Chronological Bible Blog

August 21st Chronological Bible Readings

Ezekiel 20:1-22:16
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~ Listen to today's Scripture on ESVBible.org ~

Ezekiel chapter 20 verse 12 stands out to me today: "And I gave them my Sabbath days of rest as a sign between them and me. It was to remind them that I, the LORD, had set them apart to be holy, making them my special people."  I like learning this - the Sabbath days of rest were given as a sign between God and his people.  How are you doing on taking a day of rest each week?  Would taking a day of rest each week - a Sabbath day - benefit your relationship with God?  And with others?  Would it benefit perhaps the other 6 days of your week?  Below is a great painting titled "The Sabbath Rest" by the Jewish Polish painter Samuel Hirszenberg from the year 1894:

After verse 12 above, we read this from God in verse 13: ""But the people of Israel rebelled against me, and they refused to obey my laws there in the wilderness. They wouldn't obey my instructions even though obedience would have given them life. And they also violated my Sabbath days. So I threatened to pour out my fury on them, and I made plans to utterly consume them in the desert." The thing that stood out to me in this verse was "they also violated my Sabbath days."  I don't get too caught up on which day of the week we take a Sabbath - as some may work weekends and have Mondays off, for example.  Whatever the day is for you - do you have 1 day a week that you consider a Sabbath?  Why might this be a smart thing to do?  A healthy thing to do?  A faithful thing to do?

In Ezekiel 20:40 we read: “There I will require your offerings and your choice gifts, along with all your holy sacrifices.” What are your offerings, choice gifts and holy sacrifices to the Lord?  Your life, your thoughts, your finances?  Do you give a percentage of your income to your local church, ministries, and nonprofits?  Would this perhaps be a "holy sacrifice" if you did so?  Would this be a bold act of faith?

In Ezekiel chapter 21 today we read about the Lord's sword of judgment! Which, in this case is Babylon and King Nebuchadnezzar.  I did not realize until today that there is actually a "sword song" in the Bible - a song that warriors may have sung and even danced to before going out to battle.  Unfortunately, this sword song in verses 9 through 11 was being sung for Jerusalem because of her many sins... "A sword, a sword is being sharpened and polished. It is sharpened for terrible slaughter and polished to flash like lightning! Now will you laugh? Those far stronger than you have fallen beneath its power! Yes, the sword is now being sharpened and polished; it is being prepared for the executioner."

Okay, so Ezekiel Chapters 21 & 22 are the types of chapters where you might you think about stereotypes of the Old Testament - a "grouchy/mean" God perhaps one might say about these two chapters...   However! - context of course is key to keep in mind.  We must also know the book of Jeremiah or Ezekiel prior to these chapters.  God has been slow to anger, compassionate, asking - no, begging - people to repent.  And they have not.  And things just keep getting worse and worse and worse.  Check out chapter 22 verses 1 through 16 for how bad the sins of Jerusalem have gotten...  All of this reminds me that the consequences for sin are very real.  Let us never forget the truth of Romans 6:23 - "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Worship God:  Today's readings in Ezekiel remind me of Matt Redman's song "Blessed Be Your Name," performed live here by the Newsboys:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLycgKxlgc0

Is God's name blessed to you? Click here for your true Blessings!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.p.s. Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.p.p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today. Thanks!

August 20th Chronological Bible Readings

Ezekiel 17:1-19:14
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on BibleGateway.com ~ // Mobile Site Link
~ Listen to today's Scripture on ESVBible.org ~

Ezekiel chapter 17 is a great story of the two eagles!  This is basically a story of the city of Jerusalem's vacillating foreign policy between Babylon and Egypt.  The first eagle is King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and the treaty Jerusalem makes w/ Babylon is in the story.  Then, the second eagle represents a pharaoh from Egypt, whom Jerusalem makes another treaty with subsequently, which goes against Babylon.  The bad part of this is that the Babylon treaty was sworn to by the king of Jerusalem/Judah in the Lord's name - then broken.   This is a very bad idea to swear something in the Lord's name and then not uphold it...   Below is a map to give you a quick snapshot of the Babylonian empire, Judah, and Egypt at this time:

The close of this chapter is phenomenal when it takes a Messianic turn, foreshadowing Jesus in verses 22 and 23: "And the Sovereign LORD says: I will take a tender shoot from the top of a tall cedar, and I will plant it on the top of Israel's highest mountain. It will become a noble cedar, sending forth its branches and producing seed. Birds of every sort will nest in it, finding shelter beneath its branches."  Do these verses sound like Jesus to you?

