One Year Bible - November 9

EZEKIEL 20:1-49                                                                                                           

LAST WORDS: (Chap 20-23 - Last prophesies before the FALL): The Land is the Land of the Spirit, the Land of the Presence of God, the place of being in the Rest of God by faith.  (See Heb 3 and 4) To walk and talk with God any time we want. To feel His love, His strength, His mercy. And Ezekiel's people have thrown it all away. They rebelled and were idolatrous in Egypt. They rebelled in the desert, not keeping the commands or the Sabbath. The new generation was warned not to do like their fathers, but rebelled anyway, even in the Land. They did not keep the Law or the sabbath, and they became idolaters.  Now they are being scattered to the nations, where they will be WEANED from their sin. The rebels will be purged out, the others "bound" by covenant to God.  Judah will be destroyed by the fires of judgment because it is polluted. The elders hardened their hearts and told Ezekiel they couldn't understand him!  With that excuse, they avoided applying the message to themselves.

RE-GATHERED: Re-gathered, to return with Ezra and Nehemiah.  But ultimately, the re-gathering with the new heart and new spirit will happen ONLY WITH JESUS and the "everlasting covenant".

RESPONSE:   Sometimes I think I have to be hit over the head with a board before I "get it" . I can rationalize sin and justify bad behavior sometimes, and get deceived about what I'm doing. But God is faithful, and He doesn't let it go on long.  This is why it is a good idea to repent immediately because then we don't have a chance to think up a good excuse.   Also, when we delay repentance, we begin hardening our hearts. Then it takes a "hard hit" to get our attention!  We don't want sin to become habitual.  We can no longer sin with impunity, or do whatever we want any more.  We cannot act like ordinary people or go our own way.  Sin is not the same in us as it is with those who belong to the devil (2 John 3:8-10).  We will be corrected.  We are bound to God and He is bound to us.  He is our Father.

HEBREWS 9:11-28                                                                                                         
FIVE "ETERNAL'S" OF HEBREWS (exclusively):  (5:9) Eternal Salvation: Jesus was the slain Lamb in eternity and salvation was all worked out before the foundations of the earth (Rev 13:8; 1Pet 1:20; Eph 1:4, et al). That makes salvation "eternal".  Jesus' work on the cross is called "perfect" ("complete") in Hebrews 5.  Nothing more can be added to it. (6:2) Eternal judgment: For the believer, judgment has been made against Jesus on our behalf.  It is just as eternal as our salvation.  Our "works" now get judged, mostly as we go along, fleshly works burning and redemptive works bringing rewards both now and later.  These "works" are the result or evidence of salvation, not the means.  (9:12) Eternal redemption: By His Blood, Jesus made redemption for us once for all. There is no longer any need for sacrifice for our salvation.  My husband puts it like this: We owe a huge sin-debt.  Every year, the OT priests made an interest payment, but never were able to pay anything on the debt itself. Jesus picked up all the I.O.U.'s!  The debt is gone.  Jesus assumed the loss in Himself.  (9:14) Eternal Spirit:  We all know that the Holy Spirit, being God, is eternal.  The point being made here is that the Holy Spirit eternally "purges our conscience from dead works".  He removes the guilt. We go free.  God does not deal with us as guilty sinners anymore!  (9:15) Eternal inheritance: Our inheritance is NOT HEAVEN!  Heaven isn't even our reward.  It is our HOME. Our inheritance is "the Land" - which Hebrews has shown is "God's Rest by faith".  It is our call to live in God's Presence for all eternity (which is NOW).  We inherit because Jesus died, not because we have died!

"BETTER SACRIFICE": (9:23)  The OT tabernacle with its sacrificial system was just a "figure": a corresponding illustration of something invisible.  This is why Moses was cautioned to make it exactly the way God showed him.  The tabernacle was a visible representation of heaven itself!  Jesus, as our High Priest, BY HIMSELF, went once into the Holy of Holies in heaven, and placed His blood on the heavenly mercy seat for all time.  He "put away sin" - He cancelled it, disannulled it, brought it to nothing "by the sacrifice of Himself".  The "end of the world" (9:26) refers to the end of Judaism, the Temple and its rituals.  Jesus has come!  The effects of His sacrifice is eternal, making it "better" than that of bulls and goats.  Jesus was the last sacrifice.  All God's wrath was wrung out on Jesus as He hung dying on the Cross.  IT IS FINISHED!

