November 8, 2012 Reading Notes

November 8, 2012 Reading Notes

Today's Reading in the ESV One-Year Bible

Ezekiel 18-19

Ezekiel 18

Vs. 1-4 God does a little housekeeping here. Seen here and in verse 25, the people were actually blaming others and God for their misfortune. This portion is interesting when you place it next to the Scripture that says God visits the sins of the fathers on the sons down to the fourth generation. (Exodus 34:6-7) With this text in Ezekiel you see how God Himself understood that declaration. If the generations persist in the sins of the fathers, as they probably will, judgment will follow. But if a single person is different or if he repents, God treats that person according to his own behavior.

Vs. 5-9 A righteous man. God is giving a basic definition regarding behavior. Not only that, He is not talking about eternal life or damnation, rather how this person would fare in the upcoming judgment of Jerusalem. This would be similar to Abraham talking to the Angel of the Lord (Jesus) in Genesis 18:23-33, where Abe was basically trying to save Lot.

Vs. 10-13 An unrighteous son of the righteous man.

Vs. 14-18 The righteous son of the unrighteous son of the righteous man.

Vs. 19-20 This sums up these past three examples, and verse 20 says it all.

Vs. 21-23 This is an unrighteous man who repents. Notice that this is not talking about eternal life. It is life on earth, and in terms of the coming judgment of Jerusalem, who would live and who would die on earth.

V. 23 This is why we are left on earth, to proclaim this in the harvest. Some people will turn to God.

V.24 This is a righteous person who goes bad. The penalty is death on earth, not eternal judgment. Imagine someone in Jerusalem getting caught up with the hopelessness and the "tomorrow we die" mentality and deciding to go for the gusto and go nuts morally. God is saying that person would receive judgment. That is the same as today if a good person goes on a one-night binge and drives drunk and kills a person.

Vs. 25-29 It is clear to us that Israel was shifting blame to God. Eventually they would see that their own sin and judgment was caused by themselves.

Vs. 30-32 What a very "grace-full" and loving declaration.

Ezekiel 19

This is a lament on Judah's kings.

Vs. 1-4 The mother is the nation of Israel. This lion taken by the Egyptians is the son of Josiah, Jehoahaz, whom Pharoah Neco took into captivity.

Vs. 5-9 This is Jehoiachin, whom Nebuchadnezzar took into captivity to Babylon. Jehoiakim is skipped here because that donkey of a man only deserved the burial of a donkey.

Vs. 10-14 This is Zedekiah. After him, there will be no more kings in the line of David until Jesus. Truly, it was lamentable.

In Israel we've been reading about times getting worse and worse. We've seen bad rulers destroy good and allow a culture of ungodliness to grow. The word "ungodly" may seem subjective, but God being God is very objective. He is greater than human opinion on any subject. He is the one who says what reality is. For the people who were obeying and following God, there was the despair of seeing the land and its people come under judgment. But, God was still working and giving hope to those who sought it. God's declarations of judgment and hope were meant to give people an opportunity to turn to Him. Sending men like Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel was a act of compassion on God's part.

Today in the harvest we know that judgment is coming. Human governments and nations are only incidental. The book of Revelation is the only book in the Bible that promises a blessing for reading it. God wants us to keep our perspective on the world and our commission. We cannot have heaven on this earth. Here is where we follow our Lord in the harvest, reaching out to the lost and making disciples who make disciples who make disciples, until our Lord returns.

Hebrews 9:1-10

Vs. 1-5 The approach to God in the law was very guarded and not available to everyone. Contrary to the people's habit of worshiping on hills, there was only one place that forgiveness could be sought, the tabernacle/temple.

Vs. 6-10 This sort of worship under the law was very limited. Only the high priest was allowed into the Holy Place and then only once a year.

This is building up to verse 11. In a way, this is not only saying the earthly routines and regulations of Judaism were limited and ineffective, but it is also saying that anything we do today that involves religious routines and regulations are equally as ineffective. We are always tempted to coat following Jesus with ritual. With what we'll see regarding the work of Jesus, no routine or liturgy or regulations are required for our spiritual life. We still insist on a liturgy in the West because it makes us feel more spiritual. I doubt that they have much of that in house churches in areas of the world where Christians are persecuted. A couple of believers in China meeting quickly and privately, praying and encouraging each other in the Word, is very honoring to God. This is perhaps more of what God has in mind, than what happens in most churches in the West on any given Sunday. What is essential to being a disciple in the harvest is following Jesus, reading His Word, and making disciples.

Psalm 106:32-48

Vs. 32-33 This rebellious people also assisted Moses in missing out on going into the land. Notice that they made his spirit bitter.

Vs. 34-39 This is a summation of the history of Israel in the land. This is what we are reading about in Ezekiel.

Vs. 40-42 This history of judgment goes from the judges right up to what we're reading in Ezekiel.

Vs. 44-46 The psalmist is not only praising God for this; he is reminding God that there is a precedent for what he is about to ask. Notice the mention of hearing their cry, the covenant, the steadfast love and pity.

V. 47 Here is the plea. I would say that these are Ezekiel's people.

V. 48 Whoever wrote this understood that God would hear and act. The point of this long song is found in verses 44-48. In spite of all of that, God still showed them mercy and heard them. Therefore, they should keep on praying, trusting Him and praising Him.

Proverbs 27:10

This proverb has to do with friends as opposed to relatives. The idea of not going to your brother's house in the day of your calamity is that, in this case, the brother lives weeks away. Instead, just go to your friend.

By not forsaking your friend and your father's friend, you will have friends who are near you in the day of your calamity.

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 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.

November 7, 2012 Reading Notes

November 7, 2012 Reading Notes

Today's Reading in the ESV One-Year Bible

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 to have been, 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 them 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." (Matthew 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 verse 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 business men 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 verse 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 AD.

Trivia: The Romans destroyed the temple in 70 AD. Both Paul and Peter died in Rome in Nero's persecution in 67 AD. The apostle John survived and wrote his Gospel, his letters, and Revelation around 90 AD, 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.

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 verse 6. They associated the Holy Spirit with the restoration of Israel.

It is interesting that the end of today's reading in Ezekiel, and the focus in Hebrews, is Jesus - Jesus, the King and Priest and Savior. This song expresses some of the adoration we should have for our Savior King. One of the things I like about the Hillsong videos is the "sea" of the redeemed.

