September 13 - Joel: God's Spirit for Everyone!

Today’s Reading: Joel

The Message

English Standard Version

Joel brings us to 31 books. Eight more to go.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God would punish the ones who treated Judah terribly.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God's Message through Joel:
"Tell future generations what has happened. Nothing will save the Temple. Nothing compares to God's all-encompassing Judgment.
"Everyone—no exception—fast and pray! Maybe God will remove our punishment!
"Celebrate! God has done great things! God will give us a Teacher. Every kind of person will have His Spirit. Everyone who calls for God's Help will receive it.
"'Yes, I will put the world back together. Tyre, Sidon, and Philistia, you sold Judeans into slavery. Prepare to be shattered!
"'Hide in Me and you will know I am your God. All things will be set right.'"

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God's Judgment is serious business.

We often have difficulties accepting this aspect of God's Love. We want the John 3:16 god who loves us but we do not want the Joel 1 god who will punish us because we took matters into our own hands. But we must understand, the God who sets all things right does so by blessing those who set things right and punishing wrongdoers.

God continues to call Judah to return.

The same god who is punishing Judah greatly because they do not set things right also wants them to change their way of living. If they fasted, changed their clothes, and changed their lives God would consider changing their fate. We must include this aspect of God to understand the previous, difficult part. God always wants to set things right, even in the midst of punishment.

God would give His Spirit to ever kind of people.

All of the Old Testament prophets were Jewish men. Deborah was a judge but was still a Jew. God would one day no longer limit His Prophets to men. Women would join them. Old people, young people, servants, masters, men, and women would receive God's Spirit. Anyone who called on God would be helped, not just Israel. No longer would Israel have a monopoly on God's Spirit. God's Spirit is for anyone!

Is God your place to hide?

September 8 - Ezekiel 38-39: God uses Gog to Show His Holiness to the Nations

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 38-39

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Gog would show the nations that Israel's enemies are God's enemies.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

"Ezekiel, when Gog tries to rob My Chosen People, My Holiness will be in view for everyone.
"Gog, years ago I prophesied that I would defend Israel when you attacked. You will help the world see I am God as I defeat your army. It will take seven years to burn your spears and shields and seven months to collect and bury your dead.
"Ezekiel, call the animals! They will feast on Gog's army. The nations will understand Israel's unfaithfulness was to blame for their exile.
"Once I return My Chosen People from their exile, we will live face-to-face."

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Gog's demise would show the nations God's Power.

God is redeeming His Name, as we read yesterday. Gog wanted to exploit these weak people by attacking and stealing what they had. God would show His Holiness for Israel by standing by them and defeating their enemy. God defeating an army the size of Gog's would show how powerful He was. God's punishment of Gog would prove His Allegiance and Power.

God would defend Israel to remind the nations that unholiness does not pay.

God would defend Israel this time because they had been stripped of their other gods. The Exile forced them to reconsider who they would worship. When they returned to their land and started setting all things right, He would bless them again. The nations would understand that blossoming crime would lead to punishment and blossoming goodness would lead to blessing.

Can you see God defending you?

September 5 - Ezekiel 28-31: Tyre and Egypt Realize God is (g)od

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 28-31

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God must convince these nations that He is god and not them.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

"Tyre, your money and fortune has made you believe you are a god. Try to argue that with your assassins.
"Sidon, you need to learn who I am.
"Israel will be freed from her nagging neighbors. She will live in safety."
Later God came to Ezekiel again, "Preach against Egypt. They think the Nile belongs to them. They will soon know I am God. Egypt's downfall will bring encouragement to Israel and terror to their allies. They will never again dominate the world.
"Tell Pharaoh, 'Who do you think you are? I created everything. Your big nation will crumble.'"

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Tyre and Egypt thought they were gods and not God.

Tyre's blessings, mentioned in yesterday's reading, came from trade. Instead of blessing God for their great riches, they considered themselves in control. Egypt had a similar issue, though they still had a temple full of gods. God would show both of them who the real god was.

God's punishments were meant to show who He was.

One phrase that continues to come up in Ezekiel is a form of "they will know (or realize) I am God". It came up 12 times in today's reading alone. God's purpose for punishing Tyre, Sidon, and Egypt (alongside Israel, Judah, Assyria, and Babylon) was because they had either not given full respect to God or thought they were gods themselves. God is not a wrath-filled Spirit who angrily punishes people because He cannot get His Way. God uses His Punishment to remind the world who He is.

Do you act like God is god?

September 4 - Ezekiel 24-27: God Prevents Israel's Mourning; Punishes Judah's Neighbors

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 24-27

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

The people who laughed at Israel and Judah would be punished, too.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

"Ezekiel, Jerusalem's murderers have stoked my vengeance. I will purify the city—no more compassion.
Ezekiel's wife died. People asked why he was not mourning. "You will be unable to mourn when God destroys the Temple and your children are murdered."
"When that day happens, Ezekiel, I will allow mourning and through that they will see I am God."
"Ammon, Moab, Edom, and Philistia laughed at Judah and their plight. They treated My Chosen People without mercy. They will be punished. Tyre cheered Jerusalem's downfall. Nebuchadnezzar will smash them into a bare rock. Ezekiel will hold a funeral for them."

