Ezekiel 6-11

Trivial matters

We are told in the excavation of Pompei, the city buried by volcanic ash centuries ago, the walls told the story. Advertisements and testimonials of satisfied customers covered the walls of the taverns and brothels that filled the city. Obscene pictures of sexual organs were commonplace. Their worship of Venus and Mercury was evident; they lived for money and pleasure.

Pastor Don introduced us to Ezekiel yesterday. His vision in chapter eight reminded me of Pompei. Ezekiel was taken by the hair and lifted out of Babylon, suspended between heaven and earth to get a glimpse of Jerusalem. God reminded him of the vile idolatry that had taken place in the temple. He took him to see the walls covered with images of animals and idols. Imagine it – in the temple where the presence of God dwelled!

God was so very jealous for His people and His temple. One verse in particular struck me today:
“He said to me, ‘Have you seen this, son of man? Is it a trivial matter for the house of Judah to do the detestable things they are doing here?’” (8:17)

Trivial: commonplace, ordinary, of little importance (Webster’s).  What man considered trivial, God considered absolutely sacred, an affront to His character, and an abomination to His people.

Is there anything in our lives today that we might consider so very trivial, that God might be absolutely grieved over?  Words we speak. Thoughts we ponder. Actions we take. We need to continually bring our hearts before the Lord for examination, don’t we? May we join the Psalmist in considering even the trivial things in our lives:
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.  (Ps. 139: 23-24)

Author: Pastor Jeff

Ezekiel 1-5

Meet Ezekiel, another of the later prophets.  He reveals his own identity:  Ezekiel, the priest, the son of Buzi, giving his name, his function, and the validity of his lineage, born into the priestly line.  Ezekiel, very young in years, was among some 3,000 Jews who were exiled to Babylon.  He prophesied from exile.

So, it’s easy to get caught up in the symbolism and visual effects of fire and eyes, etc. etc.   That’s not to say that we do not need to seek understanding of all of the symbols – for we do.  Yet, sometimes there is a simple, underlying message that we should not overlook.

In chapter one, for example, we read of Ezekiel’s inaugural vision, the one by which he was called.  It is often referred to as The Wheel Vision, or The Wheel Within the Wheel Vision (which The Message calls a gyroscope!).

Ezekiel was a young adult.  God used that vision to capture his attention.  He recognized it as a revelation of God’s glory.  God had his attention!

And God said, Son of man, stand up. I have something to say to you. (chapter 2, verse 1)

Takeaway:  In the whirl of sounds, activities, and rushing about which marks today’s world, it is hard to find silence, stillness and waiting – all which facilitate hearing God’s voice.  He may just say something with life-changing significance for ourselves and others through us if He can have our attention.

And God continued, Open your mouth and eat what I give you.” (chapter 2, verse 8) and “Son of man, get all these words that I’m giving you inside you. Listen to them obediently. Make them your own. (Chapter 3:10)

Takeaway:  God gave Ezekiel a scroll to eat.  In chapter 3:10-11, He explains that He wants Ezekiel to get His words inside of him, to make them his own.

Yes, there are many times in our lives when we need to speak into our marriage, into our home, or extended family.  We may need to speak on the job, or in our faith community.   When we sense we are called to be a voice for something, it is important that the message comes from deep within, a message we have taken for ourselves, and can give out in sincerity.  That’s what this symbolism means.

And God continued,  And now go. Go to the exiles, your people, and speak. Tell them, ‘This is the Message of God, the Master.’ Speak your piece, whether they listen or not.” (chapter 3, 10-11)
Takeaway:   1) Listen. 2) Take God’s voice to heart – own it.  3) Give God your voice for making known His message.

Our words, deeds, attitudes, and opportunities all can serve as the means of communicating God’s message in whatever context you will walk in today.

Is God seeking your attention?

