TAKE TIME: March 24-April 5, 2014 Schedule

Introduction: This week we will finish reading the prophecies of Amos and then we will read two more minor prophets, Micah and Nahum. They were contemporaries of Isaiah and fit into the timeline found in II Kings.

 Assignment:

• Monday - Amos 8:1-9:15
• Tuesday - Micah 1:1-2:13
• Wednesday - Micah 3:1-4:13
• Thursday - Micah 5:1-6:16
• Friday - Micah chapter 7
• Saturday - Nahum 1:1-2:13

Memory Verse

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to have mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8

Prayer Journal (ACTS)

• Adoration - Praise God for being the righteous judge. He doesn't take bribes and He never turns a blind eye to wrong-doing. One way or the other the offense requires retribution. Either the LORD will require it at the hand of the guilty or He will require it from Jesus, the substitute for the believer.
• Confession - Ask God to reveal hidden sin in your life and then confess it.
• Thanksgiving - Thank God for any answers to your prayers.
• Supplication - What are your prayer requests this week? List them for future reference so that you can see how God answers.

Search the Scriptures

Look for references for each of the following:

• Promises that God made and to whom He made them. Do they apply to you?
• References that either refer to or infer something about future events.
• What does this passage teach about Jesus?
• Commandments that God made and to whom He made them. Do they apply to you?

Putting the Word into Action

Many of these prophecies are against the stronger preying on the weaker. Widows and orphans often lost their homes and livelihoods to those who found "legal" means of confiscating them. The same still happens today. Do your own research and see if there are ways that you can help someone in this situation. There are many political, social, or humanitarian means available to those who are interested in pursuing them. Or maybe you could start an organization or non-profit of your own if there is a niche you discover that is not being adequately served.

Journal Through the Bible: Week 60 Friday

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Amos chapter 5

God was angry with those who had the power to oppress the poor and just by taking taxing away their food and homes from them. These also made pretense of serving God while also worshiping the idols Moloch and Chiun.

Does God issue any commands?

• God commanded Israel to listen to what He was about to tell them.

Does God make any promises?

• God promised that only 10% of those that went out of the city would be left.
• God promised that if they would seek Him they would live but they were not to seek Bethel or Gilgal or to pass to Beersheba because those places would go into captivity.
• God told those who oppressed the poor and just to seek good and not evil so and they would live.
• God would pass through their streets and there would be weeping and wailing. (This is the exact opposite of what happened when God passed through Egypt prior to bringing them out! Then it was the people of Israel that were spared and there was much weeping and wailing among the Egyptians.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• Jesus is the one made the Seven Stars and Orion; who turns the shadow of death into morning; who makes the day dark with night; who calls the waters of the sea and pours them on the earth; that strengthens the spoiled against the strong so that they can take the fortress.
• Jesus is the God of hosts.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• There are those who desire the Day of the Lord to come, but it will not be what they expect. To some, it will be darkness when they think it will be light for them. But they will be as someone who gets away from the lion and meets a bear, then gets away from the bear and thinks he is safe at home only to be bitten by a snake when he leans his hand against the wall. There are those who want God to judge their enemies - and He will - but they do not realize that in escaping a certain judgment they are running to a deadly judgment themselves when the Day of the Lord comes! This will be the judgment upon those whose religion is in vain. 

Read Through the Bible in 2014: March 31-April 5 Schedule

3/31/2014	Numbers 24-26	Acts 13
4/1/2014	Numbers 27-29	Acts 14
4/2/2014	Numbers 30, 31	Acts 15, 16
4/3/2014	Numbers 32-34	Galatians 1
4/4/2014	Numbers 35, 36	Galatians 2, 3
4/5/2014	Deuteronomy 1, 2	Galatians 4

Journal Through the Bible: Week 60 Thursday

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Amos 3:1-4:13

Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth umto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hearts, is his name. 4:12-13

Does God issue any commands?

• Through Amos God told the whole family of Jacob to listen to what He had to say.
• God commanded His word to be published in the palaces of Ashdod and Egypt.
• God commanded them to assemble themselves upon the mountains of Samaria and behold the great tumults.
• God commanded the "kine of Bashan" (a term of cruelty, see Psalm 22:12) to listen to His judgment upon them for oppressing the poor and needy.
• In mockery God told them to come to offer profane offerings and sacrifices at Bethel and Gilgal.
• God told them to prepare to meet Him!

Does God make any promises?

