Ezekiel 18

WEEK  12                                             Ezekiel 18

SATURDAY  Reflections

This chapter sums up how God deals with people. Each according to their own sin. It has been said, “God has no grandchildren,” and this chapter confirms it. Each person is rewarded or punished for their own actions.

 

However, God is not without mercy. He is willing to forgive sinners if they repent. But just as God is willing to forgive, God is also righteous, so right living doesn't guarantee a relationship with God if a person leaves it and begins to live in disobedience to God. As someone said, “It isn't how you begin but how you end the race that matters.” 

 

Israel's issue was that they wanted to blame God for being unfair when they were the ones not living correctly. Even today, we like to find someone else to blame for our problems. The one person we don't want to blame is ourselves. 

Eze 18:1-32
(1)  The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,
(2)  What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?
(3)  As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.
(4)  Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
(5)  But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,
(6)  And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman,
(7)  And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment;
(8)  He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man,
(9)  Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD.
(10)  If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that doeth the like to any one of these things,
(11)  And that doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour's wife,
(12)  Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination,
(13)  Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.
(14)  Now, lo, if he beget a son, that seeth all his father's sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like,
(15)  That hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbour's wife,
(16)  Neither hath oppressed any, hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, but hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment,
(17)  That hath taken off his hand from the poor, that hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live.
(18)  As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity.
(19)  Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.
(20)  The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
(21)  But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
(22)  All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.
(23)  Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
(24)  But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.
(25)  Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?
(26)  When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.
(27)  Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.
(28)  Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
(29)  Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?
(30)  Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
(31)  Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
(32)  For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

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Zephaniah 3

WEEK   12                                        Zephaniah 3

FRIDAY  Reflections

Destruction upon destruction, and now Zephaniah ends with God singing words like "Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem!" (verse 14 NIV). As with the other prophets, God ends with words of hope and an invitation to join him in His song. God will restore not just Israel to their land, but He will restore their hearts to Himself. God is going to make all right.

Zep 3:1-20
(1)  Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!
(2)  She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God.
(3)  Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.
(4)  Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.
(5)  The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.
(6)  I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant.
(7)  I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings.
(8)  Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
(9)  For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.
(10)  From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.
(11)  In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain.
(12)  I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.
(13)  The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.
(14)  Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.
(15)  The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.
(16)  In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.
(17)  The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
(18)  I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.
(19)  Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.
(20)  At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.

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2 Corinthians 8

WEEK   12                                       2 Corinthians 8

THURSDAY  Reflections

"For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have" (2 Corinthians 8:12)

 

It isn't the amount you give; it’s willingness. If you don't have a lot, give your 10% even if it's only $5. According to God, you have given more than a person who has given a million but has only given 5%.  What matters to God is never the amount but the heart, the willingness. Remember, the widow who Jesus said gave more, though all she gave was the minimum (Mark 12:43).

 

A Warning: Often, especially in affluent societies, it is easy to think you have less than you really do. The statistics say that even the poor in the West are richer than most of the rest of the world. Paul was amazed at the giving of the poor in Macedonia and praised them. He didn't refuse to let them give because they were poor but reminded the rich that they could do so much better.

 

2Co 8:1-24
(1)  Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
(2)  How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
(3)  For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
(4)  Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
(5)  And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
(6)  Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
(7)  Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
(8)  I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
(9)  For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
(10)  And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.
(11)  Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
(12)  For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
(13)  For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
(14)  But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
(15)  As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
(16)  But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.
(17)  For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.
(18)  And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;
(19)  And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:
(20)  Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:
(21)  Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
(22)  And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.
(23)  Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.
(24)  Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.

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Psalm 104

WEEK 12                                         Psalms 104

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

This psalm sings of God, the creator and maintainer of the world. The poetry of the created world and God the supplier is refreshing compared to some of the other psalms. As the psalm ends, the writer says his meditations of God are sweet. When we see God as creator and sustainer of the universe, then our meditations are sweet. When we get distracted by the wrong in the world or in us, our meditations are not all they should be. 

Psa 104:1-35
(1)  Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
(2)  Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
(3)  Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:
(4)  Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:
(5)  Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.
(6)  Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.
(7)  At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.
(8)  They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.
(9)  Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.
(10)  He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.
(11)  They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.
(12)  By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.
(13)  He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.
(14)  He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;
(15)  And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.
(16)  The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;
(17)  Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.
(18)  The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.
(19)  He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.
(20)  Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.
(21)  The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.
(22)  The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.
(23)  Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.
(24)  O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
(25)  So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.
(26)  There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.
(27)  These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.
(28)  That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.
(29)  Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.
(30)  Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.
(31)  The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.
(32)  He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.
(33)  I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
(34)  My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.
(35)  Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.

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Zephaniah 2

Not a car...

WEEK  12                                          Zephaniah 2

TUESDAY  Reflections

If I were going to create a meme for this chapter, it would be the picture of Oprah Winfrey when she famously pointed out to the audience and said, "You get a car, you get a car, everyone gets a car." Of course, as in the world of memes, it would instead say, "You get destroyed, you get destroyed, everyone gets destroyed." Unlike Oprah's audience, I don't think Zephaniah's audience was even close to being happy. Yet this was God's message.

 

The only hope in this message was to those few who were trying to obey God. Zephaniah's words were: keep serving God and trust that they will be okay. There was a promise for the remnant who survived that the nations of Philistia, Moab, and Ammon would belong to them, but they had to survive first.

 

God rarely promises everything will go perfectly for those who follow him. In the New Testament, Jesus' words are even less reassuring as he promises hardship for his followers. However, for those who do follow God, the rewards are worth the pain. 

Zep 2:1-15
(1)  Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired;
(2)  Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD'S anger come upon you.
(3)  Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.
(4)  For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.
(5)  Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant.
(6)  And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks.
(7)  And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.
(8)  I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border.
(9)  Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.
(10)  This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the LORD of hosts.
(11)  The LORD will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.
(12)  Ye Ethiopians also, ye shall be slain by my sword.
(13)  And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a wilderness.
(14)  And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he shall uncover the cedar work.
(15)  This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.

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