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. Well, I have my power back, but I am still not able to get online in my normal routine because my Internet service has not been restored. I am able to post by using either the Internet at a friend’s house or by going to someplace that has free Wifi access. I am going to try to get something closer to my normal routine by writing down the passages for the next day and writing the blog offline. 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.

     Ezekiel received instruction from God to act out the next prophecy. He was told to take his baggage and in the sight of the people dig a hole in the wall and go forth through it. When the people asked him what he was doing, he was to tell them that the prince in Jerusalem will gather his baggage and dig a hole in the wall and attempt to escape through it, but the prince will be captured and taken into captivity. Then Ezekiel told the people that their expectation that every prophecy was far in the future was no longer true. God was going to bring these things to pass, not only in their lifetimes, but in the very near future.
     Ezekiel follows this up with condemnation of false prophets. The false prophets had been telling the people of Israel that there would be peace when there was no peace. These prophets had been putting a whitewash of false righteousness over the sinfulness of the people. They were telling the people support this political agenda and it will fulfill your obligation to care for the poor and destitute. Then you don’t have to be bothered to actually do anything for them yourself.
     Then Ezekiel spoke out against some of the elders of Israel who came to consult him for the word of the Lord. Ezekiel told them that they were doing so to put a cover of righteousness over their idolatry. Ezekiel told them to put aside their idolatry and turn from their sins. God does not want us to support a political ideology that promises to help the poor and destitute. God wants us to help the poor and destitute.

     The last chapter ended with the statement that Jesus has become a high priest of the order of Melchizedek. Melchizedek is mentioned in Genesis as the King of Salem and a priest of God to whom Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils after he had rescued Lot and other captives from raiders. The author of Hebrews points out that the priests according to the Law were descendants of Aaron, who was himself a descendant of Abraham. The author makes two points from this. The first is that Aaron himself, who the Law says shall receive a tenth from the people of Israel, metaphorically gave a tenth to Melchizedek (since Aaron was descended from a son of Abraham who was not yet conceived). The second is that when the priesthood is changed, there is of necessity a change of the Law that establishes the priesthood.
     The author further points out that if perfection could be attained through the priesthood of Aaron, there would be no need for another priest in the order of Melchizedek. But the psalmist declares that God is going to raise up another priest in the order of Melchizedek, one who will sit at the right hand of God. Here we have the logic whereby the Law of Moses has been fulfilled and a greater Law instituted in its place.

     The psalmist tells us that when the children of Israel departed Egypt the Egyptians were glad to see them go. The plagues had caused the Egyptians to want no more to do with the Israelites. God brought them out of Egypt with wealth and guided them through the wilderness. While they were in the wilderness God provided for them with manna and quail, causing water to flow out from the rocks. God brought them into a land inhabited by other nations and gave that land to the Israelites. God did all of this so that they might keep His commands and obey His laws. Will God do any less for us today if we keep His commands and follow His Word? Let us praise the Lord for all He has done for us.

     Even the strongest, wisest person may find themselves reacting against their better judgment when provoked by a fool.