• As remnants of the prey are removed from the predator's mouth so would God remove a remnant of the people of Israel and Syria from their conquerors.
• In the day that the LORD would visit the transgressions of Israel upon him He would also visit the altars of Bethel and cut off the horns of the altar so that they fall to the ground. The winter and summer houses would be destroyed and the ivory palaces would be ruined.

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• God attempted to get their attention with signs, withholding rain in one place but not another, giving some bread but not others, and yet they did not seek Him. Jesus did the same in His earthly ministry. He gave signs as proof of His divinity, but all the people wanted were the miracles and the bread. Few sought to know His will.

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• One day we will all meet God. Prepare now!

Journal Through the Bible: Week 60 Wednesday

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Amos 1:1-2:16

Does God issue any commands?

• No. He lists commands that were previously given that the Israelites had broken thus bringing judgment upon themselves.

Does God make any promises?

• Through Amos God promised to punish Damascus for transgressions, specifically for being cruel to the inhabitants of Gilead. The people of Syria would go into captivity.
• God promised to break the ruler of Edom also.
• God promised to punish Gaza for taking captives to sell to Edom. The rulers of the Philistines would perish.
• God promised to punish Tyrus for taking captives to sell to Edom. The palaces would be burnt with fire.
• God promised to punish Edom for killing the Israelites, their brother. The palaces of Bozrah would be destroyed by fire.
• God promised to punish Ammon because they ripped the pregnant women of Gilead in order to enlarge their own country's border. Their kings would go into captivity and their palaces would be burnt.
• God promised to punish Moab for burning the bones of the king of Edom. Moab would die and the palaces of Kirioth would be burnt. All ;princes would be killed.
• God promised to punish Judah for despising His law and not keeping His commandments. Their palaces at Jerusalem would be burnt.
• God promised to punish Israel because they sold the righteous for silver, sell the poor for a pair of shoes, and for covetousness, lewd profanity, and leading others astray with their idolatry. Their strength and cunning would not save them from destruction.

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• Jesus is the judge of the nations.

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• Just as God judged these ancient nations He promised in Revelation that He would one day judge all nations. Jesus told His followers that judgment would be more lenient for Tyre, Sidon, and other nations than it would for the Israel of His day since they refused to believe in their Messiah when He was right there with them, physically present! In other words, there will be a time of judgment for the nations.

Journal Through the Bible: Week 60 Tuesday

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Isaiah 34:1-35:10

Does God issue any commands?

• God commanded all the nations to listen to what He would do. (The destruction of the armies is told in present tense. Everything else is told in future tense.) There would be great slaughter in Idumea (another name for Edom, the land of Esau) because of their treatment of Israel. (This probably has a yet-future fulfillment also since it talks of "the day of the Lord's vengeance" which may be another reference to "the day of the Lord."
• The weak are to be encouraged. They are to be told to be strong in the Lord.

Does God make any promises?

• Idumea would be desolate except for wild animals and fowl.

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• Jesus is the warrior in these chapters.
• Jesus is the healer in chapter 35 that opens the eyes of the blind, the ears of the deaf, and makes the lame to walk, and the dumb to speak.

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• It is possible that the events in Idumea still have future fulfillment at the time of the Christ's return.
• The desert will blossom as a rose.
• There will be a road called The Way of Holiness that only the redeemed will travel.
• The ransomed of the LORD will return and come with singing unto Zion with everlasting joy. Sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Journal Through the Bible: Week 60 Monday

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Isaiah chapter 33

Part of this chapter is a prayer that Isaiah prayed requesting God's grace upon the Jews. He receives an answer that appears to be eternal.

Does God issue any commands?

• God called those who were far as well as those who were near to listen to what He had done.

Does God make any promises?

• God promised spoiling and treachery upon those who spoiled and dealt treacherously with others without cause.
• God answered Isaiah's prayer by promising that He would be exalted.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• The king who judges every man and his works is Jesus. (verses 17 and 22.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• Verses 14-17 describes a time when an individual's works will be tried by fire as mentioned in I Corinthians 3:12. Verse 17 also mentions seeing the king.
• Verses 19-24 describes a time when Jerusalem will live quietly without any enemies. And no one suffers from illness. Everyone there has been forgiven of their sins.

Journal Through the Bible: Week 59 Saturday

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Isaiah 31:1-32:20

Does God issue any commands?

• They were not to go to Egypt for help.
• God commanded the women of leisure to pay attention to the words of Isaiah because days of trouble would be upon them and they would no longer be at ease.

Does God make any promises?

