NOW I KNOW

Today’s Reading: Daniel 3-4

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

The Jewish historian Josephus called this a “most magnificent palace” that Herod the Great built on a promontory jutting out into the water. The pool in the centre was nearly Olympic in size and was filled with fresh water. A statue once stood in the centre. Paul may have been imprisoned on the grounds of this palace (Acts 23:35). Caesarea Maritima is a national park on Israel’s coastline. These ruins are a monument to the fourth empire in Daniel’s interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, Rome (Daniel 2:40). The two young Israelis in the picture have probably heard of Daniel’s prophecies in Hebrew Bible studies, which continue throughout all the years of formal education in Israel.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: Daniel 3:17-18

If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.

King Nebuchadnezzar, in today’s reading, is progressing toward an understanding that there is only One true God. In chapter two he confesses, “Truly your God is the God of gods” (Daniel 2:47). All four emperors in Nebuchadnezzar’s first dream thought they were gods to be worshipped. Today’s reading (Daniel 3), describing the image of Nebuchadnezzar made of gold and his command to worship his idol, shows that he was probably the most proud one of them all. After the miracle of the preservation of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in the fiery furnace, the king moved another step closer to the truth. This time he confesses, “There is no other god who can deliver like this” (Daniel 3:29b). Nevertheless, he still believes there are other gods.

In Daniel 4 we read of another dream and another interpretation by Daniel. Babylonian records have a seven-year blank in the history of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign. He lost his mind for that period of time, and then he recorded his return to sanity with these words, “My understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honoured Him who lives forever!” (Daniel 4:34). He reassumed his throne and confessed, “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honour the God of Heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. Those who walk in pride He is able to abase” (Daniel 4:37).

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, You are the One and only God! I pray that You will reveal to me more and more of Who You are. As the book of Hebrews tells me, the one “who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6b). So I come to You and ask for the reward of knowing You with greater understanding (my mind) and deeper experience (my heart). I pray this in the Name of the One who is in Himself, “the Image of the invisible God!” Jesus Christ (Messiah). Amen!!! (read Colossians 1:15-22).

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I grew up listening to Bible stories. In grade seven I did a huge mural on the wall of our classroom featuring the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon was one of those wonders. In my imagination I saw Nebuchadnezzar proudly strutting along the parapets of the gardens saying, “Is not this great Babylon I have built…” (Daniel 4:30a) and then humbled for the seven years of mental collapse, roaming around those gardens eating grass. I’ve since discovered that while much of Babylon has been excavated by archeologists, there is no evidence that such a garden ever existed. Of course, it’s in the writings of the later Greek authors, not in the Bible. In this blog I’ve quoted the words of King Nebuchadnezzar, recorded in the Bible, about his understanding of the true God. I want to invite you to consider the words of a prayer by a present-day ruler, President Museveni of Uganda. Many Ugandan leaders believe that the “Unity” message of the “World Embrace” ministry featured in this blog yesterday is an answer to their leader’s prayer (click here for his prayer, the audio is indistinct, but the words are written so we can read his prayer). The former dictator, Idi Amin, who murdered huge numbers of his own people, was Muslim, and today Uganda is holding back the tide of Islam that threatens to engulf the rest of Africa. Let us pray fervently for the Ugandan people and its President.

Yours with the prayer that more and more world leaders will acknowledge the true God!!!

David

P.S. Please don’t think of Uganda as a collection of mud and grass huts. Its cities are modern and its government apparatus very sophisticated. Below is a photo taken in the capital city of Kampala, population 1.2 million.

FOUR GOOD MEN

Today’s Reading: Daniel 1-2

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

Among the ruins of Ephesus is one of the largest ancient amphitheatres in existence today. The four great empires of today’s reading, including the one that built this gigantic structure, have come and gone. The Kingdom established by God through His Son, Jesus Christ (Messiah), remains forever!

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: Daniel 2:19-20

Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His.”

Daniel, an outstanding man of God, served as a leader over the entire 70 year period of Babylonian/Persian captivity. He represented the true God so well that the emperors acknowledged the God of Israel as GOD as a result of Daniel’s ministry. This Old Testament book can only be compared with the New Testament book of Revelation for its prophetic content. God is “forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His!” (2:20).

