Luke | Saviour of the World

Luke 1:3 tells us that this book was written to Theophilus, who was most likely an educated Gentile with an interest in Jesus and/or a new convert. This book was written "between AD 59 and 63" (SV) and it "may have been composed during Paul's two-year incarceration in Caesarea, prior to the journey to Rome." (N323)

Luke is the author of this book and was "a companion of Paul the apostle" (SV), from whom he would have gleaned much of Jesus' life. He "carefully investigated everything from the beginning." (1:3) Though Luke is part of the three synoptic gospels he brings a unique perspective to the story of Jesus. Being the only non-Jewish author of a gospel, and a physician, he brings out the humanity of Jesus and more of a historical approach. Like Nelson's says, "Luke gives the most complete account of Christ's ancestry, birth and development." He is a man of details.

A big theme is Luke is Jesus, Saviour of the world. He is always quoted at Christmas which almost makes him my favourite gospel ;)

"He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel." (2:32) Thus, he spends more time highlighting women and the poor. He is the only gospel writer to have "the prodigal son" and "the good Samaritan" which fits with the theme of all people being saved by Jesus. A repeated idea is the Kingdom of God. Jesus says, "I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other towns, too, because that is why I was sent." (4:43) (See also:7:28,8:1&10) Jesus is repeatedly referred to as the Son of Man. (about 27 times) "Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory." (21:27) He is the perfect man, faultless, guiltless, holy. But He is wholly God as well. That is why He is the perfect sacrifice, because only blood can atone for sin and only the blood of a perfect and holy being can cover every sin once and for all. In a sentence the main idea of Luke is: To proclaim that salvation is for everyone, not just the Jews.

The primary reason Luke was written was to tell Theophilus that Jesus came for him, a non-Jew. "Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost." (19:10) Even the Gentiles would have heard about this Messiah coming to redeem the Jews and I am sure they needed some help and convincing to understand that Jesus was for all and not playing favourites. I love that Luke is a truth seeker and that he said to Theophilus "so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught." (1:4) He most likely understood what it felt like to be on the "outside" of the original promise and had a strong desire, with persuasion from Paul perhaps, to let the rest of the world in on it.  

In the Bible I love nothing more than when God chooses the humble and the lowly to carry out His will. He believes in us more than we believe in ourselves and at times, in Him. "Don't be afraid, Mary," the angel told her, "for you have found favour with God!" (1:30) He delights in using us. He shows His love for the human race in choosing Mary and Joseph and then in saving them with His only son. There is no love stronger than God's love for us!  

"Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don't just say to each other, ‘We're safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.' That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones." (3:8) God's redemptive plan was no longer focused on the Jews, but everyone. They were treating the grace of God as meaningless, they were relying on their ancestors faith and abusing the call God had on their lives. The Pharisees, etc were all about surface level religion, not a heart religion. They just were not getting it. 

"A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart." (6:45) When I read this verse I became concerned. I have heard it before but I read it anew this time. What I say is a really good gauge of where my heart is. If I allow my eyes to see evil things or store up bitterness and anger, it affects my heart. I want my heart to have a treasury full of good things, to not be poisoned by the world. That is a timeless truth that I want to apply and live by. To speak truth into my heart and to, daily, check myself and get rid of anything that would threaten the overflow of my heart. 

"One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, 'Praise God!'" (17:15) He came back to Jesus. I love that. I see that so much in Luke, that right after a miracle is done the recipient of the miracle praises God/Jesus. Thanksgiving was yesterday and it also reminded me that it is key to thank God. Instantaneous thanks and praise is the best kind, because it wastes no time in recognizing the One who did it. It is also key to start with thanks and praise. So often in worship times it's "I want more" right away and not "You are good, You are faithful, Thank You for all You've done!" We need to enter His courts with thanksgiving and praise! Not enter with a list of needs and remember to say thank You on our way out. That's just not right. Their instant praise is such a testimony to how God affected their lives. Glory where glory is due. 

Mark | Good News For All

Mark was written "during the terrible persecution of Emperor Nero," after "the burning of Rome…AD 64 but before the fall of Jerusalem" to Rome in AD 70. (SV) It was written to Gentile believers who were under that persecution. It has, as SourceView says, "non-Jewish flavour and notable allusions to Roman customs" which point to a Gentile audience. The birth and genealogy of the Jesus is left out which would have been very important to a Jewish audience, further supporting Gentile readers. He doesn't spend as much time on prophecies as Matthew did and instead portrays Jesus as a "Man of action" who did many miracles. I'm sure that would have instilled confidence into the Gentiles rather than fulfilled prophecies and parables. (There's only nine parables in Mark) 

Mark is the author of this book. He full name was John Mark and he was the "son of a Jerusalem widow whose home was a meeting place for early believers." (SV) Mark "was Peter's translator" recording "the events as he heard them firsthand." (SV) It is a very fast paced gospel, Mark gets to the point and still manages quite a bit of detail in the process. It is estimated that this book ranges from AD 55-68. He spent a lot of time with Peter and the SourceView says, "it could be said that this book is the gospel according to Peter."  

A repeated idea in Mark is that of being a servant. "Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else." (9:35, 10:43) Jesus is the perfect servant. He does the will of the Father who sent Him. The most powerful example of this is in the garden of Gethsemane when He prays, "Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine." (14:36) He is obedient to the end and even helps God's will along. 

There are also so many demons and I see Jesus' power over satan. Right away in chapter one Jesus is casting out demons and then in 3:11&12 it says, "whenever those possessed by evil spirits caught sight of Him" they would hurl themselves to the "ground…shrieking, 'You are the Son of God!' But Jesus sternly commanded the spirits not to reveal who he was." Demons and evil spirits are brought up fourteen times in Mark. It was a major problem that Jesus needed to address and bring awareness to.  

In one sentence the main idea of this book is: Jesus came to serve, impact lives and "give His life as a ransom for all people." 

The primary reason this book was written was to encourage the Gentiles through Jesus' life and mainly His suffering. Nelson's says, "Almost forty percent of this Gospel is devoted to a detailed account of the last eight days of Jesus' life." (317) There is so much information and emotion surrounding Jesus' death and resurrection. Jesus was/is the real deal, He did what He came to do and this book showed the Roman believers that the suffering they were going through was not in vain. 

