Isaiah Chapter Four is a description of the church. Isaiah was prophesying hundreds of years before the church was established. In verse two, we read, "In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel."

"Them that are escaped" references Christians. Christians are freed from sin by Jesus. They escape the slavery of sin. The word "beautiful" is a word that means glorious or beautiful. The word "glorious" comes from a word that means heavy. So, Christians are to be glorious/beautiful and heavy. But what does heavy mean in this context?

Heavy can mean important. Or it can mean full. In Isaiah 5:2, we read that God parallels his people to a vineyard. A vineyard is planted to produce lots of fruit. In Chapter Four, the church is seen as the branch of the Lord. So, for the branch to be heavy would mean that it is full of fruit. God's people should be beautiful and fruitful.

Are you spiritually beautiful and fruitful? Do you speak and act as God wants you to act? Do you teach others about Jesus? Do other people see you as different from the world? Do other people want to be like you because they see Jesus in your life?

Study God's Word. Obey what he wants you to do. Be a beautiful and glorious branch, and if any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you.

In Amos 6:12, we read, "Shall horses run upon the rocks? will one plow there with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock."

At the time of Amos, most horses were not given metal shoes like they are today. The wealthy person might put gold ones on his horse, and some armies put leather shoes on their horses. These went over the entire hoof like shoes that we wear. But leather and gold are soft. They were more for show than they were for protection.

The horse has a very soft spot in the center of his foot. If the horse attempts to run on rocks, he will bruise this soft tissue. This tissue is very sensitive. When it is bruised the horse has a very difficult time walking. Therefore, people at the time of Amos did not run their horses on very rocky ground.

God says that the Israelites are like the horse on rocky ground. They have worshipped idols. They have broken many of God's commandments. They have become very immoral. And yet, they still want to believe that they are God's people and that nothing bad will happen to them. But all of their sins are like the rocky ground. They cannot live (run) on these rocks without harming themselves. And God will hold them accountable for putting themselves in this situation.

I know you want to obey God. Read your Bible. Learn all you can. Do not be the like a horse that runs on rocks. And if any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you.