Savior King, Hillsong

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.

On a side note, 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. Numbers 13-14.

Vs. 28-31 This happened at the end of the entire 40 years of wandering. Numbers 25.

The men mentioned in verses 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 of good courage and He will strengthen your heart. Ultimately, with the Spirit, this is why the Word and prayer are so important. Our hope and greatest resource has to be fully in the Lord.

An oldie but goodie.

What A Friend We Have In Jesus, Alan Jackson

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 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.

November 6, 2012 Reading Notes

November 6, 2012 Reading Notes

Today's Reading in the ESV One-Year Bible

Ezekiel 14:12-16:42

Chapters 14 and 15 belong together, then chapter 16 will introduce a very disturbing image that will be used by God again in this book.

Ezekiel 14:12-23

Vs. 12-20 The message here is very straight-forward. The people who remain in Judah and Jerusalem (these people in Babylon had been a part of that crowd) are so sinful, that if these three men were there, by their own righteousness they could only save themselves. Now, Daniel, from the book of Daniel, is listed as part of this trio. To understand the significance of his inclusion, look at Genesis 6:9 and Job 1:8.

So, who were these men? We understand Noah being in this group. He was the most righteous man on earth during his lifetime. Job was the most righteous man on earth at the time he lived and the only one that could have faced that kind of testing. This must mean that at the time of this writing, Daniel was the most righteous man on earth. Wow! What company to be named in. Daniel will be the next book we read and once we read the first six chapters, you'll never be able to think of them as disjointed children's stories again. This also means that at this most critical time for the nation of Israel, God had placed on earth, in Babylonian government, in world government, one of the most righteous, God-fearing and God-following men who has ever walked the planet. His impact is largely hidden, but we'll discuss it as time goes on. That a man like Daniel was even present shows God's grace, mercy and steadfast love to His people.

Vs. 21-23 Apparently the people in Babylon had already begun to reform a little. Even though they are praying for those left in Jerusalem, those in exile don't quite remember how bad their conduct was. When these people are brought from Jerusalem to Babylon, the people who are already in exile in Babylon will be appalled to see how idolatrous and evil these newcomers are. They will understand and know why God had to bring such cleansing to the city and the land.

Ezekiel 15

This is a very simple message. These people were so corrupt, they couldn't be used for anything, even as a peg in the wall on which to hang a vessel. Israel's purpose was to bear fruit for God. If you want an interesting connection between Israel's purpose and the church's purpose, read John 15:1-8.

Ezekiel 16:1-42

This image of a whore expresses God's jealousy and sense of betrayal by Israel. We'll see it again in a few chapters. The focus here is on Jerusalem. The city is being used to represent the people. The people's hope was in the city and the temple, because of God's promises associated with the city. Yet, God would destroy the city and all that was in it. The judgment of Jerusalem would be a picture of His displeasure with the people.

Vs. 1-5 Verse 3 is important to note that the message is to the city. Apparently it was settled by Amorites and Hittites. The city now will become a picture of God choosing this people to be His people as He chose Jerusalem to be His city.

Vs. 6-7 This selection was on the basis of God's mercy and pity. Under His care the city/nation became healthy and grew.

Vs. 8-14 The image of God entering into a special relationship with a people is common in Scripture. What is interesting in both the Old and New Testaments is that the image is marriage. We will see this image of marriage a couple more times in the OT, and in the NT we have the image of the Bride of Christ. In both testaments, these special people are meant to show the salvation of God out of gratefulness for His blessing and deliverance. In a way, the image represented in the verses up to this point could be true of everyone who knows Christ.

V. 8 Notice that this covering is what took place in Ruth 3:9 between Boaz and Ruth.

Vs. 15-22 This is where the analogy with anything good and redemptive breaks down. Notice the description of ungratefulness. This was true of Israel as God's chosen nation and Israel is an example to all mankind. All mankind is guilty of this. Everyone enjoys the blessings of God every day, but rather than turning to God in Jesus Christ to give Him thanks, we use His benefits to ignore Him.

V. 15 is interesting. It was pride in the very beauty and privilege given by the Lord that sin took and perverted. This wouldn't be the first time that God's blessing was warped by sin. In Ezekiel 28:11-17 we'll find one of those passages that seems to rise above the description of a human, to a description of Satan and his fall. There, too, it is because of his God-given beauty and privilege that he chose to rebel against God.

Notice verse 17. They took what God gave them and made idols of them. Some of these idols were used in sexual worship rites.

Verse 20 is appalling and Malachi 2:15 shows another reason why God was totally upset with this.

Vs. 23-29 Israel not only committed "adultery" by taking on the gods of the surrounding nations, but rather than depending on God, they looked for help from these other nations in terms of treaties and security. You see this in Solomon's political marriages, and particularly with King Asa, when he sent gold to have Syria attack the northern kingdom rather than take the matter to God. (2 Chr. 16:1-10) We have already seen how God leveled Egypt. Then we saw how God destroyed the Assyrian army in a night. Why would you seek these nations for help? But Israel did. Look at Psalm 78:5-7. They were to have only sought hope in God.

For us in the harvest, we need to stay in the Word and allow lessons like this to wash our hearts and our motives. The Lord is our hope and this world is where we work. It is not hope. It is easy to put our hope in people and in strategies, but the Lord has recorded these events and judgments to help us keep our eyes on Jesus and to stay focused on the blessing of seeing others come to Him and become disciples who make disciples.

1 Corinthians 10:11 ESV Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.

Hebrews 7:18-28

Vs. 18-22 You can tell this was written to believers, because the unbelieving Jews we see in the NT would have gone nuclear if they had heard this. When Jesus made the new covenant with the bread and the wine, we know He could do it because He is God. Here, it is also stated that on the human side, He could do it because of God making Him a priest after the order of Melchizedek. Notice how Psalm 110 is being relied on again. Who knew those words would be so important? God Himself made an oath.

Vs. 23-25 Since Jesus lives forever, you only need this one priest and He intercedes continuously for His people. This was something good for them to remember in the situation they are facing. Hey, that's good for me to remember too.

Vs. 26-28 Why would they want to go back to the law knowing this? They would have to deny Jesus Himself.

Psalm 106:1-12

I mentioned something yesterday about how helpful it is to know the point of something while you are reading. So, we'll be reading this for the next two days. Verse 47 will give you an idea of when this was written. If you understand that, it puts this history into a slightly different light and you understand the appeal being made in all of this song.

