NOVEMBER
7
Ezekiel
16:43-17:24
It is hard for
us to imagine what it was like for the exiles living in Babylon, receiving news
from Jerusalem, watching world events and hoping Babylon would be defeated.
They hoped that Jerusalem would survive and that they could return to Israel.
But there were these disturbing men. A Jew named Daniel was chief advisor to
Nebuchadnezzar. He was obviously a traitor, as were the other three Jews who
were responsible for the showcase province of Babylon. They were all working
for the enemy. Then there was this awful prophet back in Jerusalem, Jeremiah,
who was really, really negative. But worst of all, living among them, there was
this very spooky prophet who couldn't speak, or move from his house. However,
when he did speak and when he did move, there was a dark sense of awe and power
in what he said that confirmed that God would judge Jerusalem and its people
for their sin.
Ezekiel
16:43-63
Vs. 43-52 The
Spirit changes the analogy slightly, from a whore to a family of whores.
V. 43 Notice
how important it was for Israel to have remembered God's selection of Abraham
and the covenant God made with him. God chose Abe and from him, God made Israel
into a nation. Their salvation and deliverance from Egypt was to have been
remembered and celebrated. That was to have always confirmed God's love and
given them a heart of gratefulness to follow in faith. That is exactly the same
for us.
V. 45 I don't
think this is describing the origin of the people of Israel. Here are two
possibilities. First, the mother and father could be talking about the DNA of
their abominations and idolatries. Second, the mother and father could be
talking about those who originally built Jerusalem. I think this is more likely
since a focus of God's judgment is on the city itself. The Jebusites who were
in Jerusalem, when Joshua came into the land, were probably descended from the
Hittites and the Amorites. Notice that as this analogy goes on, other cities,
Samaria and Sodom, are referred to. So, it would make sense that the mother and
father of Jerusalem were Hittites and Amorites. The sickness of Canaan came
from these people and God judged it through Israel, but Israel adopted their
worship and became infected by their ways.
V. 52 This is
shocking just reading it; and for Ezekiel's audience, it would have been a cause
for them to want to kill the prophet, except that the supernatural sense around
Ezekiel made them realize the words were from God. When God took Ezekiel back
to Jerusalem and he viewed all of the idolatry, we saw how corrupt the city
was. Add to this the fact that God had had His presence there. That made their
sin that much graver and inexcusable. I was reading this morning as Jesus sent
out the seventy, For if the mighty works
done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago
in sackcloth and ashes. (Matt. 11:21) Sodom is mentioned in this too.
Jerusalem, of all places on earth, had no excuse for this behavior. Israel of
all people had no excuse for this depth of sin and faithlessness.
Vs. 53-58 What
ought to stand out here is the millennial blessing promised to both Samaria and
Sodom. That really surprises me.
Vs. 59-63 Even
in punishment, God promises to remember His covenant with Abraham and make a
new covenant with Israel. God will restore Israel at the close of the age.
Notice v. 60. When the kingdom comes and all three cities are restored,
Jerusalem (the Jews) will then become a "mother" to these
"daughters." I guess this means that Israel will be a source of
spiritual connection and help for them.
V. 62 There's
that promise again.
V. 63 And here
is a final rebuke for Israel.
Ezekiel 17
This parable
was probably a response to rumors being heard from Jerusalem that Egypt would
rise to save them. This prophecy was given before Zedekiah actually joined up
with Egypt and rebelled against Babylon.
Vs. 1-6 This
eagle was Nebuchadnezzar, whom God sent to take Jehoiachin to Babylon, and then
Neb took some of the "seed" and planted it there in Babylon next to
the rivers. Ezekiel's audience was this seed. About 12,000 craftsmen and
businessmen were taken in that deportation.
In all of this,
Nebuchadnezzar did not destroy Jerusalem but left there a "seed" of
David, Zedekiah. I think this act of mercy was because of the influence of
Daniel and because of what God had done in Nebuchadnezzar's life. Everything
was OK.
Vs. 7-8 This is
the offer of Egypt. Verse 8 says that they had already been planted and made
secure.
Vs. 9-10 But
Zedekiah was now being enticed to make a treaty with Egypt. By rebelling
against God and Nebuchadnezzar, both Jerusalem and Egypt would be punished by
God.
Vs. 11-15 This
is an explanation of what happened.
Vs. 16-21 This
is what God vows to do about it. Note v. 21.
Vs. 22-24 This
is God restoring Israel in Zion with His Son, the Son of David, the Messiah.
These people
were being punished because of their disobedience, and now, they still wouldn't
obey God and accept the changes He had made in their nation and in their lives.
