Saturday, September 30, 2017

September 30

Isaiah 60:1-62:5; Philippians 1:27-2:18; Psalm 72:1-20; Proverbs 24:11-12

I was thinking of the names of God today.  How Hagar calls him "the God who sees;" Isaiah's list of "wonderful, counselor" etc.; the Lord Almighty.  These names (and others) reveal aspects of who God is and how he deals with his people.  Our reading in Isaiah points to another characteristic.

Isaiah 60 and 61 show us the God who redeems, who restores, who reinstates.  These two whole chapters are devoted to showing how God "restores the years the locusts have eaten" (Joel 2:25).  No longer are the children of Israel orphaned and pitiful; they will be returned, among royal households (Is. 60:4, 16).  No longer will the nation be oppressed and in servitude; the people will be placed as rulers (vs. 10, 14).  No more will there be the broken-hearted, the captive, the prisoner (61:1); instead there will be healing and freedom and wholeness.  I love those "not X, but Y" statements in 61:3!  Damaged places will be rebuilt; dry fields will be watered and worked; shame will be removed to make way for excessive blessing (vs. 4, 5, 7).

This is the same God who redeems, restores, and reinstates in our lives, too.  We are no longer orphaned; we are adopted and loved as sons who inherit.  We are no longer captive to sin or death; we are free and soul-whole and we know what our future is.  The broken places in our lives - marriages, relationships, finances, health - can be rebuilt.  The dry places in our lives - depression, discouragement, lack of passion - can be watered and made fruitful.  The shame of our sin and our pasts can be removed, making way for God's blessing.

What a beautiful and needed reminder today, of who our God is and who we can be because of his extravagant love for us.  He takes what is and what has been, and he transforms those former realities into the great what-can-be and what-shall-be.

Hallelujah!


- Sarah Marsh


How did God speak to you in Scripture today? Click here to share your reflections on God's word or read past posts. We'd love to hear from you.

Friday, September 29, 2017

September 29

Isaiah 57:14-59:21; Philippians 1:1-26; Psalm 71:1-24; Proverbs 24:9-10

Rush, rush, rush! Goodbye Ephesians, hello Philippians. Don’t get me wrong, I love Philippians, it’s just that I was so enjoying Ephesians! At least I can take comfort in the slow forward progress of Isaiah.

Okay, ranting aside, it’s exciting today that we’re starting Philippians. When I was in middle school, my church small group memorized this book together. It was great, especially so because of how much I’m still able to remember. What they say really is true – it’s easier to memorize when we’re younger and it sticks with us longer! (Though I memorized it in the NIV and nowadays I read the ESV, so I’m always a little off my game.) Anyway, this is probably my favorite epistle. So cheerful, so joyful, and so encouraging, with none of the uncomfortable verses about someone sleeping with his stepmom (see 1 Cor. 5:1).

As usual, I’d like to give a little background so we can be well-informed as we read.

Most scholars agree that Paul wrote this letter during his Roman imprisonment (around AD 62), as we discussed with Ephesians, but it is also possible that he wrote it while still imprisoned in Ephesus (around AD 53). Either way, the purpose behind his writing remains the same – to thank the Philippians for a generous gift, to warn them against theological error, and to encourage them to strive for unity.   

Some of the key themes in the book are:
  • The fact that the gospel is spreading and how that should give us joy even when we’re suffering.
  • Christian unity, achieved by following the selfless example of Christ.
  • That a right standing with God is available by faith in Christ alone.
  • Mature faith as working faith.
Philippi was a leading city in its region (now northern Greece) and had become a settling place for retired soldiers. So by the time of Paul’s writing, Philippi had a very Roman feel. Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke brought the gospel to Philippi, though it hadn’t been Paul’s original idea. Do you remember from our reading in Acts 16 that Paul wanted to go to Bithynia, but “the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to” (Acts 16:7) and instead they went to Troas where Paul had a vision of the man from Macedonia who begged them to come? (When the Romans conquered Macedonia in 167 BC, they divided it into four districts, with Philippi being the leading city in the first district.) So that’s how Paul came to minister in Philippi. It was in Philippi that Paul cast the fortune-telling demon out of a local girl, thus angering her owners and resulting in Paul's and Silas’ beating and imprisonment. On the surface, Philippi seemed like hard soil, and certainly the fledgling church underwent much persecution, but by the time of the letter's writing, the gospel had flourished.

One of the things I love most about this letter is Paul’s deep affection for this body of believers. Look at verse 3: “I thank my God in ALL my remembrance of you, ALWAYS in EVERY prayer of mine for YOU ALL, making my prayer with JOY, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now” (Phil. 1:3-4). Paul cares about these people and prays for them constantly.

I also love his prayer for them in verses 9-11. If you’re feeling up to a challenge, think about memorizing that and praying it for your friends, roommates, spouse, children, co-workers, parents, etc. Wouldn’t it be amazing to see how God answers? Don’t forget to pray it for yourself! And we will be praying it for you.


- Esther McCurry


How did God speak to you in Scripture today? Click here to share your reflections on God's word or read past posts. We'd love to hear from you.

Thursday, September 28, 2017

September 28

Isaiah 54:1-57:13; Ephesians 6:1-24; Psalms 70:1-5; Proverbs 24:8

I love the insight Paul brings out from the Old Testament in his teaching to children. Now that I’m in my late 30s (gasp!), I read these verses from the perspective of a parent. (I still need to honor my parents, but I now think of myself primarily as a parent rather than as a child.) I want my children to obey me and I appreciate that Paul draws out the promise that God gave to the Israelites if they were obedient to their parents – the commandment says, “Honor your father and mother that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land” (Ex. 20:12). This is the promise – if you honor, if you obey, things will go well for you.

We’ve talked about obedience a lot in this blog (because, as we always say, the Bible talks a lot about obedience) and today’s passage is another good reminder. Children are to obey their parents “for this is right” (Eph. 6:1); slaves are to obey their earthly masters “with a sincere heart” (vs. 5). Obviously, slavery in our nation has been abolished but the principle of obeying not “by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ” (vs. 6) is still such a call for us in all our work. When we’re doing a task for our employer, or even as a volunteer, we don’t do a good job only when the boss is looking; rather we work as servants of Christ.

Of course, I have to talk about the “whole armor of God” (Eph. 6:11) that Paul details in the final portion of our Ephesians passage. There’s been much discussion about the six items that Paul chooses to write about, some people looking to the Roman solider and his gear. But in one of the commentaries I was reading, the author made an amazing connection to Isaiah, which I thought was so interesting given that we’re also reading in Isaiah in our OYB. Here’s a quick breakdown (Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary, 337):

Image                                   Reference                                           Spiritual Weapon
Belt                                       Is. 11:5                                                Truth
Breastplate                          Is. 59:17                                             Righteousness
Feet fitted                            Is. 52:7                                               Gospel of peace
Shield                                   Is. 21:5                                                Faith
Helmet                                 Is. 59:17                                              Salvation
Sword                                   Is. 49:2                                               Spirit/Word of God
                                                                                                           Prayer

The real point, though, isn’t the exact metaphors, but rather Paul’s call to us to be prepared, to be aware of the spiritual warfare that we face, and to join with other believers in praying against it. I will readily confess that I’m not as faithful as I should be in preparing myself, either in prayer or in mental steadiness, and I can go weeks without thinking about the “rulers, authorities, the cosmic powers over this present darkness, the spiritual forces of evil” (Eph. 6:12) that are at work against us. I don’t know if that’s because my life in the US is easy and comfortable, or if the effects of these powers are subtler and I falsely attribute them to “bad luck” or “coincidence” or some other such thing. Either way, I am challenged afresh by this reading today and hope something in it also struck a chord with you.

