July – Warning, Lament and Hope

Isaiah and Jeremiah reveal both the tragedy of human rebellion and the faithfulness of God. As judgment approaches, God continues to speak through His prophets, calling His people to repentance, faith, and renewed worship. Their messages combine warning, lament, and hope, revealing that God’s purposes are never defeated by human sin and that a right fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Even in the darkest moments, He remains the Redeemer of His people and our only hope for full restoration.

Week 1 — Salvation and restoration foretold

Reading: Isaiah 40-57 (and Psalm 119, 3 sections / day)

Isaiah frequently draws attention to God’s character through a variety of names and titles, including The Lord of Hosts, the Holy One of Israel, I AM the Lord, there is no one besides Me, and Redeemer. Among these, The Lord of Hosts is especially significant. Often rendered Lord Sabaoth, it is the title famously used in Luther’s hymn A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. As God reveals His names, He is also revealing Himself. These titles help us understand His authority, holiness, faithfulness, and His ongoing work to redeem His people.

Guiding questions:

1. What do the references to “The Lord of Hosts” reveal about God’s sovereignty, power, and purposes? How do these chapters begin to connect those themes to the person and work of Christ?
2. How is God’s name “Redeemer” displayed throughout these chapters? Who is being redeemed, who accomplishes that redemption, and what are its results?
3. Redemption often refers to the recovery of something that has been lost. Why is this image particularly appropriate for God’s relationship with His people in these chapters?
4. The term “servant” becomes increasingly important in this section. Who is the servant, and what does Isaiah reveal about the servant’s identity, mission, and relationship to God’s plan of redemption?

Week 2 — Comfort and God’s vengeance

Reading: Isaiah 58-66; Nahum (and Psalms 120-134)

These chapters bring together two themes that often seem difficult to reconcile: God’s comfort for His people and His judgment against evil. Isaiah describes a future restoration that extends beyond Israel to all nations, while Nahum demonstrates that God does not ignore injustice forever. Together they reveal a God whose mercy and justice are perfectly united.

Guiding questions:

1. Why does the focus shift from the singular “servant” to God’s “servants” in these chapters? What might this reveal about God’s future work through His people?
2. What does true worship and fasting look like according to Isaiah 58, and how does it differ from mere religious activity? What does this teach us about the kind of heart God desires?
3. How do these chapters expand the vision of God’s salvation beyond Israel? What do they reveal about God’s ultimate purposes for the nations, the renewal of creation, and His eternal kingdom?
4. Why is God’s judgment against Nineveh a source of comfort for God’s people? How does this judgment reveal both God’s justice and His mercy?

Week 3 — Faith in dark times

Reading: Zephaniah; Habakkuk; Jeremiah 1-10 (and Psalms 135-141)

The darkness surrounding Judah continues to deepen, yet God raises up prophets who call His people to trust Him even when circumstances seem hopeless. Habakkuk wrestles openly with God’s purposes, while Jeremiah begins a difficult ministry of warning. These books teach us that faith is not the absence of questions but confidence in God’s character despite uncertainty.

Guiding questions:

1. How does worship reveal the spiritual condition of individuals and communities? How do Zephaniah and Jeremiah connect the worship of God’s people with the condition of their hearts?
2. What questions does Habakkuk bring to God, and how might these questions mirror our own doubts and struggles in trying to understand how and when God responds?
3. What does it mean that “the righteous shall live by faith”? How might this phrase summarize God’s relationship with His people throughout Scripture?
4. How do these prophets model honesty before God while striving to grow their own trust in His purposes?

Bonus question: What can we learn from Jeremiah’s calling about speaking truth in a culture that does not want to hear it?

Week 4 — Warning and Lament

Reading: Jeremiah 11-24 (and Psalms 142-150)

Jeremiah’s ministry grows increasingly difficult as he confronts false prophets, corrupt leaders, and a people unwilling to listen. His messages reveal God’s grief over persistent rebellion while also announcing the certainty of coming judgment. Yet even amid these warnings, God continues to promise restoration for those who return to Him.

Guiding questions:

1. Two themes emerge more clearly throughout these chapters—one of judgment and one of hope. How do they relate to Jeremiah’s original commission “to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant” (Jer. 1:10)?
2. Why do so many people reject Jeremiah’s message, and how is that rejection expressed by the people, leaders, and prophets of Judah?
3. How are false prophets distinguished from true prophets in these chapters? What lessons can we apply when evaluating truth claims in our own day?
4. Where do you find evidence of hope in the midst of Jeremiah’s warnings and God’s judgment? What does this reveal about God’s ultimate purposes for His people?

Finishing up — Wisdom calls

Reading: Lamentations (and Proverbs 1-3)

Lamentations gives voice to the sorrow of a people experiencing the consequences of generations of rebellion. Yet even in grief, there are profound declarations of hope in God’s steadfast love and faithfulness. The opening chapters of Proverbs provide an important contrast, reminding us that wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord and calling us to walk in His ways.

Guiding questions:

1. What does Lamentations teach us about responding to suffering and loss in a way that truly honors the moment we live in and the scope of God’s purposes?
2. Why is hope still possible in the midst of devastation and where is that hope found?
3. How does God’s faithfulness become the foundation for honest lament and faithful worship?
4. How do the opening chapters of Proverbs provide a fitting conclusion to this month’s readings about warning, suffering, faithfulness, and hope?