Tag Archives: Christianity

Daily Bible Study

November 20, 2013 Bible Study — What Causes Fights?

     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 40:28-41:26

     At the end of yesterday’s passage, Ezekiel was taken in a vision to the top of a very high mountain in the land of Israel. On the south side of the mountain there were buildings arranged in a way that looked like a city. In the vision he was met at the gate by a man with a face like glowing bronze who was holding a measuring string and a measuring rod. This man led him into a new Temple and measured its walls and rooms. Ezekiel described the measurements of the Temple, its walls, its rooms, and the various outbuildings associated with it.
     As I read the passage today, I struggled to understand what God wanted me to understand out of this passage. Then something struck me. Ezekiel was describing an empty building in an empty city. This was a Temple and a city not built by human hands. Rather it was a city and Temple built by God that was waiting for the people of God to come into it to worship and fellowship with God. The Temple was waiting for Christ to come as our high priest and open it up for us by sacrificing Himself for our sins.

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James 4:1-17

     James wrote here about the root cause of so much that is wrong in this world. He said that we fight, quarrel, and kill because we desire what we do not have. Further we do not have because we do not ask God for it. He then points out that even when we do ask, we do not get because we ask for things in order to use them for our own pleasure. While James was writing to Christians, this applies to everyone.
     He goes on to warn us that being friendly to the world, which we exhibit by desiring worldly pleasures rather than godly service, is antithetical to friendship with God. If we submit ourselves to God and resist the devil, the devil will flee from us. All too often we get this exactly backwards. We submit to the devil and resist God. I will strive to humbly do as God wills me to do. Humility means that I will not speak out against my fellow believer, nor will I judge the decisions which they choose to make.
     One of the most important points James makes is at the end of today’s passage. He tells us that if we know what we ought to do and do not do it, it is as much sin as doing that which we know we ought not to do. A sin of omission is just as great as any sin of commission.

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Psalm 118:19-29

     Part of this psalm was quoted by Jesus to the Pharisees and as a result is often interpreted as a prophecy of His coming. I will not question that interpretation. However, as I read it today it struck me as having much more meaning than that. First the part which Jesus quoted:

The stone that the builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing,
and it is wonderful to see.

As I read this it struck me that it is talking about how we humans so often reject some person, or action, or thing that God intends as the key element of His work in this world. But God’s will will not be thwarted and He will make that item the cornerstone and give it a place of honor in His work. We may be convinced that we know better, that this “stone” is inadequate for the place of honor, but God will not listen to us. He will do what He will do and when we see what He has done, it is wonderful. No matter what we think of them, the one who comes in the name of the Lord will be blessed.

     THIS is the day which the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it. Won’t you please join me in doing so?

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Proverbs 28:3-5

     All too often we forget that the poor are sometimes the source of oppression of the poor. It is wrong to think that the poor are any less guilty of wickedness than the wealthy. The key to overcoming wickedness is fidelity to the law and to justice. The wicked are empowered when people reject lawful behavior, but struggle when people embrace lawful behavior. The wicked may speak of justice and fairness, but all they understand is power. On the other hand, those who seek God understand justice and integrate it into their plans, even when they do not speak of it.

Daily Bible Study

November 19, 2013 Bible Study — What’s In It For Me?

     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 39-40:27

     At the end of yesterday’s passage, Ezekiel prophesied that in the distant future Gog, the ruler of the land of Magog, would gather his armies and attack the people of Israel when they are living at peace and apparently defenseless. As part of the prophecy, Ezekiel tells Gog that God will make Himself known to all the nations of the world by striking down the armies of Gog and his allies. Today’s passage continues that prophecy.
     In the 1970s I remember being told that the description of the aftermath of the battle sounded like the aftermath of a battle involving nuclear weapons. At the same time, many people connected the lands of Magog, Tubal, and Meschech to the Soviet Union. However, historically, these lands would have been in what is now Turkey and possibly extending through Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. I am not convinced that it matters that much where these lands are. I believe that the key thing about this prophecy is that a massive army will attack God’s people and be destroyed in a manner which will shock the entire world.
     This prophecy tells us that God shows Himself through history. That the time will come when a power will arise that is unstoppable. It will launch an attack that cannot fail against an enemy that is completely unprepared to defend itself. That unstoppable power will not only be stopped, it will be destroyed and the enemy whom it planned to plunder will instead thrive on the plunder it leaves behind. God is in control of history and He will have His way.

