November 13, 2012 Reading Notes

November 13, 2012 Reading Notes

Today's Reading in the ESV One-Year Bible

Ezekiel 27-28

In Ezekiel, we are in some very spooky territory. God is pronouncing judgment on the surrounding "minor" neighbors that encouraged Israel to join their alliance against Babylon, who now would rejoice in the destruction of Jerusalem. Tyre, one of these minor nations, was minor in size, but major in world influence. In chapter 28 when God describes the pride and influence of Tyre, the description takes on very cosmic proportions.

Ezekiel 27

Vs. 1-2 If only it was always this easy to understand the point of a chapter. A lament is a funeral song. This destruction was years off, but 100% certain.

Vs. 3-9 This is likening Tyre to a ship skillfully built by the nations. The fact that Tyre was the focus of so many nations is interesting. The nation that is destroyed in Revelation 19 will look like this too. Because of what is written here and in Revelation, that kind of nation takes on eerie significance in spiritual/world affairs.

Vs. 10-11 So valuable was Tyre that other nations provided military support.

Vs. 12-25 Besides the other things you can observe here, underline the nations and peoples who came to Tyre.

Vs. 26-36 This is the lament of the nations because of the ruin of Tyre. The hissing in verse 36 is still in lament for Tyre, not some sort of righteous indignation. The nations are aghast that this has happened. Notice that the sadness of the nations here is very similar to how the nations react in Rev. 19:11-19, to the destruction of that nation called "Babylon." There is clearly something going on here regarding world influence and world corruption that ties these two events and nations together. You might also notice that for a small nation, God is giving it three chapters of judgment.

I often wonder what nation in the world, during the tribulation, will have so much influence in the world in commerce and culture and influence and corruption, that when it is destroyed "in an hour," all the nations will weep because of the "stuff" they will lose. Sometimes I think it could be the ol' US of A. That nation in Revelation will go up in fire in an hour.

Ezekiel 28

Vs. 1-10 This is directed against the human prince of Tyre. Notice how often this man is mentioned in thinking he is a "god" because of his influence and wealth. We'll see where he is getting this and whom he is imitating. Just for trivia, look at what happens in Acts 12:20-23.

Vs. 11-19 This is a description of the one who really ruled Tyre. Notice now it is not the prince of Tyre, but the king of Tyre who is being addressed. In Daniel 10, we'll see that there are angelic "guardians" that are over nations. Now that mankind has fallen, it appears that their "guardianship" has become more control-oriented and that they have been given more authority than would have been the case if mankind had stayed true to God. In Galatians Paul shows that if the heir is unfit, the guardian assumes authority over the heir. That would be the case regarding mankind, that is, until one man stood up and lived a sinless life, shed his blood for mankind and defeated death. The lead angel in this order, the guardian cherub, is fallen and we know him as Satan. In Isaiah 14:12-14 it appears that Satan didn't like the idea of serving mankind, particularly because he himself was so beautiful, so he found a way to rule over mankind by corrupting mankind and now receives worship himself.

Vs. 20-23 Sidon is always associated with Tyre and receives the next word of coming judgment.

Vs. 24-26 Yet, at the coming of Christ to establish His kingdom on earth, Israel will be reestablished and secure. Even in all of this, the purpose is that all the nations will know that the Lord is God.

Yesterday we read in Psalm 110 that Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God. Jesus is now the new ruler of this world and the old one has been judged. It would seem that nothing has changed except for this new nation on earth that doesn't have a land or a common language, that is running around reaching the lost and making disciples who make disciples. In this time before God redeems Israel, we are following our Lord on earth. Our very existence means that Jesus is coming to set everything in order. When the full number of the Gentiles is in (Romans 11:25), then the last week for Israel begins. In the tribulation Israel will suffer but will defeat Satan by testifying to a dying world. Then the king will come and reign. The guardian cherub will receive his eternal punishment, and mankind will be fully redeemed. Then we can get on with what we were created for, to live with the Lord forever.

Hebrews 11:17-31

Now, in this section of the "hall of faith," the trick is really to understand what is being said about this faith. We are covering hundreds of years of people living and suffering on this dusty planet. Notice that there was sacrifice, suffering and danger involved in almost all of this. This "faith in difficulty" is some of what the writer is trying to make clear to his weak and wobbly readers. Underline the names. When it says, "by faith Moses," notice that one of those is not Moses.

Vs. 17-22 This is the promise to Abraham and how it was maintained by faith in Abraham's family. It wasn't pretty, but they still held on to the promise.

Vs. 23-28 This is Moses paying a price to live for the promise by faith. Faith costs something and requires courage.

Vs. 29-31 The people showed faith by walking through the Red Sea. Even greater, in a way, was Rahab's faith forty years later; because she fully believed in the truth of that event and the God who did it. It was that faith that not only saved Rahab, but put her in the lineage of Jesus.

Following Jesus in the harvest is by faith, and in order to serve Him and receive His promises, it means turning our backs on a lot of things just as these people did. To serve Christ without having to turn our backs on little or nothing might just be the way the enemy is fooling us and placating us with a comfortable Christianity. The harvest is dirty and the work is hard. Real faith gets the job done, but it is not easy.

Psalm 111

This is a great song and psalm. For your information, there are three words, repeated five times each (one without an "s") and when you put them together, they make a great little title for this psalm: The _____ ______ ______! Or you could add a word here or there to make a smoother title like: Praise the ________ of the ________ _______!

Vs. 1-3 What a great declaration of God's greatness.

Vs. 4-9 This is what He has done and why He deserves such praise.

V. 10 We've read this in proverbs 1:7, 4:7 and 9:10, and it is just as true for us today. Fearing and revering the Lord for His awesome power and wisdom gives us wisdom.

Have fun.

Working off of the word "forever," I was thinking of giving a link to Chris Tomlin's "His Love Endures Forever." But when I thought of all the things of the Lord that will endure forever, I thought of the love of those whom He has, and is, saving. His love toward us is forever, and so is/and will be, our love for Him. That's another thing He's done. He's awakened a love within us that will burn forever.

Forever, Hillsong

Proverbs 27:15-16

It is hard to find any order to these thoughts if you only go one or two verses at a time. I would suggest that this is a block from verses 11 to 16, and that verses 11-12 hold the leading thought. Verses 13-16 show things that a person suffers, if he is not prudent from the beginning in entering into relationships.

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.esvbible.org/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 comments or feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.