Micah 2:1-3

News today of more insurrection planned for the Capital as President Biden prepares his first national speech. God help America.

For this is an evil time!

Micah 2:1.2.3.

2 Woe to those who devise iniquity,

And work out evil on their beds!

At morning light they practice it,

Because it is in the power of their hand.

2 They covet fields and take them by violence,

Also houses, and seize them.

So they oppress a man and his house,

A man and his inheritance.

3 Therefore thus says the Lord:

“Behold, against this family I am devising disaster,

From which you cannot remove your necks;

Nor shall you walk haughtily,

For this is an evil time.

The Hebrew term “woe” is used here as a divine threat. In this form, the prophetic oracle is called a “woe pronouncement.” These wicked individuals lay on their beds at night thinking of evil plots. They cannot sleep because they are consumed with wickedness. The Hebrew word used here typically means “god”; however, when used of people it denotes strength or might. These evildoers were powerful, wealthy people with the ability to carry out their schemes and profit by them.

The image is that of an animal with a yoke placed on its shoulders that it cannot remove. The mistreatment of others has given these evildoers the impression that they are better than those upon whom they prey. Faithlife Bible.

The ethical teaching of the prophets regularly included oracles of judgment against greed, theft, and oppression, actions of the powerful in attacking the weak. To covet is not just to have a passing thought; it is a determination to seize what is not one’s own. While the wicked devised iniquity, God made some plans of His own. The idea here is that the disaster of God would be inescapable. NKJ Bible.

Woe to the people that devise evil during the night, and rise early to carry it into execution! It is bad to do mischief on a sudden thought, much worse to do it with design and forethought. It is of great moment to improve and employ hours of retirement and solitude in a proper manner. If covetousness reigns in the heart, compassion is banished; and when the heart is thus engaged, violence and fraud commonly occupy the hands. The most haughty and secure in prosperity, are commonly most ready to despair in adversity. Woe to those from whom God turns away! Those are the sorest calamities which cut us off from the congregation of the Lord, or cut us short in the enjoyment of its privileges. Matthew Henry Commentary.

Amos 5:13 Therefore the prudent keep silent at that time, for it is an evil time.

Acts 8:31-36

Just  B.E.L.I.E.V.E.

Acts 8:31-36

31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this:

“He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;

And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,

So He opened not His mouth.

33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away,

And who will declare His generation?

For His life is taken from the earth.”

34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”

37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.”

And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

His humbleness and willingness to seek answers creates an opportunity for Philip to guide him into the knowledge of Jesus’ identity as the promised Messiah. The eunuch was reading Isa 53:7–8 in the Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation of the ot). This passage is about Yahweh’s Suffering Servant; it is one of the key Messianic passages in the ot. This passage about the Suffering Servant relates his death to Israel’s sacrificial system. The voluntary submission of the Suffering Servant to death would atone for sin and vindicate his innocence.

Isaiah proclaims that the Messiah was grossly mistreated, and His death was unjust. Through this injustice, the one without guilt would bear the punishment for His guilty people. Philip used the fourth Suffering Servant song (Isa 52:13–53:12) to explain the gospel of Jesus’ sacrificial death, victorious resurrection, and the significance of Jesus’ actions for all people. In answer to the eunuch’s question, Philip would have explained that the prophet is speaking about an individual suffering servant, who takes on the sin of all of humanity. He would have then connected the suffering servant prophecy to Jesus. 

Not long after this passage in Isaiah is the proclamation that eunuchs will be able to join God’s people (Isa 56:3–5). Isaiah reverses Deut 23:1, which excludes eunuchs from gathering with the assembly of Israel. Philip may have also made this connection.  After Philip’s message, the necessary element (water) is presented for the eunuch to demonstrate his allegiance to Christ. Faithlife Bible.

First-century Jews did not speak much about a suffering Messiah. The Jewish people, facing the yoke of Roman rule, believed that the Messiah would come as the Lion of Judah, a delivering King, not a weak lamb. They believed and taught that the suffering One spoken of by Isaiah was the suffering nation of Israel. Most likely this eunuch had heard the “official” teaching of this passage in Jerusalem but still had some questions. Philip showed him that suffering One was Jesus. He had to suffer on the Cross for the sins of all of humanity. Having heard the message of Christ’s sacrifice for sin, the eunuch responded to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Irenaeus, an early church father who lived between a.d. 130 and 202, wrote that the eunuch returned to Ethiopia and became a missionary to his own people. NKJ Bible.

