Ezekiel 1-6
About 13 years before the destruction of Jerusalem, which we have just read about in Jeremiah and Lamentations, King Nebuchadnezzar had subdued Israel and made her a vassal state. He took about 10,000 Israelites back to Babylon to live in exile. Jeremiah was addressing these very people in Jeremiah 29, when he said, “I know the plans I have for you...plans to give you hope and a future!”!
Ezekiel was among those first 10,000 exiles. He began writing and prophesying about seven years before the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C., and continued ministering at least 15 years afterward. In other words, he prophesied in Babylon while Jeremiah was prophesying back home. It was Israel’s darkest hour.
It all begins with Ezekiel’s incredible vision. It is so strange, so amazing, that some have read the first chapter of Ezekiel and come to the bizarre conclusion that the prophet was contacted by aliens! I prefer to take it at face value; Ezekiel says it was “the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.” (1:28). Find a good study Bible and explore the amazing symbols God uses when “Ezekiel saw the wheel...way up in the middle of the air!” (Do you remember the old spiritual?)
The amazing vision was designed to get Ezekiel’s attention, and call him to the thankless ministry of a prophet. “Son of Man,” the Lord says, “I am sending you to...a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me.” (2:3) And it doesn’t get any easier from there. The Lord goes on to say, “I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are.” (3:8) After his call, Ezekiel is whisked away by the Spirit and taken to the exiles. He sat among them seven days before saying a word, (3:15) during which God warns him of his accountability to sound the alarm, as a good watchman.
What follows, from Ezekiel 3:24—6:14 is a detailed description of Ezekiel’s signature style of prophesy. God instructs him to prophetically enact what is coming, and Ezekiel explains it as he goes. He builds a detailed model of Jerusalem, then constructs model siege works against it. He ties himself up and sits by his model for 390 days. He shaves his head with a sharp razor, then uses some of the hair as kindling for a fire around his model city. All of this, Ezekiel explains, is to picture the distress and destruction coming to Jerusalem because of their sin and idolatry.
On Monday, the glory of the Lord departs from the Temple in Jerusalem!
Your fellow pilgrim through the Prophets,
Pastor Gary
Saturday, August 16, 2014
Friday, August 15, 2014
AUGUST 15 LAMENTATIONS
Lamentations
O what a powerful and poignant piece of writing!
Lamentations is intensely personal. We read of Jeremiah’s tears in the book that bears his name; but now we can feel those tears as he walks alone through the desolate city of Jerusalem. “Is there any suffering like my suffering?” he asks (Lam. 1:12). He weeps, but there is no one to comfort him (1:16), certainly not the dead bodies, the broken gates, the plundered temple and the half-eaten children!
Jeremiah is a “man who has seen affliction;” (3:1) he’s pierced to his heart; (3:13) he finds no relief; (3:49) and joy is gone from his heart (5:15).
And yet, at the very heart of the most depressing five chapters in Scripture, are words of towering hope, the words that inspired “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” and many other hymns and songs of praise. For even in the most intense trials, Jeremiah and countless other believers have found the Lord’s great love, his daily fresh mercies, his goodness and salvation (3:21-27). They have come to believe that God “does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men.” (3:33)
How do we move from despair to hope? The answer is in Lamentation 3:37-42, and can be summarized with one word, “Turn,” or four, “Return to the Lord!”
Tomorrow, we begin a journey through one of the prophets of God in the exile: Ezekiel. When you read the opening chapters, ask yourself: “What was Ezekiel seeing?”
Your fellow pilgrim through the Prophets,
Pastor Gary
O what a powerful and poignant piece of writing!
Lamentations is intensely personal. We read of Jeremiah’s tears in the book that bears his name; but now we can feel those tears as he walks alone through the desolate city of Jerusalem. “Is there any suffering like my suffering?” he asks (Lam. 1:12). He weeps, but there is no one to comfort him (1:16), certainly not the dead bodies, the broken gates, the plundered temple and the half-eaten children!
Jeremiah is a “man who has seen affliction;” (3:1) he’s pierced to his heart; (3:13) he finds no relief; (3:49) and joy is gone from his heart (5:15).
And yet, at the very heart of the most depressing five chapters in Scripture, are words of towering hope, the words that inspired “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” and many other hymns and songs of praise. For even in the most intense trials, Jeremiah and countless other believers have found the Lord’s great love, his daily fresh mercies, his goodness and salvation (3:21-27). They have come to believe that God “does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men.” (3:33)
How do we move from despair to hope? The answer is in Lamentation 3:37-42, and can be summarized with one word, “Turn,” or four, “Return to the Lord!”
Tomorrow, we begin a journey through one of the prophets of God in the exile: Ezekiel. When you read the opening chapters, ask yourself: “What was Ezekiel seeing?”
