Bible Reading Plan

Author: Scott Walter

  • Proverbs 19

    Proverbs 19

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    As we begin a new year, we’ll be studying the book of Proverbs for the first 31 days of the year. The new year is a great opportunity to invite your friends, families, and Life Groups to read along with you in 2023. If you missed the first day’s reading or are looking for an overview of the book, click here to catch up!

    To sign up and receive the BRP daily in your inbox, go to www.biblereadingplan.org and scroll to the bottom of the page! 

    Read Proverbs 19

    19 Better the poor whose walk is blameless
        than a fool whose lips are perverse.

    2 Desire without knowledge is not good—
        how much more will hasty feet miss the way!

    3 A person’s own folly leads to their ruin,
        yet their heart rages against the Lord.

    4 Wealth attracts many friends,
        but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them.

    5 A false witness will not go unpunished,
        and whoever pours out lies will not go free.

    6 Many curry favor with a ruler,
        and everyone is the friend of one who gives gifts.

    7 The poor are shunned by all their relatives—
        how much more do their friends avoid them!
    Though the poor pursue them with pleading,
        they are nowhere to be found.

    8 The one who gets wisdom loves life;
        the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.

    9 A false witness will not go unpunished,
        and whoever pours out lies will perish.

    10 It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury—
        how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!

    11 A person’s wisdom yields patience;
        it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.

    12 A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion,
        but his favor is like dew on the grass.

    13 A foolish child is a father’s ruin,
        and a quarrelsome wife is like
        the constant dripping of a leaky roof.

    14 Houses and wealth are inherited from parents,
        but a prudent wife is from the Lord.

    15 Laziness brings on deep sleep,
        and the shiftless go hungry.

    16 Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life,
        but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die.

    17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,
        and he will reward them for what they have done.

    18 Discipline your children, for in that there is hope;
        do not be a willing party to their death.

    19 A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty;
        rescue them, and you will have to do it again.

    20 Listen to advice and accept discipline,
        and at the end you will be counted among the wise.

    21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
        but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

    22 What a person desires is unfailing love;
        better to be poor than a liar.

    23 The fear of the Lord leads to life;
        then one rests content, untouched by trouble.

    24 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
        he will not even bring it back to his mouth!

    25 Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence;
        rebuke the discerning, and they will gain knowledge.

    26 Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother
        is a child who brings shame and disgrace.

    27 Stop listening to instruction, my son,
        and you will stray from the words of knowledge.

    28 A corrupt witness mocks at justice,
        and the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.

    29 Penalties are prepared for mockers,
        and beatings for the backs of fools.

    Go Deeper

    We must be careful in our reading of the proverbs. They are written as poetry, not promises. They offer generally true wisdom principles, but they are more complicated than a simple to-do list. Think of a proverb like a photograph: it can show you what something looks like, but it cannot capture every facet of the scenery. Proverbs employ word pictures and comparisons to show us what is commonly true in life. Let’s look at some of the ideas that are repeated/emphasized throughout Proverbs 19. 

     There is wisdom in waiting. Self-control will keep us from rushing into sin (v. 2) and patience prevents us from overreacting in the midst of conflict (v. 11). 

    Over and over again, seeking wisdom is recommended and even urged by the author. And all throughout the book we see that seeking wisdom is rewarded. Verse 8 shows that those who value understanding will prosper, and verse 20 that listening well will make us wise. 

     There is a warning against slothfulness or laziness–that in the end it leads to hunger (v. 15). And verse 24 paints a picture of a sluggard being too lazy to even bring his hand back to his mouth to eat. Slothfulness will lead to hunger and to ruin. 

     Verse 5 and 9 share almost identical wording in their warning against lying. A false witness will not go unpunished. Lying is not without consequence and so much so that it’s stated twice in this chapter. 

     The last section of Proverbs 19 makes the comparison between the features of a good life versus the description of the scoffer or mocker. The good life is in store for those who listen to instruction (v. 16), are kind to the poor (v. 17), care for and discipline their children (v. 18), acknowledge God’s rule (v. 21), and fear the Lord (v. 23). The fear of the Lord leads to life! By contrast, the characteristics of a scoffer include: disrespecting one’s parents (v. 26), not listening to sound teaching (v. 27), rejecting all notions of right and wrong (v. 28). And what follows the life of a scoffer are often beatings (v. 25, 29). This comparison is helpful in showing us what leads to life and what leads to destruction. May we be people who pursue what leads to life. 

    Questions

    1. Who is the most patient person you know? What is the fruit of their patience?
    2. What could you do today to seek wisdom?
    3. Does your life have more similarities in the features of a good life or in the life of a scoffer? What would it look like to grow in fear of the Lord?

    Keep Digging

    Learning how to overlook small offenses is an important step in conflict resolution. Proverbs 19:11 says, “A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.”

    If you can overlook an offense, then choose to overlook it. How do you know if you can overlook an offense? Simply put, you overlook it. If you are having conversations in your head; if you feel the need to tell someone of the hurt; if the hurt continues to impact your mood and rule your thoughts, you may not be able to overlook the offense and you need to talk with the offender privately and lovingly with humility. 

    For more on how to be a peacemaker, check out Harris Creek’s Peacemaker Guide!

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  • Proverbs 18

    Proverbs 18

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    As we begin a new year, we’ll be studying the book of Proverbs for the first 31 days of the year. The new year is a great opportunity to invite your friends, families, and Life Groups to read along with you in 2023. If you missed the first day’s reading or are looking for an overview of the book, click here to catch up!

