Isaiah- 54-58

by Paul Ice

“This is like the days of Noah to me:

as I swore that the waters of Noah

should no more go over the earth,

so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you,

and will not rebuke you.

For the mountains may depart

and the hills be removed,

but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,

and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,”

says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

(Isaiah 54:9-10 ESV)

An everlasting covenant:

What a powerful passage.  The steadfast love of our God - forever.

And, I love verse like these that authenticate other parts of the scripture.  You can’t believe in the eternal covenant of God with his people and discount the literal account of the flood.

And the next set of verses speak to the covenant being extended to all people.  Thank you Jesus, for salvation to all how call upon Him.

“And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD,

to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD,

and to be his servants,

everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it,

and holds fast my covenant—

these I will bring to my holy mountain,

and make them joyful in my house of prayer;

their burnt offerings and their sacrifices

will be accepted on my altar;

for my house shall be called a house of prayer

for all peoples.”

(Isaiah 56:6-7 ESV)

Isaiah 44 Drenched with the Spirit

Adapted from a sermon by John Piper

“But now hear, O Jacob my servant,
    Israel whom I have chosen!
² Thus says the Lord who made you,
     who formed you from the womb and will help you:
Fear not, O Jacob my servant,
     Jeshurun whom I have chosen.
³ For I will pour water on the thirsty land,
    and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring,
    and my blessing on your descendants.
⁴ They shall spring up among the grass
     like willows by flowing streams.

5This one will say, ‘I am the Lord's,’
    another will call on the name of Jacob,
and another will write on his hand, ‘The Lord's,’
    and name himself by the name of Israel.”

Isaiah 44:1-5

Isaiah 44:1-5 is a promise from God to the people of Israel who had chosen to serve God (“Jacob my servant”) and to the Gentiles throughout generations who made the Lord their God.  The promise, found in verse three, is this: “I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.”

The idea of the word “pour” is one of drenching – the opposite of drizzling or misting.  If I went out into the pouring rain, I would expect to be drenched - completely saturated with rain. The promise is to be completely drenched with the Spirit. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?

What will happen because of the drenching of the Spirit?

• Our fears are taken away (verse two).  This does not mean our troubles are taken away. It does mean that we are safe from the things that God knows is not good for us.
• Our thirst for God is satisfied (verse three is translated in KJV as “I will pour water on the thirsty”).  We will drink the Living Water.
• We will flourish.  Verse four says those that drink up the Spirit will "spring up among the grass like willows by flowing streams". This implies an on-going drenching of the Spirit.

“It's not an accident that in Psalm 1 the tree planted by streams of water that brings forth fruit for others is a picture of the person who meditates on the Word of God day and night, while the tree planted by streams of water in Isaiah 44 is a picture of the person who has experienced the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It's not an accident because the Spirit of God does not produce hope apart from the Word of God; and the Word of God does not produce hope apart from the Spirit of God. But the Spirit through the Word, and the Word by the Spirit, takes away fear, nourishes hope, fills with joy, overflows in love, and glorifies God. That's what it means to be filled with the Spirit. Therefore the way to experience the outpouring of the Spirit is to pour the Word of the Spirit into your mind and heart every day and believe it.”

Read or listen to John Piper’s full sermon here.

  

Love Notes - Isaiah 40-43

by Diana Durrill


"You are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you." 

These twelve words sound like a beautiful love note from one lover to another.  A man loves a woman and he sends her a letter with words like these inscribed in ink and what wells up inside of her?

Love....Thankfulness...Peace & Comfort...Joy...Safety.  Any woman would feel secure after having something like this written to her, especially if the words were backed with action.

As beautiful as human love can be, the love of the Father is much more so because it is perfect and without blemish.  Love as purely we may desire, we will still fail our loved ones from time to time because of sin in our own hearts.  But God's love for us is faithful, unconditional, and the picture of perfection.  So these words of God, penned through the prophet Isaiah, are especially comforting and can fill us with confidence.

Because I am precious in His eyes...