Vs. 1-3 If you read verse 47, these words take on some interesting significance. The mention of God's goodness and His steadfast love that endures forever are something the exiles had experienced in a strange land during their punishment. As we'll see in Daniel, and have seen in Esther and Nehemiah, God still did show Himself mighty.

Vs. 4-5 Now we have the plea. Notice the request for remembrance, for salvation for the people, gladness for the nation and glory for God's own inheritance.

Vs. 6-12 The sin of the nation is summarized in forgetting their salvation. How God saved them from Egypt was supposed to have made a lasting impression. God knew they would forget; and through their pride in God's blessing and perversion of the glory and beauty He gave Israel, all mankind would see that we need a spiritual cure, not just a physical fix.

Proverbs 27:4-6

V. 4 Seems to stand alone, but it is very powerful. With both wrath and anger, a person will give regard to their own safety, but the motto of jealousy is "blow up the world." Jealousy is both anger and wrath with a sense of mission and dark abandon.

Not that we can attribute to God the nasty side of our emotions, but think of the jealousy He is talking about in Ezekiel. It definitely fits the scenario.

Vs. 5-6 We still don't get "speaking the truth in love." Most often we just avoid the subject. That's not love.

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 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.

November 5, 2012 Reading Notes

November 5, 2012 Reading Notes

Today's Reading in the ESV One-Year Bible

Ezekiel 12-14:11

In reading any of the books in the Bible, it is good to have an idea of what the entire book is about. You'll be able to do this yourself if you ask yourself that question while reading each book year after year. Take notes and make it your hobby to figure out the purpose of each book. As you read you can test your theory. God will not grade you as if you'll get docked points for "getting it wrong." Most Bible expositors differ slightly in their expression of what each book is saying. But God will reward you for digging and thinking, and the Spirit might even give you something that the well-known preachers never saw.

This is just me, but I think that in Ezekiel, God is preparing people for the return to the land and preparing the future nation of Israel for the Millennial Kingdom. As God uses Ezekiel, this strange, mute, immobilized man, to jolt the people, God will focus them on who He really is and make them sick of their idolatry. We've seen the idolatry in the temple that caused God to leave the city. I'm sure that jolted the people. Today, God goes after them again for listening to false prophets, and the idolatry that was at the core of this deception. When Israel returned to the land, for the most part, idolatry is never mentioned again. God is preparing the people.

Ezekiel 12

Vs. 1-7 Somehow this became a big event. Remember that Ezekiel normally couldn't go out of his house. What that baggage meant might have been more than a back-pack. Whatever this was, it became a city-wide event. As Ezekiel put stuff out in front of his house in the morning, it became news. By the time evening came and he had made the hole, everyone was watching.

V. 2 The "eyes and ears" proverb is the same as in Isaiah and what Jesus quotes in the NT. It means they have the ability, but refuse to do it. It's willful.

V. 6 Covering his face would have an interesting application.

V. 7 What made this event stranger is that, apparently, since God never spoke to Ezekiel during the event, Ezekiel remained completely mute. They could ask him what he was doing, but if anything, he could only grunt.

Vs. 8-16 The next day, finally, God let Ezekiel speak. Now he had everyone's attention.

V. 13 This is talking about King Zedekiah. Ezekiel wore the veil symbolizing the blinding of Zedekiah by Nebuchadnezzar. All of this took place just as Ezekiel said it would.

If you're underlining, verses 15 and 16 have that very important phrase in them. Notice that this is said with a strong sense of assurance. God will make sure the lesson is learned.

Vs. 17-20 This is both a sign and a message. This happened somewhere in public, like at a feast, while Ezekiel was eating and drinking, or maybe he brought his own lunch to the market place. Ezekiel did this weird thing of eating and drinking with great fear and dismay. I'm sure all the parents rushed to make sure their kids were nowhere near this madman.

Vs. 21-25 Notice and the Word of the Lord came to me. It will keep coming.

V. 22 The visions were false visions of hope. The people opened themselves up to listening to lies and putting their hopes in false gods. Now they wanted nothing to do with any prophecies including those that were true. They were lumping Ezekiel's sermons into this category of falseness. God didn't like this proverb.

Vs. 26-28 And the point of this sermon is… God is throwing their motto back into their faces. The fulfilling of this word would be soon.

Ezekiel 13

As you observe this chapter, keep in mind that these practices were taking place in Jerusalem as well as among some of the Jews in Babylon. The exiles in Babylon hadn't been cleansed yet, but it would come.

Vs. 1-7 This is against the false prophets. You wonder why these prophets preached. It was obviously for themselves and to be known. The effect of lies and unfulfilled visions is to dull, discourage, and deceive a people. Verse 5 shows that none of the prophets, except Jeremiah, put themselves in harm's way to help the city or the people by standing in the breach. This lack of a man with a heart for the people will be mentioned again in a famous verse in Ezekiel 22:30.

Vs. 8-16 Rather than building up the wall, they disguised and helped its decay. Notice verse 9. The wall in verse 10 was a dangerous, cracked wall that was smeared with a light coat of plaster to hide the cracks.

V. 14 God would make sure it fell and in that day they would know…

Vs. 17-23 This is against the false prophetesses. They actually ventured into paganism with the magic bands. This sounds like Kabbalah bracelets.

V. 18 This was being done by the women and apparently it was like witchcraft and involved cursing people.

Vs. 20-23 God was going to hunt these women down and make it His personal goal to ruin them for this magic and for the effect it had had on the righteous. And He would do it in such a way that they would know…

Ezekiel 14

Vs. 1-5 So, how do you understand verse 3? You could say "old habits die hard," but it is worse than that. These men still love their idols. They may have gotten rid of them, but they are still there, in their hearts. Just like a picture of a spouse or a child that you put on a desk or on the wall where you can look at it, these men still had those desires before their eyes. Yet, maybe torn by the disaster that has happened to them, they are coming to ask of the Lord, just not with their whole hearts. And God can see it.

Vs. 4-5 This looks like God saying He would take immediate and personal action against anyone who filled their hearts with their gods. At this time, the Jews were the only people in the Babylonian empire who could refuse to worship any god but their own, Yahweh. It was an unheard of exception for an exiled people. God did it and if the people rejected Yahweh, they showed their sickness and their need for judgment. God will eventually cleanse the people of idols.