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God would not allow Ezekiel to mourn the loss of his wife to show Jerusalem how bad life could be if they did not surrender.

One important part to remember as we read this section is that Ezekiel is not prophesying alone. Jeremiah is prophesying at the same time to the same people. Jeremiah's message is to surrender and survive. Since Judah cared little for God they were unwilling to listen and God was forced to punish them to the fullest extent. But at the moment they were completely defeated, God would allow Ezekiel and Israel to mourn.

The surrounding nations would be punished for not helping their ailing neighbor.

Most of my life I assumed God only cared for Israel during the Old Testament's time. Little did I realize how much the surrounding nations were mentioned. If God wants to set all things right on the earth, then all nations are rewarded or punished for their actions. Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, and Tyre would be taken over because they would not help Judah and laughed at God because Judah was taken into captivity.

Do you rejoice at the downfall of your hated neighbor or do you try to help first?

September 3 - Ezekiel 22-23: Jerusalem's Crime Bosses will be Punished

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 22-23

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God's Chosen People have forgotten how to set things right in their community.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God told Ezekiel to judge the city, "Jerusalem's inhabitants outdo each other in crime. They will soon know I am God.
"No one will stand up to the bad priests and excuse-making preachers; therefore, they will see my wrath."
God's message: "Two sisters, Oholah (Samaria) and Oholibah (Jerusalem) became whores in Egypt. Oholah wanted Assyrian men but they brutally killed her.
"Oholibah slept with Babylonian men and later abandoned them. Now her jilted lovers will have revenge."
"Ezekiel, these sisters sacrificed children to idols then waltzed into My Temple to worship Me! I must make an example out of them."

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Jerusalem has forgotten God.

The leaders compete to be the crime boss of Jerusalem. There is no court immune from their evil schemes. Anarchy reigns. Worst of all, they have forgotten God. The god that once saved collective Israel from captivity is now only a cultural symbol to the only remaining tribes. Beware of idols, they will make you unable to see God as He is.

God's punishment is meant to remind Jerusalem who their god is.

Jerusalem has a major problem with other idols. They cannot stop worshiping them. So God will come and forcibly remove their idols so they can see their god and return to Him. God's punishments are meant to remove barriers to seeing Him, not to make us feel bad about our lives.

God's Message through Ezekiel gets more explicit as it goes.

Earlier I wrote on how Israel wanted to keep their sexual pleasures more than their god. Ezekiel's message in chapter 23 would be considered "R-rated" by most Christian sensors. What we must remember as we read these sections is that God (or Ezekiel) is using metaphors which relate to Israel and Judah's sin. They have cheated on God by going to sex-and-religion shrines. They offered their children to their sex-and-religion idols and then entered the Temple in Honor of God to worship Him as though nothing they did mattered. So he uses metaphors which closely resemble their actions—prostitution. If you feel uncomfortable or blush at these sections—good! They are not meant to be feel-good texts.

What does God need to remove to help you see Him as He is?

September 2 - Ezekiel 20-21: Israel Wanted to Control God, not Obey Him

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 20-21

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God's Chosen People have always survived because of God Amazing Grace.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God, through Ezekiel, spoke to Israel's leaders. "I wanted Israel to be wholly Mine. But they kept their Egyptian no-gods. I held back my anger to save My Reputation.
"I gave them My Law including the Sabbath to rekindle our relationship. They ignored My Sabbaths. I held back my anger to save My Reputation.
"I gave land to their children—who also abandoned Me—who became filthy like their gods.
"I will never be controlled.
"I will burn both dead and green trees.
"A sharp sword is ready against Jerusalem. I will lead your enemy to you, Zedekiah."

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Israel never became wholly God's.

The most disappointing part of Israel's existence is that they had ample opportunity to get rid of their gods but chose not to. They never became holy. Later they became as filthy as the gods God wanted to destroy.

God gave us the Law to help us set things right and point us to Him.

Israel never understood why God gave them the Law. God wanted them to use this Law to set things right within their borders and to be a lighthouse to the nations to help them see God as well. The Sabbath was meant not only for a day of rest but for a day to connect with God. God gives His Law because He loves us and wants to set things right.

Israel wanted a god they could control instead of a God they would obey.

God gets to the heart of the matter—Israel was not interested in God because He demanded obedience. The other gods were subservient to Israel's every wishes. Israel could do whatever they wanted and invent a god to honor it. This is why God's Law was ignored and despised: Israel wanted to control their lives, not obey God.
In reality, we all want a god we can morph into our image instead of the other way around. Much of theology is trying to get around the simple meaning of the text. We want to limit the Scripture to suit our lifestyles, our wants, and our desires. However, we will eventually understand God's Way is the best way. We must not control God. We must obey God.

Do you want a god that can serve you or do you want to serve God?