The Ethiopian was convinced by the teaching of the Holy Spirit, of the exact fulfilment of the Scripture, was made to understand the nature of the Messiah’s kingdom and salvation, and desired to be numbered among the disciples of Christ. Those who seek the truth, and employ their time in searching the Scriptures, will be sure to reap advantages. The avowal of the Ethiopian must be understood as expressing simple reliance on Christ for salvation, and unreserved devotion to Him. Let us not be satisfied till we get faith, as the Ethiopian did, by diligent study of the Holy Scriptures, and the teaching of the Spirit of God; let us not be satisfied till we get it fixed as a principle in our hearts. As soon as he was baptized, the Spirit of God took Philip from him, so that he saw him no more; but this tended to confirm his faith.  Though baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, with water, it is not enough without the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Lord, grant this to every one of us; then shall we go on our way rejoicing. Matthew Henry Commentary.

Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.

Isaiah 53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgressions of My people He was stricken.

Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

Acts 17:2 Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

Acts 18:28 for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.

Mark 1:14-15

 Just believe! The Kingdom of God is at hand…

Holy Spirit, the very heart and power of the Trinity, resides in believers here on earth.

Mark 1:14-15

14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying,  “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Mark begins his account of Christ’s ministry with events after John was put in prison, as do the other synoptic Gospel writers. John is the only writer who informs us of a number of events that took place before John the Baptist’s imprisonment.

Jesus proclaimed the kingdom of God. It was the subject of much OT prophecy, and the theme was familiar to Jesus’ listeners. Repent, and believe are both acts of faith. When a person accepts the only true and worthy object of faith, that person readily turns from inferior substitutes. NKJ Bible.

As soon as John the Baptist is arrested, Jesus emerges from the wilderness to declare the arrival of God’s kingdom on earth. In this context, the Greek word used here, kairos, indicates a period of time predetermined by God. The Greek word used here, basileia, can denote a geographical territory or the reign of a particular monarch. The kingdom of God refers to God’s reign over all of creation and humanity. Jesus’ teaching in Mark reveals that members of the kingdom of God are marked by childlike humility, concern for the poor, sacrificial service, and love for God and neighbor. 

The language Mark uses to describe God’s rule demonstrates its dynamic character: The kingdom comes, it grows like a seed, and people can enter it, but only by responding to God’s will. Yahweh is described as enthroned in heaven and in His temple in Jerusalem. It is this reign that Mark’s Gospel affiliates with Jesus. Jesus’ ministry involves the cleansing of Yahweh’s temple (the symbol of His earthly presence), and Jesus Himself is the epitome of that presence: His body is described as God’s temple. The ot also affiliates God’s reign with the Davidic dynasty in parallel, later in Mark’s Gospel, a crowd proclaims that Jesus has inaugurated David’s kingdom.

There are obvious examples in history before this time of Yahweh reigning on earth, such as when Israel was established in the promised land or when Yahweh’s temple was built in Jerusalem. However, God’s full reign—as seen in the garden of Eden shortly after creation—had not existed since sin entered the world. God’s presence on earth has arrived in the flesh in Jesus. Jesus is saying that since that has occurred, it is only a matter of time until the justice and order that mark God’s reign are in place over all the earth. Since Jesus announces the advent of a new kingdom, belief in the gospel entails allegiance to the new king, Jesus. Faithlife Bible.

Psalm 37:39 But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in the time of trouble.

Matthew 3:2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Mark 9:1 And He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.”

Hosea 10:3-6

Jesus, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, our only hope of salvation.

The world is consumed with her idols of power, money and control in place of the fruit of the Spirit. The world will know believers by their fruit.

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

The world needs her King. REVIVAL!

Hosea 10:3-6

3 For now they say,

“We have no king,

Because we did not fear the Lord.

And as for a king, what would he do for us?”