    To sign up and receive the BRP daily in your inbox, go to www.biblereadingplan.org and scroll to the bottom of the page! 

    Read Proverbs 18

    18 An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends
        and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.

    2 Fools find no pleasure in understanding
        but delight in airing their own opinions.

    3 When wickedness comes, so does contempt,
        and with shame comes reproach.

    4 The words of the mouth are deep waters,
        but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.

    5 It is not good to be partial to the wicked
        and so deprive the innocent of justice.

    6 The lips of fools bring them strife,
        and their mouths invite a beating.

    7 The mouths of fools are their undoing,
        and their lips are a snare to their very lives.

    8 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
        they go down to the inmost parts.

    9 One who is slack in his work
        is brother to one who destroys.

    10 The name of the Lord is a fortified tower;
        the righteous run to it and are safe.

    11 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city;
        they imagine it a wall too high to scale.

    12 Before a downfall the heart is haughty,
        but humility comes before honor.

    13 To answer before listening—
        that is folly and shame.

    14 The human spirit can endure in sickness,
        but a crushed spirit who can bear?

    15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge,
        for the ears of the wise seek it out.

    16 A gift opens the way
        and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.

    17 In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right,
        until someone comes forward and cross-examines.

    18 Casting the lot settles disputes
        and keeps strong opponents apart.

    19 A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city;
        disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.

    20 From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled;
        with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.

    21 The tongue has the power of life and death,
        and those who love it will eat its fruit.

    22 He who finds a wife finds what is good
        and receives favor from the Lord.

    23 The poor plead for mercy,
        but the rich answer harshly.

    24 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,
        but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

    Go Deeper

    Often we use nuggets of wisdom from Proverbs in our daily conversations and interactions with others. King Solomon in his early reign is given credit for most of these wise sayings of how to live a godly life with prudence and discipline. Proverbs 1:7 sets the tone by telling us that the “fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” The writer of Proverbs toggles back and forth between the foolish and the wise, comparing the choices and outcomes of each. Let’s take a look at three areas addressed in this chapter: words, work, and wealth.

     Regarding words, verse 4 tells us, “The words of the mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.” What is in our heart will make its way out of our mouths. Our words will either build up or tear down; they will edify or destroy. Matthew, in his gospel, said it this way, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matt. 12:34). What marks our words? Does quarreling, gossip, and negativity mark our speech, or do our words nourish and satisfy the soul? For the Christ-follower, we’ve been given a divine filter through the Holy Spirit Who teaches us all things, including how to use our words to make life-giving, eternal deposits into the lives of others. 

    With regard to work, Proverbs 18:9 declares, “A lazy person is as bad as someone who destroys things” (NLT). It is easy to fall into lazy patterns of living. In the workplace, laziness can spread like cancer. On-the-job slothfulness is evidence of selfishness and entitlement, but God’s Word compares it to one who brings destruction. 2 Timothy 2:15 encourages us to “do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” Christians should show up with the best attitudes, be the hardest workers on the job, all while incorporating quality in their efforts to edify Christ. Do you add value to your workplace?

    As to the Proverbs’ commentary on wealth, verse 11 observes, “The rich think of their wealth as a strong defense; they imagine it to be a high wall of safety” (NLT). The Enduring Word Bible Commentary explains, “Wealth does afford a measure of protection, but the danger of wealth is precisely that it gives its possessor the illusion of greater security than it can provide” (Garrett). Instead of trusting in wealth, the wise trust that “the name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe” (v.10). Our trinkets and treasures often reveal where our heart is. Wealth is fleeting; God is eternal. Matthew 6:24 states, “You cannot serve both God and money.” In the end, how we live generously and use our resources to further God’s kingdom will be all that matters. 

    Questions

    1. If someone were to peek into your life and habits, would you be known for generosity and selflessness or for accumulating wealth? 
    2. Is the gospel made more attractive to a hurting world by the way you live your life and show up in your workplace?
    3. After reading Proverbs 18, which area—your words, your work habits, or your attitude about wealth—needs the most work? Share your conviction with a trusted friend or life group member for accountability.

    Listen Here

    In the sermon series, “The Good Life,” JP taught on “The Generous Life” and how believers are to use resources entrusted to them. Take a listen!

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  • Isaiah 66

    Isaiah 66

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    Beginning January 1, we’ll be studying the book of Proverbs for the next 31 days. The new year is a great opportunity to invite your friends, families, and Life Groups to read along with you in 2023. 

    To sign up and receive the BRP daily in your inbox, go to www.biblereadingplan.org and scroll to the bottom of the page! 

    Read Isaiah 66

    Judgment and Hope

    66 This is what the Lord says:

    “Heaven is my throne,
        and the earth is my footstool.
    Where is the house you will build for me?
        Where will my resting place be?
    2 Has not my hand made all these things,
        and so they came into being?”
    declares the Lord.

    “These are the ones I look on with favor:
        those who are humble and contrite in spirit,
        and who tremble at my word.
    3 But whoever sacrifices a bull
        is like one who kills a person,
    and whoever offers a lamb
        is like one who breaks a dog’s neck;
    whoever makes a grain offering
        is like one who presents pig’s blood,
    and whoever burns memorial incense
        is like one who worships an idol.
    They have chosen their own ways,
        and they delight in their abominations;
    4 so I also will choose harsh treatment for them
        and will bring on them what they dread.
    For when I called, no one answered,
        when I spoke, no one listened.
    They did evil in my sight
        and chose what displeases me.”