September 1 - Ezekiel 18-19: God Does Not Enjoy Punishing Evil

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 18-19

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God would not punish children for their parents' sin or parents for their children's sin.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God's message:
"Every person will be punished for their mistakes. A person who sets things right will live. A person who makes mistakes will die. Parents and children are neither punished nor rewarded for the other's actions. Guilt will not transfer from generation to generation.
"I don't take pleasure in the death of wicked people! I do not keep a list of good or bad acts. It depends on life now. So stop rebelling against Me!"
Sing Israel's blues: Two prized cubs from a great lioness were drug away by angry villagers. A vine grew great branches that all dried.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Parents do not pass on their sin; children's mistakes are not the responsibility of the parent.

Israel felt God punished them and took them into exile because of their ancestors' sins. They did not want to admit they were the cause of their exile. So God needed to set them straight—sin is not inheritable and guilt does not travel up generations. Each tub must sit on its own bottom, to use my grandmother's old saying.
Although the teaching came much later than Ezekiel, he rather convincingly refutes the idea of original sin, one of the central tenets of Calvinism (some of John Calvin's teachings came from Augustine but bear Calvin's name because he brought them all together). I bring this up—it is only the second time I have brought up a contemporary doctrine (at least I think)—because it is so pervasive in Christianity today. It informs many churches, many mission trips, and much of our evangelism. Once we understand we are not condemned from birth we begin to see our mission differently. Once we see babies born outside the influence of Christianity are not automatically condemned we change our evangelism. It also takes away one of the major issues people have with the teachings of evangelicalism (although I do not call myself "Evangelical", I do have much in common with them). Sin is not inherited from your parents.

God does not delight in punishing anyone.

In what may seem strange coming from the god who has made His Chosen People go into exile and would punish many nations to come, God does not want to kill anyone. He wants to set everyone's relationship right! It may sound strange to us to hear, but to a group of people who feel they have been abandoned by God while watching hundreds of their neighbors die of disease, famine, wild animals, and war it would sound wonderful—maybe even too wonderful. God does not want to kill or punish you. He wants to set your relationship right!
To continue my discussion from the last point, understanding that God does not take pleasure in punishing anyone—even wicked people—takes aim at another tenant of Calvinism: predestination or unconditional election. Many defenders would claim that God does not choose for people to be punished but instead knows they will be punished. That seems like a poor alternative; in fact, I would hazard to say it is a distinction without a difference. Why would God create people who were destined for punishment?

God does not keep a ledger of our good deeds and our bad deeds.

Israel wanted to play "balance the good and bad" because they thought God kept a list of good and bad things. If your bad deeds exceeded your good deeds you were punished. If they didn't, you were blessed. That misses the point of holiness! God does not want us flirting with wrong. God does not want us balancing right and wrong. God wants us to be wholly His and to set all things right.
On the flip side, though, God would not keep a list of our wrongs. If a person changed their life and set things right, God would bless the person—no strings attached. God can forgive anyone that changes their life. There is no amount of sin that would prevent God from forgiving and blessing a person who changed their life. This is why God's message to Israel is,

So turn around! Turn your backs on your rebellious living so that sin won’t drag you down. Clean house. No more rebellions, please. Get a new heart! Get a new spirit! (18:30-31, The Message)

How awesome is God's fairness!

August 31 - Ezekiel 16-17: Judah Corrupted Prostitution

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 16-17

The Message

English Standard Version

Congratulations! You have made it through eight months of reading through the Bible in a year! Only four more months to go! And we are officially at 30 days before we finish the Old Testament!

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Jerusalem became so corrupt, they corrupted prostitution. The nations around could not stand them.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God's message:
"I made Jerusalem, once an abandoned pagan baby, a stunning beauty. But you became a terrible whore—sacrificing your children to idols and paying your lovers, corrupting prostitution! I never even crossed your mind. I'll see to it your lovers see you as you really are.
"I will reverse Samaria's and Sodom's fortunes—and yours, too! I will make everything right."
Again God's Message:
"I took a cedar twig and it became a vine. Babylon took Judah's king into exile to keep them subdued but they rebelled anyway. I will make sure they are captured and punished."

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Judah became worse than Israel and Sodom.

We know what happened to Israel and Sodom. Yet God says Judah has become worse than both of them. Beware idols—they can potentially make you worse than the people in lands God destroyed.

God would set things right between Himself and Sodom, Israel, and Judah.

What great God,

[Y]ou who have treated my oath with contempt and broken the covenant … I’ll remember the covenant I made with you when you were young and I’ll make a new covenant with you that will last forever. You’ll remember your sorry past and be properly contrite when you receive back your sisters, both the older and the younger. I’ll give them to you as daughters, but not as participants in your covenant. I’ll firmly establish my covenant with you and you’ll know that I am GOD. You’ll remember your past life and face the shame of it, but when I make atonement for you, make everything right after all you’ve done, it will leave you speechless. (16:59-63, The Message)

God wants to set all things right with His Chosen People—even when they treat Him with contempt and break His Covenant!

Has God set things right with you?

