Ezekiel 17

WEEK 11                                         Ezekiel 17

SATURDAY  Reflections

God uses a riddle to cause the people of Israel to think about themselves. God then explains it to them, and the consequences are that the king of Israel will break his vow. I notice here that God is using still another method to try and get Israel to listen to him. He has used word pictures, illustrations, models, live actions, and now a riddle to get Israel to think about what they have done. Why is God doing what He is doing? God is very versatile. I believe that because of His love, He is trying to reach the people with His message. 

So, what is the riddle of the eagle?

Eze 17:1-24
(1)  And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
(2)  Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;
(3)  And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; A great eagle with great wings, longwinged, full of feathers, which had divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar:
(4)  He cropped off the top of his young twigs, and carried it into a land of traffick; he set it in a city of merchants.
(5)  He took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful field; he placed it by great waters, and set it as a willow tree.
(6)  And it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and the roots thereof were under him: so it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs.
(7)  There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers: and, behold, this vine did bend her roots toward him, and shot forth her branches toward him, that he might water it by the furrows of her plantation.
(8)  It was planted in a good soil by great waters, that it might bring forth branches, and that it might bear fruit, that it might be a goodly vine.
(9)  Say thou, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Shall it prosper? shall he not pull up the roots thereof, and cut off the fruit thereof, that it wither? it shall wither in all the leaves of her spring, even without great power or many people to pluck it up by the roots thereof.
(10)  Yea, behold, being planted, shall it prosper? shall it not utterly wither, when the east wind toucheth it? it shall wither in the furrows where it grew.
(11)  Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
(12)  Say now to the rebellious house, Know ye not what these things mean? tell them, Behold, the king of Babylon is come to Jerusalem, and hath taken the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and led them with him to Babylon;
(13)  And hath taken of the king's seed, and made a covenant with him, and hath taken an oath of him: he hath also taken the mighty of the land:
(14)  That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand.
(15)  But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such things? or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered?
(16)  As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely in the place where the king dwelleth that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he brake, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die.
(17)  Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company make for him in the war, by casting up mounts, and building forts, to cut off many persons:
(18)  Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath done all these things, he shall not escape.
(19)  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; As I live, surely mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken, even it will I recompense upon his own head.
(20)  And I will spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon, and will plead with him there for his trespass that he hath trespassed against me.
(21)  And all his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the sword, and they that remain shall be scattered toward all winds: and ye shall know that I the LORD have spoken it.
(22)  Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent:
(23)  In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell.
(24)  And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the LORD have spoken and have done it.

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Zephaniah 1

WEEK 11                                          Zephaniah 1

FRIDAY  Reflections

Zephaniah begins with the words that God is going to wipe out everything. This is a picture of how bad things are going to be. When God brings judgment on them, it is going to seem like everything is going to be wiped out (swept clean). A study of history shows this is what it was like to those living in the lands in and around Judah.

This first chapter lays out just how bad it is going to be.

Don't worry, this isn't the end of what God is doing, though those living through it may have thought so, which is the point. 

The Bible Project about Zephaniah: https://youtu.be/oFZknKPNvz8  

Zep 1:1-18
(1)  The word of the LORD which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.
(2)  I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the LORD.
(3)  I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the LORD.
(4)  I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests;
(5)  And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham;
(6)  And them that are turned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for him.
(7)  Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.
(8)  And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD'S sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.
(9)  In the same day also will I punish all those that leap on the threshold, which fill their masters' houses with violence and deceit.
(10)  And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, that there shall be the noise of a cry from the fish gate, and an howling from the second, and a great crashing from the hills.
(11)  Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the merchant people are cut down; all they that bear silver are cut off.
(12)  And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.
(13)  Therefore their goods shall become a booty, and their houses a desolation: they shall also build houses, but not inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, but not drink the wine thereof.
(14)  The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.
(15)  That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
(16)  A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.
(17)  And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.

(18)  Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.

2 Corinthians 7

2 Corinthians 7

Week 11

Thursday 

Paul said, “Therefore, since we have these promises, … let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”  (2 Corinthians 7:1)

Golfer Ben Crane wrote that there are four top priorities to his life:  loving God, serving his family, honing his craft, and cultivating meaningful relationships.  Talking about how those priorities affect his life, he said:  “For me, I’ve learned that TV is something that just crushes my affections for the Lord.  So one of the biggest things for me is not watching very much TV and not getting engaged in too many sports.  Because when I spend too much time with those things, I start to care too much about them and I start to head in the wrong direction.”  (Ben Crane,  “Life in the Fairway”,  p. 72)

This reminds me of the fairly well-known Susanna Wesley quote (found in our 2013-2017  Manual  on p. 49):  “Whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off the relish of spiritual things, whatever increases the authority of your body over mind, that thing for you is sin.”

