If you don't
have a One Year Bible or prefer something online, this link will take you to
the day's reading, http://oneyearbibleonline.com/daily-oyb/. This
site allows you to select from several languages and several English
translations.
NOVEMBER 15
Ezekiel 31-32
These are the final two chapters focused on the punishment to Egypt. We
need to ask ourselves why God was so upset with Egypt. If anything, it seems
they were trying to help Israel. We have four chapters of judgment directed to
them. In reality, Egypt encouraged Israel to rebel against God. They promised a
false hope and they used Israel as a pawn against Nebuchadnezzar, trying to
occupy his strength and distract him. Jerusalem was off the beaten track, in
the hills. If Neb had to go after Jerusalem, he couldn't trouble himself with
the Egyptians. For all of these reasons, Egypt deserved to be punished. It was
because they encouraged Jerusalem and Judah to disobey the Lord and to scorn
the words of the prophets.
Ezekiel 31
The point of this entire chapter is that if God punished Assyria for
its dealings with Israel, He would certainly punish Egypt.
V. 1 This prophecy was pronounced on 11.3.1. This is two months after
the prophecy in Ezekiel 30:20. On 11.4.9, just a month later, Jerusalem would
fall.
Vs. 2-14 The example of Assyria. Kings and their kingdoms were often
likened to great trees, and the kings of trees were the cedars of Lebanon. In
Daniel 4, Nebuchadnezzar will also hear this illustration used for him.
V. 14 This is the reason God did this. It kind of goes along the lines
of Matthew 23:12, Whoever exalts himself
will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Vs. 15-17 Many smaller nations looked to the larger, stronger nations
for support and help. When Egypt would fall, many nations would mourn and be
shaken.
V. 18 And this will happen to Pharaoh too.
Ezekiel 32
There are a lot of repeated phrases. Enjoy.
V. 1 This is now about a year and a half after Jerusalem fell. This
chapter is out of chronological order because it is dealing with the judgment
on Egypt. Actually, chapter 33 takes place two months before this. By now the
exiles knew that Jerusalem had fallen. As this was written, Nebuchadnezzar was
setting up Gedaliah as governor of Israel (2 Kings 25:24). Soon Gedaliah would
be assassinated, and the remnant of the survivors would kidnap Jeremiah and
head south to Egypt where they would be safe. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised
if this prophecy coincided with either the remnant marching south with
Jeremiah, or with Jeremiah burying the stone before the palace.
Vs. 2-8 This is a very poetic and cosmic pronouncement of destruction
on Egypt. Apparently Egypt had a pretty high opinion of itself. It is as if a
mythical god were dying.
Vs. 9-10 Again, all the nations would mourn as they watched this.
Vs. 11-15 And God will use Nebuchadnezzar as His tool. It is
interesting how God uses the arrogance of men to accomplish His purposes. In
Neb's mind he was simply doing what he wanted to do and being successful at it
because he was such a super-awesome dude. Unknown to him, he'd soon be back in
Babylon eating hay.
Vs. 16-32 This is the lamentation, or funeral chant, that was given to
Ezekiel two weeks later. Pharaoh will have some famous company in Hades. What a
poetic consolation prize, but alas, there is no party in hell, only punishment.
What is interesting is that soon after this, God personally would humble Nebuchadnezzar.
While Neb was grazing, God would teach him to respect the Lord and thereby save
Nebuchadnezzar the fate of Pharaoh. It sounds weird to say, but it is possible
that Neb and Darius the Mede were saved.
As disciples, we need to learn the entire counsel of God. It is great
to share redemption and the love of Christ, but when God says so much about
judgment for the rebellious, how can we ignore that? We need to present God as
He is, not as we would like to dress Him, to be more acceptable to a fallen world.
Hebrews 12:14-29
Vs. 14-17 Notice that there is a warning here to avoid three things.
Giving up on following Christ and shipwrecking your faith causes damage on
earth. This is not talking about loss of salvation, but the loss of blessing
and protection (all found in growing close to Christ) that enduring in faith
and following Him on earth brings. It is like choosing to walk in front of a
car as a Christian. You'll still go to heaven, but the rest of your time on the
planet will be walked with a limp, or worse.
Vs. 18-24 Notice the contrast between vs. 18-21 and vs. 22-24. In
22-24, notice again that Jesus is the true focus.
Vs. 25-29 This has come full circle to Hebrews 1:2. God has spoken
through His Son. But notice that it is the Christians who are supposed to give
heed to this. This is for us.