• I have His power & might when I feel weary in well-doing.  He faithfully renews my strength. (Isaiah 40:28-31)
• My righteousness doesn't depend on me because His righteousness holds me up. (Isaiah 41:10)
• I don't have to be fearful because He is my help (even while He holds my hand). (Isaiah 41:13)
• I am redeemed.  I am called by name.  I am His. (Isaiah 43:1)
• My trials and struggles in life will not overwhelm me...I will not be consumed by them. (Isaiah 43:2)

There are many, many more comforts embedded in this passage - too many to list here.  Re-read these chapters and find your heart comforted, your strength renewed, and your confidence bolstered in the beautiful, life-giving love of your Father.

God is not mocked.

by Mike Durrill


[14] Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD. - Isaiah 37:14 ESV

What a story of faith, courage, and hope in the face of certain destruction! King Hezekiah's response to adversity is to go to the One whose glory is seen in the midst of difficult times.

I think of the tragedy that has occurred in our beloved state this past week. A man mocked God by assaulting and killing human life. Our inward responses have been normal - unbelief, sadness, grief, anger, and a desire to do something. King Hezekiah demonstrates where to go and what to do.

Go up to the presence of God and spread it before him. The word "spread" carries the idea of "breaking it in pieces" or "leaving no stone unturned". In other word's pray through it! Every angle. Walk through your thoughts with the Lord. Plead with Him on the basis of His Truth. "Spread" it out before Him and then step back and trust that He will work.

It is our privilege as Christians to come directly before the throne of grace and seek Him in time of need.

When King Sennacharib mocked the God of Israel...it didn't take long for justice to be served and for God to be glorified.

Isaiah 35, 36

     How do you respond to the arrogant blasphemous pride of the world? That's a tough question, and the world's disdain and false ideologies take many shapes and forms. But in this particular case Rabshakeh throws the one and only true God of the universe in a useless category with other non existent gods. He elevates the King of Assyria over Jehovah. Ultimately it's the same as the world today that elevates money, or Allah, or "tolerance", or science (I could go on and on) over our great God.  In times like these your response absolutely matters. We live in a culture that is getting increasingly blasphemous about our Savior and our Lord. Sometimes we should stand up and say something. Other times it's wise to recognize that a response like verse 21,22 is called for...
      
     "But they were silent and answered him not a word , for the king's command was, "Do not answer him."....Then Eliakim...and Shebna...came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn..."

    There are times when the best answer to blasphemy is a disdainful silence, and this seems to have been such a time. Any type of reproof would have fallen before deaf ears. There are other times when we should speak up. Perhaps when a person isn't so high on pride, or when there is actually a legitimate teaching opportunity. But this silence in the face of such a arrogant pronouncement gives the equally good reply that, "God is so beyond your little plan that you don't even deserve a response."

     Eliakim and Shebna didn't know exactly what was going on, but history would show that even at this moment, God was in control of this entire situation. The result? Rabshakeh would not be successful, and that's putting it nicely.  I know, shocker. 

     We serve the all powerful all mighty God of the universe, He doesn't need our defense. There will be times when we face this kind of blasphemy, and our response can either show God's grace and holiness or it can misrepresent him. Pray for His strength to have the right response, because you never know when you're going to need it. 

Isaiah 31-34

By Paul Ice

This is yet another passage where God calls for His people to turn to Him and not their idols or the strength of horses or chariots. 

Isaiah prophesies what will happen when they turn to Him and away form their idols.

            “And the Assyrian shall fall by a sword, not of man;

                        and a sword, not of man, shall devour him;

            and he shall flee from the sword,

                        and his young men shall be put to forced labor.

            His rock shall pass away in terror,

                        and his officers desert the standard in panic,”

            declares the LORD, whose fire is in Zion,

                        and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.

(Isaiah 31:8-9 ESV)

Hear is the recording later of what happens.

            And the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. Then Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and returned home and lived at Nineveh. And as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer, his sons, struck him down with the sword. And after they escaped into the land of Ararat, Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place.

(Isaiah 37:36-38 ESV)

Psalm 33:8-9 Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.

Isaiah 28-30

by Adam Johnson




And the Lord said: "Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men, therefore, behold, I will again do wonderful things with this people, with wonder upon wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden." Isaiah 29:13-14


The first part of the book of Isaiah revolves around promises that God is going to bring judgment upon His people for their rebellion. However, in the midst of all of these terrible judgments God never leaves His people without hope. Some of the greatest promises in the Old Testament telling of the Messiah to come is found in the truth in Isaiah that the Lord was going to devastate Judah for their many sins.  


