NOVEMBER 23
Ezekiel
45:13-46:24
Ezekiel
45:13-25
As you read
this section and make observations, keep in mind that you are learning
something about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit here. We tend to think that
because we know Jesus, everything is over regarding the plan of salvation, and
that after the time of the church comes one big party. After the Lord returns
to earthy reality, there will be a thousand years of Israel serving God, and
there will be a world trying to grasp worshiping a very visible God. In a way,
it will be just like everyone is always saying they wish it was: God will
visibly be here, ruling; we will know answers right away. Criminals will be
caught immediately; the poor will be fed, etc. And to boot, Satan will be gone.
But is that really what everyone wants? Without accepting the visible Christ by
faith, the sin nature will still be unbroken and people will still be
condemned. Ask any of the chief priests, scribes or Pharisees who persecuted
and condemned Jesus; seeing is not believing.
Knowing God,
all of what is being played out during the Millennium is necessary. Some of
these sacrifices might seem crazy to us, especially to those with western
sensitivities, but they will be visual aids and memorial reminders of what
Jesus did for the human race. It will be so easy for everyone to love and
revere Jesus, right?
Vs. 13-17
Notice that David will provide the offerings and notice too that the Sabbath
will still be practiced in Israel.
Vs. 18-20 This
is the Passover and notice that the blood is put on the doorposts of the
temple. It seems that this will be the only place where blood will be used on
doorposts. In other words, this will be a symbolic sacrificing of the Passover
lamb for the entire nation, showing that Jesus is the Lamb of God.
Vs. 21-25 Notice
that the Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of Tabernacles are
mentioned as required. These will be celebration feasts and are all very visual
reminders of spiritual truth. What is missing from this list is the Day of
Atonement with the scapegoat. That won’t be required because atonement has
already been accomplished.
Ezekiel 46
Vs. 1-12 A
couple of things stand out to me here. First, at least in Israel, the Sabbath
will be kept. Second, the prince, who we know is David, will be leading part of
the worship. The fact that David will be leading worship is a very fitting
thing. No other king was so passionate about being in the temple and singing to
the Lord, than David. It is also interesting that David could enter the east
gate of the inner court, but he couldn't go into the inner court. He remained
in the east gate and left that way. Reading this description of him going in
and out before the people, I wrote a note in the margin of my Bible that he was
leading the people like a shepherd, going in and out before the sheep.
Vs. 13-15 In
Israel under the law there were morning and evening offerings like this. Here
it will only be in the morning. Again, it will be a memorial reminder to the
world (actually, it had always been a reminder) for people to get their hearts
right with God every day. The morning is a good time to do this.
Vs. 16-18 The
part here about the prince and his sons is confusing. So far, the prince has
been identified as the resurrected David. I don’t think he’ll have any more
kids. But there will be rulers under him who probably will be identified as
princes. If so, this would apply to those who are in leadership with David,
ruling the peoples. I think this will only apply to the thousand years of this
time on earth.
One interesting
note here: In Isaiah 55 it says of David, Behold,
I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples.
The next verse talks about foreign nations. David never really ruled any other
nations, but apparently in the Millennial Kingdom, he will be a leader and
commander for them.
Vs. 19-24 The
outer court will be so big, with so many kitchens, that people will meet and
eat right in the temple area. I guess this will be like a millennial food
court. It is interesting to me that God is not a vegetarian and that those who
are involved in these sacrifices are required to partake of them. I suppose
this symbolizes that after forgiveness, there is blessing and bounty.
1 Peter
1:13-2:10
1 Peter 1:13-25
Peter is
encouraging these people to remain strong and close to the Lord in hardship.
Knowing this, you should be able to think your way down through these verses
and find principles for strengthening yourself in trials.
V. 13 There is
a lot in this verse. What do you see? Do you sense the tense atmosphere of
being under stress? Just the thought of being ready for action protects us from being passive and defeated.
Vs. 14-16 The
emphasis here isn’t just being holy (set apart). The real point here seems to
be living fully alert, obedient and God-honoring in our conduct at all times,
particularly in hard times.
Vs. 17-21 This
has to do with having a Father to call on during this time of exile, knowing we
have a future inheritance. This sounds pretty strengthening and encouraging,
particularly for people going through hard times. Do you think it encouraged
them to know they were exiles and that this place isn’t home? Does it encourage
you?
Vs. 22-25 It
seems like the Word is the point in this section, being mentioned twice in the
last verse. Verse 22 looks like the effect the truth in the Word has on us.
Verse 23 reminds me of the parable of the sower. The sower sows the word. (Mark 4:14) How does this aid a disciple
going through trials?
Vs. 24-25 See
Isaiah 40:6-8.
Isn't it
interesting that we are also reading Psalm 119 where David is constantly
strengthening himself in the Word?
1 Peter 2:1-10
Vs. 1-3 I think
this is still connected to talking about the Word. This is one of the only ways
we are to remain like babies. We are to be constantly desiring and needing the
Word. This is not only a good thing; it is a vital thing. Notice too that it is
a command to long for the Word. That takes cultivation. It is not automatic.
You hear people say that they "love" reading the Bible, but do they
need it so badly and long for it so deeply that even when they don't
"love" reading the Bible, they are still irresistibly drawn to it?
That’s why we’re doing this together.
Vs. 4-8 After
being grounded in the Word, we grow into Christ as a spiritual house. We are reading about the temple in Ezekiel.
Here the temple is figurative, but even more fantastic. We are built into
Christ. It is the Word through the Spirit that matures us in our Lord.
V. 9 is one of
the shortest and clearest declarations of our blessing and joy in salvation and
our mission on this planet. We are a priesthood. How? Notice the privilege that
is being spoken of here. Can you see how this is connected to the harvest and
our mission following Christ? Isn’t it amazing how Peter is encouraging these
people, in their trials of faith, to keep following Christ? This is what we are
supposed to do for others as we make disciples, who make disciples, who make
disciples. Through the Word, Peter was obeying Jesus' command to him to feed
the lambs, tend the sheep and feed the sheep. (John 21:16-17)
V. 10 And we
should never forget this.
You have to
admit that Peter had a knack for encouragement. Everything Peter is saying is
focusing these people on Christ. Following Christ in the harvest is all about
our salvation and our Savior. We have an amazing privilege and task before us
on this earth. It is interesting to me that the two apostles, Peter and Paul,
who are shown in Acts as having the largest ministries of reaching people, are
also the two who fell the deepest and were later restored. Peter denied Jesus,
and Paul persecuted and killed Jesus' disciples.
Psalm
119:33-48
Notice the
different words David uses to refer to the Word.
Vs. 33-40
Notice in the first six verses how David asks God to make the Word known to
him. Verse 40 shows that if you are passionate about something, you keep asking
and God keeps answering.
Vs. 41-48
Notice how vs. 41-42 hang together. If you only had v. 41, that would be great;
but v. 42 gives you the context and lets you see how the Word strengthened
David in his trials. In this section it is God's steadfast love that holds David's heart so that he can be strong to
follow and be a witness to others.
Notice the
mentions of bearing witness, distress, seeking and worship. David understood as
a shepherd, that the Word was to be spoken of to help and guide others. We saw
in Ezekiel 34:23 that David's future role in Israel will be as a witness and
leader to his people and the nations, going in and out before them, worshipping
God. The Word is what God used to make David this kind of shepherd.
Proverbs
28:11
Comfort and
money make you seem wise, but the better perspective comes from being needy and
dependent on God. Blessed are those who hunger now. (Luke 6:21)
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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