V. 29 This could be looked at as a warning, or it could be looked at as
saying that God consumes what is offered to Him. Depending on our relationship
to God, being consumed by Him and His love might not be a bad thing. To hold
ourselves back when we are called by the glory of His love and mercy, by His
Son, to present ourselves as living sacrifices, is to miss what full faith and
abandonment to His love would give us. Jesus says in John 14:21-23 that what we
truly gain is Him. It's time for disciples to step into the fire and be
consumed.
Psalms 113-114
"Psalms 113-118 form the Hallel, a collection of songs sung at the
great festivals of Israel--Passover, Pentecost, the Tabernacles--as well as on
other holy days. At the Passover, for example, Psalms 113-114 were sung before
the meal, and 115-118 after it." (Bible Knowledge Commentary-OT, p.
875)
Psalm 113
If you want to see something interesting, compare this psalm to Mary's
prayer in Luke 1:46-55. Mary would not have been taught in the synagogues, but
she would have known these songs. Also, as Mary declared this, she was standing
before Elizabeth who was advanced in years, who had been barren, but was now
suddenly pregnantly plump.
V. 1 Notice that this call to praise is to the servants of the Lord.
Vs. 2-3 Basically this is when the Lord should be praised, that is,
forever and every waking moment.
Vs. 4-6 This would have been a good guiding thought in thinking about
the Passover and it was an important thought for Mary.
Vs. 7-9 This was not only seen in God saving Israel, but Mary found it
true in that God reached out to the lowly in bringing His good news to the
world.
Psalm 114
Vs. 1-2 This is not only talking about Israel coming out of Egypt, but
it shows that God was present among His people as He led them. Judah became His sanctuary and Israel became His dominion.
Vs. 3-6 This is the crossing of the Red Sea and the fireworks on top of
Mt. Sinai. The physical world responded to God's presence not only in obedience,
but with fear.
Vs. 7-8 Interestingly enough, God not only used His power to make the
creation tremble, but also to provide water for His people. God's presence was
for the good of His people and was a sign of His love. Notice the shaking in
today's reading of Hebrews. Apparently shaking comes before blessing.
Proverbs 27:18-20
If v. 18 were linked to v. 17, that sharpening process would have to do
with diligence and loyalty.
Verses 19-20 look like they hang together well. Verse 19 has to do with
the heart, and v. 20 has to do with the eyes, which really are regulated by the
heart. Jesus said a lot about the heart, and something we as disciples need to
attend to. We need to be cultivating our own hearts and to be conscious of when
we are having heart problems.
Please Read
the Following Disclaimer
I'm writing the Reading Notes to and
for those who are following a One Year Bible and are 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, that is, 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 and important discipleship manual we have and it is the 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, or whom we are to be following. 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, as disciples, 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, making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a more descriptive
commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary (BKC).
I read the BKC in doing background for the Reading Notes and refer to it quite
often. I also make reference to maps or charts in the BKC, though I will only
note where those resources can be found. Often you can do a search for these
and find them in Google books. Buying both volumes of the Bible Knowledge
Commentary would be a good idea.
I am not endorsing any particular One
Year Bible translation; in fact, I read something you probably don't, Die
Revidierte Lutherbibel, 1984. Unless noted, all Scripture quotes are from the
ESV Bible.
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. Often there is a breadth of opinion on certain events, both
historical and prophetic. Many of my views come from my church background,
theological training and my personal study.
I'm
doing this with discipleship in mind, meaning, I'm writing out thoughts that
will keep discipleship and our growth as disciples applied to what we are
reading. Remember, the real focus of the Reading Notes is to be a
supplement, a disciple’s commentary, giving motivation and insight so that we
will keep following our Lord in the harvest, reaching the lost and making
disciples, who make disciples. Being in
the Word every day, sitting at Jesus’ feet, learning directly from Him, is the
essential essence of being and making disciples.
May the Lord bless you as you follow Him in the
harvest, reaching the lost and making disciples, who make disciples. Dan
If you would like documents
containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.
If you would like a full
presentation of discipleship read Simply
Disciples*Making Disciples.
Or if you are struggling with
insomnia and would like a long boring dissertation on disciple making, these
can both be found on https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.
Reading Notes ©, Dan Kachikis
2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018
The One Year Bible © by
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton Illinois 60189
The Holy Bible, English
Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of
Good News Publishers.
All charts/graphics/outlines
from the Bible Knowledge Commentary are used with the permission of David C.
Cook.
© 1983, 2001 John F Walvoord and Roy B Zuck.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary is published by David C Cook.
All rights reserved. Publisher permission
required to reproduce.
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