• Their plan to rely upon Egypt for help would not be successful. The Israelites and the Egyptians would fail together.
• God Himself would defend Mount Zion and Jerusalem.
• The Israelites would cast away their idols and the Assyrians would be defeated.
• Days of hunger and want would afflict them. The women who were used to being pampered would be astounded by their change in fortune.

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• Jesus is the Holy One of Israel.
• The king that reigns in righteousness is Jesus.
• He is hiding place from the wind, the covert in the tempest, the rivers of water in the desert, and the great rock in a weary land. (Thanks to the hymn-writer, Vernon J. Charlesworthy, for help with this one!)

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• The King will reign in righteousness.
• Eyes shall not grow dim, hearing shall not fail, the heart shall understand knowledge, stammerers will speak plainly, and those that are vile and churlish will be known for what they are and dealt with accordingly by the LORD.
• The palaces would be forsaken until the Spirit is poured upon Israel from on high and the land becomes fruitful. Then the work of righteousness will be peace and the effect will be peace and assurance forever.

Journal Through the Bible: Week 59 Friday

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Isaiah chapter 30

And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. (verse 21)

Does God issue any commands?

• God commanded Isaiah to go write these things in a book so that they would be recorded forever. (And so they are!)
• God told them to throw away their graven images.

Does God make any promises?

• Because the people ask counsel of others in order to do wrongly and not of God in order to do right, God said that those they trusted upon for their help, namely the Egyptians, would shame them.
• The rebellion of the people who want the prophets and seers to lie to them will be rewarded by a breach upon them like a broken wall or potter's wheel.
• God told them that they would be as a beacon or an ensign on a hill, but not in the way that Matthew 5:14 says. These people would be easily seen as they fled in terror from the few that pursued them. But God promised to wait for them there and have mercy upon them. (Wow! What graciousness!) They would then be the beacon on the hill once more testifying of God's grace and goodness.
• God would send the rains upon their seed and the bread would increase after they threw away their idols.

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• The Holy One of Israel that the people tell to "Get out of our way!" (verse 11) is Jesus.

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• Verse 19 says that the people who dwell in Jerusalem will weep no more. That must be future!
• The moon and sun will shine brighter than ever at the time that Israel lives safely in the land.
• The LORD will sift the nations and judge them.
• God will give a new song to His people: a song in the night. God will sing it also. It is a song of war and those with whom God fights will end up burning like Tophet (see II Kings 23:10).

Journal Through the Bible: Week 59 Thursday

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Isaiah chapter 29

Does God issue any commands?

• No.

Does God make any promises?

• God was going to bring sorrow to Ariel, the city where David dwelt. (Jerusalem) There would be armies encamped around her.
• Lebanon shall be a fruitful field. And in that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness. 
• There would be a day (perhaps this is still future?) when Jacob would no longer fear but would see his children in his midst fearing his God.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• Jesus is the LORD of Hosts.
• Jesus is the Holy One of Israel.
• Jesus is the Holy One of Jacob.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• The thunder, earthquake, and great noise as a storm or tempest, as well as the devouring fire around Jerusalem may yet be to come in the final days.
• The sealed book with the visions of the prophets sounds very much like the visions of the Apostle John recorded in Revelation.

Journal Through the Bible: Week 59 Wednesday

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Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD. Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation; he that believeth shall not make haste.

Isaiah chapter 28

Does God issue any commands?

• God would command that the drunkards of Ephraim be stripped of all pride.
• The young children were to be taught of the laws of God from the time they were nursing babies.

Does God make any promises?

• God promised to be the ruler who wore the diadem over the remnant of the people.
• God promised that His Foundation Stone would be the measure of judgment against even His people from the southern tribe who thought their lies would ensure them protection.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• The Strong One is Jesus. God used Assyria to bring down the Israelites, as signified in this passage as being from Ephraim, but it was through His direction that this punishment was sent.
• Jesus is the ruler who wears the diadem.
• Jesus is the foundation stone. Jesus declared the same unto the rulers of His day.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• The analogy of the covenant of death being disannulled will ultimately be fulfilled when death, hell, and the grave are abolished.

TAKE TIME: March 24-29, 2014 Schedule

Introduction: We will read just a few more chapters in Isaiah before we take time to read the prophecies that God gave to a few of his contemporaries. This week we will begin in Amos.

