November 8, Reading Notes

Ezekiel 18-19

Ezekiel 18

Vs. 1-4 God does a little housekeeping here. Seen here and in verse 25, the people were actually blaming others and God for their misfortune.

This portion is interesting when you place it next to the Scripture that says God visits the sins of the fathers on the sons down to the fourth generation. With this text in Ezekiel you see the exception. If the generations persist in the sins of the fathers, as they probably will, judgment will follow. But if a person is different or if he repents, God treats that person according to his own behavior.

V. 23 This is why we are left on earth, to proclaim this in the harvest.

Vs. 30-32 What a very "grace-full" and loving declaration.

Ezekiel 19

This is a lament on Judah's kings.

Vs. 1-4 The mother is the nation of Israel. This lion taken by the Egyptians is the son of Josiah, Jehoahaz, whom Pharoah Neco took into captivity.

Vs. 5-9 This is Jehoiachin, whom Nebuchadnezzar took into captivity to Babylon. Jehoiakim is skipped here because he only really deserved the burial of a donkey.

Vs. 10-14 This is Zedekiah. After him, there will be no more kings in the line of David until Jesus. Truly, it was lamentable.

Hebrews 9:1-10

This is building up to verse eleven. In a way, this is not only saying the earthly routines and regulations of Judaism were limited and ineffective, but it is also saying that anything we do today that involves religious routines and regulations are equally as ineffective. With what we'll see regarding the work of Jesus, no routine or liturgy or regulations are required for our spiritual life. We still insist on a liturgy in the West because it makes us feel more spiritual. I doubt that they have much of that in house churches in China. Just meeting at a river for a baptism or meeting with a couple of believers quickly and privately, breaking bread and drinking something together for communion can be very honoring to God and perhaps more meaningful than what happens in most churches on any given Sunday. What is essential to being a disciple in the harvest is following Jesus and making disciples.

Psalm 106:32-48

The point of this long song is found in verses 44-48. In spite of all of that, God still showed them mercy and heard them, therefore they should keep praying, trust Him and praise Him.

Proverbs 27:10

This proverb has to do with friends as opposed to relatives. The idea of not going to your brother's house in the day of your calamity is that, in this case, the brother lives weeks away. Instead, just go to your friend.

By not forsaking your friend and your father's friend, you will have friends who are near you in the day of your calamity.

As long as we're talking about friends, ….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-TLoXBM9ao&feature=related

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.