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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.

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Israel has sought out the men of Egypt for help against their foes, but they have not sought the Lord their God. When God’s people turn back to him, Assyria will fall by the sword of the Lord. A righteous kingdom is announced where rulers will rule justly, the fool will no longer be called a noble, and the Spirit will be poured out on the people. Next, woe is pronounced on the destroyer who is never destroyed, which is likely a reference to Sennacherib. In an upcoming episode we’ll hear the account of his messengers mocking the God of Israel and taunting King Hezekiah. Finally, we’ll read a poetic prophecy that envisions Bozrah, the capital city of Edom, as a ghost town, totally abandoned by people and home only to wild animals. We’ll end with a prophecy about a Holy Way.

Isaiah 31 -  1:07 . 

Isaiah 32 - 3:31 . 

Isaiah 33 - 7:06 . 

Isaiah 34 - 12:55 . 

Isaiah 35 - 16:39 . 

Psalm 144 - 18:57 . 

Psalm 145 - 21:09 . 

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.

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After a brief excursion in the book of the prophet Hosea, we are back in the book of Isaiah. This episode begins with a proclamation of woe against Samaria, called Ephraim in this prophecy. Specifically, they are chastised for being drunk all the time, having no vision, clarity, or wisdom to give to others on behalf of the Lord. Shifting away from the northern kingdom of Israel, he then chastises Judah for making deals with Assyria, or “Death” as they are called poetically here. Jerusalem, referred to as “Ariel”, will be burned and destroyed, for they have refused to open their eyes to the Lord’s commands. Finally, Isaiah condemns Jerusalem’s alliance with Egypt, most likely a reference to King Hezekiah’s reign.

Isaiah 28 - 1:03 . 

Isaiah 29 - 8:18 . 

Isaiah 30 - 13:33 . 

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.

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Israel has taken the lavish blessings of their God and given those gifts to the calf idols of Baal, turning away from the covenant love of the God who redeemed them in order to love other gods. Therefore, in accordance with curses of the covenant he made with them at Sinai and for the sake of His holy name, the Lord will discipline his people for their rebellion. Through Hosea, God remarks that he raised Israel like a father raises children and laments the calamity that will come upon them. With this love in mind, He promises that He will not release His full wrath upon them. The book of Hosea ends with a call to repentance. If God’s people will turn back to Him, they will flourish once again.

Hosea 10 - 1:04 . 

Hosea 11 - 4:37 . 

Hosea 12 - 8:13 . 

Hosea 13 - 10:32 . 

Hosea 14 - 13:42 . 

Psalm 143 - 15:57 . 

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.

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Hosea continues to prophesy against the house of Israel which often referred to as “Ephraim” in today’s text. Our passage begins with Hosea calling for repentance, knowing that the Lord forgives. The Lord laments that Israel’s love is fleeting like the morning mist, for they are not faithful to the Lord. Instead, they are promiscuous, going after foreign gods through pagan rituals involving threshing floors or self-mutilation. Because of this, the glory of the Lord God will leave them and they will be taken captive into Assyria and into Egypt. Their leaders will fall by the sword because of their rebellion against the Lord’s covenant.

Hosea 6 - 1:03 . 

Hosea 7 - 2:58 . 

Hosea 8 - 7:16 . 

Hosea 9 - 10:03 . 

Psalm 142 - 14:04 . 

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.

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Hosea was a contemporary of Amos whose ministry of prophecy lasted around 40 years, beginning during the reign of King Jeroboam II and ending during Hezekiah’s reign, who Judah’s next king in our chronological reading. Like Amos, Hosea spoke to the nation of Israel, often referenced as “Ephraim” in this book, under a time of lavish wealth and disparate poverty. Israel was being unfaithful to their God, and like the unfaithful nation the Lord has committed himself to love, Hosea is commanded to marry an unfaithful woman. Hosea’s pursuit of his unfaithful wife serves a parallel to God’s pursuit of unfaithful Israel, who loves foreign gods and decadent foods like raisin cakes more than the God of Israel.

Hosea 1 - 1:08 . 

Hosea 2 - 3:30 . 

Hosea 3 - 9:17 . 

Hosea 4 - 10:13 . 

Hosea 5 - 13:46 . 

Psalm 141 - 16:49 . 

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.

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We begin with a pronouncement against Tyre, an island city that served as profitable port which traded in luxurious goods. Tyre established a trading colony called Tarshish (thought to be in modern-day Spain) which boasted impressive ships. Assyria attempted to take Tyre a number of times, but it was Nebuchadnezzar who first infiltrated the island city, followed by Alexander the Great who destroyed it. The following chapters in this episode concern God’s judgment of the whole earth, a judgment brought about by the sin of mankind. Though celebration will come to an end for a time, God will eventually prepare a feast for the peoples of earth and death will be destroyed forever. Keep your ears open for messages of resurrection as we read.

Isaiah 23 - 1:03 . 

Isaiah 24 - 4:30 . 

Isaiah 25 - 9:16 . 

Isaiah 26 - 11:58 . 

Isaiah 27 - 16:00 . 

Psalm 140 - 19:08 . 

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.

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Today’s reading includes pronouncements against the nations of Cush (which we now call Ethiopia) and Egypt. The Cushites will be judged by the Lord and left for dead, but after this judgment they will bring tribute to the Lord of Armies at Mount Zion. Egypt will be judged by God through a civil war, and neither idols, nor spiritists, nor wise men will save them from the Lord’s hand. One day in the future, however, some Egyptians would worship the God of Israel, a dramatic turn of events given that Egypt had always been superior in military might with deep cultural ties to it’s own gods. Pronouncements on other cities and nations follow, including Babylon, Dumah, Arabia, Jerusalem (called the Valley of Vision, here) and Shebna.

Isaiah 18 - 1:03 . 

Isaiah 19 - 2:53 . 

Isaiah 20 - 7:50 . 

Isaiah 21 - 10:03 . 

Isaiah 22 - 13:17 . 

Psalm 139 - 18:18 . 

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.

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We are back in the book of Isaiah, and as you’ll hear the prophet himself mention, we are in the time period surrounding the death of Ahaz, that wicked king of Judah who not only created an idolatrous altar and set it up adjacent to the altar of God, but who sacrificed his own children to the gods of foreign nations. We begin with a pronouncement against Babylon, which contains assertions that they are God’s chosen weapon of wrath against his disobedient people, AND that they will become desolate for their actions. Israel will return to the land and the king of Babylon will fall. Pronouncements against Philistia, Moab, and Damascus follow, and we’ll conclude with a prophecy of judgment against Israel.

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.

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We have completed the prophet Micah and we’re moving back into the historical narrative to cover Judah’s King Ahaz, a notably evil and idolatrous king who went so far as to even sacrifice his own children to foreign gods. After seeing an impressive altar in another nation, he has Uriah (one the priests of the Lord) build a replica of it. Rather than doing everything that the Lord has commanded Uriah to do, Scripture notes that “Uriah did everything King Ahaz commanded.” Finally, 2 Kings records the fall of Israel when King Shalmaneser of Assyria captures the capital city of Samaria. Why would God allow that to happen? Our reading from chapter 17 gives us a lengthy explanation.

2 Chronicles 28 - 1:05 . 

2 Kings 16 - 7:10 . 

2 Kings 17 - 12:44 . 

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.

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