August 31: Ezekiel 16-17

August 31, Ezekiel 16-17

Ezekiel continued…

Ezekiel 16 God gives Ezekiel the analogy of a faithless bride (Israel & Judah) to her groom (God). God wants Jerusalem to clearly know that her abominations are abhorrent to God. God rescued them when nobody else would and cared for them. He purified them and made them a people, respectable to all with an incredible story. He entered into covenant with them - He would be their God and they would be His people. Then, they took their beauty and power and played the whore. Which in reality is the exact opposite of what they were called to. God blessed them with so much and they turned around and spit in His face for His blessings. They did horrific things… They sacrificed their kids to false gods and idols, built high places for themselves to worship these false gods. Their sins were far greater than their neighboring ‘Non-believing’ countries. They were not like a typical prostitute, that receives payment for services rendered. They paid to be the whore. They even made Sodom and Samaria look good compared to them. You know that it must of been horrible for that to be true. We know what the people of Sodom were like, and it was so detestable that God wiped them out. Moreover, God said he would then turn all of their ‘lovers’ against them. God will stop them from playing the whore.

God would deal with them for what they had done and their deeds will be on their own heads. Yet, there is hope! God will remember His covenant with them and will establish it forever, so not all hope is lost. But there will be judgement upon them for their idolatry and abominations. They must be held responsible for their sins. 

Ezekiel 17 - thank you to Dana Parriera for this blog entry! Incredible insights...

This chapter shows that God is reiterating historical events that the Israelites will go through, as prophetic  warning and also using imagery to show how it will unveil. 

Don't get confused here. The Lord is showing us great things through imagery that tells its own story. As well as the Churches story. And it is a simple explanation if you think about it. So stick with me...

Verses 1-2: Shows that the Lord is making a riddle out of all that is going to happen to Israel, Judah, and Jerusalem. 

But let me take you back to Judges 9 where Abimelech took over Israel as king, and was cursed by his brother Jotham for killing all of his 70 brothers to reign as king? Do you remember that story? Well, this man named Abimelech hired men to kill all of his brothers so that he could reign over Israel as king. And how one brother fled alive, and stood on a mountain and screamed out a curse for his brother, basically giving him a curse if he was guilty of the murder of his brothers. And using an imagery of trees as those who are leaders and people groups. 

Judges 9:7-15 English Standard Version (ESV)

7 When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim and cried aloud and said to them, “Listen to me, you leaders of Shechem, that God may listen to you. 8 The trees once went out to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’ 9 But the olive tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my abundance, by which gods and men are honored, and go hold sway over the trees?’ 10 And the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and reign over us.’ 11 But the fig tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit and go hold sway over the trees?’ 12 And the trees said to the vine, ‘You come and reign over us.’ 13 But the vine said to them, ‘Shall I leave my wine that cheers God and men and go hold sway over the trees?’ 14 Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come and reign over us.’ 15 And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade, but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’

The trees are represented as the people. And the different kind of trees are the different kinds of kings that reign over the people. The cedars of Lebanon were the tallest, strongest trees around. So it echoes this idea that Israel's Kings and Judah's Kings are looked and thought of as a tall, strong leaders, leading the nation of trees. And that the Lord is going to use a similar narrative, just like Jotham did. 

Verse 3-4: States that the Lord sees Israel's King as well as the people that follow him as a tall cedar tree. But that there is something else that is coming and that is a great Eagle. Who is this great Eagle? Well if we keep reading we will find out. And we find out that that this great Eagle is representative of Babylon. 

This whole idea, is that Israel is a tall Cedar Tree. And another King comes along and will take the top off (These 'tops' are the 'top dogs' if you will. The educated and predominate people of value, like Israel's and Judah's Kings or people that are rich and have special skills). And takes them (the twig or a piece of Israel) back to Babylon and replants them all somewhere where "Cedar Trees" aren't usually planted by. 

In verse 5: We see that these Trees (that were taken back to the enemies camp) are planted like 'Willows'. Yet it was a Cedar Tree right? You see. The King of Babylon is taking those who belong to Israel and is trying to change them, by planting them if they were like Willow Trees by the water, and instead of growing as tall Cedars, they grow up not as Cedar. Nor do they grow up as Willows. But instead they grow up as Vines. Here we see that the imagery that the Lord is using, is that the tree is changing. 

I am not a tree farmer. And maybe if I were, this would have more meaning to me. But even though I am not a tree farmer, I know that I cannot buy an Apple Tree and watch it become a Pineapple Tree. I know that I cannot buy an Evergreen Tree and watch it become a Maple Tree. So something is happening to these trees. They are being altered in a way that they aren't suppose to. They are disobeying the Lord in their genetic make up. They are turning to another for trust and hope, and instead of growing up as the Lord has created them, they are becoming a weed tree. 

Verse 7-8: States that there is another lesser Eagle that comes and this vine of Israel now sees this other Eagle (Which we learn is Egypt) and the Vine starts to grow towards it and wants to be watered by the Eagle. Instead of rejecting the idea that Israel has become a vine (instead of a great Cedar it was suppose to be), it states in verse 8 that it is a 'noble vine'. What just happened? The great Cedar went from being a huge magnificent Tree to a low laying, 'noble weed vine'? Instead of rejecting the evil Kings power and returning to the Lord, Israel instead accepted their new lot and rejoiced in their new pagan image of a weed, and hopes to produce some kind of fruit. (verse 8) Yet I am not sure what kind of fruit can even be harvested from a vine? 