Jesus is black and white about the law. There is no grey or putting up with legalistic traditions. He often is confronted by the Pharisees and Sadducees and they pose intricate questions to try and trick Him. He speaks the truth always and dumbfounds anyone who challenges Him. In 8:15 He says, "Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod." I love His boldness. He isn't the soft spoken, tender Jesus I learned about in Sunday school. 

"The time promised by God has come at last! The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!" (1:15) Bah! Jesus is here! How amazing is it that Jesus, the Good News, is proclaiming the Good News. The word became flesh! The time has finally arrived! After so many years of silence, after passing the stories through the generations, after political change and the establishing of synagogues. God, in His faithfulness, has brought in His redemptive plan. 

"Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things." (6:34) This passage really challenges and convicts me. I find that it is easy to "hide" in my Christianity and not to share with those who don't know God. That scares me because it's not about keeping quiet and being filled over and over again. That is so selfish. It is about being empowered in the quiet place and in corporate times to then go out and share what I have been taught and blessed with! There are SO many sheep without a Shepard and I pray that God will increase my compassion for the lost around me, that I would be eager to teach and share and shine any way I can. 

"Hosanna! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessings on the coming Kingdom of our ancestor David! Praise God in highest heaven!" (11:9-10) Those people sure knew how to welcome Jesus, spreading even their clothes on the ground for Him and the donkey to walk over. Some brought "leafy branches they had cut in the fields" which means that they had prepared for this or they used what they had collected for another purpose to bless Jesus. Either way doing that symbolized their reverence and admiration and excitement for Jesus! They showed Him their devotion, they told HIm by shouting praises. Yes God loves to bless us in worship times, but He also loves to see US bless Him in worship times. To not focus on ourselves and what we can get out of a worship time but what can we give, how can we show our devotion and our excitement to the One who came to our rescue. 

It reminds me of the popular song that goes, "I'm coming back to the heart of worship and it's all about You, it's all about You Jesus…" I don't necessarily agree with those words. I absolutely agree that God is the only One worthy of praise but it seems to discount us from the equation. Worship is us pouring out God's praise and coming into a place of intimacy with Him. We, His children, coming before our Father and praising out of joy, brokenness, grace, thankfulness and repentant hearts. We just need to be careful that it isn't a "me time" it is a "Him time" primarily but also a "we time." 

Matthew | Fulfillment of Prophecy

The original readers of Matthew are quite obviously the Jews. You can tell beca

use there are so many Old Testament prophecies quoted (53) and they "supported the claims believers had been making about Jesus." (SV) He made a case for Jesus being the "long awaited Jewish Messiah." Nelson's says that this gospel "serves as a bridge, connecting the two Testaments" because it so clearly "emphasizes Jesus' relation to the OT." (pg300) During the Intertestamental period the synagogues were established and different "denominations" among the Jewish people, for example, the Pharisees and Sadducees. Everything Jesus says stumps and offends them and Matthew showcases why Jesus is the King and the bearer of the new covenant; that the Pharisees are wrong and hard hearted. (22:46) They failed to lead the people and teach the scriptures. "Didn't you ever read this in the Scriptures?" (21:42) Lost sheep without a shepherd.

Nowhere does it say that Matthew was the author of this book though Nelson's says that "since the second century A.D. church tradition has recognized Matthew…as its writer." (300) And it makes sense because it would have to be a Jew, because of all of the Jewish emphasis, and it would have to have been someone closely linked to Jesus. Matthew was first spotted by Jesus when he was "sitting at his tax collectors booth" and he followed Jesus immediately, inviting Him to his house. (9:9) Matthew is said to have been written "before the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70…in the middle of the first century." (SV) In 27:8 it says, "That is why the field is still called…" and in 28:15 it says, "The story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today." These two phrases tell us that some time had passed since the book was written. Matthew is the most prophetic focused of the four gospels. 

One of the repeated ideas in Matthew is the "kingdom of heaven," Nelson's says that it "occurs thirty-two times in this Gospel, but nowhere else in the New Testament." (301) My favourite verse about the Kingdom of Heaven is when Jesus says, "And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing." (11:12) In chapter 13 Jesus uses the phrase "Kingdom of Heaven" seven times. He describes it in parables as a merchant, treasure, yeast, mustard seed, farmer, fishing net and someone who is a disciple of it, a homeowner with "new gems of truth as well as old." (13:52) It permeates and separates the good from the wicked, it is of great value. A main theme in this book is Jesus' authority. In 7:28,29 it says, "…the crowds were amazed at his teaching, for He taught with real authority, quite unlike their teachers or religious law." In 8:26,27 Jesus rebukes the storm and it is stilled, the disciples say,"Who is this man? Even the winds and waves obey Him." He was sent to earth with/by the ultimate authority and had the absolute right to forgive and heal and teach the law. (also 9:6,8) It amazed the people and offended the religious leaders. Then in 10:1, Jesus gave authority to His disciples "to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness." He shared His authority and empowered the disciples to do what He did. How incredible is that! He was given "all authority in Heaven and on earth!" (28:18) A one sentence summary of the main idea would be: Jesus came and fulfilled prophecy after prophecy to bridge the gap between God and His people, once and for all. 

The primary reason this book was written was to address the Jewish audience, to "offer irrefutable proof that the long awaited Jewish Messiah had come to inaugurate God's kingdom on earth." (SV) After 400 years of silence and even more years of waiting for their Saviour, they needed to know that Jesus was their King and that all of those prophecies so long ago were fulfilled in Him. Nelson's says that the total of "Old Testament quotations and allusions" is "almost 130." (301) Yes, that would prove his point very well. It makes me so sad to think that the vast majority of Jews still don't see it. 

Undoubtedly I see God the Father's amazing love in Matthew. In 3:17 God says, "This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy." I love how He tells the people who He is with such beautiful words of affection. God the Father has few speaking parts and the red text is dominantly God the Son. Jesus is full of compassion. Often it says that when He saw them "He had compassion on them" (9:36,14:14), in 20:34, "Jesus felt sorry for them…" and this is really the only warm feeling I can see in Jesus as portrayed by Matthew. 

God sent His only Son to save and bring in the new covenant! He brought the Messiah to His people, the day has finally arrived! He is faithful and finishes what He started. The torch is passed and now God activates 'Final mission to save my people: Jesus edition.' I love it! Reading Matthew I was overwhelmed by all of the prophecies being fulfilled! In 21:4,5 it says, "This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said, '…Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey…" and SO many other prophecies! Jesus says, "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many." (20:28) Ah! God's ultimate redemptive plan in the flesh! 