Help us, Jesus, to be prepared, to arm ourselves with your truth, righteousness, gospel, faith, salvation and spirit, so that we “may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm” (Eph. 6:13). We want to stand firm, Jesus. Amen.


- Esther McCurry


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Wednesday, September 27, 2017

September 27

Isaiah 51:1-53:12; Ephesians 5:1-33; Psalm 69:19-36; Proverbs 24:7

There must have been such comfort for the exiled people in Isaiah's prophetic words. Thrust from their homeland and unable to worship their God properly, the promises for "joy and gladness [to] be found in [Zion], thanksgiving and the sound of singing" (Is. 51:3, a description repeated in vs. 11) must have been a lifeline.  They needed the hope.  And what hope it was: "My salvation will last forever; my righteousness will never fail" (vs. 6, repeated almost verbatim in vs. 8).  The prospect of vengeance, too, must have been reassuring (see vs. 23).  They were reminded: God remembered them; God heard them; God would respond.

We are reminded: God remembers us; God hears us; God will respond. 

And God is with us. "The LORD will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard" (Is. 52:12).   God is ahead of us; God is behind us; we are hedged about by him.  I'm reminded of Psalm 139: "You hem me in - behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me."  What comfort!

And God delivers us.  The rest of our passage in Isaiah today draws a picture of Jesus - tender, despised, carrying our sorrows, pierced for our transgressions, oppressed.  "He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors" (Is. 53:12).  The sin of many - that's my sin, and it's yours.  The transgressors - that's me, and it's you.  

I initially thought I would write this post about the marriage relationship as described in this chapter in Ephesians.  But I'll instead say that Tim Keller's sermons on this passage, available on Redeemer Church's website, would be the basis of my thoughts. Instead of paraphrasing his sermons, I will leave him to say all that's needed and with much more eloquence.  (Personally, I don't recommend the sermon on gender differences; the rest of it is g.r.e.a.t.)

And, truly, I was overcome by the movement of God toward his people.  It's condescension, in the best possible way.  It's inclination; it's orientation.  God was intimately involved in his people's lives in the past and nothing about that has changed in the present.  Nor will it in the future.  

God remembers us.

God hears us.

God will respond.

God is with us.

God delivers us.

Hallelujah.


- Sarah Marsh

How did God speak to you in Scripture today? Click here to share your reflections on God's word or read past posts. We'd love to hear from you.

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

September 26

Isaiah 48:12-50:11; Ephesians 4:17-32; Psalm 69:1-18; Proverbs 24:5-6

I am going to try to resist writing all about Isaiah today. It’s very hard to do because each day I am so struck by God’s majesty and his splendor portrayed in our passages. And who can escape getting excited about words that talk about how dear we are to God such as, “The Lord called me from the womb…I have engraved you on the palms of my hands” (Is. 49:1,16)? I just want to lift my hands and praise every time I read Isaiah these days. But wait, I was going to resist. Yes, here we go.

Let’s talk instead about our tongue. I am often struck by how many times Scripture addresses our tongue. We see it talked about frequently in Psalms and Proverbs; in the gospels, Jesus addresses the issue of our tongue and words; and now we will see it mentioned over and over again in the epistles as we read through them. Why, I wonder? Probably because it’s such a big issue. It was then, and it is now. Our words have such incredible power for destruction or for building and restoring others. We all know this, but we probably don’t realize the sheer power of our words. That’s why Scripture reminds us over and over and over again.

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs” (Eph. 4:29).

What if every word out of our mouths was truly only helpful for building others up according to their needs? How radical would that be. How far I am from this. Lord, have mercy. I like how Paul talks about using words according to the individual. We don’t just say meaningless platitudes, but thoughtful, appropriate and edifying words. This takes intention and practice.

A few years back I decided to give up harsh words for the Lent season. Not something people usually think of giving up when it comes to Lent. But I was convicted that my thoughtless and sometimes harsh words were keeping me from walking with the Lord in the way that I wanted to. It was also causing destruction within my marriage and my family.

This was a difficult discipline for me. I just wanted to say what I wanted to say, what I often felt so justified in saying. Yet I don’t want to destroy those I love the most. My words are so powerful in the lives of my children and husband. It’s a discipline to use them for building. We need help from the Lord in controlling our tongue. We were sealed with the Holy Spirit and he enables us to get rid of the bitterness, rage, anger, and slander.

Lord, help us to use our tongues and words to only build and not to destroy. May we be “kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave [us]” (Eph. 4:32).


- Mary Matthias

How did God speak to you in Scripture today? Click here to share your reflections on God's word or read past posts. We'd love to hear from you.

Monday, September 25, 2017

September 25

Isaiah 45:11-48:11; Ephesians 4:1-16; Psalm 68:19-35; Proverbs 24:3-4

I love it when the format of The One-Year Bible causes us to see the inter-relatedness of God's word.  Today brings just such an example: Paul quotes Ps. 68:18 (our Psalms reading yesterday) in our New Testament reading today.  I'm grateful to the editors of the OYB for making these connections more obvious to us, and I'm grateful to the inspired word of God for being so consistent within itself.  Amazing...

Today I needed the reminders Paul gives in his discussion of giftings in God's body.  Paul sets up a domino effect to drive home his point.  Though the work is varied (the apostles, prophets, etc. [Eph. 4:11]), the purpose of the work is the same.  All are equipped by God in order "to prepare God's people for works of service" (vs. 12).  That's the first domino.  Why are God's people to do these works of service?  "So that the body of Christ may be built up" (vs. 12).  That's the second domino.  What is the point of building up the body of Christ?  "Unity in faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God" (vs. 13).  Third domino.  Fourth domino falls when we realize that such unity will cause us to "become mature" (vs. 13), and the last one plunks over as we recognize that maturity can be at least partially defined as "attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ" (vs. 13).

For some reason, the cause-and-effect of these two verses was highlighted for me today.  Perhaps God wants to remind me that all gifts given to the body of Christ - regardless of how I perceive or rank them - are equally useful in knocking down the rest of these dominoes.  Perhaps I need to remember that my gifts aren't for my own personal use and growth, but that I'm part of a larger organism which needs me and is needed by me.  And perhaps I could use the encouragement that I am moving toward the fullness of Christ, bit by little bit.

Maybe, today, you are looking for these reminders, too.


- Sarah Marsh

How did God speak to you in Scripture today? Click here to share your reflections on God's word or read past posts. We'd love to hear from you.

