I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them. I hope that the Spirit is moving in others through these posts as the Spirit has definitely been convicting me.
Ezekiel next described a river that flowed out from the Temple that got deeper as if got further from the Temple. He said that life would flourish wherever this river flows. The river would flow into the Dead Sea making it fresh and full of fish. He tells us that the marshes and swamps around the Dead Sea will still be salty. Many trees will grow alongside this river and life will flourish wherever it flows. The trees that grow along the river will never lose their leaves and they will always be full of fruit.
This passage is part of several in the Bible which talk about the River of Life that flows forth from God. I do not know if Ezekiel was talking about a metaphorical river here or if he was describing something that will actually happen where enough water is washing down into the Dead Sea for it to become a fresh water lake. Today however I will treat it as being metaphorical (because I think the metaphor has value). The Dead Sea supports no animal life of any kind (fish, reptile, amphibian or mammal). Yet Ezekiel tells us that when the River of God starts flowing into it from Jerusalem it will come to life and support an abundance of fish and other sources of food. This is a great metaphor for the impact of Jesus on people’s lives. Areas of their self that have been dead come to life. And as we drink from the River of Life it gets deeper because God comes to live within us and we become a source for that River as well. Let us drink deeply from the River of Life and invite God into our hearts so that His water can flow out from us to refresh those around us.
Since we are temporary residents and foreigners in this world we should be careful not to give in to the desire to be part of this world. We should be careful to live properly and honorably among our unbelieving neighbors so that even when they accuse of us wrongdoing they will see our honorable behavior and give glory to God. Peter is not satisfied to tell us to live honorable lives. He follows it up by giving us instructions on how to do so. He tells us that we should respect all human authority. That while Christ has set us free we should not use that freedom as an excuse to do evil. He tells us that in our work we should accept the authority of those over us and treat them with respect, even if their behavior is not worthy of respect. We should do what we know is right and patiently endure unjust treatment. When we suffer for being good we should endure it patiently because this pleases God.
He goes on to tell wives that they should accept their husband’s authority. He says that they should do this so that even if their husband refuses to accept the Gospel, he may be won over by their pure and reverent life. Further Peter tells women that they should not be concerned with external beauty–fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, and beautiful clothes. Instead they should focus on the beauty that comes from within, the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit that never fades. Then he says the part that so many overlook in their outrage over this. Husbands are to give honor to their wives in the same way that wives are to accept their husband’s authority. Peter tells husbands that their wife is their equal and that they should treat her as such. He tells us that not doing so will hinder our prayers. An important point in this is that the instruction to the husband is not conditional upon the wife accepting the husband’s authority just as the instruction to the wife is not conditional upon the husband giving honor to the wife. We are each accountable for fulfilling our side of the bargain, irrespective of whether our spouse is fulfilling their side.
God’s promise to me provides me with comfort whenever I face trials and troubles. I will follow the Lord’s instructions even in the face of mocking by those who do not believe. O Lord I strive to follow the psalmist’s example and spend my life following Your commands. Do not let evil people entice me into disobeying your commands. Teach me Your decrees Lord, so that I may gain wisdom.
Everyone is happy to see the success of those who serve the Lord, but when the wicked rise to power people hide in fear. When we succumb to sin, we are better served to confess those sins and turn from them than to attempt to conceal them from others. All too often I have struggled with situations because I tried to cover up my failings and sins, when if I had openly confessed my failure I could have resolved the problem and put it behind me.