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2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 259 & 260

Sep16

    Days 259 & 260—We are in the NINETH month of Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history, DANIEL’s prophecy, and beginning of EZRA.

NOTE: Sunday and Monday studies are posted on Monday.

    Day 259 – Daniel 10 – 12 (more prophecy of Daniel’s and our future)

The visions, with the angels, battles, the rise & fall of kings & kingdoms, and the final time of the end, are very hard to understand, even for Daniel, who had angels to help him. Several times, he had to be strengthened by the messengers. He says, “I heard, but I did not understand.”  Me too, Daniel!

Daniel 10. Daniel is still staggering from the first set of visions. He is mourning and eating minimally when he sees another angel described with a face like lightning, eyes like flaming torches, arms and legs gleaming like polished bronze, and a voice like the sounds of multitudes. Without strength, Daniel falls to the ground, face down, in deep sleep. Then, a hand touches him and sets him on his hands and knees.  “O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you and stand upright, for I have been sent to you.”

The angel continues that from the first day (21 days earlier) that Daniel humbled himself before God, he was heard, and the angel was sent. However, spiritual warfare hindered him until the archangel Michael came to help, and he was released to go to Daniel. 

Again, Daniel became weak, and the angel had to strengthen him.  “O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.”  The angel then says he will tell Daniel “what is inscribed in the book of truth,” but then he must return to fight that spiritual battle with Michael (assuring that the king fulfills his purpose in decreeing Israel’s return.)

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Daniel 11.  This prophecy goes from the history of spiritual conflict in Israel to the tribulation when Michael aids in fully delivering Israel (12:1) and looks ahead to the final Antichrist. (whew!)   

Verses 2-35 show the fulfillment of the Persian kingdom (the fourth king is Xerxes or Ahasuerus from the book of Esther) and the reign of Greece (Alexander the Great and 4 generals) through Antiochus Epiphanes. 

The king of the south (the Ptolemies of Egypt) and the king of the north (the Seleucids of Syria) fought for almost 200 years.  Antiochus IV’s armies crisscrossed the holy land in battle with Egypt several times and, on the way murdered Jews, took slaves, and desecrated the temple at one point by sacrificing a pig. (verses 28, 31)  Some Jews who “know their God” (verse 32) stood against him and took action, prevailed for a while, with some help from Rome, and then suffered intense persecution (verses 33-35). 

Verses 36-45 show the fulfillment of God’s prophetic plan of “Daniel’s 70th week” and the transition from Antiochus to Antichrist.  These verses show the character and activities of the Antichrist in the future time of the end.  Verse 45 says, “he shall come to his end, with none to help him” (Rev. 19:20).  (See all of this in Revelation 12, 13, 17, 20, and 21)

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Daniel 12.   Verse 1 flashes back to when the Antichrist rages during the Tribulation years. Again, the Archangel Michael protects Israel.  And there will be deliverance for Daniel’s people, “whose name is written down in the book (of the saved). Of those who have died, some will wake to everlasting life and shine like the brightness of the sky, and some will awake to shame and everlasting contempt.

At that point, Daniel is instructed to “seal the book until the time of the end.”  Then, Daniel saw another vision where a man asked how long it would be until the end. And the angel said that it would be for a time, times, and half a time. (the final 3.5 years of Daniel’s 70th week)

When Daniel asks what the outcome will be, he is told to “Go your way, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end.”  But he IS told that MANY will be purified.  

“Go your way till the end. And you shall rest (soon die) and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of days.” (The Resurrection)

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(What a faithful, well-loved servant of God, taken as a young teen from his country to live and serve many pagan kings, speaking for God, never wavering, interceding for his people, and finally writing this end times prophecy that rivals The Revelation by John.)

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    Day 260 – Ezra 1 – 3 (The first of 3 waves of exiles returning, genealogies to prove their places and the priesthood)

As there were three waves of deportation FROM Israel, so there are three waves of return TO Jerusalem.  The book of Ezra chronicles the first (with Zerubbabel) and second (with Ezra himself). (Nehemiah later leads the third wave.)