 Assignment:

• Monday - Isaiah chapter 33
• Tuesday - Isaiah 34:1-35:10
• Wednesday - Amos 1:1-2:16
• Thursday - Amos 3:1-4:13
• Friday - Amos chapter 5
• Saturday - Amos 6:1-7:17

Memory Verse

Review verses from previous weeks.

Prayer Journal (ACTS)

• Adoration - Praise God for desiring fellowship. It is because He desires fellowship with His creation that He provided a way for us to live with Him eternally.
• Confession - Ask God to reveal hidden sin in your life and then confess it.
• Thanksgiving - Thank God for any answers to your prayers.
• Supplication - What are your prayer requests this week? List them for future reference so that you can see how God answers.

Search the Scriptures

Look for references for each of the following:

• Promises that God made and to whom He made them. Do they apply to you?
• References that either refer to or infer something about future events.
• What does this passage teach about Jesus?
• Commandments that God made and to whom He made them. Do they apply to you?

Putting the Word into Action

Look back over some of the projects from recent weeks. Are there any that need more time to be completed?

Read Through the Bible in 2014: March 24-29 Schedule

3/24/2014	Numbers 10-12	Acts 8
3/25/2014	Numbers 13, 14	Acts 9, 10
3/26/2014	Numbers 15, 16	Acts 11, 12
3/27/2014	Numbers 17-19	James 1
3/28/2014	Numbers 20, 21	James 2, 3
3/29/2014	Numbers 22, 23	James 4, 5

Journal Through the Bible: Week 59 Tuesday

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Isaiah 26:1-27:13

Does God issue any commands?

• No.

Does God make any promises?

• God tells them that they would be taken from their land but that He would nourish it. Then they would return to it and worship Him in Jerusalem. 27:2-13

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• Jesus was the one they were waiting for like an expectant woman anticipating childbirth. All others on whom the nation trusted were empty promises. 26:17-18
• Jesus is the one who defeats the dragon/serpent/leviathan with His sword. 27:1 (See Revelation 19.)

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• Isaiah continued to sing a hymn of praise. In 26:1 he says that this song will be sung in the day that these things come to past. (Maybe we should get a head start on it! Can we memorize more of this passage than verse 3?) 
• Salvation is the walls and bulwarks of His City. The gates are open so that the righteous may enter! 26:1-2
• Eternity holds perfect peace and strength! 26:3-4
• The proud will be brought low. The lowly will be exalted. 26:5-6
• The nation is like a woman in childbirth: in pain trying to bring forth! Romans 8:22 says that the whole creation groans and travails! Revelation chapter 12 tells of the woman giving birth. (A reference to the nation of Israel being the nations through whom Jesus was born?)
• Isaiah says that dead men will live and that his dead body will live again also! The earth will cast out the dead that are in her. 26:19-21
• The serpent/dragon/leviathan will be punished by God's strong sword. Revelation chapter 19 says that God defeats the beast with his sword (God's sword is two-edged: it's the Bible! The God who spoke the world into existence will speak the word and the beast will die.)
• Israel will blossom and bud to fill the world with fruit. 27:6

Journal Through the Bible: Week 59 Monday

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Isaiah 24:1-25:12

Isaiah received an end-time prophecy in chapter 24. It caused him to write a psalm of praise to God in chapter 25!

Does God issue any commands?

• No

Does God make any promises?

• God tells the future of the world through Isaiah.

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• Jesus is the LORD of Hosts that will reign on Mount Zion.

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• The world will be made empty and waste before the LORD resurrects it as a new Earth. 24:1, 3-6, 16b-20
• At the judgment, God will be no respecter of a person's status. 24:2, 21-22
• Revelation describes a time when the earth is desolate and men are desperate much like is described in 24:7-12.
• Those that love the LORD will be as the parable of the wheat that grew up among tares, or as these verses describe them, olives. They will rejoice and sing to God. 24:13-16a
• Isaiah said that in that mountain, Zion, the LORD of Hosts shall make unto all people a feast! 25:6
• Isaiah also said that God would destroy the veil that is spread over all nations to divide them from their God. Death will be swallowed up! Tears will be wiped away. His people will no longer be rebuked or ashamed. 25:6-8
• Isaiah said that God will spread His hands and defeat the enemies of His people. 25:9-12

Journal Through the Bible: Week 58 Saturday

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Isaiah chapter 23

Isaiah received a prophecy concerning the island of Tyre.

Does God issue any commands?

• God commanded that a harp be taken about the city so that sweet songs could be sung to help people remember her after her destruction.

Does God make any promises?

