Ezekiel 31-32
These are the final two chapters focused on the punishment to Egypt. We need to ask ourselves why God was so upset with Egypt. If anything, it seems they were trying to help Israel. We have four chapters of judgment directed to them. In reality, Egypt encouraged Israel to rebel against God. They promised a false hope and they used Israel as a pawn against Nebuchadnezzar, trying to occupy his strength and distract him. Jerusalem was off the beaten track, in the hills.
For all of these reasons, Egypt deserved to be punished. It was because they encouraged the rebellion of Jerusalem and Judah to the words of the prophets.
Ezekiel 31
The point of this entire chapter is that if God punished Assyria for its dealings with Israel, He will certainly punish Egypt.
V. 1 June 21, 587 B.C.
Vs. 2-17 The example of Assyria. Kings and their kingdoms were often likened to great trees. In Daniel 4, Nebuchadnezzar will also hear this illustration used for him.
V. 18 And this will happen to Pharaoh too.
Ezekiel 32
V. 1 March 3, 585 B.C.
Vs. 2-16 The lamentation over Egypt.
V. 17 March 17, 585 B.C.
V. 18-32 Pharaoh will have some famous company in Hades.
As disciples, we need to learn the entire counsel of God. It is great to share redemption and the love of Christ, but when God says so much about judgment for the rebellious, how can we ignore that? We need to present God as He is, not as we would like to dress Him to be acceptable to a fallen world.
Hebrews 12:14-29
Vs. 14-17 Notice that there is a warning here to avoid three things. Giving up on following Christ and shipwrecking your faith causes damage. This is not talking about loss of salvation, but the loss of blessing and protection (all found in growing close to Christ) that enduring in faith and following Him on earth brings.
Vs. 18-24 Notice the contrast between vs. 18-21 and vs. 22-24. In 22-24, notice again that Jesus is the true focus.
Vs. 25-29 This has come full circle to Hebrews 1:2. God has spoken through His Son. But notice that it is the Christians who are supposed to give heed to this. This is for us.
V. 29 This could be looked at as a warning. Or it could be looked as saying that God consumes what is offered to Him. Depending on our relationship to God, being consumed by Him and His love might not be a bad thing. To hold ourselves back when we are called by the glory of His love and mercy, by His Son, to present ourselves as living sacrifices, is to miss what full faith and abandonment to His love would give us. Jesus says in John 14:21-23 that what we truly gain is Him. It's time for disciples to step into the fire and be consumed.
This song is really good, but depending on how much you get into it, you might only want to listen to 3-4 minutes of it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCXh70eHSw4
Psalms 113-114
Psalm 113
If you want to see something interesting, compare this psalm to Mary's prayer in Luke 1:46-55. Mary would not have been taught in the synagogues but she might have known the songs. Also, as Mary declared this, she was standing before Elizabeth who was "well advanced in years," who had been barren, but was now suddenly pregnant too.
Psalm 114
This certainly is referring to God providing water for Israel in the wilderness. If He could do that, He can certainly meet all of our needs. He is worthy of our faith, our confidence and our waiting with patience. If you think about it, it is really the same thing the writer of Hebrews is saying, only he uses the Lord as the reason we should have absolute faith in God. If you want an interesting connection, look at 1 Cor. 10:4. That rock had a name.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz3ytxnSpvs
Proverbs 27:18-20
If verse 18 was linked to verse 17, that sharpening process would have to do with diligence and loyalty.
Verses 19-20 look like they hang together well. One having to do with the heart and the other having to do with the eyes, which really are regulated by the heart. Jesus said a lot about the heart, and something we as disciples need to attend to. We need to be cultivating our own hearts and be conscious when we are having heart problems.
If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”
I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.
I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it. Send comment or feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.
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