Psalm 99

WEEK   5                                        Psalm 99

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

We understand that things are not fair, but we want them to be. Inside us is this idea that things should be right. This is because God put it there. The problem, of course, is too often people see fairness and justice only from their perspective. They blame others because of lack of opportunities and rightly so, but then they don't use the other opportunities God has given. Others look at their hard work but forget the benefits which help them get there and refuse to recognize it or to reward those who did help. 

God established justice and equity (fairness). He will make all things right. He is the one we need to look to when it comes to being fair, not our own thoughts because, as I pointed out, we can be prejudice. 

Psa 99:1-9
(1)  The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved.
(2)  The LORD is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people.
(3)  Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy.
(4)  The king's strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob.
(5)  Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.
(6)  Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.
(7)  He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them.
(8)  Thou answeredst them, O LORD our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions.
(9)  Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.

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Hosea 13

WEEK  5                                            Hosea 13

TUESDAY  Reflections

God reminds Israel again of who he is. God is the only God they need to know because he is the only one who has saved them. He saved them from Egypt, and He provided for them. He gave them a king when they asked for one for all the wrong reasons. He also will not save them from the destruction of their nation that they have brought on themselves, but God will use it to bring them to salvation.

Hos 13:1-16
(1)  When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.
(2)  And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.
(3)  Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.
(4)  Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.
(5)  I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.
(6)  According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.
(7)  Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them:
(8)  I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.
(9)  O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help.
(10)  I will be thy king: where is any other that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes?
(11)  I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath.
(12)  The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid.
(13)  The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son; for he should not stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children.
(14)  I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.
(15)  Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the wind of the LORD shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels.
(16)  Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.

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2 Kings 14

WEEK  5                                                2 Kings 14

MONDAY  Reflections

King Amaziah did right, but only just. This is how I read this chapter. Yes, there were things he did well. He didn't exact revenge on the children of wrongdoers as was the custom (though God forbid it).  He didn't allow idols per se, but did allow people to worship in other places and presumably other gods. He was a man of war trying to take more and more by warfare, which cost Judah, and probably gave the motivation for others to kill him. We today would describe someone like Amaziah as a Christian, but just barely, and most definitely carnal and immature. This is a shame because he missed out on all God could have done for him. God has so much more for those who follow Him with their whole heart. 

2Ki 14:1-29
(1)  In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel reigned Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah.
(2)  He was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.
(3)  And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like David his father: he did according to all things as Joash his father did.
(4)  Howbeit the high places were not taken away: as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places.
(5)  And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, that he slew his servants which had slain the king his father.
(6)  But the children of the murderers he slew not: according unto that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, wherein the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin.
(7)  He slew of Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand, and took Selah by war, and called the name of it Joktheel unto this day.
(8)  Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face.
(9)  And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.
(10)  Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thine heart hath lifted thee up: glory of this, and tarry at home: for why shouldest thou meddle to thy hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?
(11)  But Amaziah would not hear. Therefore Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Bethshemesh, which belongeth to Judah.
(12)  And Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to their tents.
(13)  And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Bethshemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits.
(14)  And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria.
(15)  Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did, and his might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
(16)  And Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his son reigned in his stead.
(17)  And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years.
(18)  And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
(19)  Now they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem: and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish, and slew him there.
(20)  And they brought him on horses: and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David.
(21)  And all the people of Judah took Azariah, which was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah.
(22)  He built Elath, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.
(23)  In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel began to reign in Samaria, and reigned forty and one years.
(24)  And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.
(25)  He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gathhepher.
(26)  For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter: for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel.
(27)  And the LORD said not that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven: but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.
(28)  Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, which belonged to Judah, for Israel, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
(29)  And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel; and Zachariah his son reigned in his stead.

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Ezekiel 10

WEEK  4                                                 Ezekiel 10

SATURDAY  Reflections

This chapter shows the Spirit of God leaving the temple. God, who chose this place to meet with man, is now leaving. While leaving, the creatures take coals from off the altar. These actions demonstrate not only that God was leaving but that the sacrifices offered would be worthless. The fire on the altar was first lit by God, and the fire was never to go out, so in a way, the same fire that began the sacrificial system was being used. By God taking the coal from the altar, He was taking that fire from Jerusalem and going toward where His true worshipers were. 

 

God was saying, I will not accept your sacrifices any longer. This was God in a sense, issuing a decree of separation; the marriage as they knew it was over. God was walking out the door.

Eze 10:1-22
(1)  Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.
(2)  And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight.
(3)  Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court.
(4)  Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD'S glory.
(5)  And the sound of the cherubims' wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh.
(6)  And it came to pass, that when he had commanded the man clothed with linen, saying, Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubims; then he went in, and stood beside the wheels.
(7)  And one cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubims unto the fire that was between the cherubims, and took thereof, and put it into the hands of him that was clothed with linen: who took it, and went out.
(8)  And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a man's hand under their wings.
(9)  And when I looked, behold the four wheels by the cherubims, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub: and the appearance of the wheels was as the colour of a beryl stone.
(10)  And as for their appearances, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel.
(11)  When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went.
(12)  And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, even the wheels that they four had.
(13)  As for the wheels, it was cried unto them in my hearing, O wheel.
(14)  And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
(15)  And the cherubims were lifted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar.
(16)  And when the cherubims went, the wheels went by them: and when the cherubims lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also turned not from beside them.
(17)  When they stood, these stood; and when they were lifted up, these lifted up themselves also: for the spirit of the living creature was in them.
(18)  Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims.
(19)  And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD'S house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.
(20)  This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar; and I knew that they were the cherubims.
(21)  Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.
(22)  And the likeness of their faces was the same faces which I saw by the river of Chebar, their appearances and themselves: they went every one straight forward.

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Hosea 12

WEEK  4                                          Hosea 12

FRIDAY  Reflections

God is reminding Israel and Judah that they are facing judgment. God reminds them of their heritage in Jacob the Grasper. Though he didn't live right, Jacob should have found mercy with God. They were reminded how the Lord became Jacob's memorial.

God is reminding Israel and Jacob that they, too, can return to God by calling out with weeping (grief over sin). God reminds them of His actions by telling them of the feast of tabernacles and His willingness to take them out of where they are. 

It is the same message God is giving to us today. 

Hos 12:1-14
(1)  Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.
(2)  The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.
(3)  He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:
(4)  Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us;
(5)  Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial.
(6)  Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.
(7)  He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.
(8)  And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin.
(9)  And I that am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast.
(10)  I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.
(11)  Is there iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields.
(12)  And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.
(13)  And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.
(14)  Ephraim provoked him to anger most bitterly: therefore shall he leave his blood upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.