Old Testament in a Year

November 30th Old Testament Readings

Daniel 7:1-28
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Okay, so Daniel chapter 7 with the vision of 4 beasts is not exactly an easy one for me to interpret here in a daily blog!  :)  But I'll give it a bit of a go.  Actually, if you're looking for in-depth commentary on this chapter, please check out this link on bible.org, titled "Daniel's Disturbing Dream."

Overall, this is a very powerful chapter to read... I definitely was feeling drawn into this chapter and the description of the beasts.  Basically here in chapter 7 we're seeing a parallel with the vision of these 4 beasts in this vision of Daniel's with the dream Nebuchadnezzar had of the statue in chapter 2 of Daniel.   The lion with the eagle wings represents Babylonia, just as the head of gold in ch. 2 did.  The bear represents Medo-Persia, as the silver did in ch. 2.  The leopard represents Greece, as did the bronze/brass in ch. 2.  And the terrifying and frightening beast represents the Roman empire, as the feet of clay & iron did in ch. 2.   Roughly speaking of course...  :)  Maybe this image below will better explain things:

The best verses in this chapter are in my mind verse 13 & 14 where we get a Messianic vision of Jesus! "As my vision continued that night, I saw someone who looked like a man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. He was given authority, honor, and royal power over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal--it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed."   Wow...  very powerful stuff..  Do you believe that Jesus has been given authority, honor and royal power over all the world?  Do you believe that his rule is eternal and his kingdom will never be destroyed?  Do you know in your heart that Jesus is your eternal King?

Verse 8 & 20 are intriguing to me when they talk about: "This little horn had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly."  The thing that jumped out at me was the mouth that was boasting arrogantly.  How did this read to you when you came across it?  As a good or bad thing to have a mouth that boasts arrogantly?  Again, this reminds me of the sin of pride that we have been seeing over and over again here in the book of Daniel with the Babylonian kings & Darius the Mede.  Essentially some commentaries suggest this little horn that boasts arrogantly represents the antichrist...

Worship Video: Today's readings remind me of Natalie Grant's song "I'm in better hands now:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exD37ONGUyA

Are you in better Hands now?  Click here for the best Hands that could ever hold you!

Comments from you - What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

November 29th Old Testament Readings

Daniel 6:1-28
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

We are definitely in the midst of some amazing readings today!  The book of Daniel is continuing to challenge and inspire me. I hope you are having a similar experience!

Daniel chapter 6 today is probably more famous than chapter 5's writing on the wall!  Today Daniel goes into the lion's den...  Several things, as always, are going on in this chapter.  One big note is that Daniel is about 80 years old at the time of this chapter.  He's not a young man.  And yet he is running laps around the other kingdom administrators with his work - and for this he is honored more and more by the king.  And others are getting jealous of this old man Daniel.  They realize the only way to trip him up is on his religion.  And - by appealing to the king's pride with a law that makes people worship the king only.  Interesting thing that pride...  seems an easy sin for us humans to fall into..? Well, then the old man Daniel gets tossed into the pit of lions - and comes out alive through the grace of God.  And the king realizes he was duped by the admins and tosses them & their families into the pit of lions.  But enough of my Cliff Notes here... let's check out a few verses...  (below is a painting of "Daniel in the Lion's Den" by Peter Paul Rubens, circa 1615)

Verse 4 makes me reflect on my life and the way I live it: "Then the other administrators and princes began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling his affairs, but they couldn't find anything to criticize. He was faithful and honest and always responsible."   How are we in handling our affairs?  Our job, our tempers, our finances, our time?  Are we faithful in all of these areas?  Honest?  Always responsible?

Verse 10 helps us look at how we should act when challenging circumstances come into our lives: "But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God."  Daniel continued to worship God as he always had in the midst of bad news of the new law.  He didn't blink.  He didn't flinch.  He didn't take a break from God.  He kept worshiping.  How do we act when bad news comes into our lives?  Do we sulk?  Do we decide to avoid God for a while?  Or do we continue to worship God as we have always - giving thanks to God?  Even in the midst of severe challenges, will we still give thanks to God for who He is?