Vs. 6-8 It seems that God Himself will now take every idolater and false prophet and make an example of them to the people.

Vs. 9-11 Remember back to Ahab and Jehoshaphat and Micaiah in 2 Kings 22:8. Both kings had already decided to do something wrong, but thought it would be good to get God's approval. So the lying prophets all told them to go ahead. Jehoshaphat thought it was all fishy, so he asked if there was a real prophet; and Michaiah was brought out of prison. Michaiah had seen a vision of the demons coming before God and God sending one to be a lying power in the mouths of the false prophets as a punishment against Ahab. That is what is happening here. If the people have itchy ears and seek teachers to say what they want to hear, God will let it happen, but the point even in that judgment is that some may see all of this and turn and be saved.

Hebrews 7:1-17

Vs. 1-3 There is a lot here we can't understand. Our first impulse would be to dismiss this as flowery, sermonic language. But this is one of these places where God reveals something that has only been hinted at in the past. We met Melchizedek in Genesis 14 and it does raise a few questions. I've always wondered how many other witnesses to God there were in the world, on other continents, we never knew of. Suddenly we find this guy who is representing God. Not only is Melchizedek a great guy, but Abraham shows him respect. He's got a rescue mission going in Jerusalem, spreading the Word about Yahweh.

Then in Psalm 110 suddenly it says that the Messiah will be a priest after the order of Melchizedek. So the Spirit is saying that this is really important.

Now, hundreds of years after that psalm, and 20-30 years after the death, resurrection and departure of Jesus, almost at the end of the time of the apostles, this writer and the Spirit tell us something more about Melchizedek and Jesus. I find this very interesting how and when God lets more information flow to His people.

V. 3 If this verse is taken literally, it means that Melchizedek may have been an angel. There is Jewish tradition that indicates that they had that understanding. It is just conjecture, but you wonder in those days how God spoke to people who sought Him. Why not angels? Whatever Melchizedek was, he was a priest of the Most High God whose priesthood was "forever" and greater than the priesthood of Aaron under the law.

Vs. 4-10 The point here is that Melchizedek was greater than Abraham. Abraham didn't worship Melchizedek, but worshipped God through the mediation of Melchizedek, showing that Abraham, the inferior, went to the superior person to honor and learn of God. The Jews would have understood that Melchizedek was a very special character and a mysterious mediator of God.

Vs. 9-10 This is an interesting application, once again showing that Jesus' priesthood is superior to the Levitical priesthood.

Vs. 11-17 This shows that going back to the inferior law with its inferior priesthood is foolish. Jesus, the Messiah, is the ultimate mediator for mankind, after the order of Melchizedek.

Just so we don't forget what is happening here, these people are in danger. They are tired and under pressure to be quiet and retreat to safety. It's no different than the danger each disciple faces every day. We are under the constant pressure to be comfortable, to be inoffensive, to be self-focused, and to be "used to" our salvation. What the writer to the Hebrews is doing is showing them Jesus. Jesus is the center of our faith and our lives. It is impossible to know Him and still be content on earth. It is impossible to know His salvation and not care about the salvation of others. It is impossible to call Him Lord and not follow Him into the harvest. If any of these are possible for us, we may have fallen to what the Hebrews had fallen to. The answer, as we are seeing, is nothing other than Jesus. We need to rekindle that first love, if it's possible, and follow Jesus our Savior.

Wonderful, Merciful Savior, Selah

Psalm 105:37-45

Vs. 37-38 It wasn't Israel's effort that did this. Israel's glory was the mercy and love of God. With all we have read about idolatry, we can understand God being so upset about their sin.

Vs. 39-42 And God did all of this because of His promise to Abraham, the man saved by faith. The truth for Israel here is that God will always honor that promise, so there is always hope and they should always follow.

Vs. 43-45 God brought them out with joy and gave them a position, but to what purpose? That is in verse 45 and it was to have been Israel's witness to the nations. As Israel obeyed and was blessed, the nations would see and would know.

V. 45 Praise the Lord! God provides deliverances and we've read about a lot of these. We experience a lot of little deliverances in our lives, and through them God puts a new song in our mouths. That's what the psalms are all about. Now, we are involved in this harvest in bringing news of the greatest deliverance to people who desperately need to hear it. Although the message is at once very serious and very good, because we have experienced it and know Jesus, we can deliver the message with a tone of praise.

Proverbs 27:3

And because it is so heavy and foolish, the Lord is telling us, warning us, not to react to it.

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 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.

November 4, 2012 Reading Notes

November 4, 2012 Reading Notes

Today's Reading in the ESV One-Year Bible

Ezekiel 10-11

Ezekiel 10

Vs. 1-8 So who is this guy clothed in linen? This sounds like a normal angel, or it could be the Angel of the Lord. He is the one who is ordered to execute judgment on Jerusalem by throwing out the coals. As we've seen, there are some connections here to Revelation. Revelation 8:7 sounds like this. Jerusalem was burned down by the Babylonians. In Revelation, Babylon is also suddenly consumed by fire.

Vs. 9-15 We have seen this description of the glory of God before, but there are a couple of additional details here.

V. 12 The cherubim were full of eyes. This is what John also saw in Rev. 4:8.

V. 13 The wheels were called whirling wheels.

V. 14 Instead of one of the faces being that of an ox, from chapter 1, here it is the face of a cherub. We don't know what a cherub looked like, but it couldn't have been a human face or it would have been redundant. Maybe a cherub looks a little oxy.

Vs. 15-22 The glory of the Lord begins to depart from the temple.

Ezekiel 11

Vs. 1-4 These are 25 other guys who are telling the people not to worry. You should have a note for verse 3 that says this is really saying, "Is not the time near to build houses?" They were telling everyone that things would be fine, deceiving the people.

Since their message was a positive lie, the idea of the cauldron and meat might have meant that those who were left in the city alive were the "best" and they would survive. If you were in the soup, wouldn't you want to be the meat and not a vegetable? Actually, you wouldn't want to be the carcass lying on the chopping board. What was cut off from the carcass "survived" in the soup.

Vs. 5-7 Those righteous witnesses whom these men had slain were really the best. These had been righteous people like Jeremiah who had been persecuted or killed for taking a stand for God.

Vs. 8-12 God's spoken judgment on these men. Notice verses 10 and 12. We haven't seen this statement for a few chapters.