It is a great reflection upon on our lives before Christ - we lived according to our own appetites and lusts with no regard for the consequences of our actions. It is an amazing thing, the grace and mercy of God. This reflection goes nearer to our hearts as believers today. God's promise of looming judgment was not on their heathen open flouting of sin, but their secret sins they practiced while coming to worship God. Covetousness, pride, idolatry, and ritualistic worship were the tip of the judgment iceberg that the Lord was trying to get Judah to repent of their sins.


Today, it might not be worshiping secretly a statue, but the sin of covetousness and materialism may dominate our lives. We can give all the right spiritual responses and verses, but if our desire is not to further the cause of Christ, fellowship, or grow in the knowledge and grace of the Lord Jesus then what is our purpose? The thought that I leave for all of us - "having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power" 
-I Tim. 3:5. We can all do many things and programs, but do we do it because of fear of man or God? Everyday I want to question my motives for life and godliness. I want Him to be the center of my all, my life. Let us all MAKE Him the center of our all, our lives.

The ways of the LORD are right

by Rebekah Johnson


"Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them."  Hosea 14:9


Hosea sums up his entire book in this last verse. He calls Israel to choose wisdom, seek after God's purpose and desire to understand. The ways of the Lord are right; He is just. In our finite minds, we sometimes question the ways of God; we are tempted to assign blame and not trust. If God were really in control, He wouldn't allow _______________. We are called to remember His ways are higher, His plan is perfect, and He is always right.


If we seek to know and understand and have a desire to accept His purpose, He will reveal Himself to us. "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." James 1:5

Hosea 1-7 What's In a Name?

by Jill Ice

The story of Hosea and his troubled marriage to the prostitute Gomer is a powerful metaphor of our unfaithfulness to God and His unfailing love to us. Second only to God’s shocking instruction to Hosea to marry a prostitute is God’s choice of names for Hosea’s three children. 

• Jezreel (a son) - meaning "bloodshed", for God is about to humble Israel in the Jezreel valley
• Lo-Ruhamah (a daughter) – meaning “no mercy”
• Lo-Ammi (a son) – meaning “not my people”

When my children were born, I pondered over names and the meanings of names.  I considered questions such as: what character traits did I want my children to possess?  Who did I want my children to emulate as a namesake? I can honestly say that I never thought to call my child No Mercy or Not My People.

Hosea was called upon by God to do hard things (marrying a prostitute, bestowing upon his children hopeless and depressing names) as a harsh and in-your-face demonstration of God’s relationship with the meandering Israel and, by extension, the New Testament church.

Yet there is hope. For we are speaking of God – Who loves us with a love that is all-consuming, ever-passionate, never-failing, never-giving-up. As Hosea purchases back his own wife when she turns from her husband into an adulterous affair, God sends His own Son to redeem His bride (the church) from the lust of the flesh and the affair with the world.

When Gomer is brought back to Hosea and the nation of Israel is reconciled to God, Hosea’s children get new names:

• Jezreel’s name is changed to a more positive meaning which seems to indicate God’s blessing.
• Lo-Ruhamah is restored to Ruhamah, bringing God's grace and compassion back to His people after they have repented of their rebellion.
• Lo-Ammi is given the new name: Ammi. In their cry of repentance, God will restore Israel as His children on condition that they obey Him. 

I have a new identity in Christ. I was once No Mercy and Not My People. Now I am a redeemed, forgiven, justified child of the living God.  And it’s not because of anything I have done. It is all because of Him, my Redeemer.

Great Joy.

By Mike Durrill


[26] So there was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem. - 2 Chronicles 30:26 ESV

Great Joy. Along with cleansing comes great joy. Along with the sacrifice of obedience comes great joy. The nation of Israel had been led into darkness by it's leadership and finally had a king who would choose to let light shine. He re-introduced the people to the Words of God and when the people obeyed, JOY followed on it's heels. So simple. So tried. So true. Yet often we are still bent to lean towards darkness. Hezekiah type men and women are sorely needed in our culture today.

• [130] The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. - Psalm 119:130 KJV
• [23] For the commandment [is] a lamp; and the law [is] light; and reproofs of instruction [are] the way of life: - Proverbs 6:23 KJV
• [7] Truly the light [is] sweet, and a pleasant [thing it is] for the eyes to behold the sun: - Ecclesiastes 11:7 KJV

God is Light and in Him is no darkness at all.

