One Amazing Summer: Promise of Redemption

Whew, those minor prophets can be rough, huh?  The Israelites had wandered so far from the Lord and no matter how much the prophets prophesied, they just didn’t seem to get it.  {Sounds a lot like me sometimes, if I’m really honest.}

But in the midst of explaining all the judgment to come, the thread of redemption continues it’s path in the tapestry of God’s Word.  We saw it in Genesis when God explained the head of the serpent would be crushed.   We were reminded of it in Exodus when God’s people were led out of slavery into freedom.  We saw it in Rahab’s faith and Ruth’s promise.  We read the promise of an eternal king in Psalms and Isaiah.  The love of God for those made in His image never gives up, never ends—never fails.


one amazing summer micah 7:19 www.terilynneunderwood.com

Some of my favorite verses of hope and promise from this week’s readings:

“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”  Rend your heart and not your garments.  Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he will relent from sending calamity.  Joel 2:12-13

Who is a God like you, who pardons sins and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance?  You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.  You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:18-19

The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save.  He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.  Zephaniah 3:17

And what about this:

“But you, Bethlemhem Ephrath, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”  Michah 5:2

We ended this week in the beginning of Matthew.

and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. Matthew 1:16

The Magi followed the star and Herod called the priests and scribes to ask them where this “king of the Jews” would be born.  Without any hesitation or doubt, they quoted that verse from Micah, sending the Magi to Bethlehem where these kings worshiped The King.

Such a difference, isn’t there, between knowing what Scritpure says and realizing these words apply to you?

So thankful today for that promise of redemption!

How did reading the Old Testament increase your understanding of God’s plan for redemption?

Read the Psalms this summer with Scripture Dig!

Comments

  1. Oh girl, I have so loved this!

    I think what I have been thinking while trekking through the OT and then into the NT is the way Jesus spoke and taught. He spoke differently. He ministered to them. He fed them. He healed them.

    The contrast from the minor prophets to the prophecy fulfilled is amazing.
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