Daniel 4  Nebuchadnezzar has another amazing dream.. this time of a tree that reaches to the sky and is flourishing. However, the dream alarms him and he calls for the wise men to interpret it for him.  No one is able to do so until Daniel comes in.  When Nebuchadnezzar tells Daniel the dream.. Daniel became alarmed. He really didn't want to tell the meaning of this.. but he did. 

The tree represented Nebuchadnezzar.. and that tree would be cut down and bound by iron and bronze. This represented what would happen to Nebuchadnezzar.. he would be "cut down".. become like an animal in the field.. eating grass, covered with dew.. for 7 "times".. years!  Daniel gave the king this advice, " O king, may my advice be pleasing to you; break away now from your sins by doing righteousness and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, in case there may be a prolonging of your prosperity." 

However, it does not appear that Nebuchadnezzar took Daniel's advice and 12 months later, as he looked over his beautiful city, his pride took over.. "Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?" (v30)  It was at that moment that the prophecy was fulfilled and the Lord took away.. not only Nebuchadnezzar's sovereignty, but his sanity and he was driven into the fields to eat grass.. "until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes." 

Seven years later.. Nebuchadnezzar finally looked up to heaven and recognized the One true God.. "for His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation. And all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, but He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth; and no one can ward off His hand or say to Him, 'What hast Thou done?'" (v34-35) 

Amazingly, Nebuchadnezzar was restored to his kingdom and became great once again. His final recorded testimony was this: "Now, I, Nebuchadnezzar praise, exalt, and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride." (v37)

Father, may we learn from Your word the truths that it took Nebuchadnezzar 7 years to realize.. that You are the Most High God and You do Your will on the earth.. You raise up the humble and cut down the proud.. You put in place those who You desire to rule on this world.  We have leaders in our own nation who are prideful and arrogant and we pray that they would take Daniel's advice and turn from their sins and seek You with all their hearts.  Help us to always keep in mind that You alone are God and it is Your kingdom that will endure forever.. nothing else can ever come close.  Be exalted, O Lord, for You are just and righteous.  May Your Name be proclaimed in all the earth and every king, ruler, or president bow before You. amen. 

 Daniel 3  Nebuchadnezzar clearly forgot the lesson that Daniel taught him when he told him his dream and its interpretation... however, he didn't forget the part that the statue's head of gold represented him.  So, he had an image made of gold.. 60 cubits high and 6 cubits wide.. about 90 feet high and 9 feet wide.  He commanded that all those that served in his kingdom attend the dedication of this statue. When the music played, all of them were to fall down before the image and worship it. 

We know the story well.. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego..would not bow to this idol or any idol. Even when threatened with certain death, they would not bow.  "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up." (v16-18)

They were tied up and thrown into the furnace.. so hot that the "valiant warriors" who had tied them up and thrown them in were killed by the flames.  Yet, the three men were not killed. Instead, they were joined by a fourth man in the fire.. one whose appearance was "like a son of the gods"!

Nebuchadnezzar, himself, called out to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.. to come out of the furnace.. and they did.. fully clothed.. no hairs on their heads were singed.. and they didn't even smell like smoke. Only their bonds were gone.  Nebuchadnezzar knew.. once again.. that the God of Israel was not an ordinary god.. "there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way." he said. ( v29)  He sent out a decree that no one, anywhere, should speak anything offensive about God. 

Are we like Nebuchadnezzar sometimes? Do we forget just how great our God is? Do we trust Him in the fire like we trust Him in the blessings?  

Father in heaven, You alone are God in heaven and earth and there is no other!  May our faith be like that of these three men.. that no matter what we will trust You, serve You, and worship only YOU.  Let our testimony be that You have brought us through the fire.. that You have delivered us from death.. and that You have walked with us through it all..   To You alone we yield ourselves.. our whole hearts, minds, and bodies.  May Your will be done in us this day and every day!  Amen 

 Daniel 2:24-49  Daniel received an answer to his prayer.. God revealed to him the dream that Nebuchadnezzar had.. and the interpretation of it.  The first thing he did was to praise the Lord and the second thing he did was make a plea for the all the other wise men of Babylon!  They may have been rivals.. and later on enemies.. but Daniel still did what no one else could do.. and it saved all of their lives. 

