Isaiah chapters 49-53 talk about the redemption of Israel, how God is going to restore the nation. Once again, God is showing his love and mercy after all that they were admonished and warned about in the beginning of the book. And in the middle of the reading for today, we found a couple of verses that caught my attention.  In Chapter 51 verses 1-3, the Lord is calling all of those who pursue his...  Read More

A quick backread into chapter 18 of 2 Kings shows us a “a chief of the princes” (Rabshakeh) is intimidating and trying to persuade the inhabitants of Judah who are under strict orders from King Hezekiah to remain silent and not respond to the boastful speech being given by the Assyrian prince. As we go through chapter 19, we can tell that it must have been a good persuasion as we see some key people reporting to King Hezekiah in torn clothes. Hezekiah then does in kind and hits the house of the Lord in sackcloth and ashes to pray to God. Hezekiah is reassured by Isaiah that God will protect them at this time. We read of this as scripture reports 185,000 Assyrian soldiers are slain by an Angel of the Lord in a night. Chapter 19 also contains a heavy prophecy against the Assyrians, and it’s after this that we read of the power of God going into action against the Assyrians. It’s also interesting to note that the Rabshakeh seemed to have a big misunderstanding of who the God of the people of Judah was, linking him to idols and places of worship, not realizing He is ever-present, and all powerful…a big misunderstanding on his part! In the Psalms we study today (46, 80, and 135) we see some “reassurance” that God is our fortress (46), He is our restorer (80), and great is our Lord (135). In each one we see great reverence for the Lord and what He does/has done for His chosen people. We can also draw from this that God’s chosen people Israel seemed to be under attack quite a bit (sometimes as punishment for straying) by the surrounding peoples and powerful kingdoms. All of which God was aware of and capable of acting in the situations should He choose.   Read More

“The Collapse of Comfort: When God Exposes our Pride” You can spend your life building a version of success that makes you feel safe—but if God isn’t the foundation, He will let it fall. Not to ruin you, but to rescue you. Isaiah 47 is a thunderclap against the illusion of invincibility. Babylon didn’t fall because it wasn’t powerful. It fell because it was proud. In Isaiah 47, God strips the empire down. Not just militarily, but spiritually and morally. Babylon is exposed not just for what it did, but for what it believed. And if we dare to be honest, what Babylon believed isn’t ancient at all—it’s hauntingly familiar.   Read More

“Faith in the Grip of Fear”We don’t like to admit how often fear drives us. We mask it with control, numb it with distractions, or spiritualize it with words like “just being careful.” Sometimes we even pretend we’re praying when we’re really just worrying out loud to God, hoping He’ll fix it on our terms. But Isaiah 41 speaks into the soul with unfiltered clarity:“Fear not, for I am with you;be n...  Read More

Psalm 76 is a powerful declaration of God's sovereignty, justice, and protection over His people.Real: Life Principles.God is Known and Present Among His PeopleGod reveals Himself to those who seek Him and dwells among His people.God is a Mighty DefenderNo weapon formed against God’s people can prosper when He is their refuge.God’s Majesty Inspires AweGod’s glory surpasses all earthly power and be...  Read More

Isaiah 35 is a breathtaking chapter of restoration, hope, and divine promise. It paints a vivid picture of transformation—from wilderness to abundance, weakness to strength, sorrow to joy.  Read More

Isaiah 31 delivers a powerful message about reliance and trust. Real Life Principles: Futility of Human Reliance vs. Divine Power: (Vs1-3) The primary principle is that relying on human strength, alliances, or resources (symbolized by Egypt, chariots, and horses) instead of God is foolish and ultimately leads to destruction. Human power is limited, temporary, and can fail, whereas God's power is s...  Read More

Isaiah 28 delivers a powerful message primarily to the northern kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) and then to the leaders of Judah.   Read More