Verse 20 is a wonderful verse from the mouth of the remorseful King Darius: “When he got there, he called out in anguish, "Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you worship continually, able to rescue you from the lions?””  First of all - I love the term “the living God”.  Do you believe that God is indeed a living God?  Not a stoic God who just sets up the universe and then lets it run on its own - but a God who is in the midst of every single one of our experiences - good and bad?  A living God?  A God who is with us on the mountain tops - and in the lion's den?  Do you believe God is indeed a living God?  Do you worship the living God continually? Like Daniel, are you a servant of the Living God? Do you want to be a servant of the Living God?  The Living God that will send His angels to protect you from even lions in their den?

Worship Video: Today's readings reminds me of MercyMe's song, "Beautiful:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vh7-RSPuAA

Do you know our Beautiful God who made you beautiful?  Click here for true Beauty!

Comments from you - What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

November 28th Old Testament Readings

Daniel 5:1-31
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Daniel chapter 5 is the famous "the writing is on the wall" chapter!  It is not a good sign to see writing appear on the wall in this way...  This chapter is of huge importance to the Babylonian dynasty - because this chapter is the very last day of Babylon the empire.  The next day everything goes to the Persians & Medes and Cyrus will be taking over the roost.  Daniel chapter 5 verse 1 starts us out today with: "A number of years later.."  This chapter takes place in 539 B.C., whereas chapter 4 with Nebuchadnezzar took place before his death in 562 B.C.  So, at least 23 years have past between chapter 4 & 5 - and several leaders of Babylon have passed by, leaving Belshazzar, who has 1 day more... 

Verses 1 through 4 in the chapter unfortunately describe an orgy taking place, utilizing gold and silver cups taken from the Temple in Jerusalem decades earlier by Nebuchadnezzar.  Unwisely, Belshazzar and the crew toast false idols with these sacred cups of God - at which point immediately the hand begins writing on the wall, and verse 6 tells us this about Belshazzar - "Such terror gripped him that his knees knocked together and his legs gave way beneath him."  Think he had reason to be scared like this?  Why?

As Daniel is called in to interpret the writing, verse 17 stands out as Daniel tells Belshazzar: "Keep your gifts or give them to someone else, but I will tell you what the writing means."  Daniel is obviously quite bold and dismissive of Belshazzar here - he does not defer to Belshazzar being the king, and the seemingly right thing to do would be to immediately say you'd appreciate the gifts.  Daniel simply says - keep 'em! (though, later he's still bestowed with them)  Bold...  A righteous boldness, yes?  Plus, you've got to think that Daniel's seen a lot in Babylon in his time and he's ready to cut to the chase and just interpret the writing.  He doesn't need earthly gifts or honor...  What about us in our lives today?  Do we seek earthly gifts and honor for ourselves?  Should we?  Can we learn from Daniel's boldness and focus on what truly matters in this life?  (note that an older Daniel is in the middle of this image below from the 1816 John Brown Bible, with a strange looking Belshazzar sitting to the right)

Before interpreting the dream Daniel gives Belshazzar an old fashioned lecture which culminates in verse 22 as he speaks of Nebuchadnezzar being humbled by God: ""You are his successor, O Belshazzar, and you knew all this, yet you have not humbled yourself."  Basically, Daniel is saying - you should have known better.  You knew better.  You saw Nebuchadnezzar's mistakes.  You did not learn.  Are we like this sometimes in our lives today?  Shouldn't we know better...?  Below is an artist's take on Belshazzar's final feast -

Verse 27 is worth reflecting upon! "You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting." (NIV).  Very interesting to think about a godly scale.  A scale that maybe looks at how we invest our time, money, love, life, worship?  Are we investing in things that are eternal?  Obviously, through the opening verses Belshazzar was simply investing his life into himself, his lusts and his desires.  And hence, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN was written on the wall...  Pretty amazing to think that the great kingdom of Babylon went down like this in one chapter...  God clearly is a kingdom-maker and a kingdom-taker!

