November 7th One Year Bible Readings

Ezekiel 16:42-17:24 ~ Hebrews 8:1-13 ~ Psalm 106:13-31 ~ Proverbs 27:7-9
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on BibleGateway.com ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture on DailyAudioBible.com (podcast) or OneYearAudioBible.org ~

Old Testament - Ezekiel chapter 16 compares the sins of Jerusalem to those of Sodom!  These are bold comparisons, as you know the story of Sodom and the wipeout there.  The Israelites were in relationship with God - they should have known better - hence the Sodom comparison.  Verse 49 stood out to me in this chapter "Sodom's sins were pride, laziness, and gluttony, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door."  The interesting thing to note is that Sodom's social injustice sins are highlighted here - rather that their sexual sins.  Sodom was not taking care of the poor.  And nor was Jerusalem at this time of the 6th century B.C.  What about in our world today?  Are there poor and needy suffering outside our door today?  Are we not taking care of them because of our pride, laziness, or gluttony?  Where is our "door"?  Who is our neighbor?  What will you do?

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?

New Testament - Hebrews chapter 8 is awesome in that it dives into some verses we read recently in the book of Jeremiah about the new covenant!  Verse 3 stands out: "And since every high priest is required to offer gifts and sacrifices, our High Priest must make an offering, too."  What was the offering Christ made for our sins? Verse 13 stands out too: "When God speaks of a new covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and ready to be put aside."  Something I learned recently - the old / first covenant referred to in this chapter is the "Sinaitic" covenant and not the Abrahamic covenant - the difference being not the promise to Abraham that his descendants will outnumber the stars in the sky and God will be our God and we his people (the Abrahamic covenant) - but the "Sinaitic" covenant are the laws given to Moses on Mt. Sinai and in the desert for how the Israelites were to live - including how priests would make sacrifices for sin.   The Abrahamic covenant still stands today - the Sinaitic covenant is now out of date and ready to be put aside because it was completed by the new covenant of Jesus Christ.  Our High Priest who offered His life for our lives.

Psalms - Today in Psalm 106:19-21 we read: “At Horeb they made a calf and worshiped an idol cast from metal. They exchanged their Glory for an image of a bull, which eats grass. They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt.” This of course sounds very familiar to Romans chapter 1 verses 22 and 23: "Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles."  Was this wise that the Israelites exchanged their Glory for an image of a bull? Why did they do this? What should have been their Glory? What is your Glory today? Do you, at times, exchange your true Glory for something else? Is this wise? Are you forgetting the God who saved you? The God who has done great things for you? Please don’t ever exchange the true Glory for a false idol!

Verse 13 in this Psalm also stands out: "Yet how quickly they forgot what he had done! They wouldn't wait for his counsel!"  Is this true of us?  Do we forget or take for granted all of the blessings God has poured out into our lives?  In doing so, do we decide to take matters into our own hands - not waiting on God's counsel for our direction?  Will we remember?  Will we wait?  Patiently...?

Proverbs - Today in Proverbs 27 verse 8 we read: "A person who strays from home is like a bird that strays from its nest." Where is our spiritual home?  Who is our spiritual home?  Have we strayed from our spiritual nest?  As I read this I of course think about our relationship with Jesus first - and then manifestation of his body in the local church as being our spiritual home.  And I realize that if I do not attend church on a weekly basis, I am like a bird straying from its nest.  Our prime home is Jesus – we do not want to stray from our relationship with Him, ever.  It’s far too risky to do so, for obvious reasons.  But I think we can sometimes feel like we don’t need Jesus’ body, his church.  We feel like we can do life fine without church.  I submit to you that this is far too risky of a way to live life.  I am just afraid that if we stray away from the nest of our local church, then we are at risk of potentially straying away from Jesus.  We need the church.  We need Jesus.  Are you going to church each week these days?  Do you think you should?  If there is one thing I can encourage you on, almost more than anything, is to please find a local church where Jesus is clearly the cornerstone and the Bible is clearly taught.  And then please do not stray away from that nest. . .   I cannot encourage you enough on this point.  I love the church so very much.  I pray that you do as well.  (It brings tears to my eyes to even try to think of my life without the church – I cannot imagine it.  I pray this is the case for you as well . . .)

YouTube - Today's Proverb reminds me of the very last song in the play Les Miserables, "Do You Hear the People Sing." Enjoy this live version!