Ezekiel chapter 18 is a powerful chapter!  What we are seeing in this chapter is the Old Covenant - which I do believe was compassionate & "fair", but different from the New Covenant, which I believe is compassionate & graceful (which may not necessarily be "fair" - but which is good news - Gospel - for us sinners!).  Verse 30 is a good look at the Old Covenant: "Therefore, I will judge each of you, O people of Israel, according to your actions, says the Sovereign LORD. Turn from your sins! Don't let them destroy you!"   Verse 4 of course stands out too with: "And this is my rule: The person who sins will be the one who dies." You read this at a high level and you'll get a bit nervous, no?  :)  Indeed this is the Old Covenant:  your actions will dictate your death or your life.  It's up to your actions.  It's up to you.  You'll get what you deserve.  And this is certainly "fair."  However, this changes through Jesus Christ's atonement for our sins once and for all on the cross.  Under the New Covenant, through God's gift of grace, we now simply need to have faith that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, died for our sins and rose from the dead.  As we've been reading in Hebrews currently - we simply need to have faith in Christ as our High Priest.  God's grace and our faith becomes the key (regeneration).  Not our actions on their own.  This being said, after our salvation (justification) through grace and faith, God is very interested in our actions and wants us to live a life of holiness (sanctification).   This is a lot of theology here... and more than I can blog on without goofing it up - actually I probably already have.  :)  Check out a good overview of justification and sanctification (and regeneration!) on bible.org at this link.    Also, I'll copy this image below, which I found interesting.  I may not agree with every point on this image, but overall I find this useful:  (though, I'd say you could take a thick black magic marker and just write "Jesus" and "Grace" all over this image below too, and that would really be all you need to know :)

Verse 32 can be argued to be the single most important point in all of the book of Ezekiel - "I don't want you to die, says the Sovereign LORD. Turn back and live!"  This is a powerful verse.  Think this verse shows us that God is compassionate?  Think this might be the single most important point in the book of Ezekiel?  Think this verse can apply to our lives today? Are their areas of sin in your life which God is calling you to turn back from?  Calling you to turn toward true Life?  And to be free from the slavery of sin?  Will you turn back?  Will you repent?

Ezekiel Chapter 19 is a funeral song and allegory about the land of Judah and Jerusalem.  Jerusalem is the lioness and the lions are two of her sons, two kings - one who ended up trapped and deceived by Egypt and the other by Babylon.   The last sentence of verse 14 is a sad one...  "This is a funeral song, and it is now time for the funeral." As we know, it is now time for the funeral for Jerusalem in Ezekiel's time.  However, of course, there is the redemption to come and the continuation of the house of David.  The promise to Abraham won't die here!  There is another Lion of Judah yet to come...

Worship God: Today's readings in Ezekiel 17 reminded me of this song by Brandon Heath called "Love Never Fails:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP0iDVmzb80

Are you experiencing love that never fails? Click here for true Love!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.p.s. Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.p.p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today. Thanks!

August 19th Chronological Bible Readings

Ezekiel 14:1-16:63
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on BibleGateway.com ~ // Mobile Site Link
~ Listen to today's Scripture on ESVBible.org ~

Ezekiel 14 verse 3 I believe can definitely speak to us today: "Son of man, these leaders have set up idols in their hearts. They have embraced things that lead them into sin."  This is scary to think about...  Have we set up idols in our hearts?  Have we embraced things that lead us into sin?  Think this is a good idea... ?  Can we turn these idols in our hearts over to the Lord?  It is my hunch that an idol set up in our hearts is one of the toughest things to get rid of.  We need Jesus in our lives to free us idols.  Will you let Jesus remove any idol that is in your heart this very day?  Please don't let that idol hang around in your heart any longer...