Worship Video: Today's readings remind me of Rebecca St. James’ song "Kingdom Come:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlQQcQc0eHU

Do you want God's Kingdom to Come?  Click here for His Kingdom Come!

Comments from you - What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

November 27th Old Testament Readings

Daniel 4:1-37
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Daniel chapter 4 is an incredible chapter today!  There is a lot going on in this one.  We open up this chapter with King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon giving praise to God as verses 2 & 3 tell us: "I want you all to know about the miraculous signs and wonders the Most High God has performed for me.  How great are his signs, how powerful his wonders! His kingdom will last forever, his rule through all generations." Does this sound like the Nebuchadnezzar we've come to know?  We'll, we must read on as he tells us how he got to the point of praising God like this...

Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the tree in this chapter is relatively straightforward, as is the interpretation that Daniel gives.  One intriguing verse to me was verse 27 where Daniel pleads with Nebuchadnezzar to repent to avoid what will happen per the dream - "O King Nebuchadnezzar, please listen to me. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past by being merciful to the poor. Perhaps then you will continue to prosper."  Do you think Nebuchadnezzar listened to Daniel?  What if Daniel was telling us to do this same thing this very day?  Would we listen?  Will we stop sinning and do what is right?  Will we be merciful to the poor?  Below is a portrait by Guy Rowe of Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the tree:

We see the sin of pride bring down Nebuchadnezzar in verse 30 as follows - "Just look at this great city of Babylon! I, by my own mighty power, have built this beautiful city as my royal residence and as an expression of my royal splendor."  Are their times in our life where we boast of what we have "done" or "created" by our "own mighty power"?  Good idea.... ?

In this chapter today Nebuchadnezzar becomes Gollum from the Lord of the Rings!  :)  Yes, I did hear someone teach on this chapter recently and he placed up on screen a picture of Gollum from Lord of the Rings and suggested this is what happened to Nebuchadnezzar essentially in verse 33 - "That very same hour the prophecy was fulfilled, and Nebuchadnezzar was driven from human society. He ate grass like a cow, and he was drenched with the dew of heaven. He lived this way until his hair was as long as eagles' feathers and his nails were like birds' claws." Can you see how sin can drive us to basic animal instincts? Like Gollum?  Do you see how godly wisdom can save us from becoming like animals?  Like Gollum?  Pride seems to be a very tempting sin for all of us - and not a good one to pursue - as Nebuchadnezzar tells us himself in verse 37 -"Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of heaven. All his acts are just and true, and he is able to humble those who are proud." Do you believe this to be true?  Below is an image of Gollum... and perhaps Nebuchadnezzar for seven years?

Verse 36 also stands out to me in this chapter only because it reminds me of the end of the book of Job - "When my sanity returned to me, so did my honor and glory and kingdom. My advisers and officers sought me out, and I was reestablished as head of my kingdom, with even greater honor than before."   A reminder that God gives and takes away - and can give again...

Worship Video: Today's readings reminds me of the Amy Grant song "Thy Word:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSZlIVP9u0Y

Is God's Word a Light for you?  Click here for Light!

