God gets the final word:

The final chapters of Isaiah are absolutely MUST READ chapters in the Bible. In chapters 58-59, Isaiah vividly describes the spiritual condition of Israel: "they grope for light" and walk in darkness even during the day! Their sins have made them blind to their dependence on God. Yet the following chapters set the stage for God's dramatic redemptive conclusion not only to Israel's history, but to all history. These last chapters are like the fertile ground from which the ministry and message of Jesus grow forth. Students of Scripture should give them their full attention and study!

In this episode, Ryan and Jake work through some of the thematic elements and big ideas to look for, as well as provide a brief introduction to the book of Jeremiah.

Resources

- - - - 

Each week during Season 2 of the podcast, we will break down the previous week's readings, including big events, key themes, rabbit-hole curiosities, and devotional thoughts.

If you want to follow along with our reading plan from cover to cover, you can find it right here. We'll be following the 3x5 reading plan, which covers 3 chapters a day and 5 on Sundays. 

Additionally, if you're looking for resources to compliment your study, check out The 3x5 Workbook by David Kalas. This is a great tool to challenge you by providing weekly review quizzes and answers to help your learnings stick. 

If you have questions you want covered on the show from your readings, email them ahead of time to [email protected]!

The Turning Point of Isaiah:

This week, we discover the turning point of Isaiah. The truth is that God's people fell so far away from Him. They chose rebellion, their idols, and their own selfish desires. Despite countless warnings and opportunities to repent, it took a "needed pain" for them to realize their dependence on the Lord their God.

Fortunately, the Lord graciously offers forgiveness, and exile was not intended as the final resting place for Israel. Instead, we read the promises in Isaiah this week that point towards hope, restoration, and redemption of not only Israel, but all of creation!

Resources

- - - - 

Each week during Season 2 of the podcast, we will break down the previous week's readings, including big events, key themes, rabbit-hole curiosities, and devotional thoughts.

If you want to follow along with our reading plan from cover to cover, you can find it right here. We'll be following the 3x5 reading plan, which covers 3 chapters a day and 5 on Sundays. 

Additionally, if you're looking for resources to compliment your study, check out The 3x5 Workbook by David Kalas. This is a great tool to challenge you by providing weekly review quizzes and answers to help your learnings stick. 

If you have questions you want covered on the show from your readings, email them ahead of time to [email protected]!

Resources

- - - - 

Each week during Season 2 of the podcast, we will break down the previous week's readings, including big events, key themes, rabbit-hole curiosities, and devotional thoughts.

If you want to follow along with our reading plan from cover to cover, you can find it right here. We'll be following the 3x5 reading plan, which covers 3 chapters a day and 5 on Sundays. 

Additionally, if you're looking for resources to compliment your study, check out The 3x5 Workbook by David Kalas. This is a great tool to challenge you by providing weekly review quizzes and answers to help your learnings stick. 

If you have questions you want covered on the show from your readings, email them ahead of time to [email protected]!

Poets and Prophets

Another milestone was hit in this week's episode! We turned the corner from the poetic cannon of the Bible into the prophetic canon. 

Some key takeaways from this week:

Song of Solomon is a book full of interesting poetic language. In short, it might not be recommended to use Hebrew poetry as a way to interact with your spouse in the 21st century. But here are to clear themes from the book: don't awaken love before it is too soon. Why? The second theme of the book: it is worth it when you wait until the right time. Love and intimacy aren't dirty or demonic within the context of marriage. God designed it to be good!

Isaiah has some clear themes already emerging. Pay attention to the back and forth contrast of judgement prophecies, evil, chaos, and darkness - compared to messianic hope. The truth is that a savior is coming and has already come into a world that desperately needed Him!

Resources

- - - - 

Each week during Season 2 of the podcast, we will break down the previous week's readings, including big events, key themes, rabbit-hole curiosities, and devotional thoughts.

If you want to follow along with our reading plan from cover to cover, you can find it right here. We'll be following the 3x5 reading plan, which covers 3 chapters a day and 5 on Sundays. 

Additionally, if you're looking for resources to compliment your study, check out The 3x5 Workbook by David Kalas. This is a great tool to challenge you by providing weekly review quizzes and answers to help your learnings stick. 

If you have questions you want covered on the show from your readings, email them ahead of time to [email protected]!

Resources

- - - - 

Each week during Season 2 of the podcast, we will break down the previous week's readings, including big events, key themes, rabbit-hole curiosities, and devotional thoughts.

If you want to follow along with our reading plan from cover to cover, you can find it right here. We'll be following the 3x5 reading plan, which covers 3 chapters a day and 5 on Sundays. 

Additionally, if you're looking for resources to compliment your study, check out The 3x5 Workbook by David Kalas. This is a great tool to challenge you by providing weekly review quizzes and answers to help your learnings stick. 

If you have questions you want covered on the show from your readings, email them ahead of time to [email protected]!

The Way of Wisdom

We all need someone to coach us through our daily decision making and give us advice from time to time. Think of Proverbs that way; like a coach, a mentor, or a wise old friend who's got enough salt in their beard to help you avoid the tough lessons that go along with growing up. Proverbs is a collection of "wise sayings" of King Solomon (with a couple cameos from other wisdom thinkers of the day) given to us by God to help us recognize wisdom and foolishness in our daily choices. Don't underestimate the power of wise living to alleviate the headaches we naturally create for ourselves! In this episode, Joel and Jake explore lessons on listening to lady wisdom. 