4 They have spoken words,

Swearing falsely in making a covenant.

Thus judgment springs up like hemlock in the furrows of the field.

5 The inhabitants of Samaria fear

Because of the calf of Beth Aven.

For its people mourn for it,

And its priests shriek for it—

Because its glory has departed from it.

6 The idol also shall be carried to Assyria

As a present for King Jareb.

Ephraim shall receive shame,

And Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.

This foreshadows the end of the northern kingdom. In applying the punishment of exile to the golden calf the Hebrew text reflects the ancient Near Eastern practice of deporting the idols of conquered cities. Their false god was unable to save the nation. Faithlife Bible.

The verse anticipates the people’s response when God’s judgment came to destroy Israel’s political stability and independence. Llike hemlock in the furrows of the field refers to poisonous weeds sprouting up in a field and choking out the crops. In the same way God’s judgment would replace His blessings. The Assyrians often carried off the idols of their defeated foes. Israel’s foreign alliances would prove disappointing. NKJ Bible.

A vine is only valuable for its fruit; but Israel now brought no fruit to perfection. Their hearts were divided. God is the Sovereign of the heart; he will have all, or none. Were the stream of the heart wholly after God, it would run strongly, and bear down all before it. Their pretences to covenant with God were false. Even the proceeding of justice was as poisonous hemlock. Alas, how empty a vine is the visible church even at this day! But all earthly prosperity is but a collection of bubbles, soon destroyed like foam upon the water. Sinners will in vain seek shelter from that Judge, whom they now despise as a Saviour. Matthew Henry Commentary.

Deuteronomy 31:16 And the LORD said to Moses: “Behold, you will rest with your fathers; and this people will rise and play the harlot with the gods of the foreigners of the land, where they go to be among them, and they will forsake Me and break My covenant which I have made with them.

Deuteronomy 31:17 Then My anger shall be aroused against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide My face from them, and they shall be devoured. And many evils and troubles shall befall them, so that they will say in that day, ‘Have not these evils come upon us because our God is not among us?’

Hosea 5:13 “When Ephraim saw his sickness,And Judah saw his wound,Then Ephraim went to Assyria and sent to King Jareb; yet he cannot cure you, nor heal you of your wound.

Philippians 4:4-7

 Our prayers go from our heart to God’s…our Daddy hears them. 

Holy Spirit intercedes for us in those times that we know not what to pray! The peace of God which He gives, not as the world gives, wraps you in His love in those times that you are the weakest and most vulnerable. 

What a compassionate, empathetic, loving Triune God we serve!

Philippians 4:4-7

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

The motif of maintaining joy in the midst of suffering is common in Paul’s writings. By displaying gentleness toward all people—believers and unbelievers alike—Christians reveal the gospel’s power to transform and reconcile. The Day of Christ is motivation to live in a godly manner. The early Christians lived with a sense of urgency because they believed the Lord’s return was imminent. Paul wants the believers to acknowledge  their dependence on God and His provision. The Greek word used here, eirēnē, conveys a range of meanings, including well-being, prosperity, freedom from anxiety, safety from harm, and deliverance from enemies. Paul envisions God’s peace as a soldier who protects the hearts and minds of believers from anxiety, fear, and doubt. Faithlife Bible.

In the midst of difficulties, in the midst of all situations, Christians are to rejoice. The joy of Christians is not based on agreeable circumstances, instead it is based on their relationship to God. Christians will face trouble in this world, but they should rejoice in the trials they face because they know God is using those situations to improve their character. Gentleness identifies a person who manifests a calmness and fairness of spirit. A person who is gentle is willing to sacrifice his or her own personal rights to show consideration to others. The Lord’s return could occur at any moment. Paul uses that fact to motivate the Philippians to honor God with their lives.

Paul exhorts the Philippians to pray about their circumstances instead of worrying over them. He prohibits the Philippians from worrying about their own problems. Instead they are to commit their problems to God in prayer, trusting that He will provide deliverance. The peace of God operates to protect the mind from external corrupting influences and to keep the mind focused on God’s truth. NKJ Bible.