Daniel came before the king.. and in complete humility answered him.. "As for the mystery about which the king has inquired, neither wise men, conjurers, magicians, nor diviners are able to declare it to the king. However there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the latter days.. " 

Daniel makes it clear to Nebuchadnezzar that it is God who revealed the mystery and God who revealed the answers to Daniel. "But as for me, this mystery has not been revealed to me for any wisdom residing in me more than in any other living man, but for the purpose of making the interpretation known to the king, and that you may understand the thoughts of your mind." (v30)

Daniel describes the vision.. Nebuchadnezzar saw an awesome statue of "extraordinary splendor" with a head of gold, breast and arms of silver, a torso of bronze, legs of iron, and feet of iron mixed with clay.  While he was looking a "stone was cut out without hands and it struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, and crushed them." (v34) 

Then, Daniel tells Nebuchadnezzar the meaning of the vision.. he was the head of gold.. a superior kingdom, but his kingdom would end and would be followed by another "inferior" kingdom, which also would end and be followed by a third, even less powerful kingdom.  We know that these are the kingdoms of the Medes and Persians, followed by the Greeks.  After that, a fourth kingdom would rise up.. iron.. representing the Romans.. and finally a mixed kingdom.. iron and clay would replace the Romans. 

The iron and clay mixture made up the toes of the statue. " And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of pottery, so some of the kingdom will be strong and part of it will be brittle."  Daniel goes on to say that they substances will be mixed.. but "they will not adhere to one another.. "  Sure sounds like the nations of the world today, doesn't it?

Then.. "in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever." (v44) 

God made this vision known to Nebuchadnezzar.. and revealed it to Daniel.  It was recorded for our benefit. As Nebuchadnezzar tells Daniel, "Surely your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries.. " (v47).  We are assured that God will fulfill His plan.. His Kingdom is coming and Christ will rule this eternal kingdom.  He is the Rock.. He is the King.. He is the Lord our God!

Father in heaven, we look up.. waiting for that day when the final Kingdom will come and Christ will reign! May our hearts be ready.. may we be determined, like Daniel, to live faithfully for You every day until all Your mysteries are revealed and we see Your Glory! Accomplish all that You desire in us and through us until that day, we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Daniel 1 In this introduction to Daniel we find out the facts.. 

Daniel was from Judah, taken into exile along with Jehoiakim the king.  He was a young man who came from a noble or royal family.  He was chosen to participate in a "re-education" program by Nebuchadnezzar, because he was " good-looking.. showing intelligence.. endowed with understanding.. and discerning knowledge.. who had ability for serving in the king's court.."  He was a very special young man. Also chosen for this privileged position were Hannah, Mishael, and Azariah... better known by their new names.. "Shadrach.. Meshach.. and Abednego."

Daniel had a determined heart.. from the beginning he had made up his mind not to compromise his faith in God. He refused to defile himself with the choice foods offered by the king, Nebuchadnezzar .  We learn that God intervened in Daniel's situation by allowing him to find favor in "the sight of the commander of the officials." So, Daniel and his friends were allowed to eat the vegetables and drink water instead of the king's choice foods and wine.  The results were that even after 10 days "their appearance seemed better and they were fatter that all the youths who had been eating the king's choice food." 

God also blessed Daniel and his friends with more "knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom; Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams."  These four were the best of the all those who had spent the three years in training for the king's service and became his personal servants.  The king consulted them "for every matter of wisdom and understanding.." and found them far advanced then all his magicians. 

Daniel 2 takes us straight into the first revelation given to Daniel. It was an impossible request:  Nebuchadnezzar had a dream and he wanted the wise men to not only interpret the dream, but to tell him what he had dreamt.  Of course, no man could do such a thing.  How could anyone tell you what you had dreamt?  The order went out that all the wise men would be destroyed because they could not do this impossible thing.  But.. Daniel, with "discretion and discernment" asked for time...  and was granted it by the king. 

Daniel went to God with this impossible request.. for God is the only One who could reveal this mystery. God answered his prayer and before anything else, Daniel offered a prayer of praise!

" Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him. And it is He who changes the times and epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men, and knowledge to men of understanding. It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him. To Thee, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for Thou hast given me wisdom and power; even now Thou hast made known to me what we requested of Thee. For Thou hast made known to us the king's matter." ( v20-23)

Father in heaven, You are the God who changes times and epochs.  You are the same God who did all that You showed Daniel in this dream.  You are the One who will accomplish the final part of this dream when the "stone" comes to crush all the kingdoms of the earth and reign forever. Let Your Kingdom come! Let Your Light shine through the darkness of this world. May every knee bow before You. amen 

 Galatians 6  As we walk by the Spirit and not by our own human, fleshly natures.. our lives will look more like what Paul describes in this chapter.. 

V1 .. We will lovingly, gently restore those who have given into temptation.  We will be reminded to look to our own lives, for we know that temptations are always going to try us.. 

V2 We will make an effort to come alongside those who have heavy burdens.. showing the love of Christ; 

V3-4  We will  not act like we are better than anyone else. We will "examine" our own lives and deeds in the light of Christ's Word and not in comparison with others.

V5  We will take responsibility for ourselves and not become a burden to others. 

V6 We will gladly share with those who teach and lead us in the Truth.

V 7-10  We will live for the Lord, understanding that the principle of reaping and sowing is always true.. we will "sow to the Spirit" and not to the flesh.  We will keep doing good, according to the Lord's will and for His glory. 

V14 We will not boast in anything else but acknowledge that it is the "cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" that is everything!

V16  We will walk with peace and be merciful. We will know the grace of our Lord Jesus in our spirits.

Glorious Father, our Abba, grant us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation that we might know You more.. that we might walk in the fullness of Your Spirit and do the good works You have prepared for us to do. Enable us to be about Your mission.. doing good.. that which is beautiful and valuable; virtuous, honest and worthy.. that which pleases You and brings glory to the Name of Jesus Christ in whom we boast.. for He is our Savior who gave His life that we might live eternally. amen. 

 Galatians 5  In Christ, Paul says, we have been set free.. "for freedom".  We are no longer slaves to the law or to sin. We cannot be justified by trying to follow the Jewish laws.. or any laws.  We cannot be saved by our own efforts.. for that is from the flesh.. the unregenerate, sinful flesh.. that has no hope of making us pure, of forgiving our sins... of giving us eternal life. 

Christ saved us by His grace and we are justified as we put our faith in Him.. "For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness." 

Paul says that those who were teaching the Galatians that they had to be circumcised and follow the Law were leading them astray.. causing them to leave the path of grace.. the path of Christ.. and the freedom that He died to provide for them.  They.. and we.. are not called to that other path, but to freedom.. freedom to love and serve.. freedom to walk in His Spirit and not in our flesh. 

Paul gives us another contrast.. a clear picture of a life that serves the flesh and a life that has been made new by the Spirit of God:

A life of flesh is "evident".  We can't miss the evidence in our own lives or in the lives of others;  "immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these.. "  Pick up a newspaper, turn on the tv.. click on a social media site.. there it is in living color! 

But, a life that has been transformed by the Presence of the Spirit of God will not look like that at all!  Instead, the evidence will be very clear.. "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.. " These are the traits that are seen in the life of one who has received Christ.. who has been "crucified" with Him.. whose passions and fleshly desires no longer rule in their lives. 

"If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit."  Paul says in verse 25.  If we have been "born again" by believing in Jesus Christ and receiving  new life by the Spirit.. then.. we can.. and must continue on that path.. walking.. following.. deporting ourselves in His power.. in His Presence.. as His companion... every minute.. every hour.. and every day.  

Andrew Murray wrote, "The Holy Spirit is my lifelong companion! He had full possession of me! He cherishes me in God's love, makes me aware of God's presence, and leads me in prayer that brings fellowship with Him in love!" 

This is what Paul desired for his readers.. it is what our heavenly Father.. our Abba, desires for each of us and He made it possible through Jesus Christ, His precious Son and our wonderful Savior.

Father, thank You. Transform us.. renew us.. fill us!  Continue that great work of sanctification, Holy Spirit as we follow You, walking in the Light of the Word and in the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord... our "hope of righteousness"..  In His name we come.. Amen. 