Comments from you - What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

November 26th Old Testament Readings

Daniel 2:24-3:30
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Today in Daniel chapter 2 we see Daniel conducting his affairs with Nebuchadnezzar with wonderful humility!  In verses 27 & 28 Daniel says: "There are no wise men, enchanters, magicians, or fortune-tellers who can tell the king such things.  But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the future."  Here we see that Daniel is giving God the glory for the dream about to be revealed.  Daniel was taking no credit for this.  Today, do you regularly give God the glory in your life?  Or do you try to take the credit yourself?  Below is an image of Daniel before Nebuchadnezzar:

The dream interpreted by Daniel is summed up in verses 44 & 45: "During the reigns of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed; no one will ever conquer it. It will shatter all these kingdoms into nothingness, but it will stand forever. That is the meaning of the rock cut from the mountain by supernatural means, crushing to dust the statue of iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold." The dream & interpretation are prophesying the kingdom of Babylon (gold), followed by the Medo-Persian Kingdom (silver), then Greek kingdom (bronze), then the Roman empire with a mix of iron & clay - representing strong and weak states within the Roman empire.  These are all B.C. kingdoms, taking us up to the time of Jesus the Messiah, when the rock cut from the mountain comes and becomes the everlasting Kingdom of God.  Below is an image of the statue from Nebuchadnezzar's dream and its interpretations with dates:

Nebuchadnezzar is impressed with the dream interpretation and says to Daniel in verse 47: "Truly, your God is the God of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this secret."  Think Nebuchadnezzar is sincere about this?  Or, think he will be the next day?  Look how quickly he changes his mind in Chapter 3...   

In chapter 3 we read the incredible story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.  In verses 16-18 we read:  “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.   But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."  Focus on the words in verse 18 – “But even if he does not”.  Do you have the faith of these three men in God?  Even if God does not show up in your life as you hope he might, will you still have faith?  Will you not serve other gods or worship false idols?  Back to verse 16 - Do you realize that you do not have to defend your faith to others?  Do you believe that God can rescue you from the direst of situations? Even a fiery furnace?

In verse 28 we hear Nebuchadnezzar giving praise to God again - similar to chapter 2 verse 47 above: "Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king's command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God."  Are we willing to die rather than serve or worship any other "god"?  (big question I realize... but a fair one. This is happening to Christians around the world today. Please remember to pray for the persecuted church around the world.)  Below is a portrait by Guy Rowe of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who were willing to die for their faith in the True Living God rather than worship another little "g" fake god -

Worship Video: Today's readings reminded me of Phil Wickham's song "This is Amazing Grace:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBbi-cFk9R8

Have you experienced God's Amazing Grace?  Click here for Amazing Grace!

Comments from you - What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

November 25th Old Testament Readings

Daniel 1:1-2:23
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Today we start the book of Daniel, which is an incredible book!  The book of Daniel takes place in approximately 605 B.C. during the first captivity of Jerusalem by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.  Daniel is exiled to Babylon to Jerusalem in 605 B.C. - whereas Ezekiel, the prophet of the previous book, was exiled in 597 B.C.   It is generally believed that Daniel himself wrote this entire book.  Though some say that Daniel couldn't have written this book because his prophecies in the this book are spot-on.  Thus, some think someone else must have written the book in retrospect.  Let's forge ahead with the belief that Daniel indeed wrote this book.  I do believe that God can indeed prophesy events through prophets like Daniel before they actually happen...  A good overview of the book of Daniel - and the authorship questions - is online here.  Below is a painting of Daniel by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel -

~ Daniel ~
Author: Daniel
Date:  Sixth century B.C.
Content:  Daniel was carried off into captivity in Babylon as a young boy where, although he was a captive, he received an education and ultimately rose to a high position in Babylonian, and later, Persian government.  Because of his trust in God he was subjected to barbarous persecution, at one point being thrown to the lions.  Three of his compatriots were thrown into a furnace, but they too survived by the power of God.  The book deals with many historical events of Daniel’s day, but it also contains prophecies concerning the future.  Daniel saw the great world empires that were to come, but saw more than just that.  He also saw the power of God and the Messiah, Jesus, who was to come and undo the evil of this world, ultimately to establish a kingdom of righteousness that would never fade away. 
Theme: Daniel’s major theme is the sovereignty of God.  God rules over the affairs of men, directing the course of history toward his own ends, working in and through the acts of men.  The kingdoms of men rise and fall but God remains forever.  God’s will remains forever as well, and it is God’s determination to bring salvation to men by the Messiah whom he will send.  Ultimately evil will be overcome and good will triumph because God has willed it so.  (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers “The One Year Bible Companion” pp. 14-15) A wonderful commentary on the book of Daniel by Bob Deffinbaugh titled “Daring to Believe Daniel” is at this link.  Below is an engraving of Daniel by Gustaf Dore -