RESPONSE:  Some people like to think that Hebrews is primarily about the "Five Warnings" against apostasy. I believe Hebrews is about the "Five Eternal's" that are found only in Hebews.  (There is another in Heb 13:20 that is found elsewhere).  I don't believe that salvation is what is at stake here in Hebrews!  It is "the Land", which chapters 3 and 4 tell us is "God's Rest" that comes as we live by faith.  Living by faith means to release the outcomes to God.  Living by faith means to place our confidence in the "eternals" of Hebrews. Ask yourself: Is Moses in heaven?  I believe so, as evidenced by his appearance on the Mount of Transfiguration (Luk 9:30).  Did he enter the Land? No. Is he still "saved"?  Of course he is. Can you be saved, but miss out on something important? I believe that's what Hebrews is all about - don't forfeit God's Rest, that comes with a life of faith.  Keep the context in mind: Hebrews is the first in the series of NT books "all about faith".  God's Rest (in this life) can be forfeited by unbelief, by "drifting away" (excuses), by fear, by ignorance.  Living in God's Presence is "better" because our inheritance is a life of freedom instead of bondage, joy for sorrow, peace for anxiety and fear, confidence in Jesus' righteousness on our behalf, knowing we are loved and blessed by God.

PSALM 107:1-43                                                                                                                

Speaking of "the Land",  here we are at the beginning of the "Deuteronomy Psalms" (107-150).  On the threshold of the Land, you would think there would be some warfare instructions, but instead, we find in Deuteronomy the word, "Remember".  In a time with no writing tablets, no television or radio, "remembering" was done orally.  We must "remember" out loud - especially today when there is too much information coming at us. Remember what?  Psa 107 says to remember how God led us to Himself, dealt with us in our spiritual growth, humbled us so we'd depend on Him, and how He protected us, to dwell in His Presence beginning right now.  Remember, this is not speaking of entering heaven - but of entering and living in God's Presence NOW, by our walk of faith.

As we come into God's Presence every moment of every day, "the sacrifice of praise" is our entrance fee - it opens our own hearts, not God's (His is already open).  Then, four times (v. 6, 13, 19, 28) it says that when they cried out to God, God delivered them from their troubles.  Did they (we) deserve it? NO!  Did they (we) work for it?  NO! Does it say that they (we) regretted their sin? NO!  But they did turn toward God when they "cried".  True repentance is when we turn from being self-sufficient and learn to lean on and depend on God. 

V. 9 says "He satisfies the longing soul, fills the hunger soul with goodness." HOW? We learn to eat and drink from Him thru our WORDS:  we praise Him "for His goodness and for His wonderful works."  V. 17 tells us that all unbelief is foolishness.  It is considered rebellion against God's eternal purpose for us (v. 11) to reflect Himself in the earth in order to glorify God. When we behave like fools, God allows us to come to the end of ourselves - all the while luring us toward Him. "God's goodness leads us to repentance." (Rom 2:4)

PROVERBS 27:11                                                                                                          
Children who pursue God are a credit to their parents and to their upbringing.

RESPONSE: Isn't it something that as parents, we like to take credit for our children doing things we are proud of. When they do foolish things, then we make excuses for ourselves, letting the children take the full blame for their bad behavior.  I am glad that God does not cast me off when I "screw up".

