"The Uplifting Prophets" July 1 Readings: Nehemiah 10-13, Psalm 126
Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024
This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened." Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles. The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.
Bible Readings: Nehemiah 10-13, Psalm 126
Background:
Nehemiah's attitude and actions will sound strange to our ears, in our tolerant, standardless culture. But he acted - sometimes harshly - to bring Israel back into obedience to the Law of God. The last four chapters of the book record Nehemiah's efforts at conforming rebuilt Israel to God's law.
Daily Devotional: The Uplifting Prophets
We are coming to the end of one of the harshest sections of Scripture - the prophets. People whose Bibles are years old will often find the pages of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Minor Prophets still stuck together because the message of God's judgment against sin is so depressing - a real downer.
If we think that we are missing the big picture, which is spelled out in the last Psalm we will read, Psalm 126. Everything God does is to redeem his people and to conform us to the image of Christ. When he performed great and mighty acts of power to bring Israel out of bondage to Egypt, he was working to redeem a people for himself. When he gave the Law he was seeking to show his people how to live. When he raised up judges and kings and priests, it was to shepherd his people, whom he loved, to guide them on the paths of righteousness. When the people strayed into sin, into idolatry, into the ways of the Canaanite nations around them, he sent prophets with strong warnings. It was not because he was angry but because he loved them and wanted them to walk the right path. When they ignored the prophets and continued in sin, God sent judgments on the Land. This was not an act of hate but of love.
But Israel would not listen. Judah would not listen. They hardened their hearts and ignored God's Law. They ignored the prophets and listened to the false prophets who seduced them with messages of false peace - everything is okay, don't worry about it! So God finally reduced first the northern kingdom of Israel and then finally Jerusalem to rubble.
Because he was angry? Yes, sin is an offense against God? Because he was cruel? NO! No...no...no. God knew that sin is destructive to the soul, but temporally and eternally and he acted to purify Israel and draw them back. When they would not listen he escalated his judgment until finally, they would listen.
But everything God did was for one purpose - to show his love to Israel and to draw them back.
Psalm 126 is a Song of Ascents. These were songs that worshippers sang as they ascended the steps up to the Temple in preparation to worship. The content of this one makes it clear it is likely designed for the Second Temple, a song to recall the restoration God wrought for Israel that we have been reading about. Verses 1-3 express it well.
If we think that we are missing the big picture, which is spelled out in the last Psalm we will read, Psalm 126. Everything God does is to redeem his people and to conform us to the image of Christ. When he performed great and mighty acts of power to bring Israel out of bondage to Egypt, he was working to redeem a people for himself. When he gave the Law he was seeking to show his people how to live. When he raised up judges and kings and priests, it was to shepherd his people, whom he loved, to guide them on the paths of righteousness. When the people strayed into sin, into idolatry, into the ways of the Canaanite nations around them, he sent prophets with strong warnings. It was not because he was angry but because he loved them and wanted them to walk the right path. When they ignored the prophets and continued in sin, God sent judgments on the Land. This was not an act of hate but of love.
But Israel would not listen. Judah would not listen. They hardened their hearts and ignored God's Law. They ignored the prophets and listened to the false prophets who seduced them with messages of false peace - everything is okay, don't worry about it! So God finally reduced first the northern kingdom of Israel and then finally Jerusalem to rubble.
Because he was angry? Yes, sin is an offense against God? Because he was cruel? NO! No...no...no. God knew that sin is destructive to the soul, but temporally and eternally and he acted to purify Israel and draw them back. When they would not listen he escalated his judgment until finally, they would listen.
But everything God did was for one purpose - to show his love to Israel and to draw them back.
Psalm 126 is a Song of Ascents. These were songs that worshippers sang as they ascended the steps up to the Temple in preparation to worship. The content of this one makes it clear it is likely designed for the Second Temple, a song to recall the restoration God wrought for Israel that we have been reading about. Verses 1-3 express it well.
When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem,God's purpose all along was to create joy. Israel's rebellion made that difficult. The harder their hearts became the harder God had to work to bring restoration and renewal. But even when God was pouring out judgment on the nation it was always with the purpose of restoration.
it was like a dream!
2 We were filled with laughter,
and we sang for joy.
And the other nations said,
“What amazing things the Lord has done for them.”
3 Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us!
What joy!
Thank you, Lord, that even though you may discipline me, as your son, your purpose is to strengthen me and to conform me to Christ.
Consider God's Word:
How do you read the prophets?
How do you see God in the prophets? Do you keep in the front of your mind that even God's anger and judgment were part of his plan of redemption, renewal, and perfection of Israel?
Remember that God works in you the same way. He may allow difficult things in your life to conform you to Christ.
How do you see God in the prophets? Do you keep in the front of your mind that even God's anger and judgment were part of his plan of redemption, renewal, and perfection of Israel?
Remember that God works in you the same way. He may allow difficult things in your life to conform you to Christ.
Comments
Post a Comment