Listen!  Own what you hear!  Speak with boldness and courage!
​
Author: Pastor Don

Lamentations 1-5

Two statements from today’s reading took me by surprise – the turn was unexpected, enough to take my breath away ever so slightly.

In the midst of pitiable, heart-wrenching lament, Jeremiah gets a glimpse of light, like a single ray of sun shining through the passing storm clouds – there for a moment, then gone. In Lam. 3:21, after 64 verses of bemoaning the plight of God’s virgin daughter Jerusalem, now ravaged, along with his own suffering, Jeremiah says, “But….” – but! – “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope.” The sun shines through, and the despair of exile is momentarily dispelled by this astounding truth: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end…. Great is your faithfulness” (3:22-23). In the context of grief and despair, this sudden turn brings relief that is surprising and strong.

Later in that chapter, Jeremiah describes the “pit” he was thrown into: “They flung me alive into the pit…. Water closed over my head” (3:53-54). I imagined Jeremiah being cast into the cistern of Malchiah, sinking deep in mud (Jer. 38:1-6). But he goes on to say, “I called on your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit…. You came near when I called on you; you said, ‘Do not fear!’” (Lam. 3:55-57). Another gasp. Of all things the Lord could have said, (‘I will get you out of this pit,’ or ‘Only two more days,’ or something!) God says, “Do not fear!” This is shockingly sparse and surprising in what is left unsaid, but it’s exactly what God wanted to say. God did not abandon Jeremiah in the mud and mire but simply told him, “Do not fear!”

Eugene Peterson, in Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places, makes this observation about salvation: “The word [salvation] nearly always (but not quite exclusively) tells us that God, rather than removing us from the trouble we are in, brings something into the human situation that is not already there. I AM THAT I AM enters and is present with us in the conditions; he doesn’t abolish the conditions” (p. 173). In Jeremiah’s case, God enters and says, “Do not fear.” He doesn’t abolish the conditions; He assures Jeremiah of His presence. In the midst of trial and testing, our God is a god who is present. Despite our feelings, His covenant loyalty assures that He does not abandon us; great is His faithfulness. It is in this assurance that we can rest during times of pain, confusion, and questioning – the same assurance that brings little rays of light, and hope, to Jeremiah in the raging storm of exile.

Author: Pastor Jon

Jeremiah 51-52

Jeremiah foretold the fall of Babylon.  This powerful and arrogant Babylon, who bullied the nations and eventually captured Jerusalem, and was responsible for its horrible fall, would be captured and devastated.  Under the eventual reign of Messiah, Israel would rise again and be restored to her prominent status among the nations.
 
God always gives His people hope.  A new Israel, led by Messiah.  Yes, He chastises us so that we are fit for His kingdom.  Yes, He allows circumstances to buffer us and challenge our faith, but never without hope.  What is our hope??  Our hope is in the return of our Messiah, Jesus Christ.  Our hope is His soon return.  But you say, where is the Lord?  When will He come?  There are times that all you can see are the calamities of the world around us.  Sometimes all you can see is the wicked prospering.  Sometimes the only things you and I feel are the pressures and trials of this life and of this world bearing down on us like a ton of bricks.  In these times it is not unfaithful of us to ask where are you God?  All we can say and pray is, ‘Lord I Trust You!!’
 
Let me finish today with the words of a song: “Trust His Heart,” by Babbie Mason.
 
All things work for our good
Though sometimes we don’t see how they could
Struggles that break our hearts in two
Sometimes blind us to the truth
Our Father knows what’s best for us
His ways are not our own
So when your pathway grows dim
And you just don’t see Him
Remember you’re never alone
 
God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don’t understand
When you don’t see His plan
When you can’t trace His hand
Trust His heart
 
He sees the master plan
And He holds our future in His hand
So don’t live as those who have no hope
All our hope is found in Him
We see the present clearly
But He sees the first and the last
 
Author: Pastor David

Jeremiah 51-52

Jeremiah foretold the fall of Babylon.  This powerful and arrogant Babylon, who bullied the nations and eventually captured Jerusalem, and was responsible for its horrible fall, would be captured and devastated.  Under the eventual reign of Messiah, Israel would rise again and be restored to her prominent status among the nations.

