NOVEMBER 24
This is a day
to celebrate. Today is our last day in Ezekiel. For some people, this might be
the first time you’ve read this book, and already, you might have a better
grasp of what God is saying and doing through Ezekiel than many people who have
been believers for years. Just think how much better you will understand the
Lord and this book when you read it next year. Tomorrow we begin Daniel and
you’ll enjoy it.
The point for
us as disciples isn’t to know the book better than others. Our desire is to
learn more about the heart of God, to know Him. He loves His people Israel, and
He will faithfully guide every one of His promises to fulfillment. You learn how
wise and loving and just He is. And then, some of what we are reading describes
God doing great things that are still future, that are beyond our understanding
of Him. These chapters today are my favorite chapters in Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 47-48
Ezekiel 47
Vs. 1-12 There
is a lot to observe here, but I’ll just make some general comments.
This is a
literal river. The fact that it mentions fishing on the Dead Sea shows this is
a real thing. This river is also described in Zechariah 14:8, so we’ll see it
again. The river will divide and flow east and west, but here, we’re only
following it to the east. The entire ten-mile distance from Jerusalem to the
Dead Sea will have trees lining both sides. At that point in world history,
there will be a lot of hurt people all over the globe who will need healing. I
don’t know how those leaves will heal, but I imagine the British will turn them
into a “cuppa.” The leaves and the fruit will never run out, bearing new fruit
every month. I’ve got to think the water will be pretty refreshing too. Just
think of everything Jesus said about living water, and look at the first verses
of Isaiah 55.
These people
will witness and experience what Jesus said would be true of us when we are
saved and have the Spirit within us. These will be living waters. So, knowing
what the waters and trees are capable of, how do you make a figurative
connection to what the Spirit is supposed to do within us, creating streams of
living water? It’s something interesting to think about. Is it for us personally
only, or is it really for the harvest? The effect of the new life in us, as we
follow Christ into dead and sick parts of the harvest, brings the water of life
to the dead, see? J
Notice that in
v. 11, the marshes remain salt. I know, practically, Israel will need salt; but
even more than that, it will constantly show what an incredible, on-going
miracle this river is.
This will give
everyone in the world a reason to visit Jerusalem. Zechariah mentions that
Jerusalem will still be elevated, but the rest of Israel will be as flat as a
pancake. That will make hanging out around the river easy.
Vs. 13-20 Just
a couple of notes here. First, notice that to the north, Israel will be above,
and will include modern day Damascus, so Syria will belong to Israel. Then, to
the south, the border will skirt along that very famous place, Kadesh-barnea,
and then will go up the brook that was the border of Egypt. The Nile was not
the border of Egypt, but was more in the middle of Egypt.
Vs. 21-23 These
are the general rules of how the land will be divided.
Ezekiel 48
Vs. 1-29
Generally, the land will be divided in east-west bands from north to south,
each tribe's land extending from the eastern to western border of the land.
It is
interesting that Judah and Benjamin are north and south of the prince’s
portion. That is basically the land that Joshua gave them, but they were both
tribes from which God chose kings.
David will be
the prince or ruler of all of Israel. Each of these tribes will also need
government, and as I suggested yesterday, I think that each of the twelve
apostles will govern or judge these tribes. You
are those who have stayed with me in my trials, and I assign to you, as my
Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my
kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Luke
22:28-30) As to who will govern the cities in Jerusalem and around the world, I
wonder if the parables of the pounds and of the talents tell us anything. And he said to him, ‘Well done, good
servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have
authority over ten cities.’ (Luke 19:17)
Vs. 30-35
Notice that the gates are named after the children of Jacob. On p. 1316 of the BKC-OT,
Charlie Dyer makes some interesting observations about these groupings.
The city will
be called “The Lord is There,” or literally in Hebrew, “Yahwehshammah.” Of
course, the ACLU won’t like that, but Jesus won’t ask them. Everyone will know
where the Lord is.
I wonder what
the feeling was when the people in exile stood up after hearing this vision.
They had this vision in their minds and hearts, but walked back to their houses
in the land of Babylon, laborers in the country that God had just used to
punish them and to destroy Jerusalem and the temple. This had to have been
emotionally confusing, but it should also have given them some hope.
