16:3 - The origins of Jerusalem itself actually predate the nation of Israel, which did not officially exist until after the Exodus story and the taking of the Promised Land. The land had been inhabited by Canaanite, Hittite and Amorite peoples before the Jews showed up. They were the founders of the depraved legacy of the land. God compares the people of this land to orphans who have been abandoned by horrible parents.
16:4-5 - None of the typically cleansing rituals were performed on this neglected infant. In fact the baby, Jerusalem, was left out to die of exposure (Something that was very common in ancient societies with regards to weak infants).
16:6ff - Yet when God sees the weak infant (i.e. the powerless Israelites and inhabitants of the land), He has compassion on them and adopts them into His family. He makes a covenant with them and stays faithful to His promises. He gives the Israelites everything...beauty, strength, food, power, success - God is their incredibly loving and committed Father.
16:12 - On a side note...I would say that if God is totally okay with allowing His kids to get their nose pierced - it's probably not that big a deal nowadays. Lighten up piercing haters!
16:15 - Heartbreakingly, in the face of everything God had given them (Which was absolutely everything, including their own existence), they chose to reject God and give themselves to others. They chose to ignore God and chase after false gods. They chose to prostitute themselves out to the powerless gods of heathen nations around them.
16:20 - Not only did they corrupt themselves, but they raised generation after generations of corrupt children. They allowed themselves to become a society where child sacrifice was acceptable. They slaughtered their own children...who are really the children of God...to gods made of stone and metal. We ask ourselves, "How is that possible?" And I would say that is some ways that still exists today among God's people. How often do parents who claim to follow God sacrifice their children to cultural norms: "you have to achieve this", "all that matters is this sport", "you have to look like this", "you need to make me proud by _________." Not as brutal, but still heartbreaking and sinister.
16:29 and 30 - No matter where the people turned they could not find satisfaction. No matter who they gave themselves to...no matter who they worshipped...no matter what they tried...they always came away from the temptations of the world unsatisfied. The people of God were lovesick...they needed what only God could offer them, but they refused to turn back and receive God's love. They continued to seek anything but God. I have seen this so many times in youth ministry. Students who are chasing after satisfaction...seeking out purpose, meaning, life. They chase it all over...they chase after sex, achievement, intelligence, success, relationships, entertainment and they always leave dissatisfied. Always. When will we learn - Oh the sinful nature of man!!!
16:51 - Why are the sins of the Israelites greater than the sins of the pagan people around them? Because the Israelites were in a covenant relationship with God and they turned away from Him. Christians who know God...who accept the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ and still turn away and knowingly whore themselves out to other "gods"...are not in good company.
16:59-60 - This is always the heart of God...even in the face of the Israelites unfaithfulness, God remains ever faithful to His covenant.
Chapter 17: 1st Eagle = Babylon. This eagle came in, took the shoot (The exiles) and brought them back to Babylon and gave them every opportunity to grow...placed the Israelite exiles on fertile ground and they prospered. 2nd Eagle = Egypt. The unsatisfied exiled leadership of Israel secretly sought the help of Egypt to destroy the Babylonians (Why trade one eagle for another?), yet they received no help. The first eagle finds out about the deception and rips out the healthy vine. See the problem is not that the exiles turned against Babylon, but that they have rejected God's plans. The prophets were very clear that the exile happened because of their unfaithfulness...the prophets were also very clear about the time frame of the exile. God was also gracious in His judgment because the Israelites were allowed to prosper in exile. Yet the exiled leadership tried to usurp God's authority and take matters in to their own hands and they paid a heavy price for it.
17:23 and 24 - After all the kings of Israel (Who the people begged to have because they wanted to be like everybody else) have failed in generation after generation of leadership of God's people - God still does not give up on His promises. But He will not go back to the unhealthy root in the royal lineage...He will take a new sprig from the line of kings far down the line, who will usher in the true kingdom of God. (In case you missed it - that sprig is Jesus!) This new kingdom will grow under the branches of the cedar that is Jesus and all nations will be saved through him. YAY!
18:25-27 - God has always been just...God will always be just. There is no injustice in God. The Israelite people who had completely shattered every aspect of their covenant with God had the audacity to accuse God of being unjust and He defends Himself. The righteous will be saved. The unrighteous will be judged. Thank God for the righteousness from God that comes through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Because there is a lot of unrighteousness in me, unfortunately)
18:32 - God takes no pleasure in anyone's death...that is not what He wants...that is not why He created us. This has always been the heart of God in both the Old and New Testaments. It is God's plan that all would be brought under the safety and protection of His "cedar" (See: Ezekiel 17:23ff)
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
Ezekiel Chapters 13-15
13:2-3 - God tells Ezekiel to call judgment on the false prophets who claim to be speaking on behalf of God, but who are really only speaking their hearts desire. This has to happen in church leadership today...doesn't it? In our own lives? How do you know the difference between your own selfish desires and God's will for your life? It is easy to simply say that anything you want to do must be what God wants you to do, because He made you that way, but that is dangerous ground to be walking on. I don't want God looking at my life saying, "Woe to you, because you said that your plan was God's plan." WOE is not good...not good at all. So how do you know? I think you have to seek the heart and character of God in His word and compare your desires with what God's heart chases after...that will probably give you some indication. If what you think God wants for you is self-serving, oppressive, greedy, relationally corrosive...it isn't what God wants.
13:6 - Here is another verse that talks about the same thing: they want God to do their will! Do you get that...instead of seeking to do the will of God, they want God to do their will. I gotta say, I am a human and I have known a lot of humans...and we are in no position to being telling God how to run the universe. How often does this attitude creep into your life? What can you do to combat it?
13:10 - When Ezekiel says that the people have built a wall, this is not a good thing. See the people have put their hope and trust in human ingenuity, man-made things, material possessions, cleverness, etc. The people think that they can take care of themselves and that they don't need God...they have built of these walls around themselves thinking that they are safe, but the walls are flimsy. Instead of showing the people the error of their ways, their leaders are coming in and whitewashing the walls. They are falsely confirming to the people that their idols will be enough to take care of them. The leaders that are supposed to be helping people turn towards God are actually enabling idolatry instead. How often does this go on in churches in the United States?
14:3 - How do we expect to hear from God...expect for Him to listen to us, if we have idols in our hearts and minds. If we have rejected God for something else...if we are worshipping things or people that are not God - we are cutting ourselves off from the sustainer of the universe. Sometimes when we can't feel God or we think we can't hear God's voice speaking into the quiet places of our souls, it is because we have turned away from Him.
14:11 - Always there is an end goal in God's mind. Even though His people have turned away from Him and He is pouring out His judgment and wrath on them, He still plans on bringing them back in the end. God works through humans evil and a fallen world to bring about His will.
