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.
Ezekiel had a vision of the glory of God rising up out of the Temple in Jerusalem and departing from it. As the vision was unfolding, God gave Ezekiel explanatory side visions. First, God showed him a vision of twenty-five prominent leaders of Jerusalem (two of whom he identified by name). Ezekiel calls them out for planning evil and giving the people wicked counsel. He declares that they are telling people that the situation in Jerusalem is good, that now is a good time to plan for the future in Jerusalem. They were telling everyone that the city of Jerusalem would remain safe from the dangers surrounding them. Ezekiel tells them that God knows their secret thoughts and that they have used their positions to bring about death to the innocent. God will judge them and drag them out of the place where they think they are safe.
In addition, Ezekiel addresses those who remain in Judea who think that they it is OK to profit from the misfortune of those who have been taken into exile. He tells them that God will bring the exiles back and when He does, they will reject vile images and detestable idols. God promises to transform those who are willing into His faithful servants, but judgment will fall on those who embrace the worship of idols and images.
The writer summarizes the teachings which he considers to be basic spiritual milk for new believers. The basic things which every believer needs to understand before they can begin to mature are: the need to turn from sin, have faith in God, be baptized, the value of laying on of hands, the facts of resurrection of the dead and God’s eternal judgment. The author then goes on to talk about some of the things which he considers important for more mature believers to consider.
He points out that those who have embraced and experienced the power of the Holy Spirit who then turn away from God and reject Him, will never turn back to God once more. This is different from those who have fallen into sin through temptation. I believe the writer is talking about those who turn away from God’s plan because they want to avoid ridicule or persecution. This does not encompass those who gradually fall into sin by giving into temptation, but rather those who justify their sin by proclaiming that God’s law does not apply to them. The writer tells us that instead of attempting to take the easy way out, we are to follow those who, with faith and endurance, show their love for God by caring for their fellow believers.
The psalm recounts how all works according to God’s plans. Joseph suffered enslavement and imprisonment so that God could elevate him to the highest levels in Egypt. The people of Israel suffered enslavement in Egypt so that God could mold them into a nation and bring them out of Egypt to give them the Promised Land. In the same way, God uses the hardships and difficulties in our lives to mold and prepare us for the blessings He will bring us.
There are two important points made in this proverb. The first is that we should not boast about what we are going to do in the future because we do not know what circumstances may come up. This also applies to actions of others. The classic example is fans who boast about how their team is going to defeat another, only to be embarrassed because some key player gets injured.
The second proverb warns us against singing our own praises. If we have done something worthy of praise, let others tell of it.