     When I was growing up, the Soviet Union was a fact of life. Through high school and college the threat of nuclear war between the U.S. and the Soviet Union was real. When Ronald Reagan said to Mikhail Gorbachev, “Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall” no one believed it would happen, not even Ronald Reagan. Yet only a few years later that wall had been torn down.

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James 2:18-3:18

     James continues his writing on faith by pointing out that if your faith is not reflected in your actions, any claims you make to having faith is worthless. If your faith does not cause you to take action it is of no value. We are not saved because we do good works, we do good works because we believe that we have been saved.
     James goes on to tell us that those who become teachers in the Church will be held to a higher standard than others. While we all make mistakes, the key to avoiding mistakes is to control what we say. Even things we say which seem like a small thing to us can influence our actions in ways which we later regret. We often find it easier to tame wild beasts than to control our own tongues. We praise God and our fellow man out of the same mouth which calls down curses. James tells us that this should not be.
     James continues by telling us to demonstrate our wisdom and understanding by humbly doing good works. There will be times when we are envious of others and/or seek to advance our own interests, but we should not boast about it when it happens. Rather, we should recognize these things as the evil which they are and seek to replace them with true wisdom. True, godly wisdom results in pure actions. It is peace-loving and considerate of others. True wisdom yields to others, is impartial and sincere. True wisdom asks, “How can I help?”, not “What’s in it for me?”

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Psalm 118:1-18

     I will give thanks to the Lord for He is good. In the middle of this psalm is a great phrase that we need to keep close to our hearts:

The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear.
What can mere people do to me?


When I read this, I remember a quote which I have seen in various forms, and which has been credited to Abraham Lincoln. Supposedly, when someone said to him that they trusted that God was on the side of the Union in the Civil War, Lincoln replied, “”Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side. My great concern is to be on God’s side.” That sums up the only sure way to know that God is on my side. That sure way is to be on God’s side. If my every desire is that God’s will be done, I can be assured that those desires will all be fulfilled. If we always seek to do God’s will, we can be further sure that, as far as we are successful, we will be doing what is right.

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Proverbs 28:2

     A nation whose people have no morals will never have a stable government. Wise and knowledgeable leaders will bring about stability by bolstering the morals of the people. When the moral decay of a nation has reached a certain point, the people will no longer tolerate leaders who exhibit moral fortitude.

Daily Bible Study

November 18, 2013 Bible Study — A Valley of Dry Bones

     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 37-38:23

     Ezekiel was given a prophecy containing the metaphor of a valley of dry bones. He was shown a valley full of nothing but bones scattered over the valley, not even complete skeletons any longer. God asks Ezekiel a rhetorical question, “Can these bones be made to live again?” The obvious answer is, “No.” But Ezekiel is a little wiser than most people and knows that the correct answer is, “Only You know the answer to that God.” God then tells Ezekiel to prophecy to the dry bones that God will attach tendons and muscles to them, cover them with skin, and breathe life into them. Ezekiel did as commanded and the bones came together to form skeletons, muscle and flesh formed over the bones, and skin formed over the flesh. But the, now, bodies did not come to life. God told Ezekiel to prophecy once more. He told him to prophecy to the winds to come and breathe life into these bodies. Ezekiel did as he was told and the bodies began to breathe and stood up, now forming a great and mighty army.
     In this passage, the metaphor applied to the nation of Israel. Ezekiel was saying that it appeared to be dead and beyond resurrection. Yet God was going to bring it back to life as a mighty army. However, this passage is for all of us who think that some group or organization that can serve God’s purpose has died beyond reviving. Any body that lives to serve God will live, no matter how dried out and dead it may appear to human eyes. It is worth noting that this revival did not happen in a single step. Ezekiel prophesied the revival and the bodies reformed, but it was not until he prophesied to them a second time, calling on the Holy Spirit to inhabit the bodies that they came to life. In the same way, we need to recognize that the job is not done after one proclamation. I believe that God is calling on His servants to call this nation, and the world, to revival. This is not something that will happen in just a few short years, but will require a lifelong commitment from numerous people. If it is God’s will, I pray that He give me the gifts to lead such a revival. If it is not His will that I lead such a revival (which I fervently hope is the case, since I feel that I am completely inadequate to such a task) I pray that He shows me how I may aid the leader whom He is raising up.

