Tag Archives: 09/11/22 Bible Study

Daily Bible Study

September 12, 2022 Bible Study — Believers Should Not Call On Unbelievers To Carry Out Our Duties To God And Our Fellow Man

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Ezekiel 44-45.

My lovely wife married me 22 years ago on the 23rd of this month.  So I am going to wish her Happy Anniversary every day from now until then.

Happy Anniversary, Darling!

Usually, when I read this passage I do not know what to make of it.  My understanding of the New Testament says that Jesus has expanded the priesthood to all Believers, which diminishes the significance of chapter 44, and eliminated the sacrifices by sacrificing Himself, which diminishes the significance of chapter 45.  However, today I was struck by the way in which Ezekiel condemned the people of Israel as he begins his prophecy concerning the restored temple.  Once more Ezekiel condemns them for doing detestable things.  This time he also condemns them for failing to carry out their duties regarding God’s holy things.  Instead, they brought in outsiders, people who did not worship God at all, to take care of these things.  To me this sounds like a condemnation of those who outsource God’s command to care for our neighbor to the government, or some secular charity, instead of working with our fellow Believers to provide that care.  Ezekiel writes of the Israelites putting those who were uncircumcised in both flesh and heart in charge of God’s temple.  In much the same way, many Believers today  seek ever more government programs to help those who are unable to care for themselves rather than seeking for the Church to step up and implement solutions.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Daily Bible Study

Sept 11, 2022 Bible Study — Separating The Common From The Holy

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Ezekiel 41-43.

My lovely wife married me 22 years ago on the 23rd of this month.  So I am going to wish her Happy Anniversary every day from now until then.

Happy Anniversary, Darling!

In today’s passage Ezekiel gives a detailed description of the Temple he saw in his vision of the restored Jerusalem.  Every time I read this I wonder if the description is intended to be purely symbolic, or if it was a model the people of Israel were supposed to follow.  However, today I was struck by the focus on separating the holy from the common.  The description contains special rooms where the priestly share of the sacrifices was to be stored, cooked, and eaten within the holy portion of this temple.  The priests were to wear special garments while they were within the holy portion of the temple, changing into other clothing before they went out among the common people.  Today’s entire passage seems to emphasize the importance of marking a separation between the holy and the ordinary.  For the first time I start to see a connection between this passage and how God wants us to live.  But I do not quite know how to reconcile that separation and what I believe about Jesus bringing us into the presence of God without the need for priestly intermediaries aside from Himself.  Still, I praise God for finally showing me how this passage speaks to us today, even though I do not yet understand that message.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.