November 9th One Year Bible Readings

Ezekiel 20:1-49 ~ Hebrews 9:11-28 ~ Psalm 107:1-43 ~ Proverbs 27:11
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Old Testament - 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?

New Testament - Hebrews chapter 9 verses 27 & 28 today teaches us: "And just as it is destined that each person dies only once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died only once as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people."  This stands in stark contrast to the old covenant where the High Priest had to atone for the people's sins over and over and over again.  With faith in Jesus, our sins are forgiven all at once - for eternity - and Christ does not need to forgive us of our sins over and over and over again.  Faith in Christ is the one and only thing that matters.  Do you believe this?

Psalms - Psalm 107 today is a wonderful Psalm of thanksgiving!  Okay, be honest, who started busting out singing the Michael W. Smith worship tune "Forever" when you read verse 1? - "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever."  I did!  That's a great tune... based on a great verse in a great Psalm.  Listen to a short portion of the tune "Forever" for free at this link here - song #1 at this link.  Sing it y'all! 

Psalm 107 repeats a verse four times - starting with verse 6 here - ""LORD, help!" they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress."  (then see verse 13, verse 19, and verse 28 - same verse) This is a great reminder to pray - and yes, it's great to pray during times of distress of course.  But, how about praying during times of happiness & joy?  Or even times of just regular blahs?  I recently read much of the book "The Life You've Always Wanted" by John Ortberg (great book!), and it has a great chapter on prayer.  It is so true that one of the best ways to truly know and love God is through prayer.  Simple prayer.   5 minutes a day.  Do you pray to God 5 minutes a day?  When the storms of life come, do you cry out for help to Jesus?  Do you know that he will always be there for you in the midst of the storm?

Proverbs - It is interesting to read Proverbs 27:11 as if God was writing this to each of us:  "My child, how happy I will be if you turn out to be wise! Then I will be able to answer my critics."  Are we spending our lives striving to be wise in God's eyes or the world's eyes?  Do you think that God will be happy if you are wise?  Do you want godly wisdom?  Where will you find it?  Below is an image of a young Jesus growing in wisdom with Scripture - think this made God happy?

Worship God:  The image of Jesus calming the storm above in the Psalms reflection reminded me immediately of the incredible Casting Crowns song "Praise You in This Storm."  I don't know what it is about all these storm songs on the radio that are resonating with me lately - MercyMe's "Bring the Rain" being my current favorite song - other than I know this:  It's not a matter of "if" storms will come in our life.  It's a matter of "when."  Storms will come.  And when they do, we have the option to try to weather the storms all on our own.  Or we have the option to invite God into the storms with us.  Well, I believe God's already there with us in the storms even if we don't realize it - so, I think we can simply open our hearts and praise God in the storms!  He will never abandon us or leave us.  Even in the midst of the worst storms this fallen world might bring, God is there with us.  Will you praise God in the storms?

Do you believe there is a God who is worthy of being praised even in the midst of storms in your life?  Click here to get to know God of heaven and earth who is worthy of being praised in the storms!

Please join me in memorizing a verse of Scripture today:
"Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us, so they would know that I the LORD made them holy."  Ezekiel 20:12 TNIV

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

[Pat]

Psalms 107: Four times this psalm says that men cried out to God and God delivered them from their distress. However, it also says each time that men should thank God for His goodness and wonderful works. Psalms 107:43 concludes this psalm by saying “Whoever is wise will observe these things.” Just as we are to call out to God during times of distress, we are also to give Him the credit for answering our call. Sometimes we call out to Him but then we fail to give Him the credit and thanks He is due. It’s a two-way street and the wise will travel both directions – (1) ask for God’s help and guidance and (2) give Him ALL the credit for answering our prayer.

God Bless!
Pat

[L]

heh mike, I applaud your conviction about how you use your 'sabbath'. Reading your post I was reminded of Eric Liddell the scottish olympic runner who chose not to run his race because it was scheduled on the 'sabbath'. Whether one agrees with the interpretation is one matter, but one cannot argue with the loving, bold tenacity of the commitment to live by your convictions. The key is as Parker Palmer says, "Let your life speak." By making such a choice re your use of sunday "your life is speaking' good things. Bless you bro.