• God promised the destruction of Tyre, the mart of the nations. She would be forgotten for 70 years. (She was conquered by Alexander the Great.)
• Following her rebirth, her markets would be for them that dwell before the Lord to supply their food and their clothing. (Tyre was known for its purple dyed cloth made from the murex shell. Lydia, in the book of Acts, was a seller of purple.)

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• He is the LORD of Hosts.

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• Not that I identified.

Journal Through the Bible: Week 58 Friday

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Isaiah chapter 22

Sometimes we say we would like to know the future, but I suspect we're better off not knowing. The valley of vision in which Isaiah found himself was almost too much for him to endure! He foresaw the evil that would come upon his people. God told him that he would remember it until the day he died.

Does God issue any commands?

• God commanded Isaiah to go and talk to Shebna, the treasurer, a man that had made himself a hiding place (either for himself or for hiding treasure) to tell him that he would not be successful but would be shamed. 

Does God make any promises?

• God promised through Isaiah that Eliakim, son of Hilkiah, would take the place of Shebna the treasurer and that Eliakim would hold the key to the house of David. (We will read further about him in Isaiah chapter 36 and II Kings chapter 18.)

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• Eliakim is a type of Christ, the one who holds the key to the house of David. (See Revelation 3:7.)

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• The key to the house of David is held by Jesus. He states it himself to John in Revelation 3:7. It is a sign of Jesus' right to inherit the throne of David.
• Jesus' kingship is prophesied in Isaiah 22:22-25.

Journal Through the Bible: Week 58 Thursday

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Isaiah 20:1-21:17

Isaiah was given a vision that terrified him so much that he was sick to his stomach and he bent over in pain. Troops from a terrible land would come through the deserts of the sea like a tornado out of the south comes with destruction.

Does God issue any commands?

• In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod and took it, God commanded Isaiah to loose his clothes and take his shoes off his feet to walk naked and barefoot as a sign of the Egyptian and Ethiopian captives taken by Assyria.
• God commanded Isaiah to set a watchman to tell what he sees.

Does God make any promises?

• Within a year all the glory of Kedar would fail.

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• Jesus is the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel. 21:10

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• The passage in Revelation 14:8 and Revelation 18:2 is seen by Isaiah's watchman. (21:9)

Journal Through the Bible: Week 58 Wednesday

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Isaiah chapter 19

Isaiah was given a prophecy concerning Egypt. Much of this sounds like current events!

Does God issue any commands?

• No.

Does God make any promises?

• God would visit Egypt and move their idols. There would be civil war, perhaps when dynasties changed. (Daniel 11 may also deal with this subject. Also, this prophecy may have been fulfilled in the past, but it is certain that we have been witnessing civil war conditions in Egypt recently, too.) The waters would also fail. Their economy would be devastated.
• Egypt would fear Judah. Five cities would speak the languages of Canaan. There would be an altar dedicated to God in the middle of Egypt and a pillar dedicated to Him at the border. They would cry to God and He would send them a deliverer. The Lord would be known to them and they would return to Him. Then He would heal them. 19:17-22
• Israel would be the third with Egypt and Assyria. The LORD of hosts will bless them, saying, "Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance. 19:25

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• Jesus is the LORD of hosts.
• Jesus is the savior sent by God for them. (The reference probably also means a human being sent as a leader to the people, but such rulers are a type of Christ and governments are ordained by God.)

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• Perhaps most of the events prophesied in this chapter are yet future. The confederation of Egypt, Assyria (present day Syria, Iran, Iraq, and Turkey), and Israel must yet be future!

TAKE TIME: March 17-22, 2014 Schedule

Introduction: The Middle East has always been in turmoil but it seems that this was particularly so during the days that followed Isaiah's prophecies. Many nations experienced defeat and destruction at the hands of the Assyrians and the Babylonians, who then experienced defeat and destruction themselves. In the middle of it all are a couple of verses that Isaiah prayed stating that God's everlasting strength was his source of peace even with all the terror around him.

 Assignment:

• Monday - Isaiah 24:1-25:12
• Tuesday - Isaiah 26:1-27:13
• Wednesday - Isaiah chapter 28
• Thursday - Isaiah chapter 29
• Friday - Isaiah chapter 30
• Saturday - Isaiah chapter 31:1-32:20

Memory Verse

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee. Isaiah 26:3

Prayer Journal (ACTS)

• Adoration - Praise God for His everlasting strength that gives peace to those who follow Him.
• Confession - Ask God to reveal hidden sin in your life and then confess it.
• Thanksgiving - Thank God for any answers to your prayers.
• Supplication - What are your prayer requests this week? List them for future reference so that you can see how God answers.