Ezra 1.  In confirmation of Jeremiah’s prophecy and with the LORD stirring his spirit, King Cyrus of Persia proclaimed throughout his kingdom (even put it into writing) that the Temple of the LORD in Jerusalem was to be rebuilt.  And whoever of the people of Israel who wanted to should go to rebuild it. He also told the neighbors around the returnees to assist them with silver, gold, goods, beasts, and freewill offerings.  (This kind of reminds me of when the Jews left Egypt.)

So, God stirred up the people, including the heads of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and Levites, to go “up” to Jerusalem to rebuild the house of the LORD, aided by all the goods their neighbors gave them. King Cyrus also brought out all the vessels from the Temple that King Nebuchadnezzar had stolen to be returned, putting the treasurer and the prince of Judah in charge of them.

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Ezra 2. And so Zerubbabel led out the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried captive to Babylon. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town. The whole three-wave assembly, including the priests and Levites, as well as servants, singers, and those from Ezra’s and Nehemiah’s time and other tribes of Israel (10,777) who also returned (counted from the lists in Ezra 8 and Nehemiah 6), amounted to 50,000. 

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Ezra 3. After the people arrived, they were occupied with their own dwellings.  After that, they turned to build the altar of burnt offerings as per the Law of Moses. They offered burnt offerings to the LORD morning and evening “for fear was on them because of the peoples of the lands.”  They kept the Feast of Booths and offered monthly and daily (morning and evening) offerings to the Lord. 

Then they paid masons and carpenters and sent goods to the people of Tyre and Sidon to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea and to Joppa (according to the grant they had from King Cyrus).  The Levites who had returned supervised the work.  And they laid the foundation of the Temple. 

And they sang the songs of Thanksgiving ordered by King David and written by Asaph.  “For He is good, for His mercy endures forever toward Israel.”

The people sang and praised the LORD loudly because the foundation was built, but the old timers who remembered the glory of Solomon’s temple wept in equally loud voices, so no one could distinguish the sounds of joyful shouts from the people’s loud weeping.  “And the sound was heard far away.”

 

 

 

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2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 256

Sep12

    Day 256—We are in the NINETH month of Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history and future visions in DANIEL’S prophecy.

    Day 256 – Daniel 1 – 3 (Daniel & friends in Babylon, prosperity & persecution)

Daniel and his three friends (from noble Jewish families) were taken captive in Nebuchadnezzar’s first of three mass deportations. The boys were probably around 15 years old. Daniel lived there through the entire 70 years of captivity and possibly longer. He rose high in the government of several powerful kings but never turned from the LORD his God. 

Daniel 1.  The Babylonian king instructed Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch in charge of the eunuchs, to prepare some of the wise, good-looking, skilled, well-learned, and courtly young men of the royal and noble Jews to learn the Babylonian ways and language.  Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were some of the chosen. They all received Babylonian names and began a rich diet of the king’s food and wine.

Oops! Not kosher!!

These faithful Jewish youth did not want to defile themselves according to Jewish dietary laws and asked Ashpenaz if they could just have veggies and water. Despite his fear that the boys would look skinny before the king and he would lose his head, Ashpenaz gave them 10 days as a test.  After eating vegan for the test, the four boys looked better and were more alert than all the others, so the chief eunuch allowed them to continue to eat kosher.  GOD gave them learning, skill, and wisdom, and to Daniel, He gave understanding in all visions and dreams.  In fact, when Ashpenaz brought them before Nebuchadnezzar at the end of three years, the king found them 10X better than all the magicians and enchanters in his kingdom.  

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Daniel 2.  Now, Daniel’s dream skills were to be tested. Nebuchadnezzar had a night of nightmares and the following day, commanded all the Chaldean magicians, enchanters, and sorcerers to come and tell him the meaning of his dream. They arrived and asked the king what he dreamed so they could “concoct” a favorable interpretation.  But no!  The king required them to TELL HIM THE DREAM TOO, which they could not.  “You shall be torn limb from limb and your houses destroyed!!!” shouted the king. After denying “anyone’s” ability to do what the king wanted, he sentenced them all to death.

Fortunately for them, when Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard came to arrest Daniel, he calmly asked what the big rigamarole was. He then made an appointment to see the king and tell him ALL HE WISHED TO KNOW.