Daniel chapter 1 verse 7 is worth diving into to show how Nebuchadnezzar was trying to change the religious alliances of these 4 young men from Jerusalem - "The chief official renamed them with these Babylonian names:  Daniel was called Belteshazzar.  Hananiah was called Shadrach.  Mishael was called Meshach.  Azariah was called Abednego."  Daniel's name in Hebrew means "God is my Judge" - his new name Belteshazzar meant "Bel, protect his life!"  Bel, or Marduk was the main Babylonian god.  (you can see where Nebuchadnezzar was going with this...)  Hananaih's name in Hebrew is "the Lord shows grace" and Shadrach means "under the command of Aku" - the moon god....  Mishael's name in Hebrew is "who is like God?" and his new name Meshach is "who is like Aku?"  And finally Azariah's name in Hebrew is "the Lord helps" and his new name Abednego is "servant of Nego/Nebo" - the god of learning and writing.  Do you think that someone's name can be reflective of who they are?  Are names important?

Verse 8 is worth exploring - "But Daniel made up his mind not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king."  Why do you think this was?  Was Daniel just being picky?  Snooty?  Well, that was kind of my first thought.  Further study shows that the food the Babylonians were going to feed Daniel and the 3 others were sacrificed to idols.  Which is not a good thing in the Law...  And furthermore, the wine was poured out on pagan altars.  Again, not good.  So, Daniel is making a very wise move here.  Will we do things like this in our own lives?  Things that appear to be "harmless" on the surface, will we refuse, if we know they will actually be damaging to us or our relationship with God?  Even if our peers are pressuring us?  Will we not defile ourselves?

Daniel chapter 2 verse 20 has a great start to a prayer from Daniel to God - ""Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he alone has all wisdom and power."  Check out the remainder of the verses in this chapter - this prayer.  This praise.  Do we pray to God in this manner?  Do we open up our prayers with praise for God?  Do we acknowledge that only God has all wisdom and power?  Can we learn something from Daniel's prayer?

Worship Video: Today's readings remind me of Rich Mullins’ song "Creed" sung here by Third Day and Brandon Heath:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3i-_VWxOAc

Do you believe in God the Father? Click here for Belief!

Comments from you - What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

November 24th Old Testament Readings

Ezekiel 47:1-48:35
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

We finish the book of Ezekiel today!  The book of Daniel begins tomorrow!  Ezekiel chapter 47's opening verses about the River of Healing are just beautiful.  Verses 1 through 3 tell us - "Then the man brought me back to the entrance of the Temple. There I saw a stream flowing eastward from beneath the Temple threshold. This stream then passed to the right of the altar on its south side. The man brought me outside the wall through the north gateway and led me around to the eastern entrance. There I could see the stream flowing out through the south side of the east gateway. Measuring as he went, he led me along the stream for 1,750 feet and told me to go across. At that point the water was up to my ankles."

As I was reading these verses about the River of Healing I imagined myself jumping into the river and just being refreshed and renewed and restored!  Great stuff...  This river is very reminiscent of the river in the Garden of Eden - and the River of Life described in Revelation chapter 22.  Verse 9 in ch. 47 of Ezekiel sums it all up well - "Everything that touches the water of this river will live.  Fish will abound in the Dead Sea, for its waters will be healed. Wherever this water flows, everything will live."  Can you imagine this river of healing flowing from the temple?  Can you imagine some rest & restoration & refreshment & healing through this river?