God always gives His people hope.  A new Israel, led by Messiah.  Yes, He chastises us so that we are fit for His kingdom.  Yes, He allows circumstances to buffer us and challenge our faith, but never without hope.  What is our hope??  Our hope is in the return of our Messiah, Jesus Christ.  Our hope is His soon return.  But you say, where is the Lord?  When will He come?  There are times that all you can see are the calamities of the world around us.  Sometimes all you can see is the wicked prospering.  Sometimes the only things you and I feel are the pressures and trials of this life and of this world bearing down on us like a ton of bricks.  In these times it is not unfaithful of us to ask where are you God?  All we can say and pray is, ‘Lord I Trust You!!’

Let me finish today with the words of a song: “Trust His Heart,” by Babbie Mason.

All things work for our good
Though sometimes we don’t see how they could
Struggles that break our hearts in two
Sometimes blind us to the truth
Our Father knows what’s best for us
His ways are not our own
So when your pathway grows dim
And you just don’t see Him
Remember you’re never alone

God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don’t understand
When you don’t see His plan
When you can’t trace His hand
Trust His heart

He sees the master plan
And He holds our future in His hand
So don’t live as those who have no hope
All our hope is found in Him
We see the present clearly
But He sees the first and the last

Author: Pastor David

Jeremiah 47-50

God and nations

I read recently that North Korea’s new supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, has been proclaimed the Eternal General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea. One word caught my eye…I guess you can figure that out in light of today’s reading.

Jeremiah pronounces strong judgments against Moab, the Ammonites, and the Babylonians. It appears God had used Babylon for His purposes, as He did Assyria, and yet would soon bring severe judgment upon this pagan nation.

Some believe God no longer considers nations, only individuals. I had a discussion once with someone of this viewpoint. I cited the prophets. He said that was then and this is now.

Consider the nations at this very hour: the constant turmoil in the ‘Arab Spring,’ the constant threat of nuclear armament, the opposing ideals of Russia/China/Arab nations versus the United States/Israel, and the sense of a diminishing United States upon the world scene. Oh, and don’t forget the eternal leader…

We live in a frightful world. Meanwhile, there continues to be a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit in regions of Africa, South America, and China. God is moving in nations that were once unreached, possibly considered unreachable.  It is incredibly exciting!

God sees individual people, as He sees the sparrow that flies. God also sees cities and states and nations. He sees rampant evil and watches His Church expand with Kingdom force. He sees despots commit horrible atrocities against their people and threaten others. He sees the end from the beginning; and according to Revelation, it involves the nations.

In response to today, I encourage you to join me in praying for the nations. I then, returned to Psalm 2 and:

1. Asked, “Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.”
2. Rejoiced that, “The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, “I have installed my Kingdom Zion, my holy hill.”
3. Obeyed to, “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.”

Do you wonder what God thinks of our nation today? Sometime today, take special time to lift America before Him in prayer. He sees everyone of us individually and He sees us collectively as a people upon this earth.

Author: Pastor Jeff

 

 

Jeremiah 40-46

Can anyone doubt?

Exodus 34:⁶ And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, ⁷ maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.”

I grew up with what has been a common view of God dating back to even a few early Church Fathers. I saw the God of the Old Testament as a stern, harsh, judgmental God and the God of the New Testament as a gracious, loving, forgiving God. I don’t even recall at what point I finally put this nonsensical dichotomy of God aside, but am thankful He revealed (and reconciled) Himself to me through His word!

In our reading to this point (not only Jeremiah’s prophecy, but the entire Old Testament) I must ask the question, “Can anyone doubt the loving mercy of God – Old or New Testament?” Yes, in obligation of His holiness God is a God of judgment throughout all of Scripture. Yet also, we see Him continually reveal Himself by word and works just as He described Himself to Moses in Exodus 34. He is all that He said He is: consistent in His mercy, love, and judgments.