Your fellow pilgrim through the Prophets,
Pastor Gary
Thursday, August 14, 2014
AUGUST 14 JEREMIAH 50-52
Jeremiah 50-52
Babylon is the last nation to receive a message from the Lord through Jeremiah! God and Jeremiah have saved their longest and harshest prophecy for the nation God called and used to punish His people.
These words against Babylon roll relentlessly from God’s heart and Jeremiah’s mouth. I imagine his secretary, Baruch, writing furiously to keep up with the prophet. Though God allowed Babylon to be His instrument of discipline, God will hold Babylon accountable for the atrocities they committed against God’s people!
Just as Babylon came from the North to destroy Jerusalem, so armies from the North will bring Babylon to its knees (50:3, 9, 41; 51:48).
Just as the gods of other Gentile nations will be shamed, so Bel and Marduk, the gods of Babylon, will be shamed (50:2; 51:44).
Just as Jerusalem was besieged, Babylon will be besieged; her famous walls will not defend her. She will be so destroyed that “no one will live there” except the animals (50:39-41; 51:37, 43).
All this will happen because Babylon has defied the Lord (50:29), mistreated Israel (51:24, etc.), acted in arrogance (50:31), and destroyed the Temple.
Jeremiah 52 recounts the siege and destruction of Jerusalem, what the Babylonians took, and who was carried away into exile.
The only note of hope comes at the very end. King Jehoiachin, exiled as an 18-year old, is released and treated kindly by the Babylonians. Is there hope? Yes, indeed!
Tomorrow, we read Jeremiah’s “Lamentations.”
Your fellow pilgrim through the Prophets,
Pastor Gary
Babylon is the last nation to receive a message from the Lord through Jeremiah! God and Jeremiah have saved their longest and harshest prophecy for the nation God called and used to punish His people.
These words against Babylon roll relentlessly from God’s heart and Jeremiah’s mouth. I imagine his secretary, Baruch, writing furiously to keep up with the prophet. Though God allowed Babylon to be His instrument of discipline, God will hold Babylon accountable for the atrocities they committed against God’s people!
Just as Babylon came from the North to destroy Jerusalem, so armies from the North will bring Babylon to its knees (50:3, 9, 41; 51:48).
Just as the gods of other Gentile nations will be shamed, so Bel and Marduk, the gods of Babylon, will be shamed (50:2; 51:44).
Just as Jerusalem was besieged, Babylon will be besieged; her famous walls will not defend her. She will be so destroyed that “no one will live there” except the animals (50:39-41; 51:37, 43).
All this will happen because Babylon has defied the Lord (50:29), mistreated Israel (51:24, etc.), acted in arrogance (50:31), and destroyed the Temple.
Jeremiah 52 recounts the siege and destruction of Jerusalem, what the Babylonians took, and who was carried away into exile.
The only note of hope comes at the very end. King Jehoiachin, exiled as an 18-year old, is released and treated kindly by the Babylonians. Is there hope? Yes, indeed!
Tomorrow, we read Jeremiah’s “Lamentations.”
Your fellow pilgrim through the Prophets,
Pastor Gary
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
AUGUST 13 JEREMIAH 46-49
Jeremiah 46-49
Here at the end of Jeremiah’s prophecy, we have a special word from God concerning Egypt and the lesser nations that surrounded Israel. Egypt had enslaved Israel for 400 years nearly a thousand years earlier. When Jeremiah wrote, Egypt was the “other” super power. Babylon was to the North and Egypt to the South. Some wanted to look to Egypt for help in resisting Babylon. Others, led by Jeremiah, knew that God wanted Israel to submit to Babylon. It happens that these two super powers faced off along the Euphrates River at the decisive battle of Carchemish around 605 B.C.
Egypt. The warnings and prophecies against Egypt cover an extended period of time from the battle of Carchemish to nearly 20 years after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. God warns them of Carchemish in Jer. 46:2-12, then of a much later danger, when the Babylonians threaten to attack Egypt itself.
Philistia. Jeremiah 47 warns the Philistines of an Egyptian invasion; precisely which Pharaoh at which time is uncertain.
Moab. Though descended from Lot, the nation of Moab (just southeast of Judah) had long been a thorn in Israel’s side. Jeremiah prophesies Moab’s destruction and disappearance as a nation. As you read Jeremiah 48, note all the references to “Chemosh,” the false god they worshiped. Chemosh will go into exile, Jeremiah says (48:7); the people will be ashamed of him (48:13); and those who trusted Chemosh will be destroyed (48:46).
Ammon. Also descended from Lot, the people of Ammon will suffer. Their god, Molech, will also “go into exile.” But Jeremiah’s prophecies against both Moab and Ammon end with hope: “Afterward, I will restore their fortunes!” (48:47; 49:6)
Edom. Though more closely related to Israel than Lot’s descendants, the nation of Edom (Esau, Isaac’s brother) will be completely destroyed and become an object of horror. (49:17-18)
Damascus, Kedar, Hazor & Elam. These nations will be weakened, damaged, emptied and—in some cases—abandoned.
