NOVEMBER 2
Ezekiel
3:16-6:14
Keep finding
words to circle or underline.
Ezekiel 3:16-27
Vs. 16-21 God has
commissioned Ezekiel and is now laying out his responsibility and charge. This
is a very serious and vivid image. I'm thankful that our motivation in the
harvest is the grace and love that we have found in Christ. Still, we can
identify with this responsibility to warn others.
Vs. 22-27 It is
interesting that God gave Ezekiel this news as He showed him His glory. Think
over what God just told him. God was going to bind him at home so he couldn't
go out (paralysis?) and make Ezekiel unable to speak. Only as God gave him an
assignment or gave him a word would Ezekiel be able to go out and be able to
speak. This would be for about seven years of his life and marriage, until he
received news of the fall of Jerusalem. It was nice that he had seen the glory
of God first.
This would be a
sign to the people and it would protect Ezekiel. Normally he would be fully
harmless, totally "bound" (whatever that meant) and absolutely
speechless. Why hurt a guy like that? I can't imagine this was any fun for his
wife, but I have a feeling God gave them some grace in this. Maybe when no one
was looking, God let Ezekiel do the dishes.
Ezekiel 4
This
"sign" is fairly self-explanatory in its details. This had to have
been very public and visual. God probably allowed Ezekiel to go to a public
place like a market and do this.
Vs. 1-3 This
was not happening yet in Israel for about another three years, but Ezekiel
would enact the future siege of Jerusalem.
Vs. 4-8 No one
is completely sure what the significance of those days (years) is, especially
for how they apply to Judah. Judah went on about 100 years longer than the
northern kingdom. What is interesting is that once Ezekiel got himself set up
on one side or the other, God paralyzed him again so that he couldn't move.
Vs. 9-17 This
would show the people how desperate times would be in the city. God gave
Ezekiel some grace here, because human waste wasn't an acceptable way for
anyone, especially a priest, to cook his food. Yet, in the desperation of the
siege of Jerusalem, this is how things would be.
Summing this
up: The madman who lived in that house over there, who couldn't move or speak,
would come out every day, go into the busy market square with a big building
stone that said "Jerusalem" on it. Then he would make it look like a
city in siege. He would then lie on his side the whole day, paralyzed. Then he
would suddenly move and would make bread over cow pies. Then he would get up,
take the brick and go home, and do it all over again the next day. He did it
for 430 days, for over a year. The elders would go to him and ask what this
meant; and once or twice suddenly, he spoke and told them. Now the word has
spread around and everyone comes to the market to see the crazy prophet.
The people
hoped that Jerusalem would survive, but God was telling them it wouldn't.
Ezekiel 5
Vs. 1-4
Remember that Ezekiel had to have done this publicly if it was to have had any
impact. Imagine a guy in the mall suddenly pulling out a sword and shaving his
head and then doing the rest of this. It would be memorable to say the least.
I'm sure people
laughed for a while, but as we'll see, eventually they began to take Ezekiel
very seriously.
Vs. 5-17 This
is a public declaration from the Lord. Again, look for stuff to underline. God
really wanted them to know that He is the Lord. Notice here how often the Lord
says, nations all around you.
V. 11 It isn't
clear to us yet how the sanctuary of the Lord's temple was defiled, but that is
coming up. God will take Ezekiel on a field trip.
Ezekiel 6
Vs. 1-7 I think
this, too, was a public declaration. Somewhere in the market square or in the
official part of the city, Ezekiel took a stand and announced that he was
facing (or maybe seeing) the mountains of Israel; and when he had their
attention, the Lord let loose. The land was full of idols and the worship of
these was most often sick and sexual. Notice how this section ends.
Vs. 8-10
Somehow in their exile, the people who live on will finally acknowledge that
their punishment is the result of their whoring
heart. Notice how this section ends.
Vs. 11-14 Those
who are left in Jerusalem apparently were the worst of the worst. God promised
to punish those who remained and those who ran. We saw this in Jeremiah, when
the remnant there fled to Egypt and took Jeremiah hostage with them. God led
Nebuchadnezzar to Egypt to find them. Interestingly, that event hasn't happened
yet at this point in time. Notice how this section ends.
Guess what the
important recurring phrase in this chapter is?