One Year Bible - November 8

EZEKIEL 18:1 - 19:14                                                                                                        INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTABILITY:  "Behold, all souls are Mine."  Not just "in general", but in particular.  And "The soul who sins is the one who will die." A just man, refusing impurity and unrighteousness, etc.: if his son is a sinner and an idolater, committing abominations, the father will "live" and his son shall "die".  OR the father is wicked and an idolater, and his son takes warning and repents, embracing righteousness and justice. The son will not die for the iniquity of his father, but shall surely "live". But his father shall "die" for his own sin.  Suppose a sinner turns from all his sins and submit to God? (18:21-23) His sin shall not be remembered against him.  (See also Heb 8:12 & Heb 10:17)  Suppose the righteous turn away from his righteousness and commit iniquity and abominations? (v.24)  His past righteousness will NOT be remembered and he shall die in his sin.

GOD IS NOT FAIR!   So they say.  They want their righteous deeds remembered, and their sin forgotten.  Or if their fathers are "saved", they think they should be considered saved too! But God judges us individually, not collectively or genetically.

REPENT! (18:30-32)  The obedience of faith results in life, disobedience produces death.  Obedience is the outward manifestation that there is true spiritual life inside!  It is a sign of a "new heart and a new spirit".  ONLY JESUS and the "everlasting covenant" can produce such a thing as a new nature, and with it, obedience.  Our part is to cling to Him.

FALLEN LEADERS:  Jehoahaz and Jehoiachim are the only legitimate leaders since Josiah, and they were carried away captive where they were caged like animals.  Zedekiah (puppet king), is a usurper in Ezekiel's eyes, and needs to repent because he will shortly share their fate.  The "strong branches" were all broken - there are no more left to sit on David's throne. Fire has consumed the Land and its fruit.  It was not because of weakness that the "lions" fell; nor by reason of strength that Egypt and Babylon prevailed. God's elect turned from righteousness to sin, and now they pay the consequences in captivity and death. The Scepter (dominion) lives in a "dry and thirsty land" and will return in power, just a surely as He died in weakness.

RESPONSE:   It appears from what these Scriptures say, that salvation and deliverance are NOT a question of birth or ethnicity.  We each stand or fall on our own faith.  And that it doesn't matter how we begin our race, but rather how we end up.

I bring this up because Ezekiel looks suspiciously like Hebrews in places. They were actually writing to the same crowd!  In NT Hebrews, Jerusalem and the Temple was about to be destroyed and burned AGAIN (70 AD)!  Ezekiel's crowd had turned their backs on God, and the NT crowd had killed Him!  Both generations are warned to repent and keep moving forward with God.  Both are warned that their own way of doing things, the impersonal, idolatrous, adulterous abominations that substituted for real relationship to God - - - were all about to crash and burn.

HEBREWS 9:1-10                                                                                                         
"TIME OF REFORMATION":  (9:10)  We are coming up on the 4th "warning" in Hebrews against allowing our hearts grow cold toward God. It is possible to get so hard that it's almost impossible to get back to God - or even want to.  Even when we sin, even when we don't feel like it, even when we don't think we're saved any more - - - we are encouraged to repent and "turn" because what God has done for us and in us, is ETERNAL.  It's not that we don't GET TO get saved over again; it's that we don't NEED TO. The reason we don't NEED TO is that Jesus, our "better priest", has initiated a "better covenant", with "better promises", and a "better hope".

"ETERNAL REDEMPTION":  When something is "eternal", it has originated in the heart of God and it is not effected by what I do or don't do.  All of God's wrath was poured out on Jesus on the Cross.  God is not mad at me when I sin!  According to Heb 8:12 and 10:17 He doesn't even think about it!

"Example, shadow, pattern, figure, type": These are all pictures that represent something invisible.  These must be true pictures, as they represent spiritual things, things in heaven.  Our whole Old Testament falls into this category, because Jesus Himself said that everything in it is a figure or a type of Him (Luke 24:27).  Heb 8-10 tells us that the Tabernacle of Moses was patterned after heaven itself!

ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE TABERNACLE:  First of all the Ark of the covenant is a picture of Jesus: gold-plated humanity (Son of God, Son of Man).  Its contents: the Law, Aaron's rod, and the manna - all representing man's rebellion from God, from authority, and from God's provision.  A lid, called a Mercy-seat, was put over it, and then it was covered with blood - its contents never to be seen again!  The Holy of Holies, the innermost room where the Ark was kept, represented the Presence of God.  Note, the high priest could go into God's Presence once a year - and it wasn't for fellowship, but to apply the blood against God's wrath.  And even that "could not make him that did the service perfect." (v.9).  This had to be done every year - because their sin was COVERED, not REMOVED.

RESPONSE:   Our sin has been REMOVED, not just COVERED by the "better blood" of Jesus (12:24). 2 Cor 3:7 calls the Law the "ministration of death" and 2 Cor 3:9 calls it the "ministration of condemnation".  Yet, many of us still try to "be good", as if it will earn us something with God.  Hebrews is written to people like us, who need to understand that Jesus has initiated the New Covenant - that it contains all the "better" things listed in Hebrews. Discard the "old wineskin", and quit trying to restore it!  Our "time of reformation" HAS COME!  This refers to my whole Christian life!  The way into the Holy of Holies has been opened - and I can worship God face-to-face.

PSALM 106:32-48                                                                                                                  
This is the last "Numbers" Psalm (Psa 90-106). Psa 106 covers the Exodus to the Babylonian captivity, and reveals to us that not one lesson was learned; and that even tho Israel failed and disobeyed, God is still faithful and full of mercy.

SOMETHING SCAREY: We all know the story in Numbers 20:8-13:  It is the second time in the Wilderness that there was no water.  Against God's instructions, Moses struck the Rock to get water for the people, when God had already told him to speak to the Rock this time. Disobedience is outward evidence of unbelief.  But what really bothers me is that Psa 106:33 says that Moses disqualified himself because "he spoke unadvisedly with his lips."  In the original language, it means that Moses spoke without thinking - because he was mad!  And over in 1 Cor 9:27 Paul says that at that instant, Moses was "a castaway" - someone who had disqualified himself for the the Land, which is "God's Rest" (see Heb 3-4). Getting angry and blowing up disqualifies us for God's Rest of faith.  It manifests unbelief and self-reliance, that's why.

IDOLS, DEMONS & DEVILS:  Reading the rest of Psa 106, taking in 37-39, we find that God has equated idols with devils, and both of these were equated to "playing the harlot" - or worshipping substitutes and counterfeits for God. V. 41-42 says that the end result is that they were ruled by people who hated them.  "NEVERTHELESS"...... God loved them anyway and relented.

PROVERBS 27:10                                                                                                    
Never forget someone who has been a long-time friend to your family. They are actually worth more to you than a blood relative who keeps his distance. We have all experienced Christian brothers and sisters of "like precious faith" (2Pet 1:1) who are closer to us than our actual family members, who might not be born again.

Our family has such a friend. When we were children (6 of us), we lived on a farm out in the countryside, 4 miles from town. A Christian family who lived even further from town, befriended us, eventually leading our mother to the Lord for salvation. From that point on, the two mothers became friends for the next 50 years! They met to pray at least once a week, praying for one another's children to be born again, etc. They upheld one another in encouragement, strengthening, correction, comfort, teaching, etc. etc. Of course, we kids all benefited because we always had a ride to church, to youth activities, and vacation Bible school. Although both women are close to 90 years old, they maintain contact to this day. We consider this friend like part of our immediate family.

One Year Bible - November 7

EZEKIEL 16:43 - 17:24                                                                                                
HARLOTS & WHOREDOMS: Israel's "lovers" (those countries she "slept with" instead of seeking help from God) will turn on her and devour her in the end (Rev 16-17).  Israel's behavior exceeded that of her "relatives", Sodom and Samaria, whom God already destroyed!  The reversal of their captivity would come through Jesus.  We need a NEW NATURE to "cure" us of whoredoms (fulfilling our deep hungers with substitutes for God).  The cure is by the "everlasting covenant" of grace. (16:60 - which Hebrews tells us is a covenant for the CHURCH)  But, even Israel can be restored!  In Christ, there is no ethnicity, no gender, no class distinction. Gal 3:27-28.