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James 1:19-2:17

     How well this passage from James fits into the message I understood from the portion of Ezekiel I read today. We must be eager to listen to the word of God which He is speaking to us. This means listening to all of those around us, because how do we know through whom God will choose to speak if we do not listen to what they are saying. However, we need to take our time before we speak what we have heard and we must be cautious about becoming angry. Human anger does not serve God and does not lead us to behave righteously (Divine anger is another matter, but we must be cautious to ensure that any anger we express is truly from God). It is not enough to listen to the word which God speaks to us (no matter through whom He speaks it). Once we have heard, we are to act. God is calling us to be a people of action.
     All too many people misunderstand James as saying that our actions save us. That is not his message. His message is the solid food that follows on after we have grown enough to eat it. When we were spiritual infants, we first need to drink the spiritual milk which tells us that we can not earn our salvation. Our salvation comes through our faith that righteousness is a free gift from God. However, James tells us that if we truly believe, this belief will influence our actions. If we truly believe that sinful behaviors lead to our unhappiness and that righteous behaviors will lead our happiness, we will stop sinful behaviors and begin righteous behaviors. You can tell what I truly have faith in by examining my actions. If I say one thing and do another, you can be sure that I do not truly believe what I said.

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Psalm 117:1-2

     I will praise God because His faithfulness and love towards us endures forever. Do I believe this enough to act on it?

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Proverbs 28:1

     Do I truly believe this? Am I willing to stand forth with boldness, assured that the wicked will flee? I pray to God that He give me the boldness to do as He wills and declare His word to all whom I meet.

Daily Bible Study

November 17, 2013 Bible Study — God Does Not Change

     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 35-36:38

     Ezekiel speaks a prophecy against Edom. He condemns the people of Edom for their hatred of the people of Israel and for the actions that hatred motivated them to take. I see two messages, or perhaps a specific message with a general application. The specific message is that those who hate the people of Israel, the Jews, and take action against them that is motivated by that hatred will face catastrophe. God will bring judgment on those who persecute His chosen people. While I believe that God has a special place in His heart for the Jewish people, I also believe that the message of this prophecy applies to all groups of people. Those who hate people because they belong to some group and take action against members of that group, despite the fact that the individual has done them no harm, will suffer God’s judgment. Such actions will come back to cause harm on the perpetrator.

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James 1:1-18

     I have exactly the opposite opinion of the book of James to that held by Martin Luther. The book of James is one of my favorite books of the Bible. James starts by telling us to consider the troubles we face in this life as a source of joy. The troubles we face test us and teach us to persevere in our faith. Such perseverance causes us to rely more and more on God, and as we rely more and more on God, we realize that we can rely on Him for all things. If we lack the wisdom necessary to accomplish the tasks which God as set before us, we need only ask God and He will give us the needed wisdom and knowledge. When we ask God, we need to truly believe that He will answer our prayers. We should not be hedging our bets by seeking wisdom from sources other than God. I do not believe that this means that we do not accept the wisdom God sends us, no matter what route it comes to us by. Rather, this means that we reject “wisdom” that does not follow God’s principles, we do not choose answers to our problems that involve sinning. If we wish to operate with God’s wisdom we will reject all courses of action which derive from the philosophy that says, “You have to do what you have to do.”
     James also tells us that temptation does not come from God. We are tempted to sin by our own desires. It is by following our own will and desires that we fall into sin. This is why we must avoid placing ourselves in positions where our sinful desires will be aroused. On the other hand, that which is good and perfect in our lives comes from God. If we fill our time doing the things which God has called us to do, we will not have time to spend being enticed by our evil desires.
     James reminds us that God does not change. All too many times I hear it argued that the Church must change with the times. This passage I think is a direct answer to that argument. James says that God is the Father of heavenly lights and does not change like shifting shadows. This does not mean that the Church should never change, because nothing on this earth is perfect and we should constantly be seeking to transform ourselves into the perfect image of God. However, the Church should change from the prodding of the Holy Spirit, not from that of the spirit of this world.

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Psalm 116:1-19

     The Lord does indeed hear my voice. When my life troubled me and I was overwhelmed by my circumstances I cried out to the Lord and He provided me with relief. I have nothing which I can offer the Lord which He does not already have. All that He has done for me is of greater value than all that I possess and what I do possess is a gift from Him. I will praise His name because that is all that I have to offer Him for all the wondrous things He has done for me.

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Proverbs 27:23-27

     Manage your resources because accumulated wealth does not last forever. Carefully tend to those things which bring in what you need to survive so that if your wealth dries up, you will still be able to obtain food and shelter.