There is a care of diligence which is our duty, and agrees with a wise forecast and due concern; but there is a care of fear and distrust, which is sin and folly, and only perplexes and distracts the mind. As a remedy against perplexing care, constant prayer is recommended. Not only stated times for prayer, but in every thing by prayer. We must join thanksgivings with prayers and supplications; not only seek supplies of good, but own the mercies we have received. God needs not to be told our wants or desires; he knows them better than we do; but he will have us show that we value the mercy, and feel our dependence on him. The peace of God, the comfortable sense of being reconciled to God, and having a part in his favour, and the hope of the heavenly blessedness, are a greater good than can be fully expressed. This peace will keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus; it will keep us from sinning under troubles, and from sinking under them; keep us calm and with inward satisfaction.  Matthew Henry Commentary.

Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

Hebrews 10:25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Revelation 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.”Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

1 Corinthians 1:4-9

We are sealed with the Holy Spirit and nothing can stop His work in our lives except us. We need to lean into Him to learn to hear His voice and follow His direction. 

Believers are the outward sign of His presence in mankind. 

He binds us together for His glory…Jesus the name above all names.

Christ within us is the promise of eternal life with God.

1 Corinthians 1:4-9

4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 5 that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, 6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, 7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Statements of thanksgiving are a common feature in ancient letters.  Paul thanks God for the Corinthian believers despite their immorality. He is thankful that they’ve come to Christ and are at least staying engaged with the Christian community; this provides the opportunity for God to work in them and through them. Believers have received from God—speech, knowledge, and spiritual gifts they do not come from people but from Christ. This also shows that the believers belong to Christ now that they’ve entered into a relationship with Him. 

In Paul’s worldview, the believers have been rescued from the reign of Satan  (evil) and placed under the reign of Christ (God’s proper and intended order of creation). Since there was a very large wealth gap in Corinth, Paul emphasizes that riches are found in a life of following Christ; Christ’s gifts are what matter. His life is focused on love as God is focused on love.

The Greek word used here, gnōsis, may refer to an understanding of Christian teaching. Paul is referring to the work that he told the Corinthians that Christ would do in them; it’s now happening and is providing a witness for Christ in the world. Christ has sent the Holy Spirit to them to transform them. The Greek word used here, apokalypsis, often rendered as “revelation,” can either refer to the second coming of Christ or to God revealing something directly to a believer through the gift of tongues, prophecy, or a vision. Christ will fully inaugurate justice in the world by delivering His followers and purging the world of evil. God intended for the Corinthian believers to join together because of Christ; instead, they focused on leaders and teachers, which (among many other things) caused division within their church. Faithlife Bible.

The thanksgiving Paul offers to God for the Corinthians seems odd, considering the many problems the church was experiencing. However, Paul focuses his praise not on the troubled Corinthians but on the eternally faithful God. Paul does not praise the Corinthians for their good works as he does some other churches instead, he praises God who works in them. When we focus on people’s faults, hope soon wanes and discouragement follows. But when we concentrate on the Lord, even the darkest hours can be filled with praise. NKJ Bible.

The Corinthian church contained some Jews, but more Gentiles, and the apostle had to contend with the superstition of the one, and the sinful conduct of the other. The peace of this church was disturbed by false teachers, who undermined the influence of the apostle. Two parties were the result; one contending earnestly for the Jewish ceremonies, the other indulging in excesses contrary to the gospel, to which they were especially led by the luxury and the sins which prevailed around them. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Bible.

Deuteronomy 7:9 “Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;

Isaiah 49:7 Thus says the LORD,The Redeemer of Israel, their Holy One, to Him whom man despises, to Him whom the nation abhors, to the Servant of rulers: “Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel; and He has chosen You.”

Luke 17:30 Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

Romans 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

Romans 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.

Malachi 4:2-6

Satan seeks to destroy us…but God! We are sealed with Holy Spirit and no one can snatch us from His hands!

Love God with all your heart, mind and spirit and trust Him to do what you cannot.

How we treat others matters to God He laid the groundwork in the old testament. He does not change. We change according to how something benefits us, but God…does not change!

Malachi 4:2-6

2 But to you who fear My name

The Sun of Righteousness shall arise

With healing in His wings;

And you shall go out

And grow fat like stall-fed calves.

