Arise and Abide

In this episode of Arise + Abide , Curtis and Sally explore 2 Kings 17:24–41 , a sobering passage that follows the fall of Samaria and the resettlement of the land by foreign nations. As Assyria relocates people from across its empire into Israel, the newcomers attempt to worship the God of the land—yet they also cling tightly to their former gods and practices. The hosts unpack the strange and un...

In this episode of Arise + Abide , Curtis and Sally reflect on Psalm 141, a heartfelt prayer of David that invites us into a posture of humility, dependence, and trust in God. As David cries out for the Lord to "hurry" and hear his prayer, the conversation explores what it means to approach God honestly while recognizing Him as our true refuge. Together, they unpack David's request for God to guar...

In this episode of Arise + Abide , Curtis and Sally walk through 2 Kings 17:6–23 and 2 Kings 18:10–12 , passages that recount the fall of Samaria and the exile of Israel. Together, they reflect on how years of persistent disobedience, idolatry, and refusal to listen to the Lord ultimately led to Israel being swept away from His presence. The conversation traces Israel's gradual spiritual decline—f...

In this episode of Arise + Abide , Curtis and Sally continue their chronological journey through the Old Testament, reading from 2 Kings 17:15,18:9 and Isaiah 28 . Together, these passages reveal the downfall of Samaria, the consequences of misplaced trust, and God's patient, persistent call to His people. As Assyria lays siege to Samaria, Isaiah's prophetic imagery exposes a nation meant to be a...

In this episode of Arise + Abide , Curtis and Sally reflect on Psalm 140, a raw and honest prayer for rescue in the face of violence, evil, and hidden schemes. As David cries out for protection, the hosts explore how the psalm moves from urgent plea to confident trust—reminding us who God is when circumstances feel overwhelming. The conversation highlights God as the strong rescuer, the One who se...

In this episode of Arise + Abide , Curtis and Sally conclude the book of Hosea by walking through chapter 14, a powerful invitation to repentance, healing, and restoration. After the warnings and judgment of chapter 13, Hosea 14 offers hope—calling God's people to return with confession, humility, and renewed trust in the Lord alone. Together, they explore God's clear instructions for repentance:...

In this episode of Arise + Abide , Curtis and Sally reflect on Psalm 139, a deeply personal prayer that invites God to search, know, and lead the human heart. Together, they walk through David's words that proclaim God's complete knowledge of us, His constant presence, and His intimate role as Creator—knitting us together even in the hidden darkness of the womb. The conversation explores the tensi...

In this episode of Arise + Abide , Sally and Curtis explore Hosea 13, a powerful chapter that highlights the culmination of Israel's long pattern of unfaithfulness. Building on chapter 12's warnings, Hosea 13 opens with a sobering reminder that Ephraim—once a tribe whose words carried weight and inspired fear—has now fallen into idolatry and self-reliance, sealing its own destruction. Through vivi...

In this episode of Arise + Abide , Curtis and Sally reflect on David's heartfelt praise in Psalm 138, a song filled with gratitude, trust, and confidence in God's unfailing love. Together they explore how David's worship—offered "with all his heart"—reminds us that God's promises are backed by the full honor of His name, giving us assurance even when circumstances remain unchanged. The conversatio...

In this episode of Arise + Abide , Curtis and Sally reflect on Psalm 137, a passage that captures the experience of the Israelites living in exile. The psalm describes their sorrow, their memories of Jerusalem, and the difficulty of singing joyful songs in a place that feels far from home. The conversation explores how the psalmist's longing for Jerusalem reveals a renewed appreciation for what wa...

In this episode of Arise + Abide , Curtis and Sally explore Hosea chapters 10 and 11—two striking passages that reveal both the severity of God's judgment and the depth of His enduring love. Hosea paints Israel as a once-fruitful vine whose prosperity led them away from the Lord and deeper into idolatry. Their misplaced trust in altars, idols, and military strength exposes a hardened spiritual lan...

Hello everyone, Curtis here, thanks for listening! We had been trying to publish episodes twice a week but now that I am back in school full time we have had to scale back to once a week. We will continue to alternate episodes with psalms until we finish the book and continue with the Old Testament timeline. This episode is on Psalm 136, and we will explore the call to remember God's faithfulness...