Sunday, September 24, 2017

September 24

Isaiah 43:14-45:10; Ephesians 3:1-21; Psalm 68:1-18; Psalm 24:1-2

Our nation, though blessed by God in many ways, has been moving away from God and toward idol worship. There is little in our culture to draw our children to God. They are growing up distracted by games and toys and cell phones.

The children growing up in Isaiah’s lifetime were living in a culture not all that different from ours. It was a pagan society, for Israel had abandoned her devotion to the God of Israel. And she would soon be going into captivity in Babylon where the God of Israel was not known.

And here in Isaiah 44 we find wonderful promises to pray for our children—pagan culture and cell phones, distracted by games and toys and all.

I don’t remember exactly when I discovered these verses in Isaiah, but somewhere in my children’s youth, I began praying these words for them. I prayed that the God who formed them would also help them (Is. 44:2). I asked for the Holy Spirit to be poured out on my children and for the Lord’s blessing to be given to my descendants (vs. 3). I prayed that my descendants would be as numerous as grass springing up in a meadow (vs. 4) (and with twenty-three direct descendants I’m seeing this come true—thank you, Lord). And I also prayed these most important words in verse 5: “One will say, ‘I belong to the Lord’; another will call himself by the name of Jacob; still another will write on his hand, ‘The LORD’s,’ and will take the name Israel.”

And then verse 6: “This is what the LORD says—Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and the last; apart from me there is no God” (Is. 44:6). I prayed that my descendants would know that apart from the LORD Almighty there is no God.

If I have no inheritance to leave my children (and I hope I will), the very best thing I could leave with them is a knowledge of the Holy God. My fondest hope and prayer is that each of my descendants would know and love the Lord Jesus Christ and live his/her whole life for Him and His glory. Nothing could be better. There is nothing greater I could hope and pray for them—not riches, not fame, not world leadership, not a happy family nor a satisfying job—nothing compares with knowing the God who made them and loves them.

Have these promises all come true for my family? No. I have some descendants who don’t yet follow the God who made them.

Does that change my prayers? Not one bit. I still pray these same words for my children, and now for my grandchildren.

“May each of our children write on their hands—'The LORD’s'. May each one of our descendants love and serve you, O Lord. Amen.”


- Nell Sunukjian

How did God speak to you in Scripture today? Click here to share your reflections on God's word or read past posts. We'd love to hear from you.

Saturday, September 23, 2017

September 23

Isaiah 41:17-43:13; Ephesians 2:1-22; Psalm 67:1-7; Proverbs 23:29-35

Did I luck out on today's reading or what?  It's so chock-full of goodness that the only difficulty in writing this post is narrowing down what to address!

How can I not see the great beauty in Ephesians 2?  Paul writes of "[God's] great love for us" (Eph. 2:4); of the richness of his mercy and grace (vs. 4, 7); of our inclusion, unity, and acceptance (vs. 13, 17-22).  "It is by grace you have been saved" (vs. 5, 8), Paul reiterates.

How can I overlook the tremendous blessing in Psalm 67:1, prayed over a people with expectation and anticipation?  Expectation that God will be gracious and make his face shine, and anticipation that this blessing will be observed by the world and will winsomely compel them to worship the one true God (Ps. 67:2-5, 7).  Blessed to be a blessing, for certain.

But I can't step away from the Old Testament reading.  (My husband challenged me recently to write out of more than our OT passages - apparently my love of the first two-thirds of the Bible has been perhaps too well-documented thus far in our blog.)  How can I not write about portions of Scripture like today, though?

In Isaiah today, I get a chance to see God's character revealed.  I see how responsive he is to his people: "The poor and needy search for water" (Is. 41:17) and God answers, not with a skin of water, not with a well, not with a small rivulet, but with flowing rivers and gushing springs, with pools of water that cause trees of all kinds to thrive (vs. 18-19).  God isn't content to give just enough; he is extravagant, excessive, overwhelming in his response.

I see God's tenderness: "A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out" (Is. 42:3).  God sees life, even in the most desperate of circumstances, and nurtures it.  I cannot tell you how many times I have been grateful for this reminder - that God will deal gently with me in my insufficiency.

I am reassured of God's presence, even amidst difficulty: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze" (Is. 43:1-2).  I'm always struck by the "whens" in this passage.  I can - and should - expect the waters, the rivers, the fire, the flames.  I'm equally struck by the strong, upholding hand of the Lord Almighty during these "whens."  I will not be overcome; I will not be destroyed; I will not be undone.  "You are precious and honored in my sight...I love you" (Is. 43:4).  Are there more beautiful words?  Though Isaiah spoke these words from God to the nation of Israel, we can know that God feels this way about us, too.  If he redeemed Israel out of Egypt because of this love, what can we conclude about his love for us based off our redemption out of sin through the death of his Son?

Beyond his self-revelation, I see God's purpose for his people, too.  God calls us "to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness" (Is. 42:6-7).  Wow.  Jesus declares something very similar about himself in Luke 4 (a portion yet to come in our reading of Isaiah, in ch. 62), but we are here invited into this great, on-going work of redemption.  We are God's witnesses and his servants (Is. 43:10, 12), blessed (once more) to be a blessing.

Lord, make us blind to all but you, deaf to all but you (Is. 42:19).  Make us that committed to you.  Thank you for your inclination toward us, your tender, responsive attitude, your presence in difficulty, your calling for us.  We have already been blessed greatly by you.  Make us witnesses for you, blessing the world around us.  Amen.


- Sarah Marsh

How did God speak to you in Scripture today? Click here to share your reflections on God's word or read past posts. We'd love to hear from you.

Friday, September 22, 2017

September 22

Isaiah 39:1-41:16; Ephesians 1:1-23; Psalm 66:1-20; Proverbs 23:25-28

Today we start Ephesians. As much as I love The One Year Bible, there are times I wish I could sit a bit longer in something. I feel like we just flew through Galatians and now it’s time to start digesting Ephesians. Do you ever feel that way?

Anyway, there are so many beautiful and amazing truths in Ephesians. This is such an encouraging book. As is my MO when we’re starting a new book, I thought some background might be helpful.

This book was written by Paul, as you probably know, most likely around AD 58/59. That means Paul wrote this letter while he was under house arrest in Rome, and I am struck again by what a fruitful time that was for Paul. Here’s a refresher on how he ended up there, clearly by God’s design.

So Paul writes this letter to the believers in Ephesus, a leading city in the richest region of the Roman empire. Paul started this church after his 18 months in Corinth, with the help of Priscilla and Aquila. (See Acts 19 for some highlights of his ministry there.) Paul was in Ephesus for two years and made many converts so that by the time of the writing of this letter, the church there consisted of many converted Jews as well as Gentile believers coming right out of paganism. Given the likely size of the church (if the silversmith guild is losing revenues because of a sales decrease of their images, the church must have been large – see Acts 19:23-27), it is probable that these believers met in smaller groups in several homes, rather than one large gathering place.