Matthew hit a strong chord with me when I came to 6:25-34. Jesus says, "That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life…look at the birds…look at the lilies…And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers…he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?" Coming here was a big step of faith and now that God has provided for my school fees, etc I find myself running low financially and with that comes worry and a bit of sadness. I feel restricted in what freedoms I can have off campus and I question the near future bills I have to pay. It's not a good feeling. But God in His beautiful timing has brought in this book and has really been teaching me to trust Him and lean on Him because He is my provider. Everything I have is from Him anyway, so why should I doubt or have so little faith when He has never failed me before? "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." (6:33) This is the verse I am writing on my heart, that it would sink in and cause me to cling to the One who knows every need; daily and future.  

Matthew starts and ends with a group of people worshiping Jesus. What struck me was that the first time, Jesus hadn't done anything yet. He was a baby, a newborn who spent His time nursing and sleeping; yet He received praise. "They entered the house and saw the child with his mother…they bowed down and worshiped him." (2:11) The wise men knew He was worthy of praise, I don't know where they heard about Him being the King, but they travelled far because He was of significance to them. Then at the end of Matthew 28:17 says, "When they saw Him, they worshiped Him, but some of them doubted." He was resurrected and appeared to His disciples and yet there were doubters! But there were also worshipers! His birth was a miracle and His "rebirth" was a miracle, from the start of His life to the end of His life He was worshiped. Of course! Even if Jesus doesn't do a thing in our lives He is worthy of praise. Even in our doubt He is worthy of praise. We should never worship Jesus only when He does something for us. If He never did another miracle in our lives He would still be deserving of our constant praise. 

Historical / Prophets { Post Exilic }

  This book was most likely written by Ezra and some evidence of that is in 7:28-9:15 which is written in the first person. Also, Nelson's points out that there is "a strong priestly emphasis." He was a "priest and scribe who studied and taught the commands and decrees of the Lord to Israel." (7:11) Ezra was a descendant of Aaron the high priest. (7:5) In 538BC Cyrus had decreed that the Jews were allowed back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple! (1:1-4) Ezra led the 2nd return of the exiles to Jerusalem in 458BC which was during the reign of King Artaxerses. (7:7) The king was very kind to him and released him to Jerusalem with a letter saying, "You are to give Ezra…whatever he requests of you." (7:21) He was basically sent by the king to teach the returned exiles the law of God and to bring order and "appoint magistrates and judges" who knew God's laws to "govern all the people." (7:25) The purpose of Ezra was to bring the people back to the mindset of God and to facilitate new growth and a sort of revival among the returnees. 

    Five different times Ezra uses the phrase, "…the gracious hand of the Lord…" (7:6,9,28,8:18,31) To me that is expressing that God doesn't have to protect, or bless or orchestrate for our good but He does. He is full of grace! It amazes me! It's amazing grace! ;) I love how Ezra credits God constantly throughout the book. 

    I love Ezra's prayer on behalf of the people in chapter nine. What he says at the end stood out to me, "Oh Lord, God of Israel, you are just. We come before you in our guilt as nothing but an escaped remnant, though in such a condition none of us can stand in your presence." His prayer comes from such a broken and humble place. Earlier, in verse nine he says, "For we were slaves, but in his unfailing love our God did not abandon us in our slavery." God revived His people and redeemed them despite their guilt. Once again the redemptive plan is seen and it is so beautiful. Once again God sustains His special possession.
Personal Application:
In my generation we don't realize that we are "standing on the shoulders of giants" in regards to the spiritual fathers and mothers who have gone before us. In Ezra 3:12&13, the "shouting and weeping mingled together" and that was because of the generations and what they had each seen and experienced. In my life I want to truly respect and learn from the older generations and appreciate the way they worship, teach, and worship; not be quick to think that my idea of "church" is better. So often I find myself in that mindset and that's not right. God is not limited to one way of doing things or one genre of music. No way! He transcends age, style, size, location, etc and I know that but it's hard to slip into that way of thinking. I pray that God will continue to change my heart and that I would come to love and encourage other ways of serving and worshipng in the Kingdom of God.

Point of Passion:

My point of passion comes out of the same area of Ezra, 3:10 says, "When the builders completed the foundation of the Lord's temple, the priests put on their robes…blow their trumpets…clashed their cymbals to praise the Lord, just as King David had prescribed." It had been SO long since they would have worshiped God at a temple! They had been in exile for seventy years and before that who knows when the last time was. They looked back to King Davids way of worship and wasted no time, I'm sure, in getting their instruments out right after the foundation was done. The foundation! They didn't wait until the whole temple was done. That reminds me of life and how we at times don't worship and praise God after every "little" thing, we wait and worship God after it's all done; whatever the 'it' is. God is so good and deserves our worship at all times, after every success, after every blessing; no matter how "small the beginning." :) 

  Nehemiah was not a prophet but the cup bearer to the King Artaxerses. (1:11) It says in 1:1 that "these are the memoirs of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah." Although that is stated and Nehemiah speaks in the first person, the author is said to be Ezra which means Nehemiah was only quoted. (N155paraphrased) Nehemiah was around at the same time as Ezra and led the third group of exiles to Jerusalem in 444BC. (N156) He got permission from the King to go to Judah and rebuild the city, after much prayer on his part. (2:4-6) That was the purpose of Nehemiah, to rebuild the city and to reestablish the political system. The rebuilding of the wall is a large part of this book. (ch.1-7) Despite hostile attempts to frustrate the construction "the wall was finished just fifty-two days after" it had begun. (6:15) It is amazing what a bit of strong, godly leadership can do! 

  God answers prayer. Nehemiah was a man of prayer and God never left him hanging. (2:8) He was a passionate man with vision to see the wall restored. He stayed close to God and sought Him constantly. To me chapter nine encompasses God's character and nature and His redemptive plan. I went through the chapter and highlighted all of the things God did…"You made a covenant…You promised…You displayed…You knew…You have a glorious reputation…You divided the sea…You hurled their enemies…You led…You came down…You gave…You instructed…You commanded…You sustained…You helped…You placed…You made…You subdued…" and the list goes on! So powerful! It lays out God's nature and how He orchestrated everything and at the same time it goes almost full circle from creation to Abraham until post exile! The whole old testament! God's redemptive plan! He sustained and loved them through it all. He is sovereign, Almighty, the Great I Am and He brought them through the storms. After this prayer is over they make a "solemn promise" and turn their lives around to "obey the Law of God." (9:38,10:28) After hearing everything God had done I would too! WOW! 