Then he asked his three friends to “seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so they might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men.”  That night, God revealed the mystery to Daniel.  “Oh, blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might…”  “To You, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for YOU have given me wisdom and might and have now made known to me what we asked of you.”  

Then, Arioch brought Daniel to the king.

“Can you make the dream and its interpretation known to me?” demanded the King.

“Not me, but the God of Heaven can do it,” answered Daniel.

So, Daniel tells Nebuchadnezzar his dream of a giant statue made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, and iron mixed with clay. He shows the king how this image represents the world’s kingdoms, beginning with Babylon as the head of gold.  He also tells the king that a stone will strike the image’s feet, destroy it, and then grow into a mountain that fills the whole earth. This represents how the great God of Heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed.

Wow, and double wow! 

The king is flabbergasted, falls on his face, and pays homage to Daniel. “Truly your God is God of Gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries.”  The king gives Daniel all kinds of promotions to top Prefect in Babylon. (At Daniel’s request, the king appoints his three friends to govern the provinces.) 

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Daniel 3.  The king becomes enamored with the statue he dreamed about and that the golden head represents “him.”  He commands an entire image of gold be made – that no doubt looks remarkably like him.  Then he commands ALL people everywhere to bow to this image when he begins to play his favorite tunes on Spotify. They do.  EXCEPT Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. (And Daniel, but he’s not in the picture here.)  

Okay, remember those wizards and wise men who were demoted when Daniel revealed the king’s dream?  They are royally aggrieved with the Hebrew youngsters taking over their key spots. So they spy on the three governors and tattle to the king about their now bowing to the statue. 

Nebuchadnezzar is now also “royally” aggrieved and sends for the three.  He thinks that maybe his instructions aren’t clear, so he tells them again. 

“Worship my golden image when the music plays, or you’ll be thrown into the furnace.”  How clear can he get? 

But the three refuse. “Not on your life, er, on our lives, will we bow to another besides our great God of Heaven?  Even if you roast us. Hey, our God may save us!!  But even if not, we won’t bow to a golden image.  WE KNOW why our people are here in Babylon instead of in Judah. Worshiping stupid idols!

Music. Upright boys. King’s fury. Three hurled in. The guards fried on the spot. Four in the furnace. No ropes. Walking around praising God. HUH???  Yep, the king thinks he’s seeing things again. He commands they be drawn out of the furnace. They aren’t scorched or even singed. They don’t smell of smoke. 

Of course, now, Nebuchadnezzar turns his back on the image and worships “the Most High God,” the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego…. because of their witness.  They willingly yielded their bodies to be burned rather than worship any God except their own God, the LORD. 

Nebuchadnezzar made a decree that it was illegal to speak anything against their God, punishable by being torn limb from limb and their houses destroyed. “For there is no other God who is able to rescue in this way.”

(And the three were promoted even higher in the province of Babylon.)

 

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 254

Sep10

    Day 254—We are in the NINETH month of Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history and the conclusion of EZEKIEL’s prophecy.

    Day 254– Ezekiel 46-48 (Visions and instructions of the new temple, offerings, the prince, the freshening river, and future land divisions)

Ezekiel 46. This chapter itemizes many of the feasts and sacrifices/offerings that will take place in this new, huge temple area. Also, practically, it describes kitchens where the meats and grains will be boiled for the Priests’ use.

An interesting point is about the three gates of the temple courtyard. Only the “prince” shall use the East gate, and when the people come in to worship, they will enter either at the South or North gates and exit at the opposite ones. (North to South, South to North).  It’s suitable for traffic flow, but it may illustrate that the people go out “different” after worshiping the LORD GOD.

Ezekiel 47. This chapter portrays an amazing, cleansing, freshening, life-giving river that begins as a stream from under the temple’s threshold.  It flows between the temple and the altar and seems to seep out the south side.  In the vision, the Bronze builder leads Ezekiel in increments of 1,000 cubits (1,500 feet) along this rapidly increasing river, showing him how it gets deeper and deeper until it’s above the prophet’s head.  It eventually flows into the Dead Sea (Salt Sea), making the water drinkable and teaming with fish. Plants and fruitful trees grow along its banks.  (It’s interesting to read that a few marshes are left intact, so needed salt can be gathered.)