I had pea plants this year in my garden. And they are kind of a vine plant. So I didn't notice that an ivy vine was growing all throughout my pea plants. And before I was able to identify the weed, they killed all my pea plants and strangled them. I assure you that no fruit was harvested from these vine weeds that sprung up among my vegetable garden.  And even if the vine weeds hoped to bare fruit, it was a hopeless endeavor for them, as it was never created to bare certain fruit in the first place. 

Verses 9-10: States that the Lord sees all of this. Will He let the plant flourish just because it is planted and hopes to have fruit? The Lord sees that this Cedar Tree has become a Weed and He will not let it be successful. Instead the Lord will ripe it out and through whatever fruit it bears away (As it can't be that good of fruit from a vine... and even if it is a grape vine, it wasn't meant to be that in the beginning, it was meant to be a Cedar, so even the fruit is yielded as grapes, the grapes are a forgery of the intended design of the Tree. )

Verses 11-16: States the explanation of the imagery. And that the first Eagle is Babylon and that the second is Egypt, which show the soon to be History of alliances from the King of Israel and Judah. 

These verses implicate that when Israel will be taken over by Babylon, the Israelites will change. They will then seek help and protection from Egypt, another enemy of the Lord, and hope in them for life (water) and be content with the Vine that they see themselves as. 

When I think of a great Eagle, for some reason, I think of Rome. And I realize that this lesson from Ezekiel isn't just for one time. But a lesson for all time. When Rome overtook Jerusalem, they did the same thing. Tried to change the Jews and conquer them. Those that looked to Rome for salvation, indeed turned against the Lord and became Vine Weeds. But those who stuck to the Lord of Lords, denied the idea that Egyptian gods from Cleopatra in Rome could give living water, even though it was popular in that time period. And that the Lord saw those who started out as Cedars and became Vines. But those whose hope was in the Lord Jesus, stayed as Cedars.

When I think of a great Eagle, for some reason, I also think of America. How the foundations of all nations came from all over to settle in America. These different trees from all over the world growing up and establishing themselves in the new land of Freedom. But with the baby trees from all over, it is true that not all trees have grown up as their ancestors did. We ask questions like - "What do you want to be when you grow up?" We have choices and options. We have all sorts of gods to choose from. We have all the choices in the world before us. But yet, are we growing up as the Cedars that God has cut us from? Or are we dependent on other things and gods to give us living water? Do the temptations of money and fame, power and beauty, glory and honor tug on our hearts as we covet the lives of sinners and turn slowly to the pagan ideals, rather than stick to looking to Jesus for our hope and salvation? Are the idols of the pagan nations too tempting for us, as well surround ourselves with nudity and lust? Are we turning into Vines and accepting our lot? Or are we growing into Cedars, planted firmly on the Word of the Lord God of Israel?

Verse 16-21: States the curse that the Lord has against the King of Israel/Judah and His Nation and changing them into Weed Trees of Vines. This King who leads the people of Israel into the hands of the Egyptians, will not get out of the Hands of the Almighty in judgment. The Lord also shows His power, as He is taking all of this very personal (Verse 20 "for the treachery he has committed against me.") as the hope is turned from the Lord, to another pagan earthly king. 

Verses 22-24: States that the Lord is going to do the same thing as the King of Babylon did. That the Lord is going to take a piece of the top of the Cedars and plant His own people. This is the Lord and how He loved His people, the Jews. And how He is going to take His own twig and start anew. With those faithful to Him, and He is going to plant them and they will grow up to be huge Cedars, obedient to Him. And when the Lord states that He will do it. He will do it. 

This is the imagery also of the Church. And the promise that the Lord Himself, will pluck us from where ever we are and grow us in Himself. That He will take a people for Himself and root us in Him, and He will give us water and life. And that we will have nothing to worry about because the Lord Himself has spoken about the promise to be Cedars for Him. 

In verse 24 - the Lord states:

Ezekiel 17:24 English Standard Version (ESV)

24 And all the trees of the field shall know that I am the Lord; I bring low the high tree, and make high the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish. I am theLord; I have spoken, and I will do it.”

Notice how everything is opposite? He will bring the high thing - low. And the low thing - high. He will dry up the green thing. And He will water the dry thing. Everything is opposite. 

This reminds me of something Jesus said when He was physically here on Earth.

Matthew 19:30 English Standard Version (ESV)

30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

And Paul states the same idea. 

1 Corinthians 1:28English Standard Version (ESV)

28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,

That the Lord will choose what He wants. The Lord will choose who He wants. Not because it is greater, but because His works will be shown through it.  Not because the person is greater, but because His works will be shown better through that person.

To sum it all up: 

• God’s heart is that we would be His people. That being said, our disobedience distances us from the lives that He has called us to live. Yes, thank God we have Grace for when we screw up - but that does not negate our responsibility to pursuing holiness and to live a sinless life unto Christ. 
• Regardless of what the sway of culture is around you - stand firm in Christ and do not waiver, even if persecution comes your way. 