V. 13 and then suddenly it got very real. This caused Ezekiel to fall on his face again, crying out to God for the remnant. He did this in 9:8.

Vs. 14-21 As a result of Ezekiel's plea, God gives this promise. The irony here is that the people who were left in Jerusalem waved good-bye to the exiles and then said, "Good, now we'll inherit everything." Not so. The people of Jerusalem would perish, and the exiles would come home and inherit the land.

V. 18 We've seen this promise before and should understand that since this is talking about the nation of Israel, the fulfillment will not be until the Millennial Kingdom. We have come to share in the spiritual part of this blessing in our salvation in Christ, but the full blessing will not only be spiritual, but also physical, as Israel is gathered from all nations and becomes a blessing and testimony to the nations. Israel will be a nation in which Christ reigns and all nations will come to Israel.

Vs. 22-23 The glory of the Lord left the city and stood on the Mt. of Olives. Think about the significance of that. Jesus left from here and went to sit at the right hand of power. It is also where He will return, when He comes to rule forever.

V. 24-25 To me it is interesting that it seems there was a sense of motion moving from Israel back to Chaldea, that is, Babylon. Ezekiel didn't just wake up. In his vision he was flown back. I wonder what the elders thought when Ezekiel related all that he had seen and discovered.

Just for trivia, this is not the final time Ezekiel will be taken to Jerusalem. There is one more time, in chapter 40. How many years was it from this vision to that one?

Just think of our message in the harvest. We tell of the love of God and the sending of His Son. That's John 3:16, right? Now read John 3: 17-21. It is the same message. We don't have the right or authority to be selective. People have to know that their decision matters, that God is not some "good ol' boy" who'll let everyone into His kingdom. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (John 3:36)

Hebrews 6

Time to gird up the loins of your mind once again. The question to ask ourselves before we begin this section is, "Is it possible to harm our relationship to Christ to the point that we can never return on earth to the place of innocence and full devotion in following Him?" Paul talks about shipwrecked Christians and Christians who hurt themselves by pursuing riches and comfort. Paul weeps in Phil. 3 about Christians who are now enemies of the cross of Christ. He tells Timothy (in 2 Tim. 2:19) regarding Christians living in error that, "The Lord knows those who are His," and "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity." Christians can sink to a life that suggests being lost, but they are still saved, yet no one but God knows for sure. Then Paul gives Timothy the parable of the great house and the vessels for noble and disgusting use. Both sets of vessels are in the great house. If a man has fallen out of love with his wife and has given himself to someone else, is it possible for him ever to return to his wife with the same innocence, fascination and devotion? We'd all like to say, "yes," but it may never be possible. If you compare David's faith and love for God (or how he dealt with people) before and after Bathsheba and Uriah, I think you see two very different men. How we damage ourselves on earth matters. Grace is always available, but the scars and consequences of jumping in front of the truck remain.

The writer of Hebrews and the Spirit will give a warning here that if a saved person walks away from Christ and replaces Him with something else, it may be impossible to return to that first love and to fruitfulness.

The writer has just lamented that these believers should be teachers; but as a result of what they have been toying with, they are still babes, needing milk. Something interfered with their growth in Christ.

Vs. 1-3 All these things listed here are baby things. It would be like having to re-explain to a Christian after 10 years what it means to be saved, or having to explain to that same person that there is no benefit in praying to saints, as in the Catholic Church. The very fact that you'd have to explain these things at all suggests that something deeply wrong has happened in that person's understanding of Christ.

Vs. 4-6 This is a saved person. No dancing around the words can change the force of these words.

The idea of restore them again to repentance seems to mean restoring a person to that conviction and thrill of being set free and forgiven in Christ. Assuming a person has fully experienced this, to cast it away as ordinary and uninteresting has the danger (and therefore the warning) that there may not be another moment of insight that restores that sense of conviction and thrill. I think this is like David pleading with God in Psalm 51 (after Bathsheba and Uriah) to restore to him the joy of his salvation. David obviously no longer had that joy.

V. 6 To crucify Christ in Jerusalem meant to reject Him and publicly renounce Him as king. A Christian who turns away from Christ, after being known to be His follower, publicly does the same thing. This isn't just a one-time deal. It is becoming a part of a lifestyle that denies Him. Can a Christian recover? Maybe not, so why take the chance.

Vs. 7-8 Think of this illustration as a variation of 1 Cor. 3:11-15 and the wood, hay and stubble. The person is saved, but only as through fire. The illustration here in Hebrews shows that this person becomes a fruitless believer. Remember John 15:8, "By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples." There is also a description of fruitless believers in John 15.

Vs. 9-12 The writer still had hope for the people. Notice here that the benefits of endurance are knowing the hope of God on this earth. Only by endurance in following do we grab on to the rewards God promises. For example,

Romans 15:4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

These are actually promises, but only if we hang on to Jesus, following Him in the harvest. This is why Jesus could say, "He who endures to the end will be saved." Those who endure have already been saved eternally, but now they are saved from damage on earth. They do not shipwreck their faith.

Vs. 13-20 Abraham waited patiently on a God who swore to him, and Abe received the promise. Imagine if Abe would have given up after 20 years and not waited until the 25th year.

V. 18 Notice the call to hope and to hold fast. As we have said before about this promise or covenant, it was completely one-sided. God based the fulfilling of the promise to Abraham totally on Himself and His own character. It is an enduring, eternal, unconditional covenant. The faith or faithlessness of Abraham's children is not in question, nor is following the law. God will fulfill the promise through those who have the faith of Abraham, both in the nation of Israel, and in the Gentiles who also follow in faith. So, we hold fast.

V. 19 Notice that we have something just as sure as what Abe had, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.

V. 20 Our hope is in Jesus our Savior/Priest.

I guess the word to disciples in the harvest is, "Never, Never, Never, give up." It is interesting that when it talks about the only seed that brings forth fruit, that person is in the Word and brings forth fruit with patience. Those who remain childlike in their faith, in their fascination of being saved and in hearing God speak in His Word, will have great advantage here, in the harvest. I have to believe that if we ask and seek and knock, we will be restored and constantly renewed. It's what Jesus told His disciples to do.

Psalm 105:16-36

In terms of all of Psalm 105, what is the point of this section? If it is encouragement in remembering the past, how is it encouraging? How could this be encouraging to you?