In this chapter (and part of Ezekiel 48), the slightly enlarged land of Israel is divided into tribal allotments. Some are similar, but for the most part, the allotments are different from those in Joshua’s time. They seem more evenly divided and are in horizontal bands from North to South. Dan is included, although it is omitted in the list at the beginning of Revelation because of its sin. Now, it seems they are united again with all the tribes of Israel that God has brought back from the two exiles (Assyria & Babylon) when they were scattered throughout the world.

Ezekiel 48b.  Even the priests and Levites get land of their own to live on.  The Temple city in the Holy Portion is now called the “The LORD is There” (YHVH Shammah) and has a circumference of 6 miles, with three gates on each side.  The twelve gates are named for the twelve original tribes of Israel. (North gates – Reuben, Judah, Levi; East gates – Joseph, Benjamin, Dan; South gates – Simeon, Issachar, Zebulun; West gates – Gad, Asher, Naphtali.)  

Interestingly, the New Jerusalem described in Revelation 21:10-14 has 12 gates, 3 on each side, with the names of the tribes of Israel, one on each. It ALSO has 12 foundations with the names of the apostles, one on each. 

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Tomorrow: Joel.

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 250

Sep6

    Day 250—We are in the NINETH month of Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history and EZEKIEL’s prophecy.

    Day 250– Ezekiel 34 – 36 (Messages of comfort, hope, God’s grace and faithfulness to His promises)

Ezekiel 34. Prophecy against Israel’s past “shepherds” (kings, priests, prophets) who “fleeced” the sheep for personal gain. Wearing their wool and eating their fat, while the sheep were not fed, cared for, or gone after when they strayed. 

In contrast, Ezekiel shows the LORD as their good shepherd.  “I will seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they were scattered… And I will feed them with good pasture.  There, they will lie down in good grazing land, on rich pasture. I will seek the lost, I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak. I will feed them in justice.”  (Sounds so much like Psalm 23!)

God promises to make a covenant of peace with them.  They will dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods.  He will  send down showers in season – “showers of blessing.”

“You are my sheep, human sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Lord GOD.”

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Ezekiel 35. Although it’s not said, Ezekiel prophesies against Mount Seir (Edom) as though they were false shepherds, too.  “BECAUSE you cherished perpetual enmity and gave over the people of Israel to the power of the sword at the time of their calamity, at the time of their final punishment, THEREFORE…..I will prepare you for blood, and blood shall pursue you because you did not hate bloodshed.”     

“AS you rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of Israel because it was desolate, SO I will deal with you; you shall be desolate, Mount Seir, and all Edom, all of it. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”

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Ezekiel 36. Next, Ezekiel is to prophesy to the ancient land, “O mountains of Israel hear the word of the LORD.  Say to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys….. You, O mountains of Israel shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to my people Israel, for they will soon come home.

But, unless Israel (and we too) forget, this grace and mercy is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned. I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, and the nations will know that I am the LORD. 

“I will gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land.

I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses and from all your idols.

I will cleanse you.

I will give you a new heart,

A new spirit I will put within you.

I will remove the heart of stone… and give you a heart of flesh.

I will put my Spirit within you, cause you to walk in my statutes, and be careful to obey my rules.

I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses.”

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 249

Sep5

    Day 249—We are in the NINETH month of Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history and EZEKIEL’s prophecy.

    Day 249– Ezekiel 31 – 33 (Pharoah, Egypt & Assyria, Ezekiel as watchman, Jerusalem fallen)

Ezekiel 31. Egypt and its leader are metaphorically compared to a towering tree that dominates the forest and a nation that dominates the world.  Then Ezekiel warns them that, like great Assyria, compared to a cedar in Lebanon, God could and will easily topple it.

“Because it towered high and set its top among the clouds, and its heart was proud of its height, I will give it into the hand of a mighty one of the nations. He shall surely deal with it as its wickedness deserves. I have cast it out.”  “This is Pharaoh and all the multitude, declares the Lord God.”

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Ezekiel 32  is a lament over Pharaoh and Egypt. God says they considered themselves like a great lion or dragon, but He will easily “throw his net over them, cast them up on the ground, and let the birds and beasts of the earth gorge on them.”  How will this be done?  “The sword of the king of Babylon shall come upon them and cause their multitudes to fall.” And God will make the land of Egypt desolate.