 Galatians 4 In this chapter Paul teaches the great contrast between the believer in Christ and the person who is under the Law. 

Under the Law.. 

I am like a child who is no different from a slave.. under the control of managers.. "held in bondage under the elemental things of the world."

I am obsessed with things like "days and months and seasons and years". 

I am like the child of the "bond woman".. not an heir, cast out.. and in slavery. 

But.. "when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons." 

As God's child.. 

I have His Spirit in my heart and cry out to my Father in heaven, "Abba"!

I am His child and an heir.. through His doing.

I come to know Him because He knows me..

I am like the child of the free woman.. a child of promise!

Paul is so perplexed with the Galatians because they have been persuaded to turn back to a life of slavery instead of embracing the life of freedom they were given.  Why would anyone do that?

Can we see it.. as clearly as Paul did?  Do we allow ourselves to be persuaded that slavery to "whatever"  is God's choice for us?  What is holding us back from grasping the truth that God sees us as His sons and daughters because Christ came to redeem us?

Father, reveal to us those things that keep us from receiving the fulness of Christ's amazing redemption. May we be filled with the truth of Your Word, by Your Spirit, that we have this precious intimacy with You.. Abba..Daddy.. Papa..Father.  You love us with this amazing love.. that You want us to know.. help us to know it even more. Amen. 

 Galatians 3 Paul helps his readers to understand the truth of the gospel.. that we are saved by faith and not by the Law. Salvation is a spiritual work.. begun by the Holy Spirit and "perfected" by the same Spirit.  It can not be accomplished by our own doing!

Paul  begins his argument by talking about the faith of Abraham, who.. "believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness."  Likewise, it is faith that makes us God's children.. faith in Jesus Christ, who "redeemed us from the curse of the Law.... in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." 

The Law, Paul teaches, cannot save.. it cannot make anyone righteous.. and it cannot change God's promise to Abraham. As Abraham was reckoned righteous because of his faith.. we also receive righteousness by faith.  The Law was given to reveal the truth of sin and righteousness.. but it cannot justify us. It was always meant to lead us to Christ.. the only One who can justify us.. that we might become "sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus."  As believers in Christ we are "clothed" with Him.. made one in Him.. and belong to Him.  This is what makes us "Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise." 

Father in heaven, strengthen us with power through Your Spirit, that Christ may dwell in our hearts fully, through faith.  Let our faith grow.. let our hearts be filled with Your love.. the love that "surpasses knowledge".  Fill us with "all the fullness of God".  You are able to do "immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine".. Work in us we pray.. to the glory of Your Name and to the praise of Christ Jesus! Amen (Ephesians 3) 

 Galatians 2  Paul continues to teach about the "truth of the gospel".. giving two instances which support his message.  

First, after 14 years, he went up to Jerusalem to speak to the Apostles Peter, James, and John.. to submit to them the gospel message that he preached to the Gentiles.  He was assured by these "reputed pillars of the church".. that he was indeed preaching the true gospel and he was once again commissioned to go and minister to the Gentiles. 

But later, when Peter came to Antioch, there was a bit of a confrontation.  Peter, at first ate with the Gentiles, but when the other Jewish leaders came, he withdrew.. "fearing the party of the circumcision".  This was hypocritical in Paul's opinion, and he spoke up about it with a strong protest.  This was giving the wrong message to the Gentile believers.  Paul explains again that the "truth of the gospel"  is that men can only be justified by faith in Jesus Christ.. not in any works of the Law.. not in any way of the flesh.  

The true gospel is displayed in Paul's testimony beginning in verse 20 "I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;  and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and delivered Himself up for me."  All of grace.. none of flesh. 

We cannot work or observe rituals.. we cannot save ourselves in any way shape or form.  It is in the supernatural, powerful,  amazing work of Christ our Savior, who died on the cross.. who rose again.. and who ascended to the right hand of the Father.. that we receive salvation! It is by faith.  Because of  His grace, we are saved from our sins.. from death.. and from hell. 

