Tag Archives: Ezekiel 3:16-6:14

November 2, 2015 Bible Study — The Word of God Is Alive and Active

For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

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Proverbs 26:27

    If you try to use deceit and trickery to bring down others, you will be caught in a trap of your own making. In the long run, your lies and deceit will rebound upon yourself.

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Psalm 104:24-35

    God has created a wide variety of creatures, each designed to fulfill a specific role in a specific place. God has designed the earth to provide for their needs. A classic example of how God carefully designed this world is the way in which it was discovered that swamps clean water. For centuries, mankind considered swamps to be wasted land. However, in the late 20th Century researchers discovered that when polluted water went through a wetland (swamp, marsh, etc) it emerged cleaner than when it went in, a lot cleaner. The researchers were not surprised by the removal of biomass pollution, such as fertilizer runoff, or raw sewage, except that it was much greater than anticipated. However, they discovered that the wetlands removed heavy metals in quantities that could not be explained by simple sedimentary effects. Heavy metals were thought to be poisons for all biological systems, yet somehow the plants, fungi, microbes in the swamps were removing heavy metals from the water…almost as if someone had designed them for that very purpose. (I hope if you are reading this that you recognize the sarcasm of that last phrase).
    All that I am will praise the Lord because He has designed this planet in ways more wondrous than we can imagine. Despite mankind’s best efforts, he will be unable to destroy this planet. God reserves that for Himself when His plans have come to fulfillment.

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Hebrews 4

    God has prepared a place of rest for His people, for those who believe in His word. This rest was promised to the people of Israel but they failed to enter into it because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed God. It is worth noting that the writer is clearly implying that some of the people of Israel did indeed enter into God’s rest (who else is he referring to when he mentions the “faith of those who obeyed”?). If we want to enter into God’s rest we must obey His commands, which we will only do if we believe that His commands will lead us to our greatest happiness.
    Included in this passage is a statement that needs some “unpacking”. The writer tells us that the word of God is alive and active, and that it is sharper than the sharpest thing he can imagine. I struggle with explaining the meaning which this passage conveys to me. The first part is that the word of God fits the circumstances. This may perhaps be the point which gives me the most difficulty, because, while the word of God fits the circumstances, that does not mean that it changes. The second part is clearer to me. The example I would use in place of the double-edged sword is the scalpel. The word of God is capable of working its way into the finest separation, revealing that which we (or others) hoped to keep hidden. It will work its way into our lives revealing things we had hidden from ourselves, both good things and bad things. When working with those around us who are suffering, let us remember to leave room for the word of God to act. It will reveal things to those we are trying to help that we may not see. Perhaps the most important thing, it will prevent us, and everyone else, from hiding anything from God.

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Ezekiel 3:16-6:14

    I said yesterday that not all of us were called to the same mission as Ezekiel, and that is true for the part of Ezekiel’s mission which was described yesterday. Some of us are called to preach God’s word to those who will not listen to it, others are called to preach to a receptive audience. However, all of us are called to be God’s watchmen. When God gives us a message, we must not remain silent. If we fail to relay God’s message to those whom He has sent us, and they suffer as a result of their sins, their blood is on our hands. God will hold us responsible for their death. On the other hand, if we relay God’s message, and they refuse to listen to it, we are innocent of their blood. Here is the best part, they MAY listen to us! If they do listen to the message we give them from God and repent of their sins, their lives will be saved, and so will ours. Let us never be afraid to speak God’s word, even to those we “know” will not listen. In some ways, that is the point in today’s passage from Hebrews. God’s word is alive and active. It is capable of working itself between the lies which people tell themselves to avoid the reach of God’s Spirit. Let us do what we can to open those around us to His Spirit.

November 2, 2014 Bible Study — May All My Thoughts Be Pleasing to God

For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have been convicted over the last few weeks to seek to develop a disciplined prayer life. It is still a work in progress. Please pray for me, that the Holy Spirit may show me how to pray in a disciplined manner.

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Proverbs 26:27

    Those who attempt to set things up so that others come to harm without anyone knowing they were involved end up getting caught in the trouble they aimed at someone else.

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Psalm 104:24-35

    This psalm reminds me of why I feel close to God when I look out over the ocean, or from a look out point high on a mountain. From that perspective you can see the many wonderful things which God has made. Then there is verse 33, which I echo every day:

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live.
I will praise my God to my last breath!
May all my thoughts be pleasing to him

I had not intended to include the beginning of verse 34, but it is appropriate that I did. That is my prayer, and I know that I fail to fulfill it. But I pray that God have His Holy Spirit transform me so that such may be the case going forward.

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Hebrews 4:1-16

    God has established a place of rest for us. A place where we will be able to enter and be free of all of the temptations and troubles of sin. However, in order to enter into that rest, we must remain His faithful servants. Let us not follow the example of disobedience set by the people of Israel in the Sinai after they left Egypt. Let us not think that our disobedience can be hidden from God, for nothing can be hidden from Him.
    The word of God is both alive and active. It is not a dead letter which will no longer apply because times have changed. If we study His word it will expose our inmost thoughts and desires. More importantly, if we allow it, God’s word will separate us from those thoughts and desires which keep us from faithfully obeying Him. No matter how closely those thoughts and desires are to who we understand ourselves to be, God’s word is sharp enough to cut them loose without damaging our true selves. Everything we think, do, and are will be exposed before God. Yet we have an intercessor, Jesus Christ, who fully understands our weaknesses, so we can approach God boldly knowing that He is merciful. Let us cast ourselves before Him and beg His mercy, for if we do so, He will grant us that mercy and forgive our sins.

