For a description of the (Y2) reading plan, see the “About” page.
Heb. 12
How do we know that God speaks to each one of us personally through scripture? Because the Bible tells us so. The author of Hebrews quotes Old Testament scripture a lot. One quote in this chapter is from Proverbs 3:11-12. “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastens everyone He accepts as His son.” (Heb. 12:5b-6). This passage is clearly a father’s advice to his son. Other than being good advice, though, what does it have to do with me?
Yet the author of Hebrews presented this verse as being addressed to his readers. “And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son?” (Heb. 12:5a). If it applied personally to the readers of the day, would it not also apply to every child of God at any point in time? So by extension we can say that all of scripture, both New and Old Testament, speaks to each one of us on a personal level. Every promise, every warning, every good piece of advice and every encouragement we can claim as our own.
Is. 3-4
“See now, the Lord, the LORD Almighty, is about to take from Jerusalem and Judah both supply and support” ((s. 3:1a). God is our provider and protector, but His people refused to rely on Him. So He removed everything they did rely on. With the supply that did not provide and the support that did not uphold removed, Jerusalem and Judah fell. This happened because “their words and deeds are against the LORD, defying His glorious presence… They have brought disaster upon themselves.” (Is. 3:6b, 9b).
But God never gives a word of doom without also giving a word of hope. So Isaiah chapter 4 goes on to speak of a new day for the remnant of God’s people. In that day the remnant will be called holy; their filth will be washed away. “Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; …It will be a shelter and shade…and a refuge and hiding place….” (From Is. 4:5-6). This is an obvious reference to God’s presence with His people when He led them out of Egypt. Thus, it is a promise that God’s presence will return to His faithful and we will find in Him our true supply and support.