14:14 - God tells Ezekiel to tell the people that even three of the most faithful men in Jewish history (Noah, Daniel and Job) could not save the corrupt land of Israel. The country is so far gone...so rebellious against God, that even if these incredible leaders would happen to time travel to Ezekiel's time there would be nothing they could do to change the hearts of the people. Only their individual lives would be spared. The land will be destroyed so that a faithful remnant of people like Noah, Daniel and Job can rise from the ashes.
15:6 - The vines that wrap themselves around huge trees are useless for anything except firewood. You cannot make anything durable or meaningful from the vine wood...you can only use them as fuel for the fire. They are not strong enough to be useful. These vines are an object illustration that tells the story of the Israelites during Ezekiel's time. Their faith is not strong enough to be used for anything useful because they have rejected God...so they will be burned up by God's judgement.
13:6 - Here is another verse that talks about the same thing: they want God to do their will! Do you get that...instead of seeking to do the will of God, they want God to do their will. I gotta say, I am a human and I have known a lot of humans...and we are in no position to being telling God how to run the universe. How often does this attitude creep into your life? What can you do to combat it?
13:10 - When Ezekiel says that the people have built a wall, this is not a good thing. See the people have put their hope and trust in human ingenuity, man-made things, material possessions, cleverness, etc. The people think that they can take care of themselves and that they don't need God...they have built of these walls around themselves thinking that they are safe, but the walls are flimsy. Instead of showing the people the error of their ways, their leaders are coming in and whitewashing the walls. They are falsely confirming to the people that their idols will be enough to take care of them. The leaders that are supposed to be helping people turn towards God are actually enabling idolatry instead. How often does this go on in churches in the United States?
14:3 - How do we expect to hear from God...expect for Him to listen to us, if we have idols in our hearts and minds. If we have rejected God for something else...if we are worshipping things or people that are not God - we are cutting ourselves off from the sustainer of the universe. Sometimes when we can't feel God or we think we can't hear God's voice speaking into the quiet places of our souls, it is because we have turned away from Him.
14:11 - Always there is an end goal in God's mind. Even though His people have turned away from Him and He is pouring out His judgment and wrath on them, He still plans on bringing them back in the end. God works through humans evil and a fallen world to bring about His will.
14:14 - God tells Ezekiel to tell the people that even three of the most faithful men in Jewish history (Noah, Daniel and Job) could not save the corrupt land of Israel. The country is so far gone...so rebellious against God, that even if these incredible leaders would happen to time travel to Ezekiel's time there would be nothing they could do to change the hearts of the people. Only their individual lives would be spared. The land will be destroyed so that a faithful remnant of people like Noah, Daniel and Job can rise from the ashes.
15:6 - The vines that wrap themselves around huge trees are useless for anything except firewood. You cannot make anything durable or meaningful from the vine wood...you can only use them as fuel for the fire. They are not strong enough to be useful. These vines are an object illustration that tells the story of the Israelites during Ezekiel's time. Their faith is not strong enough to be used for anything useful because they have rejected God...so they will be burned up by God's judgement.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Ezekiel Chapters 10-12
10:5 - I really like this description of God's voice. All the biblical discussion about the voice of the Lord carry such power: rushing waters (I imagine the roar of something like Niagara Falls), the storm, the wind...and now the beating wings of a legion of cherubim. God in the book of John is described as the Word. God spoke creation into existence. His voice is strength...His voice is power...it is creative...it is awe-inspiring. Are you listening to the voice of God speaking to your soul through the Holy Spirit? Are you emulating God by using your voice to bring good to this world?
11:3 - The Israelites continue to go about their business as if there is nothing wrong...they build houses and ignore the judgment that is being poured out on them. I guess they figure if they act like nothing is wrong, then they might be able to convince themselves that such thoughts are true (Typical human idiocy). In reality, the world that they are working so hard to build up and beautify is a boiling cauldron and they are the meat stewing in their own abominations. They ignore the disgusting filth within their souls and focus on making sure their outer appearance is pristine. How about you?
11:12 - One of the chief sins of the people is that they have turned away from the way of God and have put more stock instead in the ways of the world and the cultures around them. Fortunately for us, no Christians in the United States would ever do anything like that...oh wait...that is right, the consumerism and hedonism of this culture continually worm their way into American churches.
11:17 - Ezekiel is worried that God will completely destroy the people of Israel, and God comforts him with these words. God promises that even as He scatters the people of Israel across the world, He will eventually gather the remnant back up and return them to the Promised Land.
11:19-20 - I love these verses! God says that He will give the people a new heart and a new spirit...He promises to remove the stone of their flesh that has made them stubborn and sinful and allow them to live godly lives as they were intended from the beginning. When the Word became flesh in the form of Jesus Christ...He showed us what that Spirit-filled-true human life is supposed to look like. Then he offered himself as a sacrifice for our sins to remove the stone of sin that was weighing us down...allowing us to become vessels for the Spirit of God (Something that was never available to the Israelites...at least not all the time). Awesome, huh?
12:27-28 - The people think they have the time to do whatever they want to do with their lives...that they have countless days to get their faith in order, but God's judgement is right there in front of them. I see this in people who claim to be Christians all the time...they say they believe in God and they focus in on the grace of God believing that they can live however they want to live NOW and get things right with God later (When they are old...like 40 or something like that - lol). God is unchanging and we know about his attitude towards idolatry from Ezekiel...so profaning the sacrifice of Jesus by trying to take advantage of perceived "cheap grace"...not smart!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Ezekiel Chapters 7-9
7:4 - The message of this chapter is really tough to hear, because God is saying through Ezekiel that the time for repentance is over. There is no turning back to God now without punishment...there is no way to escape judgment. God will punish the people for their wickedness, with the hope that they will finally and fully learn that the Lord is the one and only God. The message is bitter, but there is a golden thread that runs through it...God is willing to do anything to bring His people back into relationship with Him.
7:19 - The gold the people of Judah have worshipped and have debased themselves to gain, will do nothing to protect them from the wrath of God. The gold is powerless...gold is not worthy of worship...gold will not feed the starving when there is no food. How many Christians today struggle with this form of idolatry? How many people who call themselves believers bow down to the altar of wealth? It is an empty pursuit that will always leave you unsatisfied.
8:5-6 - The elders of Judah come before Ezekiel begging for a sign from God that the exile will be over sooner than had been prophesied. Ezekiel goes to God, and God takes him in a vision to the temple in Jerusalem. There is the outer courts of the temple Ezekiel is instructed to look out the gates of the city. There is an idol with human form sitting outside the gates of the city...it is one of the sources of God's jealousy. Most likely, this statue is that of Asherah, a Babylonian goddess. The Jews would have put this statue up outside the city to protect it from invaders. In reality, the only thing it has done is enrage God.
