Two year Bible reading program.

BEGIN WITH PRAYER "Lord open my eyes and my heart." Read slowly so that you take in. And as you do, turn your heart to God, thanking him for the good you discover and praying his will home for you, your family, your church and the world. Wisdom to chew on Proverbs 21:16 Understanding to grow in Judgment is now declared against Israel's enemies. The dating of 14v28 implies the Philistines are seeking Judah's help in rebelling against Assyria when one of its rulers has died. God replies, that another will replace him who brings destruction. We're then told of the destruction that will come against Moab leading her refugees to seek shelter in Judah from where will come the promised Davidic king. Thirdly, the ruin of Damascus is predicted, leaving Israel no longer in need of defences in the north. Yet God speaks against Israel too. It will also fade, with only gleanings from God's people left behind, who will then look to him rather than the false ...

BEGIN WITH PRAYER "Lord open my eyes and my heart." Read slowly so that you take in. And as you do, turn your heart to God, thanking him for the good you discover and praying his will home for you, your family, your church and the world. Wisdom to chew on Proverbs 21:14 Understanding to grow in The destruction of the northern kingdom predicted in yesterday's reading occurred in 722BC. And we are told that it will leave only a small "remnant" who will return to the LORD in repentance. But he will then limit Assyria's reach so that it can only shake a fist at Jerusalem in the south before being destroyed (the history of this is recorded in 2 Kings 18-19). Yet on its way to Jersualem God will use the Assyrian army to "fell" the various rulers of other nations. We are then told of a new tree that will grow from the "stump" of David's father Jesse - a king who will be anointed with the Spirit to reign in perfect wisdom and ...

BEGIN WITH PRAYER "Lord open my eyes and my heart." Read slowly so that you take in. And as you do, turn your heart to God, thanking him for the good you discover and praying his will home for you, your family, your church and the world. Wisdom to chew on Proverbs 21:13 Understanding to grow in Here God details that because those of the northern kingdom of Israel refuse to repent when first punished for their sin with oppression by foreign powers, that oppression will only continue and intensify. The worldwide Assyrian empire is to be God's tool - the "rod of his anger." This tells us that he so reigns over all things, that he uses even the mightiest of governments and their often evil actions as the means of working out his right and just purposes. But because their intent is evil and proud, God will the judge them for what they have done in fulfilment of his own plans (10v5-12)! For the axe (Assyria) cannot raise itself above the one (the Lord)...

BEGIN WITH PRAYER "Lord open my eyes and my heart." Read slowly so that you take in. And as you do, turn your heart to God, thanking him for the good you discover and praying his will home for you, your family, your church and the world. Wisdom to chew on Proverbs 21:11 Understanding to grow in This parable of the vineyard is the background to Jesus' parables of the tenants of the vineyard who don't care for it, and the people of the vineyard who don't bear fruit. As it was in the time of Isaiah, so in the time of Jesus. And there is much that resonates with our own day: the drunkenness, the calling of evil good and good evil, the spurning the word of the Lord. But we should remember this oracle was spoken to God's people and so is first a rebuke to those within the church who show so little desire to bear fruit to God. Such compromises by its leaders and its congregations couldn't be more serious. As you read note the particular challenges...