Daniel chapter one singles out four young Hebrew men for their excellence of character. The king’s assessment, as a result of his interview with them, was that they were 10 times more qualified than the others. This provides a challenge for us to be people of excellence!

Chapter two moves us directly into the recognition that God alone knows the secrets of the human heart, and He alone can reveal that which people on their own can never know. Daniel pulls back the curtain and writes of four great empires. The current Babylonian one, and the Persian, Greek, and Roman empires yet to come. The confession of King Nebuchadnezzar in 2:47 is astonishing. This proud Emperor fell prostrate on his face and declared to Daniel, “Truly your God is the God of gods, and the Lord of kings!” From Daniel we learn to bring our witness for God into the culture, into government and into everyday life. This is happening today in the country called by Winston Churchill “the Pearl of Africa,” Uganda (more details tomorrow).

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I bow before You in recognition that You are my King! Rule and reign in my life, I pray. Reveal Yourself to me as I read Your Word and pray each day. Grant me, I ask, understanding and the wisdom to apply Your Word to my life in practical ways that will bless, not only me, but all those with whom I come into contact. I pray this in the Name of the One who did this at all times, Jesus Christ. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I want to thank my sons with all my heart for their participation in this blog. I’ve mentioned before that Ron helps me (I’m semi-illiterate in computers) by formatting and posting the blog each day, every day. Tomorrow, God willing, I’ll try to connect readers with a prayer from Uganda’s President. This illustrates, as did Nebuchadnezzar’s experience, that, as a result of strong prayers and faith, God gets through to heads of state.

Yours for the fulfillment of God’s purposes in our time as demonstrated in their time by those four young men in today’s reading,

David

PETER

Today’s Reading: 2 Peter 1-3

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

Along with many Christian symbols, statues and art, Rome also displays many gods. Here is a statue of Neptune (and a disrespectful seagull!). We may contrast the myth of “the sea god” with the One whom Peter calls “Our God and Saviour Jesus Christ!” Peter writes these words, “We did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty” (2 Peter 1:16).

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: 2 Peter 1:15-16

And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things. For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

Peter sets out his intentions in writing this letter in the very first verse. He writes to “those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ [Messiah].” He makes it totally clear that he believes Jesus Christ is fully God! He continues throughout all three chapters by referring to Jesus as “Lord” eleven times! This is the Name for God used hundreds of times in Peter’s Bible, our Old Testament.

In 2 Peter 1, the Apostle states his total confidence in “the prophetic Word.” We’ve just completed Ezekiel, and tomorrow we’ll begin in Daniel (prophetic words). I’m sure we would have Peter’s approval for our Bible reading discipline.

In 2 Peter 2, Peter is very strong in his warnings about false teachers who prey on Christians. He uses the example of the false prophets that we’ve encountered over and over in our Old Testament readings to alert us to these dangers to our never-dying souls.

In 2 Peter 3, this first-hand witness to the glory of God in the Lord Jesus (he was present at the transfiguration – Matthew 17:1-8) now states the fact that “the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night” (3:10a). He writes of our “beloved brother Paul” whose writings the “untaught and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures” (3:16).

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus Christ, my God and Saviour, I pray that as I read the Scriptures, the “precious faith” (first verse) of which Peter writes will grow in me as the last statement Peter writes encourages me. Grant the grace, the gift of daily discipline in studying Your Word, so that I will consistently “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (3:18). In His strong Name I pray. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

The Bible College from which I graduated, Eastern Pentecostal Bible College (now known as Masters College and Seminary), had a theme chorus which we students would often sing, including these words: “The Word of God! We’ll stand upon the Word of God! Though the foes of the Lord will scorn His Word, WE’LL STAND UPON THE WORD OF GOD!!!” My heart thrills as I sing it (under my breath because it’s still very early in the morning). In fact, after 6 a.m. I’ll go for a walk, find a place where I can raise my voice, and sing loudly!