3 You shall trample the wicked,

For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet

On the day that I do this,”

Says the Lord of hosts.

4 “Remember the Law of Moses, My servant,

Which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel,

With the statutes and judgments.

5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet

Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

6 And he will turn

The hearts of the fathers to the children,

And the hearts of the children to their fathers,

Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”

These final verses of Malachi are generally understood as the conclusion to the entire book, but it may also function as the conclusion to the sixth disputation. These three verses summarize the essence of Malachi’s message: the need for proper observance of God’s law, the reality of future judgment, and the importance of maintaining a proper society that remains aligned with God’s instruction. The book ends with an explicit call to remain obedient to the law of Moses. Faithlife Bible.

This is the righteous remnant who held God in wonder and awe, responded to Him in obedience, and lived for Him with constant faith. The prophet compares the Savior to a bird whose comforting wings bring healing to the chicks that gather underneath. The victory of the righteous over the wicked is a promise of the living God that transcends the two testaments The identity of the Victor is already known. The command is to act on the teaching that had come from the living God. The Law had its origin in the Lord, and Moses was the divinely appointed transmitter of God’s will and word to the people.

The NT identifies John the Baptist as this Elijah. There are three ways in which this prophecy might be fulfilled: (1) John the Baptist, whom Malachi had already prophesied, was the first to fulfill the promise of the Elijah figure. John, like Elijah, was a minister of the Lord calling people to repent and prepare for the coming of the Messiah. (2) Elijah appeared in person along with Moses at the Transfiguration, a stunning vindication of the messianic role of Jesus. (3) An Elijah-like figure will appear at the end times; he will call fire down from heaven just as Elijah did. 

Malachi ends with both a promise and a warning. As in every act of God announcing judgment, there is also an offer of His mercy. The term curse is one of the harshest in Scripture. The Hebrew word suggests complete annihilation. This is the term translated doomed in the account of the destruction of Jericho. NKJ Bible.

Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.

Deuteronomy 4:10 especially concerning the day you stood before the LORD your God in Horeb, when the LORD said to me, ‘Gather the people to Me, and I will let them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.’

Joel 2:31 The sun shall be turned into darkness,And the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.

Matthew 11:14 And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come.

Luke 1:17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

This was in my inbox after doing this Bible Study….God is so very good at affirming His words to us!!

“The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5). Note the preposition of. The Holy Spirit pours the love of God into our hearts, not love for God. God hands a bucket of love to the Spirit and instructs, “Douse their hearts.”

There are moments when the Spirit enchants us with sweet rhapsody. You belong to the Father. Signed, sealed, and soon-to-be delivered. Been a while since you heard him whisper words of assurance? Then tell him. He’s listening to you, and he’s speaking for you. Romans 8:26 says, “The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness” Weak bodies, weak wills, weakened resolves. Whether we are feeble of the soul or body or both, how good to know it’s not up to us. Verse 26 of Romans 8 says, “The Spirit himself is pleading for us.” Max Lucado

Malachi 3:4-7

God honors our monetary offerings in His name to our Church and to the oppressed, the poor and the immigrant. He is the creator of heaven AND earth…we need to respect His creation. 

Heaven and earth are full of HIS glory! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.

Out of His love for us He refines us. We will learn our lessons!

Malachi 3:4-7

3 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver;

He will purify the sons of Levi,

And purge them as gold and silver,

That they may offer to the Lord

An offering in righteousness.

4 “Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem

Will be pleasant to the Lord,

As in the days of old,

As in former years.

5 And I will come near you for judgment;

I will be a swift witness

Against sorcerers,

Against adulterers,

Against perjurers,

Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans,

And against those who turn away an alien—

Because they do not fear Me,”

Says the Lord of hosts.

6 “For I am the Lord, I do not change;

Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.

7 Yet from the days of your fathers

You have gone away from My ordinances

And have not kept them.

Return to Me, and I will return to you,”

Says the Lord of hosts.

“But you said,

‘In what way shall we return?’

