “Your choicest valleys were full of chariots, and the horsemen took their stand at the gates. He has taken away the covering of Judah.