Yours for paying close attention to the powerful words written by the Apostle Peter,

David

P.S. I often think of the words of Peter and Jesus as spoken by the actors in the Son of God movie. Peter asks Jesus, “What are we going to do?” Jesus responds with these words, “CHANGE THE WORLD!!!” It’s St. Patrick’s day! He was a simple yet powerful world changer for Jesus who used the shamrock to teach the Trinity.

THE PRINCE

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 46-48

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

The view of Jericho from half-way up the Mount of Temptation. Jericho is located at the junction of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea and is 1,200 feet below Sea Level. It is an oasis in an otherwise harsh wilderness, because of fresh water springs which give abundant life. Ezekiel prophesies that this area will flourish during the time of the final Temple (yet future), because of a new river of water which will flow from Jerusalem into the valley of what we now know as the Dead Sea. Imagine a river flowing along the valley seen on the right of Reynold’s photograph (Ezekiel 47:8-9).

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: Ezekiel 47:22, 48:35

…you will divide it [the land]…for yourselves and for the strangers who sojourn among you and who bear children among you. They shall be to you as native born…All the way around shall be eighteen thousand cubits; and the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE!

Ezekiel 46 tells us five times of “The Prince!” Isaiah calls Him “Prince of Peace,” (Isaiah 9:6) and during His reign as Messiah King, there will be total peace. Here and now He brings “peace on earth” (the message to the shepherds at the birth of Jesus), and read about how He brings peace to the troubled soul in the present (Ephesians 2:13-18).

Ezekiel 47 describes the final Temple to be built in Jerusalem, serving the whole world during the final 1,000 years before the new heaven and the new earth, of which Peter writes (we move over to Second Peter in tomorrow’s reading).

Ezekiel 48 describes the distribution of land and includes the “stranger” (non-Jew). The departments of immigration in our various countries could learn God’s plan for caring for everyone whom He cares for equally. Seven times in today’s reading we read of lands that “belong to the Prince.” We have something in Canada called “Crown Land.” In theory it belongs to Queen Elizabeth 2 (translate that as government). We may have temporary title to land, but the real owner of all is “The Prince!”

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, You were so concerned with every detail of the Temple construction and use. Surely You are even more concerned with the temple in whom You dwell in this age. Paul taught that I am Your temple (1 Corinthians 6:19). Be in charge of this human temple, I pray! I ask You this in the Name of the One “In Whom dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:8-10), Jesus Christ (Messiah). Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

My wife, Norma-Jean, has told me several times that she expects Israel to build a wall between the Dome of the Rock (a Muslim shrine on the Temple mount for the last 1,300 years) and the actual location of the Temple Holy Place and the Holy of Holies, so that a new Temple can be built. She has actually paced out the space. She claims there’s room there for a Temple to be built beside the mosque. Maybe? That land is a fuse waiting for someone to ignite it, launching what could be World War III. The Eastern Gate in Jerusalem’s wall, blocked up by the Muslims, leads directly into the core of what once was the Temple.

My sons (who help me with this blog) and I walked from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea. Jerusalem is 2,500 feet above Sea Level and the Dead Sea is 1,300 feet below. I imagined the rush of the waters spoken of in Ezekiel 47, coursing down the valleys beside the road (someone captured on video a rush of water down to the Dead Sea after a rain in the Judean hills…click here). My imagination and ability to use words which paint a picture is not nearly as descriptive as those of Ezekiel. Today is the last reading for now in Ezekiel.

Yours for communicating, in as many ways as possible, the Gospel message,

David

THE FOREVER TEMPLE

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 44-45

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

Rev. Rick Hiebert teaches how the High Priest would apply blood (he’s not using real blood) to the horns of the altar in a full-sized replica of the Tabernacle of Moses. This has been on display behind the Crossroads Centre in Burlington for two entire summers, 1997 and 2012. Moses, and in today’s reading, Ezekiel, both spell out carefully, and in great detail, the importance of approaching God correctly with great reverence.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: Ezekiel 44:4-5

Also He brought me by way of the north gate to the front of the temple; so I looked, and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord; and I fell on my face. And the Lord said to me, “Son of man, mark well, see with your eyes and hear with your ears, all that I say to you concerning all the ordinances of the house of the Lord and all its laws. Mark well who may enter the house and all who go out from the sanctuary…”

