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“Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.”
~ Micah 7:18

“Say Uncle!” There is an entire generation of Americans that cringe at these words. “Say Uncle!” was the battle cry of the bully when I was young. Some hulking lout would walk up and grab a smaller kid, twisting his arm up behind his back. The bully would demand that the victim say “Uncle.” Sometimes once was not enough. The bully would twist harder, the weaker individual would struggle to find relief. The only way out was to scream the words that were demanded. “Uncle” was the word, but the truth is, the cry was a cry for mercy. Mercy from the pain. A release from a tortuous situation. A cry for a change in the situation.

In the books of Jonah and Micah, the Assyrian Empire is the bully. A massive army bent on ruling the world, the Assyrians were well known for their brutality. They enslaved cultures, destroyed nations, and were masters of cruel and unusual forms of torture and punishment. They had a reputation for violence. And they had their eyes set on the land of Israel. Though written at two different times, Jonah when Assyria was still distant, Micah when Assyria was ready to take Israel in captivity, both have a common enemy and a common concern. They need peace, and only God can provide it.

God moves to provide mercy. Although we don’t deserve it because of the sin that invades our lives, God moves to change our situation. God wants to bring relief and healing into the lives of all men. So he calls Jonah to seek the repentance of Assyria. He promises Micah that He Himself will bring relief from Assyria. God has a plan to bring man out of pain and into hope. God has a path that He walks through history in order to bring salvation. God is the God of mercy. That means He is calling you and me. That means He is moving in our lives today.

“But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”
~ Amos 5:24

We live in a country where we have long valued justice. We have rules and laws which govern our society. They tell us what is right and what is wrong. They tell us how we should treat our neighbors and deal with others in business. We have laws which set out guidelines for parenting, driving, and the ethical treatment of others. But there are those who do not like to follow the rules. What happens when people break the law? What happens when you are wronged? You seek justice. You ask a higher power, usually the courts, to set things right.

At the time of Amos, God once again makes clear how much He values justice. His people are living in idolatry. His children are treating each other in deplorable ways. The Israelites are perverting worship, destroying the marriage bond, and devaluing the lives of those around them. God sends Amos to declare that justice is coming. God steps in to call the people back to a just lifestyle. A way that honors God by honoring the covenant that they had made with God at Sinai.

Obadiah declares that God’s justice will condemn the nation of Edom. Because Edom had acted terribly to God’ people, God will judge their hearts and lives. He will bring justice for His people by punishing Edom.

Today we still seek justice. We are a nation that has laws, and as Christians we follow the law. But we should never forget that God sets the guidelines for our lives. God sets the standard to which we must we surrender. God defines what justice is. More than simply not harming a neighbor, God’s justice calls for us to love our neighbor, to help those who persecute us, and to offer aid and assistance to those who are poor and needy. God’s justice requires that we seek the best for those around us. God’s justice calls for us to live out the nature and character of Jesus in our lives.

“I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the LORD.” ~ Hosea 2:20

Look up the word faithful in the dictionary and you will find things like, “true to one’s words, promises, and vows” or “steady in allegiance or affection, loyal, and constant.” You will even find, “reliable, trusted, or believed”, “adhering or true to fact, a standard, or an original.” The word faithful can mean many things, but it always points to one thing. Faithful is to be full of faith. When we are faithful in our marriage, we are full of trust, allegiance, and loyalty to our spouse. When we are faithful in our relationships, we are constant, steady, and true. Faithfulness speaks to the way we think, what is in our hearts, and then to how we act.

As we begin to read the Minor Prophets, faithfulness takes on an important role. The Minor Prophets are spread throughout the timeline of the divided kingdom, the Babylonian captivity, and the return to the Promised Land. The Minor Prophets speak loudly about the need to be faithful to God. Covering a variety of situations and circumstances, the Minor Prophets are faithful to talk about faithfulness. Faithfulness in marriage, toward the oppressed, in business, and in work. But most of all, the Minor Prophets call for God’s people to be faithful to God and the covenant that God has established with His people.

As Hosea takes on the mantle of a prophet, God will show how marital faithfulness reflects the faithfulness of God. Both are encouraged, but Hosea is targeting the heart of a people who need to understand their faith in God. Amos will call the people of God at a different time in history, but again, he will show how faithfulness keeps us in the will of God.

Faithfulness is about being totally committed to something. Marriage, honesty, integrity are places we can go, but in order to be faithful in the best way, we must be faithful to God. We must love by His standard alone. We must be true to His word and His will. We must remain constant in our connection to Him. God has always been faithful in His relationship with us.

“How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation.”
~ Daniel 4:3

Who’s in charge? When I worked a retail job in college, this was a question I heard all the time. Sometimes it came from an upset customer. They wanted to talk to someone about a problem. Someone with authority to fix what was wrong. Sometimes it came from a sales rep. Someone who wanted to improve our situation or who was seeking to partner with the store to introduce new products or services. Sometimes the question was asked by the representative of a charity organization. These were people who were looking for help. No matter who asked the question, everyone wanted to know who could make decisions, policy changes, or offer help in a specific situation.