Hosea Chapter 8 is a powerful and sobering prophecy against the northern kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) for its deep-seated apostasy and rebellion against God. The chapter highlights several key principles, demonstrating the consequences of forsaking a covenant relationship with the Lord:   Read More

God commands Hosea to marry Gomer, a "wife of whoredom" (Hosea 1:2), symbolizing Israel’s unfaithfulness to God through idolatry and sin. Hosea’s life becomes a living metaphor for God’s relationship with His people. Gomer’s unfaithfulness mirrors Israel’s spiritual adultery, yet God’s instruction to Hosea to marry her foreshadows His relentless love and desire to redeem His people (Hosea 1:2-3). The names of Hosea and Gomer’s children—Jezreel, Lo-Ruhamah, and Lo-Ammi (Hosea 1:4-9)—symbolize God’s judgment on Israel for their sins. Yet, the chapter ends with a promise of future restoration (Hosea 1:10-11). Hosea’s obedience in marrying Gomer and naming his children according to God’s command (Hosea 1:3-9) makes his life a prophetic sign to Israel.  Read More

2 Kings 18 describes the reign of Hezekiah, king of Judah, who ruled during a turbulent period marked by Assyrian dominance. Hezekiah is praised for his devotion, doing "what was right in the eyes of the Lord" (v. 3). He removed high places, smashed sacred stones, and cut down Asherah poles, reversing idolatry in Judah. Hezekiah’s reforms were not just religious but cultural, restoring Judah’s identity as a nation under God. His leadership contrasted with his father Ahaz’s compromises (v. 4). Hezekiah faced immense pressure from Assyria, led by Sennacherib. Despite paying tribute, Assyria besieged Jerusalem, and their commander mocked Judah’s reliance on God (vv. 13–22).  Read More

Isaiah 26 is a chapter in the Book of Isaiah, often called a "song of salvation," that expresses trust in God's protection, justice, and ultimate deliverance for His people. You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal" (v. 3-4). "He humbles those who dwell on high, he lays the lofty city low" (v. 5). "The path of the righteous is level; you, the Upright One, make the way of the righteous smooth" (v. 7). "Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us" (v. 12).   Read More

“An Oracle concerning Egypt.” This is how this passage starts. It is not just a prophecy, but it is a message with a heavy burden and impact for Egypt. As we read this passage, we can understand why. Isaiah is writing a message here for the people of Israel, a pagan land, full of Idols, far from being submitted to the Lord. And because of their actions and their rejection of God, they are now subject to judgment.  Read More

Isaiah 13:1-5 describes God as the one who summons armies and directs the course of history to execute His judgment on Babylon. He is depicted as the Lord of Hosts, commanding forces beyond human control (v. 4). Babylon is judged for its arrogance, wickedness, and idolatry (vv. 11, 19). The chapter emphasizes that no nation, however powerful, can escape God’s justice. Isaiah 13:6-13 speaks of the "Day of the Lord," a time of divine judgment marked by cosmic upheaval, fear, and destruction (vv. 9-10). It’s a day when God’s wrath confronts evil.  Read More

Sometimes one person can make a difference. In 2 Chronicles 28, a prophet of the Lord was asked to speak out about the wrong actions of the northern tribes of Israel. “But a prophet of the Lord was there, whose name was Oded; and he went out to meet the army which came to Samaria and said to them, “Behold, because the Lord, the God of your fathers, was angry with Judah, He has delivered them into your hand, and you have slain them in a rage which has even reached heaven. Now you are proposing to subjugate for yourselves the people of Judah and Jerusalem for male and female slaves. Surely, do you not have transgressions of your own against the Lord your God? Now therefore, listen to me and return the captives whom you captured from your brothers, for the burning anger of the Lord is against you.” Then some of the heads of the sons of Ephraim—Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai—arose against those who were coming from the battle, and said to them, “You must not bring the captives in here, for you are proposing to bring upon us guilt against the Lord adding to our sins and our guilt; for our guilt is great so that His burning anger is against Israel.”” ‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭28‬:‭9‬-‭13‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬  Read More

