Brett Hawthorn @BrettHawthorn@dingdash.com

*‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭17:8‬ ‭NIV* “They will not look to the altars, the work of their hands, and they will have no regard for the Asherah poles and the incense altars their fingers have made.”‬‬

*17:8:* The Asherah poles were images of Asherah, a Canaanite goddess who was the female consort of Baal. Queen Jezebel may have brought the worship of Asherah into the northern kingdom. The cult encouraged immoral sexual practices and attracted many people. The Bible warns against worshiping Asherah poles (Exodus 34:13; Deuteronomy 12:3; 16:21), and Manasseh was condemned for putting up a Asherah pole in the temple (2 kings 21:7). Asherah poles are not a problem in our world, but a religion based on sexuality is. Pornography has become an addiction for many people. Media and entertainment industries feed our society’s obsession with sex. The runaway desire for stimulation and gratification often comes from an empty, lonely heart. God offers real joy and lasting love. Be on the alert for how sexual images divert us from God.

*Ezekiel‬ ‭28:2-3‬ ‭NIV* ““Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “ ‘In the pride of your heart you say, “I am a god; I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas.” But you are a mere mortal and not a god, though you think you are as wise as a god. Are you wiser than Daniel? Is no secret hidden from you?”‬‬

*28:2,3:* Daniel, an important official in Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom (14:14), was already renowned for his wisdom. Daniel proclaimed that all his wisdom came from God (Daniel 2:20-23). By contrast, the king of Tyre thought that he himself was a god. When truly wise people get closer to God, they recognize their need to depend on him for guidance.

*John‬ ‭1:14‬ ‭NIV* “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”‬‬

*1:14:* “The Word became flesh” means becoming human. By doing so, Christ became (1) the perfect teacher-in Jesus’ life we see how God thinks and therefore how we should think (Philippians 2:5-11); (2) the perfect example-as a model of what we are to become, he shows us how to live and gives us the power to live that way (1 Peter 2:21); (3) the perfect sacrifice-Jesus came as a sacrifice for all sins, and his death satisfied God’s requirements for the removal of sin (Colossians 1:15-23).

*Isaiah‬ ‭16:12‬ ‭NIV* “When Moab appears at her high place, she only wears herself out; when she goes to her shrine to pray, it is to no avail.”‬‬

*16:12:* When the people of Moab experienced God’s wrath, they sought their own idols and gods. Nothing happened, however, because there was no one there to save them. When we seek our own ways of escape in order to get through our daily troubles, the effect is the same: no pleasure, pastime, or man-made religious idea will come to save us. Our hope lies in God, the only One who can hear and help.

*Ezekiel‬ ‭27:3-4‬ ‭NIV* “Say to Tyre, situated at the gateway to the sea, merchant of peoples on many coasts, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “ ‘You say, Tyre, “I am perfect in beauty.” Your domain was on the high seas; your builders brought your beauty to perfection.”‬‬

*27:3,4:* The beauty of Tyre was the source of its pride, and Tyre’s pride guaranteed its judgment. Unwarranted conceit or pride in our own accomplishments should be a danger signal to us (see James 4:13-17). God is not against our finding pleasure or satisfaction in what we do; he is against arrogant, inflated self-esteem that looks down on others. We must acknowledge God as the basis and source of our lives.

*Matthew‬ ‭6:11‬ ‭NIV‬‬* “Give us today our daily bread.”

*6:11:* when we pray “Give us today our daily bread,” we are acknowledging that God is our sustainer and provider. It is a misconception to think that we provide for our needs ourselves. We must trust God daily to provide what he knows we need.

Another prayer from You Version Bible App that spoke to me.
*Prayer:*
God, I am so grateful that I can bring every request before You. Thank You for caring about my physical, spiritual, and emotional needs. You know exactly what I need right now, and You’re not worried about providing for me. So please help me not to worry. Instead, give me the courage to worship You as I wait for You to answer me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

*‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭14:1‬ ‭NIV* “The Lord will have compassion on Jacob; once again he will choose Israel and will settle them in their own land. Foreigners will join them and unite with the descendants of Jacob.”‬‬

*14:1* A prominent theme in Isaiah is that aliens (non-Israelites) would join the returning Israelites (56:6,7; 60:10; 61:5). God’s intention was that through his faithful people all the world would be blessed (Genesis 12:3). Through the family of David, the whole world could be saved by Christ. God’s Word must be available to all people groups in their own languages. We must not limit God’s love to our own people. God loves the whole world. We must support and help those missions that are reaching out to people who haven’t heard the Good News of salvation.

*‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭14:5-6‬ ‭NIV* “The Lord has broken the rod of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers, which in anger struck down peoples with unceasing blows, and in fury subdued nations with relentless aggression.”‬‬

*14:5,6* Power fades quickly. God permitted Babylon to have temporary power for a purpose-to punish his wayward people. When the purpose ended, so did the power. Beware of placing confidence in human power because one day it will fade, no matter how strong it appears now.

*Ezekiel 25:1ff* Chapters 25-32 are God’s word concerning the seven nations surrounding Judah. The judgments in these chapters are not simply the vengeful statements of Jews against their enemies; they are God’s judgments in nations that failed to acknowledge the one true God and fulfill the good purposes God intended for them. The ammonites were judged because of their joy over the desecration of the temple (25:1-7), the Moabites because they found pleasure in Judah’s wickedness (25:8-11), the Edomites because of their racial hatred for the Jews (25:12-14), and the Philistines because they sought revenge against Judah for defeating them in battle (25:15-17).