August 30: Ezekiel 13-15

August 30, Ezekiel 13-15

Ezekiel continued…

Ezekiel 13 God spoke to Ezekiel about the false prophets, and there was plenty of them! God told him to prophesy against the false prophets - they only prophesy their own hearts. They are foolish and sinful, and have not received their ‘visions’ from the Lord. God was angered at this because He did not send them and yet they had the audacity to expect God to fulfill their words!

Therefore, because they lied and uttered lies and falsehood - God was against them. They intentionally misled God’s people and the results of that is God’s anger will be poured out onto them. 

Next, God tells Ezekiel to set his face against the daughters that are lying to people. False prophetesses that are in it for either the money or self. God wanted it to stop and He was against them. 

God will deliver His people (some of them), so that they would know that He is the Lord. 

Ezekiel 14 Some elders came to Ezekiel and sat before Him. God told Ezekiel that these men love their idols and have put stumbling blocks in their own paths. God wanted His people to repent & return and to run from their abominations. Since they had not, God would be turning His face against them and they will be cut off from their people. 

This is interesting. We learn about the righteousness of Noah, Daniel & Job. If they would have been there, they would have been the only ones to survive. But, they are not and God promised to bring 4 major judgements upon Israel: sword, famine, pestilence and to be cut off. God will be the one to do it. 

Ezekiel 15 God illustrates Jerusalem as a useless vine. The wood that comes off of a vine is worthless, except for being used to burn it. God will set His face against them for  them being worthless and useless - because of their sins and love for idols, not Him. 

To sum it all up: 

• Simply put - don’t say that something is from the Lord if it is not! God will not be fooled. We cannot say that something  is of the Lord when it isn't and then believe that God will do what we have said will happen. Ludicrous, but it happens. Instead, let God lead our hearts and join Him where He is. 
• Anyone who takes idols into your heart and then comes to God will be dealt with harshly. God will not be fooled or mocked. He sees all things. 

August 29: Ezekiel 9-12

August 29, Ezekiel 9-12

Ezekiel continued…

Ezekiel 9 God gave Ezekiel the vision of God bringing 6 men, executioners, to the scity with weapons for slaughter. With them was a man clothed in linen. The man clothed in linen had a writing case by his side. God told the man to go through the city and mark on the foreheads of the people who mourn over the sins and abominations of God’s people. To the other 6 men, they were to go into the city and kill all who did not have God’s mark. Historians believe that the mark was the Hebrew X, called a taw. This would have been seen as anticipation of the cross of Jesus Christ. The first ones to die, who did not have the mark, were the elders that Ezekiel saw in his earlier vision. Then the executioners went throughout killing the rest. Ezekiel fell on his face and pleaded for their lives (remember, he had relatives there as well). God reminded Ezekiel that they were all guilty and had forsaken God. Therefore, God was bringing their guilt upon them - basically their deeds were being deeded to them. Then the man clothed in linen came to God and told him that the people were marked.

Ezekiel 10 is a bit of a revisit of what Ezekiel saw in chapter 1 with the wheels and the Cherubim. This serves as a reminder that the destruction of Jerusalem is inevitable. The Cherubim went where they were led. The Glory of God was upon the Cherubim…

Ezekiel 11 Ezekiel gets another vision where he is lifted up and brought to the East gate of the House of the Lord. God showed him the wicked men that were there and how they were falsely prophesying that the time was not near for judgment. God told Ezekiel to go tell them otherwise and call out their lies. Their sins have led to their destruction and the sword will come upon them. God will judge them and the will know that God is the Lord. They have obeyed the practices of their neighbors and not that of God. But there still will be a remnant that God will protect. Even though God scattered them, he will bring some back and give them a heart for Him and they will want to serve Him and obey Him. Those that want their sin will have death. 

Ezekiel 12 God tells Ezekiel to basically move out of his house, preparing for exile - during the day so that the people will see him. This was to be a sign for Israel. Ezekiel obeyed. 

The next day the Lord told Ezekiel about what was going to happen to Zedekiah. The people were to go into exile and Zedekiah will be trapped. Some will escape again but the majority will have to experience famine, pestilence - realizing their abominations, so that they will know that the Lord is Lord. 

God warned Ezekiel that the days are coming when all of his visions will come true. There will be no more false prophets and lies. Whatever God says will happen will happen.

To sum it all up: 

• Fear the Lord and kill your idols. Do this, and live. 

August 28: Ezekiel 5-8

August 28, Ezekiel 5-8

Ezekiel continued…

Ezekiel 5 We learn that Jerusalem will be destroyed because of their shameful acts and desecration to what God has called them to. Again, God used physical examples to make His point through Ezekiel - and Ezekiel obeyed. Ezekiel was to shave his head & divide his hair into 3 parts. Before we move on - shaving the head or beard was both shameful and desecrating - this was God’s point in the analogy of Israel. 1/3 of his hair was to be burned, 1/3 was to be struck with a sword, and 1/3 was to be scattered… This is what was going to happen to God’s people by God. Since they have rebelled against God’s ways and chose evil, this was their lot. They were even more evil than other nations - because they knew the truth and chose to sin. They were not even doing the minimums that God had asked them to do. Because of their idolatry - God was done with them and He was about to unleash His fury and anger onto them. They were living abominable lives and God was going to execute Judgement on them - death, starvation, famine, pestilence - these things God would do. 