Daily Bible Study

November 16, 2013 Bible Study — This World Is Not Our Home

     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 33-34:31

     God calls on Ezekiel to be a watchman for the people of Israel. A watchman is tasked with watching for danger. If he sees danger and warns the people, yet they do not act, the watchman is not held accountable for their suffering. On the other hand, if the watchman sees danger and fails to warn the people, the watchman will be held accountable for the losses the people suffer. In the same way, if Ezekiel failed to speak out in an attempt to dissuade the wicked from their wicked ways, God would hold him accountable for their suffering.

     I believe that this passage is a calling to us today to warn people around us of the dangers of sin. We are not called to judge people. We are called to tell people that actions have consequences. When those actions are sinful, those consequences will be undesirable. On the other hand, righteous actions will have positive consequences. If someone is sinning, is doing things which are destructive to themselves and to others, if they turn from that sin and start to behave in a righteous manner, they will receive the consequences of those righteous acts. On the other hand if someone has been behaving righteously and begins to sin, their previous righteousness will not spare them from the consequences of their sinful behavior.
     The next part of the passage addresses us today as well. The people were going to consult with Ezekiel not in order to hear the word of God and change their lives but rather to be entertained. How many of us today go to Church services expecting to be entertained? How often are our Church services designed to entertain those who come, rather than to deliver the life-changing word of God?

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Hebrews 13:1-25

     The writer concludes his letter with some basic exhortations. He tells us to empathize with those who are imprisoned and those who are being mistreated. We are to honor marriage and those of us who are married are to remain faithful to our spouse. He reminds us not to love money, but rather to be content with what we have, because God will provide for our needs. If we remain content with what God has given us and rely on his providence, we can face all of life with confidence.
     He reminds us that God does not change. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. This means that the Gospel message and God’s instructions are not going to change either. We should not get caught up with novel, new ideas. While this does not mean that we do not change what we believe, it does act as a corrective against ideas that are sold as brand new. I cannot count the number of times that I have heard people argue that some Scripture no longer applies because, “things were different when that was written.” Times do indeed change, but God does not.
     There is one final point which the writer touches on that I want to highlight. He writes that under the old covenant, the bodies of the sacrifices were burned outside of the camp. In the same manner, Jesus offered Himself up as a sacrifice outside of the city gates. We are to go outside of the camp to Him, separating ourselves from this world just as He did. This world is not our home, we are still looking forward to that day when we will go to our home in heaven with God. We are not citizens of an earthly kingdom, rather we are citizens of God’s kingdom.

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Psalm 115:1-18

     The psalmist reminds us that we are not to do things in order to gain glory for ourselves, nor should we accept glory for our actions. The credit for anything praiseworthy which I may have done goes to God. If not for Him, and what His Spirit has done within me, I would never have done anything worthy of praise. I will praise the Lord and will act so as to bring glory to His name.

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Proverbs 27:21-22

     Gold and silver are tested for purity by putting them through fire, but we are tested by how we react when others praise us. When people praise us for things we have done, it is all too easy to forget the One who is truly responsible for our successes. A fool will not give up his foolishness no matter how much trouble it brings him.

Daily Bible Study

November 15, 2013 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. 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 31-32:32

     Ezekiel wrote a prophecy against Egypt. His warning was that no matter how great and powerful a nation might become it was still subject to God. God has declared that He will hold nations accountable, no matter how powerful or wealthy they may become. No nation will ever be so powerful that it is not subject to God’s judgment.

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Hebrews 12:14-29

     The writer admonishes us to do everything within our power to live at peace with everyone. However, he gives a qualifier to that effort, he tells us to live holy lives. So, we are to do what we can to live at peace with everyone within the constraints of living holy lives. He warns us against bitterness, telling us how, if we allow it, it will grow up within us and defile us. Further the writer warns us against trading our long term happiness for immediate gratification of our desires.

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Psalm 113-114:8

     In today’s passage from Ezekiel we were told that God will bring the mighty and wealthy low. In this psalm we are reminded that He will lift the poor and needy up. Yes, I will praise the Lord. When God’s people follow His direction, even inanimate objects, such as rivers and seas, will get out of their way. Every obstacle will be removed from the path of those who serve the Lord.

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Proverbs 27:18-20

     Who we really are is reflected by the life we lead. Human desire will never be fully sated and attempting to do so leads to death and destruction.

