Ezekiel 1

NOT what Ezekiel saw, not even close.

WEEK  20                                          Ezekiel 1

SATURDAY  Reflections

There is much argument about what the living creatures Ezekiel describes mean. I do believe there is much symbolism in their design, but I also believe that Ezekiel actually saw them. Some may say they are impossible, but have you ever seen a duck-billed platypus? God isn't against creating what we might think as strange or impossible. As fascinating as these may be, I want to look more at the man and the time of Ezekiel's call.

 

Ezekiel was five years in captivity. Judah had been conquered, but Jerusalem had not fallen. Ezekiel is a priest without a temple. Which is kind of like a butcher in a vegetable garden. Yet God is calling him by sending him the vision of these incredible beings. As callings go, Ezekiel's is one of the most bizarre. Others just got a word from God in their hearts; Ezekiel was getting something far more. Considering the things God was going to ask Ezekiel to do, his calling actually makes sense.

 

Perhaps this is a reminder to those who want to see the amazing: Do you want the job that goes with it? Maybe not. As it is, Ezekiel is a prophet to the people of God outside of the nation of Judah. 

Eze 1:1-28
(1)  Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.
(2)  In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity,
(3)  The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him.
(4)  And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.
(5)  Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.
(6)  And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings.
(7)  And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass.
(8)  And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.
(9)  Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.
(10)  As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.
(11)  Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.
(12)  And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went.
(13)  As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.
(14)  And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.
(15)  Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces.
(16)  The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel.
(17)  When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went.
(18)  As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four.
(19)  And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.
(20)  Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
(21)  When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
(22)  And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.
(23)  And under the firmament were their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies.
(24)  And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings.
(25)  And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings.
(26)  And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.
(27)  And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.
(28)  As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.

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Amos 9

WEEK  20                                                Amos 9

FRIDAY  Reflections

As much as I have heard in the past about how mean and vengeful God was in the Old Testament, I have been thrilled to see in the actual studying of the Old Testament, how untrue that idea is. God is so, so patient in the Old Testament. He is constantly working to save a rebellious and obstinate people. Again and again, he works to save those who would trust him.

 

As Amos ends, God is again talking about judging everyone who has been in rebellion, but then everything changes. God's tone changes to one of love and a promise of restoration. Amos ends in hope. God's final word isn't judgment, it is hope. 

Amo 9:1-15
(1)  I saw the Lord standing upon the altar: and he said, Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut them in the head, all of them; and I will slay the last of them with the sword: he that fleeth of them shall not flee away, and he that escapeth of them shall not be delivered.
(2)  Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down:
(3)  And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them:
(4)  And though they go into captivity before their enemies, thence will I command the sword, and it shall slay them: and I will set mine eyes upon them for evil, and not for good.
(5)  And the Lord GOD of hosts is he that toucheth the land, and it shall melt, and all that dwell therein shall mourn: and it shall rise up wholly like a flood; and shall be drowned, as by the flood of Egypt.
(6)  It is he that buildeth his stories in the heaven, and hath founded his troop in the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name.
(7)  Are ye not as children of the Ethiopians unto me, O children of Israel? saith the LORD. Have not I brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt? and the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Syrians from Kir?
(8)  Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, saith the LORD.
(9)  For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.
(10)  All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, which say, The evil shall not overtake nor prevent us.
(11)  In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:
(12)  That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this.
(13)  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.
(14)  And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.
(15)  And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.

Matthew 20

WEEK   20                                           Matthew 20

THURSDAY  Reflections

God isn't fair by human standards and I'm okay with that (most of the time). The parable of the vineyard workers points out how people judge God's generosity and mercy with unkindness. People get angry at God because someone who seems to have gotten an unfair advantage or didn't work as hard as they did. When we get this way, we lose out on God's blessings. If the workers really cared about their fellow workers they should have been glad to see these people get paid a day's wage and now able to meet the needs of their families. The problem was they were focused on themselves and not on the welfare of others or the goodness of the master.

 

I tie this scripture to Paul's admonition to rejoice with those who rejoice (Romans 12:15). Our focus needs to be on God's goodness, mercy, and faithfulness not on our wants. Can you rejoice when someone else is blessed and you aren't? If not you need to grow in Christ.

Mat 20:1-34
(1)  For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
(2)  And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
(3)  And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
(4)  And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
(5)  Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
(6)  And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
(7)  They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
(8)  So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
(9)  And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
(10)  But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
(11)  And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
(12)  Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
(13)  But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
(14)  Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
(15)  Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
(16)  So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
(17)  And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,
(18)  Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,
(19)  And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.
(20)  Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
(21)  And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
(22)  But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
(23)  And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
(24)  And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.
(25)  But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
(26)  But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
(27)  And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
(28)  Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
(29)  And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.
(30)  And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.
(31)  And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.
(32)  And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?
(33)  They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.
(34)  So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

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Psalm 137

WEEK  20                                           Psalm 137

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

The destruction of Jerusalem and Judah as a nation was a tragedy to the Jews. We can understand the heartbreak of seeing all they knew destroyed and seemingly washed away. After this, their captives call for the music which celebrated all that was lost. It would be like asking a mother to sing her child's favorite lullaby to the person who killed her child. 

 

When we come to the end of the Psalm for most of us our understanding turns to horror as the psalmist says the person who kills children should be happy. This is sickening to those in modern times who believe in honorable war or rules of engagement. In ancient times it was and even today in some places it is a common practice. Yet, those who came from Jerusalem saw this type of slaughter done to their own people. It can be understood that they want justice. They also understood God would allow equal retribution on Babylon for their atrocities. Seeing this as God's will they could say that the person carrying out God's will should be happy.

 

I understand this thinking but my heart is revulsed just the same. Jesus has taught us there is a better way, a way of mercy and love. I choose to embrace it.

 

Note: I place this chapter of Psalms here because we will soon meet Ezekiel who will be sitting by the rivers of Babylon. Though his story begins before the complete fall of Jerusalem perhaps it will give you the feeling of what some of those who were with him might have felt.  

Psa 137:1-9
(1)  By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
(2)  We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
(3)  For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.
(4)  How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?
(5)  If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.
(6)  If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.
(7)  Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.
(8)  O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.
(9)  Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.

Amos 8

WEEK  20                                               Amos 8

TUESDAY  Reflections

God warns those who are taking advantage of people yet look religious. In this chapter, there is also a warning that though people look for the word of the Lord they will not find it. I read this and think about those who are dying of lung cancer then decide to quit smoking. Yes, quitting might still be good but it is too late to make any difference in the outcome. You can't train to be a fighter five minutes before entering the ring. So Israel can't expect to get a word from God on how to avoid judgment when judgment is falling. It is too late.

 

As Isaiah 55:6 says "Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near."(NIV).

Amo 8:1-14
(1)  Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me: and behold a basket of summer fruit.
(2)  And he said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then said the LORD unto me, The end is come upon my people of Israel; I will not again pass by them any more.
(3)  And the songs of the temple shall be howlings in that day, saith the Lord GOD: there shall be many dead bodies in every place; they shall cast them forth with silence.
(4)  Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail,
(5)  Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit?
(6)  That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat?
(7)  The LORD hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob, Surely I will never forget any of their works.
(8)  Shall not the land tremble for this, and every one mourn that dwelleth therein? and it shall rise up wholly as a flood; and it shall be cast out and drowned, as by the flood of Egypt.
(9)  And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day:
(10)  And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day.
(11)  Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
(12)  And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.
(13)  In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst.
(14)  They that swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, Thy god, O Dan, liveth; and, The manner of Beersheba liveth; even they shall fall, and never rise up again.

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