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Bible study tonight was canceled because the host is attending a raw “cooking” class. It was great timing as I’ve been sick the last three days and don’t feel much better than I did day 1. So I’m glad I get to stay home. I haven’t left the house since Monday and I’m really happy about it. My energy is nonexistent.

Today’s reading covered Jeremiah chapters 1 through 10. I didn’t find anything really thought provoking until chapter 9.

Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:

But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD
Jeremiah 9:23-24.

I think these two verses are really cool. Even if a person is wise, mighty, or rich, they are not to glory in it. Instead, they are to glory that they understand and know the Lord. I wonder if this text is talking about God the Father or Jesus. It is possible to know both. After all, Christ said that “if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him” (John 14:7).

I have finished reading Isaiah! Today I just wanted to post a prophecy about Christ.

Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors
Isaiah 53.

I found it interesting that Isaiah prophecies that Christ would have “no beauty that we should desire Him.” Crowds flocked to Him but it wasn’t His beauty or His popularity or His money. He didn’t have any. People wanted to be near Christ because of who He was, because of His teachings, and because of the way He treated people. No one could accuse Christ of winning popularity contests based on His looks because He wasn’t considered handsome, at least not by earthly standards. His character reflected God the Father and that is what attracted people.

I am almost done with Isaiah, today reading chapters 42 through 52.

Right away I found a passage that I absolutely love. It’s beautiful.

Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:

Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them
Isaiah 42:5-9.

And then in the very next chapter, the Lord tells us why He created us.

Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him
Isaiah 43:7.

He created us for His glory! It’s amazing what kind of facts and such you find when you’re reading but not looking for anything specific (or with an agenda).

Today’s reading covered Isaiah chapters 29 through 41. I found a few interesting texts that I will have to study later. The reading goes so quickly that all I can do is make notes about things I need to come back to!

And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him
Isaiah 30:18.

This text reads to me like a contradiction. The Lord will wait and be gracious and exalted, that He may have mercy. Why? Because he’s a God of judgment. What? This doesn’t fit with my idea of judgment, though I understand that God is gracious, exalted, and merciful. I need to do a Bible study on the idea of judgment.

And the work of righteousness shall be peace;
and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever
Isaiah 32:17.

I love this text, how the work of righteousness is peace. It reminds me of James 3:18. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

And this last text is a wonderful promise.

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint
Isaiah 40:31.

Today’s reading was mostly completed in the afternoon as our morning was completely off our normal routine. I read Isaiah 14 through 28. The first three fourths of the chapters were doom and gloom predictions. I was really tired during my reading and had trouble pushing through it. But then I came to some really interesting passages.

Right after several nations are issued very terrible prophecies, Isaiah writes:

O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.

For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall
Isaiah 25:1, 4.

Isaiah knows that the nations prophesied against brought about their own destruction. Even though he could see God issuing these terrible proclamations, he was still able to praise God because of all the wonderful things He has done.

Then there is this wonderful promise about heaven:

He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.

And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation
Isaiah 25:8-9.

It will be wonderful to know that death will never again raise its ugly head. We will never have to cry because God has saved us and we can rejoice in His salvation. What a wonderful thought! This passage is very similar to several in Revelation about what John saw in vision of the New Jerusalem.

Isaiah then gives us powerful instruction.

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength
Isaiah 26:3-4.

Trust. Perfect peace. Everlasting strength. All of this can be mine and yours if we keep our mind on God.

Today’s reading (Isaiah chapters 1 through 13) took some slogging through. The vast majority of it is doom and gloom threats to the Israelites if they continue to abandon God. Isaiah was warning the Israelites what would happen if God removed His hand of protection from them. It was going to be dire.

In the middle of all of these warnings are a few prophecies about Christ.

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel
Isaiah 7:14.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this
Isaiah 9:6-7.

I love the names of Christ: Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Each name illustrates some aspect of His character. I have multiple names (wife, daughter, someday-a-mother, friend) and each says something about me but you have to add them all together to get a complete picture. It is the same way with Christ. When you look at all of His names, you obtain a better understanding of who He is.

Today was a very interesting mix of chapters. I read Ecclesiastes 3 through Song of Solomon 8. Talk about very different subjects!

Ecclesiastes can be summed up in two verses.

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.

The first time I read Song of Solomon, years ago, I was completely confused. Over the years, that confusion didn’t clear and I never studied the book. My Bible (KJV) has the book broken up into six songs, but there are no other breaks in the text. Hubby has a NKJV and the first time we read the book together, my eyes were opened. The book is a conversation! No wonder I was so confused. In my Bible, it is very difficult to tell where one person’s declarations end and the other’s begin. Reading my hubby’s Bible turned the book into something meaningful.

Song of Solomon was fun for this read through. Hubby and I read it aloud to each other. Some sections were a bit embarrassing and others were confusing in that today’s compliments are very different (your hair is like goats?). But it’s a great love story.

Today I read Proverbs 7 through 20. There are a lot of verses that deal with wisdom. But my favorite verses talk about finding God.

I love them that love me;
and those that seek me early shall find me
Proverbs 7:17.

For whoso findeth me findeth life,
and shall obtain favour of the LORD
Proverbs 7:35.

What wonderful promises! If I search God, I will find Him. And when I find Him, I find life and obtain God’s favor. What blessed thoughts.