Jesus Christ (Messiah) replaced all the symbolism of the Tabernacle, and later the Temple, with ultimate reality. The essential message of the entire book of Hebrews teaches us this eternal truth (read Hebrews 9:11-28). The last Jerusalem Temple was destroyed just 40 years after Jesus entered the Holy of Holies in Heaven with His own blood, the final Sacrifice for sin. The modern state of Israel has been a reality for almost 70 years now and there has been no attempt by the government or by the chief religious leaders to rebuild the Temple. Some fringe groups are trying to move Israel in that direction, but they have no authority to do so. Approximately 40 years after Ezekiel wrote the final words of his book, Ezra, under the authority of the Persian emperor, would follow the instructions given by God to Moses, David, Solomon, and Ezekiel, and rebuild a Temple, which, during the first century B.C., Herod would restore, enlarge, and beautify. This was the Temple in the time of Jesus. Jewish believers in Jesus would worship in this Temple, observing their Jewish feasts and customs up until its destruction by the Romans.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I thank You for Jesus, my High Priest, who brought His own blood, which He shed on the Cross, before You as the final Sacrifice for my sin. Oh sacrificial Lamb of God, my Saviour, I worship in that forever Tabernacle/Temple in Your Presence right now! I pray that I will, by Your grace, remain faithful, remaining in Your Presence with an attitude of repentance and worship 24/7. I pray in the Name of the One Who is “able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He ever lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I’m singing (under my breath as people are still sleeping) the magnificent worship hymn, “I will praise Him. Praise the Lamb for sinners slain. Give Him glory all you people, for His blood has washed away each stain” (click here for a rendition). I’m worshipping in God’s “FOREVER” Temple!

I have a suggestion for younger people. Buy Grandma and Grandpa a laptop computer and teach them, if they don’t already know how, to use it. My daughter and son-in-law, Elaine and Bruce Stacey, got me started with a gift of my first laptop. And Grandma and Grandpa, why not buy, if you are able, one of these ultra fast, easy to carry, laptops and present it to a grandchild, providing they promise to access regularly God’s Holy Scriptures. Have them turn on the computer and show you how they can find the Bible online. You could ask them to access 100words.ca, and there, by clicking the spot at the top of this page, they can hear the reading of the Scriptures by an excellent reader. The day after tomorrow we’ll be in 2 Peter, and then into the book of Daniel. With just 10 minutes a day, a person can start at any time and complete God’s Word to His human family in 24 months with the encouragement of this blog!!!

Yours for actually reading, or hearing, all that God has to tell us in His written Word!

David

GOD’S TEMPLES

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 41-43

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

Looking towards the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, you can see an entrance where visitors can go deep into King Solomon’s Quarries, also known as Zedekiah’s Cave. The stones for Solomon’s Temple are believed to have been hewn from this quarry around 970 BC (1 Kings 6:1). As evident in today’s reading, God pays careful attention to detail when giving instructions in the construction of His temples.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: Ezekiel 43:5

The Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple.

Twenty-five years had passed since the first captives were brought to Babylon from Jerusalem, and approximately ten years since the magnificent Temple built by Solomon had been totally destroyed. Ezekiel’s vision of a new Temple must have brought much-needed encouragement to the Jewish exiles. Daniel, who became governor of one-third of the Persian empire, would have read Ezekiel’s writings and perhaps had these words in mind as he opened his window three times each day and prayed while looking in the direction of Jerusalem (Daniel 6:10-13). No doubt the content of Daniel’s prayers would have included the rebuilding of the Temple and the return of the glory of the Lord to the Jerusalem Temple. A suggested New Testament reading could be Hebrews 9:6-28.