Vs. 16-22 This summarizes God saving Israel by His sovereignty in working with Joseph. This "rags to riches" story was all about God's grace and mercy. Imagine God putting a man in power like this. We'll see this again in Daniel. Even as Ezekiel was seeing stuff above, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were in key positions of political power in the Babylonian government there in the city of Babylon. These were incredibly godly men.

Vs. 23-25 Israel grew greatly in Egypt. This was also God.

Vs. 26-36 When it came time to help Israel, God sent a prepared leader in Moses, and He developed the faith of Israel, while demolishing the nation of Egypt.

The direction all of this seems to be going is that the exiles can depend on God, so they need to seek Him.

Proverbs 27:1-2

V. 1 sounds like James 4:15.

V. 2 sounds like Luke 14:9-11.

Sounds like the Lord doesn't want us to be proud and focused on ourselves.

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 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.

November 3, 2012 Reading Notes

November 3, 2012 Reading Notes

Today's Reading in the ESV One-Year Bible

Ezekiel 7-9

Ezekiel is a very orderly and chronological kind of guy. Everything we are reading follows the last event in a way we can understand. What we see today will really conclude in chapter 11, but it all makes sense.

Ezekiel 7

This is another public proclamation Ezekiel made during the time he was lying on his side. When he walked and spoke, Ezekiel, the paralyzed and mute guy, was a sort of living disturbance. The hardness of this message would have gotten everyone's notice. I have a feeling this Word came toward the end of his daily enactment of the siege on Jerusalem. The elders of the Jews were probably standing in a group on the corner of their new home in exile singing, "What do you do with a problem like Ezekiel?" They were now sure that this very strange man was actually being controlled and used of God. The reason for the hardness of this prophecy will be explained in the next chapter. God will give Ezekiel, the elders, and us a look at the people in Jerusalem.

One interesting note: It says three times in this chapter, Then you will know I am the Lord. The word used in my German Bible is not "know," but "experience." That adds a twist to the meaning. There is a sense in which these people will find out and experience that He is the Lord.

Vs. 1-4 Notice the repetition of the end. Finally all that the prophets had been saying, especially Jeremiah, would come. Notice how this section ends.

Vs. 5-9 Notice the different words repeated here. Although the Lord is giving prophecy to the exiles in Babylon, it applies to the people still in Jerusalem. Now, some of the exiles were probably thinking, "You know, Babylon isn't so bad after all." Notice how this section ends. This was for all the people, but the only people who would benefit would be the survivors who were in exile in Babylon.

Vs. 10-13 You notice again that words are repeated. Life as they knew it would end in Jerusalem. As of this time, King Zedekiah hadn't yet rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar. In Jerusalem there was a certain amount of calm and prosperity. Everyone was telling “Jeremiah” jokes. But God knew that the sin in Jerusalem would take the upper hand and that they would rebel against Babylon. Then, destruction would come.

Vs. 14-22 What had been of value would be worthless. If you’re starving, a slice of bread is worth more than ten bags of gold. All they had lived for would be lost. They hadn't become rich toward God. In verse 22 God said He would also allow the temple to be ruined and profaned. In God’s eyes, that had already happened.

Vs. 23-27 The people were in bondage to everything, sin and other kings. This was the last time until 1948 that Israel would be a sovereign state. They are still not free from bondage to sin. That will come. Notice how this section ends.

Remember that what is happening to Israel is a small model of what is happening every day to humanity. There is tragedy and loss and bondage every day. There is rebellion and sin and ruin. In the harvest, we are following our Lord reaching out to seek and to save the lost and to make disciples who make disciples. The things we are reading are meant to give us a heart of compassion as we work. Humanly speaking, there is only danger and ruin and judgment, but with the Lord the salvation He offers is incredible and the hope is forever.

Ezekiel 8

V. 1 So the elders come to Ezekiel and sit before him at his house. Notice the time designation. This is almost exactly 430 days from the time God first spoke to Ezekiel. That means he was either finished with the siege enactment (with the gross lunch thing he did) or that enactment was almost finished. Also, since the sixth year was marked from the time that Jehoiachin was taken to Babylon, that means it was also the sixth year of Zedekiah's kingship. Zedekiah rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar in his ninth year and Jerusalem fell in his eleventh year. This vision would show why all of the judgment spoken against Judah and Jerusalem was justified. It would show how the sin of the people drove the presence of the Lord out of His temple and out of the land. The fact that Ezekiel is working, along with Daniel & Co. and Jeremiah, shows that God hadn't abandoned His people.

V. 2 As they were sitting there looking at him, Ezekiel went into a trance. Talk about freaky. This could have taken a minute or an hour, but the elders stayed for the entire show; and in 11:24 it says Ezekiel explained the entire vision. They apparently stuck around.

Vs. 3-4 This doesn't sound like the best way to travel, but it's not like he had a choice. Seeing the glory of the Lord at the end probably made it worth it.

Vs. 5-6 You understand here, that the point of the vision is to show Ezekiel what is driving God from His temple and from the city. What we see here will justify the hardness of God's judgment in chapter 7.

In Solomon's temple the main entrance into the inner court was on the east side, but there were also entrances on the north and south sides. This north entrance is where Ezekiel is brought. As he stands next to the glory of the Lord, looking into the inner court, there, next to the entrance, is an idol, probably an Asherah pole, a statue of sorts. Asherah was a goddess of fertility, the wife of Baal, and usually depicted as very well endowed. Imagine that they had something like this at the entrance into the court where the sacrifices were offered to the Lord.

Vs. 7-13 This chamber, where 70 men could have been together, might have been the "Holy Place," where the lampstand, the bread of the presence and the altar of incense were. The temple was already defiled. These were the priests and leaders of Israel.

Vs. 14-15 Tammuz was another fertility god who died in the winter. The women cried for him and in the spring he would come alive again (if they cried enough) and bring rains.

Vs. 16-18 Now in the inner court, between the altar and the Holy Place, you have these 25 guys with their backs to the Holy Place and Holy of Holies and the mercy seat (and God Himself); and they are worshiping the sun as it rises.

God says there is nothing here to move Him to pity.

Ezekiel 9

Vs. 1-7 Notice that there is some mercy in this. The marking on the foreheads of the ones who were righteous looks very much like Rev. 7:3-4, where the 144,000 are marked or sealed on their foreheads to be saved out of the judgment of the tribulation to serve God.

Vs. 8-11 In this judgment there was mercy.