Then, there is a picture of Egypt and her mighty chiefs in Sheol (the grave), along with other great and fallen nations. Assyria is there. Elam is there, along with Meshech-Tubal, Edom, and Sidon. Pharoah and all his army are laid to rest among the uncircumcised… declares the Lord GOD.

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Ezekiel 33 portrays Ezekiel as a watchman over the house of Israel.  When he hears a word from the LORD, he must speak it and warn them.  A watchman who warns the people will be saved, even if the warned people do not listen to him.  But if the watchman fails to warn the people and they perish, their blood will be on his hands.

Then God tells Ezekiel His desire for the wicked. “As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?”

On the other side of the coin, Ezekiel must tell them that the “righteousness of the righteous” shall not deliver them either.  “If he TRUSTS in his (own) righteousness and does injustice, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered, but in his injustice that he has done, he shall die.”   But if he turns from his sin and does what is right, he shall surely live and not die. None of the sins that he has committed shall be remembered against him.

Still, Israel’s heart is hard. “YOUR way is not just!” they tell their God.   Whoa!!

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And then….on the 12th year of their exile to Babylon, in the 10th month, and on the 5th day….a fugitive from Jerusalem comes to tell Ezekiel that “THE CITY HAS BEEN STRUCK DOWN.”

“Then they will know that I am the LORD when I have made the land a desolation and a waste because of all their abominations that they have committed…..”

(Oh, American, wake up too!)

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 248

Sep4

    Day 248—We are in the NINETH month of Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history and EZEKIEL’s prophecy.

    Day 248– Ezekiel 28 – 30 (prophecy and lament against the Prince of Tyre, with metaphor, Sidon, plus prophecy and lament for Egypt)

Ezekiel 28. The word of the LORD continues against the prince (or leader) of Tyre because of his PRIDE in saying he was “a god.”

Yet the LORD says, “Yet you are but a man and no god, though you make your heart like the heart of a god.”   “Because you make your heart like the heart of a god, therefore, behold, I will bring foreigners upon you, the most ruthless of nations….they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom and defile your splendor.”

Verses 13-15, speaking of the king of Tyre in metaphor, is often taken for a description of Satan. Perhaps it’s good to consider the powerful, proud king of Tyre as being used by Satan, much like the king of Babylon in Isaiah 14:3-23. And in both cases, the supreme sin is of PRIDE.

Next a prophecy against Sidon, which was a sister port city to Tyre.  Even in the times of the Judges it had a corrupting influence on Israel. It was the center of Baal worship, and where Jezebel was from.  God promises to execute judgment (death by pestilence and sword) on Sidon and to “manifest my HOLINESS in her” (as opposed to corrupt idol worship).

The last of chapter 28 speaks of the opposite end of Israel — restoration.  “…then they shall dwell in their own land that I gave to my servant Jacob. And they shall dwell securely in it, and they shall build houses and plant vineyards. They shall dwell securely when I execute judgments upon all their neighbors who have treated them with contempt.”

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Ezekiel 29 & 30 are prophecies against Egypt.  God has set his face against Pharaoh, calling him the great dragon that dwells in the midst of his streams, who says, “My Nile is my own; I made it for myself.” (Again, PRIDE precludes a fall.)  God says he will draw him out of the water and throw him into the desert…“Then all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the LORD.”

“I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh shall fall. Then they shall know that I am the LORD, when I put my sword into the hand of Babylon, and he stretches it out against the land of Egypt. And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”

Egypt was to lay dormant for forty years (after they fell to Babylon), then God would restore them, but not to a world power again to which Israel would run for help. They would be a “lowly kingdom.” (Because Nebuchadnezzar “put an end to the wealth of Egypt.”)

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 247

Sep3

    Day 247—We are in the NINETH month of Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history and EZEKIEL’s prophecy.

    Day 247– Ezekiel 25 – 27 (Prophecies against  seven other nations around Israel)

Ezekiel 25. In this chapter, the LORD, through Ezekiel, prophesies vengeance on five city-nations surrounding Israel, giving the reason for each pronouncement. Ammon, Moab, Seir, Edom, & Philistia all gloated over the fall of Israel, Jerusalem, and the Temple when Babylon invaded, saying that this proved Israel’s God, the LORD, also failed.

