Ezekiel 23

WEEK  17                                            Ezekiel 23

SATURDAY  Reflections

The issue for Israel according to God was, though they left Egypt the spirit they had in Egypt came with them (verse 8,21). For us today, this is what gets Christians in trouble, the spirit of Egypt(sin). Though God has saved them they try to hold on to the sins of their past. Christianity is supposed to be a change of heart and life. We are supposed to be a new creature not just saved sinners. God wants us to die to sin and live unto Him. If we don't we as Israel will face the consequences of our actions (verse 35).   



Eze 23:1-49
(1)  The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,
(2)  Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother:
(3)  And they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their virginity.
(4)  And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister: and they were mine, and they bare sons and daughters. Thus were their names; Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah.
(5)  And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbours,
(6)  Which were clothed with blue, captains and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding upon horses.
(7)  Thus she committed her whoredoms with them, with all them that were the chosen men of Assyria, and with all on whom she doted: with all their idols she defiled herself.
(8)  Neither left she her whoredoms brought from Egypt: for in her youth they lay with her, and they bruised the breasts of her virginity, and poured their whoredom upon her.
(9)  Wherefore I have delivered her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians, upon whom she doted.
(10)  These discovered her nakedness: they took her sons and her daughters, and slew her with the sword: and she became famous among women; for they had executed judgment upon her.
(11)  And when her sister Aholibah saw this, she was more corrupt in her inordinate love than she, and in her whoredoms more than her sister in her whoredoms.
(12)  She doted upon the Assyrians her neighbours, captains and rulers clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding upon horses, all of them desirable young men.
(13)  Then I saw that she was defiled, that they took both one way,
(14)  And that she increased her whoredoms: for when she saw men pourtrayed upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans pourtrayed with vermilion,
(15)  Girded with girdles upon their loins, exceeding in dyed attire upon their heads, all of them princes to look to, after the manner of the Babylonians of Chaldea, the land of their nativity:
(16)  And as soon as she saw them with her eyes, she doted upon them, and sent messengers unto them into Chaldea.
(17)  And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their whoredom, and she was polluted with them, and her mind was alienated from them.
(18)  So she discovered her whoredoms, and discovered her nakedness: then my mind was alienated from her, like as my mind was alienated from her sister.
(19)  Yet she multiplied her whoredoms, in calling to remembrance the days of her youth, wherein she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt.
(20)  For she doted upon their paramours, whose flesh is as the flesh of asses, and whose issue is like the issue of horses.
(21)  Thus thou calledst to remembrance the lewdness of thy youth, in bruising thy teats by the Egyptians for the paps of thy youth.
(22)  Therefore, O Aholibah, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will raise up thy lovers against thee, from whom thy mind is alienated, and I will bring them against thee on every side;
(23)  The Babylonians, and all the Chaldeans, Pekod, and Shoa, and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them: all of them desirable young men, captains and rulers, great lords and renowned, all of them riding upon horses.
(24)  And they shall come against thee with chariots, wagons, and wheels, and with an assembly of people, which shall set against thee buckler and shield and helmet round about: and I will set judgment before them, and they shall judge thee according to their judgments.