So let me ask, what impact does all of this Scripture dealing with judgment and mercy have on your thinking? Today in the harvest it all seems so slow and fuzzy. Will the Lord really come? Will the Lord really judge the unbelieving? It seems so slow and foggy and unreal that we don’t feel any urgency or emotion toward it. Yet the reality of judgment appears throughout Scripture and Jesus mentions it quite a bit. As disciples, following Christ in the harvest, we need to keep alert to the reality of life. Books like Jeremiah and Ezekiel help, and I think that’s why God put them here.

Hebrews 5

The discussion of Jesus' priesthood will go from here to chapter 10. At the outset, you might want to muse why the writer thinks this is so important. Obviously, for these Jewish Christians thinking of slipping back into Judaism, it is important for them to know that Jesus is the better priest and His sacrifice is the final and ultimate sacrifice. But along with this thought of the priest, there is a very present help for them and for us. Those who rely on their mediator/priest will be blessed and helped. Those who rely, in this life, on other things will not experience the help and closeness to their Lord. It only makes sense. The saved will all be saved. Some of the saved will grow close to the Lord by following Him in the harvest, but some of the saved will have their wood, hay and stubble burned away and will regret what they missed by not following their Savior on this planet.

Vs. 1-6 The "for" refers back to the final verses of chapter 4, introducing Jesus as the priest who can identify with our weakness.

So how did Jesus become a priest?

V. 5 His Father appointed Him to be a priest. But I thought only those descended from Aaron could be priests.

V. 6 God made Him a priest pre-dating the law, going back to Genesis 14:18. Notice that the author is quoting from Psalm 110:4. What is interesting is that Abraham was ministered to by this priest. Jesus then is that kind of great priest. In chapter 7 the writer will enlarge on this connection to Melchizedek.

Vs. 7-10 This is how Jesus was prepared for His priestly responsibility and how He served on earth as a priest. And, Jesus is still making intercession for us. The order of Melchizedek would make Him greater than the priests of the law of Moses. The point for the people reading this letter was clear. Going back to the law was rejecting Jesus’ priesthood.

Vs. 11-14 Because of fears and cares these believers had stopped growing. They had been choked like the seed sown among thorns. Where they should have been was probably closer to Phil. 3:7-21.

Thinking of these last words, it reminds me that God allows things to enter our lives to test/strengthen our faith and our resolve to follow in the harvest. Almost everyone begins well. We'll see later that the people in Hebrews began very well, but they settled into having treasure on earth. Now, in danger of losing that treasure, they are finding it almost impossible to live with that early sense of sacrifice and willingness to follow Christ. God is showing them that other things have become more important for them than denying themselves and taking up their death daily and following Jesus. We need to be careful, too, that this place doesn't become our home and that things don't shine brighter than Jesus. We're here to follow Christ, sharing His love with a dying world, making disciples who make disciples who make disciples.

We are in the process of moving, cleaning out and letting stuff go. Spiritually, we all need to do the same thing. We need to minimize, until Jesus is everything, and knowing Him is enough for this life. Then we find rest and direction and purpose in following Him. We find strength and fearlessness, because nothing can separate us from Him or His love. We have a truth that breaks the pretense of this life and becomes a rock of security for those who find it. That truth is God as revealed in the Word and in the Son. It isn't so much a matter of getting rid of stuff as much as it is a matter of us being consumed in Him.

From the Inside Out, Hillsong

Psalm 105:1-15

We'll be in this psalm for two more days.

Although the events mentioned here have to do with God freeing Israel from Egypt, it is written in a way that it could have been meant as an encouragement to those in exile in Babylon. Israel was never to have forgotten the glory and power of God leading them out of the house of bondage in Egypt. That salvation experience was to have been a constant source of hope and encouragement.

Vs. 1-6 Notice the thanks and call to make God known among all the nations. This was exactly what was supposed to have happened. It is a blessing just to look at the verbs of command: give thanks, make known, sing to him, tell, glory in his holy name, etc. This is a very rich little section of Scripture.

Vs. 7-11 Israel's blessing was based on God's promise to Abraham. That promise had more to do with the salvation of man than the mere creation of a nation. That nation was made to be a blessing to all other nations in testimony to God.

Vs. 12-15 It never depended on the size of the people, just the size of their God. And He was fully faithful to His promise. Verses 14-15 probably refer to Pharaoh, the kings of Moab, and the kings in Canaan; but after we've read Daniel, it could also refer to Nebuchadnezzar and the kings who followed him.

Proverbs 26:28

This is the truth, although people often think that lying and flattering have a good purpose.

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 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.

November 2, 2012 Reading Notes

November 2, 2012 Reading Notes

Today's Reading in the ESV One-Year Bible

Ezekiel 3:16-6:14

Keep finding words to circle or underline.

Ezekiel 3:16-27

Vs. 16-21 God has commissioned Ezekiel and is now laying out his responsibility and charge. This is a very serious and vivid image. I'm thankful that our motivation in the harvest is the grace and love that we have found in Christ. Still, we can identify with this responsibility to warn others.

Vs. 22-27 It is interesting that God gave Ezekiel this news as He showed him His glory. Think over what God just told him. God was going to bind him at home so he couldn't go out (paralysis?) and make Ezekiel unable to speak. Only as God gave him an assignment or gave him a word would Ezekiel be able to go out and be able to speak. This would be for about seven years of this life and marriage, until he received news of the fall of Jerusalem. It was nice that he had seen the glory of God first.

This would be a sign to the people and it would protect Ezekiel. Normally he would be fully harmless, totally "bound" (whatever that meant) and absolutely speechless. Why hurt a guy like that? I can't imagine this was any fun for his wife, but I have a feeling God gave them some grace in this. Maybe when no one was looking, God let Ezekiel do the dishes.

Ezekiel 4

This "sign" is fairly self-explanatory in its details. This had to have been very public and visual. God probably allowed Ezekiel to go to a public place like a market and do this.

Vs. 1-3 This was not happening yet in Israel for about another three years, but Ezekiel would enact the future siege of Jerusalem.

Vs. 4-8 No one is completely sure what the significance of those days (years) is, especially for how they apply to Judah. Judah went on about 100 years longer than the northern kingdom. What is interesting is that once Ezekiel got himself set up on one side or the other, God paralyzed him again so that he couldn't move.