Tomorrow, we read what God had to say about the nation He appointed to carried Israel into exile: Babylon!
Your fellow pilgrim through the Prophets,
Pastor Gary
Here at the end of Jeremiah’s prophecy, we have a special word from God concerning Egypt and the lesser nations that surrounded Israel. Egypt had enslaved Israel for 400 years nearly a thousand years earlier. When Jeremiah wrote, Egypt was the “other” super power. Babylon was to the North and Egypt to the South. Some wanted to look to Egypt for help in resisting Babylon. Others, led by Jeremiah, knew that God wanted Israel to submit to Babylon. It happens that these two super powers faced off along the Euphrates River at the decisive battle of Carchemish around 605 B.C.
Egypt. The warnings and prophecies against Egypt cover an extended period of time from the battle of Carchemish to nearly 20 years after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. God warns them of Carchemish in Jer. 46:2-12, then of a much later danger, when the Babylonians threaten to attack Egypt itself.
Philistia. Jeremiah 47 warns the Philistines of an Egyptian invasion; precisely which Pharaoh at which time is uncertain.
Moab. Though descended from Lot, the nation of Moab (just southeast of Judah) had long been a thorn in Israel’s side. Jeremiah prophesies Moab’s destruction and disappearance as a nation. As you read Jeremiah 48, note all the references to “Chemosh,” the false god they worshiped. Chemosh will go into exile, Jeremiah says (48:7); the people will be ashamed of him (48:13); and those who trusted Chemosh will be destroyed (48:46).
Ammon. Also descended from Lot, the people of Ammon will suffer. Their god, Molech, will also “go into exile.” But Jeremiah’s prophecies against both Moab and Ammon end with hope: “Afterward, I will restore their fortunes!” (48:47; 49:6)
Edom. Though more closely related to Israel than Lot’s descendants, the nation of Edom (Esau, Isaac’s brother) will be completely destroyed and become an object of horror. (49:17-18)
Damascus, Kedar, Hazor & Elam. These nations will be weakened, damaged, emptied and—in some cases—abandoned.
Tomorrow, we read what God had to say about the nation He appointed to carried Israel into exile: Babylon!
Your fellow pilgrim through the Prophets,
Pastor Gary
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
AUGUST 12 JEREMIAH 40-45
Jeremiah 40-45
Somehow, Nebuchadnezzar must have gotten word of how Jeremiah encouraged the people to submit the Babylonians, Nebuzaradan, the commander of Nebuchadnezzar’s imperial guard, freed Jeremiah in the wake of Jerusalem’s fall! They gave him provisions and allowed him to seek out the others who were left to tend the land.
But the remnant of Israel, those left to tend the land at Nebuchadnezzar’s order, rebelled against Babylon (and the Lord’s desire to discipline Israel through Babylon) in several ways:
They assassinated Gedaliah, who had been left in charge by Nebuchadnezzar.
The self-appointed leaders of Israel then fled to Egypt against the explicit instructions of the Lord through Jeremiah.
They kidnapped Jeremiah, and took him with them to Egypt (43:6).
They continued to practice idolatry while in Egypt.
Jeremiah 45 records a letter of encouragement sent (back?) to Baruch, his secretary. Baruch means “blessed;” he must have been a blessing to Jeremiah!
Tomorrow, we read a message from God about Egypt. Thursday we will read a message from God about Babylon.
Your fellow pilgrim through the Prophets,
Pastor Gary
Somehow, Nebuchadnezzar must have gotten word of how Jeremiah encouraged the people to submit the Babylonians, Nebuzaradan, the commander of Nebuchadnezzar’s imperial guard, freed Jeremiah in the wake of Jerusalem’s fall! They gave him provisions and allowed him to seek out the others who were left to tend the land.
But the remnant of Israel, those left to tend the land at Nebuchadnezzar’s order, rebelled against Babylon (and the Lord’s desire to discipline Israel through Babylon) in several ways:
They assassinated Gedaliah, who had been left in charge by Nebuchadnezzar.
The self-appointed leaders of Israel then fled to Egypt against the explicit instructions of the Lord through Jeremiah.
They kidnapped Jeremiah, and took him with them to Egypt (43:6).
They continued to practice idolatry while in Egypt.
Jeremiah 45 records a letter of encouragement sent (back?) to Baruch, his secretary. Baruch means “blessed;” he must have been a blessing to Jeremiah!
Tomorrow, we read a message from God about Egypt. Thursday we will read a message from God about Babylon.