The chapter emphasizes God’s intolerance of persistent injustice, idolatry, and moral corruption. Verses 3–5 describe God “coming down” to judge Samaria and Jerusalem for their sins, highlighting the principle that divine justice holds nations and individuals accountable for violating God’s moral standards.The imagery of God “treading down the high places” and mountains melting under Him (v. 3–4) ...  Read More

It's fascinating that reading chapters 26 and 27 led me to consider that if my life were written down for millions of people to read, I might be nervous. Our lives are often filled with a collection of experiences. Moments of joy, fear, heartbreak, beauty, and ashes. I thought about what parts of my life might stand out. Would I be embarrassed about some of my decisions? Certainly.  Read More

Amos 6:1–3 warns, “Woe to those who are at ease in Zion and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria” (v. 1). The leaders of Israel and Judah trusted in their wealth, military strength, and privileged status, ignoring warnings of judgment and assuming calamity was far off (v. 3). Amos challenges their false confidence by pointing to the fall of nearby city-states like Calneh, Hamath, and Gath, which were no better than Israel yet faced destruction (v. 2). Verses 4–6 describe the luxurious lifestyle of the elite: lounging on ivory beds, feasting on choice meats, drinking wine by the bowlful, and anointing themselves with fine oils, yet they “are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph” (v. 6). Their indulgence contrasts with their indifference to the suffering and spiritual decay of the nation.  Read More

In the Book of Amos, we see that the children of God have turned their backs on God, and Amos is warning them to repent or they would be taken into exile.Throughout chapters 1, 2, and 3 we see that the Israelites are no longer worshiping God, but they are practicing idol worship, immorality, sexual sin, and drunkenness.They were getting the nazarites who were God's chosen men to be prophets that w...  Read More

Isaiah 6 describes the prophet Isaiah’s vision of God’s throne and his commissioning as a prophet.REAL LIFE PRINCIPLES:Encountering God’s holiness reveals His majesty and glory, which demands worship and humility. It reminds us that God is not a casual figure but the sovereign Creator whose presence fills the earth. Isaiah sees the Lord “high and exalted” with seraphim proclaiming, “Holy, holy, ho...  Read More

Social Media is the world's report card nowadays.  Everything you see on people's personal pages is typically exactly how they want you to see them and how they live.  Everything is peachy.  Everything is relaxing, perfect, and prosperous.  This is how the world would have seen Israel at the time Isaiah opened chapter one in the book of Isaiah.  Isaiah jumps very quickly into his analysis of the c...  Read More

“When Success Becomes a Snare” King Uzziah’s story is one of breathtaking success and devastating failure. He came to the throne young, full of promise, and Scripture tells us that “as long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success” (v.5). The Hebrew word for “sought” (darash) means more than a surface-level prayer or religious habit. It suggests earnest, continuous pursuit, the way a traveler searches for water in a desert or a lost child cries out for a parent. And Uzziah did seek the Lord, and God did bless him. His fame “spread far and wide” (v.15). He had everything. But then came the turn:  Read More

Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me. Jonah 1:2 But, Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. Jonah 1:3 Has God called you to do something and you are running? Was it because of fear, pride, shame, insecurity, distractions, excuses, or comfort? There are many reasons we run from what God calls us to do. We are hoping if we ignore the hard thing, He is asking us to do, we will be at peace or maybe be able to silence His voice. But, true peace only comes from surrendering to God’s will. If we are not following God’s calling on our lives, we will never be at peace.   Read More

“He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not wholeheartedly.” King Amaziah started off well. He followed God’s laws and made some good decisions early in his reign. He even listened to a prophet and trusted God for victory in battle. But after his success, things changed.Instead of thanking God, he brought back the idols of the enemy he defeated and began worshiping them. When a prophet...  Read More