    5 Hear the word of the Lord,
        you who tremble at his word:
    “Your own people who hate you,
        and exclude you because of my name, have said,
    ‘Let the Lord be glorified,
        that we may see your joy!’
        Yet they will be put to shame.
    6 Hear that uproar from the city,
        hear that noise from the temple!
    It is the sound of the Lord
        repaying his enemies all they deserve.

    7 “Before she goes into labor,
        she gives birth;
    before the pains come upon her,
        she delivers a son.
    8 Who has ever heard of such things?
        Who has ever seen things like this?
    Can a country be born in a day
        or a nation be brought forth in a moment?
    Yet no sooner is Zion in labor
        than she gives birth to her children.
    9 Do I bring to the moment of birth
        and not give delivery?” says the Lord.
    “Do I close up the womb
        when I bring to delivery?” says your God.
    10 “Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her,
        all you who love her;
    rejoice greatly with her,
        all you who mourn over her.
    11 For you will nurse and be satisfied
        at her comforting breasts;
    you will drink deeply
        and delight in her overflowing abundance.”

    12 For this is what the Lord says:

    “I will extend peace to her like a river,
        and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream;
    you will nurse and be carried on her arm
        and dandled on her knees.
    13 As a mother comforts her child,
        so will I comfort you;
        and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.”

    14 When you see this, your heart will rejoice
        and you will flourish like grass;
    the hand of the Lord will be made known to his servants,
        but his fury will be shown to his foes.
    15 See, the Lord is coming with fire,
        and his chariots are like a whirlwind;
    he will bring down his anger with fury,
        and his rebuke with flames of fire.
    16 For with fire and with his sword
        the Lord will execute judgment on all people,
        and many will be those slain by the Lord.

    17 “Those who consecrate and purify themselves to go into the gardens, following one who is among those who eat the flesh of pigs, rats and other unclean things—they will meet their end together with the one they follow,” declares the Lord.

    18 “And I, because of what they have planned and done, am about to come and gather the people of all nations and languages, and they will come and see my glory.

    19 “I will set a sign among them, and I will send some of those who survive to the nations—to Tarshish, to the Libyans and Lydians (famous as archers), to Tubal and Greece, and to the distant islands that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory among the nations. 20 And they will bring all your people, from all the nations, to my holy mountain in Jerusalem as an offering to the Lord—on horses, in chariots and wagons, and on mules and camels,” says the Lord. “They will bring them, as the Israelites bring their grain offerings, to the temple of the Lord in ceremonially clean vessels. 21 And I will select some of them also to be priests and Levites,” says the Lord.

    22 “As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before me,” declares the Lord, “so will your name and descendants endure. 23 From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before me,” says the Lord. 24 “And they will go out and look on the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me; the worms that eat them will not die, the fire that burns them will not be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind.”

    Go Deeper

    Isaiah 66 closes this book by setting our eyes on eternity, looking beyond the here and now. When it comes to chapters that speak on the judgment of the Father, it can be uncomfortable for us to imagine the condemnation for those who do not believe in Him. Remember: It is important for us to not read scripture with our own opinions, but to keep our eyes set on what is true of God’s character. He is a God of love and every action of His is an outpouring of love. We see very clearly here in this chapter a warning against what will happen to those who don’t follow him. That those who love their sin and ignore him will be put to shame. This isn’t to scare people from hell, rather it is a clear warning of the truth. Heaven will not be filled with people scared of hell. 

    Verse 3 also mentions empty religion. It’s important to note that even in the Old Testament that it’s not about the sacrifices themselves, but it’s about our heart. God is making His intentions clear here: He wants us to be near to Him and to experience the joy found in Him!

    What is so beautiful about this chapter is that for those who trust in the Lord and proclaim Him to be their savior, we see the other side of His love. “The humble and contrite in spirit” (v. 2) and those who “tremble at his word” (v. 5) will receive “peace like a river” (v. 12). The Lord will comfort us, and this news leads us to rejoice.

    He is worthy of praise and from him alone is joy found. Worship is a form of repentance, surrender, and praise. That it isn’t a feeling, but instead a reset and reminder of what is true. That we don’t worship because of what our circumstances look like, rather we do it because He is worthy of it. It brings Him glory. We will be welcomed into His house and “all of mankind will come and bow down before me” (v. 23). This is our eternal mindset and why our hope is in Him!



    Questions

    1. Reflect back on the book we have just read. What has Isaiah taught you about God’s character?
    2. The end of this chapter talks about how far the Lord goes to include all of the nations into His kingdom. In what ways do we see this fulfilled in the new testament?
    3. Read Romans 5:9-11. How is Paul’s point in Romans 5 similar to that of this chapter?

    Watch This

    Now that we have completed the book of Isaiah, go back and rewatch The Bible Project’s overview videos 

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  • Isaiah 65

    Isaiah 65

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    Beginning January 1, we’ll be studying the book of Proverbs for the next 31 days. The new year is a great opportunity to invite your friends, families, and Life Groups to read along with you in 2023. 

    To sign up and receive the BRP daily in your inbox, go to www.biblereadingplan.org and scroll to the bottom of the page! 

    Read Isaiah 65

    Judgment and Salvation

    65 “I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me;
        I was found by those who did not seek me.
    To a nation that did not call on my name,
        I said, ‘Here am I, here am I.’
    2 All day long I have held out my hands
        to an obstinate people,
    who walk in ways not good,
        pursuing their own imaginations—
    3 a people who continually provoke me
        to my very face,
    offering sacrifices in gardens
        and burning incense on altars of brick;
    4 who sit among the graves
        and spend their nights keeping secret vigil;
    who eat the flesh of pigs,
        and whose pots hold broth of impure meat;
    5 who say, ‘Keep away; don’t come near me,
        for I am too sacred for you!’
    Such people are smoke in my nostrils,
        a fire that keeps burning all day.