Search the Scriptures

Look for references for each of the following:

• Promises that God made and to whom He made them. Do they apply to you?
• References that either refer to or infer something about future events.
• What does this passage teach about Jesus?
• Commandments that God made and to whom He made them. Do they apply to you?

Putting the Word into Action

Everyone thinks that their lives are tough and that the era in which they live is one of political turmoil. And everyone is right! Such things were prophesied by Jesus Himself for those living in the last days. We have been in the last days ever since Jesus ascended back into Heaven. But like Isaiah, Jesus told us that our hearts should not be troubled because when we believe in God we can have inward peace when there seems to be no peace anywhere else in the world.  This week make a list of the things that worry you. Be honest! (No need to share your list with anyone.) Then pray and confess the sin of worry and ask to deliver you from each one. Pray about them one by one. Since these worries are defeating you it just makes sense to give them to the One who has the ability to do something to defeat them! Keep your mind upon God and whenever those worries rear their ugly heads praise God for His everlasting strength that provides your peace.  Repeat as necessary!

Read Through the Bible in 2014: March 17-22 Schedule

3/17/2014	Leviticus 23-25	Luke 22
3/18/2014	Leviticus 26, 27	Luke 23, 24
3/19/2014	Numbers 1-3	Acts 1
3/20/2014	Numbers 4, 5	Acts 2, 3
3/21/2014	Numbers 6, 7	Acts 4, 5
3/22/2014	Numbers 8, 9	Acts 6, 7

Journal Through the Bible: Week 58 Tuesday

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Isaiah 17:1-18:7

Isaiah received prophecies against Damascus.

Does God issue any commands?

• God commands all to take note when the ensign is upon the mountain and the trumpet is sounded. (18:3)

Does God make any promises?

• The city of Damascus would be ruined.
• The cities of Aroer would become keeps for flocks.
• There would be crops and fruits left unharvested because of the haste of the harvesters.

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• Jesus is the Holy One of Israel that men would respect as they turned away from their idols. 17:7
• We are told in the New Testament that Jesus is the vine. In this passage, 18:5, that God will prune the unfruitful branches.

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• Marching armies sound like the rush of the seas. God shall rebuke them and defeat them quickly. (Compare 17:12-14 with the final battle in Revelation.)
• All the inhabitants of the world and dwellers on earth will behold the ensign on the mountains and the sound of the trumpet. (Compare 18:3-5 with end time events of Revelation, including the analogy of grape harvest.)
• Offerings will be brought to the Lord upon Mount Zion. 18:7

Journal Through the Bible: Week 58 Monday

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Isaiah 15:1-16:14

Isaiah received prophecies concerning Moab.

Does God issue any commands?

• The sacrificial lamb was to be sent to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion.
• Those that escaped destruction were to be hidden and not betrayed.

Does God make any promises?

• God detailed the destruction of Moab in chapters 15 and 16 that would happen within three years.

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• Jesus is portrayed as the sacrificial lamb sent to the the ruler from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion.
• Jesus is the one whose throne shall be established in mercy and truth in the tabernacle of David, seeking righteous judgment.

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• Jesus will one day judge the nations. In this passage judgment upon the nation of Moab is predicted.

Journal Through the Bible: Week 57 Saturday

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Isaiah chapter 14

In this chapter the rulers of Babylon and Lucifer are tightly interwoven.

Does God issue any commands?

• God commanded that slaughter be prepared for the rulers of Babylon. Again it is mentioned that Babylon would be desolate. 14:21-23
• In the year that King Ahaz of Judah died God told Isaiah to command Palestina not to rejoice because the rod that smote them was broken because out of the serpent's root would come a cockatrice. 14:29-32

Does God make any promises?