August 30 - Ezekiel 13-15: God vs. Israel's Prophets

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 13-15

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Judah would need to clear out their hearts and their houses to receive forgiveness.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God told me Israel's prophets would be punished, "I'm dead set against them. These women prophets are especially bad. They kill souls to become rich and famous. They will know I am God.
"Israel's leaders have idols in their hearts. When they remove them I will listen to their prayers. Otherwise both idolaters and prophets will be punished.
"Even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were here they could not save this nation. Jerusalem will get four types of punishment—war, famine, wild animals, and disease. Then they will ask for salvation and you will understand why I allowed their punishment."

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God will punish those who speak in His Name without consulting Him.

Israel loves prophets who speak only good things; therefore, these prophets knew their income depended on how positive they were. Consulting God would only lessen their income and ultimately cost their careers. Jeremiah did this and almost lost his life. God protected him, though, and would protect any prophet willing to consult Him, too. These prophets who told Judah to continue doing whatever they wanted, as long as they kept the contributions coming would be punished, thrown off their land, and shamed in public. Their advice would lead to death. God will not stand for people speaking for Him without first speaking with Him.

Israel has a heart problem.

God realizes the issue is not the physical idols set up in the city, the squares, and the Temple. The problem is that they have installed idols in their hearts. God will not listen to their prayers because they refuse to listen to His Command—be wholly God's. Our relationship with God is never severed because of a physical act. Our relationship with God is always severed by something becoming more important in our heart than God. The physical act comes as a result of the idol set up in our heart.

God wants everyone in the land to give up their gods.

God, though Ezekiel, while telling the leaders to take down the idols in their hearts He includes this:

To every last person from the house of Israel, including any of the resident aliens who live in Israel—all who turn their backs on me and embrace idols, who install the wickedness that will ruin them at the center of their lives and then have the gall to go to the prophet to ask me questions—I, God, will step in and give the answer myself. (14:7, The Message)

God's punishment would extend out to those who were not part of the Promise of Abraham. They were part of the punishment because God expects holiness from anyone who lives with His Chosen People. No one is excused.
What does this mean for today? If churches who have issues with holiness want to regain God's favor, they cannot allow people who are "living" with them to slide by. Everyone must be on the same page—even if they are not "members". What does "living" mean? It means anyone who wishes to be associated with them, even if they do not want to be affiliated with them.

No one could save Judah and Jerusalem—even Noah, Daniel, or Job.

What an interesting grouping. When you think of Old Testament stories of a person standing up to defend another I would think of Abraham or Moses, not Noah, Daniel, or Job. But these are the three God places together. What are they known for? I think they are known for steady, non-compromising faith. Because of their faith they prevented God from destroying their family, their people, or themselves. That is what makes this section so depressing—God's exclaims to Ezekiel that no single, steady, non-compromising faith could help Israel. They had gone so far away from God that they would be unwilling to learn from the example of a strong, faithful person. Beware idols which infiltrate the heart because they will eventually lead you past the point of no return.

God punishes with hopes of saving His Chosen People.

All along I have mentioned that God's Reputation is salvation and He punishes Israel to clean out bad influences from the land. In Ezekiel's vision God tells him,

When they come out to you and their salvation is right in your face, you’ll see for yourself the life they’ve been saved from. You’ll know that this severe judgment I brought on Jerusalem was worth it, that it had to be. (14:22, The Message)

God's punishment is meant to help us see how we can live better with God setting all things right.

Do you have idols installed on your heart?

August 29 - Ezekiel 9-12: God Separates the Good from the Wicked in Jerusalem

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 9-12

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God distinguishes between those wholly for Him and those not.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

During my vision, God had His followers marked. Then executioners killed many unmarked people without compassion, beginning in the Temple.
Next God charged me to challenge the ringleaders of Jerusalem. "These murders will be thrown out! I will return My Chosen People to the land with a new heart where they will obey Me alone, not some other god."
God told me to act like as though I were going off into exile. "Zedekiah will try to escape but will be caught and blinded. A few soldiers will survive to confess their wrongs."
Judah missed the point of my show.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God protects those who are ashamed at Jerusalem's deeds.

God brings executioners to Jerusalem and kills many who do not obey Him. He also protects those who cannot stand what goes on in the city. Notice, though, the stipulation was not those who did not take part in the evil, murderous plots. It was limited to those who were "in anguish over the outrageous obscenities being done in the city" (9:4, The Message). God's Chosen People cannot stand idly by while injustice goes on, blithely going about our business. We should challenge injustice where we see it—not outsource it to some other group, i.e. a governing body far away. God's Followers should feel pain when injustice is done.

God allows executions in the Temple.

God's Temple is not a place for peace at any cost. God's Temple is a place where things are set right—forgiveness for the repentant, justice for the innocent, and punishment for the guilty. We cannot think of God as a fluffy, friendly god who wants everything good no matter what happens. God will punish those who do not obey Him, especially those who want to be His Chosen People in name and blessings only.

Do you feel anguish when you see injustice?

August 26 - Lamentations 4-5: Judah Returns Control to God

Today’s Reading: Lamentations 4-5

The Message

English Standard Version

If you have a paper schedule, we deviated a little by reading all of chapter 3 yesterday. Lamentations brings us to 29 books read! Only 10 more to go in the Old Testament!