Paul writes Ephesians to give these new believers (some who were Jewish, some who were steeped in local religions/magic/astrology) a deep grounding in the gospel of Jesus. Along with that comes his exhortation to live a life that is distinctive from the rest of the pagan culture. Some of the key themes in the letter are:
  • Christ is supreme over all of creation, especially the powers of darkness.
  • Believers participate with Christ in his death, resurrection, and fullness.
  • The church is the one body of Christ and is composed of Jews and Gentiles.
(See Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary, pg. 301-303, for further information on the church of Ephesus and themes.)

So it’s with this in mind that we begin our journey in Ephesians, eager to soak up verses like this one: “He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love, he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will…in him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us…” (Eph. 1:4-7). Look at those words again – he chose us, we are holy and blameless, he predestined us, he adopted us, have redemption, forgiveness, grace that is lavished upon us. I mean, can I get an AMEN or what?! Paul’s words are so encouraging and such a true picture of a God who is absolutely crazy about you and me. He loves us so much and I’m so thankful today for this reminder. And I’m thankful for God’s word, preserved for thousands of years so that I could read it today, September 22nd, and be reminded that the riches of God’s grace have been lavished upon me.

Thank you, Lord!

PS – Was anyone besides me totally irritated at Hezekiah in today’s reading? I was struck by this when we read the account in 2 Kings 20 and I was struck by it again today. He doesn’t care that God’s punishment is coming because of his arrogant boasting as long as it’s not coming during his lifetime. Doesn’t say too much for his paternal nature, does it?


- Esther McCurry

How did God speak to you in Scripture today? Click here to share your reflections on God's word or read past posts. We'd love to hear from you.

Thursday, September 21, 2017

September 21

Isaiah 37:1-38:22; Galatians 6:1-18; Psalm 65:1-13; Proverbs 23:24-25

“O you who hears our prayer, to you shall all flesh come” (Ps. 65:2).

How do you respond to bad news? What do you do when something unexpected and catastrophic happens?

As the king of a large nation, Hezekiah received some pretty bad news in our Isaiah reading today. We have read this account twice before in 2 Kings 19 and 20, and then again in 2 Chronicles 32. But in Isaiah we really see into the heart and spirit of how Hezekiah responds to some really bad news.

Yesterday we read that Sennacherib king of Assyria had come into their land with plans to destroy it. This army had destroyed every nation it had attacked, and Hezekiah was facing the destruction of everything he held dear. His life and the lives of all of his people were being threatened by an evil, unstoppable force.

“As soon as King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes, covered himself, and went into the house of the Lord” (Is. 37:1). He then called all the priests to join him in lifting up prayers to the Lord for God to somehow deliver them from this army. And as we read on, we saw that the Lord did in fact hear, and grant, his plea for divine intervention.

And then in the very next chapter, we read about how he became seriously ill. Isaiah came to tell Hezekiah that he would die from this illness, and as soon as he left, “Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord…..And Hezekiah wept bitterly” (Is. 38:2-3). Again, we see Hezekiah, in deep distress and anguish over the news that was delivered to him, turn to the Lord and literally cry out to him.

How do we respond to bad news?

My dad tells the story of my great-grandfather as a new Armenian immigrant to America in the early 1900’s. My great-grandfather would get up each morning and go out to look for work for that day. If it was a good day, he would earn enough money to buy groceries on his way home to feed his family for that night. If it was a bad day, and no work was to be found, he would come home empty-handed. On one such bad day, he remembers walking through the front door and seeing all his kids gathered around the table hoping for some food to eat that day. When they saw him walk in empty-handed, they all burst into tears, knowing they were going to be left hungry. My great-grandfather just kept walking straight through that front room and went into the back room and shut the door, and fell on his knees, crying out to God, “How am I going to feed my babies?” He would spend his nights on his knees, pleading with God.

These men, Hezekiah and my great-grandfather, knew what to do when bad news came and tragedy hit. They knew what it meant to lay prostrate before the Lord, powerless to change anything in their own might, but confident that a powerful God could intervene on their behalf. Through bold and persistent prayers, they petitioned the Lord, audaciously asking for the miraculous to be done.

And God heard, and granted, their requests. God heard, and was moved to action by their supplication. We saw it in Hezekiah’s life and I saw it in my great-grandfather’s life. My grandmother, his daughter, died a rich woman. She was known for her generous table full of rich and delightful food to share with anyone who entered her home.

How do we respond to bad news? Let us walk straight through the turmoil, heading to our quiet space to meet with the Lord, and hit our knees, crying out, “O God, hear our prayer!”

“By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation” (Ps. 65:5)


 - Mary Matthias

How did God speak to you in Scripture today? Click here to share your reflections on God's word or read past posts. We'd love to hear from you.

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

September 20

Isaiah 33:13-36:22; Galatians 5:13-26; Psalm 64:1-10; Proverbs 23:23

One of the qualities I love so much about Scripture is its consistency (Mom mentioned this characteristic earlier this week, too).  The same themes run throughout the Old and New Testaments; images are repeated; even words and phrases are used over and over.  Today's reading gives us several examples of this consistency.  Let's look at them:

Isaiah 33:15-16 reminds me of portions of Psalm 15, where the way of the righteous man is characterized by (among other things) a blameless walk, upright speech and aboveboard financial dealings.

Isaiah 35:5-10 develops the theme of reversals that we've seen before, like in Hannah's song in 1 Samuel 2 or in Mary's Magnificat in Luke 1.  God takes that which is not and turns it into that which is.  Barren women give birth; deserts are filled with water; the blind and lame and deaf see and walk and hear.  God overturns the status quo, bringing life and health and wholeness and flourishing.

Galatians 5:14 is a direct quote, directing us back to Jesus and his conversation in the gospels (see Mt. 22 and Mk. 12).  In responding to the questions of the teachers of the Law, Jesus says that the second great commandment is "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Mk. 12:31) - but Jesus himself is quoting from Leviticus 19:18.  Paul, quoting Jesus, quoting the Old Testament.  Talk about a repeated idea; clearly, this is an important concept!

Galatians 5:22-23 (the fruit of the Spirit) is offered in contrast to vs. 19-21 (the acts of the sinful nature).  Another example of "not this, but this."

Psalm 64:7-10 are the antithesis of vs. 3-6.  The plans of the wicked are upset and overturned; their own weapons of destruction are used against them.  Yet another example of the theme of reversals.

Even the idea of "get wisdom" (Pr. 23:23) has been seen before.  Look at Proverbs 4:5 and 7, which urge us to acquire understanding, wisdom, knowledge as a foundation for good living.

God recognizes how much we need to hear and see the same truths over and over again.  We are prone to forget, prone to think we've learned this lesson.  God's goodness and love for us know better; he gently reiterates these important concepts through the steady consistency of his word.  How good of him!


- Sarah Marsh

How did God speak to you in Scripture today? Click here to share your reflections on God's word or read past posts. We'd love to hear from you.