8:10-11 - God takes Ezekiel into a hidden room of darkness where elders (like the ones sitting before Ezekiel in his house outside of the vision) of Israel are burning incense to all sorts of false gods and creatures of darkness. This is a form of idol worship that was most likely taken from the Egyptians. The Israelites are equal opportunity idolaters...they will worship false gods of any country in hopes of getting what they want...what they fail to see is that it is their idolatry that has brought all the suffering down on them. This passage also drives an important reminder home to each of us...God sees what we are doing...all the time. There are no hidden sins. The decisions we make every day, in every aspect of our lives matter very much to God.
8:14-15 - Ezekiel is taken to the inner courts of the temple where the women are weeping for Tammuz. This doesn't sound so bad until you understand what they are really doing. In the Canaanite religion, worshippers would weep for the death of the deity Tammuz because they hoped that they would receive good weather as the seasons changed. Canaanites believed that the false gods had a life/death cycle that mirrored the seasons. If they mourned enough for the dying god, they hoped to have pleasing weather and good crops. This is particularly disgusting to God, because in the inner courts of the temple of the Living God, the people of God are actually mourning the death of a non-entity. They waste their worship on human-created gods...when they could be connected to their Creator God. How do you waste your worship?
8:16 - The final degradation of the temple come in the altar room. In the center of the temple, where the Israelites believed that the glory of God dwelled...men are turning their backs on the altar of God and worshipping the sun. Worshipping the sun while turning their backs on the suns creator...now that is heart-breaking.
9:4-5 - God has had enough of the disgrace that has been heaped on Him by His own people and the time has come to act. Ezekiel sees a vision of the judgement of God that looks a great deal like the judgement of Egypt celebrated during Passover. In Exodus 12, the Israelites were instructed to put lamb's blood on the doorposts of their homes so that the angel of the Lord would not bring death to their house. In Ezekiel's vision, the remnant of Israel will be marked for salvation, while the unfaithful will be the recipients of God's wrath. In the midst of all this judgment and suffering, God never forgets His covenant with the Israelites and always protects the faithful remnant.
7:19 - The gold the people of Judah have worshipped and have debased themselves to gain, will do nothing to protect them from the wrath of God. The gold is powerless...gold is not worthy of worship...gold will not feed the starving when there is no food. How many Christians today struggle with this form of idolatry? How many people who call themselves believers bow down to the altar of wealth? It is an empty pursuit that will always leave you unsatisfied.
8:5-6 - The elders of Judah come before Ezekiel begging for a sign from God that the exile will be over sooner than had been prophesied. Ezekiel goes to God, and God takes him in a vision to the temple in Jerusalem. There is the outer courts of the temple Ezekiel is instructed to look out the gates of the city. There is an idol with human form sitting outside the gates of the city...it is one of the sources of God's jealousy. Most likely, this statue is that of Asherah, a Babylonian goddess. The Jews would have put this statue up outside the city to protect it from invaders. In reality, the only thing it has done is enrage God.
8:10-11 - God takes Ezekiel into a hidden room of darkness where elders (like the ones sitting before Ezekiel in his house outside of the vision) of Israel are burning incense to all sorts of false gods and creatures of darkness. This is a form of idol worship that was most likely taken from the Egyptians. The Israelites are equal opportunity idolaters...they will worship false gods of any country in hopes of getting what they want...what they fail to see is that it is their idolatry that has brought all the suffering down on them. This passage also drives an important reminder home to each of us...God sees what we are doing...all the time. There are no hidden sins. The decisions we make every day, in every aspect of our lives matter very much to God.
8:14-15 - Ezekiel is taken to the inner courts of the temple where the women are weeping for Tammuz. This doesn't sound so bad until you understand what they are really doing. In the Canaanite religion, worshippers would weep for the death of the deity Tammuz because they hoped that they would receive good weather as the seasons changed. Canaanites believed that the false gods had a life/death cycle that mirrored the seasons. If they mourned enough for the dying god, they hoped to have pleasing weather and good crops. This is particularly disgusting to God, because in the inner courts of the temple of the Living God, the people of God are actually mourning the death of a non-entity. They waste their worship on human-created gods...when they could be connected to their Creator God. How do you waste your worship?
8:16 - The final degradation of the temple come in the altar room. In the center of the temple, where the Israelites believed that the glory of God dwelled...men are turning their backs on the altar of God and worshipping the sun. Worshipping the sun while turning their backs on the suns creator...now that is heart-breaking.
9:4-5 - God has had enough of the disgrace that has been heaped on Him by His own people and the time has come to act. Ezekiel sees a vision of the judgement of God that looks a great deal like the judgement of Egypt celebrated during Passover. In Exodus 12, the Israelites were instructed to put lamb's blood on the doorposts of their homes so that the angel of the Lord would not bring death to their house. In Ezekiel's vision, the remnant of Israel will be marked for salvation, while the unfaithful will be the recipients of God's wrath. In the midst of all this judgment and suffering, God never forgets His covenant with the Israelites and always protects the faithful remnant.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Ezekiel Chapters 4-6
4:3 - The other stuff is pretty self-explanatory, but what is the iron skillet all about. Is Ezekiel going to treat himself to a delicious omelet while watching the diorama of the siege? No, the iron skillet is a representation of the impenetrable wall that has been placed between God and the people of Israel. Their sin and debauchery has created this wall and God has cut Himself off from them. Even if they wanted to cry out for mercy, they have no one to turn to...God will not listen and act on their behalf. The power that is behind the siege of Jerusalem is not the Babylonian army, but Himself who is letting it all happen to judge His people.
4:5-6 - Ezekiel then changes the illustration of God's judgment. He has gone from representing God in control of the siege, to the Israelite people who are suffering in the siege. He will lay on his two sides for a total of 430 days to represent the unfaithfulness of the Israelites and the suffering they will endure in the siege. Over a year on his side! He had to get sores and his muscles must have atrophied...he was probably never the same physically for the rest of his life. While almost everyone else in Judah is living in unfaithfulness...Ezekiel demonstrates his absolute commitment to God. People must have thought he was crazy...they must have tried to get him to move...to get up...but all Ezekiel cared about was serving his God. That is the kind of commitment God deserves from you and me as well.
4:9 - This recipe forms an almost inedible mixture of grains for one disgusting piece of bread. In the 3rd century, a rabbi made some bread according to this recipe and found that even dogs would not eat it! Ezekiel lives on 8oz of bread a day while laying on his sides - that is barely enough to keep someone alive! He does this to represent the starvation and famine that the people in Jerusalem will face during the siege.