    6 “See, it stands written before me:
        I will not keep silent but will pay back in full;
        I will pay it back into their laps—
    7 both your sins and the sins of your ancestors,”
        says the Lord.
    “Because they burned sacrifices on the mountains
        and defied me on the hills,
    I will measure into their laps
        the full payment for their former deeds.”

    8 This is what the Lord says:

    “As when juice is still found in a cluster of grapes
        and people say, ‘Don’t destroy it,
        there is still a blessing in it,’
    so will I do in behalf of my servants;
        I will not destroy them all.
    9 I will bring forth descendants from Jacob,
        and from Judah those who will possess my mountains;
    my chosen people will inherit them,
        and there will my servants live.
    10 Sharon will become a pasture for flocks,
        and the Valley of Achor a resting place for herds,
        for my people who seek me.

    11 “But as for you who forsake the Lord
        and forget my holy mountain,
    who spread a table for Fortune
        and fill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny,
    12 I will destine you for the sword,
        and all of you will fall in the slaughter;
    for I called but you did not answer,
        I spoke but you did not listen.
    You did evil in my sight
        and chose what displeases me.”

    13 Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

    “My servants will eat,
        but you will go hungry;
    my servants will drink,
        but you will go thirsty;
    my servants will rejoice,
        but you will be put to shame.
    14 My servants will sing
        out of the joy of their hearts,
    but you will cry out
        from anguish of heart
        and wail in brokenness of spirit.
    15 You will leave your name
        for my chosen ones to use in their curses;
    the Sovereign Lord will put you to death,
        but to his servants he will give another name.
    16 Whoever invokes a blessing in the land
        will do so by the one true God;
    whoever takes an oath in the land
        will swear by the one true God.
    For the past troubles will be forgotten
        and hidden from my eyes.

    New Heavens and a New Earth

    17 “See, I will create
        new heavens and a new earth.
    The former things will not be remembered,
        nor will they come to mind.
    18 But be glad and rejoice forever
        in what I will create,
    for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight
        and its people a joy.
    19 I will rejoice over Jerusalem
        and take delight in my people;
    the sound of weeping and of crying
        will be heard in it no more.

    20 “Never again will there be in it
        an infant who lives but a few days,
        or an old man who does not live out his years;
    the one who dies at a hundred
        will be thought a mere child;
    the one who fails to reach a hundred
        will be considered accursed.
    21 They will build houses and dwell in them;
        they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
    22 No longer will they build houses and others live in them,
        or plant and others eat.
    For as the days of a tree,
        so will be the days of my people;
    my chosen ones will long enjoy
        the work of their hands.
    23 They will not labor in vain,
        nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune;
    for they will be a people blessed by the Lord,
        they and their descendants with them.
    24 Before they call I will answer;
        while they are still speaking I will hear.
    25 The wolf and the lamb will feed together,
        and the lion will eat straw like the ox,
        and dust will be the serpent’s food.
    They will neither harm nor destroy
        on all my holy mountain,”
    says the Lord.

    Go Deeper

    Isaiah 65 begins with the Lord responding to the prayers of the previous chapters. Isaiah 65:2 says, “I spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices.” What does it mean to be rebellious against God? The Lord himself gives us a definition here: people who follow their own devices. The Message translation says, “People who make wrong turns, who insist on doing things their own way.” If we trust in our own wisdom, judgment, and thoughts, then we are amongst the rebellious people! Proverbs 16:25 warns us that “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”

    Isaiah then goes on to look forward, further into the future than any Old Testament prophet has so far. In verses 17-25 he talks about the new heavens and new earth. Isaiah gives us a glimpse into the new creation. One that will be filled with rejoicing and gladness (v. 18-19); one in which long life will prevail (v. 20); and one in which there will be just rewards for labor (v. 21-23). Probably the most Gospel-worthy prophesy about the new creation comes from v. 24: “Before they call, I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.” In the new heaven and the new earth, our relationship with the Lord will be so close that there will be an immediate and constant sense of the presence of God!

    How we all long for the day when the earth will be as it was intended! A time of great rejoicing and constant communion with Jesus. A day when all of creation shall graze together as it talks about in verse 25. As believers in Jesus Christ, we can look forward to that day with hopeful anticipation. In the meantime, we can use Romans 12:2 as a road map as we navigate the world in its present state: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” God’s solution for us so that we don’t fall into the same trap as the rebellious Israelites is to continually renew our minds. May we be a people marked by our transformed, not rebellious hearts!

    Questions

    1. In what ways do you tend to trust in your own wisdom, judgment & thoughts?
    2. Read Proverbs 14:12 and Proverbs 16:28. What warnings do these scriptures have for people who follow their own devices?
    3. What is the most hopeful promise of the new heaven and new earth that Isaiah prophesies in this chapter?

    Keep Digging

    This is the first mention in scripture of the new heaven and new earth. It will also be mentioned in Isaiah 66 and in the New Testament in 2 Peter 3:13 and Revelation 21. For a better understanding of what the new heaven & earth are, check out this article and video from GotQuestions.org.