Today in Ezekiel chapter 48 we read about the division of land in Ezekiel's vision, which the map below details quite well (you'll need to scroll down a bit to view it all) -

Ezekiel chapter 48's last words - and the last words in the book of Ezekiel are simply this - "And from that day the name of the city will be `The LORD Is There.'" In Hebrew this is Yahweh Shammah.   The Hebrew pronunciation of Jerusalem is Yerushalayim - which some say could be a wordplay on Yahweh Shammah.  Jerusalem = The Lord is There...

Worship Video: Today's readings remind me of Phil Wickham's song "The Day True Love Died:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL7Uo__ss7g

Do you know about the day True Love died??  Click here and learn!

Comments from you - What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

November 23rd Old Testament Readings

Ezekiel 45:13-46:24
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Ezekiel chapters 45 & 46 describe some new regulations on how offerings are to be done, when compared to the original Pentateuch regulations - primarily from Numbers chapter 28.   Apparently these chapters in Ezekiel have created some reconciliation work for rabbis in the past to figure out the proper regulations.  Chapter 45 verses 13 through 15 speak of taxes to the prince that must be brought and will be used as offerings for the people who bring them: ""This is the tax you must give to the prince: one bushel of wheat or barley for every sixty you harvest, one percent of your olive oil, and one sheep for every two hundred in your flocks in Israel. These will be the grain offerings, burnt offerings, and peace offerings that will make atonement for the people who bring them, says the Sovereign LORD."

Verse 20 in chapter 46 did stand out at me in today's readings: "He explained, "This is where the priests will cook the meat from the guilt offerings and sin offerings and bake the flour from the grain offerings into bread. They will do it here to avoid carrying the sacrifices through the outer courtyard and harming the people by transmitting holiness to them."  Per a previous chapter this goes along the lines of the priests needing to take off their clothes in a special room after being in the Temple, to avoid transmitting holiness.   This is interesting to me because you would think that transmitting holiness would be a good thing.  Apparently not in this case.  This does remind me of when Moses was on the mountain receiving the Laws, he had to wear a veil over his face amongst the people when he came down from the mountain because his face was so radiant from being in the presence of God.   I read a commentary that said this transmission of holiness, in this case in Ezekiel, was not something for the Israelites to concern themselves with, because this was a vision of a future temple.  I read another commentary that made the interesting point that these passages in Ezekiel can help demonstrate the transmission of holiness from Jesus' robe to the woman who suffered from bleeding for 12 years - see Mark 5:22-34.  She was healed by reaching out and touching Jesus' robe.  Of course Jesus says that it was the woman's faith that healed her - not her touching his robe.  It is intriguing to think about the transmission of holiness via garments or sacrifices.  I'll need to do more study on the problem of "transmitting holiness" in this case in Ezekiel.  If anyone has ideas about this, please post up in the comments section below.  Thanks.

Worship Video: Today's readings remind me of the beautiful 33 Miles song "One Life to Love:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuIloWyJNXM

How are you spending your one life to love?  Click here for Love!

Prayer Point: Pray that you crave pure spiritual milk. Pray that you are growing up in your salvation. Pray that you have tasted that the Lord is good!

Comments from you - What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

November 22nd Old Testament Readings

Ezekiel 44:1-45:12
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

In Ezekiel chapters 44 and 45 today we see the priesthood restored to Israel!  It's interesting that the Levites are taken down a notch in how they can serve in the temple and the Zadokites are elevated.  Zadok was a priest during the time of David & Solomon and a descendent of Eleazar and ultimately Aaron.  Below is a fresco of Zadok by Michelangelo from the year 1611 and is in the Capella Sistina at the Vatican in Rome:

Chapter 44, verse 28 really stood out to me today: "As to property, the priests will not have any, for I alone am their inheritance."  I like that!  God alone is the priests' inheritance.  What is our inheritance?  Is it property?  Is it things of this earth?  Or could our inheritance be God as well?  Should God be our inheritance?  How is God our inheritance?  If the Lord is not our inheritance, what then do we inherit?  The wind?  It's an age old debate as you'll see in the image above.  Where do you stand?  Can we inherit eternal life through the grace of God and faith in Jesus?  Or do we simply inherit the wind?  (Nothingness) What does your heart tell you?  Most importantly, what does the Bible tell you?