When God enacted his judgments on them, they would “know that I am the LORD.”

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Ezekiel 26. This chapter and the next two are against Tyre, the kingdom-city north of Israel. In David’s and Solomon’s time they were friendly, supplying their great cedars in the building of the Palaces and the Temple. Later they were involved in selling Jews as slaves. They boasted of their incredible commercial success.

“For thus says the Lord GOD; Behold I will bring against Tyre from the north Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings (because he’d conquered so many kingdoms), with horses and chariots, and with horsemen and a host of soldiers. He will kill with the sword your daughters on the MAINLAND. He will set up a siege wall against you…..”  

The following verses could also picture the successive attacks “wave on wave” by the Greeks who brought ships against it, and the Saracens until Tyre is finally totally destroyed in the 4th century, “I will make you a bare rock. You shall be a place for spreading nets. You will never be rebuilt, for I am the LORD; I have spoken.”     “I will bring you to a dreadful end, and you shall be no more.”

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Ezekiel 27.  Here, the LORD tells Ezekiel to “raise a lament over Tyre.”  The chapter describes Tyre as a great trade ship destroyed on the high seas.  Sections describe the commercial glory of Tyre with the nations around the then-known world,  Greece, Spain, Asia Minor, Assyria, Turkey, Rhodes, Syria, Arabia, and Mesopotamia.

In verses 26-27, Tyre’s fall is pictured as a shipwreck on the seas. The “east wind” pictures Babylon.  “Now you are wrecked by the seas, in the depths of the waters; your merchandise and all your crew in your midst have sunk with you. All the inhabitants of the coastlands are appalled at you, and the hair of their kings bristles with horror; their faces are convulsed. ….you have come to a dreadful end and shall be no more forever.”

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 245 & 246

Sep2

    Days 245 & 246—We are in the NINETH month of Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history and the prophecies of Ezekiel.

NOTE: Sundays and Mondays are posted together.

    Day 245– Ezekiel 21 – 22 (The sharp & polished “sword” of Babylon judging Jerusalem/Judah, the end of turban and crown in Israel, bloody sins in Jerusalem returns upon her.)

Ezekiel 21. Ezekiel is to “groan with breaking heart and bitter grief: before the people because God is “drawing a sword against all flesh from the north to the south…“to cut off from you both RIGHTEOUS and WICKED.”

God is to judge the RIGHTEOUS?

Remember in Genesis when Abraham prayed the wicked city of Sodom would be spared judgment because his nephew, Lot, lived there. God agreed to spare it if just TEN RIGHTEOUS people could be found there.  Well, Lot was the only one, and God saved him and his immediate family but destroyed the city.  IN EZEKIEL 22:30, God said He looked for ONE RIGHTEOUS MAN in Jerusalem that He should not destroy the city…but He found NONE. No, not one. (Romans 3:10-14)  Wow.

And now God (the swordsman) is using Babylon as His sharp and polished sword (21:19) to “slaughter” the wicked.   God especially speaks against Judah’s last king, Zedekiah. “And you, O profane wicked one, prince of Israel, whose day has come, the time of your punishment.”

God also says, “Remove the turban and take off the crown.  Things shall not remain as they are. A ruin, ruin, ruin, I will make it. This also shall not be until HE comes, the One to whom judgment belongs, and I will give it to HIM.”  This says that neither the office of king or priest will be fully restored after captivity….until the Messiah takes BOTH.   This judgment begins “the times of the Gentiles.”

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Ezekiel 22.  In verses 4-13, God, through Ezekiel, lists more than 17 kinds of sin condemning Jerusalem (their blood-guiltiness). More are listed in verses 25-29.

God tells Ezekiel (and us) that “the house of Israel has become dross to me, like bronze, tin, iron, and lead in the furnace when you smelt silver.”  All are to be melted and burned off.  And so, “I have poured out my indignation upon them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have returned their way upon their heads, says the Lord GOD.”