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  • Isaiah 62

    Isaiah 62

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    Read Isaiah 62

    Zion’s New Name

    62 For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,
        for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet,
    till her vindication shines out like the dawn,
        her salvation like a blazing torch.
    2 The nations will see your vindication,
        and all kings your glory;
    you will be called by a new name
        that the mouth of the Lord will bestow.
    3 You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand,
        a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
    4 No longer will they call you Deserted,
        or name your land Desolate.
    But you will be called Hephzibah,
        and your land Beulah;
    for the Lord will take delight in you,
        and your land will be married.
    5 As a young man marries a young woman,
        so will your Builder marry you;
    as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride,
        so will your God rejoice over you.

    6 I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem;
        they will never be silent day or night.
    You who call on the Lord,
        give yourselves no rest,
    7 and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem
        and makes her the praise of the earth.

    8 The Lord has sworn by his right hand
        and by his mighty arm:
    “Never again will I give your grain
        as food for your enemies,
    and never again will foreigners drink the new wine
        for which you have toiled;
    9 but those who harvest it will eat it
        and praise the Lord,
    and those who gather the grapes will drink it
        in the courts of my sanctuary.”

    10 Pass through, pass through the gates!
        Prepare the way for the people.
    Build up, build up the highway!
        Remove the stones.
    Raise a banner for the nations.

    11 The Lord has made proclamation
        to the ends of the earth:
    “Say to Daughter Zion,
        ‘See, your Savior comes!
    See, his reward is with him,
        and his recompense accompanies him.’”
    12 They will be called the Holy People,
        the Redeemed of the Lord;
    and you will be called Sought After,
        the City No Longer Deserted.

    Go Deeper

    Throughout the book of Isaiah, there is a lot to say about God’s judgment on His people. They are called out for being a rebellious nation, and Isaiah’s debut prophecy over his people was a harsh one (Isaiah 6:9-13). Now as we get closer to the end of the book, the text has taken a turn. In the past two chapters, we now hear the voice of the Messiah that “the Spirit of the Lord is upon [Him]” (61:1). Reading this with our current perspective we know that this Messiah is Jesus, and that Isaiah is being inspired to write these words.

    In the first few verses of Isaiah 62, the Messiah declares that the desolation of God’s people will be replaced with delight. He continues with passion and fervor when describing a deep love for his people and claims them as his own. He loves Zion as a bridegroom and promises them a hephzibah, which can be translated to “my delight is in her.” He uses the word beulah which can be translated as “married.” This paints a heartwarming contrast to the book of Hosea in which Israel is labeled as “unfaithful” and compared to a prostitute.

    Additionally, the Messiah reminds His people that He never forgot them because He sent prophets to guide them. He then tells his people that they will no longer be given over to their enemies, but they will be restored by mercy and satisfied by his love. The chapter concludes with the Messiah inviting all the nations of the earth into the salvation of Zion. They are called “Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord, Sought After, and the City No Longer Deserted” (v. 12). This is a powerful glimpse of what is to come: a moment in time where “every nation, tribe, people, and tongue” is welcomed with open arms into the salvation of God. This is a brief preview of what we now know as “the church.”

    Isaiah 62 might be the most inspiring passage we can read on a day like today. It helps us remember the reason why Jesus came and the vision that the Messiah has, not only for his own people, but for all the inhabitants of the earth.

    Questions

    1. How does this passage help you view God’s heart for the church?
    2. The Lord was faithful to keep His promise in bringing the Messiah. How have you seen the Lord’s faithfulness throughout your life?
    3. The Messiah’s arms are open wide to all to enter in. Who will you share the good news of the gospel with this week?

    Listen Here

    Today, check out the song “Build Your Church” from Elevation Worship & Maverick City Music.

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  • Rest Day

    Rest Day

    Rest Day

    Today is a Rest Day. There is no new Bible reading to do. Today, the goal is simple: rest in the presence of God. Maybe you need to use today to get caught up on the reading plan if you’re behind, maybe you want to journal what you’re learning so you don’t forget what God is teaching you, or maybe you want to spend time in concentrated prayer–do that. Above all, just spend time in God’s presence.

    Merry Christmas!

    Merry Christmas! Thanks for reading along with us this year. If you’re looking for a way to worship with from home this morning, check out the Harris Creek Family Devotional Guide! It focuses on one of the prophecies about Jesus found in Isaiah 9. 

    Worship With Us

    Harris Creek is not gathering in person this Sunday! You can join us online at 9a or 11a at harriscreek.org/live. We’d love to worship with you! We also desire to connect everyone with a local church body where they can thrive in community and use their gifts to serve. If you’re following our Bible Reading Plan from outside of Waco and are eager to get connected with a great local church, email us at [email protected].

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  • Isaiah 61

    Isaiah 61

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    Read Isaiah 61

    The Year of the Lord’s Favor

    61 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
        because the Lord has anointed me
        to proclaim good news to the poor.
    He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
        to proclaim freedom for the captives
        and release from darkness for the prisoners,
    2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
        and the day of vengeance of our God,
    to comfort all who mourn,
    3     and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
    to bestow on them a crown of beauty
        instead of ashes,
    the oil of joy
        instead of mourning,
    and a garment of praise
        instead of a spirit of despair.
    They will be called oaks of righteousness,
        a planting of the Lord
        for the display of his splendor.

    4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins
        and restore the places long devastated;
    they will renew the ruined cities
        that have been devastated for generations.
    5 Strangers will shepherd your flocks;
        foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.
    6 And you will be called priests of the Lord,
        you will be named ministers of our God.
    You will feed on the wealth of nations,
        and in their riches you will boast.

    7 Instead of your shame
        you will receive a double portion,
    and instead of disgrace
        you will rejoice in your inheritance.
    And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,
        and everlasting joy will be yours.

