Ezekiel 19

WEEK  13                                        Ezekiel 19

SATURDAY  Reflections

The lioness in this parable is the story of the nation of Judah. First, Egypt came and took their king and made the nation a protectorate (2 Kings 23). The king following it fell into the hand of Babylon.  The problem is that both kings disobeyed God and did what was evil in God's sight. The later king didn't learn from the mistake of the previous king, and now the entire nation paid the price. What makes this a sad story, a lament, is that this didn't need to happen; they were the children of Josiah; they should have known better. If they had done what was right, they could have stood secure, a lion among the nations.  



Eze 19:1-14
(1)  Moreover take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel,
(2)  And say, What is thy mother? A lioness: she lay down among lions, she nourished her whelps among young lions.
(3)  And she brought up one of her whelps: it became a young lion, and it learned to catch the prey; it devoured men.
(4)  The nations also heard of him; he was taken in their pit, and they brought him with chains unto the land of Egypt.
(5)  Now when she saw that she had waited, and her hope was lost, then she took another of her whelps, and made him a young lion.
(6)  And he went up and down among the lions, he became a young lion, and learned to catch the prey, and devoured men.
(7)  And he knew their desolate palaces, and he laid waste their cities; and the land was desolate, and the fulness thereof, by the noise of his roaring.
(8)  Then the nations set against him on every side from the provinces, and spread their net over him: he was taken in their pit.
(9)  And they put him in ward in chains, and brought him to the king of Babylon: they brought him into holds, that his voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel.
(10)  Thy mother is like a vine in thy blood, planted by the waters: she was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters.
(11)  And she had strong rods for the sceptres of them that bare rule, and her stature was exalted among the thick branches, and she appeared in her height with the multitude of her branches.
(12)  But she was plucked up in fury, she was cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up her fruit: her strong rods were broken and withered; the fire consumed them.
(13)  And now she is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty ground.
(14)  And fire is gone out of a rod of her branches, which hath devoured her fruit, so that she hath no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule. This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.

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Habakkuk 3

WEEK  13                                          Habakkuk 3

FRIDAY  Reflections

The final chapter of Habakkuk is a prayer that could be sung. It recalls the faithfulness of God. God's faithfulness gives Habakkuk the faith to believe God will bring about His promised good for His people. This faith leads Habakkuk to utter the beautiful words of faith in verses 17 and 18.

 

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,

and there are no grapes on the vines;

even though the olive crop fails,

and the fields lie empty and barren;

even though the flocks die in the fields,

and the cattle barns are empty,

yet I will rejoice in the LORD!

I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

Hab 3:1-19
(1)  A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth.
(2)  O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.
(3)  God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.
(4)  And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.
(5)  Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.
(6)  He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting.
(7)  I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.
(8)  Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? was thine anger against the rivers? was thy wrath against the sea, that thou didst ride upon thine horses and thy chariots of salvation?
(9)  Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers.
(10)  The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high.
(11)  The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear.
(12)  Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger.
(13)  Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed; thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah.
(14)  Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly.
(15)  Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of great waters.
(16)  When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops.
(17)  Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
(18)  Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
(19)  The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

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2 Corinthians 9

WEEK  13                                        2 Corinthians 9

THURSDAY  Reflections

In 2 Corinthians 9, Paul continues to teach about generosity. God wants us to give faithfully, but some have used verse 6 as a way to motivate, or maybe I should say manipulate, people into giving more. Verse 6 says, "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously." The logic of these manipulators is that if you want to get a lot from God, you had better fork up the money. The problem is that the next verse indicates we give from our hearts and not for wrong motives/gain. Yes, God bless those who give generously, but generosity is according to God's standards, not ours. As we recall the widow who gave 2 mites, Jesus said she gave more than anyone else. God's idea of generous giving or giving sparingly isn't based on the amount in the offering.

 

Give as God lays on your heart, not the preacher, your family, your bills, or your lifestyle demands.

2Co 9:1-15
(1)  For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:
(2)  For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.
(3)  Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:
(4)  Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.
(5)  Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
(6)  But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
(7)  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
(8)  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
(9)  (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
(10)  Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
(11)  Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
(12)  For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
(13)  Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
(14)  And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
(15)  Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

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Psalm 105

WEEK  13                                            Psalm 105

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

Why do we celebrate Christmas and Easter (The Christian reasons, not Santa and a rabbit)? We do it to remember the great deeds of God. This is why this psalm was written to remember the great things God had done. We need to remember. Remembering gives us a point of reference. We see how God was faithful in the past; therefore, we can trust him in the future. Just like we know we can trust a friend because we remember they have been our friend in the past. Take time and remember what God has done for us all and what He has done for you specifically. 

Psa 105:1-45
(1)  O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.
(2)  Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.
(3)  Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.
(4)  Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.
(5)  Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;
(6)  O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.
(7)  He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth.
(8)  He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.
(9)  Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac;
(10)  And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant:
(11)  Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:
(12)  When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.
(13)  When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people;
(14)  He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes;
(15)  Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
(16)  Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.
(17)  He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:
(18)  Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:
(19)  Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.
(20)  The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.
(21)  He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:
(22)  To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.
(23)  Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
(24)  And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies.
(25)  He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants.
(26)  He sent Moses his servant; and Aaron whom he had chosen.
(27)  They shewed his signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham.
(28)  He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his word.
(29)  He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish.
(30)  Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their kings.
(31)  He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, and lice in all their coasts.
(32)  He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land.
(33)  He smote their vines also and their fig trees; and brake the trees of their coasts.
(34)  He spake, and the locusts came, and caterpillers, and that without number,
(35)  And did eat up all the herbs in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground.
(36)  He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.
(37)  He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.
(38)  Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon them.
(39)  He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.
(40)  The people asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
(41)  He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river.
(42)  For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant.
(43)  And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:
(44)  And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people;
(45)  That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise ye the LORD.

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Habakkuk 2

WEEK  13                                             Habakkuk 2

TUESDAY  Reflections

This chapter sounds like the rising of the poor against the rich. It sounds like what happened during the French Revolution: those who had were brought down by the very people they abused. It was a mess, as is most revolutions. The problem is not that there are rich people but how they arrived at that money. Eventually, all people who gain money and power through dishonest means are cast down. Israel will be no exception, and neither will Babylon.

 

At this point, many want to look at large corporations and point the finger at them, but this isn't what God is calling for. God is calling for us to examine ourselves. Do we gain by dishonest means? Do we steal from our employer or the grocery store, causing them to have to charge more to cover the losses? Or let's get personal: do you steal from entertainers by pirating movies or stealing music? Do you faithfully pay your taxes?

 

God doesn't want us to wait for the other guy to do what is right first.  God wants us to examine ourselves. Just as the 2 mites (pennies) were a great amount when given to God, what does it look like when stolen?

Hab 2:1-20
(1)  I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.
(2)  And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
(3)  For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
(4)  Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
(5)  Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:
(6)  Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay!
(7)  Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?
(8)  Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.
(9)  Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!
(10)  Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul.
(11)  For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.
(12)  Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!
(13)  Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?
(14)  For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
(15)  Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!
(16)  Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the LORD'S right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing shall be on thy glory.
(17)  For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, and the spoil of beasts, which made them afraid, because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.
(18)  What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?
(19)  Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.
(20)  But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.

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