4:12-15 - God instructs him to cook over human dung which would make a Jew unclean in the eating laws given by God. On top of being unclean....EWWWWW! Seriously! God wants him to do this so that people will be reminded that they will be unclean and totally defiled in the eyes of God during the siege. They are going to eat anything to survive (Including each other) - they will become as vile as you can be. Interestingly, Ezekiel begs God not to make him cook the bread over human dung, because he has never eaten unclean food in his life. God hears his prayer...amends the instructions and allows Ezekiel to cook the food over cow dung. Now the real questions is - why did God tell him to do that in the first place? God knows everything...God knew that Ezekiel had kept himself totally clean...why not tell him to cook over cow dung the first time? I think God was testing him...to see how committed Ezekiel was to God's Law. When Ezekiel fought for his purity before God, God immediately changed the instructions. God allows him to remain clean because Ezekiel is one of the few remnant faithful followers of God in all of Israel and he shows it over and over. Is faithfulness at any cost that important to us?
5:1 - Having the hair and beard cut off was one of the utter signs of humiliation in the Jewish world. Ezekiel once again sets himself up as a living illustration for the people of Judah. They should all be humiliated about their behavior, so Ezekiel is going to boldly walk among them in humiliation...making everyone fell uncomfortable...in hopes that they might understand the message.
5:11 - What have the people of Judah done to bring all this judgment on themselves? They have defiled themselves in idol worship and pagan rituals and they have defiled the temple of God in the same way. They have offered sacrifices to false gods in Gods sanctuary. They have utterly turned away from God and so God has turned away from them.
5:14 - This verse was deeply saddening to me. The Jewish people are God's chosen...they are supposed to be a priest nation that stands out as a light to the world, bringing people to the one and only Creator God. Yet instead, they have become detestable to the world, they have brought humiliation on God. How many times have Christians done this? I want my life to be a light that leads people towards God, not a one that pushes people away from God because of my unfaithfulness.
6:9-10 - Those who escape God's wrath will actually become an example to all of Israel and all of the world. After all God's judgment has been poured out, they will finally be able to see the disgusting nature of their actions and fully understand that God is the only God. Sometimes stubborn human beings need to be brought to their knees in suffering before they can see that they are in such desperate need of God.
6:12-13 - Whoa. Brutal. God wants His people to know that He is God through His power, mercy, love, the beauty of creation, etc...but if He has to...if we have forced Him to it...God will teach people that He is Lord through His fury.
4:5-6 - Ezekiel then changes the illustration of God's judgment. He has gone from representing God in control of the siege, to the Israelite people who are suffering in the siege. He will lay on his two sides for a total of 430 days to represent the unfaithfulness of the Israelites and the suffering they will endure in the siege. Over a year on his side! He had to get sores and his muscles must have atrophied...he was probably never the same physically for the rest of his life. While almost everyone else in Judah is living in unfaithfulness...Ezekiel demonstrates his absolute commitment to God. People must have thought he was crazy...they must have tried to get him to move...to get up...but all Ezekiel cared about was serving his God. That is the kind of commitment God deserves from you and me as well.
4:9 - This recipe forms an almost inedible mixture of grains for one disgusting piece of bread. In the 3rd century, a rabbi made some bread according to this recipe and found that even dogs would not eat it! Ezekiel lives on 8oz of bread a day while laying on his sides - that is barely enough to keep someone alive! He does this to represent the starvation and famine that the people in Jerusalem will face during the siege.
4:12-15 - God instructs him to cook over human dung which would make a Jew unclean in the eating laws given by God. On top of being unclean....EWWWWW! Seriously! God wants him to do this so that people will be reminded that they will be unclean and totally defiled in the eyes of God during the siege. They are going to eat anything to survive (Including each other) - they will become as vile as you can be. Interestingly, Ezekiel begs God not to make him cook the bread over human dung, because he has never eaten unclean food in his life. God hears his prayer...amends the instructions and allows Ezekiel to cook the food over cow dung. Now the real questions is - why did God tell him to do that in the first place? God knows everything...God knew that Ezekiel had kept himself totally clean...why not tell him to cook over cow dung the first time? I think God was testing him...to see how committed Ezekiel was to God's Law. When Ezekiel fought for his purity before God, God immediately changed the instructions. God allows him to remain clean because Ezekiel is one of the few remnant faithful followers of God in all of Israel and he shows it over and over. Is faithfulness at any cost that important to us?
5:1 - Having the hair and beard cut off was one of the utter signs of humiliation in the Jewish world. Ezekiel once again sets himself up as a living illustration for the people of Judah. They should all be humiliated about their behavior, so Ezekiel is going to boldly walk among them in humiliation...making everyone fell uncomfortable...in hopes that they might understand the message.
5:11 - What have the people of Judah done to bring all this judgment on themselves? They have defiled themselves in idol worship and pagan rituals and they have defiled the temple of God in the same way. They have offered sacrifices to false gods in Gods sanctuary. They have utterly turned away from God and so God has turned away from them.
5:14 - This verse was deeply saddening to me. The Jewish people are God's chosen...they are supposed to be a priest nation that stands out as a light to the world, bringing people to the one and only Creator God. Yet instead, they have become detestable to the world, they have brought humiliation on God. How many times have Christians done this? I want my life to be a light that leads people towards God, not a one that pushes people away from God because of my unfaithfulness.
6:9-10 - Those who escape God's wrath will actually become an example to all of Israel and all of the world. After all God's judgment has been poured out, they will finally be able to see the disgusting nature of their actions and fully understand that God is the only God. Sometimes stubborn human beings need to be brought to their knees in suffering before they can see that they are in such desperate need of God.
6:12-13 - Whoa. Brutal. God wants His people to know that He is God through His power, mercy, love, the beauty of creation, etc...but if He has to...if we have forced Him to it...God will teach people that He is Lord through His fury.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Ezekiel Chapters 1-3
The book of Ezekiel is a prophetic book written by...uhm...who was that again...oh, yeah, that's right - EZEKIEL! Shocking, I know. God came to him in a vision during the Judean exile and Ezekiel is called by God to go to the exiled Jews and warn them about what will happen if they continue to rebel against their God.
1:4-21 - The theme of this passage from Ezekiel is definitely movement - can you see that? Ezekiel sees this vision of God and He is definitely not static. God is on the move...He cannot be contained by some man-made temple...He is roaming the earth. We see a stormy thundercloud swirling around with lightning coming out of it. We see huge wheels rolling back and forth. We see cherubim flying around. We see trails of fire shooting back and forth. God is depicted as living and active. God is at work and He is going to do whatever it takes to bring His people back to Him. Through these images we also get the impression of God as a warrior on the march. Lightning, storm, fire, and wheels (Like chariots) are all representations of war. Ezekiel can see immediately that God is active in the lives of His people and He is going to wage war on their unfaithfulness.
1:22-26 - This reminds me alot of the throne room imagery that appears in Revelation chapter 4. The expanse of crystal, the living creatures all around, the storms with lightning, etc. Both descriptions of the presence of God exude infinite power. This is not a God to be trifled with...this is not a God to turn your back on. The Israelites found that out the hard way, hopefully you and I don't have to in our lives.