We see this again with the remnant that returned to Jeremiah to seek a word from the Lord as to their future.  Think of it, these had survived the horrific destruction of the Babylonians!  After ten days God outlined to Jeremiah a simple (and oh so familiar) response:

• If you stay in the land, I will bless you.
• Don’t be afraid of the king of Babylon.
• I will rescue you if you will serve me.
• I will restore you in the land if you remain.
• Don’t turn to Egypt for protection.
• If you go to Egypt, I will bring judgment upon you.

Consistent with Israel, even this remnant would reject the word of the Lord!

It has been comforting to my heart to see the God of Exodus 34:6-7 throughout all of our reading. Join me today in worshipping Him in the awe of His holiness, fear of His judgments, but also the forbearing mercy that abounds throughout ‘The Thread’ leading us ultimately to Jesus! What a great God we serve!

Author: Pastor Jeff

Jeremiah 35-39

The African language we learned and used as missionaries had a lot of intricacies and interesting elements.  One of the most interesting was also most convenient.  Let me explain.

The same verb was used for “hear” and for “understand.”  More than once, someone would say to us “mam wuumame,” actually leaving a state of ambiguity in the wake of their words.  We could only guess if they were saying “I hear you,” or “I understand you.”  Repeatedly we made the silly assumption they were saying “I understand you,” when they were not! They were only hearing us.

Then, if things did not go well, they would answer us “mam ka wuum ye,” leaving that same ambiguity.  Were they saying they didn’t hear us, or that they didn’t understand us?   You see the dilemma? When giving instructions, directions, etc.  it is important to know that not only are we being heard, we are also being understood.

There is no question.  The auditory capacity of Judah and Jerusalem jumped into action when Jeremiah spoke.   His message was unequivocal.   They just ignored him.  Reality was, however, there was no slick, linguistic trick to get them out of the consequences.  God, through Jeremiah made it crystal clear:  hear and obey, and blessing will follow.  Hear and ignore, and take the consequences.
I really love the starkness of parts of chapter 35 in Eugene Peterson’s The Message:

^12-15 Then Jeremiah received this Message from God: “God-of-the-Angel-Armies, the God of Israel, wants you to go tell the people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem that I say, ‘Why won’t you learn your lesson and do what I tell you?’ … But look at you! I have gone to a lot of trouble to get your attention, and you’ve ignored me. I sent prophet after prophet to you, all of them my servants, to tell you from early morning to late at night to change your life, make a clean break with your evil past and do what is right, to not take up with every Tom, Dick, and Harry of a god that comes down the pike, but settle down and be faithful in this country I gave your ancestors. ¹⁵And what do I get from you? Deaf ears.”

Deaf ears – that was the problem.  It wasn’t an unclear or weakly delivered message.  It was, after all, the storming voice of Jeremiah the prophet.  The problem was deaf ears.

And the incredible threads of truth found in the whole length of God’s Word once again become so visible in these chapters.
Paul stated it so forcefully in Romans 2:23; For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.

James reiterates the same truth in his letter, chapter 1:22; But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
The sad day described in chapter 39 came about, not because Judah and Jerusalem did not hear, or did not understand.  It is recorded in sorrowful detail because they chose to ignore the voice of God through Jeremiah.

God, impress upon my heart again today the significance of acting upon your voice, however and whenever you choose to speak to me!  Amen!

​Author: Pastor Don

Jeremiah 31-34

I meditated on the images of today’s reading, and the reality of the closing words settled into me more deeply: The Lord says, “[I will bring Babylon back to Jerusalem], and they will fight against it and take it and burn it with fire. I will make the cities of Judah a desolation without inhabitant” (34:22). Look out over the landscape of Jerusalem – the sea of spears approaching from the distant hills, the fire burning the sacred temple (God’s dwelling place!); hear the shrieks of devastation as foreign enemies ransack and ruin. And ask yourself, an Israelite in that position, Is this really happening? You stand in shock amidst the screams.