[Jenny]

It's a great thing to have a heart longing for God and wanting to devote a sabbath day to the Lord. we must make sure we do it for Him, cause we truely want to, not for other reasons....not out of pride as the pharisees did in the gospels, how they always tried to trap Jesus for healing on the sabbath or simply cause we want to play hookey on that day to get out of something, 'oh, i cant, its the sabbath'..haha.
the sabbath was made for man and not man made for the sabbath. As we draw closer to the Lord, our desires change. we want to please Him and spend time with Him. Its most important to have a real relationship with Him....then everything will fall into place. Forget rules and traditions, when you come to know the true and living God, He guides you and changes you.

Tithing is a wonder thing, its an honor to do so, that means we have an income in the first place! All we have is His and comes from Him, its very imposrtant to recognize this. Tithing has so many benefits. But what is our motivation for tithing? If its to be seen by men (a prideful heart) or done with a bitter heart, i would think its best not to tithe. In 2 Corin 9:7 it says, "So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver".
We are to give with a joyful heart. there were times in the past i didnt want to give, i had a sour heart...'i have to give all my money away?' (i thought in my heart). And i heard the pastor say, 'If you are giving cause you feel you have to, not cause you want to, put your money away, God doesnt want it! He can accomplish His purposes without your money! It benefits you, not God! He doesnt need your money!' slap on my face, haha...I thought that was good...I love boldness and truth.
So, 10% or whatever more we want to give with a grateful heart....emphasis on the last part.

Ps. 107...of course I cant help but sing that =). I didnt know that was M.W. Smith...shouldve guessed, he sings everything. We sing it at church a lot, its a beautiful song and beautiful praise!

My pastor was talking about wisdom in my church service tonight. Wisdom is from above, from God. Knowledge is from the world. James 3:13-17 gets into it.
I also just love Luke 10:21, it really blesses my heart!

[R]

Ezekiel 20:1-49

As I read through today’s Old Testament reading for the third time today, I realized that I am witnessing God laying out proof to His people that He is worth of our trust. He is stating that He, Himself is faithful to His character, His Word and He is faithful to us even when we are faithless.

When I chose Israel—when I revealed myself to the descendants of Jacob in Egypt—I took a solemn oath that I, the Lord, would be their God. I took a solemn oath that day that I would bring them out of Egypt to a land I had discovered and explored for them—a good land, a land flowing with milk and honey, the best of all lands anywhere. Then I said to them, ‘Each of you, get rid of the vile images you are so obsessed with. Do not defile yourselves with the idols [b] of Egypt, for I am the Lord your God.’ (NLT 20:5b-7).

If we really examine ourselves we will realize that not only are we NOT faithful to God, we are not faithful to our children, our spouses, our family and friends, yet we bristle at those who are not faithful to us. We demand from God His faithfulness, and rightly so because that attribute is part of who God is and He would cease to be God if He were not; we demand from others what we are unwilling to be ourselves and we demand from others what only God can be, faithful. We need to get some smarts, buy a vowel and get a clue.

[Readhead]

They refused to keep my laws and follow my instructions, even though obeying them would have given them life.

Just thinking about the above verse and the question I was asking a friend about some kids at our club. They have shocking behaviour yet punishment seems to have no or very little effect. My friend mentioned how sin has this blinding effect on us. We cannot see that it destroys and harms us and that it is foolishness to follow in its ways. Even as Christians we can continue in sin, in something that is harmful or disrespectful to God. This verse is a perfect example of sins blinding effect on our lives - we can be looking death in the face and have the opportunity of life presented to us yet we can still turn away. I rejoice that God has opened my eyes an I pray that for others. Here's another verse I read today: God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. He who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 4:8

[R]

Ezekiel 20:1-49

In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth of the month, some of the elders of Israel came to seek the Lord, and they sat down in front of me. The word of the Lord came to me: "Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and tell them: 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Why do you come seeking me? As surely as I live, I will not allow you to seek me, declares the Sovereign Lord.' (Ezekiel 20:1-3 NET.)

These three verses and a fourth, 13, have given me food for thought and causing me to ask questions about the intent of the entire chapter. Men come to Ezekiel to seek God, and God tells them he will not tell them anything, and then states His case against them: the sins of their fathers/ancestor are being held against them. We have read in a previous chapter, Eighteen, that the soul that sins is the soul that will die (verses 4, 20). No longer will the proverb be true, that the Fathers eat sour grapes and the children’s teeth are set on edge. (Eze 18:2). So what is God up to is He contradicting His Word? What does God know about these people that He brings up a charge against them from the near and distant past?

If God is not a man that He should lie (Num23:19), then it is our understanding, to be more correct, it is my understanding that is “off” and I must do some intense studying.