Vs. 9-17 This would show the people how desperate times would be in the city. God gave Ezekiel some grace here, because human waste wasn't an acceptable way for a priest to cook his food.

Summing this up: The madman who lived in that house over there, who couldn't move or speak, would come out every day, go into the busy market square with a big building stone that said "Jerusalem" on it. Then he would make it look like a city in siege. Then he would lie on his side the whole day, paralyzed. Then he would suddenly move and would make bread over cow pies. Then he would get up, take the brick and go home, and do it all over the next day. He did it for 430 days, for over a year. The elders would go to him and ask what this meant; and once or twice suddenly, he spoke and told them. Now the word has spread around and everyone comes to the market to see the crazy prophet.

The people hoped that Jerusalem would survive, but God was telling them it wouldn't.

Ezekiel 5

Vs. 1-4 Remember that Ezekiel had to have done this publicly if it was to have had any impact. Imagine a guy in the mall suddenly pulling out a sword and shaving his head and then doing the rest of this. It would be memorable to say the least.

I'm sure people laughed for a while, but as we'll see, eventually they began to take Ezekiel very seriously.

Vs. 5-17 This is a public declaration from the Lord. Again, look for stuff to underline. God really wanted them to know that He is the Lord.

V. 11 It isn't clear to us yet how the sanctuary of the Lord's temple was defiled, but that is coming up. God will take Ezekiel on a field trip.

Ezekiel 6

Vs. 1-7 I think this, too, was a public declaration. Somewhere in the market square or in the official part of the city, Ezekiel took a stand and announced that he was facing (or maybe seeing) the mountains of Israel; and when he had their attention, the Lord let loose. The land was full of idols and the worship of these was most often sick and sexual. Notice how this section ends.

Vs. 8-10 Somehow in their exile, the people who live on will finally acknowledge that their punishment is the result of their whoring heart. Notice how this section ends.

Vs. 11-14 Those who are left in Jerusalem apparently were the worst of the worst. God promised to punish those who remained and those who ran. We saw this in Jeremiah, when the remnant there fled to Egypt and took Jeremiah hostage with them. God led Nebuchadnezzar to Egypt to find them. Interestingly, that event hasn't happened yet at this point in time. Notice how this section ends.

Guess what the important recurring phrase in this chapter is?

Hebrews 4

This chapter is just full of stuff. The one question you need to find some clarity in is "what is this rest?"

In the OT the rest had to do with entering the land, not specifically being saved. As mentioned, the disobedience of the people, including Moses, kept them from entering the rest that God had prepared for them.

In the land, as God's covenant people, God promised to care for them completely. They needed to work, but there was peace and security promised to them. They were to enjoy the Sabbath without fear or worry, but they didn't obey and hold the Sabbath. They were to give the land a Sabbath rest and rest themselves as God provided, but they didn't. They were to attend all of the feasts in Jerusalem, leaving their lands unprotected, because God would care for them; but they didn't. In the land they were to have had rest in God, perfect peace and security of heart, but it was dependent on faith and resting in His care and promises.

The situation with the people being addressed in this letter was such that they were being persecuted and they were afraid. They may have thought, "Wouldn't it be better to give in and conform to the pressure and go back to the practice of the law?" To do that would have been to turn their backs on the grace of God, the work of Christ and the promise of God to care for them. They would have been seeking rest by their own hand, seeking peace by compromise and becoming slaves to the law. It doesn't mean they would become "unsaved," but it would keep them from experiencing God's rest as promised in Christ. Jesus promised a rest that was more than salvation.

Vs. 1-3 We have entered into that rest through faith, just like the people who went over the Jordan entered into the land; yet, to experience that rest would be a matter of living by faith.

Vs. 4-10 Joshua wasn't able to give these people rest. Moses couldn't either. Entering the land didn't give them rest. The law didn't give them rest because the law reveals sin in people. The people did religious stuff trying to get good with God, but works don't work. Only faith in God works and brings rest.

V. 11 Notice that this is applied to the believing and the writer includes himself, "Let us…" Entering that rest seems to imply striving to live by faith and continue in grace.

Vs. 12-13 The Word shows us whether we are living in the flesh (soul) or by the Spirit. It shows us if our faith is resting in us or in Him. It shows us where our devotion is focused.

Vs. 14-16 Again, Jesus becomes the object of our rest. Notice verse 16, let us draw near. And what do we find when we draw near: confidence, mercy and help. Maybe another way to say that is, we find rest.

Much of what the Lord said to His disciples to train them had to do with rest, borne out of faith and complete dependence on Him. Everything we read that seems so other worldly like turning the other cheek, not resisting a lawsuit, not being anxious about food or clothing, loving enemies, etc., implies that we know how to completely rest in Him, even in tribulation. Think that one through, resting in tribulation. When Jesus sent out the 12 and then the 70, they were to take nothing with them. They were to work, for sure, yet they had no money or food and everything was unsure. And, they faced threat and animosity, but they were to rest in Him. They entered into His rest by trusting His grace and love and power.

There are many believers who are not in the harvest, who live by their own hand and effort, according to their desires and perceived needs. They know little about faith; they've forgotten what grace really means; and they do not live in His rest. They've missed it. Being comfortable does not mean you've entered His rest. If we can only be at rest when there is peace and comfort, that is not the rest of God that we have in following Jesus in the harvest as His disciples. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27)

Psalm 104:24-35

This is the second half of what we read yesterday.

Vs. 24-26 God's majesty and grandeur are seen in His wisdom. Who could possibly have had the power and wisdom to make and imagine all that lives in the oceans?

Vs. 27-30 And no matter how mighty or how small any of these creations are, they are all dependent on God to sustain them.

Vs. 31-35 The glory and awesome power of the Lord should lead to thanks and meditation. Verse 35 seems to indicate that not to acknowledge God for all He has done will get some people in trouble. He deserves to be praised, known and worshipped. Not to acknowledge God by getting to know Him through our Lord, is to say to Him that we don't want to go to the next place He makes. Only those who know Him get to live there.

Reading this after reading Hebrews makes me think of God's care and that we can rest in Him. We need to have our hearts and minds renewed in Jesus.

Renew My Mind, Kim Hill

Proverbs 26:27

That should be something to calm God's people, remembering of course that God doesn't always pay on Friday. (He doesn't always repay the wicked immediately.) Jesus and Paul say that disciples should rest when mistreated, and show the love of Christ, overcoming evil with good.

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 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.