And He Will Be Their Peace, Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Today's reading is Micah 3-5.  Micah warns evil leaders and false prophets, but he also gets to deliver the prophecy of the coming of the Messiah.  His birth in Bethlehem is foretold and the restoration of a remnant are also announced.  God will destroy paganism.

Prophecies of Micah, Monday, June 25, 2012

Today's reading includes Micah 1 and 2.  The commentary in The Daily Bible say, in part:

"Micah's predictions of future events are more numerous and specific than those of other prophets.  For example, Micah predicts the fall of Samaria, the invasion of Judah by Sennacherib, the fall of Jerusalem, the destruction of the temple, the exile in Babylon, the return from captivity to peace and prosperity, and the birth of the Messiah in the city of Bethlehem."

God calls for the people to mourn.
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"Here I Am, Send Me", Sunday, June 24, 2012

Today's reading is from chapters 1, 2, 4, and 5 of Isaiah; II Kings 15; and II Chronicles 26 and 27.  It begins with the enormity of God's anger toward the evil ways of the people.

God is always merciful and wants the salvation of His people.  Isaiah 1:27 says, "Zion will be redeemed with justice, her penitent ones with righteousness"

"'Come now, let us reason together,' says the Lord. 'Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. . . .'"        Isaiah 1:18

Menahem died and his son Pekahiah ruled for two years when he was assassinated by Pekah son of Ramaliah, who became king.  They were all evil in God's eyes.  In Judah, Uzziah died and Jotham reigned solely in Judah for 16 years.  He "grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the Lord his God.  However, the people continued in their corrupt practices.

Isaiah Begins His Prophecy, Saturday, June 23, 2012

Today's reading is from Isaiah 1:1 to 5:23.  As a deceitful husband commits adultery and then brings flowers to his wife, the Israelites continue to sacrifice to God, but not serve Him.  Isaiah contends with them regarding their sins:  religious formalism, injustice, idolatry, pride, vanity, lawlessness, green, moral corruption, arrogance, rationalization, dishonesty, and drunkenness.  Sounds a lot like 2012, USA.

Amos Continues, Friday, June 22, 2012

Today's reading is in Amos 7:10-17; II Kings 14:28-15:18; and II Chronicles 26:16.  Amaziah calls on Amos to stop his phrophesying.  He doesn't like what he hears.  Like a child covering his ears, Amaziah demands that the bad news stop.  Jeroboam II dies and his son Zechariah reigns for 6 months, doing evil as his father.  Shallum son of Jabesh assassinates him and becomes king (to fulfull a prophecy) and then he is assassinated by Menahem son of Gadi.  Jotham served as co-regent with his father Uzziah in Judah.  He was a good leader, but not righteous.

Cry Against Injustice, Thursday, June 21, 2012

Today's reading is Amos chapters 5-9.   The images of the prophecy suggest the false security felt by the Israelites (Judah and Israel).  God is not willing to accept their empty sacrifices and offerings because they make them on the way to defraud and cheat their brothers and oppress the poor and needy.

Amos 6:12  ". . . .But you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness--"