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What Do These Books Mean?

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound...

Isaiah 61:1
What Do These Books Mean? Book Cover

Better Days to Come

The prophetic books sounded the alarm and warned the kingdoms of Israel and Judah that God would not tolerate their sins. We see God’s holiness on full display and the failure of his people to remain loyal to his covenant with them. Through the prophets, we see the heartbreaking results of abandoning God and his ways. What insights we can gain from the Jews’ rebellion! No matter how much God loves his people and wants to dwell them, he refuses to allow them to continue in sin without addressing it.

In the midst of the worst days of Israel’s history, much of it brought on by their own disobedience, we also see some of God’s brightest promises. Parallel to pronouncements of judgment, these books also heralded the good news. God’s people had done their very worst. Still, he promised his very best.

God communicated through his prophets that better days were coming. A Messiah would come who would forever return the hearts of the people back to their God (Isaiah 53). The prophecies concerning the arrival of the long-awaited Messiah find their fulfillment in the New Testament. These messages of hope motivated the people of the Old Testament to live in anticipation of God’s future salvation. Hundreds of years after Isaiah’s prophecy concerning the Lord’s anointed one, Jesus read from Isaiah 61 and declared, “Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21). As we read these messages, we can rejoice in the God who forgives sins and extends his mercy to all who will call upon him.

A Glorious Future

We know the rest of the story and enjoy the salvation that God had long promised. We not only study these books of prophecy to understand how they relate to our past and our present, but we study them to understand our future. God also gave the prophets vision and insight into the far distant future, when the Messiah will return a second time, destroying sin and death and reigning forever as the everlasting King of Peace. One day, all of God’s people across all times will live together in unity. God will be our God in every sense. He will wipe away all tears from our eyes, and we will serve him forever with joy.

Knowing that we have such a bright future gives us hope as we live out our days here on Earth. We continue to study his Word so that we can live with intentionality and in anticipation of his return.

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Old Testament: Major and Minor Prophets

Daily Question

How often do you think about Jesus’s return? How can you live with even more intentionality as you wait for his return?

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Comments (3)

Frankly, I had put aside the thought of Jesus’ return, no thinking ahead, but thinking in the now….People need God now. They need salvation, His Word , His love NOW. I can focus on the NOW, praying for people to come to know Him personally in their lives. I can invite others to learn more in Bible Study and church activities and worship. I can invite others to gather, eat and discuss how God is working in their lives. I can encourage others to invite also. I can spend time on focusing myself on what eternity means to me. Revelation 21 and Isaiah 65 have just been part of my recent daily devotional. How fitting!

It is amazing to sit back and reflect on how this world has come full circle since the birth of Jesus! Just like in the very beginning…To see our society living as Nineveh had, to turn their backs on God, and to know the FINAL Wrath that is coming, absolutely encourages me to to live expectantly and to bring as many people as I possibly can with me! It is through us who have been called to share the good news that we may make a difference in those that are lost, or discouraged, or full of fear and hate! It is through US that the message can spread, by His word spoken through us! It is time we all woke up and started to share the Good News of Jesus!!!

I have always thought what a Glorious day that will be. I do think about Jesus return more recently then I had in past. About a year and a half ago I started praying for a revival. I wasn’t sure where that came from at first but I felt an urgency, that our country needed to hear God’s word, then shortly after that COVID hit. I wanted to make sure some in my family knew where they stood with the Lord. As I saw the country become more torn apart it reminded me of the Old Testament and people going their own way.

I feel I need to be more intentional about sharing Jesus with others. I need to be a better example so others can see Christ in me. In order to do that I need to be in God’s word daily, have prayer time with Him and listen. It’s important to me to pray with others struggling, share verses with them and invite them to church. I need to reflect His character- show kindness, forgiveness and love. I especially need to grow in Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to lead me.

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