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    Day 246 – Ezekiel 23 – 24 (More metaphors, dark, bloody, and a shared grief)

Ezekiel 23. This is a dark chapter, with an obscene metaphor for the capital cities of Israel: Samaria & Jerusalem, and how they acted as lewd, adulterous wives of the Lord in their idolatry.

God gives Samaria the name Oholah and Jerusalem the name Oholibah. Both “played the whore” in a spiritual sense, seeking fulfillment and security from other nations and their idols. And as “Oholah” was taken into Assyrian captivity, “Oholibah” learned nothing and lusted after the pagan power of Egypt and Babylon, and will be taken away too.  Some parts of the chapter portray spiritual unfaithfulness in graphic sexual terms.

God, therefore, stirred up these cities’ “lovers” to deal with them in fury, God’s fury for being so shamed when He was a faithful and loving “husband.” These nation-lovers will “cut off the noses and ears of the unfaithful “wives,” and the survivors will be burned with fire.”  “They will “strip them of their clothes and take their beautiful jewels.”object lesson  And so, God will put an end to their lewdness and their whoring brought on them because they defiled themselves with idols.”

In Verses 36-49, God tells Ezekiel how to judge Oholah and Oholibah, first with their “nation-lovers” whom they pursued, turning to them and using them brutally as whores.

For thus says the Lord God, “Thus will I put an end to lewdness in the land, that all women may take warning and not commit lewdness as you have done. And they shall return your lewdness upon you, and you shall bear the penalty for your sinful idolatry, and you shall know that I am the LORD GOD.”

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Ezekiel 24.  In this chapter, God sends word to Ezekiel (900 miles away in Babylon) that right then, the city of Jerusalem is under siege by the king of Babylon.  God compares the inhabitants of Jerusalem to bloody pieces of meat ready for the boiling cauldron. God gives the harsh proclamation, “I will not go back; I will not spare; I will not relent; according to your ways and your deeds, you (Jerusalem) will be judged.”

Then Ezekiel performs another harsh “object-lesson.”  His wife dies, but he is not allowed to mourn or weep. He can sigh, but not aloud, and make NO MOURNING for the dead. This is an example to the Jews in Babylon not to mourn the fall of Jerusalem because this is the just judgment of God on their wickedness. 

God told him to say, “Thus says the Lord GOD; Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the delight of your eyes, and the yearning of your soul, and your sons and your daughters whom you left behind shall fall by the sword.” And you shall do as I have done… you shall not mourn or weep.

Then God tells Ezekiel that when it is completed in Jerusalem, He will send a fugitive to report the news.  On that day, Ezekiel can open his mouth to speak, for after the previous judgment, he was mute (there was no more need to preach judgment) – although he was allowed to prophesy against other nations.

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 244

Aug31

Day 244—We are in the eighth month (AND 2/3 THE WAY THROUGH) of our Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history and prophecy from Ezekiel.

    Day 244 – Ezekiel 18 – 20 (sin=death, lament of 3 kings, survey of Israel’s sin)

Ezekiel 18, This chapter is about the stated truth: “The soul who sins, it shall die.”  verses 4, 20

A proverb was repeated in Israel that children will pay for their father’s sins. “If the fathers have eaten sour grapes, the children’s teeth are set on edge.”

God says that is not true.  The one who sins is the one who will pay for his sin with death.  (Romans 6:23a) 

Example 1. If a person is righteous and does what is just and proper, walks in God’s statutes, and keeps His rules faithfully….he is righteous and shall live.

Example 2. If a son of a righteous man is violent, oppresses the poor, robs, worships idols, commits adultery….he will surely die, and his blood is on HIMSELF.

Example 3. If a sinful man fathers a son who is righteous and walks in God’s ways….he shall not die for his father’s iniquity. He shall surely live.

Example 4. If a wicked person turns away (repents) from all his sins and keeps God’s statutes and what is just and right, he shall live and not die. None of his transgressions will be remembered against him.

Example 5. If a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does abominations that the wicked person does, he shall die.  None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he’s committed.

God’s final call through Ezekiel on this matter is, “Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit!**  Why will you die, O house of Israel?  For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so TURN and LIVE.”

** See Psalm 51:10

Ezekiel 19  is a poetic lament for the last three kings of Judah – Jehoahaz, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah.  

Judah is the lioness (vs. 2) with her cubs (kings), as well as the vine (vs. 10) with its fruit (kings).