Even as disciples following in the harvest, it is hard to accept changes that
don't meet our desires or expectations. Yet, if our only goal on the planet is
to live for Christ in the harvest, reaching the lost and making disciples, who
make disciples, that simplifies life for us. Not only that, abiding in Christ
means we see and expect His hand to lead us. Regardless of where He leads us,
there we are with Him. This morning I was reading in Philippians and in Romans,
and what struck me was that Paul expected harvest wherever he went. Actually,
Paul even bore fruit in prison. As Jesus said in John 4, the fields are always
white for harvest.
Hebrews
8
Vs. 1-2 The
writer is summarizing, saying that we have the best priest and that He is sitting
in the right place. Just as trivia, remember that it is not only important that
Jesus is God, but it is especially important that He is a man sitting at the
right hand of God. He is the human who can reclaim humanity and lead mankind to
righteousness before God. He has authority over mankind and has disarmed and
judged the spiritual authorities that have been "lording it over"
sinful mankind.
Vs. 3-5 This is
showing that Jesus is not a priest of the old covenant. Not only that, it shows
that the temple and temple service were still going on, indicating that this
was written before 70 A.D.
For trivia: The
Romans destroyed the temple in 70 A.D. Both Paul and Peter died in Rome in
Nero's persecution in 67 A.D. The apostle John survived and wrote his Gospel,
his letters, and Revelation around 90 A.D., twenty years after the temple was
gone.
Vs. 6-13 In
showing that the first covenant was incomplete and passing, he quotes Jeremiah
31:31-34. We just read that. Laura found it interesting that in today's reading
of Ezekiel we heard about the covenants, both old and new.
The new
covenant goes back to the Abrahamic covenant encompassing the plan of God to
bless all nations and therefore, to redeem all mankind. The new covenant, as
expressed in Jeremiah and throughout the OT, has both spiritual and physical
promises. The church does not inherit the physical promises of a land, or being
regathered to Jerusalem and having a king/Messiah reign in Jerusalem. Those
physical promises are for Israel. The church does inherit the spiritual promise
of salvation, spiritual rebirth and the Holy Spirit. The church becomes the Bride
of Christ. The point here for the people receiving this letter is that the old
covenant, and therefore the following of the law, was not a place for them to
return for peace and safety.
Vs. 10-11 I
think the Jews understood this promise as being connected with the Holy Spirit
and the kingdom. In Peter's Pentecost message in Acts 2, he mentioned the
promise of the Holy Spirit. Also, when Jesus promised the Holy Spirit in Acts
1:5, it prompted the disciples to ask about the kingdom in v. 6. They
associated the Holy Spirit with the restoration of Israel.
Psalm
106:13-31
We still have
one more day in Psalm 106. You have to read ahead if you want to get the full
point of all of this. The writer is showing how unbelieving and hard-hearted
the people were. Yet, God still showed them mercy.
As an aside, it
looks like Paul knew this psalm pretty well. Some of what he says in Romans and
in 1 Corinthians 10 sounds like this section today.
Vs. 13-15 This
is Numbers 11:20.
Vs. 16-18 It is
incredible to think that the people openly rebelled in the presence of the
cloud and the pillar of fire. God Himself was present with them. What were they
thinking?
Vs. 19-23 Here
is Moses interceding for the people after their incredible act of disobedience.
Verse 20 sounds like Romans 1:23.
Vs. 24-27 This
is the rebellion at Kadesh-barnea that launched the people into 38 years of
wandering in the wilderness. (Num. 13-14)
Vs. 28-31 This
happened at the end of the entire 40 years of wandering. (Num. 25)
The men
mentioned in vs. 23 and 30 give me the feeling that the psalmist and the Spirit
were encouraging people to stand in the gap for the people as they prayed for
God to bless the remnant. As disciples in the harvest, regardless of how the
Lord is using us, by following the Lord and seeking to reach the lost and make disciples,
who make disciples, we are standing in the gap for our generation.
Proverbs
27:7-9
V. 7 There is a
healthy hunger in life and I think we are to have it in the harvest. Jesus
promised that those who chose to be hungry would be satisfied. If our hunger is
because of the mission and the desperate need on this planet, the Lord himself
sweetens all that is bitter. What a difference this makes from one person to
another.
V. 8 If a
person came from a nurturing home, but rejected what he gained there, we would
think he had made a mistake. Think too of the people in Hebrews. They found a
home in Christ, but now they are in danger of drifting from that home.
V. 9 To
understand this, think of someone who has strengthened you. Anyone can show us
what is wrong, but it takes a friend to add strength to counsel. Wait on the Lord, be strong and let your
heart take courage. (Ps. 27:14) Ultimately, with the Spirit, this is why
the Word and prayer are so important. Our hope and greatest resource have to be
fully in the Lord.
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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