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Jeremiah understands the source of their plight—disobedience.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Oh, oh, oh …
God's prized people are now cheap, broken pottery. Our mistakes have brought us misery. Better to die in battle than this slow, agonizing death by starvation. Prophets once exploiting Judah were ridden out of town. God ignores them.
Gloat, you godless nations, but you'll soon be like us! Our exile is behind us, yours is ahead.
Remember, God, what we've been through. We are orphans and slaves because of our parents' sins. Everyone dishonored, music gone, and wisdom missing we wish we had never left You! God, why have You left us? We're ready to return!

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Israel has hit bottom.

(Repeat of yesterday's thought)
Israel's and Judah's rebellions became such a stench before God that He had to act. First Israel went into exile then Judah followed. Jeremiah was present for the second and had a front-row seat. Now he lives in the remains of a once-proud city. God's Chosen People are not immune to God's Wrath. As horrifying as it may seem, God's Anger does not come lightly nor stay forever.

Judah has learned her lesson about deceiving prophets.

Judah once tried to kill Jeremiah for speaking against the Temple. Finally they turned their anger toward the ones who put Judah in exile. They rejected their message, rode them out of town on a rail, and marked them as against God. Eventually the people who obey false prophets to their own destruction will reject the false prophets.

Judah repents of leaving God.

In the very beginning I defined sin as taking control over God. Repenting, then, is just the opposite—returning control back to God. When Judah saw the cause of their great pain and anguish, they relinquished control and returned to God. When you are caught in a hard place, return control to God.

Have you decided to return control to God?

August 25 - Lamentations 1-3: The Nadir of Ancient Israel: the Exile

Today’s Reading: Lamentations 1-3

The Message

English Standard Version

If you have a paper schedule, we are deviating a little by reading all of chapter 3. It adds about 500 words to today's reading, but keeps a section together.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

A nation that once hosted God's Presence now in the pit of despair.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Oh, oh, oh …
The city cries herself to sleep—Judah is in exile because she rebelled against God.
The people were desperate to stay alive—even eating their babies. Oh, such pain!
My groans—no one listens! Israel was knocked flat by God's Anger. He wiped away their memories alongside His Temple.
Your prophets enabled your sinful lives. God's warnings came true.
I have hit bottom. I hope only in God's never-ending love. I'll stick with God!
When you feel helpless—pray to the Creator. I was done for and God brought me back!
God, make our enemies pay!

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Israel has hit bottom.

Israel and Judah's rebellions became such a stench before God that He had to act. First Israel went into exile then Judah followed. Jeremiah was present for the second and had a front-row seat. Now he lives in the remains of a once-proud city. God's Chosen People are not immune to God's Wrath. As horrifying as it may seem, God's Anger does not come lightly nor stay forever.

God's Anger is not forever.

Jeremiah is in the depths of his sorrow. The only thing left for him is a hope—God's love never ends.

God's loyal love couldn’t have run out,
   his merciful love couldn’t have dried up.
They’re created new every morning.
   How great your faithfulness!
I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over).
   He’s all I’ve got left. (3:22-24, The Message)

Even though God's Anger is real, His Love is equally as real. God loves His Chosen People—even in the depths of great sin and sorrow.

God's Hope is that we cry out to Him for help.

God gave Israel and Judah ample chances to change their hearts by protecting them from enemies. Unfortunately, what Judah learned was God would be there to perform miracles whenever they needed them. They never thought to change their hearts. God's purpose in making His Chosen People go into exile was to purge their places of worship, separate them from their homeland, and renew their need to obey Him. Jeremiah, on the other hand, cried out to God at every chance he had and was protected from his enemies.

Do you cry out to God when you reach your bottom?

Remember, it's the pit of despair, not the Pit of Despair.

August 24 - Jeremiah 51-52: Hurricane Persia Exacts Revenge for God's Chosen People

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 51-52

The Message

English Standard Version

Congratulations! You have reached the end of Jeremiah—book 28. The final chapter in Jeremiah repeats the story of Judah going into exile, told twice already; therefore, the summary and comments will only be about chapter 51.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Israel has not been left in the dark forever. God would return them to their homeland.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God's message against Babylon continues:
"Hurricane Persia will wipe Babylon out. Nothing will be spared.
"God is committed to His Chosen People though they sin. Get out of Babylon while you can!"
Israel and Judah praise God, "God has set everything right! Let's go home and tell everyone what happened!"
Our God is the creator. Stick-gods are nothing but foolishness.
"Nebuchadnezzar brutalized Judah. Now I will get Judah's revenge—Babylon's finished. Israel, remember God and Jerusalem in your exile."
Jeremiah had Seraiah read the letter in public and sink the manuscript into the river as a sign of Babylon's downfall.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Judah and Israel were not abandoned.

God punished the godless nations to show them how useless their gods were. Their gods could not protect them. They would be destroyed completely along with their gods—nothing would remain. Israel and Judah, however, were not abandoned by their god. He would seek them out and return them to their home. God will never abandon His chosen People.

