...go read Isaiah, Proverbs and Psalms chapters 28 now!!

I've been reading a chapter a day for the last month (along with a chapter each of Psalms & Proverbs) and there are multiple places detailing how the wicked will fall and the 'remnant' will prevail! But today I noticed a coincidence 😉🤭 in their themes.

Today I'm on chapters 28 and I just had to share with the group the promises we've been blessed with!!

I always start with Isaiah:

1 Ah, the proud garland of the drunkards of Ephraim, and the fading flower of its glorious beauty, which is on the head of those bloated with rich food, of those overcome with wine! 2 See, the Lord has one who is mighty and strong; like a storm of hail, a destroying tempest, like a storm of mighty, overflowing waters; with his hand he will hurl them down to the earth. 3 Trampled under foot will be the proud garland of the drunkards of Ephraim. 4 And the fading flower of its glorious beauty, which is on the head of those bloated with rich food, will be like a first-ripe fig before the summer; whoever sees it, eats it up as soon as it comes to hand.

5 In that day the Lord of hosts will be a garland of glory, and a diadem of beauty, to the remnant of his people; 6 and a spirit of justice to the one who sits in judgment, and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.

7 These also reel with wine and stagger with strong drink; the priest and the prophet reel with strong drink, they are confused with wine, they stagger with strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in giving judgment. 8 All tables are covered with filthy vomit; no place is clean.

9 “Whom will he teach knowledge, and to whom will he explain the message? Those who are weaned from milk, those taken from the breast? 10 For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.”

11 Truly, with stammering lip and with alien tongue he will speak to this people, 12 to whom he has said, “This is rest; give rest to the weary; and this is repose”; yet they would not hear. 13 Therefore the word of the Lord will be to them, “Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little;” in order that they may go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

14 Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you scoffers who rule this people in Jerusalem. 15 Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have an agreement; when the overwhelming scourge passes through it will not come to us; for we have made lies our refuge, and in falsehood we have taken shelter”; 16 therefore thus says the Lord God, See, I am laying in Zion a foundation stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation: “One who trusts will not panic.” 17 And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plummet; hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and waters will overwhelm the shelter. 18 Then your covenant with death will be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol will not stand; when the overwhelming scourge passes through you will be beaten down by it. 19 As often as it passes through, it will take you; for morning by morning it will pass through, by day and by night; and it will be sheer terror to understand the message. 20 For the bed is too short to stretch oneself on it, and the covering too narrow to wrap oneself in it. 21 For the Lord will rise up as on Mount Perazim, he will rage as in the valley of Gibeon to do his deed—strange is his deed!— and to work his work—alien is his work! 22 Now therefore do not scoff, or your bonds will be made stronger; for I have heard a decree of destruction from the Lord God of hosts upon the whole land.

23 Listen, and hear my voice; Pay attention, and hear my speech. 24 Do those who plow for sowing plow continually? Do they continually open and harrow their ground? 25 When they have leveled its surface, do they not scatter dill, sow cummin, and plant wheat in rows and barley in its proper place, and spelt as the border? 26 For they are well instructed; their God teaches them.

27 Dill is not threshed with a threshing sledge, nor is a cart wheel rolled over cummin; but dill is beaten out with a stick, and cummin with a rod. 28 Grain is crushed for bread, but one does not thresh it forever; one drives the cart wheel and horses over it, but does not pulverize it. 29 This also comes from the Lord of hosts; he is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in wisdom."

Then I follow Isaiah with Proverbs:

1 The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. 2 When a land rebels it has many rulers; but with an intelligent ruler there is lasting order. 3 A ruler who oppresses the poor is a beating rain that leaves no food. 4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law struggle against them. 5 The evil do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it completely. 6 Better to be poor and walk in integrity than to be crooked in one’s ways even though rich. 7 Those who keep the law are wise children, but companions of gluttons shame their parents. 8 One who augments wealth by exorbitant interest gathers it for another who is kind to the poor. 9 When one will not listen to the law, even one’s prayers are an abomination. 10 Those who mislead the upright into evil ways will fall into pits of their own making, but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance. 11 The rich is wise in self-esteem, but an intelligent poor person sees through the pose. 12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when the wicked prevail, people go into hiding. 13 No one who conceals transgressions will prosper, but one who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. 14 Happy is the one who is never without fear, but one who is hard-hearted will fall into calamity. 15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people. 16 A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor; but one who hates unjust gain will enjoy a long life. 17 If someone is burdened with the blood of another, let that killer be a fugitive until death; let no one offer assistance. 18 One who walks in integrity will be safe, but whoever follows crooked ways will fall into the Pit. 19 Anyone who tills the land will have plenty of bread, but one who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty. 20 The faithful will abound with blessings, but one who is in a hurry to be rich will not go unpunished. 21 To show partiality is not good— yet for a piece of bread a person may do wrong. 22 The miser is in a hurry to get rich and does not know that loss is sure to come. 23 Whoever rebukes a person will afterward find more favor than one who flatters with the tongue. 24 Anyone who robs father or mother and says, “That is no crime,” is partner to a thug. 25 The greedy person stirs up strife, but whoever trusts in the Lord will be enriched. 26 Those who trust in their own wits are fools; but those who walk in wisdom come through safely. 27 Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but one who turns a blind eye will get many a curse. 28 When the wicked prevail, people go into hiding; but when they perish, the righteous increase.

Then I bring it home with Psalms:

1 To you, O Lord, I call; my rock, do not refuse to hear me, for if you are silent to me, I shall be like those who go down to the Pit. 2 Hear the voice of my supplication, as I cry to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary.

3 Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who are workers of evil, who speak peace with their neighbors, while mischief is in their hearts. 4 Repay them according to their work, and according to the evil of their deeds; repay them according to the work of their hands; render them their due reward. 5 Because they do not regard the works of the Lord, or the work of his hands, he will break them down and build them up no more.

6 Blessed be the Lord, for he has heard the sound of my pleadings. 7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts; so I am helped, and my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

8 The Lord is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed. 9 O save your people, and bless your heritage; be their shepherd, and carry them forever.