NEBUCHADNEZZAR, THE GREAT EAGLE: EGYPT, THE SECOND EAGLE.  Nebuchadnezzar represents Babylon, the world-spirit of antichrist. God holds Israel guilty for turning to Egypt in order to get out of Babylon. This is like using the power of the flesh and the natural world to "free us" from bondage we are already in.  Any time we look for power or information from anywhere other than God, you may be assured that there are strings attached.

RESPONSE: Any time we trust the "cosmos" to deliver us, there is a price to pay.  The "cosmos" is the world-system (represented by Egypt and by Babylon) ruled by an antichristian spirit and driven by desire; it is in alienation from and in opposition to God.  These are substitutes and counterfeits for God.  What is it that I want so bad that I am willing to sin to get it?  Everything I need is to be found in God, through Christ Jesus.  God calls us harlots for seeking "outside" help!  Loving or coveting the "things of the world" will put us in opposition to God.  This is one of the justifications for destruction that God gave Ezekiel!   WE NEED A NEW NATURE that hates sin and delights in God.  The consequences of sin should drive me toward God.  Running to Egypt for comfort and relief is placing myself smack-dab in the clutches of the enemy!  Run to God!  He guarantees that He will give us enough of Himself to satisfy us and keep us close (Jer 31:25).  Call on Him! He will come and stand before you!  Thank Him that you can trust Him.  It is a sin to attempt to find a substitute for God.

HEBREWS 8:1-13                                                                                                             
AN AMAZING DECLARATION!  Verse 12 contains an incredible statement: "their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more."   Under the New Covenant of the "Melchizedek/Jesus" priesthood, our sins are not remembered.  Jesus paid the price for our sin: past, present and future, on the cruel cross.  Remember, when Jesus died, ALL our sin was future!  The old way, the way of the Law (what WE have to do), not only remembered our sin, but it was impossible to conquer that sin or to change us in any way!  It only addressed the outward, external behavior, but never the origin of the sin - my heart!  This is what makes our new priesthood better: we don't live to satisfy the law any more!  If we sin, we are already forgiven. 

WHO ARE THESE PROMISES FOR?  The Church. This chapter is quoted from Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Hebrews 8 is PROOF that the "New Covenant" is for the Church, not just Israel.  In Luke 22:20 Jesus said, "This cup is the new testament (covenant) in my blood, which is shed for you."  The new covenant or testament was inaugurated by the Blood of Jesus and secured the "remission of sins" (Mat 26:28). The promise given in the new covenant is that the revealed will of God (His "laws" and commands) is "written in our hearts".  It becomes an INTERNAL work.  We do God's will because we want to. The living God inside of us is bringing forth Life in us, as opposed to the death that worked in us under the Law (2Co 3:7). 

**MOST IMPORTANT **WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE SIN? The whole point being made here is that we don't go back and start over again when we fall.  We get up, knowing God's grace is still with us, His forgiveness, His power and His love and His fellowship and His approval are still with us, His enablement to live for Him is still in us. Because He "remembers our sins and our law-breaking no more".  Why do we repent then?  Because when we sin, we are rebelling from the Truth.  We are turning our backs on God's love and enablement.  REPENTANCE is the means by which we put our own independence behind us and cling to God. ... return to God as the Source of Life.   As we "turn" (OT word for "repent) from our substitutes and counterfeits, and turn toward God, this is repentance. It is a process of retraining my heart away from independence, arrogance, insensitivity and self-sufficiency, so that I am free to rest in faith.  Abandon all the substitutes and counterfeits. ("Return to Me.....and put your abominations out of My sight." Jer 4:1)  We can have confidence before God because Jesus has truly done it all.  Whenever we find our focus on ourselves and on what we do, we have gone backward into our old covenant ways and need to repent - turn our focus back on Jesus and what He has already done.   Remember, if it walks like a duck (law), talks like a duck, and looks like a duck, it's a duck!  Don't fall for it - if the focus is on people, it is NOT GOD'S GRACE. 