1:28 - Even int he midst of this vision of judgment - there is hope. Do you see how Gos is described in verse 28? Ezekiel sees an image of a rainbow when he looks at the Glory of the Lord. After God flooded the world in Noah's time, He sent a rainbow as a promise that He would never again devastate the earth in such a fashion. The rainbow is a reminder of God's faithfulness to His promises. Though the people have brought the exile and the judgment upon themselves, God in His graciousness will welcome them back in the end.
2:1 - "Son of Man" - This phrase is used over 90 times in the book of Ezekiel to address Ezekiel. It is a very multi-faceted term. It is a reminder for Ezekiel that he is just a man - He is not God - and God wants him to understand his place in the relationship. God says, "Jump!" and Ezekiel says, "How high?" On the other hand, the rest of the people of Judah are consistently described as the "sons of Israel" - this carries the connotation that they are as rebellious and unfaithful as their forefathers. When Ezekiel is called the some of man, he is being set apart from the rest. An exact translation is actually - "the son of Adam (Adam means man)." Adam as you recall from Genesis was brought to life when God breathed the Spirit into him. Ezekiel is set apart by God and made a prophet when is is filled with the Spirit of God...He is the son of Adam.
2:2 - The spirit of God enables Ezekiel to do what his countrymen could not - to attain a level of faithfulness and commitment that is super-human. This reminds me to be thankful for the fact that we have access, through the blood of Jesus Christ, to the Holy Spirit of God every day of our lives! Thank you Jesus.
2:5 - Sadly, Ezekiel is told by God that his ministry will be a failure. God tells him that the rebellious people will not listen to his words. Then why is God making Ezekiel go through this charade. Because God is always one step ahead of the game (It is His "game" after all). Even though the people for the most part will not listen to Ezekiel, he will come and prophecy about God's judgement on the men and women of Judah. So that after the punishment has been poured out on the people, they will be able to look back and understand that God told them this would happen. It will lead to a revival among the people and a return to God. Sometimes success is defined by planting seeds for the Spirit of God to work through, even though you don't get to see the end result.
3:3 - Ezekiel is told to eat the scroll (i.e. God's Word/prophecies), and he does. The scroll tastes like honey to Ezekiel who is filled with the Spirit of God, but the words of God will be bitter and indigestible for those who are rebellious. This is something for each of us to think about. Is it easy for you to listen to hard truth about yourself? Is it easy for you to be challenged by God's Word and incorporate change in your life? Or do you get defensive and make excuses for yourself. A Spirit-filled life is one that enables us to hear God's truth and act on it.
3:14 - What does this mean? The hand of the Lord was on him, but he was still filled with bitterness and anger? What is going on there? Well, there is this war that is going on within Ezekiel at this point. He has been filled with the Spirit of God, so he fully understands God's wrath towards the people. He is filled with the righteous anger of God. Yet at the same time, the Israelite within him is weeping in bitterness at the fact that his people have to go through such harsh judgment so that they will return to God. He is torn between being absolutely livid at his people and brokenhearted for their suffering.
3:17 - God has called Ezekiel to be a watchman for the people of Judah. Whenever Ezekiel sees or hears God on the move, he must warn the people...he must call them to repentance...to turn back to God. Whether evil or righteous, the people must hear the warning and heed Ezekiel's advice. That is the only chance for hope for the people of Judah.
3:25ff - This is a strange passage, but Ezekiel becomes a mouthpiece for God. Literally, God makes him into was amounts to a microphone for His truth. Ezekiel is removed from walking among the people...God binds him so that he cannot leave. God makes it so that he cannot talk, except for when he is speaking the words that come directly from God. He cannot beg God to have mercy on the people, because the time for mercy has passed and the people will only receive judgement from God's mouthpiece.
1:4-21 - The theme of this passage from Ezekiel is definitely movement - can you see that? Ezekiel sees this vision of God and He is definitely not static. God is on the move...He cannot be contained by some man-made temple...He is roaming the earth. We see a stormy thundercloud swirling around with lightning coming out of it. We see huge wheels rolling back and forth. We see cherubim flying around. We see trails of fire shooting back and forth. God is depicted as living and active. God is at work and He is going to do whatever it takes to bring His people back to Him. Through these images we also get the impression of God as a warrior on the march. Lightning, storm, fire, and wheels (Like chariots) are all representations of war. Ezekiel can see immediately that God is active in the lives of His people and He is going to wage war on their unfaithfulness.
1:22-26 - This reminds me alot of the throne room imagery that appears in Revelation chapter 4. The expanse of crystal, the living creatures all around, the storms with lightning, etc. Both descriptions of the presence of God exude infinite power. This is not a God to be trifled with...this is not a God to turn your back on. The Israelites found that out the hard way, hopefully you and I don't have to in our lives.
1:28 - Even int he midst of this vision of judgment - there is hope. Do you see how Gos is described in verse 28? Ezekiel sees an image of a rainbow when he looks at the Glory of the Lord. After God flooded the world in Noah's time, He sent a rainbow as a promise that He would never again devastate the earth in such a fashion. The rainbow is a reminder of God's faithfulness to His promises. Though the people have brought the exile and the judgment upon themselves, God in His graciousness will welcome them back in the end.
2:1 - "Son of Man" - This phrase is used over 90 times in the book of Ezekiel to address Ezekiel. It is a very multi-faceted term. It is a reminder for Ezekiel that he is just a man - He is not God - and God wants him to understand his place in the relationship. God says, "Jump!" and Ezekiel says, "How high?" On the other hand, the rest of the people of Judah are consistently described as the "sons of Israel" - this carries the connotation that they are as rebellious and unfaithful as their forefathers. When Ezekiel is called the some of man, he is being set apart from the rest. An exact translation is actually - "the son of Adam (Adam means man)." Adam as you recall from Genesis was brought to life when God breathed the Spirit into him. Ezekiel is set apart by God and made a prophet when is is filled with the Spirit of God...He is the son of Adam.
2:2 - The spirit of God enables Ezekiel to do what his countrymen could not - to attain a level of faithfulness and commitment that is super-human. This reminds me to be thankful for the fact that we have access, through the blood of Jesus Christ, to the Holy Spirit of God every day of our lives! Thank you Jesus.
2:5 - Sadly, Ezekiel is told by God that his ministry will be a failure. God tells him that the rebellious people will not listen to his words. Then why is God making Ezekiel go through this charade. Because God is always one step ahead of the game (It is His "game" after all). Even though the people for the most part will not listen to Ezekiel, he will come and prophecy about God's judgement on the men and women of Judah. So that after the punishment has been poured out on the people, they will be able to look back and understand that God told them this would happen. It will lead to a revival among the people and a return to God. Sometimes success is defined by planting seeds for the Spirit of God to work through, even though you don't get to see the end result.