  It is a mystery who the author of Esther is but it says in Nelson's that "the writers knowledge of Persian customs, the palace…and details of the events in the reign of Ahasuerus indicate that the author lived in Persia." (160) The SourceView says that the author "was a devout Jew" so my guess is that it was Mordecai or someone like him who was a Jew serving in the palace during the reigns of Xerxes or his son Artaxerxes. Esther may have even dictated it, if that was possible back then. I learned in lecture that the palace was destroyed 30 years after King Xerxes died so it would had to have been someone living at the same time. During the time of Esther, King Xerxes was on the throne and Persia was were the remaining Jewish captives were living, despite their release to go back to Jerusalem. The reason Esther was written was mainly to "record the events leading to the establishment of the Jewish observance of Purim." (SV, 9:24-32) It is still celebrated today and I'm sure was an important part of the Jewish history that they wanted to remember. This book allows them to look back and see the origin of the festival.

    Esther is an amazing story showcasing God's providence and protection of the Jews, though God is never mentioned. He is clearly seen because of the events that happen so fluidly and just in the nick of time. (6:3,4) He is God over the world, even Persia a superpower, they got their power from God and He chose to rise Hadassah up into the midst of the kingdom. (2:17) He works in the details and guides our footsteps. God's redemptive plan is "written" all over this book. He doesn't even need to be mentioned for His plan to be seen. God rescued His people once again. He worked through an unassuming orphan to bring a king to his knees and save His people, the Jews. 

A painting my Grandmas did of Esther :) 

Personal Application:

  Esther really is "the stuff of fairy tales" and I absolutely love this story. Mostly because it's about God using a woman to save His people. As a woman I often feel inadequate or overlooked next to a man in ministry because I know that they are the head. But I have to remind myself that God has given us each equally important gifts, just different roles. Esther was empowered by God to approach the King. Wow. This book encourages me to be confident in my gifting and the talents God has given me and the dreams He has put in my heart. Because He made me, He called me, and it's not a lesser calling, it's a beautiful one. 

Point of Passion:

  They established the festival of Purim, "to commemorate a time when the Jew gained relief from their enemies, when their sorrow was turned into gladness and their mourning into joy." Joy! I find SO often when I am in church during the worship time that there is an absence of joy. No hands lifted, no shouts of joy, no dancing and hardly any clapping. I know each person has their own expression of worship but I think that if what Jesus did for us has really sunk in we would show it. We would be doing so much more than standing in the same spot, restrictive and self conscious of those around us. I am guilty of this for sure and it's so sad. I have been in worship times too that are crazy joyful and I broke off chains of self consciousness and danced and shouted and sang with everything in me. It was SO freeing and it felt so right. I was giving everything to God. I was fully expressing my heart for Him TO HIM. I wasn't holding back. I pray that in my church and every other church that this starts being the norm and that peoples chains are broken off and their love for God would overflow and be a testimony to God's amazing love. 

Haggai is a post exilic prophet and though he isn't in very much of the Bible, his four messages are of great importance. Some might say 'short and sweet.' Well, I wouldn't use 'sweet' to describe his messages, 'strong' or 'stinging' are better choices. His first message was in 520BC and it happened during the reign of King Darius. (1:1) The construction of the temple had stopped in 534BC mostly because of "strong opposition from the Samaritans in the land." (N265) They were concentrating on their own homes "while my house lies in ruins." (1:4) Haggai was called by God to wake up His people in Judah to continue the construction. (1:8,9) Fearing God and rebuilding His temple was more important than what men could do to them. In Haggai's first message, 1:2-11, God says that the reason their crops were failing, amongst other things, was because they had neglected His house. His messages were to Zerubabbel and Jeshua who in turn told the "whole remnant of God's people." And they obeyed!! What?! (1:12)

  God is very encouraging in this book. He says, "I am with you…Be strong…So do not be afraid." (1:13,2:4,5) At first He rebukes them through Haggai, but then He comforts and assures them also saying, "My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt." I love that, just as a Father would discipline His children but then tell them He loves them still. He "sparked the enthusiasm" and "they began to work on the house" of God. (1:14) He wanted them to succeed and shows His "cheerleader" side throughout Haggai. At the end He says the most beautiful thing to Zerubbabel, "I will make you like a signet ring on my finger." (2:23) Yes, that is one of the most affirming words I have read thus far. Nelson's says that Zerubbabel "becomes the centre of the messianic line, sealing both branches together." How amazing is that?! Haggai 2:9 is also amazing! God says, "The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory…I will bring peace." Yay for Jesus! Haggai is told of God's future redemption and "the crucial role the second temple was to have." (N266) Haggai is packed with treasures. 

From the tribe of Levi came a "priest by birth but a prophet by calling" named Zechariah who was "a contemporary of Haggai." (N270) He was the "son of Berekiah and grandson of Iddo." (1:1) He began prophesying the same year as Haggai, in 520BC, which means that King Darius was on the throne of Persia. He was younger than Haggai so he was also around when King Xerxes ascended to the throne. Zechariah was "commissioned by God" to spur on the completion of the temple in Jerusalem, just as Haggai was. (N270) Though Zechariah was quite different in his prophetic gifting because God showed him eight visions which are quite "out there." To be honest, Zechariah is a very intimidating book and I don't quite grasp all that is going on but I do know that it is powerful. The interaction with angels and even satan in chapter 3 set Zechariah apart. (In regards to the 'satan' traditions, don't even get me started;)

God is in all things and He carried ultimate authority over the earth. In 4:6-10 He says, "It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit." He says that Zerubbabel will complete the temple and He tells him, "Do not despise these small beginnings." Through the visions given to Zechariah, God tells them that the building is by His power alone, then affirms his task and encourages perseverance. That would get me going! God's last words in Zechariah are the picture of hope and redemption. He says, "I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure. I will refine them…They will call on my name…and I will answer them…These are my people…they will say, 'The Lord is our God.' " (13:8b-9) Future reconciliation and refinement. God isn't gonna stop being with them and working on their hearts. 