The sons of Levi were in need of purification because of their disobedience to Yahweh’s covenant. The unclean  sacrifices of his day were not pleasing to God. Yahweh will testify against those who are unrighteous. Certain practices are regularly singled out for criticism—mistreating marginal groups in society such as the poor, orphans, widows, and foreigners; engaging in sexual immorality; and participating in idol worship. 

This fifth disputation continues the focus on Israel’s failure to observe Yahweh’s laws as they had promised. The first verse asserting that Yahweh Himself has not changed can also be read as another response to the people’s doubts about God’s justice, but it also emphasizes the call to repentance. The people were the ones who changed and turned away from God, but they question whether it is even possible for them to turn back. Yahweh asserts that one way they could show renewed loyalty would be to stop robbing Him of the tithes and offerings that are rightly His. Obedience in this matter would be a significant step in restoring their relationship with God. The primary reason Israel has not been destroyed is because of Yahweh’s faithfulness to His covenants with the nation. Yahweh will not change His mind concerning Israel. Faithlife Bible.

Since the priests had come under such strong censure in this book, and since the prophet himself was likely a priest, these words would have had a special significance for him.

The Hebrew word translated pleasant refers to things that are sweet and pleasing. God derives joy from the end result of His work. The people had wondered where the God of justice was; now they will know. Sorcerers were people who made potions. Holding God in reverence and awe also means obeying Him.

We might expect these opening words to ensure the nation’s doom; instead, they give assurance of God’s continuing mercy. The history of Israel is not a record of ever-increasing obedience. Instead, it is a long, sad story of recurring departure from God. Return, is the key term in the Hebrew prophets for repentance, renewal, and restoration. NKJ Bible.

The Lord Jesus, prepares the sinner’s heart to be his temple, by the ministry of his word and the convictions of his Spirit, and he enters it as the Messenger of peace and consolation. No hypocrite or formalist can endure his doctrine, or stand before his tribunal. Christ came to distinguish men, to separate between the precious and the vile. He shall sit as a Refiner. Christ, by his gospel, shall purify and reform his church, and by his Spirit working with it, shall regenerate and cleanse souls. He will take away the dross found in them. He will separate their corruptions, which render their faculties worthless and useless. The believer needs not fear the fiery trial of afflictions and temptations, by which the Saviour refines his gold. He will take care it is not more intense or longer than is needful for his good; and this trial will end far otherwise than that of the wicked. Christ will, by interceding for them, make them accepted. Where no fear of God is, no good is to be expected. Evil pursues sinners. God is unchangeable. And though the sentence against evil works be not executed speedily, yet it will be executed; the Lord is as much an enemy to sin as ever. We may all apply this to ourselves. Because we have to do with a God that changes not, therefore it is that we are not consumed; because his compassions fail not. Matthew Henry Commentary.

Exodus 22:22 “You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child.

Jeremiah 29:23 because they have done disgraceful things in Israel, have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives, and have spoken lying words in My name, which I have not commanded them. Indeed I know, and am a witness, says the LORD.

Zechariah 1:3 Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Return to Me,” says the LORD of hosts, “and I will return to you,” says the LORD of hosts.

Acts 7:51 “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.

Luke 14:12-14

 It is not about our desires but  it is all about Gods’.

Help me to understand and empathize the lives of the marginalized.

Love is an action word…let our life and our giving reflect You, Jesus.

Luke 14:12-14

12 Then He also said to him who invited Him, “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. 13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. 14 And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

The people Jesus mentions would have been social outcasts. To their conditions, Jewish people often ascribed some sort of sinful behavior. Jesus’ ministry is to these type of people.

The truly humble person gives without hope of reciprocation. Jesus’ statements sum up the heart of His teaching, calling His followers to care for their neighbors out of love and to give no thought to self-interest. Faithlife Bible.

True hospitality and service are given to those who cannot repay. Disciples must have a special concern for the poor, maimed, lame, and blind, as Jesus does. Even though there may be no reward in this life, God will not overlook what His servants have done to carry out His love and mercy. NKJ Bible.