We, as believers in Jesus, the One of whom John wrote, should be able to say with John, “We beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father” (John 1:14b). In Scripture, we are called God’s temples in which He dwells (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). God, who pays such close attention to the details of a building as described by Ezekiel, surely pays close attention to the building of His human temples. God has a design blueprint for our individual lives, His temples!!!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, You have a plan for my life, and You are in the construction business. I welcome You to take complete charge of my life, Your temple. I pray that as a “living stone” I’ll not walk away from You as You place me where You want me (read 1 Peter 2:4-7). Lord Jesus, You are the “Chief Cornerstone,” and I pray in Your Name. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I’ve had the privilege of visiting some of the great cathedrals of Europe, marvelling at the overall grandeur and also at the amazing attention to detail. The sculptures depicting Bible stories are everywhere. These visuals taught Bible stories to generations of people who were unable to read the Scriptures for themselves. I think that the construction of the Jerusalem Temples had the same visual purpose. As a 10 and 11-year-old boy, I had a job after school delivering letterhead stationery to Members of Parliament in Ottawa. The print shop would pay me a few cents for each delivery. Up the elevators and down the bannisters I would go, all the time learning from the amazing features of the buildings and sculptures which taught me some of the history of Canada.

Yours for following God’s detailed plans for all His temples, including each one of us,

David

GOG?

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 38-40

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

You can see one of the main entrances to what was the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The three closed arches were once open for the public to go in and out from the Temple courtyard. The religion that calls itself Islam now controls the Temple Mount. One wonders, when considering today’s reading of prophecies yet to be fulfilled, what will become of this ancient Jewish centre of the worship of the true God.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: Ezekiel 38:18

“And it will come to pass at the same time, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,” says the Lord God, “that My fury will show in My face.”

It seems obvious that the prophecies of today’s reading are yet in the future. The geographical and political indications are that Gog, Rosh, Meshek and Tubal are the lands north of Israel. That could be a combination of modern Syria, Turkey, Ukraine, and Russia. Russia has demonstrated its willingness to move its armies into Ukraine a little while back, seizing the region of Crimea. Now its military is on the borders of Israel in Syria. Could this be an indicator of what is to come with these powers continuing to move south, eventually attacking the modern state of Israel? Whatever the intentions of the nations mentioned in Ezekiel’s prophecy, it should be clear to Bible readers that God will come down on the side of His ancient people, Israel. Vladimir Putin, leader of Russia, said in an interview that he reads the Bible as he travels from place to place. God only knows if he has read Ezekiel 38 and 39, or perhaps he has read Revelation 20:7-15. Prophecy, yet to be fulfilled, is much more difficult to understand because we can’t read about it in history, as is the case of so much already-fulfilled prophecy. We should be very careful lest we be carried away with speculation. Chapter 40 is filled with amazing word pictures which underline the importance of our worship of God.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I know from Scripture that You are for individual people and families, but I read today that You will be against certain national entities in the future. I pray for Vladimir Putin as an individual and for his family. I pray for the leaders of Ukraine, and, in particular, for the people of Crimea. Bring peace and, most of all, Your Message of eternal salvation to these precious people. God, Your Word tells us that You: “So loved the world that [You] gave [Your] only begotten Son” (John 3:16). His Name is Jesus, and it’s in His Name I pray. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

As the leader of the Crossroads Ministries in the past, I was excited to place two television series on national TV networks in the USSR (Russia and 14 other republics). They were 13 episodes of The Crossroads Creation Series and 22 episodes of Kingdom Adventure (a production for children). These releases were a first for these officially atheistic states. A missions group led by Hannu Hauka of Finland did the voice translations into the Russian language. Crossroads was recently involved in an outreach mission to precious orphans in Ukraine. These involvements touch my heart deeply as I hear the current newscasts and as I read about the future in tomorrow’s headlines here in Ezekiel. In today’s reading, we discover the time it would take to cleanse the land after the battle (mentioned three times in verses 12 to16). As a young student, I worked for a summer at Atomic Energy of Canada. Many people were employed in “cleansing” the reactor in Building 100, where there had been a serious spill of radioactive material. The cleansing of the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan after the nuclear bombing resembled the efforts which will be made by Israel to cleanse the land. I can’t help but wonder if a form of atomic weapons will be used in the battle described in our reading.

Yours for “Holy conduct and godliness” (Read 2 Peter 3:10-13 which looks like a nuclear holocaust),

David

AHA!

