Ezra 5

WEEK  17                                            Ezra 5

MONDAY  Reflections

Under the inspiration of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, the Jews began rebuilding the temple again. This is one of the few times when the leaders and the people obeyed the prophets. The opposition to the temple hadn't ended but with a new king on the throne and the prophets telling them it was time, they returned to the task. The prophets didn’t just preach, they assisted in the rebuilding.

 

There seem to be new leaders of the Trans-Euphrates region, also. These leaders sent a letter to the new king, Darius, requesting that a search be made to see if what the Jews claimed was true. In the meantime, the building continued.

Ezr 5:1-17
(1)  Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them.
(2)  Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them.
(3)  At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?
(4)  Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building?
(5)  But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter.
(6)  The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king:
(7)  They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace.
(8)  Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands.
(9)  Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?
(10)  We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.
(11)  And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up.
(12)  But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.
(13)  But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.
(14)  And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;
(15)  And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place.
(16)  Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished.
(17)  Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

Ezekiel 22 No Stopping This

WEEK  16                                            Ezekiel 22

SATURDAY  Reflections

In the second-to-last verse, God tells Ezekiel he is looking for a man to stand in the gap for Israel. God is looking for someone to stop the bad things from entering the city, but there isn't anyone. Yes, Jeremiah and a few righteous are around, but they have fled the city. Now, God says there isn't anyone who can stand before God and stop what is coming. 

This isn't because these people aren't praying hard enough for Jerusalem. If we look at Jeremiah 15:1, God told Jeremiah that if Moses and Samuel (great examples of intercessors) would pray for Israel, it wouldn't stop what is coming. The problem isn't that no one is willing to pray, but the sin of Israel is so great, and no one is trying to stop it, not the leaders or the people. The sins of Israel, as Ezekiel repeated before, were so great, I believe, that for God to ignore them would be against his very character as a good and righteous God. 

There are some who take this verse as a promise. If you pray, God has to stop his judgment or save some person; this isn't what it is teaching. It is teaching the very opposite. There are times when no amount of prayer can stop what is coming.

Eze 22:1-31
(1)  Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
(2)  Now, thou son of man, wilt thou judge, wilt thou judge the bloody city? yea, thou shalt shew her all her abominations.
(3)  Then say thou, Thus saith the Lord GOD, The city sheddeth blood in the midst of it, that her time may come, and maketh idols against herself to defile herself.
(4)  Thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed; and hast defiled thyself in thine idols which thou hast made; and thou hast caused thy days to draw near, and art come even unto thy years: therefore have I made thee a reproach unto the heathen, and a mocking to all countries.
(5)  Those that be near, and those that be far from thee, shall mock thee, which art infamous and much vexed.
(6)  Behold, the princes of Israel, every one were in thee to their power to shed blood.
(7)  In thee have they set light by father and mother: in the midst of thee have they dealt by oppression with the stranger: in thee have they vexed the fatherless and the widow.
(8)  Thou hast despised mine holy things, and hast profaned my sabbaths.
(9)  In thee are men that carry tales to shed blood: and in thee they eat upon the mountains: in the midst of thee they commit lewdness.
(10)  In thee have they discovered their fathers' nakedness: in thee have they humbled her that was set apart for pollution.
(11)  And one hath committed abomination with his neighbour's wife; and another hath lewdly defiled his daughter in law; and another in thee hath humbled his sister, his father's daughter.
(12)  In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD.
(13)  Behold, therefore I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast made, and at thy blood which hath been in the midst of thee.
(14)  Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with thee? I the LORD have spoken it, and will do it.
(15)  And I will scatter thee among the heathen, and disperse thee in the countries, and will consume thy filthiness out of thee.
(16)  And thou shalt take thine inheritance in thyself in the sight of the heathen, and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.
(17)  And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
(18)  Son of man, the house of Israel is to me become dross: all they are brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are even the dross of silver.
(19)  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye are all become dross, behold, therefore I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem.
(20)  As they gather silver, and brass, and iron, and lead, and tin, into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt it; so will I gather you in mine anger and in my fury, and I will leave you there, and melt you.
(21)  Yea, I will gather you, and blow upon you in the fire of my wrath, and ye shall be melted in the midst thereof.
(22)  As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye be melted in the midst thereof; and ye shall know that I the LORD have poured out my fury upon you.
(23)  And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
(24)  Son of man, say unto her, Thou art the land that is not cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation.
(25)  There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof.
(26)  Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.
(27)  Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.
(28)  And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken.
(29)  The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.
(30)  And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
(31)  Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.