3:3 - Ezekiel is told to eat the scroll (i.e. God's Word/prophecies), and he does. The scroll tastes like honey to Ezekiel who is filled with the Spirit of God, but the words of God will be bitter and indigestible for those who are rebellious. This is something for each of us to think about. Is it easy for you to listen to hard truth about yourself? Is it easy for you to be challenged by God's Word and incorporate change in your life? Or do you get defensive and make excuses for yourself. A Spirit-filled life is one that enables us to hear God's truth and act on it.
3:14 - What does this mean? The hand of the Lord was on him, but he was still filled with bitterness and anger? What is going on there? Well, there is this war that is going on within Ezekiel at this point. He has been filled with the Spirit of God, so he fully understands God's wrath towards the people. He is filled with the righteous anger of God. Yet at the same time, the Israelite within him is weeping in bitterness at the fact that his people have to go through such harsh judgment so that they will return to God. He is torn between being absolutely livid at his people and brokenhearted for their suffering.
3:17 - God has called Ezekiel to be a watchman for the people of Judah. Whenever Ezekiel sees or hears God on the move, he must warn the people...he must call them to repentance...to turn back to God. Whether evil or righteous, the people must hear the warning and heed Ezekiel's advice. That is the only chance for hope for the people of Judah.
3:25ff - This is a strange passage, but Ezekiel becomes a mouthpiece for God. Literally, God makes him into was amounts to a microphone for His truth. Ezekiel is removed from walking among the people...God binds him so that he cannot leave. God makes it so that he cannot talk, except for when he is speaking the words that come directly from God. He cannot beg God to have mercy on the people, because the time for mercy has passed and the people will only receive judgement from God's mouthpiece.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Lamentations Chapters 3-5
3:19-24 - All the horrible things that have been described in the book of Lamentations so far, paint a pretty bleak picture for the Jewish people. I love that in the midst of pain, suffering and judgment, the author still has the faithfulness to believe that God is a God of compassionate love. When everything is falling apart (Usually due to our own sinful choices, or those of others around us), there is only God to turn to. He is the only one that can provide the strength that we need. Sadly, it is in the times of greatest need that people often choose to blame God and turn from Him.
3:25 and 26 - This reminds me of King Saul, who refused to wait. Early in his reign as king he was going off to war and wanted Samuel the prophet to make sacrifices and cry out to God for their army. Samuel was delayed in coming, so instead of waiting, Saul just made the sacrifices himself (Something he wasn't supposed to do). He refused to wait on God...just decided to do his own thing. How often does that describe the way you choose to act? As is clear in the second half of verse 25, waiting does not mean doing nothing. Waiting on the Lord means seeking God with your heart and soul and listening where He is calling us to go. Before you make huge decisions and determine how you are going to respond to something - wait on God...cry out to Him.
3:32 and 33 - This is something that we all need to understand...though God is allowing His people to be punished for their sins, this does not mean that He is not compassionate. This passage says that He does not willingly afflict His people...He unwillingly does what He has to do for the good of His people. He does what needs to be done because He loves them so much. If punishment is the only thing that will make stubborn people see the error of their ways...God is willing to punish (Like any loving parent would).
3:39 - If you are alive and blood is pumping through your veins, you really have nothing to complain about. Your life is a gift from God...something He allowed you to have today - life! Everyone deserves death for their sins and their disrespect towards God, but instead we receive grace through Jesus Christ! Yet another undeserved gift we receive. Our sinful actions will always have dire consequences and there is no one to blame but ourselves. I think the author is trying to tell us something - "Stop whining and turn back to God!"
3:55-57 - When you have hit rock bottom...when you are in the depths, there is only one place to turn - God. God is our strength...God is our refuge...we do not have to fear because we have God with us. I personally really need to hear this verse today...I have been struggling with some doubts and needed this reassurance. I open the Word today and come to this verse and God is whispering to my soul..."Do not fear, I am with you." Thank you Lord!
4:10 - Again the utter defilement of the people is illustrated by the fact that during the siege of Jerusalem, women have begun to boil their own babies and eat them as food to survive. That is so sick I don't want to believe it! These innocent babies are forced to pay for the sinful selfishness of their families. I want to know where the fathers are...where are the leaders standing up and demanding that these atrocities stop? They are nowhere to be found, and you start to understand why these people needed to be judged by God.
4:22 - God always takes a strong stance against sin - it is in His nature. Sin is like an attack on God Himself and the creation that He put in place...it must be fought against...it must be destroyed. When we choose to sin, we are setting ourselves in opposition to God. As Christians today, we cannot allow ourselves to think that sin is trivial because of the sacrifice of Jesus. There are people that believe that! There are people that believe that they can basically do whatever they want because God loves them and Jesus died for them. Well, I would suggest that they come and read Lamentations. I would suggest that they read Hebrews 10:26 and following. When we trivialize sin in our lives, we are trivializing the sacrifice of Jesus Christ...and I promise you...you don't want to be in that camp!
3:25 and 26 - This reminds me of King Saul, who refused to wait. Early in his reign as king he was going off to war and wanted Samuel the prophet to make sacrifices and cry out to God for their army. Samuel was delayed in coming, so instead of waiting, Saul just made the sacrifices himself (Something he wasn't supposed to do). He refused to wait on God...just decided to do his own thing. How often does that describe the way you choose to act? As is clear in the second half of verse 25, waiting does not mean doing nothing. Waiting on the Lord means seeking God with your heart and soul and listening where He is calling us to go. Before you make huge decisions and determine how you are going to respond to something - wait on God...cry out to Him.
3:32 and 33 - This is something that we all need to understand...though God is allowing His people to be punished for their sins, this does not mean that He is not compassionate. This passage says that He does not willingly afflict His people...He unwillingly does what He has to do for the good of His people. He does what needs to be done because He loves them so much. If punishment is the only thing that will make stubborn people see the error of their ways...God is willing to punish (Like any loving parent would).
3:39 - If you are alive and blood is pumping through your veins, you really have nothing to complain about. Your life is a gift from God...something He allowed you to have today - life! Everyone deserves death for their sins and their disrespect towards God, but instead we receive grace through Jesus Christ! Yet another undeserved gift we receive. Our sinful actions will always have dire consequences and there is no one to blame but ourselves. I think the author is trying to tell us something - "Stop whining and turn back to God!"
3:55-57 - When you have hit rock bottom...when you are in the depths, there is only one place to turn - God. God is our strength...God is our refuge...we do not have to fear because we have God with us. I personally really need to hear this verse today...I have been struggling with some doubts and needed this reassurance. I open the Word today and come to this verse and God is whispering to my soul..."Do not fear, I am with you." Thank you Lord!
