Isaiah 63
This chapter of Isaiah begins with a question and an answer from God Himself: “Who is this Who comes from Edom, with crimson-stained garments from Bozrah? This One Who is glorious in His apparel, striding triumphantly in the greatness of His might? It is I, Who speaks in righteousness, mighty to save!” (vs 1)
Isaiah 7
At the beginning of this chapter, Syria and Israel join forces to go to war with Judah. Ahaz, the king of Judah, is obviously very nervous about this. More than nervous. He’s terrified. So much so that he’s willing to make an alliance with the king of Assyria to get the help he thinks he needs to defeat his enemies.
Proverbs 7
It seems rather ironic that Solomon wrote so much about women. Since he ended up with 700 wives and/or concubines, it would seem he either didn’t take his own wise advice… or he gained some of his wisdom through unfortunate experience! Either way, I think we can learn something very important about God by comparing Him with the women Solomon has been referencing in the last few chapters of Proverbs:
Psalm 9
For many years now, one of my favorite television programs has been Judge Judy. But it is often sad to see the steady parade of young people (usually girls) who have found themselves in a tight spot because they were taken advantage of. When Judge Judy asks them why they were stupid enough to do whatever it was they did (loan money, co-sign for a car, etc.), the answer invariably is, “Because I trusted him, Your Honor.”
Job 36
I find Elihu very interesting indeed. He started his long-winded speech by proclaiming that both Job and his older friends were wrong. In so doing, he presented the promise of a third and new argument to explain Job’s predicament. And, as he began, we saw that Elihu certainly was much more eloquent and forceful than his compatriots. However, after he had talked for some time, it seemed apparent that Elihu didn’t really have much new to add to the conversation. And in today’s chapter, he employs a new tack:
Job 18
I don’t remember when it was that I finally worked up the courage to watch the movie Braveheart. It was a long time after it was released, and even then, I remember watching most of it through the laced fingers covering my eyes. (I have a problem with graphic violence.) But I can never forget the final moments of that film, as Mel Gibson’s character, William Wallace—bound and seconds away from death—cries with his last breath, "Freedom!"
Esther 8
I thought this chapter of Esther ended on a very interesting note: "After the law was announced in Susa, everyone shouted and cheered, and the Jews were no longer afraid. In fact, they were very happy and felt that they had won a victory. In every province and city where the law was sent, the Jews had parties and celebrated. Many of the people in the provinces accepted the Jewish religion, because they were now afraid of the Jews." (vs 15-17)