Father in heaven, we are Yours, through Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who died for us. We give ourselves fully into Your hands and live by faith in Him alone.  Oh what wondrous grace You have given us! Praise and honor and thanksgiving to Your Holy Name! Amen

 Galatians 1   Paul is writing a letter to the church that he had started in Galatia.  He is concerned because of a "contrary" or distorted gospel message that had been brought to them.  They were deserting the true gospel and Paul wants them to see how wrong that is.  Even in his salutation, Paul reminds them of the Truth.. " Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen" ( verses3-5)

Paul reminds his readers that the gospel that they had received at first was the only true Word and that any other was wrong.. and that those who were bringing this false word should be "accursed".  This is a pretty strong condemnation! We see how strongly Paul is speaking against this perversion of the gospel.  We need to take heed of any and all who try to add to or take away from the True gospel of Jesus Christ.

Paul reminds the Galatians that the true gospel was given to him, not by man.. but by God Himself.. "through a revelation of Jesus Christ".  It was this true gospel.. this revelation that changed him from one who persecuted the church to one who preached the gospel.  It was God who "set [him] apart"... who "called [him] through His grace".. and who was "pleased to reveal His Son" to him.  

It was not until much later that Paul went up to Jerusalem and met the other apostles.  They had nothing to do with his conversion or his changed life.. that was all of God.  Likewise, Paul is telling his readers.. it is the true gospel that changed their lives.. and to turn from it to another version.. will lead them away from God's grace into a broken system of dead works. 

Father in heaven, thank You for the salvation message... that Jesus Christ came and gave Himself to deliver us from all sin.. to set us free from dead works.. to give us life through a revelation of Himself.  You are the One who calls us to Yourself, Who changes our lives, and Who sets us apart to serve You.  May we not be swayed by any other gospel.. may we not try to please any man.. but trust in You and the True gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is Your grace that brings us to life in Jesus Christ, to Your glory! So we come in His name before You, giving thanks and praise. Amen. 

 Ezekiel 40 - 48  The rest of the book of Ezekiel contains a vision of a new Temple and City. Ezekiel is given exact measurements and all the architectural details for this new beginning.. a new place established for the the glory of God to inhabit.  The plans include the offerings and sacrifices required for the Lord to once again "accept" Israel as His people once again.  There will be priests, there will be daily sacrifices, there will be sin offerings... and there will be a prince. 

It is in chapter 47 that we see a different characteristic added to the temple.. a river flowing out from its threshold.  This river begins flowing and gets deeper and deeper.. it brings fresh water as it flows toward the sea.  It brings life everywhere it goes.  There are new trees set on the banks of this river.. trees whose "leaves will not wither and their fruit never fail. They will bear every month because their water flows from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing." (v12)

This brings to mind Revelation 22, where John is also shown a River of Life, "clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb.. "  A river that flows down the street.. and "on either side of this river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."

Ezekiel has been given an extraordinary vision of a future that has not yet been completed.  One day we will witness all of this for ourselves.. O What a Day that will be!

Father in heaven, one day Your Name will be hallowed by every living being, Your Kingdom will come in perfect holiness and wonder!  Your will.. will be done on earth as it is in heaven.. Your glory will fill the Temple and all will bow before You and before the Lamb, who was slain for us.. that we might come into Your Presence for eternity.  Thank You for this glimpse into Your glory. .into a future that You are preparing for all who call upon the Name of Jesus. Keep us looking up.. keep our eyes open to  see Your greatness and glory... keep our ears open to hear Your Voice.  Fill us with Your Spirit.. with wisdom and revelation.. that we might know You more.. know Jesus more.  Lead us in Your paths of justice and mercy and righteousness, that we might dwell in the house of the Lord forever! Amen. 

 Ezekiel 38-39  Ezekiel is given another prophesy about the future of Israel.  It speaks of a day when Israel has been restored to their land and living securely.. and the army from the north comes against them. Gog, Persia, Ethiopia, Put and Gomer.. will come.. "like a storm... a cloud covering the land".  This great army will come with evil intent against Israel.. but this is all according to God's plan. 