God provides Israel's revenge.

Nebuchadnezzar's army committed terrible atrocities. Israel and Judah wanted revenge and God would provide it. God will bring revenge for His Chosen People in a just way.

Israel and Judah should tell the nations what God accomplished for them.

Most likely this was written before the events occurred; therefore, the section of Israel and Judah praising God and telling the nations is what God wanted them to do upon reentering their land. God wanted them to be lighthouses to the nations and this is how God wanted them to complete the task. When we praise God and tell of what He has done for us, we become God's lighthouses for the nations.

Are you God's lighthouse to the nations?

August 23 - Jeremiah 49-50: God Punishes War Crimes

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 49-50

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Even Babylon, God's servant, would be punished for their war crimes.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God's message continues:
"Ammon, Esau, and Assyria—you will be destroyed because of your inflated egos.
"Babylonians will destroy Kedar and attack Hazor!
"Elam, I will break your weapons and scatter your people.
"A force from the north will make Babylon's gods look fraudulent. Then Israel, my lost sheep, will seek Me and return to Jerusalem. Hurry, before you get caught in Babylon's punishment!
"Babylon, look what you've become. Now you will taste your own medicine. Israel's guilt is gone. You get the hammer. I am your enemy. The news of your downfall will be heard all over the world."

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God would punish these "godless" nations to prove their gods impotent.

(Repeat from yesterday's comment)
God wanted Israel and Judah to be lighthouses to the nations with hopes that these nations would give up their gods and follow the Creator. Instead Israel and Judah became examples of how not to follow God. Now God comes to each nation independently to prove their gods unable to save, just as Israel's gods were unable to save them. God is not being heartless and killing nation after nation. He is showing them they need a new god and Israel would be a great place to find Him. Everything God does is meant to set things right, even if it requires punishment.

God took away Israel's guilt.

Israel's and Judah's exiles were to punish them for worshiping other gods. Now God has forgiven them of their spiritual adultery and would return them to their land, an act that would be God's great deed they would remember. God removes His Chosen People's guilt!

God would pay Babylon for their war crimes.

Although God called Nebuchadnezzar and his army to defeat Judah, Egypt, Assyria, etc, their victory included terrible atrocities. God does not allow these to go by. All wrongs must be set right. Even God's Non-Chosen Servants must pay for their wrongs.

Do you think you can get away with your wrongs because you are God's Chosen People or outside God's Promise?

August 22 - Jeremiah 46-48: God Shows the Godless Nations They Need Him

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 46-48

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God would bring punishment on all the nations around Judah as well.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God's message to other nations:
"Egypt! Inside you shake with terror. You will not control the world. Exile will be your new home. Watch out—I'm going to show up your gods.
"Israel, however, I will return from exile. I'm not finished with you yet."
"Doom is coming, Philistines."
"Moab, your glory and your gods will be taken away. You will be an embarrassment to future generations. You laughed at Israel but were equally as bad. I will weep for you while I stop the sacrifices to your gods. Someday I will put things right; but first, punishment."

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God would punish these "godless" nations to prove their gods impotent.

God wanted Israel and Judah to be lighthouses to the nations with hopes that they would give up their gods and follow the Creator. Instead Israel and Judah became examples of how not to follow God. Now God comes to each nation independently to prove their gods unable to save, just as Israel's gods were unable to save them. God is not being heartless and killing nation after nation. He is showing them they need a new god and Israel would be a great place to find Him. Everything God does is meant to set things right, even if it requires punishment.

Israel would be returned because God was not finished with them.

God comforts His Exiled People:

I’ll finish off all the godless nations
   among which I’ve scattered you,
But I won’t finish you off.
   I have more work left to do on you.
I’ll punish you, but fairly.
   No, I’m not finished with you yet. (46:28, The Message)

God is never finished with His Chosen People, even when they are finished with Him.

God would set Moab right.

Out of the three "godless" nations, Moab is the only one who receives a comforting message at the end. God would punish them because of their arrogance but he would bring them back in the end. God wants to set things right.

Are you finished with God?

August 21 - Jeremiah 41-45: The Remnant Flees to a Dying Egypt

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 41-45

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

The remaining Judeans believed their wood and stone gods blessed them and the cessation of sacrifices caused their problems.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Ishmael, a royal descendent, killed Gedaliah. He and his men fled to Ammon.
Johanan and his army headed toward Egypt. Jeremiah warned that they would survive only by staying in Judah. Johanan answered that Egypt had peace and prosperity. Jeremiah told them God would punish Egypt, too. Johanan called Jeremiah a liar and continued on. Little did he know Nebuchadnezzar—God's servant—was preparing to smash Egypt.
God asked those left behind to leave behind their old gods. The women and men told Jeremiah the Queen of Heaven gave their blessings, not God.
God warned Baruch that worse would come.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Judah's murderous past continued with those left behind.

Manasseh, Josiah's grandfather, left a culture of murder behind. This led to Judah's exile. Unfortunately, Ishmael and his men continue that legacy. Beware your legacy, it may lead to a terrible future for future generations.