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Haggai 2

WEEK  16                                             Haggai 2

FRIDAY  Reflections

Here in the last half of Haggai, the question is asked: if something clean is touched by something unclean, is the clean thing still clean (verse 13: the answer is no).

 

Haggai uses this to show that when people who are unclean or impure try to participate in something pure, it makes it unclean. This is the idea that if you add bad ingredients, then the result is something unpleasant.

 

Haggai calls the people to first cleanse their hearts so the work they are doing will be pure.

 

This is seen in real life. Great projects or plans are set in place to help people, but since those in charge are corrupt, the work becomes corrupt. An example is tax breaks or tax money given to do good, but later, when examined, self-centered motivations are exposed.

 

It has been said, “Only one life and soon it will pass. Only what is done for Christ will last.” I would add only what is done in Christ, because, like the temple, if the work is done in our strength and our sin, it will fail. However, if it is done in Jesus, then, like Him, it will endure forever. 

 Hag 2:1-23
(1)  In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the LORD by the prophet Haggai, saying,
(2)  Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying,
(3)  Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?
(4)  Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts:
(5)  According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.
(6)  For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;
(7)  And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.
(8)  The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.
(9)  The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.
(10)  In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying,
(11)  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying,
(12)  If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No.
(13)  Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean.
(14)  Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean.
(15)  And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upward, from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the LORD:
(16)  Since those days were, when one came to an heap of twenty measures, there were but ten: when one came to the pressfat for to draw out fifty vessels out of the press, there were but twenty.
(17)  I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labours of your hands; yet ye turned not to me, saith the LORD.
(18)  Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the LORD'S temple was laid, consider it.
(19)  Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you.
(20)  And again the word of the LORD came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day of the month, saying,
(21)  Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;
(22)  And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.
(23)  In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the LORD of hosts.

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2 Corinthians 12

WEEK  16                                     2 Corinthians 12

THURSDAY  Reflections

I love this chapter's reference to what most believe is Paul's vision of Christ and of his thorn in the flesh. I appreciate the reminder that in our weakness, God's grace is greatest. Because of Christ, when we seem weak, we are actually strong.

 

What grieves my heart is Paul's admission at the end of the chapter where he fears he will be humbled by God when he returns. This isn't that God is going to humiliate him, but that he will be humbled to proclaim God's standards. God wants a holy people, and Paul will have failed in helping these people live right before God. Paul wanted so much better for them, and it seems many haven't even tried to change. This brings tears to my eyes. How hard might it have been for Paul to admit it?

2Co 12:1-21
(1)  It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
(2)  I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
(3)  And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
(4)  How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
(5)  Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
(6)  For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
(7)  And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
(8)  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
(9)  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
(10)  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
(11)  I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
(12)  Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
(13)  For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.
(14)  Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
(15)  And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
(16)  But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.
(17)  Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?
(18)  I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?
(19)  Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
(20)  For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
(21)  And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

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Psalm 106

WEEK  16                                             Psalm 106

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

This psalm fits into the time when Israel is being treated fairly by pagan kings. It is either right before or after the return from captivity. The psalm is honest about what Israel had done and how God was right in His actions. The psalm lays out in 48 verses an overview of Exodus through 2 Kings.

 

The question I love in this psalm is, “Who can praise God for everything he has done?” We may believe we know all the ways God has blessed us, but there are so many we will never fully comprehend. Such as the small action taken on behalf of a long-dead relative which still gives a blessing today. We can't know them all, and we can't praise Him enough. This doesn't mean we shouldn't try. We should praise God. Praise the Lord!

Psa 106:1-48
(1)  Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
(2)  Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can shew forth all his praise?
(3)  Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.
(4)  Remember me, O LORD, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation;
(5)  That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance.
(6)  We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.
(7)  Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea.
(8)  Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.
(9)  He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.
(10)  And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
(11)  And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left.
(12)  Then believed they his words; they sang his praise.
(13)  They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:
(14)  But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.
(15)  And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.
(16)  They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the LORD.
(17)  The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.
(18)  And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.
(19)  They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image.
(20)  Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.
(21)  They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt;
(22)  Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red sea.
(23)  Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.
(24)  Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:
(25)  But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD.
(26)  Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness:
(27)  To overthrow their seed also among the nations, and to scatter them in the lands.
(28)  They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.
(29)  Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions: and the plague brake in upon them.
(30)  Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed.
(31)  And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore.
(32)  They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes:
(33)  Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.
(34)  They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them:
(35)  But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.
(36)  And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.
(37)  Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,
(38)  And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.
(39)  Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions.
(40)  Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.
(41)  And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them.
(42)  Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand.
(43)  Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.
(44)  Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry:
(45)  And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.
(46)  He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives.
(47)  Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise.
(48)  Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD.

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