4:10 - Again the utter defilement of the people is illustrated by the fact that during the siege of Jerusalem, women have begun to boil their own babies and eat them as food to survive. That is so sick I don't want to believe it! These innocent babies are forced to pay for the sinful selfishness of their families. I want to know where the fathers are...where are the leaders standing up and demanding that these atrocities stop? They are nowhere to be found, and you start to understand why these people needed to be judged by God.
4:22 - God always takes a strong stance against sin - it is in His nature. Sin is like an attack on God Himself and the creation that He put in place...it must be fought against...it must be destroyed. When we choose to sin, we are setting ourselves in opposition to God. As Christians today, we cannot allow ourselves to think that sin is trivial because of the sacrifice of Jesus. There are people that believe that! There are people that believe that they can basically do whatever they want because God loves them and Jesus died for them. Well, I would suggest that they come and read Lamentations. I would suggest that they read Hebrews 10:26 and following. When we trivialize sin in our lives, we are trivializing the sacrifice of Jesus Christ...and I promise you...you don't want to be in that camp!
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Lamentations Chapters 1 and 2
This is a very short book written as a mournful poem about the destruction of Judah. It is heart-breaking, but serves as a warning for believers in any age and ends in hope.
1:1 - God's beloved daughter, Judah, rejected His love and gave herself away to others. She sold herself into prostitution with false gods and greed. Because of the choices of the people of Judah, they have become enslaved...enslaved to lies...enslaved to Babylon...enslaved to suffering. When we turn our backs on God...when we say God is not enough and we try to find fulfillment in earthly lusts and possessions and other humans - we find ourselves as slaves. Instead of being the heirs of the Most High God - the sons and daughters of the Creator - we are enslaved to things that are killing us. I have seen beautiful princesses of God - young teenage women who so desperately seek affection that they throw themselves to boy after boy in search of what can only be found in a relationship with God. They become slaves and it is heartbreaking.
1:6 - This verse reminds me of Jeremiah 52:7, when the warriors and the king of Judah escape from the Babylonian siege (Very bravely leaving behind the women and children). After 2 years of being trapped in Jerusalem and malnutrition, they are weak and overtaken very easily. Like the powerless deer described in this passage, they are slaughter in the fields.
1:9 - The people of Israel refused to think about the future. They thought only of the moment...thought only of whatever would bring them instantaneous pleasure. So the fall was catastrophic...they were blind and had no idea it was coming, because they refused to look at where their choices were leading them. Many of my high school students (And people of any age to be honest) often dwell in the "now" and do not think about the consequences of their actions. They believe they have all the time in the world to get their faith in order...they refuse to accept that their choices are going to have serious repercussions when it comes to their souls...and they couldn't be more wrong. The fall is really hard when you don't look at where you are going.
1:17 and 18 - The people cry out to God but they do not get the help they are looking for...He does not listen to their cries. This seems cruel, bit verse 18 tells us that God is absolutely in the right (He has quite the habit of being that way). You cannot reject God, refuse God, dishonor God, spit in God's face with your actions and words, and then expect Him to come running when you call. I am not saying the situation is hopeless, but there are some dire consequences when people who claim to be believers dishonor God with their lives.
1:19 - Other human beings can never give us what we need - NEVER! People cannot bring fulfillment to our lives. When we try to rely on those we have used as replacements for God in our lives, they will always let us down in the end. Always. We were created to worship God...not other human beings.
2:7 - This theme has come up over and over again in scripture. As God punishes His people for what they have done, He is also hurt in the process. He is shamed because of the actions of His people...His name is mocked and brought low because of the sins of His people. Never forget that your sins don't just affect you...they affect the whole community of believers and God Himself.
2:14 - People often have a bad habit of listening only to those who tell them what they want to hear. Don't be one of those people...that only leads us further and further away from the will of God.
2:19 - All there is to do when everything is falling apart is to cry out to God. That is all that is left for the people of Judah...everything else is gone...there is no hope but God. And that is exactly why God allows His wrath to be poured out on His own people...so that they will return to Him.
1:1 - God's beloved daughter, Judah, rejected His love and gave herself away to others. She sold herself into prostitution with false gods and greed. Because of the choices of the people of Judah, they have become enslaved...enslaved to lies...enslaved to Babylon...enslaved to suffering. When we turn our backs on God...when we say God is not enough and we try to find fulfillment in earthly lusts and possessions and other humans - we find ourselves as slaves. Instead of being the heirs of the Most High God - the sons and daughters of the Creator - we are enslaved to things that are killing us. I have seen beautiful princesses of God - young teenage women who so desperately seek affection that they throw themselves to boy after boy in search of what can only be found in a relationship with God. They become slaves and it is heartbreaking.
1:6 - This verse reminds me of Jeremiah 52:7, when the warriors and the king of Judah escape from the Babylonian siege (Very bravely leaving behind the women and children). After 2 years of being trapped in Jerusalem and malnutrition, they are weak and overtaken very easily. Like the powerless deer described in this passage, they are slaughter in the fields.
1:9 - The people of Israel refused to think about the future. They thought only of the moment...thought only of whatever would bring them instantaneous pleasure. So the fall was catastrophic...they were blind and had no idea it was coming, because they refused to look at where their choices were leading them. Many of my high school students (And people of any age to be honest) often dwell in the "now" and do not think about the consequences of their actions. They believe they have all the time in the world to get their faith in order...they refuse to accept that their choices are going to have serious repercussions when it comes to their souls...and they couldn't be more wrong. The fall is really hard when you don't look at where you are going.
1:17 and 18 - The people cry out to God but they do not get the help they are looking for...He does not listen to their cries. This seems cruel, bit verse 18 tells us that God is absolutely in the right (He has quite the habit of being that way). You cannot reject God, refuse God, dishonor God, spit in God's face with your actions and words, and then expect Him to come running when you call. I am not saying the situation is hopeless, but there are some dire consequences when people who claim to be believers dishonor God with their lives.
1:19 - Other human beings can never give us what we need - NEVER! People cannot bring fulfillment to our lives. When we try to rely on those we have used as replacements for God in our lives, they will always let us down in the end. Always. We were created to worship God...not other human beings.
2:7 - This theme has come up over and over again in scripture. As God punishes His people for what they have done, He is also hurt in the process. He is shamed because of the actions of His people...His name is mocked and brought low because of the sins of His people. Never forget that your sins don't just affect you...they affect the whole community of believers and God Himself.
2:14 - People often have a bad habit of listening only to those who tell them what they want to hear. Don't be one of those people...that only leads us further and further away from the will of God.