God still wants those left behind to set things right.

Nebuchadnezzar left behind only the poor and those unworthy of the great city of Babylon. They were unwanted. But God still wanted them. He called them to leave their stones and wood behind and return to Him. He wanted to set their relationship right so they could prepare the way for the exiles to return. God's call never ends. Set things right!

Judah learned the wrong lesson from their defeat.

In an ironic twist, Johanan first asks Jeremiah for a word from his god then calls Jeremiah a liar when it comes back not in his favor. It may be understandable that they did not want to face the wrath of Nebuchadnezzar but they continued to have no faith in God. Even the lesson they learned from Judah going into exile was that their foreign gods, the pieces of wood and stone which could not move, protected and blessed them. The saddest part of the entire conversation is now they consider offerings to the Queen of Heaven as their tradition, not setting things right through the god of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Caution, traditions of your ancestors may or may not lead to setting things right.

Are you willing to set things right or do you blindly follow the traditions of your ancestors?

August 2 - Habakkuk: Pagans Correcting God's Chosen People's Wrongs

Today’s Reading: Habakkuk

The Message

English Standard Version

Habakkuk brings us to 27 books.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Your foundation ultimately determines your fate.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God showed Habakkuk the problem:
"Look at these 'pagan' nations. They will punish you."
"God, you brought Babylonians to punish us? They will kill us like fish in a net!"
"Set your relationship right with Me and you will live a full life. Earn your living through wrong and you will eventually pay for it.
"What good is a silent idol? Behold, God-worship requires your silence."
Habakkuk's psalm:
"God is at work crushing evil nations to save His Chosen People, beating wicked kings, and scattering their armies. Even though our salvation is not here yet, I praise God."

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Judah cannot believe God would use "pagan" nations to punish His Chosen People.

As we saw earlier, Judah wanted the benefits of being God's Chosen People—the Temple, land, fruit, etc.—but did not want the responsibility of being God's Chosen People—setting things right. So God would use "uncivilized" nations to punish Judah. In reality, neither nation wants to set things right. They are equally uncivilized. God can use anyone willing to do His Will—even if they are not His Chosen People.

Riches gained through evil will not last.

God richly blesses those who set things right. Those who do not and get rich off the backs of others will eventually be punished by those they trample on. Cities and companies built on murder do not last. People who exploit their neighbors for their own personal gain will eventually be shamed. Earn honest livings by setting things right. Then you will be established forever.

God-worship embraces silence.

God contrasts worship of idols to worship of Him. Idol worship consists of people crying out in loud voices and performing rituals to an idol which can never make a sound. Worship of God consists of His People being quiet before Him, listening for Him to speak. Maybe we should spend more time in silence before God instead of thinking our loud rituals of singing bring God to us. Worship the God who answers you when you pray.

Are you silent before God?

August 19 - 2 Kings 24-25; 2 Chronicles 36: Judah in Exile; Their Land Rests

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 24-25; 2 Chronicles 36

The Message

English Standard Version

Today we finish two books, 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles! This brings us to 26 books read. Only 13 to go in the Old Testament!

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Jerusalem was taken over by the Babylonians then ransacked later because Judah never learned from their mistakes.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Egyptians took Jehoahaz into exile after three months.
Jehoiakim unsuccessfully rebelled three years later.
Babylonians took Jehoiachin into exile after three months.
During Zedekiah's reign Nebuzaradan took the Temple's bronze to Babylon. Judeans were murdered indiscriminately—even in the Temple. Then they razed the city. Judah went into exile.
Manasseh's murderous sins doomed Judah. All of Jeremiah's warnings came true. The land at last had its Sabbath rest.
Gedaliah, Babylon's appointed governor, was killed by the royal descendent Ishmael.
Jehoiachin sat at the king's table later in life.
Cyrus, the Persian king, urged God's Chosen People to return.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Judah's fall did not happen all at once.

Judah did not go into exile all at once. They had multiple chances to repent and change but instead ignored Jeremiah's warnings.

Babylon's war crimes would eventually catch up to them.

God would not allow Babylon to go scot free from their crimes. These are the crimes Isaiah (twice) and Jeremiah mentioned when they spoke of Babylon's sin. Babylon was called by God to punish Judah for their sin but instead committed worse acts.

The land enjoyed rest.

God told Israel to give the land a year of rest to test Israel's faith. God also warned that if they did not allow the land to rest He would give it to their enemies and then the land would have all of its Sabbaths at once. Israel and Judah never gave the land its rest. So for 70 years the land rested to make up for lost time.

King Cyrus allowed Israel to return.

We will get into this in the next month. Since the Chronicles were written to a post-exilic community, this section helped to bridge the contents of those books to the post-exilic history. It also showed that God's promises would come true. God's Warnings and His Promises come true.

Do you see how God set things right even when Judah went into exile?

