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 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.
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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