I am fascinated by God's words in Ezekiel chapter 14 verses 13 & 14 today:  "Son of man, suppose the people of a country were to sin against me, and I lifted my fist to crush them, cutting off their food supply and sending a famine to destroy both people and animals. Even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were there, their righteousness would save no one but themselves, says the Sovereign Lord."  The first thing these verses tell us is that God's judgment upon Jerusalem at this time was certain.  Even the righteousness of Noah, Daniel, and Job couldn't change that - only these 3 men would have been saved.  However, this got me thinking.  Is it possible that sometimes today we try to build up our own righteousness to ensure our own salvation and basically do nothing to try to build up others righteousness and help them toward their salvation?  Meaning, do we sometimes retreat into a "Christian bubble" and ignore the rest of "the world."  Leave them to their own devices.  It just made me think when reading about Noah, Daniel, and Job that my hunch is that these 3 would not just chill out and relax in the glory and certitude of their own righteousness.  My hunch is that they would get out there on the streets and try to save others.  So, what about you and me?  Are we just cocooning in our own righteousness and salvation, or are we taking salvation to the streets?  Are we retreating from the battle for others' salvation or are we engaged in it?  What say you?

Ezekiel chapter 14 verse 23 tells us today:  "When you meet them and see their behavior, you will agree that these things are not being done to Israel without cause, says the Sovereign LORD."  I think sometimes we can read some select verses in the Old Testament out of context and think God is being harsh.  God here reminds us that he is not being harsh without cause.  And we'll see more of the cause in chapter 16 today...  Below is an image of Ezekiel prophesying to the elders who visited him in chapter 14 verse 1:

Ezekiel chapter 15 is an interesting one for me today, where God basically calls Jerusalem a useless grape vine.  In reading this I am also reminded that Jesus in John 15 uses the grape vine analogy again saying "I am the vine and you are the branches."  This tells me that Jesus redeems even useless grape vines!  :)  However, using this Ezekiel analogy, are we growing in our lives like trees or like vines?  How thick are your roots?  How solid is your core?

Ezekiel chapter 16 is a fascinating and sad look at the city of Jerusalem.  This is the first time I have really spent a little bit of time with this chapter.  The question I find for myself in reading this chapter is this: has God blessed us similarly in some ways that he blessed Jerusalem?  Have we, perhaps, in some ways used the blessings that God has given us in improper ways?   Verse 6 in this chapter stood out to me: "But I came by and saw you there, helplessly kicking about in your own blood. As you lay there, I said, `Live!'"  Bible commentaries suggest that this one word - Live! - is God's basic desire for all humans.  How powerful is that realization?  How very beautiful...  Live!  Let us Live!

Worship God:  Ezekiel 16:6's call to "Live!" reminded me of Casting Crowns wonderful worship tune called "Lifesong."  Let this be our prayer today - "Let my lifesong sing to you!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEwB0pkes7U

Is your lifesong singing to God? Click here and start Singing!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.p.s. Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.p.p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today. Thanks!

August 18th Chronological Bible Readings

Ezekiel 10:1-13:23
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on BibleGateway.com ~ // Mobile Site Link
~ Listen to today's Scripture on ESVBible.org ~

Ezekiel's vision of the Lord in Jerusalem continues today in chapters 10 and 11 as the glory of the Lord first leaves the Temple and then leaves Jerusalem completely! This is a big deal as the glory of the Lord had pretty much been in the Temple since it's construction. We are also visited by the cherubim again in these chapters - check out the November 1st readings calendar link below/left for more commentary on the cherubim.  I really like this artwork by Priscilla Silver called "The Four Faced Cherubim" -

Today in chapter 11 verse 13 we read - "While I was still speaking, Pelatiah son of Benaiah suddenly died. Then I fell face down in the dust and cried out, "O Sovereign LORD, are you going to kill everyone in Israel?""

Chapter 11 verses 19 & 20 stood out to me today, with a message for the exiles in Babylon - "I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their hearts of stone and give them tender hearts instead, so they will obey my laws and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God." How are our hearts today? Are they tender? Single in their focus on God? Do we have a new Spirit within us?

Ezekiel chapter 12 today reminds me that sometimes in my own life I believe God sends some signs and warnings and I, like the Israelites in exile in Babylon, can be a rebel.  I ignore the signs and warnings or think - oh, that won't come to pass for a long time...    Do you suppose this is wise?   Is there a sign or a warning God may be sending your way in your life currently?  Will you listen and obey?  Will you pay attention to God's warning signs in your life?