August 18 - Jeremiah 38-40; Psalms 74 and 79: Babylon Destroys the Temple and Takes Judah into Exile

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 38-40; Psalms 74 and 79

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

These chapters fill in the blanks from the previous chapters.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Zedekiah allowed Jeremiah's enemies to throw him into a cistern. The king rescued Jeremiah to ask for advice, promising not to kill him.
Jeremiah replied, "If you surrender to the king of Babylon you will live."
Nebuchadnezzar's troops broke through the walls. Zedekiah and his men ran. Babylonian troops caught them, killed Zedekiah's family, blinded him, and burned Jerusalem to the ground—including the Temple.
Judah went into exile, except the poor and undesirable. Jeremiah was protected and released. The remnant would live in peace if they were loyal to Babylon.
Many people returned to Judah. God blessed the land.

Psalm (P)Synopsis

Psalm 74

The exiles cry out to God because their Temple has been desecrated and burned. They ask God how long before the guilty are punished for their crimes. They ask God if He hears what is going on.

Psalm 79

Asaph cries out to God because the Temple and Jerusalem have been destroyed. They ask how long these atrocities will go on. Why has God allowed pagans to punish His Chosen People? God's Reputation is salvation! Why did He let them get away with this? Judah ask for pardon. Then they will return with thanksgiving and tell others what He has done.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Judah's leaders (other than those from yesterday) never listened to Jeremiah.

We do not know the timing of Jeremiah's conversation with King Zedekiah and Jerusalem's downfall, so it is difficult to connect the two closely; however, Jeremiah told Judah not to run. Yet when the time came Zedekiah ran and paid for it dearly. Some people will never learn. They will always go against God even if it means punishment.

The Temple in Honor of God was destroyed.

We read about this earlier, so I will not belabor that point here. The inclusion of these two psalms in the Bible is interesting. God has already told Judah exactly why He is destroying the Temple—they won't listen to Him. What is ironic about these psalms is that they cry out as though it was God's weakness that caused the Temple's destruction. So it seems wrong for them to ask why God allowed these things to happen.
After meditating on these words I believe something deeper is going on. The remnant cried out to God after the destruction of the Temple as an emotional response to a great injustice. I believe these psalms are included because God wants us to see that even when we are in the wrong the proper response is to cry to Him for justice. God has previously told Judah that Babylon would be punished as well for their crimes, which we read today. Emotional responses do not rely on logic or reason. They are raw. They are untamed. This is why I rarely take the responses by the mother of a known criminal serious. It is also why the responses the first two or three days after an emotional event should be held against the person later. They may regret it anyway. God does not censure emotional responses. Neither should we.

God protected Jeremiah.

God promised to protect him at the beginning of the book. Jeremiah was the only person protected. Jerusalem had the opportunity to go peacefully and live but declined. God protects those who obey Him.

Do you trust God to protect you—even in the face of your enemies?

August 17 - Jeremiah 35-37: The Recabites Embarrass Judah in Obedience

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 35-37

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Not everyone in Judah cared little to nothing for God.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Ten years earlier, Jeremiah met the Recabite community. They followed their ancestor's commands to the letter.
God lamented, "Judah, learn from the Recabites! You ignore Me. They will always be in my service."
Baruch delivered a scroll with God's message given through Jeremiah. He read it publically. The officials, upset, ordered him and Jeremiah into hiding. The king burned it, angering God. God would destroy his household.
Zedekiah, Babylon's puppet over Judah, ignored God. In return, God told him Jerusalem would burn.
Jeremiah was accused of desertion and jailed. Zedekiah called him back and protected Jeremiah on the palace grounds.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

The Recabites embarrass Judah because they obeyed their ancestors while Judah lived the "high life".

The Recabites (also spelled Rechabites) were nomadic teetotalers. They were this way because their ancestors commanded them to be that way. Judah and Israel, on the other hand, were not nomadic teetotalers. Either lifestyle could set things right. The reason the Recabites were better than Israel and Judah was because they were willing to obey their ancestor's commands to the letter. Israel and Judah were not willing to obey the god who gave them the land, protected them from all enemies, and helped them create a nation that lasted hundreds of years. God can set things right with anyone willing to obey Him. The difference is obedience, not the specific commands each group was to obey.

Jehoiakim's actions cost him the throne.

Jehoiakim is unwilling to listen to any messenger from God. What a sorry excuse for a son of Josiah. What else could God do to get him to set things right? This is why God's message to Josiah was negative and why Judah went into captivity. Their leaders were too arrogant to need the protection of their Creator.

Not all of Judah ignored God.

I appreciate this section because it shows how some of Israel's leaders were willing to listen to God, even if their supreme leader was not. This also explains the origins of Ahikam's defense. They were greatly disturbed and wanted to both protect Jeremiah and heed God's warning. Unfortunately for them, Jehoiakim was unwilling to listen.

Zedekiah was not all bad.

One thing that we must see in scripture, and something I am not sure I have mentioned yet, is each person's depth. These are not straw men and women who were placed in these books for Bible school lessons. They were real people who were both good and bad. We must not flatten-out these people into black-and-white boxes—no matter how easy it is to do. People are neither all-good or all-bad. We are always in flux.

Can you see the good and areas that need to be set right in others?