Your fellow pilgrim through the Prophets,
Pastor Gary
Monday, August 11, 2014
AUGUST 11 JEREMIAH 34-39
Jeremiah 34-39
These chapters give us a selection of events that led up to the destruction of Jerusalem by the forces of Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar. They are not in chronological order, but they do complete the picture of a rebellious people.
Jeremiah 34 begins with what sounds like (and could have been) a very hopeful prophecy for King Zedekiah. He will not die in the siege, but he will be carried into exile, there to die in peace. Whether it was this encouraging prophecy or something else nudging Zedekiah, he did something wonderful. He declared freedom to all the slaves in Jerusalem. But no sooner had the ink dried on his decree, he and the people reneged and kept their slaves. God says: “You have not proclaimed freedom for your fellow countrymen. So now I proclaim freedom for you, freedom to fall by the sword!” (34:17).
Jeremiah 35 hearkens back to King Jehoiakim’s day to show us that the rebellion of God’s people was not universal. Praise God for the example of the Recabites; if they could obey the counsel of their forefathers, why couldn’t Israel obey counsel of the Lord? Jeremiah pronounces a blessing on this obedient family, one I would like to claim for mine: “Jonadab, son of Recab, will never fail to a man to serve me.” (35:19)
Jeremiah 36 recounts another episode from the reign of Jehoiakim. Here we get a glimpse of the prophetic process. God tells Jeremiah to write his prophecy on a scroll. He does this by dictating to Baruch, a sort of personal secretary. When King Jehoiakim gets a hold of it, we watch with amazement as the king listens to the prophecy being read, and—little by little—as it’s read, cuts it off and throws it in the fire...as if this could stop the word of the Lord! God instructs Jeremiah to write another!
In Jeremiah 37-39, we’re back in Zedekiah’s reign in the days and months leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile (c. 586 BC). Jeremiah is thrown in prison for suspected desertion to the Babylonians. Then he is released to house arrest, then thrown in a muddy cistern, then retrieved again to house arrest. All through this time, Zedekiah brings him in for interviews, much like King Herod brought in John the Baptist. In the end, however, Zedekiah flees as Jerusalem falls. He is captured and his sons are put to death by Nebuchadnezzar before Zedekiah’s eyes. That was the last thing Zedekiah saw, for they gouged his eyes out, and fulfilled Jeremiah’s original prophecy, taking him to Babylon, where he died of natural causes sometime later.
What become of Jeremiah? Tomorrow, we’ll get some news.
Your fellow pilgrim through the Prophets,
Pastor Gary
These chapters give us a selection of events that led up to the destruction of Jerusalem by the forces of Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar. They are not in chronological order, but they do complete the picture of a rebellious people.
Jeremiah 34 begins with what sounds like (and could have been) a very hopeful prophecy for King Zedekiah. He will not die in the siege, but he will be carried into exile, there to die in peace. Whether it was this encouraging prophecy or something else nudging Zedekiah, he did something wonderful. He declared freedom to all the slaves in Jerusalem. But no sooner had the ink dried on his decree, he and the people reneged and kept their slaves. God says: “You have not proclaimed freedom for your fellow countrymen. So now I proclaim freedom for you, freedom to fall by the sword!” (34:17).
Jeremiah 35 hearkens back to King Jehoiakim’s day to show us that the rebellion of God’s people was not universal. Praise God for the example of the Recabites; if they could obey the counsel of their forefathers, why couldn’t Israel obey counsel of the Lord? Jeremiah pronounces a blessing on this obedient family, one I would like to claim for mine: “Jonadab, son of Recab, will never fail to a man to serve me.” (35:19)
Jeremiah 36 recounts another episode from the reign of Jehoiakim. Here we get a glimpse of the prophetic process. God tells Jeremiah to write his prophecy on a scroll. He does this by dictating to Baruch, a sort of personal secretary. When King Jehoiakim gets a hold of it, we watch with amazement as the king listens to the prophecy being read, and—little by little—as it’s read, cuts it off and throws it in the fire...as if this could stop the word of the Lord! God instructs Jeremiah to write another!
In Jeremiah 37-39, we’re back in Zedekiah’s reign in the days and months leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile (c. 586 BC). Jeremiah is thrown in prison for suspected desertion to the Babylonians. Then he is released to house arrest, then thrown in a muddy cistern, then retrieved again to house arrest. All through this time, Zedekiah brings him in for interviews, much like King Herod brought in John the Baptist. In the end, however, Zedekiah flees as Jerusalem falls. He is captured and his sons are put to death by Nebuchadnezzar before Zedekiah’s eyes. That was the last thing Zedekiah saw, for they gouged his eyes out, and fulfilled Jeremiah’s original prophecy, taking him to Babylon, where he died of natural causes sometime later.
What become of Jeremiah? Tomorrow, we’ll get some news.
Your fellow pilgrim through the Prophets,
Pastor Gary
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