Resources

- - - - 

Each week during Season 2 of the podcast, we will break down the previous week's readings, including big events, key themes, rabbit-hole curiosities, and devotional thoughts.

If you want to follow along with our reading plan from cover to cover, you can find it right here. We'll be following the 3x5 reading plan, which covers 3 chapters a day and 5 on Sundays. 

Additionally, if you're looking for resources to compliment your study, check out The 3x5 Workbook by David Kalas. This is a great tool to challenge you by providing weekly review quizzes and answers to help your learnings stick. 

If you have questions you want covered on the show from your readings, email them ahead of time to [email protected]!

On our way up to Zion

The Psalms of Ascent are beautiful worship songs that Jewish pilgrims would traditionally sing on the way up to Jerusalem for their major festivals. Today, they are songs that point us to think about our own journey with Christ on the way to the heavenly city! Join Ryan and Jake for an exploration of book V of the Psalms!

Resources

- - - - 

Each week during Season 2 of the podcast, we will break down the previous week's readings, including big events, key themes, rabbit-hole curiosities, and devotional thoughts.

If you want to follow along with our reading plan from cover to cover, you can find it right here. We'll be following the 3x5 reading plan, which covers 3 chapters a day and 5 on Sundays. 

Additionally, if you're looking for resources to compliment your study, check out The 3x5 Workbook by David Kalas. This is a great tool to challenge you by providing weekly review quizzes and answers to help your learnings stick. 

If you have questions you want covered on the show from your readings, email them ahead of time to [email protected]!

The Psalms as Fuel for our Fire

The Psalms are a tough book to read if we approach them only for the sake of seeking information. They're not a textbook, and shouldn't be read like one. They are meant to fuel the passionate worship of God as Savior and King. This week's episode carries us into Book V of the Psalms, in which we read incredible meditations on God's Kingship and on His Word. Joel and Jake discuss the devotional value of the Psalms, Gospel echoes, and lessons on obedience from Psalm 119. We can and should come back to these Psalms again and again to stoke our fire for God's glory to burn brightly!

Resources

- - - - 

Each week during Season 2 of the podcast, we will break down the previous week's readings, including big events, key themes, rabbit-hole curiosities, and devotional thoughts.

If you want to follow along with our reading plan from cover to cover, you can find it right here. We'll be following the 3x5 reading plan, which covers 3 chapters a day and 5 on Sundays. 

Additionally, if you're looking for resources to compliment your study, check out The 3x5 Workbook by David Kalas. This is a great tool to challenge you by providing weekly review quizzes and answers to help your learnings stick. 

If you have questions you want covered on the show from your readings, email them ahead of time to [email protected]!

Learning to find our identity as Sons and Daughters of the King

Psalms 75-97 include powerful reflections on the exile and prayers for deliverance. Exile was a crushing experience that forced God's people to re-examine who they were and where their identity came from. Specifically, their identity didn't come from a temple and a city, but from God's choosing, memorialized and established at Mount Sinai. There's a marked change in the Psalms after book IV takes us back to Sinai in verse 97, and the movements of these Psalms remind us that our identity comes not from the outside; that is, what we wear and how we label ourselves, rather our identity is received from God as a gift of grace. When we learn to enjoy being sons and daughters of God, we find a sense of stability that can't be found anywhere else. 

Resources

- - - - 

Each week during Season 2 of the podcast, we will break down the previous week's readings, including big events, key themes, rabbit-hole curiosities, and devotional thoughts.

If you want to follow along with our reading plan from cover to cover, you can find it right here. We'll be following the 3x5 reading plan, which covers 3 chapters a day and 5 on Sundays. 

Additionally, if you're looking for resources to compliment your study, check out The 3x5 Workbook by David Kalas. This is a great tool to challenge you by providing weekly review quizzes and answers to help your learnings stick. 

If you have questions you want covered on the show from your readings, email them ahead of time to [email protected]!

Powerful prayers from book three of the Psalms:

The Third book of the Psalms (42-72) contains a great deal of material remembering the powerful works of God and praying for deliverance. There are heavy Exodus vibes throughout the whole section, ending with a powerful song of praise for God's king who will bring redemption. Within the book, there are also some powerful prayers for help amidst some of life's most painful experiences. Psalm 55, for example, records deep feelings of betrayal and the raw emotional response of someone who has been hurt by a friend. Yet the book points us to a solution: Psalm 67 is filled with stubborn and determined belief that God's salvation will prevail in all the earth, and Psalm 72 tells us of a king whose coming will be like "rain that falls on fresh cut grass." No matter where we find ourselves in the full range of life's emotional experiences, we can find hope in Jesus, the savior-king, who comes to deliver.

Resources

- - - - 

Each week during Season 2 of the podcast, we will break down the previous week's readings, including big events, key themes, rabbit-hole curiosities, and devotional thoughts.

If you want to follow along with our reading plan from cover to cover, you can find it right here. We'll be following the 3x5 reading plan, which covers 3 chapters a day and 5 on Sundays. 

Additionally, if you're looking for resources to compliment your study, check out The 3x5 Workbook by David Kalas. This is a great tool to challenge you by providing weekly review quizzes and answers to help your learnings stick. 

If you have questions you want covered on the show from your readings, email them ahead of time to [email protected]!