I love that there is so much about Jesus in these post exilic prophetic books! "Then he will receive royal honour and will rule as king from his throne. He will also serve as priest from his throne, and there will be perfect harmony between his two roles." (6:13) In class I found out that kings come from the line of Judah and priests from Levi so they could never be both. But Jesus is both! Mind blowingly amazing! I just can't wait for Jesus! But my favourite reference to Jesus in Zechariah is 9:9, it says, "Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey - riding on a donkey's colt." Ahh!! Amazing that God would reveal that to Zechariah! So specific, hundreds of years before it came to pass. 

Malachi was the author of this book of the same name and a prophet. According to Nelson's "Malachi" means "My Messenger" He was just that, a messenger sent by God to Israel. (1:1) According to the SourceView it was "composed sometime after 460BC, after the temple in Jerusalem had been rebuilt (516BC)." Malachi was sent to get the people out of their religious slump. The spiritual leaders were majorly dropping the ball and allowing awful things to happen, in the temple especially. "Listen, you priests…make up your minds to honour my name…" (2:1-4) There was so much complacency and a huge lack of reverence, if any, towards God and His temple. There was divorce and marriage with pagan women. It was a mess that God sent Malachi to clean up, and that He did.  

   I see the Father heart of God in Malachi. His first words are "I have always loved you" (1:2) and He goes on to say, "guard your heart…return to me…They will be my people." (2:15, 3:7,17) He is so passionate in His love towards them…it is SO beyond beautiful that the last book before the New Testament ends with God speaking such great love over His remnant; who He has sustained.

   "But for you who fear my name, the Sun of RIghteousness will rise with healing in his wings." (4:2) Ahhhhhh! Jesus!! This is God's redemptive plan in Malachi and almost the last thing God says. What beautiful imagery and especially since after it says, "And you will go free, leaping with joy…you will tread upon the wicked." (v3) Joy! Freedom! Triumph over evil! Through Jesus! If that's not redemptive I don't know what is! 
Personal Application:
My absolute favourite verse in Malachi was 3:10. It says, "I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you wont have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!" I love that! It is talking about if they bring their tithes but for me it is also an assurance that God is capable of more than we can imagine and He has so much in store for us. I can put my trust in Him all the time, always, without exception. He is so eager to bless and love us! It leaves me kind of speechless…the fact that He loves us that much. I can't fully comprehend it. 

Point of Passion:
We need to come before God with a pure heart and in Malachi the people ask "why doesn't the Lord accept my worship?" (2:14) and its because of the deep sin that they were in. Guarding you heart is so important and God tells them that a couple times after that question. That says to me that it affects our worship because our hearts are where the outflow of worship comes from and if we don't make ourselves right with God our worship will be tainted. That is serious stuff. Leading people in worship is serious to me and to lead people, first, in setting their hearts right needs to happen before going into that beautiful intimate place of worship with God.

The Books Of The Prophets { Exilic }

{ Jeremiah }

Jeremiah is the author of this book, he dictated the messages to Baruch. (36:4) According to the SourceView it was written "over the course of his ministry" (626-580 BC), but it started during the reign of King Josiah. (1:2) He was the son of a priest named Hilkiah and was born in Anathoth in Benjamin. (1:1) God set him apart before he was born (1:5) and Jeremiah was quite young when God sent him the first message. (1:7,8) Jeremiah is referred to as the "weeping prophet" and it is very obvious through his book that he felt deeply and carried a great burden for God's people. (13:17) For forty years Jeremiah prophesied about Judah despite his reluctance and the unresponsiveness of the nation. That is the purpose of Jeremiah, to proclaim God's impending judgement on Jerusalem. (13:24-27) He was up against false prophets, ignorant Judeans, evil kings and corrupt priests. To him was given a task that no one envied, but he sure was faithful to God in speaking them out regardless of the outcome. (20:9,10)

In Jeremiah 11:1-5 God reminds them of the covenant He made. God longs to have mercy on them. He gives them so many chances to come back to Him. This book is FULL of God's merciful and grace-giving nature. Jeremiah 31:20 says, "Is not Israel still my son, my darling child? I often have to punish him, but I still love him. That's why I long for him and surely will have mercy on him." In verse 36 of the same chapter God says, "I am as likely to reject my people Israel as I am to abolish the laws of nature!" There is no way God is going to let them go even after everything they have done against Him! It is unbelievable grace!!! 

Jeremiah 23:5,6 & 33:15,16 say very similar things. They both speak of a righteous branch that will come from the line of King David. (hint:Jesus) In 31:31-34 God talks about a new covenant with the people of Israel in the days to come, He ends by saying, "And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins." Then at the end, the story of King Zedekiah and the exile into Babylon is told. So, just as 2 Kings ended with the hope of Israel resting on Jehoiachin, so does Jeremiah. (52:31-34) I really like that Jeremiah ends with hope. For a book full of darkness, there is a lot of light. 

{ Lamentations }

Lamentations was written after Jerusalem fell to Babylon, sometime after 586BC. Jeremiah is the author of Lamentations but he tells it from the perspective of the city Jerusalem. The book is made up of five poems each with its own chapter. The purpose of this book is to describe the utter despair Jerusalem was in, the deep grief of the nation. (2:2) It is a really depressing book to read. It reminds me of the song "Empty Chairs At Empty Tables" from Les Miserables. So heartfelt and so sad. The use of poetry helps paint a heartbreaking picture of the absolute desolation and ultimately the result of sinning against God. (3:39) 

Jeremiah describes God beautifully in 3:31-33, he says, "For no one is abandoned by the Lord forever. Though He brings grief, He also shows compassion because of the greatness of His unfailing love. For He does not enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow." That about sums up God's character in Lamentations. What a wonderful description! I love the flow of the words and the confidence it stirs up. He doesn't like punishing, He loves Israel with a vengeance and He will continue to show compassion, for He is great and mighty. In the same chapter he says, "The faithful love of the Lord never ends!" (v22) Never!! 
   

In 3:26 Jeremiah says, "So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord." Salvation comes from God alone in His perfect timing. Later in 4:22 he says, "O beautiful Jerusalem, your punishment will end; you will soon return from exile." Yes! There is hope in this sad lament. There is the ever present promise of salvation!