(25)  And I will set my jealousy against thee, and they shall deal furiously with thee: they shall take away thy nose and thine ears; and thy remnant shall fall by the sword: they shall take thy sons and thy daughters; and thy residue shall be devoured by the fire.
(26)  They shall also strip thee out of thy clothes, and take away thy fair jewels.
(27)  Thus will I make thy lewdness to cease from thee, and thy whoredom brought from the land of Egypt: so that thou shalt not lift up thine eyes unto them, nor remember Egypt any more.
(28)  For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will deliver thee into the hand of them whom thou hatest, into the hand of them from whom thy mind is alienated:
(29)  And they shall deal with thee hatefully, and shall take away all thy labour, and shall leave thee naked and bare: and the nakedness of thy whoredoms shall be discovered, both thy lewdness and thy whoredoms.
(30)  I will do these things unto thee, because thou hast gone a whoring after the heathen, and because thou art polluted with their idols.
(31)  Thou hast walked in the way of thy sister; therefore will I give her cup into thine hand.
(32)  Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou shalt drink of thy sister's cup deep and large: thou shalt be laughed to scorn and had in derision; it containeth much.
(33)  Thou shalt be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, with the cup of astonishment and desolation, with the cup of thy sister Samaria.
(34)  Thou shalt even drink it and suck it out, and thou shalt break the sherds thereof, and pluck off thine own breasts: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.
(35)  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast forgotten me, and cast me behind thy back, therefore bear thou also thy lewdness and thy whoredoms.
(36)  The LORD said moreover unto me; Son of man, wilt thou judge Aholah and Aholibah? yea, declare unto them their abominations;
(37)  That they have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands, and with their idols have they committed adultery, and have also caused their sons, whom they bare unto me, to pass for them through the fire, to devour them.
(38)  Moreover this they have done unto me: they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my sabbaths.
(39)  For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it; and, lo, thus have they done in the midst of mine house.
(40)  And furthermore, that ye have sent for men to come from far, unto whom a messenger was sent; and, lo, they came: for whom thou didst wash thyself, paintedst thy eyes, and deckedst thyself with ornaments,
(41)  And satest upon a stately bed, and a table prepared before it, whereupon thou hast set mine incense and mine oil.
(42)  And a voice of a multitude being at ease was with her: and with the men of the common sort were brought Sabeans from the wilderness, which put bracelets upon their hands, and beautiful crowns upon their heads.
(43)  Then said I unto her that was old in adulteries, Will they now commit whoredoms with her, and she with them?
(44)  Yet they went in unto her, as they go in unto a woman that playeth the harlot: so went they in unto Aholah and unto Aholibah, the lewd women.
(45)  And the righteous men, they shall judge them after the manner of adulteresses, and after the manner of women that shed blood; because they are adulteresses, and blood is in their hands.
(46)  For thus saith the Lord GOD; I will bring up a company upon them, and will give them to be removed and spoiled.
(47)  And the company shall stone them with stones, and dispatch them with their swords; they shall slay their sons and their daughters, and burn up their houses with fire.
(48)  Thus will I cause lewdness to cease out of the land, that all women may be taught not to do after your lewdness.
(49)  And they shall recompense your lewdness upon you, and ye shall bear the sins of your idols: and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.

