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 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.
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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