Verses 3-4 talk about Jehoahaz, who ruled and was then taken to Egypt.

Verse 9 speaks of Jehoiachin, who was carried to Babylon, kept in prison for 37 years, then released at age 55 to sit at the king’s table. 

The fate of the “vine” in 10-14 tells of the strength of Judah’s ruling scepters, but then their being plucked up as a vine, cast down, withering, and consumed by fire, so there is no scepter ruling left.

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Ezekiel 20 tells about the elders of Israel coming to Ezekiel and asking him to “inquire of the LORD” for them. The LORD basically says, “no” because when they inquired of Me in the past, and I told them truth, they did not listen to me and turned away.  So I will not answer them now.

Then God gives a historical survey of Israel’s past, about their sin, His mercy, their further sin, His grace, their greater and abominable sins, and the end of His patience.  “O house of Israel, as I live, declares the Lord God, I will not be inquired by you.”

Then God reveals to Ezekiel further judgments on the rebellious Israel because “they determine to keep on in their wicked ways.”

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 243

Aug30

Day 243—We are in the eighth month of Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history and prophecy from Ezekiel.

    Day 243 – Ezekiel 16 – 17 (Metaphors/parables about God and Israel)

Ezekiel 16. The longest chapter in Ezekiel is a sad metaphor for God’s love for Israel, her horrible abuse of that love, the consequences of her sin, and God’s eventual restoration… “that you shall know that I am the LORD.”

Again, Ezekiel is to speak to the inhabitants of Jerusalem (Judah) about her “abominations.”  She is seen as an abandoned child God finds, rescues, loves, and showers with good things. In the metaphor of a loved child and woman, the chapter covers the history of Israel from her conception, the time of the Exodus, to David’s time and the glories of Solomon’s reign. (through verse 14)

The following section pictures Israel in spiritual harlotry, copying increasingly the pagan religious practices of the Canaanites.  All God gives her, she uses to worship idols, even to sacrifice the children God gives her. The pagan countries around Israel influence her to more and more sin.  Unlike the regular payments prostitutes were paid, Israel solicits and pays for her idol “lovers.” (through verse 34)

Then comes the public shame of God’s beloved…at His own hands. Their defeat by Assyria earlier and now the coming of the Babylonian destruction reveals God’s wrath. God compares Judah to the wicked cities of Samaria and Sodom, whose judgment was great.  Judah, He says, is more corrupt than they! Now Judah and Jerusalem will “bear the penalty of her lewdness and abominations.” (through verse 59)

Verse 60 begins the glorious hope of God’s restoration, His remembering the oath/covenant he made with them. (How gracious is our God!)  He will restore Israel, not because of the good things they do, but because of His grace alone. The New Covenant is unconditional, saving, and everlasting. When He establishes this covenant with them, they will “know that I am the LORD.”  And the fact that God will “atone for you for all that you have done” speaks of the coming Messiah, and His work on the cross, by which God’s wrath on sin is satisfied.  

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Ezekiel 17. This chapter speaks about the time two years before the destruction of Jerusalem.  We’ve studied it more in detail in 2 Kings 24, 2 Chronicles 36, and Jeremiah 36, 37, and 52.  It’s a parable about the final kings who rule in Jerusalem.

The “great eagle with great wings and long pinions, rich in plumage of many colors” in verse 3 is Babylon, who will take royal captives and others, “the topmost of the cedar’s young twigs,” and carry them to a land of trade and a city of merchants.”  Some “the seed of the land” (Zedekiah etc.) he left there to be a tributary (pay tribute to Babylon).

Egypt is the other “great eagle with great wings and much plumage” who flew by.  Zedekiah turned to Egypt to help him revolt against Babylon. But it didn’t work, and the king of Babylon came and took him away. (and defeated Egypt too)

Then, the LORD Himself promises to “take a spring from the lofty top of the cedar and plant it on a high and lofty mountain of Israel.”  It will bear branches, produce fruit, and become a noble cedar.  “Under it will dwell every kind of bird. In the shade of its branches, birds of every sort will nest.” 

Here, God is speaking of the Messiah and His eventual Messianic Kingdom, where even Gentiles will live.