The Book of Daniel holds the story of God’s people in captivity. The Jews are living in Babylon, a country with kings who hold absolute power over their people. The kings of Babylon tell the Jews what to eat, how to worship, what to worship, when to pray, and even make decisions about who will live and who will die. Separated from their homeland, the temple, and their cultural heritage, the Jews need to know who’s in charge. Enter Daniel and the word that God has given him to share with the people. God is in charge. When Daniel is instructed to eat food form the king’s table, Daniel stands up and will only eat food approved by God. When Shadrach Meshach, and Abednego are told what and how to worship, they stand up and choose to bow only to the sovereignty of God. When Daniel is told when to pray and when not to pray, he kneels before the Lord and follows the will of God. They face death, loss of reputation, and persecution, but they stand firm in their commitment to be God’s people. Why? Because God is sovereign.

It doesn’t matter where they live or who is in charge of the government. Daniel knows that God is in control. God is bigger than lions, fire, or the might of Babylon. It is a lesson we need to remember. No matter what you face, God is stronger, bigger, and mightier. He can move mountains, influence nations, and control kings. His sovereignty extends to every part of the world in which you and I walk. It touches every circumstance and situation. Be encouraged this week as you read the Book of Daniel. Encouraged to stand up and be God’s person in this time and place.

“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin.”
~ Ezekiel 18:30

Direction is important. Whether it is planning a trip, setting goals, or living a life with Jesus, we need to know where we are going and what our destination is. Spiritual growth is not about wandering aimlessly through life “doing good” to others and being nice. We were created in the image of God. We have all sinned and we fall short of the glory of God. We are broken. Spiritual growth is the process that God uses to restore us to fellowship with Him so that His image can shine in our lives. We were made to look like Jesus and impact the world with a specific purpose. When we understand that we have a specific direction to live, a destination for spiritual growth, we can live with an awareness of how we are being transformed. We need that awareness because our struggle with sin leads us in directions that God does not intend for us to go. That is why repentance is such an important part of walking with Jesus. Repentance is a course correction. It is the way that God has provided for us to get our focus straight when we wander, or deliberately walk, away from Him. Repentance calls us to check our focus, turn away from the world, and set our eyes on Jesus. In repentance, God offers forgiveness, hope, and redemption.

As we come to the Book of Ezekiel, repentance takes center stage. God’s people have given themselves over to idolatry and lost their direction. Their eyes and hearts have been focused on the world. Now God has given them over to the consequences of their decisions. The people of God are in Babylon, in captivity. They are living in a foreign land with no access to the temple. God wants them to get their focus right, so he sends Ezekiel to the captives in Babylon. The call is for a new focus. Ezekiel will demonstrate, in dramatic ways, how Judah has chosen a path that does not lead to God. He will lay on his side in the dirt, visit a valley of dry bones, be bound with cords, all to call attention to the direction that God’s people have taken. Ezekiel will also share God’s love and a vision for worship that God will fulfill. The call is clear. Repent and set your eyes and hearts on God. His purpose is our direction.

As you read Ezekiel this week, remember that God is still at work in His people. He calls for us to check our direction. He offers us a chance to walk away from the world and set our eyes on Jesus. He offers repentance.

“And I will declare my judgments against them, for all their evil in forsaking me. They have made offerings to other gods and worshiped the works of their own hands.” ~ Jeremiah 1:16

The time has come. Judah will not repent. God has sent prophets with warnings, visions, and promises of future destruction. God has offered hope and healing if the people will repent and turn away from the world and idolatry, and place their trust in Him. The people of Judah have not listened. Their hearts have grown hard, and their lives have become full of evil and violence. Sin has become “normal, and obedience has become oppressive. The people want to do what is right in their own eyes. Judah wants to set her own standards and live by her own rules. God has told His people over and over that this is a path that leads to destruction. When sin reigns, relationships are broken, the heart is darkened, the hands do violence, and the mind thinks of evil. Something has to happen. This can’t be allowed to continue. Man needs a better way to live. Judah needs to wake up and see the destruction that comes from sin.

God has to move in the lives of His people to stop the sin that has invaded their lives. Jeremiah shows us the heart of God as he walks the roads of Judah and Jerusalem. His call goes unanswered. His warnings are unheeded. Now is the time for judgment. God has deemed that it is time to intervene in a drastic way. Babylonian captivity will wake the people of God up to the reality that sin destroys.

God’s judgment is not a harsh response to a momentary lapse of obedience. It is the response that comes after every other means has been tried. With the destruction of the land, Jerusalem, and the temple, the people will see that sin has already taken their promise, their identity, and their worship. They will get a chance to repent. God’s grief over this time of judgment is seen clearly in the Book of Lamentations. No one grieves more over sin that God Himself. Judgment comes to those who choose to reject God. But God still calls.

“Thus says the LORD: “Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my righteousness be revealed.” ~ Isaiah 56:1

There are some words in the English language that should make us leap. Words that should bring a smile to our faces and instill hope in our hearts. Salvation is one of those words. To be saved is to be rescued from danger, to be brought to safety, to be released from bondage. Salvation is a transformation word. It highlights a change in status or circumstance. Salvation ignites joy, hope, and amazement. It brings relief and, often times, peace into a situation that has been full of danger and misery.