I Will Exalt You

"O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you; 

I will praise your name, 

for you have done wonderful things, 

plans formed of old, faithful and sure."

Isaiah 25:1

Isaiah 13-17

by Paul Ice "Wail, for the day of the Lord is near; as a destruction from the Almighty, it will come" Verses 6 - 13 of chapter 13 tell of a dreadful day.  It is not a day for Christians to brag about because they will miss these punishments, but a day we should be saddened for those that will have to face it.  It is a reminder to us, of what God has done for us in delivering us from His wrath.  And it is to remember, that Christ endured the wrath of God for my sins and yours.   Wail for the day of the Lord is near- what a horrible day this shall be;  'The day of the Lord' is mentioned 23 times in Scripture.  'In that day', another phrase used, is a day when God shall pour out His wrath on men for their sin.  They shall face His anger and who can stand before it.

Isaiah 9 Christmas in July

by Jill Ice

We usually hear these verses at Christmas time (especially verse six), so it was especially wonderful to me to read these verses in July and to be reminded of the hope of the Son given to us.

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.
You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Isaiah 9:2-7

Amos 6-9

by Diana Durrill

It caught my eye when I came to the verses today about the basket of summer fruit.

Amos 8:1-2 says,
"This is what the Lord GOD showed me: behold, a basket of summer fruit.  And he said, "Amos, what do you see?" And I said, "A basket of summer fruit."  Then the LORD said to me, "The end has come upon my people Israel; I will never again pass by them."

My first thought was to think of Pastor Mike's illustration on Sunday where he talked about the wax fruit we often display in our lives when we try to put on love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, etc. in our own strength.  That was a powerful illustration in that we clean ourselves up and look good, look real...but really and truly, we are fake.  Unless the Spirit of God produces His fruit in our lives any fruit we display is a basket of wax fruit.

As I did a little research on what the meaning of this passage is, I learned that God is giving the nation of Israel a serious object lesson on judgment.  Read the worlds of David R. Reid from this devotional:

"For most of us the words "a basket of summer fruit" convey a pleasant picture. What could be more delightful than a basket full of delicious red cherries, juicy plums and perfectly ripe peaches? But for Amos, the vision of summer fruit was not a pleasant sight. In the scorching heat of the Middle East, summer fruit is fully ripe or over-ripe fruit. Amos saw a basket of fruit that was becoming brown and soft and squishy! Ugh!

Why did God show Amos a vision of soon-to-be-rotten fruit? The basket of overly ripe fruit was an object lesson that represented the nation of Israel. The people of Israel had turned away from the Lord and were now ripe for judgment. God had been incredibly long-suffering and patient with His people but they refused to respond to His grace. They had turned a deaf ear to the warnings which God had sent them through the prophets. Now there was no hope of recovery. As the basket of fruit indicated the end of the summer season, so Israel had arrived at the end of her national existence. As the ripening process in the fruit could not be reversed, so the moral and spiritual deterioration in Israel had passed the "point of no return." As a basket of rotten fruit must be emptied and the fruit thrown away, so the corrupt nation would soon be dispersed from the land and scattered abroad."

"A basket of rotten fruit must be emptied and the fruit thrown away"...that hits home, doesn't it?  Especially in light of the topics we've been studying on Sundays?  Did you catch the statement earlier in the paragraph?  "God had been incredibly long-suffering and patient with His people but they refused to respond to His grace." (emphasis mine)

I am justified before God by the finished work of Jesus Christ.  I have been given a full dose of the grace of God and yet I often try to live in my own strength, picking and choosing how I want to live this Christian life.  If this or that particular fruit fits into my agenda for the day - great!  If not, I will save it for another day, another circumstance.  Not only am I producing fake fruit that way, but I am letting the grace that has been given to me from God rot when I refuse to walk in obedience, truth and grace.

How do we do we do it?  How do we let the Holy Spirit produce the fruit?  How do we walk in truth?
By taking heed to to the word of God. (Psalm 119:9)  By reading it, studying it, meditating on it, letting it penetrate to the very core of our beings. (Joshua 1:8)  That is how the Fruit of the Spirit is manifested in us and how our lives can turn from ones of selfish ambition to obedience and love for the Father.  That is how we walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25)

And...that is how we keep from letting the beautiful fruit of God's grace in our lives rot.