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

September 19

Isaiah 30:12-33:12; Galatians 5:1-12; Psalm 63:1-11; Proverbs 23:22

So many rich passages of Scripture were in today’s reading. So many that are familiar to us and probably some many of us have even memorized. Here are some of my favorite sections from today:

Isaiah 30:13-14 -“This sin will become for you like a high wall, cracked and bulging, that collapses suddenly, in an instant. It will break in pieces like pottery, shattered so mercilessly that among its pieces not a fragment will be found.”
            I love this imagery and how completely it captures the nature of sin.  Sin gives the illusion of security (the wall) and completeness (whole pottery), but it’s not what it seems. Rather, sin cracks, collapses, shatters, and leaves complete devastation.

Isaiah 30:15- “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.”
            Ahh, here is our security, strength, and completeness.  I memorized this verse a few years back. This verse is almost counterintuitive, but so true. Repentance is such a good thing, such a powerful thing.

Isaiah 30:18- “The Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion.”
            What a tender and merciful God we serve. Thank you, Lord.

Isaiah 30:21- “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”
            Another verse that’s great for memorizing. And, thanks to one of my Jr. High leaders who put this verse to music, it was easy for me to do. Thanks, Bob!

Isaiah 31:1- “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the Lord.”
            We may not look to Egypt or horsemen these days to find help or deliverance, but we certainly look to other sources besides our great God. We go to money or to our own hands to work harder to make more money. We trust in the multitude of our investments and provisions we have built up. We look to the government or institutions to keep us safe. Let us instead look to the Holy One, the God of all the earth.

Galatians 5:1- “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
            Love, love, love this verse. It is for freedom we have been set free! We are free! So walk in freedom. We don’t have to remain in sin; we have been set free to be free!

Psalm 63:1,5- “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water…My soul will be satisfied with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.”
            This is not always my experience of God. I don’t always long for him like the psalmist describes, but I want to. I want to hunger and thirst for him beyond all else. Only he satisfies. He is so worthy of our lives and of our praise.


- Mary Matthias

How did God speak to you in Scripture today? Click here to share your reflections on God's word or read past posts. We'd love to hear from you.

Monday, September 18, 2017

September 18

Isaiah 28:14-30:11; Galatians 3:23-4:31; Psalm 62:1-12; Proverbs 23:19-21

Rest for our souls.  Isn't that a beautiful idea?  I remember in high school when I was preparing a song for a vocal competition, a classical piece based off Jesus' words in Matthew.  "He will give you rest," I sang.  What a promise.  

Psalm 62 expounds this idea, giving us a peek into the psalmist's reasons for being able to rest.  Because the Lord is his rock and salvation, his fortress (vs. 2, 6), he can be confident.  We can only rest when we are safe.  Think of an injured child, who cries until held by her mother, but then quiets within the security of those arms.  Aren't we the same?  We can pause because we have a firm rock, a mighty fortress, as our salvation - our protection. The imagery here is very defensible: can't you see the towers of the castle rising?  The high ground (rock) from which all surrounding areas can be seen?  The place of safety implied by "refuge" (vs. 7, 8)?  Because these protective hedges are in place, because we can trust God, we can breathe.  We can rest.  

The certainty of this safe place is reinforced by repetition.  The repeated words and ideas in vs. 1-2 and vs. 5-8 remind us that we have placed our trust in him "at all times" (vs. 8).  He is trustworthy.  He is secure.  We can depend on God (vs. 6).

So on that foundation, we can build a layer of rest.  We can also build hope (a theme from yesterday's reading - like Mom said, Scripture is very consistent!).  Vs. 5 mentions hope specifically, but I think the declarations in the rest of that stanza confirm the idea.  And vs. 9-10 push us to look beyond what is immediately apparent as we wait for the action of God.

The conclusion of the psalm, vs. 11-12, is not only a strong summary of God's character, but also points us right back to the beginning of the psalm.  God is strong and God is loving.  God is loving, and so he desires to offer us salvation and rest.  God is strong, and so he can offer us salvation and rest.  He is willing and able.  Come unto him.

If you're interested and could use an audio reminder of Jesus' invitation, check out this YouTube link for "Come Unto Him," from Handel's "Messiah."  


- Sarah Marsh

How did God speak to you in Scripture today? Click here to share your reflections on God's word or read past posts. We'd love to hear from you.

Sunday, September 17, 2017

September 17

Isaiah 25:1-28:13; Galatians 3:10-22; Psalm 61:1-8; Proverbs 23:17-18

Sarah, Mary, Esther and I have mentioned in this blog the consistency of Scripture. We’ve noticed that often the same truth will be in both the Old and New Testament sections of our reading.

And that is true today, too. One of the truths that permeates each passage is in Proverbs 23:18: “Surely there is a future hope for you and your hope will not be cut off."

Hope.

Hope is a theme of Scripture that gives us life and vitality even when circumstances are tough. We see hope displayed in nature as the seasons change. It’s autumn now and, though it’s still warm here in southern California, even here the trees are shedding their leaves and the summer gardens are dying. In colder climates, snow and ice will come and cover the ground. But the dormant soil will become fertile again in the spring.

Our God is a God of hope.

Isaiah wrote, “Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; Your Name and renown are the desire of our hearts” (Is. 26:8). Isaiah expressed hope in terms of waiting—there is joy in the way he waits for God to act during very dark times in Judah and when Judah is facing certain judgment. In fact, he writes with joy of the day to come when “on this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all the peoples, a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines” (25:6). Isaiah waits with hope, knowing that judgment and even exile are ahead, but they are not the end of God’s story.

The end of God’s story is always hope—hope that is based on God’s faithfulness and goodness and not on circumstances or even obedience. Paul makes a big point in Galatians of saying that we couldn’t obey the law; it couldn’t save us or bring hope. Instead, “what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe” (Gal. 3:22b).

Our hope is based on what Jesus Christ gives to those who believe.

“Jesus, we thank you that you are Hope and that our future is safe in Your hands.”


- Nell Sunukjian

How did God speak to you in Scripture today? Click here to share your reflections on God's word or read past posts. We'd love to hear from you.

Saturday, September 16, 2017

September 16

Isaiah 22:1-24:23; Galatians 2:17-3:9; Psalm 60:1-12; Proverbs 23:15-16

Paul writes about me and to me today.  "Are you [Sarah] so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal [of being more like Christ] by human effort?" (Gal. 3:3), he asks me.  "Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?" (vs. 5)

Isaiah writes about me and to me, too.  "You built a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the Old Pool, but you did not look to the One who made it, or have regard for the One who planned it long ago" (Is. 22:11).

Both of these men, separated from each other by hundreds of years and from me by thousands of years, call me on the carpet for the ways I have forgotten that I am dependent on the Lord.

Paul sees that I don't want to receive.  I want to contribute, to produce, to add something to Jesus.  Yes, yes, I'm a sinner saved by grace, but really, really, God got a good one on his team when he picked me at recess.  Look at the way I give to his kingdom; look at the sacrifice I'm making to be home full-time with our children; look at my faithful attendance on Sunday; look at this blog I'm writing.  Yup, God made a smart choice.  Paul strips away this arrogance and foolishness, reminding me again that belief is what matters.  It's the being, not the doing.

Isaiah recognizes my problem, too.  He knows that I want to make my life through my own efforts.  I want to build my retirement, plan my children's futures, take credit for the ways my life flourishes.  I forget, all too easily and all too frequently, to look beyond myself to the Lord who makes the work at which I labor, the body I use to accomplish such work, the sun I enjoy as I work, the water I drink to replenish what my work depletes.

