So today’s reading was Psalm 1-2, which was read at the very beginning considering that this particular plan has you read through the Psalms twice while reading through the rest of the Bible. It doesn’t follow through the rest of the book right away. It moves on to Proverbs tomorrow, while the additional Psalm continues …
Job immediate reaction to God’s appearance is repentance. He doesn’t try to defend himself. He doesn’t try to explain. He just accepts that he crossed a line and repents, apologizes, corrects himself. Yes, God is talking through a whirlwind here, so probably pretty easy to humble yourself before a tornado, even a little one, but …
Got to love the argument that because God is just, everything that happens is earned in one way or another. First of all, we are usually dramatically uniformed regarding the situation in question. Secondly, we are often just plain wrong regarding what would be true justice in any given situation. Third, by requiring justice to …
What does the Lord require? One of an escalating list of sacrifices? Or is it a lot more simple than that? According to Micah, God’s been pretty clear: Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. I think that’s… I think that’s plain enough, don’t you? Unfortunately, we see people argue about what is …
The beating of swords into plowshares is a beautiful metaphor that many people have taken comfort in. It’s great. The idea that our weapons will no longer be needed, that our instruments of war will be repurposed to the service of peace, is wonderful. It’s no wonder that many cling to this promise. It isn’t …
I missed another day. I’ll recover my schedule eventually. I hope. Anyway. I kinda want to focus on Isaiah 58: 6-8. God makes it pretty clear that he doesn’t really care about your showy observance. What he cares about is your heart. He doesn’t care that you fasted dramatically. He cares that you got by …
I distinctly remember having Ahab presented to me as a cry-baby when I was a child. Patch the Pirate, if you were ever exposed to that gem of children’s Bible programming, had a song called ‘The Poochie Lip Disease.’ I loved Patch the Pirate. (I’m serious, I actually love it.) “King Ahab went a walking, …
Every since I memorized Isaiah 53 as a kid, it’s been one of my favorite passages. The language of it, especially in the King James Version, is just beautiful. (I don’t prefer the Kings James for many reasons, but there are a few passages that are just gorgeous the cadence of that translation.) The imagery …
“I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.” There’s a passage here about the absurdity of idols. Men gather practice their skill, gather materials, use some of them for mundane tasks and out of the rest make idols to worship. With their …
So Isaiah lays into the priests and prophets, the spiritual leaders of Israel who are severely failing the people, and he accuses them of being drunks on top of everything else. These people were responsible for the spiritual education and welfare of the nation and they were degenerates. Isaiah asks, who then will God teach? …