Ezekiel 8

WEEK 2                                             Ezekiel 8

SATURDAY  Reflections

Of course, if one doesn't believe God can take people by the spirit to other places, then this chapter is just Ezekiel speculating on what he thinks is happening in Jerusalem.  However, since I believe God can do the impossible, I believe Ezekiel is given a glimpse into what is happening back in Jerusalem, in the very place God is to be worshipped.

 

There isn't just one form of idolatry taking place in God's holy temple, but multitudes. God is asking Ezekiel, do you see this? Ezekiel does, but the real question is, do you really understand how abominable these actions are? These things aren't taking place in the community or in a secret place, but in God's house.

 

How bad is this? It reminds me of a story I was told. My grandfather brought home a woman while my grandmother was pregnant and bedfast. They walked right in front of her, and he let her know what was going on. She was unable to move while hearing her husband commit adultery in their bedroom. I'm so glad I knew grandpa after he changed his ways because what he did was inexcusable. This story sickens me, but this is exactly what was happening, not once, but regularly in God's temple. God can forgive, as my grandmother, with God's help, forgave my grandfather.

Ezekiel 8:1-18
(1)  And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell there upon me.
(2)  Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber.
(3)  And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy.
(4)  And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain.
(5)  Then said he unto me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes now the way toward the north. So I lifted up mine eyes the way toward the north, and behold northward at the gate of the altar this image of jealousy in the entry.
(6)  He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations.
(7)  And he brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold a hole in the wall.
(8)  Then said he unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in the wall, behold a door.
(9)  And he said unto me, Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here.
(10)  So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, pourtrayed upon the wall round about.
(11)  And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up.
(12)  Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth.
(13)  He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do.
(14)  Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD'S house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.
(15)  Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these.
(16)  And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.
(17)  Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose.
(18)  Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.

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Hosea 8

WEEK  2                                            Hosea 8

FRIDAY  Reflections

"They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind" (Hosea 8:7).

 

Often, the consequence of sin and wrongdoing seems greater than the original action. We may claim it isn't fair, but it is the way of life. We might not like it, but pointing a finger at God and saying it isn't right is like complaining because you don't like gravity. This may seem wrong, but when considered in life, when one sows one seed a person gets back more than he sowed. It is the law of the harvest and when applied to doing and living right it is a wonderful thing. However, when vanity/evil/selfishness are sown, the harvest is just as unpleasant.

 

The lesson to learn is what is sown grows, so sow good.

 

You can sow wild oats and then pray for a crop failure. 

Hos 8:1-14
(1)  Set the trumpet to thy mouth. He shall come as an eagle against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law.
(2)  Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee.
(3)  Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him.
(4)  They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.
(5)  Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will it be ere they attain to innocency?
(6)  For from Israel was it also: the workman made it; therefore it is not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.
(7)  For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.
(8)  Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure.
(9)  For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.
(10)  Yea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them, and they shall sorrow a little for the burden of the king of princes.
(11)  Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin.
(12)  I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing.
(13)  They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the LORD accepteth them not; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt.

(14)  For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.

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Matthew 26

WEEK  2                                              Matthew 26

THURSDAY  Reflections

Jesus asked his disciples, "Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” (verses 53-54 NIV). Jesus knew what he faced, though hard and painful, it was worth the price. The lesson is this if we are followers of Christ, we, like him, may need to go through suffering and maybe even death to see God's will accomplished. A servant, as Jesus said, is not greater than his master.  

 Paul echoes this in 2 Corinthians 1:5-6 "For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer" (NIV). In other places, Paul again says his suffering is worth it to see others saved. 

There are 75 verses in Matthew 26 covering a lot of material. What grabs your heart today?

Mat 26:1-75

(1)  And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples,

(2)  Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.

(3)  Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,

(4)  And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.

(5)  But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.

(6)  Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,

(7)  There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.

(8)  But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?

(9)  For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.

(10)  When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.

(11)  For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.

(12)  For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.

(13)  Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

(14)  Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,

(15)  And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

(16)  And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

(17)  Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?

(18)  And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.

(19)  And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.

(20)  Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.

(21)  And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

(22)  And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?

(23)  And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.

(24)  The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.

(25)  Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.

(26)  And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

(27)  And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

(28)  For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

(29)  But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

(30)  And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

(31)  Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

(32)  But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.

(33)  Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.

(34)  Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

(35)  Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

(36)  Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

(37)  And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

(38)  Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

(39)  And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

(40)  And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

(41)  Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

(42)  He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

(43)  And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.

(44)  And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

(45)  Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

(46)  Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.

(47)  And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.

(48)  Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.

(49)  And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.

(50)  And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

(51)  And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.

(52)  Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

(53)  Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

(54)  But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

(55)  In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.

(56)  But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

(57)  And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.

(58)  But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.

(59)  Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;

(60)  But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,

(61)  And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

(62)  And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?

(63)  But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.

(64)  Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

(65)  Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.

(66)  What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.

(67)  Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,

(68)  Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?

(69)  Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.

(70)  But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.

(71)  And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.

(72)  And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.

(73)  And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.

(74)  Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.

(75)  And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

Psalm 96

WEEK  2                                                Psalm 96

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

Praise God with a new song! We don't always have to sing the old ones. When we realize how great God is we will want to tell the nation.

 

How great is God? Consider He made everything, yes everything. So let's praise God! Let's give God everything due to Him and since He made everything that means we need to give Him, everything.


Psa 96:1-13
(1)  O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.
(2)  Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.
(3)  Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.
(4)  For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.
(5)  For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
(6)  Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
(7)  Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.
(8)  Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.
(9)  O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
(10)  Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.
(11)  Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.
(12)  Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice
(13)  Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.

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Hosea 7

WEEK  2                                             Hosea 7

TUESDAY  Reflections

Verse 7 reminds Israel of their destination. The northern tribe of Israel had kings from many different lineages, some lasting only a short time. Yet, they always returned to disobeying God. There was never a king in the northern tribes that God called good or that called out to God.

 

I consider how often people think that if we just had a different leader, everything would be better, but this is foolish. Yes, leaders can change some things and sometimes bring amazing change, but if the people never change, there is only so much a leader can do. Besides this, we see no evidence that Israel truly en masse called out to God for godly leaders. They accepted regime change, but all they did was go from one disappointment to the next; none ever did what was "good in the sight of the Lord." 

Hos 7:1-16
(1)  When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, and the troop of robbers spoileth without.
(2)  And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now their own doings have beset them about; they are before my face.
(3)  They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.
(4)  They are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, who ceaseth from raising after he hath kneaded the dough, until it be leavened.
(5)  In the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners.
(6)  For they have made ready their heart like an oven, whiles they lie in wait: their baker sleepeth all the night; in the morning it burneth as a flaming fire.
(7)  They are all hot as an oven, and have devoured their judges; all their kings are fallen: there is none among them that calleth unto me.
(8)  Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.
(9)  Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.
(10)  And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: and they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek him for all this.
(11)  Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.
(12)  When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard.
(13)  Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.
(14)  And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me.
(15)  Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me.
(16)  They return, but not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.

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