• God promised that Jacob (Israel) would return to the land and that strangers would join them and "cleave" to them. (This was fulfilled after the Babylonian captivity but it was also fulfilled in 1948 when Israel achieved statehood once more.) 14:1-2
• God promised that Israel would rule over those who had formerly held them captive. In some ways this prophecy was fulfilled by Daniel when he was a high-ranking official in the court of several kings of Babylon and Persia. 14:2
• God promised that one day they would have rest and would take up a proverb against the king of Babylon. 14:3-4
• God promised the destruction of Lucifer. 14:15
• God promised that everything He said would come to pass. 14:24
• God promised that Assyria would also be broken. 14:25-27

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• Jesus is the LORD who has broken the staff of the wicked and the scepter of the rulers, including the one that ruled the nations in anger. 14:5-6

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• Israel has yet to totally turn the tables on those who have held them captive in the past. Someday she will. 14:2
• One day Satan's domination over the earth will end. Then the earth will be at rest. The inhabitants will break out in singing! 14:6-8
• Death, hell, and the grave shall give up the unrighteous kings of the nations for judgment. They shall be as weak as any other man standing before the Righteous Judge. 14:9-11
• Lucifer will be seen by all and they will consider him carefully as the one that troubled the earth. 14:12-20

Journal Through the Bible: Week 57 Friday

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Isaiah chapter 13

The chapter begins by declaring that Isaiah saw the burden of Babylon but it isn't until the end of the chapter that specific prophecies relating just to Babylon are mentioned. Sandwiched in between there are verses that contain what are most likely dual prophecies. In other words, they deal with events that concern Babylon but they also concern the rest of the world as well! Most of the things mentioned are pertinent to everyone and are still future events.

Does God issue any commands?

• God states that He has commanded His sanctified (set apart) ones and called His mighty ones for His anger. (God has a battle for them to fight.) 13:3-4

Does God make any promises?

• God promised to punish the world for their evil. 13:11
• God promised to make "a man" more precious than the fine gold of Ophir. This could be a specific man, Jesus, or it could mean the redeemed. This prophecy brings to mind Nebuchadnezzar's golden idol, something that was yet future at this point in Judah's history.
• God promised that men would be thrust through and children dashed to pieces before their eyes. (This is in reference to Babylon, the nation that would do these things to the Jews. God would have the Medes do the same to them. One of the imprecatory psalms, Psalm 137, deals specifically with this subject.) 13:14-19

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• The LORD leads His army into battle. This is Jesus. This might also be a reference to the future final battle in which all nations participate (see verse 4). 13:5

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• Jesus will lead His army, all the host of heaven, into battle against Satan and those upon the earth that Satan has been able to win over against God in the 1,000 year reign of Christ upon the earth. Jesus will be victorious. (Compare 13:4-5 with Revelation 21:7-10)
• The Day of the Lord might be in reference to more than one event in earth's timeline, but it definitely is also a future event! 13:6-9
• The time when the stars of heaven and the constellations shall not give their light, the sun being darkened and the moon not having light to shine is yet in the future. Jesus also predicted this. 13:10
• God promised to punish the world for their evil. Although God has punished the the world at times by afflicting certain nations in it, one day the world will be punished again. ("Again" because it was once punished by flood.) 13:11-13
• Babylon will one day no longer be inhabited. Quoting John in the book of Revelation, "Babylon the Great is fallen!" (Compare 13:20-22 with Revelation 18:2)

Journal Through the Bible: Week 57 Thursday

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Isaiah 11:1-12:6

Following the beautiful Messianic and future prophecies yet to be fulfilled that are found in chapter 11 is a beautiful psalm of praise in chapter 12.

Does God issue any commands?

• No.

Does God make any promises?

• God promised a rod would grow out of the stem of Jesse and a Branch out of his roots.
• God promised that the enemies of Judah would be cut off but the enmity between the two nations of the divided kingdoms of Israel would end. 
• God promised that the nation of Israel would inherit the lands that were promised to Abraham.
• God promised the remnant of the people that they would once again smite the waters so that His people could cross dryshod. 

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• Jesus is the rod and the Branch out of the stem and roots of Jesse.
• Jesus is the righteous judge of the poor and meek.
• Jesus is the one that set his hand the second time to recover the remnant of His people from the ends of the earth to be an ensign unto the nations.
• Jesus is the Holy One of Israel. (12:6)

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• The earth will be smitten with the rod of the righteous judge and He will kill the wicked.
• The wolf will dwell with the lamb. The leopard will lie down with a baby goat. And the calf, the young lion, and the fatling will dwell together: a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear will graze together and their young will lie down together. The lion will eat straw. The asp will not sting and the poisonous snake will not strike.
• The root of Jesse will stand as an ensign of the people and the Gentiles will seek Him.

Journal Through the Bible: Week 57 Wednesday

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Isaiah 9:8-10:34

Does God issue any commands?

• The LORD would command the movements of Assyria. He would set limits upon their conquests.

Does God make any promises?