Why, God? The holy city actually desecrated; God’s people actually exiled. How did it come to this? I am reminded of God’s intention for that holy city, Jerusalem: He desired it to be a city of righteousness, a beacon of light to the world. But, it was not. Chapter 34 is a blatant example of the injustice that reigned. God’s people rejected His ways. Defiantly, repeatedly. Jerusalem was no different than the world around it – full of idolatry (32:33-35) and injustice (34:15-16). This beacon was a no-light. Thus, the Lord destroyed it.

And yet, this is clearly not the final plan. In chapters 31-33, God brilliantly describes the future restoration from exile. He will not forsake His firstborn (31:9, 20). He will not – indeed, cannot – forget His covenant (31:35-37; 33:19-22). Fields will be bought and sold again in the holy land (32:14-15, 43-44), and joy and gladness will again abound (31:12-14; 33:10-11). The Lord will restore His people; He will bring them back. I’m sure when the first exiles returned from Babylon, the air was charged with excitement and expectation. The restoration had begun! And yet, as we see, something wasn’t fully right. Jerusalem just wasn’t the same (Ezra 3:10-13). So they waited.

I am reminded that the fullness of this restoration is completed in us. In Jer. 31:31-34, the Lord describes the new covenant of that future return. “In those days,” He says, “I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me.” The author of Hebrews takes up this passage and describes its fulfillment in Christ (Heb. 8:7-13; 10:15-18). Through Jesus, and by the Spirit, God has written His law on our hearts that we might be His people. Our feeble attempts to follow His law no longer need end in idolatry, injustice, and desolation. He has poured out His love in our hearts by His Holy Spirit, and we are His people – we reflect His righteousness and walk in His ways. Through Jesus, we are the righteous beacon of light that Jerusalem was supposed to be. God has fulfilled His desire to establish for Himself a people who are the light of the world. Be the light of the world today.

Author: Pastor Jon

 

 

Jeremiah 26-30

Here we are still reading about what God is saying to His chosen people and here we are still reading about their willful rejection of not only His messenger, but His message. At this point, Israel cannot escape the wrath of a Holy God.  They can no longer stay His hand of judgment.  Once again God comes to them and says: (paraphrase)  “Look, I cannot turn back from what I have said will come upon you, but I still love you and I want you to willfully come back to me and I will one more time restore you as my chosen people.”

The impending doom was carefully worded so that all could understand. 26:18(b) “Jerusalem will be plowed like a field.  It will become a pile of rocks, and the hill where the Temple stands will be covered with bushes.”  God was very angry and disappointed with His people.  Yet, as only God Himself could do, He was longsuffering and patient with His wayward children.  He loved them.  They were still His own and He would honor the promises He made to them when He promised prosperity and an everlasting heritage to Abraham.  Even after all of the disappointment and heartache they caused Him, He would still keep his promise and send the Messiah through their seed.  Read 29:11-14

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and will bring you back from captivity.  I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you, declares the Lord, and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

We don’t need to go any further in order to get the message the Lord is saying to us, His people today.  His message is: regardless of where you have gone, regardless of what you have done, regardless of how you willfully turned against me, if you will seek me with all your heart, I will hear you and I will answer you.

As you are reading this edition of The Thread today, and you know that you have willfully turned away from His love, know that God still has a plan for your life . . . a plan to prosper you and not to harm you.  However, that only comes as you turn and seek Him with all your heart.  If you find yourself in this situation, please pray this simple prayer:
​
God be merciful to me and forgive me for going away from your love.  I confess that I have followed my own desires and have not considered your will for my life. Please forgive me and restore me to Yourself.  My desire Lord is to be your child. Amen.

Author: Pastor David