I love the story of Ezekiel packing up his pack in broad daylight and leaving through a hole in his house during the evening in chapter 12 today!  In verse 7 we read - "So I did as I was told. In broad daylight I brought my pack outside, filled with the things I might carry into exile. Then in the evening while the people looked on, I dug through the wall with my hands and went out into the darkness with my pack on my shoulder."

It is interesting that in chapter 12 God says three times: "Then you/they will know that I am the LORD!"  Why do you think he repeats this three times in this chapter?  Should this be a statement we should consider in our own lives?   Who is the Lord of your life - yourself or God?   Do you know that God is the Lord?   Is God consistently in the very center of your life?

Ezekiel chapter 13 verse 2 stood out to me today: "Son of man, speak against the false prophets of Israel who are inventing their own prophecies. Tell them to listen to the word of the LORD." Do we see this in our world today?  People inventing their own prophecies?  Inventing their own religions?  Picking and choosing what philosophies they like the best?  Do we do this?  Should we be listening instead to the Word of the Lord?  Are you actively involved in a church where the Word is clearly taught and Jesus is clearly the cornerstone?

Worship God: Today's readings in Ezekiel reminds me of the importance of the message in the Kutless song "Sea of Faces:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLHE4P-B2FA

Are you lost in a sea of faces? Click here to be Found!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.p.s. Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.p.p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today. Thanks!

August 17th Chronological Bible Readings

Ezekiel 5:1-9:11
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on BibleGateway.com ~ // Mobile Site Link
~ Listen to today's Scripture on ESVBible.org ~

Ezekiel chapter 5 today gets into God's signs of the coming siege and judgment of Jerusalem and Israel. The thing that went through my mind when reading all of this was the 3rd commandment from Exodus chapter 20, verses 4-6:  "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments."  The term in these verses "jealous God" did come to my mind when reading Ezekiel 4 and 5. And not in a bad way. But, just in the way it was. God commanded no idols. Israel/Jerusalem created idols and did not repent after repeated warnings. God was "jealous" of all of this, and the siege and judgment came.

Ezekiel chapter 6 continues along the lines of chapters 4 & 5 - with judgment against the very land of Israel because of the pagan shrines. Verses 8 & 9 stood out to me in this chapter: ""But I will let a few of my people escape destruction, and they will be scattered among the nations of the world. Then when they are exiled among the nations, they will remember me. They will recognize how grieved I am by their unfaithful hearts and lustful eyes that long for other gods. Then at last they will hate themselves for all their wickedness." Here we see that God will preserve the Davidic line - and that the Israelites will eventually repent, and the nation will eventually be restored (as we know in hindsight now). Verse 10 in this chapter also seems to sum up a lot of what's going on in God's mind in today's readings in Ezekiel: "They will know that I alone am the LORD and that I was serious when I predicted that all this would happen to them."  Do we know that God is alone the Lord in our lives today? Do we trust his Word and his predictions without a doubt?

Ezekiel chapter 7 has a line that repeats twice in verses 4 & 27: "Then you/they will know that I am the LORD!"  We are seeing here that God is not happy with Israel in large part because they do not realize that he is the Lord. They have sold out to other gods and idols and sin and don't really think God will do much about it. Well, God opens this chapter with strong words in verse 1: "The end is here!" God's patience has run out. But, keep in mind that God kept trying to get the Israelites to repent over and over and over again. They wouldn't.  Do we sometimes test God's patience? If so, will we repent in the areas of our life where we test God's patience?

Ezekiel chapter 8 reminds me of a lawyer making a case in court! And God absolutely puts forth a strong case for why the end arrived for Jerusalem in the 5th/6th century B.C. It is so sad to see these sins take place in and around the Temple. In chapter 9 we see six angels of God appear from the north gates - where one of the major idols was located. In this vision, these 6 angels are carrying out God's judgment on Israel. Verse 7 gives us a hint that God is preparing to leave the Temple completely: ""Defile the Temple!" the LORD commanded."  We'll pick this up in tomorrow's readings...  Below is an artist's interpretation of Ezekiel's visit to Jerusalem:  (I realize this is one of the more "unique" pieces of art I have posted up - just wait until we get to the book of Revelation! :)

Worship God: Today's readings in Ezekiel reminds me of the importance of the message in the beautiful Hillsong song "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yfr5rOfimnU

Are your eyes looking at Jesus? Click here to turn your eyes toward Him!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.p.s. Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.p.p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today. Thanks!