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

Grace, love, peace, and joy!
Mike

Comments

[Rob]

mike, bill hybels is famous for saying that the local church is the hope of the world. now, you can argue about exactly what local is and whether parachurch ministries count, but the key thing is that it is relationships between believers that is the hope not only of the world but of every believer as well. i love the church so much as well - and i long for her to have the impact she can have. rob

[L]

I struggle with the 'local church being the hope of the world'. In George Barna's recent book REvolutionaries, he made the point that 'if the local church as it is has emerged in the last few years is the hope of the world, then the world doesn't have much hope." That's a harsh indictment but Rob I would say that "Jesus is the hope of the world.' Just check out Colossians 1:27 and Matthew 12:21 says In His name will the nations hope." I know of no verse or passage that implies the organized local church is the hope of the world. Let's keep Jesus at the Center of our lives and churches.

I do agree with mike that being part of a visible local church community is important, especially when it's to be our 'safe, spiritual home' where we can grow and take flight with God and be all He intended for us to be.
I just wonder how the 14000 parishioners at New Life Church in Colorado springs feel now that they have discovered their pastor by his own admission has been living a lie. I think it's one thing to exhort people to 'go to church' and 'be part of church' but there are also legitimate reasons people stay away from churches that may appear to be dysfunctional. Just like God doesn't expect us to stay in an abusive destructive marriage or family, I think the same thinking applies to remaining part of churches that do more do more damage than good.

having said that, become part of a church community if you are not in one as Mike encourages, but be wary of religious communities that emphasize a lot of external expressions of religiosity without having much substance or depth.

And let's not forget to pray for our brothers and sisters at New life church who must be feeling very betrayed and abused.
And of course, let's be sure to pray for Ted haggard's wife and 5 children, and for him too.

[MG]

The problem with the local church is that it's full of sinners (like me.) However, the discipline of doing family with a local group of believers and serving one another and loving the community together is sooooo important. It's hard work, just like family life. I agree that you need to find a church that is as healthy as possible and that emphasizes freedom in Christ and the centrality of his word, but there is no perfect church anywhere. I have always felt that God called me to a particular local church wherever I have been and that I was to devote myself to service and love in that place, no matter what faults they had. If I were to disconnect myself from a local body of believers, my faith would wither.

[R]

Ezekiel 16:42-17:24

Upon reading today’s Old Testament passage I’ve taken note that one should never point a finger at a group of people and use them as the definitive example what God’s judgment looks like. In this day and age, and probably in the ages past, we are quick to create groups that operate in the “Us-Four-An-No-More” mentality. “Well, if you don’t believe like us, then you are evil.” In today’s reading we see that it is God’s folks that are called out for their wickedness. And it is very interesting to note that the group of people today’s folk usually hold up as utterly destroyed, Sodom, is not only called Israel’s sister but we are told that she will “rise” again because she was not utterly cast down. God is indeed the God of Resurrection; He makes alive again the dead things of our lives. The saying, “It’s not over ‘till the fat lady sings,” should be changed to, “It’s not over until God says its over,” our opinion or belief doesn’t count. And it is our attitude toward those outside our door, even if they are not believers that clearly show where our hearts are.

In the 17th chapter we see that God clearly wants Judah submitted to Babylon, Judah’s enemy, anything else is outside of the will of God. Can there by places and people in the land of the enemy that God is asking us to willfully submit too? Have we mistaken a place that we think is “safe” as our personal promise land but it is really a place of death? The Bottom Line is this: Our protection is following after the Will of God for our lives and not what we think is the place of safety for it really could be a place of death. Our protection is doing what God has commanded us to do even if it is doing “It” in Babylon.

Mike’s question about the Local Church probably falls under the Ezekiel reading for the day. Our local church is not the church that is down the block and around the corner. Our particular local church may be a two to three mile drive or bus/train ride, one-way. The church we are supposed to be in is the one that God has placed you in and not where we have placed ourselves. Too many of us decide where we go to church based on programs, building size and beauty, the type of music played or like in my case, which celebrity goes there—that is all wrong. Our church is the one God has placed us in. Sadly most of us fail to seek God to find out where we are supposed to be.

[Mae]

Proverbs - Today in Proverbs 27 verse 8 we read: "A person who strays from home is like a bird that strays from its nest." Where is our spiritual home? Who is our spiritual home? Have we strayed from our spiritual nest?

