NOVEMBER 13
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 v. 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 Revelation 18:11-19, 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. Revelation 18:10
says it will be destroyed in a single
hour.
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.
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 he 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. Notice the briers and thorns here and
in Isaiah 55:13.
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. This new nation is 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 Gentiles is in (Rom. 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. Notice that
all of these examples involved resisting others in order to follow God in
faith. The readers of this letter were being encouraged to do the same.
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; the work is hard, and the resistance is real. 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.
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 vs. 11 to 16, and that vs. 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
complete description of this model of being and making disciples you can find
it in my book: Simply Disciples*Making Disciples.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011WJIDQA?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
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.
If you would like
documents containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes. You can download these to use on your computer or to
print.
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