As Isaiah prophesies to Judah, there is a sense of danger and dread as the nation continues to deny the covenant they have made with God. Idolatry has led to slavery. Immorality has carried them to the brink of captivity. Isaiah has pointed these things out to the God’s people. God’s people have not responded to the warning with repentance or contrition. They are headed down a path of destruction. Assyria stands on the northern border, waiting to take Judah by force. Babylon stands behind Assyria, waiting to take over the world. The tiny country of Judah is all but lost.

While Isaiah offers warning, he also offers hope. Hope that looks ahead. Hope that transformation is possible. Hope in the salvation that God offers. For Isaiah, that salvation is clearly laid out in chapters 40-66. God is still sovereign and still moving in the lives of His people. Central to that salvation is the picture of a Servant. One who will bring freedom and transformation. A Servant who will go to battle, suffer, and then bring victory! A servant who will offer all men another chance to walk with God. You and I know that He is Jesus. The One who overcomes sin, grief, guilt, and pain. The One who brings salvation!

“And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”” ~ Isaiah 6:3

It is as common as the sunrise and as beautiful as the sunset. It can be seen in the newborn child or heard in the laugh of a friend or felt in the arms of a parent. The stars declare it and the mountains affirm it. It is the glory of God. Those moments when we can see the character of God mirrored in the lives of men. The sight of the majestic reminds us that God is present and working. Each and every day we get a chance to see what God has done in the past or how God is moving in the present.

The glory of God is not a hidden thing. Isaiah records the words of the seraphim who tell us that, “the whole earth is full of his glory!” It is a message that Isaiah and the people of Jerusalem needed to hear. With enemies on the doorstep, changes in the political landscape, moral decay, and continued idolatry, the people of God needed to be reminded that God is not distant, but close. The nation of Israel needed a call to repent and refocus. Isaiah was a prophet, appointed by God to stand in his generation and issue that call.

It is a call that we need to listen to today. We stand in a world that has not changed much from the world in which Isaiah lived. Technology has advanced, new cultures have arisen, and new discoveries have been made, but the world is still plagued by sin. God’s people need to remember that God can be found in every moment of our days. We can see Him in nature. Whether looking through the telescope or looking through the microscope, God is still pointing us to Himself. Forgiveness, justification, and transformation are still the works of God in the lives of men. His glory shines bright!

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:” ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1

Man often struggles with big questions. Questions about the origins of life, the nature of man, purpose, and direction. The Book of Ecclesiastes is an exploration of some of these questions. It is an honest examination of a man’s search for purpose and direction in life. Written by King Solomon, Ecclesiastes searches the offerings of the world to see if man can be satisfied with the material things of the world. Solomon throws himself into all that life has to offer. Material pursuits such as the accumulation of wealth, physical pleasure, and the consolidation of power and influence. Solomon explores the material life to see if he can find a sure purpose or direction, but he comes up short. Solomon declares that living only to satisfy the physical body is vanity. A meaningless existence. Time wasted. A dead end to purpose, morality, and fulfillment. But Solomon knows there is another option. The son of David knows that there is a God.

As Solomon gives himself to journeying with God, a different set of thoughts comes to the forefront. Wisdom, knowledge, and duty are studied. These things begin to bring fulfillment. Solomon explores life and comes to the conclusion that the duty of man is to fear God and keep His commandments. (Ecclesiastes 12:14)

Solomon is a strange figure in history. A man who starts his life walking and talking with God. A man who gives himself wholly to the world. A man with a heart that is often torn between the spiritual part of who he is and the physical life that he leads. While we do not know Solomon’s final decisions, we can see that Solomon’s time on earth teaches us some great lessons. There is a time for everything. A time to care for and enjoy the physical life, while still walking with God. How we invest our time on earth can have great meaning when we spend our time seeking a relationship with God.

“For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;” ~ Proverbs 2:6

Wisdom has often been defined as the appropriate application of knowledge. Wisdom displays two attributes; information and transformation. As we turn to the Book of Proverbs this week, we see wisdom up close. The Book of Proverbs is a collection of sayings written by many authors, the largest contributor being Solomon who seems to have seen the need for man to be well informed about life and the way we live that life. The Proverbs share a great deal of information that has been obtained from the experiences of life. They are collected sayings that deal with such subjects as honesty, integrity, loyalty, righteousness, and parenting. As information from an experience is shared, the Proverbs then offer a way to live life well. They move from information to transformation. The idea is that what we have learned can be lived. We can be changed by knowing and practicing what is true and right. Proverbs extols the virtue of wisdom. A short definition of a proverb might be “a wise saying that gives a principle to practice or a truth to live by.” Proverbs are not promises or commands. Rather, they are general principles that rest on truth and experience, offering insight about how to live a godly life.

As you read through the Book of Proverbs this week, ask yourself, “How can I live this out in my own life? How does this call me to change?” When we listen to the wisdom that God offers and surrender to walking in the way God directs, we can experience the benefits of wisdom. We can live life well.