Daily Bible Study

November 14, 2013 Bible Study — Of Whom the World Was Not Worthy

     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 29-30:26

     Ezekiel prophesies that Egypt will fall. He gives two reasons for its fall. The first reason is Egypt offered itself as a supporter of Israel, but when Israel needed Egypt’s help, Egypt failed her. The second reason is that the rulers of Egypt became proud and believed that they were responsible for their own greatness. Both of these warnings strike me as applicable to political leaders today. There are many political leaders today who are showing signs of reneging on promises to stand at Israel’s back should they be attacked and there are many political leaders today who believe that their success and power are because of their own personal greatness. The hubris, and the danger it entails, of the latter applies to those who are not political leaders as well.

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Hebrews 11:32-12:13

     The writer continues speaking about those who went before us and the faith which many of them displayed. Some of them are people we take note of because of the great and wonderful things which they accomplished through their faith. Others are noteworthy because of their refusal to give up their faith in the face of great suffering. The writer tells us that the world was not worthy of such people.
     Since we have such a group of examples on living out the faith who are witnessing our acts today, the writer tells us that we should be encouraged to resist temptation and demonstrate faith just as they did. There is a path laid out for us to follow, it is not easy and will require that we show endurance. However, as long as we keep our focus on Jesus, He will provide us with the strength to continue. If at any point we begin to feel that we have already endured more than should be expected of us for our faith, let us remember that there are many, including Jesus Himself, who gave their very lives. As we become weary of the battle to serve God, let us remember those who have gone before us and redouble our effort, strengthen our grip, and map out a path forward which avoids obstacles.

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Psalm 112:1-10

     Yes, I will praise the Lord. The writer of Hebrews tells us to mark out a path around the obstacles so that those whose legs are tired and those who are lame may make their way to our mutual goal without stumbling. This psalm tells us that we will be able to do this because light shines into the darkness for those who are righteous. If we are generous and compassionate we will see the obstacles that may cause us to stumble in plenty of time to plot a course around them. We will not need to fear bad news because God will care for us. I will serve the Lord and not fear what is coming because I know that He will care for me.

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Proverbs 27:17

     Just as we use iron to sharpen our iron knives, so our friends can can help us serve God better. Owning a knife sharpener will not keep your knives sharp unless you make use of it. In the same way, having godly friends will not help you be a better Christian if you do not spend time with them.

Daily Bible Study

November 13, 2013 Bible Study — Fear of the Lord Is the Beginning of Wisdom

     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 27-28:26

     Ezekiel prophesies the fall of Tyre. He warns the king of Tyre that his doom is coming. Ezekiel tells the king of Tyre that he will suffer defeat and destruction because in his arrogance he thought himself a god, wiser than the wise and more knowledgeable than any other. The king of Tyre had used his knowledge and wisdom to acquire great wealth and power, but failed to recognize his limits. His failure to recognize his limits would bring about his downfall. This warning should stand for all who acquire power and wealth. If you become proud and begin to think that you need listen to no one, the day of your destruction will be near.

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Hebrews 11:17-31

     The writer gives us a list of people from the Old Testament who acted on faith. They took risks, they did things that the world around them said made no sense, some of them did things that they could not see how it could possibly come out right. But they all had faith that doing what God called them to do, that doing the right thing was the right thing to do. And as a result God blessed them. They were willing to face hardship and suffering. They were willing to take risks with no sign of reward. All because they had faith that the course of action they had chosen was the right one. Will the day come when people will say of me, “It was by faith…”?

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Psalm 111:1-10

     I will speak of the wonderful things which God has done for me, things which I do not deserve. The psalmist reminds us that those who delight in the Lord will reflect on His great works. I will do so because His acts are just and good, by reflecting on them I can learn how to live my life as a just and good man. Fear of God is the first step in learning to be wise and following His commands is the way to grow wiser.

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Proverbs 27:15-16

     The proverb tells us that a quarrelsome wife is as annoying as the drip from a leaky roof during a rain storm. The steady drip reminds you of a problem, but there is nothing you can do to fix it. The fact of the matter is that being quarrelsome is just as tedious if it is the husband. For that matter, people who are quarrelsome are tedious no matter your relationship to them if you need to spend any length of time with them. I will strive to not be such a person.