Ezekiel 6 It is basically because of their idolatry that God was bringing judgment onto them. He was going to destroy their high places on the mountains where the worshipped other gods. God will let some of them live, but the majority will not. They chose to whore after other gods and trust in things other than God. God will judge them and “They will know that I am the Lord.” He is Yahweh! 

Ezekiel 7 The end was coming for them. God was going to judge them and punish them  and He would have no pity on them. They have forgotten about Him - but not for long. Because of the greatness of their sins, there was no getting around what was coming for them. God’s wrath. Their gold and silver will be worth nothing. There will only be violence and starving - according to their judgements will they be judged. 

Ezekiel 8 God came upon Ezekiel as he was sitting in his house. He had another vision of what seemed to be the appearance of a man of greatness and brightness. God piked him up by the Spirit and lifted him between heaven and earth so that he could have and see what Jerusalem really looked like. The abominations were horrendous. Ezekiel saw inside one of the sanctuaries and saw all the idolatry and he saw 70 elders burning incense to false gods. They thought that God couldn't see them. There was even mention of some pictures that they had on the wall that they thought that God couldn't see - I am going to go out on a limb and guess that they may have been pornographic in nature. But they felt the Lord couldn't see it. God told Ezekiel that there were even greater abominations than what he just saw. They loved to worship false gods. Now wonder God was done with them.

To sum it all up: 

• For those of you who know the truth and still continue to sin, you will be judged more harshly. James 4 says that if anyone knows the good you are supposed to do and you do not do it - for them it is sin. Let’s not be like that! Do the good you are supposed to do…
• If you live like you don’t need God, He is not fooled…
• Porn. God will not be fooled! What you do in secret will be found out - whether here on earth or when you stand before the Lord. Be freed of the sin that separates you from our Holy God. A man or woman of Christ should have nothing to do with pornography. 
• Today’s reading is a fantastic reminder for us that we serve a Jealous God. If you love God, then live like it!

August 27: Ezekiel 1-4

August 27, Ezekiel 1-4

Welcome to the book of Ezekiel, one of the major Prophets (major is dictated by the size of the book, not necessarily reputation or significance). 

‘They shall know that I am God’ is used 62 times in Ezekiel - obviously a major point throughout this book. This book is about the vindication of God, not about the vindication of Israel & Judah. Also, Ezekiel is referred to by God as ‘Son of Man’ 90 times in this book. Daniel is the only other person in the Old Testament referred to that way, and it basically means that Ezekiel is identified as a creature before the great Creator (Jesus himself was also called this…). 

Ezekiel was a priest that was concerned about the holiness of God and the sins of God’s people. He lived during the Exile in Babylon. We do know that he was married, but don't think he had any children. 

Understand, he was speaking to a group of broken people who had sinned against God after much warnings from the other prophets. God’s name was to be vindicated for their sins, and although sometimes he comes across very harsh, what he is saying is Truth - which is what we want. Ezekiel had numerous visions, which we will learn about and endured many personal sufferings being one of God’s prophets. 

Ezekiel 1 starts out with an autobiography of Ezekiel. What do we learn? We know that he was called by God to be a prophet during Jehoiachin’s reign. The hand of the Lord was upon Ezekiel. 

Ezekiel received a vision from God that was so great, it was hard for Ezekiel to explain. He referred to a lot of it as examples of things he could relate to - it was simply too great to really explain. He basically saw 4 angels with human faces,but also having faces of a lion and an ox. They had wings and wherever the Spirit led them, they would go. He also saw a wheel, 4 of them. “Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, and the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those rose from the earth, the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.” I know, crazy right? Above the living creatures there was an expanse that was shining like crystal. Above the expanse there was a throne with the likeness of someone there. “Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.” This was all too much for Ezekiel to see or comprehend. From Halley’s Bible Handbook, ‘This was the form in which God appeared to Ezekiel. It signified His Glory, Power, Omniscience (all knowing), Omnipresence (all present), Omnipotence (all powerful), Sovereignty (in control of all), Majesty & Holiness.’

Ezekiel 2 is Ezekiel’s call from God. After Ezekiel saw this, God said to him, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.” Better than that, the Spirit of the Lord lifted Ezekiel on his feet! Here was Ezekiel’s call: “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them.” Regardless of the people’s response, Ezekiel was to be obedient. He was being called to a life of hardship and persecution - like many and most prophets of the Lord. The people would be disobedient and stubborn but Ezekiel was not to be afraid of them - because God was with him.

Ezekiel 3 God gave His message to Ezekiel in the form of a book, which Ezekiel had to eat - and Ezekiel was obedient (it tasted like honey!). God’s message was literally or figuratively now inside of Ezekiel. Now he is commissioned to go to the house of Israel & speak to them. He did not send him to a foreign nation with a foreign tongue, although that would be easier than the task at hand, but He sent him to a disobedient nation that would most likely not accept what God was saying through His prophet Ezekiel. The Spirit lifted up Ezekiel and brought him to the exiles at Tel-abib, who lived by a canal. Ezekiel sat there 7 days overwhelmed and said nothing. At the end of the 7 days, God spoke to Ezekiel commanding him to say whatever God told him to. Ezekiel basically had to obey regardless. If Ezekiel did not, then Ezekiel was to blame for what came upon the people for not warning them. Massive responsibility. Ezekiel was only to speak what God wanted him to - nothing more nothing less. Then God used physical examples for Ezekiel to be a prophet - “Go, shut yourself within your house. And you, O son of man, behold, cords will be placed upon you, and you shall be bound with them, so that you cannot go out among the people. And I will make your tongue cling to the roof of your mouth, so that you shall be mute and unable to reprove them, for they are a rebellious house.” He was literally only able to speak when God said he could. They were a rebellious house and would not listen…

