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.
As Ezekiel finishes describing his vision of the new Temple, he describes a river which will flow out from the Temple and into the Dead Sea. He describes going along the river and crossing it every 1,000 cubits. At each crossing the river was significantly deeper until it became too deep to walk across and could only be crossed by swimming. The description is of a river of life which will bring new life to the Dead Sea, so that it will teem with fish. As I read the passage it seemed to be a figurative prophecy about the river of life in the New Jerusalem after Christ returns. Yet, the emphasis on the fact that the marshes and swamps will remain salty makes me wonder if it is a prophecy that will yet take place in this world.
Peter instructs us to live lives that are above reproach, so that even when unbelievers accuse us of doing wrong they will know that we behave honorably. Continuing in that line of thinking, Peter tells us to submit** to human authority because it is instituted to punish those who do wrong and honor those who do right. He goes on to tell slaves to submit to their earthly masters, wives to submit to their husbands, and husbands to be considerate of their wives and to treat them with respect because we are all equal before God. The theme running through all of this is that we as believers need to act honourably in all we do. God has given us freedom, yet we answer to God and may not use our freedom as a cover to do evil.
** I prefer the word “submit” here as used by the NIV and the NRSV (and most other translations) to the word “respect” used by the New Living Translation because it is possible to submit to authorities, even when they behave badly, but it is impossible to respect those who have not only failed to earn it but have acted in disreputable fashion.
I rely on God’s promise to me. It is my source of hope. God’s promises are the only sure source of hope we can find. It is through meditating on His commands and following His instructions that we will find comfort in all that troubles us. O Lord, teach me Your decrees.
When the righteous are victorious, everyone considers it a cause for rejoicing. When the wicked rule, people hide because no one knows who will next suffer from their depredations. Those who conceal their sins will find them coming back to haunt them whenever they think they are about to succeed. Those who confess their sins and turn from them will find mercy and forgiveness.