Even in the common actions of life, Christ marks what we do, not only in our religious assemblies, but at our tables. We see in many cases, that a man’s pride will bring him low, and before honour is humility. Our Saviour here teaches, that works of charity are better than works of show. But our Lord did not mean that a proud and unbelieving liberality should be rewarded, but that his precept of doing good to the poor and afflicted should be observed from love to him. Matthew Henry

Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Nehemiah 8:12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that were declared to them.

Matthew 25:35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;

Isaiah 58:6-9

Are we on the Christian path once again? Elections will come and go but those we choose to lead should share our Godly principles according to Scripture.

We are to care for the poor.

We are to care for the oppressed.

We are to care for the foreigner.

Isaiah 58:6-9

6 “Is this not the fast that I have chosen:

To loose the bonds of wickedness,

To undo the heavy burdens,

To let the oppressed go free,

And that you break every yoke?

7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,

And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;

When you see the naked, that you cover him,

And not hide yourself from your own flesh?

8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning,

Your healing shall spring forth speedily,

And your righteousness shall go before you;

The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;

You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’

Fasting and following religious rituals will not manipulate God into showing favor. He is more concerned with the motivation of the heart than the outward act. Oppressing the poor and weak of society, and burdening them with slavery, is the opposite of what they should be doing. God’s desire for social justice is a familiar theme in the prophets, especially the book of Amos.

Genuine repentance is evidenced by their behavior—how they treat the poor and hungry. Genuine repentance will lead to genuine blessing. Fasting without genuine repentance was useless Faithlife Bible.

Yoke is a metaphor for social oppression.

The poor who are cast out refers to those whose lands and houses were expropriated in payment of debts.

The light dawned with the advent of Christ. Righteousness refers to salvation. NKJ Bible.

Nehemiah 5:10 I also, with my brethren and my servants, am lending them money and grain. Please, let us stop this usury!

Nehemiah 5:11 Restore now to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also a hundredth of the money and the grain, the new wine and the oil, that you have charged them.”

Nehemiah 5:12 So they said, “We will restore it, and will require nothing from them; we will do as you say.”Then I called the priests, and required an oath from them that they would do according to this promise.

Isaiah 7:10-14

 Pray without ceasing…Lord help me to pray!

There is nothing too small or too large in your life that God, in the name of Jesus, cannot answer. 

I have allowed Him to guide me in the most mundane, earthly, daily things and in the depths of my most painful, life shattering events…He has always answered my pitiful attempts at prayer. In the measure we believe Him is the measure that we can receive from Him. 

It is not in the eloquence of speech that God reacts, it is in the simple, heartfelt asking of His child. I love you Daddy!

Isaiah 7:10-14

10 Moreover the Lord spoke again to Ahaz, saying, 11 “Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above.”

12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord!”

13 Then he said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

Isaiah’s meeting with Ahaz should have encouraged his faith in Yahweh to deliver Judah from its present predicament. Instead, Ahaz discounts the reassurance Yahweh offers, and compounds his sin by refusing a divine sign. The sign of Immanuel  has implications for the immediate future: Within a year or two—the time it would take for a woman to conceive, give birth, and rear a young boy—the threat from the Syro-Ephraimite alliance will have passed. The ultimate fulfillment of the sign points to the future restoration of God’s relationship with His people through the miraculous birth of God in human form. Faithlife Bible.

Isaiah’s prophecy was principally addressed to King Ahaz, it was directed to others also. Ahaz could ask for any sign he wished. In the mouth of the wicked Ahaz, these arrogant words rang hollow. Isaiah is speaking to the entire royal line of David. God responded to Ahaz in indignation. This petty and arrogant king dared to refuse the Lord; he would not trust in God even when his enemies surrounded him. Isaiah turns from the king whom he has dismissed in judgment and addresses all who are present. The sign is for many. 

The word Lord speaks of the sovereignty of God, of His great control over all His creation. The pronoun Himself adds an absolute certainty to the impending sign. The Hebrew word rendered virgin means “a young woman of marriageable age.” But the word also connotes the idea of virginity, for the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible made in the second century b.c., translates the Hebrew word with a Greek word that specifically means “virgin.” NKJ Bible.

Isaiah 8:10 Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; Speak the word, but it will not stand, for God is with us.”

Matthew 1:23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

Luke 1:31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.