In Ezekiel chapter 45 verses 1 through 8 today we read about the division of the land for Ezekiel's temple vision.   A nice simple image for these verses is below:

Worship Video: Today's readings remind me of the Sanctus Real song "Whatever You're Doing:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vaHsFMEhf8

What is God doing inside of you?  Click here to find out!

Comments from you - What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

November 21st Old Testament Readings

Ezekiel 42:1-43:27
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Ezekiel chapter 42 continues the description of the temple in Ezekiel's vision and the dimensions.  In this chapter we learn about the rooms for the priests of the temple.  The interesting thing for me, as I was reading this chapter today, is that my mind wandered a bit and wondered if maybe somehow this was / is a heavenly temple that Ezekiel was describing?  I'm not sure.  I have so much more to learn about the temples.  But, it's interesting to think if maybe somehow we might see something like this temple in heaven?  An interesting thought at least for me to ponder.   However - the tricky thing is that in chapter 43 there are descriptions of sacrifices for the altar in this temple.  And of course Christ was the final sacrifice for our sins  - so there is no need for the old covenant sacrifices.  So, this could certainly dash my imagination of this being a heavenly temple we'll see some day.   Though - I did read somewhere that if this is a heavenly temple, the sacrifices described in chapter 43 may be "memorials" or ceremonial - but not required, as they were in the old covenant.  I don't know... fascinating stuff to ponder however!  Below is an artist's rendition of "Ezekiel's Temple":

Back to how all this might apply to our lives today.  Verse 20 in chapter 42 stood out to me: "So the area was 875 feet on each side with a wall all around it to separate the holy places from the common."   The last part of that verse stands out - to separate the holy places from the common.   I wonder about that in our lives - do we do anything that separates the holy from the common in our own lives?  Do we need to?   My thought here is that if we don't allow for some "holy places" to appear in our lives, might we just settle for common places throughout our lives?   A Holy Place for us might be 5 minutes of prayer.  Or 15 minutes of reading the Bible.  Or going to a church service.  Or listening to worship music.  Or not scheduling anything one day a week, so we can take a Sabbath day of rest.   What are you doing to create some Holy Places in your life?

Chapter 43 is incredible with God's return to the temple.  I love this verse - "And this is the basic law of the Temple: absolute holiness!"   Absolute holiness.  Okay - so this is not something we are going to see or "achieve" this side of heaven.  It's impossible for us to be absolutely holy on this earth.  Only Jesus was absolutely holy and sinless.  However, I think the call for our eternal lives is absolute holiness.  So, know that faith in Jesus will ultimately lead you in this direction - and I do believe we can grow in holiness in this life.  God's grace gives ultimate absolute holiness in heaven.  Do you want absolute holiness?  Are you moving toward absolute holiness in your life today?  Do you also realize you won't reach absolute holiness this side of heaven?   But, yet, do you still desire absolute holiness someday?

Verse 21 in this chapter is a foreshadowing of Jesus' death on the Cross at Mt. Calvary: "Then take the young bull for the sin offering and burn it at the appointed place outside the Temple area."   How does this apply to Jesus' death on a hill outside of Jerusalem's city gates?  This is best explained in Hebrews chapter 13 verses 11-13 as follows: "The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore." Powerful...  Will you walk with Jesus outside the city gates of Jerusalem?  Up to Mt. Calvary?  Will you follow Jesus all the way up that hill?

 

YouTube:  As I reflect on the ending of Schindler's List, here's the beautiful ending of the movie that I refer to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhA5GIx51Kg

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Grace, love, peace, and joy!
Mike

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