Latest Thoughts of the Day

Micah 5:1

11/11/2025

Marshal your troops, O city of troops, for a siege is laid against us. They will strike Israel's ruler on the cheek with a rod.

Commentators wonder if this speaks of the siege of Assyria or of Babylon a century later or does it include the siege of nations against the Lord’s Annointed, which was accomplished in the smiting of Jesus on the cheek with a rod. The verses that follow will speak of the Messiah who will be born in Bethlehem, coming forth to be ruler over all physical and spiritual Israel. All these thoughts enrich our meditation on this mysterious verse. We think of Judah’s being defended from Assyria, Babylon being the means of purifying the people from idolatry, the return from exile and the longing for the coming Messiah. In all these varied meditations, our minds are turned to look for and rejoice in Jesus.

Jonah 3:7

11/10/2025

Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: "By the decree of he king and his nobles: "do not let any man or beast, herd or flock taste anything: do not let them eat or drink..."

Jonah’s preaching fell far short of an impassioned appeal for repentance, but the king and his people took it very seriously. They had heard the message, they had recognized its authority, and they wanted as a nation to make it very clear that they were taking it seriously. Perhaps expanding it to the flocks and the herds was extreme, but it would add the lowing of the flocks to the wailing of the people, and who knew if God would show mercy? In fact, God did take the response as heartfelt and genuine, and He did spare this great city for over a hundred years. Mercy would be found in Israel’s Messiah, even Jesus.

Obadiah 11

11/9/2025

On the day you stood aloof while strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were one of them.

Obadiah has been raised up by God to pronounce the doom of Edom after a thousand years of enmity. It wasn’t armed resistance, but there was always an attitude of enmity between Jacob and Esau, and at last the judgment must fall. Mentioned in this verse is a time that an enemy was ravaging Israel and Moab caught those who fled and delivered them back to the destroyer, along with various other ways of helping the enemy without absolutely being part of the attack. But God kept track of everything, and the time of judgment had come. The Lord keeps track of everything; a time of judgment will come for all. Thank You, Lord, for putting our judgment upon Jesus.

Amos 5:27

11/8/2025

"Therefore I will end you to exile beyond Damascus" says the lord, whose name is God Almighty

After centuries of warning from one prophet after another, God is soon to judge Israel as a nation once and for all. “Beyond Damascus” seems to speak of a region so remote that return to their native land will be impossible. In fact, this judgment was accomplished under the Prophet Isaiah when Hezekiah was king of Judah. The same army will try to conquer Judah and will experience terrible waste by the angel of death destroying 186,000 soldiers in a single night. Nevertheless, Israel will never be restored. Judgment full and final will descend. Nations that forget God suffer destruction in this life. Eternal judgment is for individuals. How long will our nation survive until it is brought down by God’s avenging power? May our nation behold the love of Jesus!

Joel 2:27

11/7/2025

"Then you will know that I am in Israel, that I am the Lord your God, and that there is no other; never again will my people be shamed."

Hebrews 8, quoting Jeremiah 31 declares a New Covenant that God will establish with His people. All will know Him, from the least to the greatest, worshipping Him in truth and desiring from the heart to please Him. It is an honor and a privilege to know God in this way, ourselves delighting in God and God delighting in us. After a time of fierce physical punishment upon His nation, God is pleased to look ahead to the ultimate result. God is in Israel, He is our welcome King. Our flesh and our heart may fail, but God is the strength of our hearts and our portion forever. All this because God the Spirit has joined us to Jesus.

Hosea 9:13

11/6/2025

"I have see Ephraim, like Tyre, planted in a pleasant place. But Ephraim will bring out her children to the slayer."

God had pronounced dreadful judgment upon Tyre, and we know that He fully brought that judgment to pass. Here he speaks of the life of Ephraim, chief among the tribes of the Northern Kingdom. The same sins are evident in Ephraim that were in Tyre, so when God turns His attention there, Ephraim will be destroyed forever, even as Tyre was. This came to pass, as well, as the Northern kingdom was overcome and expunged from history by the overwhelming force of the Assyrians. All of Israel was expunged—Judah, Benjamin and many Levites all became part of the Southern Kingdom, Judah. That group became known as Israel because they were all that remained of the sons of Jacob. God would have a place to send Jesus.

Daniel 6:17

11/5/2025

He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel from hte power of the lions.

Darius, king of Persia was so impressed with God’s deliverance of Daniel from the mouths of the Lions that he had the account published in all the nations of the Empire. He saw God’s power to save individuals from certain disaster, to do miracles, to exercise control in heaven and on earth, to hold back even the natural instincts of wild creatures. Darius wants everyone to know about and to honor the God of Daniel. But he does not think to bow at the feet of this God. Rather, he imagines himself to be doing this God a favor by telling everyone about Him. But human authority is useless in drawing people to Christ. He is His own authority. Come to Jesus.

Ezekiel 16:10

11/4/2025

His horses will be so many that they will cover you with dust. Your walls will tremble at the noise of the war horses, wagon and chariots when he enters your gates as men enter a city whose walls have been broken down.

After God has used an enemy nation like a stick to discipline His people, He breaks the stick. Here he speaks of Tyre, a rich and powerful nation soon to face distruction from her enemies. Ezekiel paints a powerful word-picture of the destruction He will bring upon this nation. The overwhelming power of the invading army is shown by the cover of dust that will settle upon the ruins. The deafening roar of the chariots makes the reader tremble. Walls broken down pictures the helplessness to resist the power of enemy assault. All such judgments foreshadow that which fell for us upon our Savior Jesus.