Does an ax exalt itself above the one who chops with it? – Isaiah 10.15, CSB The picture of an ax exalting itself above the one using it is ridiculous. Even if the ax is top-of-the-line in quality, the ax accomplishes nothing without being in the hands and being swung… Read ⇢

“…but don’t ever prophesy at Bethel again, for it is the king’s sanctuary and a royal temple.” – Amos 7.13, CSB In Genesis 28, Jacob was journeying from Beer-sheba toward Haran. One night, he had a dream about a stairway that went from earth to the heights of heaven with… Read ⇢

Take away from me the noise of your songs! – Amos 5.23, CSB “Away with your noisy hymns of praise” (Amos 5.23, NLT). Noisy hymns? How is it that praise of God turns into nothing but noisy hymns? The band is playing. The worship leader is leading the people in… Read ⇢

…prepare to meet your God! He is here… – Amos 4.12-13, CSB Israel was in rebellion, and yet God still waited. God’s punishment for their sins against him was coming after he had shown great patience toward them. Israel played the religious part, doing the outward things that seemed like… Read ⇢

…because they have rejected the instructions of the LORD and have not kept his statutes. The lies that their ancestors followed have led them astray. – Amos 2.4, CSB Living a lie comes from one’s deceptive desire to manipulate others for personal gain or to protect oneself from getting caught… Read ⇢

[Edom] stifled his compassion, his anger tore at him continually, and he harbored his rage incessantly. – Amos 1.11, CSB Who was Edom, and what were they guilty of? The sin of Edom was his persistent and unfeeling hostility against his brother. “Brother” could refer to some unknown treaty partner… Read ⇢

Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of armies… – Isaiah 6.3, CSB In the same year when Judah’s King Uzziah died, after reigning over Judah for 52 years, Isaiah “saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne” (Isaiah 6.1, CSB). Uzziah’s throne was filled by his son, Jotham,… Read ⇢

In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious,… – Isaiah 4.2, CSB I don’t pretend to understand the prophets or the end times, at least now while I’m writing this. There is a temptation, as a pastor, to pretend to know everything in the Bible… Read ⇢

“come and let’s walk in the LORD’s light.” – Isaiah 2.5, CSB Do you feel it? The pressure keeps building. As it does, things unravel, and chaos ensues. And the problem is that we will actually sit with a screen in our hands or on our desks to either entertain… Read ⇢