• Because of the sins of the northern nation of Israel's leaders that led her into sin, God would cut off the head and tail in one day using Assyria as His rod with which to strike them. (The head was the ancient and honorable; the tail was the lying prophets.) These would punished for preying upon widows and orphans.
• Not only would God punish the nation of Israel, but He would also punish the nation of Judah. Then He would punish Assyria for their self-exalting ways. Assyria would triumph over Israel and turn her attention to Judah but would not be successful against Judah.

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• Jesus is the LORD of Hosts in 9:19.
• Jesus is the light and the Holy One in 10:17 and 10:20.
• The Assyrians would put a great burden of fear upon Judah but God promised that their yoke would be broken. Jesus taught that all that are heavy laden should come to Him for rest because His yoke is easy and His burden is light. That is because Jesus Himself carries the impossible part of the burden.

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• The remnants of Israel and Judah will stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel.  (This prophecy of the remnant returning would be fulfilled at least twice: once when they returned from Babylonian captivity and then again in the future when their hearts are turned again toward the Messiah.

Journal Through the Bible: Week 57 Tuesday

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Isaiah 8:1-9:7

Does God issue any commands?

• God commanded Isaiah to write on a scroll in pen concerning Mahershalalhashbaz.
• God commanded Isaiah to tell the people of Judah not to fear the confederacy of Israel with Syria.

Does God make any promises?

• Before Isaiah's son, Mahershalalhashbaz was old enough to call his parents "Mother" and "Father" Assyria would conquer Israel and Syria.

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• Jesus is Immanuel in 8:8.
• Jesus is the LORD of Hosts in 8:13.
• Jesus is the stone of stumbling and the rock of offense in 8:14.
• Jesus is the light that shined in the darkness over the people that dwell in the land of the shadow of death: that would be all of us! (9:2)
• Jesus is the child that is born, the Son that is given who is called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace that has the government upon His shoulder, to rule upon the throne of David! (9:6-7)

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• Jesus will rule upon the throne of David. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end. It will be established with judgment and justice forever! (9:7)

Help Launch "Polly's" Game! Plus a Giveaway Announcement!

Readers of this blog know my oldest granddaughter by her blog nickname of Polly. Well, "Polly" is almost a teenager now --cringe-- and a game designer. She is also a homeschooled girl who has been taught the free enterprise system and that money is supposed to be earned. She has dipped her toes into the free enterprise system and now a game company wants to help her earn more for her hard work.

Last year I requested your help in launching my son-in-law's newest game that was in production. NOW I'm asking for your help funding his daughter, Isabel's game, TIGER STRIPES.

Isabel designed and originally self-published her game. I even gave one of them away during the summer of 2012! Now her game needs backers during the Kickstarter stage before it can find its way into production. If this game goes into production I will give one of the professionally produced ones away here in the future.

To help get things well past the hump and speedily at full-funding, her daddy, Philip, is having a contest over at his blog. Philip has 4 games that have been published, including the very popular Revolution! board game. Now is your chance to get one of his 4 titles for free and help his daughter at the same time. Click on over there and check out the ways you can enter to win!

"Polly's" Gram thanks you. Happy hunting!

TAKE TIME: March 10-15, 2014 Schedule

Introduction: Not only did Isaiah prophecy about what would befall the nations of Judah and Israel, but through him God told what would happen to other powerful nations of the day that relied upon their own strength and defenses to make them feel invulnerable to destruction.

 Assignment:

• Monday - Isaiah 15:1-16:14
• Tuesday - Isaiah 17:1-18:7
• Wednesday - Isaiah chapter 19
• Thursday - Isaiah 20:1-21:17
• Friday - Isaiah chapter 22
• Saturday - Isaiah chapter 23

Memory Verse

Review verses from previous weeks.

Prayer Journal (ACTS)

• Adoration - Praise God for being a righteous judge. Kingdoms, like people, rise and fall at God's judgment .
• Confession - Ask God to reveal hidden sin in your life and then confess it.
• Thanksgiving - Thank God for any answers to your prayers.
• Supplication - What are your prayer requests this week? List them for future reference so that you can see how God answers.

Search the Scriptures

Look for references for each of the following:

• Promises that God made and to whom He made them. Do they apply to you?
• References that either refer to or infer something about future events.
• What does this passage teach about Jesus?
• Commandments that God made and to whom He made them. Do they apply to you?

Putting the Word into Action

The nations that God judged thought they were beyond destruction. While we cannot protect our nation, we can pray for her. This would be a good week to ask God for a revival in the land so that He might spare your country from the destruction that comes when He judges wicked nations.