"It will come about in the last days that I shall bring you against My land, in order that the nations may know Me when I shall be sanctified through you before their eyes, O Gog.." ( v16)

God will move in such power that the "fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all the creeping things that creep on the earth, and all the men who are on the face of the earth will shake at My Presence; the mountains also will be thrown down, the steep pathways will collapse, and every wall will fall to the ground." (v20) 

This is God's plan...  " and I shall magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and make Myself known in the sight of many nations; and they will know that I am the Lord." (v23)

God will come against the invaders in such a way that they will be destroyed and it will take Israel's people seven months to bury all of the bodies so the land can be cleansed.  "And I shall set My glory among the nations; and all the nations will see My judgement which I have executed and My hand which I have laid on them." 

After this, Israel will finally be restored.. "then they will know that I am the Lord their God because I made them go into exile among the nations, and then gathered them again to their own land; and I will leave none of them there any longer. And I will not hide My face from them any longer, for I shall have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel, declares the Lord God." ( 39:28-29)

Father in heaven, we want to know You.. magnify You and give all glory and honor to Your Holy Name.  To think of this awesome day that is yet to come, makes us realize that You are far greater than what we think.. Your plans are so vast and immeasurable, as You have reminded us.. Your thoughts are not our thoughts and Your ways are not our ways.. we are so much smaller and weaker and blinder than we like to think.. We pray for Israel, even today, but realize that You are not finished with what You have in store for them.  May they see Your glory and turn back to You and may all the nations know Your greatness before it is too late. Even so, Come Lord Jesus. Amen. 

 Ezekiel 37:15-28  After the vision in the valley of dry bones, Ezekiel is given another Word from the Lord. He was told to take a stick and write on it the name of "Judah" and another stick on which he was to write the name of Joseph, for the tribe of Ephraim or Israel.  Then he was to join the two sticks together in his hand.  These two sticks would become one.. a sign that the two kingdoms, Judah and Israel, would become one nation.. joined together by the Lord.  "And I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king will be king for all of them; and they will no longer be two nations, and they will no longer be divided into two kingdoms." 

Brought out of exile and joined together, the nation would become.. forever.. the people of God.  He would deliver them from their idols and abominations, and from all their transgressions.. and He would "cleanse them."

Verses 24-28 describe the future kingdom with David ruling as their "prince forever".  The future would bring a "covenant of peace" where the Lord would set His "sanctuary in their midst forever."  There is coming a day, the Lord promised His people, when His "dwelling place" would be with them and they will know Him.. "I will be their God, and they will be My people. And the nations will know that I am the Lord who sanctifies Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forever." 

Father in heaven, we look ahead to that great day, when the Son returns and sets up His glorious Kingdom. We will delight to see Israel restored, cleansed, and sanctified!  We are thankful that even now, this is what You do for all who call on the Name of Jesus Christ, our Savior.. You restore us, cleanse us, and sanctify us by Your Spirit.. to the glory of Your Holy Name.  You are our only source of life and our living hope. Thank You for such mercy and kindness, poured out on us by Your grace and unfailing love. May we receive Your peace, Your joy, and Your steadfast love and may we persevere in faith and hope through the power of our Lord Jesus, in whom we live. Amen. 

 Ezekiel 37  One of the most well-known prophecies in the Bible is found here in verses 1- 14  The Lord takes Ezekiel into the valley filled with dry bones and asks him this question, "Son of man, can these bones live?"  Ezekiel wisely answers, " O Lord God, Thou knowest." 

God tells Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones.. and as he does, the bones come together.. in just the right places; sinew and flesh grows on them and skin covers them.  Finally, the Lord tells Ezekiel to "prophesy to the breath..  Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they come to life." Ezekiel prophesied as he was told and watched as "an exceedingly great army" came to life! 

This vision was an illustration of what God will do for His people.. they were in exile, they felt as if all hope was lost... they said "Our bones are dried up, and our hope has perished."  But, God said, " Behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.. "

We sing a praise song that flows from this vision.. "You turn graves into gardens.. You turn bones into armies.. You turn seas into highways.. You're the only one who can!" ( Song by Brandon Lake and Elevation worship)  We also sing Lauren Daigle's song, "Dry Bones".. "As we call out to dry bones, come alive, come alive; we call out to dead hearts, come alive, come alive; up out of the ashes, let us see an army rise... we call out to dry bones, come alive.  So breathe, oh, breath of God.. Now breathe, oh breath of God, now breathe.. "  Songs that remind us of the Only God who can resurrect the dead.. bring life out of ashes and dead bones.. We serve a powerful God... unlimited in all He desires to do in and for His people .. not only Israel.. but all who will call upon His Name!