Both men reiterate that it is not I, but all God.  None of my belief is my doing; none of my thriving is my just due.  My plans come to fruition only through the grace of God to keep me strong and healthy in mind and body.  Even my ability to plan is a divine gift, setting humanity apart from all of the rest of creation!  These men, through the words recorded in Scripture, help me learn again (and again and again) that I am dependent on a loving God.  And maybe, because of their efforts, I've taken one more step toward a heart of wisdom (see Pr. 23:15).  


- Sarah Marsh

How did God speak to you in Scripture today? Click here to share your reflections on God's word or read past posts. We'd love to hear from you.

Friday, September 15, 2017

September 15

Isaiah 19:1-21:17; Galatians 2:1-16; Psalm 59:1-17; Proverbs 23:13-14

Don’t you find the story of Paul's and Peter’s conflict so interesting? I do. I’ve always wished I could have been a fly on the wall for the events conveyed in Galatians 2:11-16. Truth be told, I find a great deal of comfort in the fact that two of God’s most fruitful servants fought, disagreed and then reconciled over an issue. It makes them somehow seem more human, you know? And I find comfort in the fact that Peter seems to have struggled with being one way with one group of people and another way with a different group of people – that’s a very human problem, wouldn’t you agree? Sadly, it’s not just junior highers who are tempted to be one way with this group of friends and another way with a different group of friends.  

Anyway, in today’s New Testament reading, Paul begins to open up a topic that he will spend more time on the chapters to come, namely this: Peter (and, we’ll soon see, the Galatians) accepted a gospel that said Christ died for all, no matter their race; yet when a group appears with a different theology, one that says someone actually needs to be Jewish (i.e., circumcised), then Peter starts to separate himself from the Gentiles. Acting one way with one group, and a different way with another. Ah, Peter.

Paul confronts Peter for his hypocrisy and corrects him in front of everyone, basically saying that if Peter doesn’t even still keep the Jewish laws (in this case, the law Peter broke was eating with Gentiles), then how can he hold the Gentiles to the Jewish laws?

And then there are those beautiful words of verse 16: “We know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.” This theme, already present in Romans, will be hugely significant in Paul’s letter to the Galatians. He wants them to know that it’s Jesus who saves, not circumcision, not clean hands, not food laws – not anything that the Jewish traditionalists (here called the circumcision party [see vs. 12]) would have the Gentiles believe. A faith in Jesus is what saves you, and Paul will spend the coming chapters restating and restating that fact to the believers in Galatia who seem all too eager to look for some reason aside from Jesus for their salvation.

Now on to the proverbs for today. If you don’t have kids, you probably didn’t think too much about it. But for those of us with small children, this proverb cannot be overlooked: “Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol.” Obviously, there are lots of theories out there about effective ways to discipline children and I’m not going to turn this post into a “to spank or not to spank” platform. Additionally, the proverbs are not promises – they are generalizations – meaning that if you follow the words of the proverbs, generally these outcomes will follow. But it’s not a guarantee. Still, these words force me to take a pause and consider my discipline habits. I don’t want to indulge my children, nor be reluctant to discipline them for fear that they won’t like me or something like that; I want to guide them and help shape them into kind, compassionate people who are able to think of others besides themselves. No small task, I know. But, thankfully, God is merciful (maybe especially to parents of young kids?) and so He allows plenty of grace as my husband and I navigate these waters.

Thank you, Jesus, not just for your grace, but for the truth that when it comes to salvation, it doesn’t matter who I am but who YOU are. Nothing - not race, culture, socio-economic class, occupation, gender, age – nothing affects my salvation, only my faith in you. Thank you!


- Esther McCurry

How did God speak to you in Scripture today? Click here to share your reflections on God's word or read past posts. We'd love to hear from you.

Thursday, September 14, 2017

September 14

Isaiah 15:1-18:7; Galatians 1:1-24; Psalm 58:1-11; Proverbs 23:12

Today we get to start Galatians. And you know I can’t pass up the opportunity to give some contextual background and theme information whenever we start a new book. So here we go with Galatians!

As you probably know, it was written by Paul. He likely wrote it from Antioch in 48 or 49, so fairly early in his ministry, definitely during his first missionary journey. As we’ll read in the next few days, Paul’s purposes for writing are pretty clear – to counter the threat to the Galatian churches (namely, false teaching); to defend himself and his ministry; to give a doctrine of law-free gospel (in this we’ll see some similarities to Romans); and to remind his readers of the dos and don’ts of Christian living.
This book has four major themes (Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary, 265):
  • Faith and freedom, both of which are found in Christ.
  • The centrality of the cross for salvation and the life of believers.
  • The role of the Holy Spirit.
  • An explanation of how the Old Testament example of Abraham points forward to Christ and his people.
When Paul writes in verse 2 “to the churches in Galatia,” this term encompassed a large area in Asia Minor, covering a large portion of modern day Turkey. He also writes in verse 7 that “there are some who trouble you” – there has been lots of discussion about who these trouble makers are. It seems most likely that these folks are the Jewish-Christian emissaries (maybe from Jerusalem? [see Gal. 2:2]) who are set on teaching that Paul’s gospel of faith alone (meaning no Jewish identity markers such as circumcision are necessary) is insufficient. Basically, they are conducting a smear campaign against Paul, which is why he has to defend his ministry (as previously mentioned as one of the reasons he wrote the letter). Paul will stand firm, though, in his commitment to a law-free gospel, a truth that we are beneficiaries of today.

So as we read Galatians in the next few days, let’s be on the lookout for these themes, and the truth that we are free, truly free, because of our faith in Christ.

I want to also comment briefly on the Proverbs verse: “Apply your heart to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge” (23:12). Isn’t that just what we’re all doing as we faithfully read the OYB each day? (Or in clumps, as sometimes happens to me when I get behind!) What we’re doing, day after day, week after week, month after month (and, hopefully, year after year!) has great meaning and such an amazing ability to form our hearts and shape our lives. I hope you’ve seen that already this year.

Press on!


- Esther McCurry

How did God speak to you in Scripture today? Click here to share your reflections on God's word or read past posts. We'd love to hear from you.

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

September 13

Isaiah 12:1-14:32; 2 Corinthians 13:1-14; Psalm 57:1-11; Proverbs 23:9-11

As I dropped off a couple kids at a friend's house recently, I hollered at them, "Be a blessing!"  My 4-year-old then asked me what a blessing was, and I told her it was like a gift, a hope for something good to happen to someone, a way to bring good things to other people.  A bit simplistic, but workable enough for the preschool mind.

I thought about this idea of blessing when I read today.  Our previous church, home for nearly two decades, closed each service with a benediction (literally, a "good word"), a prayer of blessing that we all spoke over one another as we left.  For a long-ish period of time, that benediction was taken from 2 Corinthians 13:14.  We prayed: "May the amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit be with us all."  I love the adjectives that were added to this verse - amazing, extravagant, intimate.