RESPONSE:  No wonder "Gospel" means "Good News".  Somehow we've made it the "Bad News" because now we can't sin and enjoy it!  The truth is that sin is only enjoyable "for a season" (Heb 11:25) - and then "the law of diminishing returns" kicks in, and it isn't any fun any more.  In fact, sin has the power to bring us under its dominion (1 Co 6:12; Rom 6:16). The Truth is that we don't have to sin any more!   It isn't that we don't get to.  Anything outside of God lacks the ability to satisfy us, fulfill us, or keep us contented.

If we sin, God picks us up, we repent of not availing ourselves of the grace that was available to not sin, and keep moving forward.  We must be GOD-conscious, not SIN-conscious.  Back in high school, when I took typing, we were instructed that when we made a typing error, to immediately dismiss it from our minds; otherwise we would keep making errors.  We tend to gravitate to whatever we focus ourselves on.  Staying focused on God and His power and His grace and His goodness toward us - keeps us from sinning in the first place!

PSALM 106:13-31                                                                                                       
This is the last "Numbers" Psalms (Psa 90-106). Psa 106 covers the Exodus to the Babylonian captivity, and reveals to us that not one lesson was learned; and that even tho Israel failed and disobeyed, God is still faithful and full of mercy.

PRESUMPTION : Verses 13-15 give us the "inside scoop" on what it is like to demand our own way when God has something else in mind for us. As Christians, we can have whatever we want; everything is "legal" for us (1Co 6:12; 1Co 10:23). We hear people talk about "the permissible will of God" all the time!  But is there really such a thing?  In Numbers 11 the people complained that they were tired of manna and wanted meat.  They whined and cried until God gave them the quail - knee-deep and coming out their noses!  God gave them what they wanted!  "but sent leanness into their soul".  The literal meaning is that they "self-destructed; they shrank until there was nothing left". Their glory was consumed. (see vs. 20) They no longer lived up to their calling; they couldn't because they were a whining, rebellious people. They had turned aside.  When we press God for something we think we really want, we should be sure it isn't quail! (presumption - something God gives us because we whine).

WHEN WE AREN'T CONTENT WITH WHAT GOD GIVES US: Numbers 25 tells us that Israel "committed whoredoms" with outsiders of the church (people in the world). That is, they went to a substitute or a counterfeit instead of what God had already provided for them.  When we substitute offerings for faithfulness, or food for prayer, or anything else that gives us temporary comfort, insight, strength, power, etc. - God views that as spiritual adultery.  We are "cheating" on Him!  In this particular case, the Israelites even worshipped the same gods as their spouses and ate the fruit of their worship! (Psa 106:28)  It so provoked God that He started killing them with plague (sin & death)!  One couple, in particular, dragged their "issues" into God's face in the church, and when the high priest (Phinehas) saw them, he ran a spear thru both of their bellies and killed them . . . and that stopped the plaque, but not before 24,000 had died.  Sin is costly - it cost Jesus His life.

PROVERBS 27:7-9                                                                                                               
Sometimes when we hear the Gospel over and over again, we can become jaded. When that happens, we must refresh ourselves in God's Presence. Rehearse out loud all God's goodness and greatness until the honeycomb tastes good again. Thank Him. Gratitude will keep us from complaining and leaving the nest.  Remember how it was before we knew God - always hungry and never satisfied.

RESPONSE: Many years ago, I was complaining to God about living up North where it snows in winter. I wanted to live on the beach where there are palms trees and sand. I complained and complained. That summer, my husband and I drove to the beach in Gulf Shores, Alabama for vacation. We planned to look at houses and job possibilities while we were there. As we travelled down the highway that intersects with the beach road, we stopped and picked up job applications.  Just before we got to our turn-off, we saw a huge billboard outside a restaurant. On it was a picture of a quail! The sign said, "Quail! All you can eat!"  No one had to interpret the real meaning of that billboard. We stopped and took pictures of it because we thought it was so funny, but we didn't complete any job applications. I repented of my complaining and reminded myself of God's faithfulness and God's goodness to me.