I know there are things I must avoid which others might not consider sin. For me, to be what God wants me to be, I have to avoid them. Are there things in your life you need to eliminate? 

Inspired by a note written by Dr. Gary Pate. 

2 Corinthians 7

1Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

2Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man. 3I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you. 4Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.

5For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. 6Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus; 7And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more. 8For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. 9Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 10For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 11For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. 12Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you. 13Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all. 14For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth. 15And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him. 16I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.

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Psalms 103

WEEK  11                                           Psalm 103

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

There are two extremes in the Christian Faith when it comes to the benefits of being a believer. The first is that God will supply you with everything you want in this life if you are living right. The second is that all of the benefits of being a Christian come after you die. There are scriptures for both and life experiences to demonstrate both.  The great Wisdom literature in the Bible gives evidence for both points of view. The reason for both is that both are true. I would point out that, though there are benefits now, we are not guaranteed a life without trouble and sometimes a lot of trouble.

 

However, whatever way you lean it can’t be denied that God wants to bless His people and there are benefits to being a Christian. This takes us to the Scripture I am looking at today in Psalms 103:2: “forget not all His benefits.”

 

I believe the greatest challenges in the Christian faith come not from the trials we face but from our own forgetfulness. When we forget, we fail. When we remember, we succeed. This may seem an oversimplification, but the truth is still there. The Old Testament reminds us again and again that a generation rose up that “didn’t know…”; then they sinned.

 

To keep us from falling like them, all we need to do is to remind ourselves of God’s benefits/blessings. This can be done with mental review and with music. “Praise the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me; praise his holy name. . .”

So, are you singing?

Psa 103:1-22

(1)  A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

(2)  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

(3)  Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

(4)  Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

(5)  Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

(6)  The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

(7)  He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

(8)  The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

(9)  He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

(10)  He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

(11)  For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

(12)  As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

(13)  Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

(14)  For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

(15)  As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

(16)  For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

(17)  But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;

(18)  To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

(19)  The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

(20)  Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

(21)  Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.

(22)  Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.

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2 Kings 22

WEEK   11                                         2 Kings 22

TUESDAY  Reflections

Josiah discovered the Law of God, the first five books of the Bible. When he heard what was written, he realized how far Israel and Judah had fallen. As we see in the next chapter, Israel hadn't even held a Passover as complete as the law commanded since the time of the judges (2 Kings 23:22). The reading of the law showed Josiah just how far they were from what God wanted them to be.

 

When Josiah inquired of the Lord, the Lord said that even with reform, judgment was going to fall. What did Josiah do when he heard this? He began a massive reform program. He cleaned up the idolatry and public immorality, and restored the proper worship of God. He did what was right even though he knew ultimately the nation would fall. He didn’t give up or give in. He did what was right knowing that it would only bring a temporary reprieve for the nation. 

 

I have to imagine that this kind of reform brought a great amount of backlash. Yet, he did what God had commanded. What strength and courage did it take? Josiah had to bring the reforms and also know they wouldn’t last. It could have been easy to give up. To say another way, it wouldn't change anything. However, God is very pleased when we do what is right, especially in hopeless situations.

 

As I write this, the West appears to have chosen to embrace darkness and disobedience. Like Isaiah, it seems as if after the times of my prophecies (preaching), destruction will fill the USA. This fear is not to be my focus; my focus has to be on God and what he would have me do, no matter the consequences. This is what God is calling you to do also. Because we don’t know what the future holds, perhaps God will relent as He did with Nineveh.

2Ki 22:1-20
(1)  Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath.
(2)  And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.
(3)  And it came to pass in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house of the LORD, saying,
(4)  Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may sum the silver which is brought into the house of the LORD, which the keepers of the door have gathered of the people:
(5)  And let them deliver it into the hand of the doers of the work, that have the oversight of the house of the LORD: and let them give it to the doers of the work which is in the house of the LORD, to repair the breaches of the house,
(6)  Unto carpenters, and builders, and masons, and to buy timber and hewn stone to repair the house.
(7)  Howbeit there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand, because they dealt faithfully.
(8)  And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
(9)  And Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, and said, Thy servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of them that do the work, that have the oversight of the house of the LORD.
(10)  And Shaphan the scribe shewed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.
(11)  And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes.
(12)  And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king's, saying,
(13)  Go ye, enquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.
(14)  So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her.
(15)  And she said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to me,
(16)  Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read:
(17)  Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched.
(18)  But to the king of Judah which sent you to enquire of the LORD, thus shall ye say to him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, As touching the words which thou hast heard;
(19)  Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the LORD.
(20)  Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again.

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