            Jesus' grace, his free gift of sacrifice on the cross, is amazing.

            God's love, creative and unchanging and boundless, is extravagant.

            The friendship of the Holy Spirit, a companion who resides within us at all times, is intimate.

What a prayer to pray over someone else!  Truly, could there be a better "good word"?

The psalm, too, recognizes these characteristics of God.  The writer praises God, saying, "Great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies" (Ps. 57:10).  Mercy and steadfastness are also mentioned (see vs. 1, 2); God's power (vs. 3) and provision (vs. 1b) are recalled.

What attributes of God have you experienced today, in just these few hours?  Have you breathed in grace, been aware of God's love, had sweet communion with the Holy Spirit?  Has God's faithfulness been impressed upon you in a new way, or did you receive mercy yet again?  Have you seen his power at work in the lives around you; have you seen him open his hand to take literal care of you?  Take a moment to praise the LORD.

"Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth" (Ps. 57:5).


- Sarah Marsh


How did God speak to you in Scripture today? Click here to share your reflections on God's word or read past posts. We'd love to hear from you. 

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

September 12

Isaiah 10:1-11:16; 2 Corinthians 12:11-21; Psalm 56:1-13; Proverbs 23:6-8

At church on Sunday, our pastor put up a slide showing a refugee camp in Jordan. Some tens of thousands of people are living in this camp, having been displaced from their homes and their families. The country from which these people are fleeing is ruled by an oppressive and violent dictator and they are fleeing for their lives. They live in tents. They live in a foreign land. They live without much hope for the future. 

As I sat there looking at the slide, I thought, "This is why I am glad we serve a just God." Some people have a hard time with God's justice and judgment. Not me. I am inclined towards those traits myself (for good or bad), and I am actually really thankful we serve and live under a God of justice and judgment.

"Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people... What will you do on the day of reckoning?...To whom will you run for help?....Nothing will remain but to cringe among the captives or fall among the slain" (Is. 10:1-4).

Your day is coming, the Lord says. Don't think you can get away with all this evil and injustice and not have some recompense. 

Everyone would agree that this side of God's justice is good. Everyone wants the bad guys to get some payback. And they will. But what about the subtler side of God's justice? What about the side that painfully disciplines us when we too walk astray? Are we glad for that? What about the natural disasters and huge atrocities happening to many nations today, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, etc.? Are those harder to attribute to God's justice? Is that harder to accept?

But God is committed to wiping out evil in this world. And for that, I am glad. I want a just God. If you still doubt, keep reading.

Isaiah goes on to tell about how this justice is carried out and the positive side about what we can anticipate after judgment. Chapter 11 contains such a beautiful picture of who Jesus Christ is and what he will do. Jesus is the perfect and righteous judge, full of wisdom, understanding, and power. What an amazing picture of peace and tranquility he will create, portrayed in verses 6-8. After perfect and complete judgment, "the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea" (Is. 11:9).

When I hear about all the atrocities and crimes carried out by evil men (and women), I remind myself of these promises. We have hope. The whole earth has a beautiful future. We serve a good and just God.


- Mary Matthias


How did God speak to you in Scripture today? Click here to share your reflections on God's word or read past posts. We'd love to hear from you.

Monday, September 11, 2017

September 11

Isaiah 8:1-9:21; 2 Corinthians 12:1-10; Psalm 55:1-23; Proverbs 23:4-5

Lord God,

Thank you for your Word.  Thank you for the timeliness it finds in our lives and for the work it does in our hearts.  You reveal yourself to us in these pages, and you demonstrate your faithful love for your people.  Thank you for the honesty of its writers and the truth of their words.

Thank you that today - especially today, as we remember - we do not need to fear what the people fear, but instead can revere you.  Thank you that you are and will always be a sanctuary for us (Is. 8:12-14).  Thank you that we do not need to fear our weaknesses, but can be secure in your strength (2 Cor. 12:9).  What we perceive as insufficient is proved to be enough because of your great love and mercy.  Though we experience grief and anger and betrayal (Ps. 55:2-5, 12-14), we can yet choose to bring our cares to you.  You will sustain us; you will not abandon us (vs. 22).  We trust in you (vs. 23).  Teach us to trust you to a greater degree every day, particularly with our futures and security.  Give us an understanding of the appropriate value of money (Pr. 23:4-5), and help us to live dependently on you.

You are a good, good God, and we are so grateful.

Here we are, we and the children the Lord has given us.  May we be signs and symbols from you (Is. 8:18), pointing the world toward you.  

Amen.

(P.S. - Did you hear Handel's "Messiah" during our Old Testament reading today?  Didn't it whet your appetite for more and for Christmas?)



- Sarah Marsh


How did God speak to you in Scripture today? Click here to share your reflections on God's word or read past posts. We'd love to hear from you.

Sunday, September 10, 2017

September 10

Isaiah 6:1-7:25; 2 Corinthians 11:16-33; Psalm 54:1-7; Proverbs 23:1-3

“I saw the Lord.”

Beautiful words.

What does it mean to see the Lord? Isaiah saw the Lord. A vision of God and His glory filled Isaiah’s mind and understanding. He was overcome by his own sinfulness in contrast with the LORD’s holiness (Is. 6:1-5). But from this encounter with God, he had the strength to minister to his people for over six decades while they refused to listen to God’s warnings.

Paul saw the Lord, too. We read about it on June 13. Paul was changed by his encounter with the Lord. His encounter with Jesus gave him strength to evangelize the Gentiles.  It enabled him to endure all that we read about today: “worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely…beaten with rods…stoned…shipwrecked…in the open sea…in danger from rivers…in dangers from bandit…I have labored and toiled and often gone without sleep. I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked” (2 Cor. 11:23-27).

Two men who saw the Lord and their lives were forever changed. Their encounters with God gave them strength to fulfill His assignments to them.

Isn’t that what we need—an encounter with God? It’s the only thing that will keep us true to God through the trials that come to us. This is why we come daily to the OYB. We need to see God; we need to understand the magnitude of who He is.

I haven’t had an experience on the magnitude of Isaiah’s or Paul’s. But I have ‘seen’ the Lord in His Word and I’ve heard His voice in my heart many times. I’ve seen His glory in creation and in beautiful babies and children. I’ve felt His love in worship services and circumstances and relationships.

During a particularly difficult time in our lives, I remember ‘seeing’ the Lord every Sunday for at least six months. On the weekdays I met with the Lord in His Word and hungrily listened to Him. I often recorded in a journal the words from Scripture that God spoke to me. Then, as usual, I went to church on Sunday. And one of those Scriptures that the Lord had given to my heart during the week would be mentioned somewhere in the service. I felt a ‘hug’ from the Lord when this happened. After the first few weeks, I began to realize that the Lord was revealing Himself to me - showing me His favor toward me - by honoring me with these quiet encounters with Him. No one sitting near me could possibly have known what was going on in my soul as Jesus reassured me each week of His care for me, His love for me, His knowledge of my pain. I almost never mentioned this occurrence during those months; I knew it was a special encounter from the Lord that was intended to strengthen me for the trial I was enduring and not something I was supposed to talk about. But I anticipated this ‘hug’ each week and was not disappointed.