Ezekiel 4 It is quite possible that the exiles were hoping for a quick return to the Promised Land, that they have been kicked out of. God told Ezekiel to use a graphic warning to tell them about what was coming. Again, from Halley’s Bible Handbook, ‘… was this graphic warning that Jerusalem was about to be destroyed, and that they would soon be joined by other captives, and that their captivity would last at least 40 years.’ To show this, God tied up Ezekiel with cords and had him lie on his side, eating meager portions and drinking meager portions for 390 days. Ezekiel did not argue with what God was calling him to, until God told him he had to cook his food on human poop (poop back in the day was a common source of fuel for cooking). Ezekiel said to God, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I have never defiled myself. From my youth up till now I have never eaten what died of itself or was torn by beasts, nor has tainted meat come into my mouth.”Then he said to me, “See, I assign to you cow's dung instead of human dung, on which you may prepare your bread.” God was gracious to Ezekiel. He was a priest, and Ezekiel viewed food as holy (excrement is not holy…). In addition, God was going to break the supply of food for Jerusalem and put those people into dismay as well. 

To sum it all up: 

• God gives dreams to show what He will be doing and sometimes dreams are crazy! But, God is intentional in what He is doing.
• The people of God have literally rebelled against Him and God is a God of Justice - so it makes sense that He would be punishing them for their idolatrous and whorish ways. 
• Regardless of what God calls you to - be obedient! I know it may sound trite - but if the Creator of the Universe takes time to tell you what to do, obey. Remember, obedience equals blessing and disobedience equals punishment. This is really the same concept in all walks of life, yet we fight it when we hear about it with God - like it is unfair…
• Some examples of where we see this everyday:
• Your boss tells you to do something and you tell him no, over and over. How long do you think you will be working there?
• Your spouse asks you to do something and you completely ignore her/him and actually do the opposite. In doing so, you humiliate her/him. How long do you think you will be married, or at least have peace in your home?
• The government tells you to pay your taxes and you don’t. It is only a matter of time before you are punished
• My point - in all aspects of life, we are blessed if we obey. 

August 26, Lamentations 3:37-5

August 26, Lamentations 3-5

We continue from yesterday’s reading…

Lamentations 3:37-66 God is all Sovereign. “Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it?” Nothing happens outside of God’s control, nothing. Jeremiah continues, “Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come?” Since God orchestrates all things, both good and bad things are under His control. Another thing we can learn here is that man can’t complain when he is being punished for self-inflicted sins. Rather, we are to examine ourselves and lift up our hearts to the Lord above. The people of Judah & the Israelites have sinned and rebelled and God has punished them and not yet overlooked all of their sins. They are starting to ask fro restoration as the hardships that were before them were very harsh. They have become scum to their neighbors and their enemies come against them heavy. Jeremiah was grief stricken with what was going on, literally was weeping over it. God has helped Jeremiah historically by rescuing him and he is crying out to God for help. But worry not, God is the Vindicator and will repay them…

Lamentations 4 is a chapter of the suffering of God’s people. The people are starving and begging for food. They grew up with a bunch of money and luxury and now they are literally being decimated. Some have turned to cannibalism from their starvation against their own children. The people started to realize that their own sins and the sins of their prophets and leaders have brought them to where they are at. The Lord is the one who scattered them and punished them, but the suffering will come to an end some day.

Lamentations 5 is a plea for restoration from God’s people. They were asking God to remember them, as they were weary and those that sinned (prophets) were no longer around. However, their joy was turned into mourning as the reality of their circumstance was before them. The confession at the end of the book has powerful meaning… “19 

But you, O Lord, reign forever, your throne endures to all generations. Why do you forget us forever, why do you forsake us for so many days? Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old—unless you have utterly rejected us, and you remain exceedingly angry with us.” It is a confession that God is in control forever, even though they felt forgotten. They desired to be renewed back to what they were but they also fear that God is that angry with them and are under His rejection. 

To sum it all up: 

• God will not be mocked. As I have said so many times, God is not fooled. Either you are true to your faith or you are not. I understand that at times we are heavily tried. That is God sanctifying (purifying) us to become who HE created us to be. We can live in light of that - knowing full-well that our Sovereign God knows what is best and will bring us through what He has us in, regardless of what it is.

August 25: Lamentations 1-3

August 25, Lamentations 1-3

Today we begin reading the often neglected book of Lamentations. There is debate as to the author, as the author is not named. Tradition holds that Jeremiah wrote it, and I tend to lean that way. With that in mind, Lamentations is a continuation of Jeremiah. This book is a funeral song, if you will, of what Judah & Israel have gone through. It is also a series of poems that are an acrostic in Hebrew - each verse begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet in alphabetic sequence

It is a reminder that God, in His Sovereignty, is not finished with His people and His plans! 