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 36-37

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

Mary and Joseph gazing upon the little One of whom it was written by the Prophet Micah (5:2) more than 100 years before Ezekiel’s prophecies, “But you, Bethlehem …. out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth have been from old, from everlasting!” I checked the dictionary this morning for the word “aha” found in 36:2 and here’s what I read, “Aha, so that’s your secret plan!” Jesus is the greatest “Aha” revelation in human history.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: Ezekiel 36:26-27

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

Twenty-five times in today’s reading Ezekiel quotes God saying,”I will.” The fulfillment of these prophecies is still decades away in the restoration and rebuilding of Israel under the leadership of Ezra, Nehemiah, and a dozen prophets whose short books we’ll read by the time we complete our readings on June 2nd. When God says, “I WILL!!!” and when people pay attention and co-operate with Him in deliberate, obedient, positive action, good things happen!

Ezekiel 36 states what God will do and we know from history that these good things happened. Verse 31 tells us what the people would do as a result, “Then you will remember!” Let us take time today to remember the good things God has done in our lives.

Ezekiel 37 is another example of Ezekiel’s unique prophetic word pictures. Another old song is “Them bones, them dry bones…now hear the Word of the Lord” (click here for a fun children’s version produced by “Muffin” songs). We’ve read a lot of heavy stuff; perhaps it’s time to lighten up with the Light of God’s Word and with a light happy obedient heart.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I thank You for the “aha” moment in my life when You became more than Someone I heard about in family devotions and church. I pray that You’ll surprise many others today with a revelation of Your secret plan. May I be Your communications agent to all those I meet today. With Your Holy Spirit’s help, I will do my best to make sure Your plan is not a secret anymore. I pray this in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Messiah), the One who shone a bright light on Who You really are, Father God, Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I’m doing as our reading tells me…remembering. It was the first Saturday night of June, 1962, when the lights went on for a new TV show called Crossroads. There was only one TV station available and we were there with the greatest message the world has ever heard. That small beginning God grew into Crossroads Christian Communications Incorporated. Through the years, we’ve produced dozens of shows for children, teens, and the whole human family. They’ve been produced in many languages and distributed around the world. It’s been said, “If there’s no feedback from viewers, there’s been no communication!” An example of feedback from one of our productions was when there were over a million letters from children to our Russian language edition of Kingdom Adventure for children. They asked for a colouring book which taught about God. This was an amazing opportunity back when the Soviet Union first emerged from the 70 years of communist captivity (for an English video clip from the Kingdom Adventure series, click HERE).

Yours for millions of “aha” revelations!!!

David

MY SHEEP

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 34-35

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

Sheep grazing in Israel. There are two sheep dogs in this picture. One is up front. Can you find the other one among the sheep. Someone has suggested that “goodness and mercy” are the two sheep dogs of Psalm 23, charged with protecting the sheep. In today’s reading, Ezekiel 34, God promises to gather, feed and care for His people as a shepherd would his sheep.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: Ezekiel 34:11, 13

For thus says the Lord God: “Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and search them out…And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country.”

Because of unfaithful and self-centred leaders, the shepherds of Israel, God’s people, have fallen into the hands of their enemies and have been scattered, and the land God gave them has been desecrated. In Ezekiel 34, God, through Ezekiel, rebukes the leaders. They were to lovingly guide and build the nation in a responsible manner. The opposite was true. This resulted in God backing off until the offending generation of “shepherds” had passed off the scene, and new leaders such as Daniel, Ezra, and Nehemiah became the shepherds of Israel. God, Himself, assures those in Babylonian captivity, through Ezekiel, that He personally will be their Shepherd, bringing them back to good pasture on the mountains of Israel. Ezekiel reminds the people of the great shepherd king, David, who had died hundreds of years before. There is a descendant of David who referred to Himself as “The Good Shepherd!” Read John 10:11-15 for a New Testament meditation.

Ezekiel 35 shows God’s desire to turn around for good the people of Mt. Seir. These are Edomites, descendants of Esau, the brother of Jacob (whose name God changed to “Israel”). Edom, too, shall know Who is the true Shepherd…”that I am the Lord” (35:15b).