Daily Bible Study

November 12, 2013 Bible Study — Faith Is Having Confidence In What We Hope For

     I have been waiting to write today’s date since last year on December 12 (12/12/12) when lots of articles were written saying that it was the last of the “special” dates until next century. They were mistaken. I am pretty sure that today is (11/12/13). I find this date just as interesting as the repeating ones.
     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 24-26:21

     Ezekiel placed various cuts of meat in a pot with water and cooked it over an open fire to symbolize Jerusalem under siege by the Babylonian army. God instructed him to remove the meat from the pot in random order because no piece of meat was better than another, symbolizing that no one inside Jerusalem during the siege was better than any one else. Now it may be that this was a reference to no one in Jerusalem being more righteous than any one else, but I believe it was a reference that the nobles and well-to-do in the city would not fare any better in the siege and its aftermath than the poor and powerless. The prophecy associated with this metaphor concludes by saying that the people in Jerusalem will be according to their conduct.
     Shortly after this God tells Ezekiel that his wife, whom he loves dearly, will die, but that he must not mourn her. This strikes me as a very difficult command, yet Ezekiel kept this command as an illustration to the exiles as to how they would need to act when Jerusalem fell to the Babylonian army. He told them that in a similar fashion the exiles would be unable to express their grief when they received the news that Jerusalem had fallen, the Temple been destroyed, and their sons and daughters remaining there killed.

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Hebrews 11:1-16

     Faith is having confidence in that which we hope for. We hope for many things, but rarely act on that hope. However, when we have faith we act on that hope. Over the course of my life, I hoped that many different women would find me attractive and interesting, but I did not ask one of them to marry me until I had faith that the woman who became my wife would say “Yes”. But my faith was in more than that. I hoped that we would have a good, happy marriage, but it was not my hope in that good, happy marriage that led to it. It was my faith that such would happen and my willingness to act on that faith (not just my faith and actions, but hers as well). In the same manner, I hope that God will forgive my sins, but it is not my hope that allows me to accept His forgiveness. Rather it is my faith that He will do so. Because I have that faith, I act accordingly. In the same way, the writer points out that the great saints of the Old Testament acted on the basis of their faith in God. They never saw what they had faith in come to pass, but they maintained their faith and acted on it.

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Psalm 110:1-7

     A psalm that has been traditionally interpreted by Christians as a prophecy concerning Jesus. The writer of Hebrews makes a fairly lengthy exposition on the meaning of the phrase contained here, “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.” However, it is also a promise to those who faithfully serve God. We do not need to take action against our enemies. If we faithfully obey God, He will humble them before us.

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Proverbs 27:14

     A loud and energetic greeting will not be well received early in the morning, no matter how positive and well intended its delivery.

Daily Bible Study

November 11, 2013 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. 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 23:1-49

     Ezekiel condemns the people of the kingdom of Judah for not learning from watching the disaster which struck the Northern Kingdom. Ezekiel compares idolatry to adultery. As I read this passage it struck me that Ezekiel was implying that sexual immorality is a form of idolatry and that idolatry leads to sexual immorality. Ezekiel condemned Judah for sacrificing their children to the idols they worshiped, much as our society today sacrifices children on the altar of convenience.

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Hebrews 10:18-39

     Our sins have been forgiven, there is no need for any more sacrifices. As a result of Jesus’ death we can enter into God’s presence without fear. Our spirit’s have been made clean by Christ’s blood and our bodies washed by the water of baptism. Let us seek ways to encourage one another to act out our love, the love instilled in us by God’s Spirit, and to do good works. In order to do this, we must gather together with our fellow believers on a regular basis. There are those who believe that they can live a life faithful to God in isolation from their fellow believers. They are mistaken. We need to meet with fellow believers on a regular basis in order to encourage others and to be encouraged.

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Psalm 109:1-31

     The psalmist calls on God to protect him because his enemies are telling lies about him. Despite the fact that he has done good for them they are attempting to destroy him. They tell lies about him claiming that he is deserving of misfortune because he has refused kindness to others and persecuted the poor and needy. They claim that he hounded the brokenhearted to death. They condemn him for acts which he never committed and deny the good things he has done.

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     As I read this psalm, it occurred to me that this is something that those who refuse to accept God often speak of those who strive to serve God. When we hear someone who calls for righteous behavior condemned for being uncaring and/or evil we should carefully look at those who are making the accusations. Are those doing the accusing guilty of the things which they accuse others of doing? When you hear bad things about someone, consider the source. It is amazing how often I have heard someone tell me bad things about someone, only to realize that the source does not consider those things bad when practiced by those with whom they agree…which leads me to wonder if the person being talked about has actually done that which they are being accused of (all too often I discover that while the person has done what they are being accused of, it only becomes a source of opprobrium when it is taken out of context. In context is is actually a reason for approbation).

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Proverbs 27:13

     I just realized that this proverb does not condemn guaranteeing a stranger’s debt. Rather it merely warns to be wary of loaning money to someone who has offered surety on someone else’s debt, since it is likely that they will have to pay off that debt as well as their own.