Lamentations 1 Jerusalem was sitting desolate. Jerusalem was alone. Jerusalem used to be the pinnacle and now it became a slave to other nations. The short of the long of this chapter is that the people have brought these consequences upon themselves. It goes along with the old saying that you reap what you sew. It is because of the peoples sins that God has turned from them. The people were starving as they searched for food. The Lord was now against them, and they admitted that God was in the right and they were in the wrong. God told them beforehand that he would bring the devastation upon them if they did not return and repent, of their spiritual adultery with other gods, but they didn't listen. God kept His word and judged them.

Lamentations 2 We read about God’s judgement and anger without pity. It was God’s anger that brought about the devastation of Jerusalem. The Lord swallowed them up and broke them down. What was one of the most beautiful cities and the home of God’s people became worse than Sodom in her sins and was devastated because of it. God basically became an enemy to Israel & Judah. Jeremiah wept bitterly over this. The other prophets and priests were false and sinful, misleading the people with words that the Lord never said. In reality, God did to them (all of them) what He said he would do to them if they were unrepentant, through the true Prophets of the Lord. 

Lamentations 3:1-36 God is Sovereign - God is in control of all things. It seems as though Jeremiah is complaining to God. I see it as Jeremiah pouring out His heart to God with the realities of what He is now experiencing. Jeremiah is acknowledging that Yahweh causes the bad things that happen to us. And since nothing happens to us, without the Lord's permission, then we need to learn to take the bad from His Hand, as well as the good from His Hand. And that no matter what Yahweh chooses to do to us, we need to trust in Him with all our hearts and lean not on our understanding of it, but upon His Grace and Mercy. Jeremiah’s continually remembers what he has gone through but yet he continues to put his hope in God. God’s steadfast love never ceases and his mercies are new every morning! Great is God’s Faithfulness!

Then we read a prayer for renewal, and I am posting it here because of it’s beauty:

"The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. Let him sit alone in silence when it is laid on him; let him put his mouth in the dust— there may yet be hope; let him give his cheek to the one who strikes,and let him be filled with insults. For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not afflict from his heart or grieve the children of men.To crush underfoot all the prisoners of the earth, to deny a man justice in the presence of the Most High, to subvert a man in his lawsuit, the Lord does not approve.” God is not finished yet! He has a plan for everything… In verse 33 it states that, "God don't willingly afflict or grieve the children of men" but that the Lord is driven to do it as Justice to their rebellion against Him. So let us learn about the anger of Yahweh and make sure that we aren't children of His wrath, but children of His Redemption through His Son, Jesus the Christ. The choice is ours. 

To sum it all up: 

• Yes, it is true that God is a God of love. But let us not forget that God is a God of wrath as well. As harsh as that may or may not sound to you, it is true. God demands us to be sinless. We cannot be, which is why we have an opportunity to be with Him through His Son Jesus Christ - who became the sacrifice for us and for our sins - so that we have the opportunity to be with God. 
• Be honest with God about how you feel - You don’t need to ‘pretend’ that everything is fine when it is not. Go to God and pour out to Him. 

August 24: Jeremiah 51-52

August 24, Jeremiah 51-52

Jeremiah 51 is a continuation of the prophecy from Jeremiah about the destruction and judgement of Babylon. Babylon will be utterly destroyed by God and God will be using the Medes from the North to do it. God has not forsaken His people, Israel & Judah. Babylon used to be the worlds greatest power and they will be brought to nothing. Jeremiah basically tells the people to just watch God work, as God has planned it God will do it. The idolatry of the Babylonians will be put to shame. Historically, God used Babylon to accomplish His purposes and now another nation (Medes) will be used to destroy the great world power. 

Jeremiah writes this all down and gives it to Seraiah to deliver to the Babylonians. He is to read it to them and then take the scroll and tie it to a rock and throw it into the Euphrates river. Then he is to explain that as that scroll will not rise, neither shall Babylon. 

Jeremiah 52 is a recap of the fall of Jerusalem (like in chapter 24 & 25). It is a recap of the temple of God being burned and pillaged (chapter 25) and Jehoiachin being released from prison (chapter 25). 

To sum it all up: 

• The life and story of Jeremiah is of tremendous value to us. We are blessed to have been able to be able to read it. We need to make sure that we are not acting like the disobedient Israelites and we are to run from any and all idols - anything that gets our worship. That is reserved only for God. God will bless those who seek Him first!

August 23: Jeremiah 49-50

August 23, Jeremiah 49-50

Jeremiah 49 God will judge many nations… This is about God’s Judgements on Ammon, Edom, Syria, Hazor, and Elam. These nations are faithless and idolatrous towards God. So, God in return will bring terror and judgement upon them. God will restore some of them (Ammonites & Elam) but not all.

Jeremiah 50 Judgement on Babylon… We have been reading a lot about how God was using Babylon to bring His people into exile. That being said, Babylon is a horrible nation and God was planning on coming against them. Jeremiah predicted that this would happen and it did happen in 539 B.C. God was going to use this to reunite Judah & Israel, where they would come together and seek the Lord. Israel’s leaders were leading God’s people astray.
God was against Babylon because they were against Him. God’s wrath was going to and did come upon them.