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, as one of Your sheep, I pray that I will, as Jesus said, recognize Your voice and follow You closely. I’m experiencing Your promised “showers of blessing!” (34:26b). May I never stray away from You, Good Shepherd. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

An excellent biography writer I’ve been reading lately is Eric Metaxas. He has written a number of books about various “shepherds” who have helped to lead people in the right direction. One of his books, Amazing Grace, is the story of William Wilberforce, the man God used to free the slaves throughout the British Empire. The publication of this book brought him to Canada as a guest on the 100 Huntley Street program. Again, he traveled to Canada for a TV appearance regarding his book, Bonhoeffer, the German Pastor who stood up to Hitler and exposed the evils of his regime.  Click here for info about Eric’s books, which I highly recommend!

Yours for communicating the Good News of Jesus in the most effective way possible to new generations of precious never-dying souls, all of whom need Jesus,

David

TURN! TURN!

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 32-33

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

A flock of sheep on a hillside in Israel. After reading of all the violence happening in Israel, Egypt, and elsewhere, it’s good to know that God has promised “green pastures” and His comforting Presence with us. For our encouragement it might be a good suggestion to read, quote or even sing Psalm 23 once again.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: Ezekiel 32:11, 33:12

For thus says the Lord God: “The sword of the king of Babylon shall come upon you”…Therefore you, O son of man, say to the children of your people: “The righteousness of the righteous man shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression; as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall because of it in the day that he turns from his wickedness; nor shall the righteous be able to live because of his righteousness in the day that he sins.”

Ezekiel dates his prophecies after the first Jews, including Daniel, were taken to Babylon, in order to show that his prophecies are accurate (i.e. year/month/day — 12/12/1, Ezekiel 32:1; and 12/10/5, Ezekiel 33:21). The final destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar and his invasion of Egypt is still three to five years away. When the people see these things come to pass, it stands to reason that the reality of God’s foreknowledge should produce faith and repentance. God expresses His deep grief over what’s about to happen when He tells Ezekiel, “Son of man, wail [a cry of grief] over the multitude of Egypt.” Our key verses point out that neither righteousness nor wickedness can change the course of events. What did change was the long-term behaviour of Israel. The Jews made a 180-degree turn. Never again, after the 70 years of Babylonian captivity, did Israel turn back to worshipping idols and practising gross debauchery, as had been the case before. During this time, Israel paid attention to God’s call for repentance. Ezekiel 33:14b reveals God’s heart when He urgently says, “Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel.” Satan and all those whom he rules have done their best to destroy the Jews. No people on earth have ever been subjected to the hatred of hell like the Jewish people. Israel today, the Jewish state, is thriving beyond any reasonable expectation! Amazing!!!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, as I read Ezekiel I think over and over, “Jesus changed everything for me!” I pray that You’ll keep on changing me, and at every crossroads in my life, help me to turn, turn Your way. I ask You to make Your way my way. I pray this in the Name of the One who said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” Jesus, Himself. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

When I read Ezekiel 32:27, “They have laid their swords under their heads,” I thought of one of my partners in ministry for several years, Anglican priest, Rev. Al Reimers. Al is a most gentle person, and I find it hard to conceive of the fact that, as a counter-intelligence agent in the US Army in Germany following the end of WW2, Al slept with a loaded lugar pistol under his pillow. Viewers of 100 Huntley Street will remember Al from the 1970’s and 1980’s. He’s still active! The internet is an amazing way to keep informed about people who may have gone in different directions. Al moved east to Prince Edward county from Toronto, and I moved west to Burlington. I found Al in a “virtual” newspaper article where he was making a presentation to the Minister of Health on “wait times” for hospital care. Way to go my friend! You are still “salt.” Jesus taught us that if we are not salty in society, the good will be discarded.

Yours for the implementation in our lives of what we’re learning daily through 100words.ca,

David

P.S. Here’s the song I was inspired to sing while thinking about Reynold’s picture above and about our Scripture reading (click here for “The Lord is My Shepherd” hymn and sing along with the congregation of the Verdun LaSalle Baptist Church, Montreal).