2:19 - All there is to do when everything is falling apart is to cry out to God. That is all that is left for the people of Judah...everything else is gone...there is no hope but God. And that is exactly why God allows His wrath to be poured out on His own people...so that they will return to Him.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Jeremiah Chapters 50-52
50:17-19 - This is a great illustration and a simple retelling of the Book of Jeremiah. The sheep (Judah) have gone astray...they have left the safety of their shepherd's flock (As Israel turned away from God). Because of this, the sheep were hunted down and devoured by lions (Assyria and Babylon). But fortunately, the sheep have a tenacious shepherd who goes out and finds them and brings them back into the fold. That is the story of Jeremiah in a nutshell.
50:31-32 - This verse really struck me between the eyes, because I know I struggle with pride so much. In fact, as I was reading this passage, I was having trouble focusing on the text because my mind kept wandering back to an incident where I had my pride wounded and was wondering what I needed to do about it. Suddenly, this verse cuts through the fog and grabs my attention. I need to be reminded often about how God feels about those who are selfishly proud or who take pride in themselves. The proud are the enemies of God...He will bring them low and I don't want to be against Him!
51:7 - This is really great imagery from Jeremiah. Babylon offers this cup of their culture to the world and the people around them greedily drink it up. They want what Babylon has - they want power, prestige, wealth, etc. They gulp down what Babylon is offering and soon find out that is does nothing but drive them mad. My mind immediately jumped to the chief export of the United States - our cultural madness. As Christians in the United States, what can we do to bring cultural changes to a country that sells its brand of self-centered consumerism all over the world? Many of us have drunk it up too...what needs to change in my life...in yours?
51:15-16 - If there was any doubt about Babylons chances at standing against God, Jeremiah clears that all up pretty quickly. God is the creator and the sustainer of everything and his wrath will not be escaped. Something it wouldn't hurt for you and I to remember 0n a daily basis.
52:4-5 - They were besieged for almost two years...can you imagine that? No you can't. Re-read chapter 19 if you want to see how Jeremiah describes what will happened. Trapped in a walled city for two years. The filth and disease must have been rampant. Famine and starvation lead to cannibalism. Fear and depression probably lead to suicides and infighting. This is an utterly heartbreaking punishment that the people of Judah have brought down on themselves.
52:17 - The decorations in the house of the Lord are torn down. They are broken to pieces and shipped back to Babylon. Bronze that was once used in worship of the Lord, goes back to Babylon to be turned into weapons and mirrors and pots and pans...it is totally humiliating to God. Don't forget that when human beings reject their creator they not only bring humility on themselves, but on the name of God too.
52:31-33 - Jehoiachin is brought out of prison by the Babylonian king. He is treated with kindness and respect. Give clothes, a place to stay, and food for life. Doesn't this seem like such a strange way to end the book of Jeremiah? Why is it that Jeremiah ends by telling us this tid-bit of information? Because Jehoiachin is in the line of King David...even in the midst of exile, the line continues on...hope still exists...God is faithful.
50:31-32 - This verse really struck me between the eyes, because I know I struggle with pride so much. In fact, as I was reading this passage, I was having trouble focusing on the text because my mind kept wandering back to an incident where I had my pride wounded and was wondering what I needed to do about it. Suddenly, this verse cuts through the fog and grabs my attention. I need to be reminded often about how God feels about those who are selfishly proud or who take pride in themselves. The proud are the enemies of God...He will bring them low and I don't want to be against Him!
51:7 - This is really great imagery from Jeremiah. Babylon offers this cup of their culture to the world and the people around them greedily drink it up. They want what Babylon has - they want power, prestige, wealth, etc. They gulp down what Babylon is offering and soon find out that is does nothing but drive them mad. My mind immediately jumped to the chief export of the United States - our cultural madness. As Christians in the United States, what can we do to bring cultural changes to a country that sells its brand of self-centered consumerism all over the world? Many of us have drunk it up too...what needs to change in my life...in yours?
51:15-16 - If there was any doubt about Babylons chances at standing against God, Jeremiah clears that all up pretty quickly. God is the creator and the sustainer of everything and his wrath will not be escaped. Something it wouldn't hurt for you and I to remember 0n a daily basis.
52:4-5 - They were besieged for almost two years...can you imagine that? No you can't. Re-read chapter 19 if you want to see how Jeremiah describes what will happened. Trapped in a walled city for two years. The filth and disease must have been rampant. Famine and starvation lead to cannibalism. Fear and depression probably lead to suicides and infighting. This is an utterly heartbreaking punishment that the people of Judah have brought down on themselves.
52:17 - The decorations in the house of the Lord are torn down. They are broken to pieces and shipped back to Babylon. Bronze that was once used in worship of the Lord, goes back to Babylon to be turned into weapons and mirrors and pots and pans...it is totally humiliating to God. Don't forget that when human beings reject their creator they not only bring humility on themselves, but on the name of God too.
52:31-33 - Jehoiachin is brought out of prison by the Babylonian king. He is treated with kindness and respect. Give clothes, a place to stay, and food for life. Doesn't this seem like such a strange way to end the book of Jeremiah? Why is it that Jeremiah ends by telling us this tid-bit of information? Because Jehoiachin is in the line of King David...even in the midst of exile, the line continues on...hope still exists...God is faithful.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Jeremiah Chapters 47-49
48:7 - It is a scary thing to read passages like this and be a part of our culture. When we place our hope and trust in material goods and human strength, we set ourselves against God. We declare that these things are more important to us than God and we become His enemies. Why is it so hard to learn that these things we put so much stock in...spend so much money on...give so much time to...are powerless to give us what we are searching for?
48:44 - This is the original "out of the frying pan, into the fire" statement. If you run, you will fall into the pit. If you climb out of the pit, you will be caught in the snare. That sounds pretty un-fun "out of the pit and into the bear trap!" This is something I don't think we realize sometimes...you cannot run from the wrath of the Lord...you cannot run from judgement. Throw yourself on His mercy.
49:6 and 39 - Even in the midst of three chapters of judgement, suffering and pain - we see that God is working for the greater good of all people. There is hope for the Ammonites and the Elamites, even though they have spent generations rejecting God. There is hope because God is good and even His anger is aimed at bringing redemption in the end. Know that no matter what you have been through...what you have done...there is always redemption waiting when you turn to God.
48:44 - This is the original "out of the frying pan, into the fire" statement. If you run, you will fall into the pit. If you climb out of the pit, you will be caught in the snare. That sounds pretty un-fun "out of the pit and into the bear trap!" This is something I don't think we realize sometimes...you cannot run from the wrath of the Lord...you cannot run from judgement. Throw yourself on His mercy.
49:6 and 39 - Even in the midst of three chapters of judgement, suffering and pain - we see that God is working for the greater good of all people. There is hope for the Ammonites and the Elamites, even though they have spent generations rejecting God. There is hope because God is good and even His anger is aimed at bringing redemption in the end. Know that no matter what you have been through...what you have done...there is always redemption waiting when you turn to God.
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