Zechariah 2

WEEK  17                                           Zachariah 2

FRIDAY  Reflections

In the exodus from Egypt, God opened the door and caused Israel to be delivered. The plagues God brought actually made Egypt want to see Israel go. Yes, they left victoriously but there really wasn't an option to stay either. The exodus from Babylon would be different.

 

God has told Israel to deliver themselves from Babylon. This time the people of Israel had a choice. They could choose to stay or go. God's command was to return to Jerusalem, but it was up to Israel this time to get back home. He wasn't going to send a Moses or a cloud with a pillar of fire to lead them. This time it was up to them.

 

We too have a choice. We can come to Jesus or stay where we are. Now the door is open to the promised covenant to all who will choose to come to Him. No we don't deliver ourselves from sin but we do make the choice to come to Jesus. He does the rest. We have the freedom to choose. 

Choose wisely. 

Zec 2:1-13
(1)  I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.
(2)  Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.
(3)  And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him,
(4)  And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein:
(5)  For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.
(6)  Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD.
(7)  Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.
(8)  For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.
(9)  For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me.
(10)  Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.
(11)  And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.
(12)  And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.
(13)  Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.

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2 Corinthians 13

WEEK  17                                      2 Corinthians 13

THURSDAY  Reflections

Paul's last words: Be joyful, grow, encourage, live in harmony and peace. We can understand most of these commands. Growing means learning and taking in the truth which causes us to be mature. Encouraging is trying to help one another to do what is right and to stay faithful. Living in peace and harmony can be summed up in trying to get along. To be Joyful isn't something you work for. This isn't really something we can do. We can’t build up joy, you either are or you aren't. Yet Paul names it first.

 

Paul didn't say be happy. There is a fun Bobby McFerrin song which tells us to be happy, but this isn't what Paul is talking about. There is some correlation to the song and how we can be joyful. The first is we don't worry. The second is we chose to be joyful, but this is found by choosing Jesus (this isn't in the song). Joy is found by walking in the Spirit of God for joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). When we have joy, I believe, all the rest come easier, which could be the very reason God had Paul put it there 

2Co 13:1-14
(1)  This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
(2)  I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:
(3)  Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
(4)  For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
(5)  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
(6)  But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.
(7)  Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
(8)  For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
(9)  For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
(10)  Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.
(11)  Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
(12)  Greet one another with an holy kiss.
(13)  All the saints salute you.
(14)  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. The second epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi, a city of Macedonia, by Titus and Lucas.

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Psalm 107

WEEK 17                                             Psalm 107

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

The Psalm repeats that those who go astray are rescued when they cry to the Lord. On the other side, it also sings those who are blessed but turn away will be made low. What is mentioned more is God's redemption than his judgment and when we look at the Bible that is always the case. If you're wise consider what God has done and His great love; thus ends Psalm 107. 



Psa 107:1-43
(1)  O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
(2)  Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
(3)  And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.
(4)  They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.
(5)  Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
(6)  Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
(7)  And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.
(8)  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
(9)  For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
(10)  Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;
(11)  Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:
(12)  Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.
(13)  Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.
(14)  He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.
(15)  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
(16)  For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.
(17)  Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
(18)  Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.
(19)  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.
(20)  He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
(21)  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
(22)  And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
(23)  They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
(24)  These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
(25)  For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
(26)  They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
(27)  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end.
(28)  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
(29)  He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
(30)  Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
(31)  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
(32)  Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
(33)  He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;
(34)  A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
(35)  He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.
(36)  And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;
(37)  And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.
(38)  He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
(39)  Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.
(40)  He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.
(41)  Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.
(42)  The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
(43)  Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.

Zechariah 1

WEEK  17                                             Zachariah 1

TUESDAY  Reflections

The book of Zechariah begins as the seventy years of captivity come to an end. Zechariah along with Haggai preach that it is time to return to God and rebuild His temple. There is also a lot of prophetic imagery pointing to the coming messiah.

 

God comes to Zechariah with some strange night visions (dreams). As in the past, God is using dreams to give a message. Even today some people are inspired and warned by dreams. Even today, I woke up from a dream that I believe could turn into a story or book (The Gift and the End of the World). However, though this might inspire an actual book I doubt it was divinely inspired. God said in Joel 2:28 that He would speak through dreams and visions in the last days so I'm not going to say God doesn’t speak in dreams. God does use them, however, Scriptures themselves say to test the spirit to see if they come from God (1 John 4:1). If a dream or vision doesn't line up with God's character or His scriptures dismiss it as false or too much guacamole before bedtime.

 

Zechariah's dreams and visions, though strange, deliver a message for Israel and to us. As the book begins God promises mercy for Jerusalem.

I suggest looking at this for a greater picture of the book. Zechariah Bible Project Video -- https://youtu.be/_106IfO6Kc0

Zec 1:1-21
(1)  In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,
(2)  The LORD hath been sore displeased with your fathers.
(3)  Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.
(4)  Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the LORD.
(5)  Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?
(6)  But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.
(7)  Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,
(8)  I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white.
(9)  Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be.
(10)  And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.
(11)  And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.
(12)  Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?
(13)  And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words.
(14)  So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.
(15)  And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.
(16)  Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.
(17)  Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.
(18)  Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns.
(19)  And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.
(20)  And the LORD shewed me four carpenters.
(21)  Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.

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