{ Obadiah }

There is a cloud of mystery surrounding the man Obadiah and when the book was written. No family or place of birth is mentioned so it is assumed by Nelson's that "he did not come from a kingly or priestly line."  Edom, was completely unsympathetic towards Judah when Babylon attacked them, so now Obadiah has been sent by God to prophesy the coming judgement on Edom, who are the descendants of Esau. The purpose of Obadiah is to show how destructive pride is. God says, "You have been deceived by your own pride…I will bring you crashing down." (1:3,4) In verse 15 it says, "All your evil deeds will fall back on your own heads." It reminds me of that phrase "pride comes before the fall" because for the Edomites it was the reality. They trusted in their strength and failed to have compassion, thus they were destroyed. 

  This book sheds the most light on God's role as Judge. In verse sixteen it says, "…so you and the surrounding nations will swallow the punishment I pour out on you…and disappear from history." He has no tolerance for pride or cruelty so Edom had it coming.   

  God's redemptive plan is seen in verses 17-21. He proclaims hope to Judah. "But Jerusalem will become a refuge for those who escape; it will be a holy place. And the people of Israel will come back to reclaim their inheritance." (17) What a beautiful picture of restoration! 

{ Habakkuk }

  Habakkuk was a prophet to the nation of Judah and he wrote it "just before the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem." (610-605BC) (SV) King Jehoiakim was ruling at the time and incredibly wicked and leading Judah into deep sin. He refused to listen to God's messages. This book is unlike the other prophet books because it is a conversation, a personal struggle with honest questions for God. I call this book the "Christmas book" because it is divided between God (red) and Habakkuk (green). The main purpose for Habakkuk is to show that it is okay to question God and to wrestle with His ways. God is so big and so sovereign, yet He doesn't shy away or condemn us when we ask honest questions. (1:12) I love Habakkuk's heart. I love how he ends with praise even though the circumstances are so crazy and seemingly out of control. 

    In 1:5 God says, "…For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it." He doesn't do things that we understand most of the time, if at all. God is Creator, Author and Sustainer, and He isn't confined to a box or a certain way of doing things. He is uncontainable and answers to no one. We can't see the full picture. Through it all though, God is trustworthy. "Even though…even though…even though the flocks die…and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord…He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights." (3:17-19) Habakkuk, in the middle of war and crisis knows that God is trustworthy regardless of circumstance; regardless of His questions. 

    Habakkuk says of God in 3:13, "You went out to rescue your chosen people, to save your anointed ones." God pursues and He redeems passionately. He always has a plan and that plan is to save. 

{ Zephaniah }

 Zephaniah is "the great-great-grandson of King Hezekiah" which means he has a royal lineage. (N.262) In 1:1 he tells us the four generations and that he prophesied when King Josiah was on the throne of Judah. This book is number two in-between Jonah and Nahum. It takes place before Jerusalem and Nineveh are destroyed. The prophecies are aimed mostly at Judah with Assyria touched on. It is another somber message to Judah concerning the coming judgment. (3:1) The purpose for this prophet is to call God's people back to Himself. In 2:3 it says, "Seek the Lord, all who are humble, and follow his commands…Perhaps even yet the Lord will protect you." 

"Stand in silence in the presence of the Sovereign Lord, for the awesome day of the Lord's judgment is near." (1:7) God's absolute authority is seen and the unquestionable reverence that He requires. Zephaniah 3:8 shows God's jealousy for His people. In 3:5 it says, "But the Lord is still there in the city, and he does no wrong." God's faithfulness and constant presence! Wow! He didn't leave them despite their awful sins and He doesn't leave us now!

    I love Zephaniah's one speech in the book, he says, "Cheer up Zion! Don't be afraid! For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty saviour. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears." What an encouragement! God says at the end, "On that day I will gather you together and bring you home again…" (3:20) I love that He uses the word home it is so comforting; it is an amazing, redeeming promise. 

Personal Application:

For me, Zephaniah 3:9 hits close to home. I have had two experiences with God purifying my lips; once a year ago during a worship school my lips tingled and burned, and second a week or two ago, my lips trembled. God is real and present and closer than our skin. He spoke to me so clearly about purifying my lips for what would come out of them, when it came to leading worship, would be glorifying to Him. My words matter, they have power and they effect the atmosphere. I pray that I would take my words seriously and only speak life and seek to glorify God always with "the words of my mouth."

Point of Passion:

Zephaniah 3:17 says, "…With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs." I love that image! I think in worship I sometimes, if ever, remember that God is singing over us! It is not just us glorifying and lifting up His name but Him loving us and singing over us! It is a relationship. Ah, I love that.

{ Ezekiel }

Like Jeremiah, Ezekiel was also the son of a priest; Buzi was his name. (1:3) Ezekiel is written in the first person, save 2 verses, and makes it clear that Ezekiel is the author of this book of the same name. Ezekiel was among the group of exiles brought to Babylon, in 597BC, the same time as King Jehoiachin was taken, and was a prophet to the Jewish exiles. (3:4-9) Five years after his arrival in Babylon, in 593BC, Ezekiel was given his first vision and his ministry lasted twenty years. The purpose of this prophet was to give the exiles hope of a return to Jerusalem and to encourage them to turn back to God because restoration was attainable. There is a large portion dedicated to calling out false prophets which leads me to the conclusion that they were a huge problem at the time. (13:1-23) 

   In Ezekiel 6:8-10 God talks about the exiles finally remembering Him and "hating themselves for all their detestable sins. They will know that I alone am the Lord and that I am serious when I said I would bring this calamity on them." God follows through on His word and judges them because He loves them, as a parent disciplines their children. He doesn't allow them to forever wallow in their sins, He calls them higher. 

   Of the redemptive plans seen in Ezekiel, my favourite is the "valley of dry bones" vision in chapter 37. God says, "these bones represent the people of Israel…I will open up the graves of exile and cause you to rise again…you will live again." (v11-14) The exiles thought themselves without hope and a finished nation but God assures them through Ezekiel that they will once again have life; they will once again know that "I am the Lord." (v13)
  
Personal Application:

I really liked that Randy highlighted the false prophets in Judah's day because nowadays they are everywhere yet I don't always realize it. That discussion in class helped me realize that I need to be on my guard more and ask God for the gift of discernment because I never want to stray from the truth and let false doctrine infect my thinking. 

