Ezekiel 15

WEEK  9                                              Ezekiel 15

SATURDAY  Reflections

Vines are of little use to make furniture or any real wood product. If the vine produces no fruit, then there really isn't any use for them but to be thrown into the fire. Jesus refers to this imagery in John 15. Here, God is telling the people of Jerusalem they are just as unfruitful and therefore worthless. As a person carelessly throws vines into the fire, so Jerusalem will feel like it is thrown into judgment.  Whose fault is this? The people who chose to disobey God. 

Eze 15:1-8
(1)  And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
(2)  Son of man, What is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest?
(3)  Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon?
(4)  Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned. Is it meet for any work?
(5)  Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less shall it be meet yet for any work, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned?
(6)  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; As the vine tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
(7)  And I will set my face against them; they shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them.
(8)  And I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass, saith the Lord GOD.

Photo by Siim Lukka on Unsplash

Micah 4

WEEK  9                                            Micah 4

FRIDAY  Reflections

Here is a great picture of God's redemptive work. God will bring not just the children of Abraham but others into His kingdom. What is the path to this? Captivity! Yes, Micah claims that God's way to bring His deliverance is through Babylon, a heathen country, the land of their enemies. God is not going to leave them there; this is just part of the path God has chosen. 

 

We at times must go through our versions of Babylon. Like Israel, this isn't where God wants us to stay, but it is where we must travel to become all God wants us to be. The path God wants us to take to victory often must go through the land of the enemy. Don't be discouraged; God will do what is needed. 

Mic 4:1-13
(1)  But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.
(2)  And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
(3)  And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
(4)  But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.
(5)  For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.
(6)  In that day, saith the LORD, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted;
(7)  And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.
(8)  And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.
(9)  Now why dost thou cry out aloud? is there no king in thee? is thy counsellor perished? for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail.
(10)  Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; there the LORD shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.
(11)  Now also many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion.
(12)  But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.
(13)  Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.

Photo by Robert Bye on Unsplash Pictures in my blog have some connection with the topic or the chapter, some are clearer than others. Here I see enemy land are as dangerous as entering a field of land mines.  

2 Corinthians 5

WEEK  9                                        2 Corinthians 5

THURSDAY  Reflections

We are all going to die, but Christians have something better coming. When we die, we go to be with God. We will all be judged. Christians will be judged for our actions (not salvation). The judgment of God causes Paul to persuade people to come to Jesus. We are new creatures in Christ. We have a new life because Jesus took on our sins and paid for them. Jesus never sinned. All these truths and more are found in this chapter.

 

For me, the promise that when our life is over we go to be with God gives comfort. This isn't an escape I'm looking for, but the gift I know is coming. There is more than just this world, and this gives me hope. Paul's teachings are one of the reasons I do not believe in soul sleep. 

What is God teaching you today?

2Co 5:1-21
(1)  For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
(2)  For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
(3)  If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
(4)  For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
(5)  Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
(6)  Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
(7)  (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
(8)  We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
(9)  Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
(10)  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
(11)  Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
(12)  For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.
(13)  For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.
(14)  For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
(15)  And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
(16)  Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
(17)  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
(18)  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
(19)  To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
(20)  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
(21)  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Photo by Alex Blăjan on Unsplash

Psalm 102

WEEK   9                                             Psalm 102

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

One of the things that gives me peace is the honesty of the Psalms. There is no glossing over; if the psalmist is happy, he rejoices; if he is sad, he laments; if he is angry, then that too is demonstrated. God knows us, and the Psalms reflect Him and us. It shows us how we can be honest with God

 

In Psalm 102, the psalmist pours out his pain. Yet, the psalmist understands God will do what is right. God will make everything right. This reminds me of what Jim Collins in his book, Good to Great, calls the Stockdale Paradox. I won't go into detail (Read it; it's great stuff), but it is believing that things will work out but brutally accepting the truth of the current situation. The psalmist understands both his plight and God's faithfulness. 

Psa 102:1-28
(1)  A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD. Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee.
(2)  Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.
(3)  For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.
(4)  My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.
(5)  By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.
(6)  I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.
(7)  I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.
(8)  Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me.
(9)  For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,
(10)  Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.
(11)  My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.
(12)  But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.
(13)  Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.
(14)  For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.
(15)  So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.
(16)  When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.
(17)  He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.
(18)  This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.
(19)  For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;
(20)  To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;
(21)  To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;
(22)  When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
(23)  He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.
(24)  I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations.
(25)  Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
(26)  They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:
(27)  But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.
(28)  The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.

Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash

Micah 3

WEEK  9                                             Micah 3

TUESDAY  Reflections

As much as God is angered at the abuse of the rich, he is angry with leaders and teachers who are doing wrong. Micah points out that the princes of Jacob and Israel are so corrupt that it is as if they are cooking the people and eating them, because of their ruthless and brutal abuse. They do their work as a way to get a reward(a bribe), not to assure life is going well for their people. There was no concept of a prince being in public service for the sake of the people.

 

The prophets and the priests were just as bad because they were not serving God but only serving people for profit. God was never against the servants of God being paid and paid fairly. However, the focus had gone from serving God to serving people for the reward. For those in ministry, the ministry is always to God, period.

Mic 3:1-12
(1)  And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel; Is it not for you to know judgment?
(2)  Who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones;
(3)  Who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them; and they break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the caldron.
(4)  Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings.
(5)  Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him.
(6)  Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them.
(7)  Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God.
(8)  But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.
(9)  Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity.
(10)  They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity.
(11)  The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.
(12)  Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.