*** I really need my spiritual nest. I need words from my Pastor, I need His wisdom ... he knows so much ... also I need to talk to the people from my church, so we can discuss things. I go to church every week, I try to go more than once and go to Biblestudy on Mondaynight. I like being in touch with my spiritual nest. I cannot do without my church or without the people I've met in Church. And not only in Church, I've met a lot of Christians and I really like them so much! They all live in my heart, I pray for them and I'm so happy with them in my life!

[Laura]

I was a member of a large denomination church for over 30 years. Being a part of that particular denomination was part of a tradition for me and my family. I grew up in that particular denomination. For that very reason alone it was hard to break free from it even when I really felt that I was no longer being Spiritually fed by God. I had kind of a sad heavy hearted feeling when attending there. The congregation went down in size from an average attendance of over 800 in a small building (two services) to 150 in a large beautiful building, lovely stained glass windows and all the extra trappings.

It was sad to watch the church as it started to dwindle down in size. At one time there was a hugh choir, has always had a state of the art sound system, and had many active in ministry and many prayer intersessors. I guess we were all bewildered and were wondering what happened when so many left. I am sad for that church with its decreasing numbers. The bottom line is many large denominations are struggeling, some don't follow the bible anymore and it is sad to see and hear so much negativity among members. I was told the spirit of God had left that church and I didn't want to believe it. I didn't want to be another person that was leaving. I continued to attend but am glad that God finally reveiled to me where He wanted me to be.

I am very happy in my new non-denomination church. The church I attend now is a mission church which helps the poor and the local neighborhood. We don't have a fancy building with all the extra trimmings but we do have a group of people that love the Lord and are not so uppety. Our pastor is awesome. To me he seems so much more down to earth, personable, friendly and on fire to do God's work.

If you find yourself attending a church that focuses on external expressions of religiosity,(as L had stated in his post)than perhaps it is time to find a new church. I am very happy where I attend now. I do encourage everyone to find a church home, but don't be affraid if God leads you to a new church home. We are the church and are His body of believers as Christians. Praise God!!!!

[Dana]

Thank the Lord for His new covenant written on our hearts. (Heb. passage quoting Jeremiah) We can be part of the true Israel - those who follow God in covenant w/ Him and with those around us in His church. Let us not listen to whimsical "prophets" who say the Holy Spirit has left the church. (If He had left, no pastor would be right in continuing to pastor.) My thought in reading Pr. 27:8 is that men (and women, and sometimes teen children)leaving their homes and families are the ones who end up like birds w/ no nests. God can heal and restore eventually... But how much better it would be if we would repair our broken nests (homes/marriages) than leave and look for new partners. God, speak to us about faithfulness to You, demonstrated by a determined love and commitment to those you have given to us. Ez 17:15 says, "Can he break the covenant and yet escape?" (This to the prince of Israel who had made a covenant w/ the Babylonian king.) v. 19 says, "...thus says the Lord GOD: As I live, surely it is my oath that he despised, and my covenant that he broke. I will return it upon his own head."

[Birdie]

What happens to those folks in the mega-churches, or even the smaller churches, when the pastor, a person who they have trusted, runs into problems with the law, etc. like Haggard? Up until the present time I have always left the church when my husband left because he was the pastor. Now my husband is not longer living, so I have had to experience what happens to a church when the beloved pastor leaves. (he just went to another church, no big scandal or anything). It is sad to watch that church with the new pastor because, of course, he's not like the old one. People are leaving, some following their own hearts, others searching for more meaning on Sunday morning. Jesus is the one we have to be true to always, but it is difficult without other committed Christians and a church body being run by a non Spirit-filled pastor. What happens to God's children then?

[Art]

I noted an interesting parallel between Ezekiel 17:22-23 ("...I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain. On the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it...") and the transfiguration scene that begins in Matthew 17:1-2 ("...[Jesus] led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them.") (Also see Mark 9:2) That scene takes place shortly before Jesus' crucifixion. It takes place on a literal, physical 'lofty mountain' and it is, both metaphorically and literally (since Jesus was buried) a 'planting'. It seems, in effect, to be God saying 'here's the seed I told you about through Ezekiel'. Sometimes it amazes me how clear and literal God's prophecies can be if we look at them closely enough.