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Ezekiel 3:16-6:14

    We are God’s watchmen. When God gives us a message to warn people about the dangers coming, it is our job to warn them. This is an important job. However, we are not responsible if they do not heed our message. We are only responsible for delivering God’s warning. Just as a sentry is not responsible for mustering the troops to prepare for an attack, so are we not responsible for what people do once we have delivered the warning. It is up to those who hear God’s warning to decide if they will respond to the message.
    If we fail to deliver God’s warning to people, He will hold us responsible for their death. If we deliver His warning and they do not listen, they will still die, but He will not hold us accountable. We have a responsibility to warn those who are pursuing sin to destruction about what is coming. It is worth noting that we are only responsible for warning those for whom God has given us a message. I struggle with knowing when God has given me a message for people. Does this cover everyone I see where I know their actions are sinful and will lead to their ultimate death? Does this cover all of those who are in that situation that I count as friend? I think the answer to both of those questions is: Not necessarily. It is an ongoing prayer of mine that the Holy Spirit guide me to know to whom God is sending me with a warning. There are some that I know and have delivered that warning, but I know that there are others where I failed to deliver God’s warning…and just as bad, there are some where I have given warning for whom God had not given me a message. That last is important because when we give warning where God has not given us a message, we take the risk of causing the person not to listen when God does send them a message.

November 2, 2013 Bible Study — May All My Thoughts Be Pleasing To God

     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. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

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Ezekiel 3:16-6:14

     God warns Ezekiel that He will hold him accountable if he fails to warn those who sin of God’s coming judgment. The passage makes it clear that we will not be held accountable for other’s sins. However, it also warns us that we will be held accountable if we do not warn them of God’s coming judgment. Having warned Ezekiel to be sure to pass on His messages to those for whom they are intended, God gives Ezekiel a very graphic message for those still living in Judah and the land of Israel. They are warned that God is going to bring judgment on them for their idolatry. Those who have sinned against Him by worshiping other gods will learn that God alone is supreme.

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Hebrews 4:1-16

     The writer tells us that God created a place of rest for those who serve Him. This rest has been proclaimed to all, but in order to experience the rest which God has offered us, we must have the faith to be obedient. If we trust God enough to be obedient to Him, we will enter into the rest which He has created. This is a difficult task, in and of itself. However, Jesus is our high priest and stands before God on our behalf. Jesus was tempted in just the same manner that we have been and that we will be. We can be confident that He understands our struggles in this life. Because of His presence before God, let us boldly enter God’s presence, trusting that He will treat us with mercy. If we come before God, He will give us the grace of help in our time of need.

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Psalm 104:24-35

     Yes, I will sing to the Lord as long as I live (although, considering my singing voice, I am sure there are some who wish I would refrain) and I will praise my God as long as I draw breath. I will seek to make all of my thoughts pleasing to God, so that they will guide me in His paths. I ask God’s Spirit to enter into my being and teach me how to discipline my thoughts to those which God finds pleasing.

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Proverbs 26:27

     Those who set traps and pitfalls will find themselves falling into traps and pitfalls.

November 2, 2012 Bible Study

     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 am sorry if my posts are not posted in a timely fashion for the next little while. I am without power in the wake of Hurricane Sandy and I am not always able to get online in my normal routine. In addition, I usually compose these on my desktop PC and typing them on my laptop is a different experience. Please bear with me until I get back into my usual routine.

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Ezekiel 3:16-6:14

     Seven days after his vision of commissioning Ezekiel received his first message to the people of Israel in exile. God told him that if God gave him a message to warn those who sinned against their sin and he did not deliver it, God would hold him responsible for their deaths when they died from their sins. If on the other hand Ezekiel did give them God’s warning and they did not listen, they would still die from their sins, but God would not hold Ezekiel responsible. I believe that the same message applies to us today. We are responsible to warn those around us of the consequences of their sins. If we fail to do so, we will be responsible for their suffering and death as a result of those sins. On the other hand, if we do give them God’s warning and they do not listen, then their end will be on their head. There is one other piece to this. They may listen to us, turn from their sins and be saved.
     God then tells Ezekiel to draw a map of Jerusalem on a clay brick and to show it as being under siege. He is to then lie on his side facing his map of Jerusalem for 390 days, one day for each year of Israel’s sin. After that he is to turn over and lie on his other side facing his map of Jerusalem for 40 days, one day for each year of Judah’s sin. During this time he is to eat bread made from a mixture of beans and grain, cooked over cow dung and only a carefully measured amount each day along with a carefully measured amount of water. This is to symbolize the state of food within Jerusalem during the siege it will be undergoing.

The Baronial Court

Hebrews 4:1-16

     The writer tells us that God has prepared a rest for those who listen to His word and have faith in Him. IF we obey the message in God’s word we will be able to enter into His rest when the time is right. If we fail to obey, we will fall and lose the opportunity to enter that rest. The word of God is able to reveal our inmost thoughts and being to God and He will hold us accountable.
     We can come boldly before God because we have a High Priest to intercede for us, one who experienced all of the temptations that we face, yet did not sin. Because He faced the temptations that we face, He understands our circumstances. So because we have such an intercessor, let us come before God who will show us mercy and provide us with the grace to help us when we need it most.

The Baron Consults His Herald

Psalm 104:24-35

     God has filled the world with a great variety of creatures. Let us look at the wonders of the world and praise the Lord.

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live.
I will praise my God to my last breath!
May all my thoughts be pleasing to him,
for I rejoice in the Lord.

Let this ever be my song and my prayer.

Magrat at Rest

Proverbs 26:27

     If we attempt to trick and trap others, we are the ones who will suffer.