In this episode of Arise + Abide , Curtis and Sally read Hosea chapter 9 and reflect on the painful consequences of Israel's unfaithfulness to God. As Hosea announces the nation's coming punishment, the chapter reveals both the grief and justice of God—how His love has been betrayed by those who turned to idols and false gods. Israel's worship has become distorted, their festivals corrupted, and t...

     In this episode of Arise + Abide , Sally and Curtis read Hosea chapter 8, where the prophet declares that Israel has "planted the wind and will harvest the whirlwind." Through Hosea's message, God warns His people that their idolatry, self-appointed kings, and misplaced alliances will lead to destruction. Israel has built altars meant to remove sin, yet those very altars have become places of...

In this episode of Arise + Abide , Curtis and Sally read and reflect on Psalm 135—a song of worship that calls all who serve the Lord to praise Him for His goodness, power, and enduring love. From creation to deliverance, the psalm recounts God's mighty works, contrasting His living presence with the lifeless idols made by human hands. Curtis shares how the psalm's repeated invitation to "praise t...

In this episode of Arise + Abide , Curtis and Sally read and reflect on Psalm 135—a song of worship that calls all who serve the Lord to praise Him for His goodness, power, and enduring love. From creation to deliverance, the psalm recounts God's mighty works, contrasting His living presence with the lifeless idols made by human hands. Curtis shares how the psalm's repeated invitation to "praise t...

In this episode of Arise + Abide , Curtis and Sally explore Hosea chapter 7—a sobering look at Israel's rebellion and God's grieving heart. The Lord longs to heal His people, yet their sins run deep. They've become unaware of their spiritual decay, chasing foreign gods and trusting in human power instead of turning back to Him. Through vivid metaphors—an overheated oven, a half-baked cake, a witle...

In this episode of Arise + Abide , Sally and Curtis reflect on the final song of ascent, Psalm 134. As pilgrims arrive in Jerusalem, they call on those serving in the temple—especially those keeping the night watch—to lift their hands and praise the Lord. Together, they explore the beauty of worship that involves not just our voices but our whole selves, and how both travelers and temple servants...

In this episode of Arise + Abide , Curtis and Sally reflect on Hosea chapter 6, a passage titled A Call to Repentance . Hosea invites the people to return to the Lord with the assurance that God will respond as surely as the dawn breaks and the spring rains fall. Yet the chapter also reveals God's grief over Israel and Judah's fleeting devotion—love that evaporates like morning mist. The discussio...

In this episode of Arise + Abide , Sally and Curtis reflect on Psalm 133 and its powerful imagery of harmony. David compares unity among God's people to the anointing oil flowing over Aaron and the refreshing dew of Mount Hermon—both symbols of blessing and life. Together, Sally and Curtis explore how true harmony cannot be manufactured by individual effort but comes from God's Spirit, covering us...

In this episode of Arise + Abide , Curtis and Sally reflect on Hosea chapter 5, a sobering passage that exposes the failure of Israel's priests and leaders. The text reveals how arrogance, idolatry, and misplaced trust in foreign powers led God's people into spiritual ruin. Despite their sacrifices, the Lord had withdrawn, leaving them to experience the consequences of their rebellion. Curtis and...

In this episode of Arise + Abide , Curtis and Sally reflect on Psalm 132, a psalm that recalls God's promises to David and His desire to dwell among His people. Together they trace the psalm's echoes of David's devotion, Solomon's prayer, and ultimately the eternal fulfillment found in Jesus—the true anointed King from David's line. The conversation explores the tension between human longing to bu...

Reading Hosea 4.

In this episode of Arise + Abide , Sally and Curtis reflect on Psalm 131, a short but powerful psalm about humility, trust, and finding true peace in God. David reminds us not to trouble ourselves with matters beyond our understanding but instead to rest in the Lord with childlike faith. The conversation explores how humility allows us to release pride, entrust the unknown to God, and experience t...

In this episode of Arise + Abide , Curtis and Sally reflect on Hosea chapter 3, where Hosea is called to redeem his unfaithful wife as a living picture of God's unfailing love for His people. Together, they explore how this passage reveals the depth of God's commitment to Israel despite betrayal and idolatry, and how it points forward to His covenant of love fulfilled in Christ. The conversation h...