    8 “For I, the Lord, love justice;
        I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
    In my faithfulness I will reward my people
        and make an everlasting covenant with them.
    9 Their descendants will be known among the nations
        and their offspring among the peoples.
    All who see them will acknowledge
        that they are a people the Lord has blessed.”

    10 I delight greatly in the Lord;
        my soul rejoices in my God.
    For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
        and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,
    as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
        and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
    11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up
        and a garden causes seeds to grow,
    so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness
        and praise spring up before all nations.

    Go Deeper

    We are sixty-one books into Isaiah, and many chapters are hard, depicting rebellion or judgment with what seems like only a few hopeful verses thrown into the mix. Leading up to today, we read about all the things separating us from God. Isaiah 59:2 literally reads, “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” The passage grows darker before we get to Isaiah 60 which describes the glory of Zion. 

    Now today, we celebrate! This chapter, titled “The Year of the Lord’s Favor,” is full of promise and rejoicing! It is redemption from evil! What sounds better than that? 

     In Luke 4, Jesus Christ himself quotes this passage. Before His ministry begins, He spends forty days in the wilderness being tempted. Sometime after this, He goes to the synagogue on the Sabbath day and reads the scroll of Isaiah. Try to imagine the scene Luke describes. 

    Luke 4:17-21 tells us, “and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: ‘The Spirit of the  Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’ Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them,  ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’” 

     Even if we get lost in the judgment and genealogies of the Old Testament, it ALL comes back to Jesus! He is the fulfillment of every promise in Scripture. Jesus brings good news to the poor. He frees the oppressed and gives sight to the blind. Jesus brings us God’s favor. God is a promise-keeper, and Jesus redeems us from every evil thing that tries to separate us from God. It is why He came to earth, our Emmanuel. God is with us, and He is for us. Come, let us adore Him!   

    Questions

    1. In what parts of the Old Testament is it hard for you to see Jesus? 
    2. Jesus read from the scroll of Isaiah because they did not have printed Bibles in his day. Scrolls were handwritten, and only a few important people had copies and/or access to them. People had to work hard to memorize Scripture to keep the Word of God with them. Do you ever take for granted that you have access to Scripture 24/7? How can you cultivate a heart of gratitude for the privilege of accessing the Bible?
    3. When was the last time you rejoiced in your salvation? What does that look like? 

    Pray This

    Today, let’s try praying through this passage. Jesus fulfills all of these promises, and as His disciples, He allows us to share in His work. Start here and continue on your own from what you read: 

    “Lord, you are sovereign. You anoint Your people to proclaim good news to the poor. You send them to bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners…”

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  • Isaiah 60

    Isaiah 60

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    Read Isaiah 60

    The Glory of Zion

    60 “Arise, shine, for your light has come,
        and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
    2 See, darkness covers the earth
        and thick darkness is over the peoples,
    but the Lord rises upon you
        and his glory appears over you.
    3 Nations will come to your light,
        and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

    4 “Lift up your eyes and look about you:
        All assemble and come to you;
    your sons come from afar,
        and your daughters are carried on the hip.
    5 Then you will look and be radiant,
        your heart will throb and swell with joy;
    the wealth on the seas will be brought to you,
        to you the riches of the nations will come.
    6 Herds of camels will cover your land,
        young camels of Midian and Ephah.
    And all from Sheba will come,
        bearing gold and incense
        and proclaiming the praise of the Lord.
    7 All Kedar’s flocks will be gathered to you,
        the rams of Nebaioth will serve you;
    they will be accepted as offerings on my altar,
        and I will adorn my glorious temple.

    8 “Who are these that fly along like clouds,
        like doves to their nests?
    9 Surely the islands look to me;
        in the lead are the ships of Tarshish,
    bringing your children from afar,
        with their silver and gold,
    to the honor of the Lord your God,
        the Holy One of Israel,
        for he has endowed you with splendor.

    10 “Foreigners will rebuild your walls,
        and their kings will serve you.
    Though in anger I struck you,
        in favor I will show you compassion.
    11 Your gates will always stand open,
        they will never be shut, day or night,
    so that people may bring you the wealth of the nations—
        their kings led in triumphal procession.
    12 For the nation or kingdom that will not serve you will perish;
        it will be utterly ruined.

    13 “The glory of Lebanon will come to you,
        the juniper, the fir and the cypress together,
    to adorn my sanctuary;
        and I will glorify the place for my feet.
    14 The children of your oppressors will come bowing before you;
        all who despise you will bow down at your feet
    and will call you the City of the Lord,
        Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

    15 “Although you have been forsaken and hated,
        with no one traveling through,
    I will make you the everlasting pride
        and the joy of all generations.
    16 You will drink the milk of nations
        and be nursed at royal breasts.
    Then you will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior,
        your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
    17 Instead of bronze I will bring you gold,
        and silver in place of iron.
    Instead of wood I will bring you bronze,
        and iron in place of stones.
    I will make peace your governor
        and well-being your ruler.
    18 No longer will violence be heard in your land,
        nor ruin or destruction within your borders,
    but you will call your walls Salvation
        and your gates Praise.
    19 The sun will no more be your light by day,
        nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you,
    for the Lord will be your everlasting light,
        and your God will be your glory.
    20 Your sun will never set again,
        and your moon will wane no more;
    the Lord will be your everlasting light,
        and your days of sorrow will end.
    21 Then all your people will be righteous
        and they will possess the land forever.
    They are the shoot I have planted,
        the work of my hands,
        for the display of my splendor.
    22 The least of you will become a thousand,
        the smallest a mighty nation.
    I am the Lord;
        in its time I will do this swiftly.”