To sum it all up: 

• Let us not be fooled here. Babylon was real and this did happen to them. However - they were a nation against God and therefore God was against them. Most of our nations are not much different than that of ancient Babylon. We too may be more like Babylon than we care to admit it. 
• If we do not repent of our sins and pride, then we too will fall prey to what Babylon and many other nations have had to endure - our pride will lead to our fall. 
• This is when I want to encourage you to check yourself. Where is your heart at? Do you love your sin more than you love God? If so, return to God and repent of your sins! Get rid of your idols and bow only to God above

August 22: Jeremiah 46-48

August 22, Jeremiah 46-48

Through the rest of Jeremiah, we learn about God’s Judgment on the nations… These prophecies were also talked about in Isaiah, Ezekiel, Amos and some others… God was warning what was coming. 

Jeremiah 46 God’s Word came to Jeremiah about the coming judgment on Egypt. God was the one that would be instigating it. There is discussion about war preparation and the Day of the Lord’s Judgment on Egypt. It will be a day of vengeance so that God can be avenged against those that were against Him. God was going to use Babylon to accomplish the invasion of Egypt. Egypt will not be able to stand against what God was going to do. Israel needed to not fear what was coming, because they were still His people and God was with them.

Jeremiah 47 Now Jeremiah gets a Word from the Lord about the Philistines and their destruction. They have been a part of a lot of the Biblical stories for a very long time. The Lord was the one who would be destroying the Philistines and this was fulfilled about 20 years after Jeremiah wrote this. 

Jeremiah 48 Next in line was the judgement of Moab.They will be laid waste as well “because you trusted in your works and your treasures, you also shall be taken; and Chemosh shall go into exile with his priests and his officials. The destroyer shall come upon every city, and no city shall escape…” Instead of trusting in God, they did their own thing without God and this lead to their judgement. God will use Babylon again to overtake Moab. There will be no joy there…

To sum it all up: 

• When God says something is going to happen, we can trust in it because it is God’s Words and they will happen - I hope that you have realized this through our journey together this year reading the Bible chronologically.  

August 21: Jeremiah 41-45

August 21, Jeremiah 41-45

Jeremiah 41 We left off in Jeremiah where the new Governor, Gedaliah, was being threatened and not taking the threats seriously. Now, Ishmael and ten men came an murdered Gedaliah. He also killed some Jews that where with him and some soldiers. The next day, 80 men arrived to come to the temple and give their offerings - obviously mourning what was going on. Ishmael tricked them and brought them in and began slaughtering them too and throwing them into a cistern (as to not be caught). However, he spared 10 of them who basically bribed him and said that they had lots of wheat, barley, oil and honey hidden in the fields. Ishmael took a bunch of prisoners as well as captives. Johanan was one of the leaders of the forces that escaped. He had heard about what happened & they came and counter attacked Ishmael and his men. Ishmael escaped, but Johanan released all the people that were taken prisoner…

Jeremiah 42 Johanan and all the remaining Jews went to Jeremiah and asked him to seek the Lord as to what they should do now and promised to obey regardless of what God said to do. They promised… Jeremiah went and sought God. 10 days later, God reveals to Jeremiah and Jeremiah revealed to the remaining Jews - “If you will remain in this land, then I will build you up and not pull you down…for I relent of the disaster that I did to you. Do not fear the king of Babylon… Do not fear him… for I am with you, to save you and to deliver you from his hand. I will grant you mercy, that he may have mercy on you and let you remain in your own land. But if you say, ‘We will not remain in this land,’ disobeying the voice of the Lord your God… then hear the word of the Lord, O remnant of Judah…If you set your faces to enter Egypt and go to live there, then the sword that you fear shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine of which you are afraid shall follow close after you to Egypt, and there you shall die.” They had an answer from God. Stay in Judah and be saved, watch God provide for them. Jeremiah knew that they wouldn't obey, so he kept warning them to keep their promise to obey.

Jeremiah 43 They all accused Jeremiah of lying and not speaking of God. Johanan and his other leaders captured all the remaining and brought them to Egypt (including Jeremiah & Baruch his scribe). 

God had Jeremiah take large stones and hide them in the ground in Egypt and said that it will Be God that will rise up Nebuchadnezzar (Babylon) to reign over the stones that were hidden and strike those in Egypt. God will be cleaning house because of all the disobedient. God will be wiping out all the idols, obelisks and false temples.

Jeremiah 44 God told Jeremiah that the judgement was coming because of all the evil that His people had committed and provoked God to anger. Their idolatry is an abomination to God and they have forgotten what He has done for them - they have brought this judgement onto themselves. God is watching over them for disaster and not for good. God is even going to give the Pharaoh of Egypt into the hands of the king of Babylon. 

Jeremiah 45 God sent a message to Baruch as well. Baruch was burdened for the persecution and Baruch felt as though this punishment was a bit harsh. God informed Baruch that God hurt a lot worse about all of this than Baruch did. It is implied that Baruch was hoping for personal happiness and prosperity and fame and God warns him to not seek such things. God is bringing the disaster but will be giving life to Baruch - which is far greater than wealth and prosperity.

To sum it all up: 

• For Jeremiah, it was black and white - Obey God and live. Disobey God and die. 
• Look at what God warned Baruch about - it is better to have life in Him and peace than prosperity and sin. Prosperity is not bad - but where is your heart? Is it to serve and give everything to Him? 