Because God has Foreknowledge of our actions and activities, He must know that whatever He tells this group they will not listen, much less obey. If He is bringing up their ancestors sins than I believe the group before Ezekiel, who would know their father’s traditions, will weigh whatever God would have told them against their father’s customs and side with their fathers. One of the hardest things for us to do when we become Christians is to break away from the things we have traditionally followed and choose the path of God. Even when our entire family goes to “church”, many of the traditions of the churches we have found ourselves growing up in or currently attending are not the traditions of God. The thirteenth verse in this chapter, 20, states that clearly,

"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.

I don’t believe it was just the breaking of the Sabbath day that got them into trouble, it was their disobedience and rebellion against God that caused them to break the Sabbath. One could conceivable keep the Sabbath and break every other law that God made.

And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
(Joshua 24:15 AMP)

Psalm 107:1-43

In reading this Psalm, I realized that this is broken up into four sections. Each section describes four types of people who find themselves deep in the consequences of their sin. They may have gotten in their mess by holding different thoughts and views about life, and how to live it but they all found themselves in the same place, despair.

I’m not sure if this classification is right but I will give it a try.

The first group mentioned is in verses 4-9

Some wandered in the wilderness in a solitary desert track; they found no city for habitation. Hungry and thirsty, they fainted; their lives were near to being extinguished. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses. He led them forth by the straight and right way, that they might go to a city where they could establish their homes. Oh, that men would praise [and confess to] the Lord for His goodness and loving-kindness and His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with good. (Psalms 107:4-9 AMP)

These guys and gals are the ones trying to get away from evil society thinking if they can just get away from folk, evil sinful folk they will be alright and free from temptation. I guess maybe I see them as isolationist, running from sin into sin: the sin in their own hearts.

Second group: (10-16)

Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and in irons, [Luke 1:79.] Because they had rebelled against the words of God and spurned the counsel of the Most High. Therefore He bowed down their hearts with hard labor; they stumbled and fell down, and there was none to help. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and broke apart the bonds that held them. [Ps. 68:6; Acts 12:7; 16:26.] Oh, that men would praise [and confess to] the Lord for His goodness and loving-kindness and His wonderful works to the children of men! For He has broken the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron apart. (Psalms 107:10-16 AMP)

For me the clue to the type of people mentioned here is the word “darkness.” Those without God have no light. So there are the folks who have rejected God. This group was the one I belonged to. Having been hurt by Christians and then out of my pain, hurting others, I walked in darkness bumping into every thing in site.

Group Three: Fools (17-22)

Some are fools [made ill] because of the way of their transgressions and are afflicted because of their iniquities. They loathe every kind of food, and they draw near to the gates of death. Then they cry to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivers them out of their distresses. He sends forth His word and heals them and rescues them from the pit and destruction. [II Kings 20:4, 5; Matt. 8:8.] Oh, that men would praise [and confess to] the Lord for His goodness and loving-kindness and His wonderful works to the children of men! [Heb. 13:15.] And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving and rehearse His deeds with shouts of joy and singing!
(Psalms 107:17-22 AMP)

Well this seems to be quite clear on this group, fools. The Book of Proverbs is full of descriptive adjectives and behaviors of fools. In fact in the very beginning of Proverbs, in the Amplified, we are given an understandable description of a fool.

but fools despise skillful and godly Wisdom, instruction, and discipline. (1:7); And the scoffers delight in scoffing and [self-confident] fools hate knowledge?(1:22), and For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them, and the careless ease of [self-confident] fools shall destroy them. (1:32).

Fools reject and despise godly wisdom, instruction, discipline and knowledge and they are carelessly self-confident.

The fourth and final group (23-30)

Some go down to the sea and travel over it in ships to do business in great waters; These see the works of the Lord and His wonders in the deep. For He commands and raises up the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves of the sea. [Those aboard] mount up to the heavens, they go down again to the deeps; their courage melts away because of their plight. They reel to and fro and stagger like a drunken man and are at their wits' end [all their wisdom has come to nothing]. Then they cry to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses. He hushes the storm to a calm and to a gentle whisper, so that the waves of the sea are still. [Ps. 89:9; Matt. 8:26.] Then the men are glad because of the calm, and He brings them to their desired haven.
(Psalms 107:23-30 AMP)

These are the folks who are always looking for and believing that the grass is always greener over there somewhere. Everything is better some where else but here.

What do you see in these four groups of text? Or maybe I’ve just gone off on a tangent.