Keep coming to God’s Word. He will meet you there. Ask Him for a ‘sighting’ of Him and He will answer.

He doesn’t just do it for Isaiah and Paul and Nell Sunukjian. He will do it for you, too.


- Nell Sunukjian


How did God speak to you in Scripture today? Click here to share your reflections on God's word or read past posts. We'd love to hear from you.

Saturday, September 9, 2017

September 9

Isaiah 3:1-5:30; 2 Corinthians 11:1-15; Psalm 53:1-6; Proverbs 22:28-29

Esther mentioned yesterday that one of the themes Isaiah will visit over and over is "the day of the Lord."  We see that in our reading today, in chapters 3 and 4.  What's particularly interesting about this section is the contrast present.  One group of people will experience the day of the Lord in one way, and another group will experience it in a totally different (and much better) way.

Look first at 3:18.  "In that day," Isaiah writes to begin this section, and the prophet then goes on to describe the great devastation that will come: loss of property (vs. 18-23), loss of dignity (vs. 24), loss of life (vs. 25), loss of security and protection (4:1).  Later prophets, too, will describe the terror and destruction that comes with the day of the Lord (see Amos 5:18-20, for example).  These are uncomfortable prophecies, and we tend to skim right over them.  Truly, God's judgment is a fearsome thing.  To stand on the unrepentant side of it is to incur great debt. 

And, yet, right after expounding on the suffering of the haughty, Isaiah moves to a beautiful prose section on the redemption of God.  Look at all the nouns and adjectives and verbs of hope and renewal in 4:2-6: beautiful; glorious, pride and glory; holy; wash away; cleanse; create; glow; "the glory will be a canopy;" shelter; shade, refuge; hiding place.  Such incredible words!  In the midst of the loss, God will work great gain.

I love to read that section; this year I read it several times.  There's a tenderness along with the majesty, a protectiveness with the holiness.  What an image of God!  Is it not incredible that he can hold these great tensions within himself - to judge and yet extend mercy, to wound and yet bind up, to protect fiercely and yet love gently?  Amazing.

Several years ago, I marked vs. 6 particularly.  While recognizing the significance of the original context, I was struck with a desire to make these words true of the home I create and curate.  I'm thinking today that these words might be equally true of my calling to live as a follower of Jesus in this world. 

Lord, may your church and your people be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.  Thank you for being those things to us.  Amen.


- Sarah Marsh


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Friday, September 8, 2017

September 8

Isaiah 1:1-2:22; 2 Corinthians 10:1-18; Psalm 52:1-9; Proverbs 22:26-27

Today we begin Isaiah. I have an Isaiah – our third born. He is wonderful (says the unbiased mother) and he is named after the prophet who wrote this book. We love this name because it means ‘the Lord is generous.’ Can I get an Amen to that? And while the Isaiah of this book certainly tells of God’s generosity (“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow”) (Isaiah 1:18), he also has some very serious words for Israel, as we’ll see over the next few weeks.

I’m going to focus this entry on some basic background info, as you know I like to do whenever we start a new book and it’s my day to write. So here we go!

Isaiah says in chapter 1 verse 1 that this book is the vision he saw during the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Right of the bat, we’ve got some historical context for this book. Uzziah we read about in 2 Chronicles 26, Jotham in 2 Chronicles 27, Ahaz in 2 Chronicles 28-30 and Hezekiah in 2 Chronicles 29-32 (and of course, they are also in 2 Kings). These men ruled over the divided kingdom of Judah, meaning that Israel had already split into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. Uzziah ruled in the middle of the 8th century BC, and the rest going forward from there. If you can remember back to the days earlier this summer when we were reading in 2 Chronicles, then you might remember that Uzziah, Jotham and Hezekiah “did what was right in the eyes of the LORD” and that Ahaz “did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD.” So these are the kings that Isaiah is serving as a prophet for. Doing the math (which I didn’t do myself, I looked it up), that means Isaiah was a prophet for somewhere near 64 years. That’s a long time to try to tell a stubborn and stiff-necked people what God is saying to them!

A few other things about Isaiah – we gather from 8:3 that he had a wife (she’s called the “prophetess” probably because of their marriage) and they had two sons (7:3, 8:3) and while commentators vary (as they always do), most people feel like the major themes of Isaiah are:

  • Jesus Christ, his first and second comings (roughly 1/3 of the book)
  • Warnings and assurances to Israel and Judah (a large majority of the book)
  • The Day of the Lord (we’ll have to get into this more in a future post)
  •  The Kingdom of God (the actual term “kingdom” doesn’t actually appear in the book but this “future age” is described in many instances

Even in the verses we read today, we can see these themes beginning. Look at 1:19-20: “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” I’d say that’s a pretty clear warning for Israel and Judah! And look at 2:2: “It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the “highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it…” That sounds very kingdom of God-ish to me.

Anyway, more to come. But hopefully this framing will help us all as we read further and deeper into one of God’s most faithful prophets.

Happy reading!

- Esther McCurry

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Thursday, September 7, 2017

September 7

Song of Songs 5:1-8:14; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15; Psalm 51:1-19; Proverbs 22:24-25           

“Love is as strong as death, as unyielding as the grave… many waters cannot quench love, rivers cannot wash it away” (Song 8:6-7).

My parents had a love story.

I never doubted the strong connection between my mom and dad. All their lives, my dad was the attentive spouse. He came home from work each day, looked for my mom and went to give her a kiss. I have no memories of my mom ever kissing my dad though I do recall that she often bathed in the afternoon and put on a clean housedress before he came home from work.

My mom was the more difficult one of the pair. She was easily offended, quickly angered, and she held a grudge. But despite this, my dad loved her. And she loved him in the ways that she could: his house was clean, his clothes were ironed, his lunch was ready for him to take to work each day, and a homemade meal was ready each evening. She loved him in the ways that she could.

Near the end of his life, my dad was in a nursing home and my mom was still in their home about 10 miles away. He was drifting away. And as he lay in that bed in the care facility, from their home she would get up and eat and get dressed to go the nursing home where he was. She was a bit aimless there. She didn’t have her usual supports of the kitchen, the garden—the places where she felt at home and in control. She often quarreled with the caregivers about his care. Yet she was drawn there each day because of love, love as strong as death.

Due to her oncoming dementia, their last years together had some rough moments when she became hostile toward him at times. Yet there she was, coming every day to the nursing home, to be discontent there, to fuss around when he didn’t even seem to want attention from her. Why? Love is as strong as death. She couldn’t let go of him until death claimed him.

I remember driving away from my dad’s nursing home and musing on this verse and knowing I had seen it in life.

Death is a magnet; it is drawing us unrelentingly. We cannot escape. The grave is unyielding; it will win. We cannot conquer death and the grave.

Love has the same magnetic quality. When we love someone we cannot turn away. Ask a wife whose husband has cancer. Ask a husband whose wife is dying. Love can’t give up; it won’t give up. Love is as strong as death.

May it be so in each of our marriages.


- Nell Sunukjian

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