    Go Deeper

    The people of Israel were in total darkness, depravity, and in the depressing consequences of their sin. “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2). “We look for light, but all is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows. Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like people without eyes” (Isaiah 59:9b-10a). The end of Isaiah 59 prophesies a redeemer to come, and in Isaiah 60 we see that redemption brought to life.

     Light and glory have come to God’s people. Their sons and daughters have returned and their wealth has been restored. Those who oppressed them now bow down to them. The picture we see in Isaiah 60 is one of hope, joy, and celebration. It is a parade to restore what was lost. What is interesting to note is at the time they received this prophecy, their world was barren and empty. Things looked dark. Even so, they are commanded to “arise, shine, for your light has come” (v. 1).

     This prophecy served as a reminder to God’s people that one day they would not need the moon or sun because God’s light would surround them entirely, forever (v. 19). What a hope to cling to and what a future to look forward to with God! However, this was not just a Word for a future time. Here, we see God calling His people into action this side of eternity. In the midst of thick darkness, God was commanding His people to rise up and shine bright for others to be drawn into His light.

    What was true for the Israelites is true for us today. We have a future hope. We can look forward to an eternity with God as our Light. Praise God! But what about right now? In the darkness that surrounds us, we still have access to God’s light. Though things seem dark, God is near. He has placed us in this dark world on a mission to shine His light to others so the world will know Him. 

    Questions

    1. Reread Isaiah 60:18-21b and list out all the things we have to look forward to in eternity with God. Meditate on those truths and ask God to increase your longing for Heaven.
    2. Even though the world is dark, there is still light among us. List out 5 things you’re grateful for in your life right now. How do you see God’s light in the darkness around you?
    3. What is one way you can shine God’s light in the world around you today? Ask God for opportunities to be on mission for Him.

    By The Way

    Jesus shares this theme in Matthew 5:16. “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

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  • Isaiah 59

    Isaiah 59

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    Read Isaiah 59

    Sin, Confession and Redemption

    59 Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save,
        nor his ear too dull to hear.
    2 But your iniquities have separated
        you from your God;
    your sins have hidden his face from you,
        so that he will not hear.
    3 For your hands are stained with blood,
        your fingers with guilt.
    Your lips have spoken falsely,
        and your tongue mutters wicked things.
    4 No one calls for justice;
        no one pleads a case with integrity.
    They rely on empty arguments, they utter lies;
        they conceive trouble and give birth to evil.
    5 They hatch the eggs of vipers
        and spin a spider’s web.
    Whoever eats their eggs will die,
        and when one is broken, an adder is hatched.
    6 Their cobwebs are useless for clothing;
        they cannot cover themselves with what they make.
    Their deeds are evil deeds,
        and acts of violence are in their hands.
    7 Their feet rush into sin;
        they are swift to shed innocent blood.
    They pursue evil schemes;
        acts of violence mark their ways.
    8 The way of peace they do not know;
        there is no justice in their paths.
    They have turned them into crooked roads;
        no one who walks along them will know peace.

    9 So justice is far from us,
        and righteousness does not reach us.
    We look for light, but all is darkness;
        for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows.
    10 Like the blind we grope along the wall,
        feeling our way like people without eyes.
    At midday we stumble as if it were twilight;
        among the strong, we are like the dead.
    11 We all growl like bears;
        we moan mournfully like doves.
    We look for justice, but find none;
        for deliverance, but it is far away.

    12 For our offenses are many in your sight,
        and our sins testify against us.
    Our offenses are ever with us,
        and we acknowledge our iniquities:
    13 rebellion and treachery against the Lord,
        turning our backs on our God,
    inciting revolt and oppression,
        uttering lies our hearts have conceived.
    14 So justice is driven back,
        and righteousness stands at a distance;
    truth has stumbled in the streets,
        honesty cannot enter.
    15 Truth is nowhere to be found,
        and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.

    The Lord looked and was displeased
        that there was no justice.
    16 He saw that there was no one,
        he was appalled that there was no one to intervene;
    so his own arm achieved salvation for him,
        and his own righteousness sustained him.
    17 He put on righteousness as his breastplate,
        and the helmet of salvation on his head;
    he put on the garments of vengeance
        and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.
    18 According to what they have done,
        so will he repay
    wrath to his enemies
        and retribution to his foes;
        he will repay the islands their due.
    19 From the west, people will fear the name of the Lord,
        and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory.
    For he will come like a pent-up flood
        that the breath of the Lord drives along.

    20 “The Redeemer will come to Zion,
        to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,”
    declares the Lord.

    21 “As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—from this time on and forever,” says the Lord.

    Go Deeper

    The prophet Isaiah writes consistently of the sin and rebellion of Israel, as well as the hope and provision of salvation that is available to Israel through the Abrahamic Covenant. This story continues through Isaiah 59. The nation of Israel was so depraved that salvation could only come by God’s sovereign enlightening of their eyes. In the first few verses of this chapter we learn that God is powerful enough (His arm is not too short) and He is caring enough (His ear is not dull of hearing) to bring about salvation to Israel. However, their sin has separated them from God. The sins of murder, lying, injustice, and rebellion against their covenant with God. They were blinded by their own sin, walking in deliberate disobedience, and they were simply dead. Israel desperately needed to call out to God for rescue. 

    Due to their complete and total depravity, no one but the Lord was capable of saving the nation. There was no way they could pick themselves up by their bootstraps or fumble their way towards obedience. It was impossible for Israel to help herself. 