Justice Like Rolling Waters - Amos 1-5

by Diana Durrill

As I read this passage today I found myself feeling very sad.  Amos is given the job of warning the Israelites of God's coming judgment and, in the end, they don't heed the warning.

Even though God had demonstrated great kindness through the years (the exodus, the conquest of the promised land, the reigns of David and Solomon, etc.), Israel insisted on living lives of disobedience and dishonor.  They corrupted the places of worship, they performed religious rites with out adherence to the law, and they were taking advantage of and crushing the poor.

Having the advantage of knowing the whole story because we are reading from this perspective in history, it is heart-breaking to read through these chapters and recall the details of the many times the Lord intervened on Israel's behalf to bless them.  We can easily say, "What are they thinking!  Do they not remember all that God has done for them?  Do they not want to love God as a result of all His mighty works on their behalf?"

And yet, are we not the same?  Do we not find ourselves disregarding the work of the Lord by living lives of self-centeredness, neglecting obedience and honor toward God?  How often do we remember our own history and how God has rescued us from danger, delivered us to a place of freedom, and granted us grace beyond measure?  Do we let our personal history with God affect our daily lives, our treatment of the poor or the oppressed, or the way we worship?

It is good to be reminded about God's justice and righteousness. (Amos 5:24) We would do well to heed the admonition and be sure to turn our attention to God Almighty who has done great and mighty things for us.  What is it that is good and that which He requires of us?

To do justice, 
love kindness and 
to walk humbly with Him.  (Micah 6:8 ESV)

Isaiah 5-8

How can you not love chapter 6! Verses 1-7 just shine with God's majesty. In the presence of God the King of Kings we are humiliated. We have nothing to bring to the table. The whole earth is full of his glory! How true is that! This beautiful earth we enjoy is a painting of His mighty power. It glorifies his incredible creativity, goodness, and depth. This is such an enrapturing passage. Park here as long as you want. By all means, come back to it again and again. But eventually we have to keep reading, and honestly in the full context we are given a message we can easily miss because the beginning is so unbelievably incredible.

For a long time I just shut my Bible right after verse 8 and called it a day. "Yes, Lord, send me! I will go I will go!" Don't you just feel like a soldier ready for battle. Bring it on! I'm gutsy, I'm ready to go! Do you feel the deep, guttural, masculine, adrenaline laced zealousness behind this. "Let's do this" Let's roll, like we are ready to take down some terrorists on a high jacked plane.

But there's only one problem. God isn't calling Isaiah into success. At least not success in any human perception. Look at verse 9 and 10. Everything Isaiah does, no matter how much energy he puts forth, no matter how winsome he is, no matter how airtight his arguments... it will all hit a roadblock. The people will be dull. They won't connect with it. They will see and hear with no change. What? Who wants this? Can you see this want add. Valley Community, looking for people to give their free time, give their heart for people who won't respond. Wanted: help in a fruitless ministry.

Ok, so thank God right now Valley is seeing fruit! And we are seeing a ton of it. As a whole our body of Christ is changing lives, disciplining, loving and impacting people with power of the Gospel. But what if you individually feel like Isaiah right now. Maybe you have witnessed to the same neighbor or the same coworkers for months on end and your getting nothing. Maybe you have given resources and time to a friend who doesn't know Christ, but they keep on pushing him away.  Don't be discouraged, God doesn't reward fruit. The fruit is His work. Our God rewards faithfulness. Rest in that, take joy in that, and don't stress over it. God calls you to be faithful, he doesn't ask for anything else.

Isaiah 1-4

Paul Ice

Isaiah 1:11-14. As we read what the Lord says here, it sounds like He is responding to a protest or argument from Judah that the people of Judah are very religious and bring many sacrifices and that God should be content with that.

They do bring burnt offerings of rams, bulls, lambs, goats, etc. Why isn't God pleased?

They burn incense, have religious festivals & celebrations - on the outside they must have looked really good. Yet God is clearly not happy with them.

Reread verse 14: "...my soul hates. They have become a burden to me. I am weary of bearing them."

This is a very human sounding description of God. He feels hatred, burdened, even grows weary.