Hebrews
4
This chapter is
just full of stuff. The one question you need to find some clarity in is
"what is this rest?"
In the OT the rest had to do with entering the land,
not specifically being saved. As mentioned, the disobedience of the people,
including Moses, kept them from entering the rest that God had prepared for them.
In the land, as
God's covenant people, God promised to care for them completely. They needed to
work, but there was peace and security promised to them. They were to enjoy the
Sabbath without fear or worry, but they didn't obey and hold the Sabbath. They
were to give the land a Sabbath rest and rest themselves as God provided, but
they didn't. They were to attend all of the feasts in Jerusalem, leaving their
lands unprotected, because God would care for them; but they didn't. In the
land they were to have had rest in God, perfect peace and security of heart;
but it was dependent on faith and resting in His care and promises.
The situation
with the people being addressed in this letter was such that they were being
persecuted and they were afraid. They may have thought, "Wouldn't it be
better to give in and conform to the pressure and go back to the practice of
the law?" To do that would have been to turn their backs on the grace of
God, the work of Christ and the promise of God to care for them. They would
have been seeking rest by their own hand, seeking peace by compromise and
becoming slaves to the law. It doesn't mean they would become "unsaved,"
but it would keep them from experiencing God's rest as promised in Christ.
Jesus promised a rest that was more than salvation.
Vs. 1-3 We have
entered into that rest through faith, just like the people who went over the
Jordan entered into the land; yet, to experience that rest would be a matter of
living by faith.
Vs. 4-10 Joshua
wasn't able to give these people rest. Moses couldn't either. Entering the land
didn't give them rest. The law didn't give them rest because the law reveals
sin in people. The people did religious stuff trying to get good with God, but
works don't work. Only faith in God works and brings rest.
V. 11 Notice
that this is applied to the believing and the writer includes himself, Let us… Entering that rest seems to
imply striving to live by faith and continue in grace.
Vs. 12-13 The
Word shows us whether we are living in the flesh (soul) or by the Spirit. It
shows us if our faith is resting in us or in Him. It shows us where our
devotion is focused.
Vs. 14-16
Again, Jesus becomes the object of our rest. Notice v. 16, Let us…draw near. And what do we find when we draw near:
confidence, mercy and help. Maybe another way to say that is, we find rest.
Much of what
the Lord said to His disciples to train them had to do with rest, borne out of
faith and complete dependence on Him. Everything we read that seems so other
worldly like turning the other cheek, not resisting a lawsuit, not being
anxious about food or clothing, loving enemies, etc., implies that we know how
to completely rest in Him, even in tribulation. Think that one through, resting
in tribulation. When Jesus sent out the Twelve and then the 70, they were to
take nothing with them. They were to work, for sure, yet they had no money or
food and everything was unsure. And, they faced threat and animosity, but they
were to rest in Him. They entered into His rest by trusting His grace and love
and power.
There are many
believers who are not in the harvest, who live by their own hand and effort,
according to their desires and perceived needs. They know little about faith;
they've forgotten what grace really means, and they do not live in His rest.
They've missed it. Being comfortable does not mean you've entered His rest. If
we can only be at rest when there is peace and comfort, that is not the rest of
God that we have in following Jesus in the harvest as His disciples. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives
do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27)
Psalm 104:24-35
This is the
second half of what we read yesterday.
Vs. 24-26 God's
majesty and grandeur are seen in His wisdom. Who could possibly have had the
power and wisdom to make and imagine all that lives in the oceans?
Vs. 27-30 And
no matter how mighty or how small any of these creations are, they are all
dependent on God to sustain them.
Vs. 31-35 The
glory and awesome power of the Lord should lead to thanks and meditation. Verse
35 seems to indicate that not to acknowledge God for all He has done will get some
people in trouble. He deserves to be praised, known and worshipped. Not to
acknowledge God by getting to know Him through our Lord is to say to Him that
we don't want to go to the next place He makes. Only those who know Him get to
live there.
Reading this
after reading Hebrews makes me think of God's care and that we can rest in Him.
We need to have our hearts and minds renewed in Jesus.
Proverbs 26:27
That should be
something to calm God's people, remembering of course that God doesn't always
pay on Friday. (He doesn't always repay the wicked immediately.) Jesus and Paul
say that disciples should rest when mistreated, and show the love of Christ,
overcoming evil with good.
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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