Point of Passion:

In lecture I really liked what Randy said about our churches today and that we "settle for so much less of God than there is." We go in and sings songs for 15 minutes and expect to encounter God without truly inviting Him in and leaving room for Him to move. In the latter chapters of Ezekiel when it describes the temple 42:20 stuck out to me, it says, "…with a wall all around it to separate what was holy from what was common." And also what God says in 43:12, "And this is the bass law of the Temple: absolute holiness!" I think the church as a whole doesn't dwell on God's holiness. I feel as though it needs to be reestablished in our worship today. It is central to who God is. The priests clothing had to be changed so they did not "endanger anyone by transmitting holiness" through their clothing! What!? That is crazy holy! That is serious holiness! That blows my mind! We can't fully understand it but that doesn't mean that God won't show us a glimpse of it if we make room and press into Him. :) 

   

{ Daniel }

  Daniel was of noble birth and was taken to Babylon in the first sweep by "Nebuchadnezzar in 605BC," when King Jehoiakim was ruling over Judah. (1:3, N229) Daniel is said to have written this book and in 12:4 we see evidence of that as some of the prophecies God gave him were meant to be kept secret. "From 7:2 onward" it is written in the first person (N229) and in lecture, Andrew said that Daniel used the Kings as sources to "add influence to his message." Daniel was placed in a position of prominence despite being immersed in a pagan nation. He upheld his faith in God and was an amazing example to the rest of the Judeans in captivity in his uncompromising devotion. 

    God is sovereign over every nation and a Restorer, I see this in "Nebbi's grand adventure." (Andrew) He humbled the king in the lowest possible way and through it Nebuchadnezzar was changed and gave God the highest praise. He restored the king to his position after the "lesson" and extended such amazing grace to him. (4:1-37) He also showed His sovereignty in saving Daniel in the lion's den and Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah from the furnace. That would instil so much hope in the exiles.  

    In Daniel 7:14 it says, "His rule is eternal - it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed." Later in verse 27 it says, "Then the sovereignty, power, and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be given to the holy people of the Most High…" and that to me is a stunning description of the future ultimate redemption of God's people. 

Personal Application:

The part of Daniel that hits me the most is what "the three" say to King Nebuchadnezzar in 3:17, "…He will rescue us from your power…but even if He doesn't…we will never serve your gods…" Wow! That is undeniable, uncompromising faith and trust in God. I can't think of a word to describe what that phrase means to me. It makes me want to cry and it makes me hate the doubt that sometimes rises in me…I pray that I will have that kind of faith when trials come my way. That I will say with confidence "even if He doesn't" I will still serve God and I will cling to Him because He is the only One who brings me life. 

Point of Passion:

  Again the way that the Three stood up to the king was amazing and it reminds me of the way that the world tries to pull us into making idols that take the place of God in our lives. We are to be living sacrifices, set apart to God; holy. When we compromise and say yes to the worldly gods it grieves the Holy Spirit and robs us of intimacy with God. Even in worship times our mind can be pulled away, that is why devotion is so important. Worship should centre our hearts and minds on God and give Him all the glory because He is the only One worthy of our praise; the only One we should bow down to. 

The Books Of The Prophets (Pre-Exile)

{ Amos }

  Amos is from Judah but is called to prophesy judgement to the Northern kingdom. In class, John said that it was before King Tiglath of Assyria attacked so it was hard for the Israelites to take Amos seriously. There is an earthquake that is mentioned which gives a very accurate date for the time of Amos. In 7:12-16 we get another glimpse into the man Amos was. To them is written the most judgement, but they don't see it coming. (2:6) The purpose of this prophet is to call them back to their first love, that they may have life. "Come back to the Lord and live" (5:4,6,14) 

   All of chapters 1 and 2 show God's justness. He is holy and sin deserves just punishment. In 5:24 He calls Israel to the same things, justice and righteousness. 

   I see a nod to Jesus when God says, "In that day I will restore the fallen house of David." (9:11) God's redemptive plan in Amos is a sort of teaser for the Israelites; for the whole picture is not revealed. In 5:15 he prophesies, "…Perhaps even yet the Lord God of Heaven's Armies will have mercy on the remnant of his people.*" (People meaning the remnant of Joseph) Even amidst all of the judgement in Amos, there is hope. 

 { Hosea }

 The kings who reigned in Judah and Israel during Hosea's time are stated and we are told that he was the son of Beeri. He was married to Gomer and had two sons and a daughter. (1:1-9) The Assyrians were a presence and it is obvious that Hosea is writing to the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Never before had I realized how small the part about Gomer was, which tells me that there is more to Hosea than her.  Marrying Gomer perfectly exemplified God's relationship with Israel. Their marriage gives me a glimpse into the heart of God that is so beautiful. That is the purpose of this prophet more than anything; to show Israel how God desperately wants them back no matter how far they've strayed. God has never done anything to warrant their utter refusal to follow Him. Hosea 11:1-11 is a heartbreaking summary of where they started, where they are and where they will end up; God will "bring them home again." 

  God will not relent in His pursuit of Israel; He will always be their hope. (14:4-8) God's faithfulness to Israel is seen in the sign of Hosea and Gomer's marriage. God's "romantic" side is shown in the book because of His steadfast love, mercy and faithfulness; but it is an unrequited love. Gomer continually leaves Hosea and Israel turns to Baal again and again. Yet God still offers them His love. Wow!  

  As seen in the names of Hosea's children God plans to restore His people to Himself. Though this is not necessarily pointing to Jesus, it is a part of God's redemptive plan. (1:10-11) 

{ Micah }

  Micah was a prophet to Judah, primarily, when Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah were on the throne. He was from a small town and I think that is why he has such a simplistic view of life and repentance. The famous Micah 6:8 shows this. He gives simple instructions which summarize the book perfectly. "This is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." That is the purpose of Micah, not only to call Judah back, but to show them that it is uncomplicated. 

  God is a promise keeper. He will not abandon His people with no hope to look forward to. He always comes through on what He says He will do. The conclusion of Micah states it beautifully. (7:18-20) 

  God's redemptive plan is seen very clearly in Micah 5:2, as it predicts that Bethlehem will be the birthplace of Jesus. Amazing!