God is very personally involved in the situation. He is not remote, uncaring, or detached from what has been going on with Judah. This religion, with no true relationship with Him, is an agony to Him, a mockery of what He intended to be between Himself and His chosen people. All this religious stuff is sham.

When "religious" people act wickedly, those victimized (or just watching) can get a warped view of whom God is and can come to fear, hate or disdain Him as a result. Judah was God's chosen people; what they did reflected directly on Him.

The People of Judah are suffering from a spiritual blindness; they don't even recognize that their relationship with God is broken because of their sin, because of the blood on their hands. One of the purposes of this prophecy, obviously, is to show the people their blindness and force them to deal with their sins. They have to make the decision to repent; no one, not even God, can force them to do that. He can only force them to look at themselves, through His eyes.

God breaks down Judah's sins into three main categories:

-- Seek justice. Apparently being dishonest or turning a blind eye is winked at, perhaps even encouraged. People are doing wrong and are getting away with it, perhaps even rewarded for doing so.

-- Encourage the oppressed/ rebuke the oppressor. God is telling them that it is not OK to sit by and do nothing while someone is being taken advantage of. He wants them to look out for each other, regardless of social station.

-- Defend the fatherless and the widow. If you had no father or no husband, in that culture, you had no political power and could easily be taken advantage of. God is telling them to protect those who are week. Godly people step in where there are needs and provide, they don't take advantage of others misfortunes.

In Isaiah the Lord says "stop doing wrong, learn to do right!". This is a command, indicative that Judah (and us) has a choice; we can break the pattern of sin in our lives and learn (sanctification) to act justly and do the right thing. As we have been learning on Sunday's it is a work (fruit) of the Spirit. And, it is a decision on our part that we must make over and over throughout this life.

2 Chronicles 26

by Adam Johnson


"As long as Uzziah sought the Lord, and minded religion, God made him to prosper. Those only prosper whom God makes to prosper; for prosperity is his gift. Many have owned, that as long as they sought the Lord, and kept close to their duty, they prospered; but when they forsook God, every thing went cross. God never continues either to bless the indolent or to withhold his blessing from the diligent. He will never suffer any to seek his face in vain. Uzziah's name was famed throughout all the neighbouring countries. A name with God and good people makes truly honourable. He did not delight in war, nor addict himself to sports, but delighted in husbandry."

- Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

2 Chronicles 25 Sincerity of Heart

by Jill Ice

He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not wholeheartedly.

2 Chronicles 25:2

King Amaziah of Judah had a similar problem many of us experience in our Christian lives.  On the outside, we may be doing what is "right", but our motives don't always line up with our actions.  

This is not a new problem. Even the great King David prayed for a pure heart and a steadfast spirit. 

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Psalm 51:10

But God has not saved us only to leave us to be weak Christians, trying to live out the Christian life in our own power.  The sincerity behind our actions comes from a love for God, as we experience His grace and love as it permeates every facet of our lives. His grace gives us the power to do what is right with the right heart attitude. 

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6

Three Arrows, or Six?

"And he said, Take the arrows.  And he took them.  And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground.  And he smote thrice, and stayed." 2 Kings 13:18

     "Reflect what great things may lie in a man's hand. There stood Joash, an unworthy king; and yet in his hands lay, measurably, the destiny of his people. If he will take those arrows, and will shoot five or six times, their great enemy will be broken in pieces. If he will be dilatory, and will only shoot three times, he will got only a measure of victory; and poor Israel will ultimately have to suffer again from this enemy, who has been only scotched, and not killed. You do not know, dear friends, what responsibility lies upon you. You are the father of a family; what blessings may come to your household, or may be missed by your children, through your conduct! Dear mother, you think yourself obscured, yet your child's future will depend upon your teaching, or non-teaching. Great events depend upon little matters, as large vessels hang upon small nails; and you who are here tonight, sitting in the pews, and meditating upon your future course of action, may do that which shall lead many to heaven; but if you decide another way, you may do that which will curse many through time and eternity. Do remember that, and recollect in what a position of responsibility you may be placed many a time in your life, and how needful it is that the grace of God should be with you, to guide you, that you may not be an injury to others by what you do or leave undone." - C.H. Spurgeon


Read the entire sermon here.