In today’s Bible reading* the people returning from Babylon run into opposition to their charge to rebuild the Temple. The people who had remained in the land offered to help with the construction and those returning responded, “No thanks. We have no common interests with you in rebuilding the temple.” (Ezra 4:3) Why would the…
In today’s Bible reading* God tells His people that they are guilty of bloodshed, wholesale adultery, and prostitution against Him. In fact, He goes into great detail about their prostitution, as we saw when we read the book of Hosea. You are guilty of the blood you have shed, and you are defiled from the…
In today’s Bible reading* God’s people are complaining that He’s not fair. But God counters that it’s not Him who’s not fair; it’s His people. But the house of Israel says, ‘The Lord’s way isn’t fair.’ Is it my ways that are unfair, house of Israel? Instead, isn’t it your ways that are unfair? “Therefore,…
Today’s Bible reading* paints a bleak picture of the human condition: we all have a deceitful heart. In fact, our heart is desperately sick. I mentioned a few days ago that Jeremiah had more to say about the heart. The heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable—who can understand it? I, the LORD,…
We tend to complicate things. But in today’s Bible reading* Micah lays out God’s simple requirements for His people. And it all comes down to relationship and character traits. We tend to think in terms of Dos and Don’ts. You know, do the Dos and don’t do the Don’ts. But God presents his simple requirements…