August 20: Habakkuk 1-3

August 20, Habakkuk 1-3

Habakkuk is a very interesting Prophetical book. It is really unique in how it is a prophetic revelation that is not necessarily shared with the recipients, as much as it is a dialogue between God & Habakkuk. What is the theme of this book? God is Sovereign and the righteous will live by faith. It is about the invasion of Judah and the doom of the Chaldeans. It addresses the questions like, Why do bad things happen? Why do the wicked prosper?
Understand this - God will judge the wicked by using the wicked and the wicked will be prosperous at times and punished. 

Habakkuk 1 We are introduced to Habakkuk and what God was revealing to him. God allowed him to see the sins and pains of the world, but yet it seemed to Habakkuk that God was doing nothing about it.  God reminded Habakkuk to look around because God was doing a work so great that even if God told him about it, he would not believe it. God was raising up the Chaldeans to march in and destroy Judah. They were one of the greatest nations and dreaded by all - a very violent group.

Habakkuk inquired/complained to God and questioning why they would be ordained and used for judgement. It seemed to Habakkuk that God was just idly sitting by and being silent as Habakkuk’s people were under so much duress. He could not see the justice of God allowing/doing this. God always has a plan and a purpose - even when it seems out of control and horrible.

Habakkuk was called to be a watchman on the walls…

Habakkuk 2 God answered Habakkuk’s comments. God tells him to write its all down so that those who read it will run. The judgement was coming as Judah was deserving of it. However, “the Righteous shall live by his faith.” This is how we are to live - no exceptions. 

We then read about the ‘woes’ to the Chaldeans. They will also be punished for their wickedness, even though God was using them to fulfill His purposes. They wanted power, sinful, and they will be filled with shame and not glory. They were idol makers and we know how much God hates that… 

“What profit is an idol

    when its maker has shaped it,

    a metal image, a teacher of lies?

For its maker trusts in his own creation

    when he makes speechless idols!

Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake;

    to a silent stone, Arise!

Can this teach?

Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver,

    and there is no breath at all in it.

But the Lord is in his holy temple;

    let all the earth keep silence before him.”

All man-made idols are worthless and they are an abomination to God. Rather, God is the one that we are to be going to for insight, life, love, and everything else.

Habakkuk 3 is where Habakkuk replies to God basically wanting another show of His power like He used to do. Habakkuk 3 gives a run down of the God’s powerful works and how He is the one who saves and the power that God has brought historically is intense. Habakkuk has resigned to wait patiently for the day of trouble to come upon Judah’s enemies. The book ends with Habakkuk rejoicing in the Lord and taking joy in Him.

To sum it all up: 

• Can you say this with me? Regardless of the pain and wickedness of this world, I will praise God!!!
• From Halley’s Bible Handbook:
• ‘Faith is the ability to feel so sure of God, that, no matter how ark the day, there is no doubt as to the outcome. For God’s people there is a GLORIOUS FUTURE. It amy be a long way off. But is absolutely Sure. Thus, in the midst of his gloom and despair, Habakkuk was an optimist of the first magnitude.'
  

August 19: 2 Kings 24-25, 2 Chronicles 36

August 19, 2 Kings 24-25, 2 Chronicles 36

We jump back into the Historical part of the narratives to see what the author of Kings & Chronicles tells about what was going on.

2 Kings 24 Remember we are learning about the decline of Judah… Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon. It is clear from the text that the hardships Judah is enduring was because of their sin and that of their former leader, Manasseh. 

Jehoiachin was 18 when he became king of Judah and did evil in the Lord’s sight. Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem and Jehoiachin gave himself up to them. The Babylonians took everything from the Lord’s house and they also took Jehoiachin and a bunch of them as captives, including their military leaders. “Jehoiachin's uncle, king in his place, and changed his name to Zedekiah.” He only reigned for 3 years and did evil in God’s sight… Then Zedekiah rebelled against Babylon…

2 Kings 25 Again, Nebuchadnezzar came hard upon Jerusalem and crowded it out - to the point there was no food left in Jerusalem. Eventually, Zedekiah tried to escape and was caught. They killed his sons and plucked out his eyes (remember from Jeremiah - he had been warned to not try to escape but to submit and he would live…). They left the poor in the land to work the fields and took everyone else as captives. The Babylonians ransacked everything else and burned down the nicer buildings - Judah was now in exile. 

Gedaliah was made Governor of Judah from the king of Babylon and he was murdered by Ishmael, along with some Jews.

37 years later, the new king of Babylon released Jehoiachin from prison and Jehoiachin spent the rest of his life dining at the kings table and having his needs met - this shows hope for the future…

2 Chronicles 36 The Chronicler does a brief overview for his generation of what we just read. He goes over the last 4 kings of Judah and shows the downward progression and fulfillment of the prophecies.

The emphasis is that with the exile, the land finally has time to Sabbath and rest, getting prepared for return of the people of Judah (70 years in captivity). This book concludes with hope: “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the Lord his God be with him. Let him go up.” There is hope for God’s people! 

To sum it all up: 

• What a story God had written for His people.
• God shows His love to us through hardships and struggles and discipline. Do not despise the hand of God working in your life even if you don’t understand it. If you have sin in your life and you are being disobedient to God - change your ways now and repent and come to Him! Glory to God!