{ Joel  }

 Joel was a prophet during and after Joash's reign and he prophesied to Judah. Like prophets do, Joel speaks of coming destruction and calls the people of Judah to "return to the Lord your God." (2:13) What I love about Joel is that it ends with a beautiful promise. "But the Lord will be a refuge for his people…" (3:16) and "I will pardon my people's crimes…and I, the Lord will make my home in Jerusalem with my people" (3:21) give Judah hope! There is a light at the end of the tunnel. The purpose of Joel, to me, is to shine the light of renewal amidst the darkness of judgement. 

  In Joel I see God's mercy in a huge way. He is constantly giving His people in Judah chance after chance to come back to Him. (2:13) "Turn to me now, while there is still time. Give me your hearts." (2:12)  

  "The day of the Lord" is an obvious theme and Joel predicts the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (2:28-32) but there is no obvious prediction or foreshadowing of Jesus to me. For Joel to predict the Pentecost is amazing; hundreds of years before it happened. What a confirmation! Too bad he wasn't around to see it fulfilled. 

Application:

 I want to choose God every moment of every day; to turn to the Light. I want to believe His promises with everything in me and turn away from the world and the lies it holds. 

Point of Passion:

 For Joel to predict the outpouring of the Holy Spirit means that there will be a new way of life for God's followers. That means that there will be a new way to worship and not with animal sacrifices. The new covenant brings so much freedom and no longer the need to bring a blood sacrifice to the places of worship. What an upgrade!! (understatement) Worship now can be dancing, singing, shouting and bowing before God! No blood, no stench, no measuring cups! But our songs and our bodies as living sacrifices!! 

{ Jonah }

   Jonah is a prophet to the Northern kingdom of Israel. He is the son of Amittai and is a prophet when Assyria is gaining more and more power. The basic purpose of Jonah is to call Nineveh to repentance and turn to God. This takes longer than God wanted because Jonah decides to make a break for it. There was never a more reluctant prophet! I think that Jonah is more about God changing Jonah's heart than Nineveh changing their hearts. But in the end Nineveh is saved by God and Jonah is successful in his mission, despite his heart.

   God's grace is the main star of this book though. (3:10) Assyria had done incredibly wicked things up until this point and yet God "changed His mind" at their repentance. Jonah did not want to see that and his pride got in the way. He knew God was going to forgive them if they repented. God's sympathy is also seen in His last words to Jonah. (4:11) 

   God's redemptive plan through Jesus isn't seen clearly, but 2:6 alluded to what Jesus will do for all of mankind, "But you, O Lord, my God, snatched me from the jaws of death!" When Jesus died on the cross He saved us from death and permanent separation from God! 

Application:

Jonah's response to God always depended on the circumstances. I pray that when God places something in my life that I would not respond like him but that I would trust in His plan for my life and not miss what He's trying to teach me. 

Point of Passion:

  What I shared in my preaching assignment applies directly to my point of passion; the sacrifice of praise. (2:8,9) God is worthy of continual praise never conditional praise. He is sovereign over our lives and completely trustworthy. When there are hardships in our lives, the worship is so beautiful because it is a sacrifice and it comes out of brokenness and draws us into the arms of Jesus. 

{ Nahum }

    Nahum the prophet was from Elkosh and he prophesied about Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria. He came about 100 years after Jonah. Nineveh was back at it and sinning greatly. This time God would not let their sins go unpunished, so he called Nahum to tell them of the coming destruction. Nahum is a doom and gloom kind of book. The purpose of this prophet is to give hope to Judah and show them that evil will not be tolerated; using Nineveh as an example. (1:12)

    In Nahum 1:3, I see God's awesome power! The imagery is so strong. "He displays His power in the whirlwind and the storm. The billowing clouds are the dust beneath his feet." God says twice that He is Nineveh's enemy. (2:13,3:5) How scary! God is to be taken seriously and to be feared, for His power is great! 

   Like Joel, there is no blatant prophecy concerning Jesus, but the promise of redemption is there. In 1:12 &13 God says, "…but I will not punish you again…I will break off the yoke of bondage…and tear off the chains of Assyrian oppression." The "promise of deliverance" is there! (S.V.Insights)

{ Isaiah }

  Isaiah was a prophet that saw God! (6:1) He was the son of Amoz and he "prophesied in Jerusalem during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah." (Nelson's pg.200) In 7:3 and 8:3, it mentions Isaiah's two sons and Nelson's says that his wife was a prophetess. Isaiah covers an extensive period of time, from 740 to the 2nd coming of Jesus! Hezekiah's story is featured in the middle of the book, repeated from the book of Kings, and Isaiah prophesies the Babylonian takeover that would happen. Isaiah's name means "Salvation is of the Lord." "The word salvation appears twenty-six times in Isaiah, but only seven times in all the other prophets combined." (Nelson's201) This tells me that Salvation is central to his message. A repeated theme is definitely to trust God and not in alliances with enemy nations or idols. (10:24)

     This book is packed with God's character and nature. In 30:19, I see His grace and eagerness to save His people. I love 44:6-8 but especially where it says, "You are my witnesses - is there any other God? No! There is no other Rock - not one!" That shows God's strength and that putting Him as your foundation is the best thing you can do. In 43:1-7, I see God's saving power and His sheltering arms. He is the only safe haven. In 43:13 God shows His sovereignty saying, "From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done." 

     Isaiah has the most Messianic prophecies of all the prophets. The most quoted is 9:6+7 where it says, "For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Other references are 7:13-16,11:1) I love all of the Jesus prophecies! I wish Isaiah would have been able to have seen those prophecies fulfilled! Jesus, the hope of the world, not just the Israelites. 

Application:

 God is in the business of saving His people. What a great God I serve! He is so big, so powerful, so mighty, yet He chooses as part of His character to be merciful, loving and faithful to us! I pray that every day I will stop and stand in awe of who He is and that it would change how I view life and the decisions I make and how I love. There's no doubt it will. 

Point of Passion:

 Isaiah 19 talks about the Egyptians building an altar to God in the "heart of Egypt" symbolizing that God is worshiped there. (v.19,20) These were non-Israelites worshiping God and because they turned to Him, He heard them and sent them a saviour. Our worship means something. God loves to hear us praise Him and to see external signs of our internal devotion to Him; the fruit. God is moved by our praise and the atmosphere shifts! In 26:8 it says, "…our heart's desire is to glorify your name." I pray that that is our hearts desire and that when we lift His name that we are genuine in our praise.