As disciples,
we have a vision like this built into our hearts and minds because of our
salvation. We know this “assignment” is temporary, and that we don’t belong
here. We are here as foreigners and exiles (1 Peter 2:11), following our Lord
in the harvest, living for Him, making disciples and looking forward. But we
don’t look forward to a city or temple. We look forward to meeting our Lord and
being with Him forever.
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation
hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching
us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly,
righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13Looking for that blessed hope,
and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14Who gave himself for us, that
he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar
people, zealous of good works. (Titus
2:11-14 KJV)
1 Peter 2:11-3:7
1 Peter 2:11-25
Vs. 11-12 Don’t
these verses sound like the verse above in Titus? Peter and Paul were on the
same wave-length and connected to the same server, running the same software.
Notice how Peter keeps emphasizing that this world is not our home.
Vs. 13-17
Seriously, this is like a condensed version of Romans 13. The idea of good
deeds here is that believers are evangelistically loving their neighbors, doing
good stuff for them to open doors for the gospel. It is easy to argue with
Christ’s message. It is hard to argue with His love.
Vs. 18-20 This
is pretty clear. If you have to face punishment, let it be because you love
Christ, not because you steal company time, spending too much time in the break
room “witnessing.”
Vs. 21-25 This
is such a great statement. We have been called to suffer in following Christ,
bearing witness as Christ bore witness to His Father. In using the example of
Jesus, behind these words, Peter is referring to Isaiah 53. Read Isaiah 53 and
you’ll see this.
1 Peter 3:1-7
Vs. 1-6 These
instructions are generally for all married women, but particularly for women
facing the trial of an unbelieving husband.
Vs. 1-2 The
Word is to be alive in them.
Vs. 3-4 This is
like what Paul said to Timothy in 1 Timothy 2:8-9.
Vs. 5-6 Sarah
did not think it was demeaning to be subject to Abraham. I think the word frightening here is the idea of a woman
placing herself in God’s hands, both for her future and for the result of
trusting the Lord in obeying these commands. We’re not talking about extreme
situations of abuse here. In my experience as a pastor counseling couples, most
women who resist submission to their husbands don’t fully trust God.
V. 7 This is
just one verse, but it says volumes. A man is to understand his wife and
understand how God has made women. That is what living in an understanding way
means. It is living purposefully and intelligently, putting into practice what
God has revealed as true.
If a man
doesn’t heed this, his prayers will be hindered. It is hypocrisy to come before
God for understanding and grace, when he will not extend that to his wife.
Psalm 119:49-64
As you read
this, look again for all the ways David refers to the Word and all the ways he
was feeling under pressure.
Vs. 49-50
Notice what David is saying here. Isn’t this something God is saying to us all?
Isn’t this the reason we all need to be in the Word every day?
Vs. 51-53
Notice that it was the Word that gave David both the protection from the
wicked, and an answer for the evil in the world.
Vs. 54-56 This
is what made David a man after God’s own heart. And this was happening in
David’s years of trials and running. Most people take a vacation from God when
they are under pressure.
Vs. 57-62 The
Lord was David's portion and he pursued God through the promises of His Word.
What is remarkable is that David pursued God while he himself was being
actively pursued by cruel and unjust people.
Vs. 63 If only
this would always have been true of David.
V. 64 This is
the real song of David, and again, it shows why David was a man after God's own
heart.
Proverbs 28:12-13
V. 12 What is
interesting here is that this principle is true, but as seen in Hebrews and
Peter, during times of wickedness, disciples are not supposed to hide. We may
work under the radar, but we are still working and following our Lord in the
harvest. If we feel the oppression, so do the lost who need a savior, and we
have an answer for them.
V. 13 I was
reading today about Jesus warning His disciples against hypocrisy. And, I was
reading in Isaiah 55, that if the wicked will forsake their way and turn to the
Lord, He will have mercy and compassion upon them.
It is amazing,
although there is so much Scripture and so many authors, if you listen closely,
there really is only one Author, saying the same thing to us in so many
different ways. He loves us and wants us to turn from our sin, turning to Him.
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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