    They were in desperate need of divine intervention. Towards the end of this chapter, we hear Isaiah prophesy of the future redemption that awaits Israel through the Messiah, their Redeemer. God will not forsake His covenant with His people, though they continually forsake Him, for He is a covenant-keeping God. 

    We are totally depraved apart from the Holy Spirit intervening our lives with a grace irresistible. Only God can forgive sin and transform the human heart. Only God can bring the dead to life. Only God can redeem the unrighteous to righteous. His glory is revealed through judgment against His enemies and His glory is simultaneously revealed through Jesus bringing about redemption to His people through their repentance and faith in Him. It isn’t possible for us to pick ourselves up by our bootstraps. We need a powerful and caring God to save us. He has made a way through the finished work of the cross. All we need to do is simply die to our flesh so He can live in us. 

    Questions

    1. Is your life marked by rebellion or repentance? 
    2. In what ways do you try to “pick yourself up by your bootstraps”, either through performing good works, trying to earn favor from God, or trying to solve your own problems)? What keeps you from surrendering to your loving Father and asking Him to intervene? 
    3. How can you practice obedience today and turn to Jesus? 

    By the Way

    Check out this similarities between this passage and Jeremiah 31:31-34:

    “‘Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.’”

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  • Isaiah 58

    Isaiah 58

    Read Isaiah 58

    True Fasting

    58 “Shout it aloud, do not hold back.
        Raise your voice like a trumpet.
    Declare to my people their rebellion
        and to the descendants of Jacob their sins.
    2 For day after day they seek me out;
        they seem eager to know my ways,
    as if they were a nation that does what is right
        and has not forsaken the commands of its God.
    They ask me for just decisions
        and seem eager for God to come near them.
    3 ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say,
        ‘and you have not seen it?
    Why have we humbled ourselves,
        and you have not noticed?’

    “Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please
        and exploit all your workers.
    4 Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,
        and in striking each other with wicked fists.
    You cannot fast as you do today
        and expect your voice to be heard on high.
    5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
        only a day for people to humble themselves?
    Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed
        and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?
    Is that what you call a fast,
        a day acceptable to the Lord?

    6 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
    to loose the chains of injustice
        and untie the cords of the yoke,
    to set the oppressed free
        and break every yoke?
    7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
        and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
    when you see the naked, to clothe them,
        and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
    8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
        and your healing will quickly appear;
    then your righteousness will go before you,
        and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
    9 Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
        you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

    “If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
        with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
    10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
        and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
    then your light will rise in the darkness,
        and your night will become like the noonday.
    11 The Lord will guide you always;
        he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
        and will strengthen your frame.
    You will be like a well-watered garden,
        like a spring whose waters never fail.
    12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
        and will raise up the age-old foundations;
    you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
        Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

    13 “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath
        and from doing as you please on my holy day,
    if you call the Sabbath a delight
        and the Lord’s holy day honorable,
    and if you honor it by not going your own way
        and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,
    14 then you will find your joy in the Lord,
        and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land
        and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.”
    For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

    Go Deeper

    This chapter conveys a similar message to the one that Isaiah gives all the way back in Isaiah 1: Israel’s heartless actions were not accepted. The Israelites were saying one thing and doing the opposite. Isaiah speaks specifically in this chapter about the fruitless fasting that was taking place. The Israelites are complaining that they were keeping the fast in accordance with the Law, but not being properly rewarded by God for their religiousness. God exposes their shallow worship saying, “For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God”,  but then their “fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists” (v. 2, 4). God corrects them and shows them that a true faithful walk does not look like going through the motions in order to have an appearance of holiness but to be wholly consecrated to Him in the way they live. Half-hearted devotion to the Lord is really no devotion to Him at all. 

    In contrast to the fruitless fasting that was taking place, God speaks of the fast that is acceptable to Him. This is a new way of life. The fast that God prefers over fruitless fasting is self-denial and service to others. It is walking with a humility rooted in the gospel and considering others as more significant. The fast that He chooses is to break the “chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke.” It is “to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter” (v. 6-7). God is telling them to stop their evil actions, stop their finger-pointing, and to stop speaking maliciously, and start serving those around them. They needed to stop their empty religious rituals and start walking in a manner that is pleasing to the Lord. Only then will they shine like lights in the darkness. 

    On the outside Israel wanted the perception of looking holy, righteous, and pure, but in reality, they were full of sin. Jesus gives the Pharisees a similar rebuke in Luke 11, saying “you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.” God doesn’t look at the outward appearance, He looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16). When our heart is truly seeking to honor the Lord, our actions will follow it. 

    The true meaning and purpose of fasting is to show our devotion and dependence on God, by taking our eyes off the world and onto Him. This chapter is not saying that we should not fast. Fasting is a spiritual discipline that can lead us into a deeper relationship with our Father. Biblical fasting, however, should come from a humble heart of seeking God and redirecting our attention to Him. It is not about the appearance of looking holy, but an act of worship to our Creator. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says that “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:16-18). The Lord is glorified when the motive of our actions are to please Him, and not draw attention to ourselves. Ultimately, our motive matters most for why we do what we do. 

    Questions

    1. What comes to mind when you think about fasting? Have you fasted before? Why or why not?
    2. What do you think is the benefit of fasting? 
    3. How can you implement the spiritual discipline of fasting into your life?

    Keep Digging

    Interested in practicing the discipline of fasting but not sure where to start? Check out this overview of fasting from GotQuestions.org.

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