Father in heaven, O Holy God, breathe upon us Your breath of Life.. fill us, raise us up from all that ties us down and dries us up.. Breathe on us, Spirit of God, that we will not lose hope.. but know that You are the Lord and that nothing is impossible for You!  Thank You for giving us Life as You put Your Spirit within us!  We sing praises to Your Name and rejoice in the Majesty and Wonder of our Great God and of Your Son, who died for us and who rose again from the grave.. so that we might also be raised up to eternal life with You . Hallelujah !  Amen and amen!

 Ezekiel 35-36 The land of Seir.. Edom, the dwelling place of Esau's descendants, bordered Israel on the south and east.. (modern day Jordan.)  The Lord pronounced judgement against them because they worked against Israel.. " Because you have had everlasting enmity and have delivered the sons of Israel to the power of the sword.."  They were people who were given over to bloodshed  and anger and arrogance.  (Things have not changed  much in the Middle East)... God vowed to make Edom desolate, saying that all the nations would rejoice at their fall.  And through that... they would come to know that the God of Israel is the Lord of all. 

Israel suffered for her own sinfulness.. her idolatry and wickedness.. but God would not forsake His people forever. His promise then.. and His promise now.. is restoration.. " But you, O mountains of Israel, you will put forth your branches and bear your fruit for My people Israel; for they will soon come. For behold, I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you will be cultivated and sown." ( 36:8-9)

The Lord makes it clear that Israel has not earned or deserved this restoration promise.. but that He will renew Israel for the sake of His Holy Name. " And I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst."   For His own sake, God would cleanse Israel from their "filthiness" and all their idols. 

More than that, God promised something completely new.. " Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. And you will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people , and I will be your God." ( v26-28)

There is a brighter day ahead for Israel.. a day when "This desolate land has become like the garden of Eden; and the waste, desolate, and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited."  The Lord will increase the house of Israel.. "like a flock".. and then "they will know that I am the Lord."

Father we know that Your plan is perfect and You are faithful to complete this work that You have begun. We look forward with hope and joy for that day when there will be a new city.. a new nation.. a new heaven and earth.  We rejoice in the promise that Christ is coming back and He will reign in perfect righteousness and justice.. and we will all know Him and every knee will bow before Him.  Even so, our hearts have been changed by Your Spirit and our tongues choose to praise His holy Name now. Help us to persevere, to stay faithful and true, pure and steadfast in the Name of Jesus, by Your might and for the honor of Your holy Name. Amen.

 Ezekiel 34  In verses 1-10 the Lord brings a word against the "shepherds of Israel".  It is a powerful indictment against those who failed to lead Israel as they were commanded to do. "Woe, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock?" 

I can't read this without thinking of the last words that Jesus spoke to Peter...  "Simon, son of John, do you love Me... Tend my lambs.. Shepherd My sheep.. Tend My sheep.. " ( John 21:15-17)

The shepherds of Israel.. the religious leaders and the political leaders failed to feed anyone but themselves.. "You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat sheep without feeding the flock. "  It is the same indictment that Jesus spoke to the Pharisees in His time.. they took pride in their selves, but never helped the people whom they were supposed to serve.  "Those who are sickly you have not strengthened, the diseased you have not healed, the broken you have not bound up, the scattered you have not brought back, nor have you sought for the lost: but with force and with severity you have dominated them." ( verse 4)

The flock.. Israel were scattered and lost and there was" no one to search or seek for them."(v6)   The Lord told Ezekiel to proclaim that He was against these fat shepherds.. and that He Himself would "search for My sheep and seek them out.. "  And this is what Jesus said, ".. the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." ( Luke 19:10)  

The shepherds of Israel failed but the Lord, our Good Shepherd will never fail! This is what He promised in Ezekiel 34:14-16 "I will feed them in a good pasture, and their grazing ground will be on the mountain heights of Israel.  There they will lie down in good pasture on the mountains of Israel. I will feed My flock and I will lead them to rest, declares the Lord.  I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken, and strengthen the sick; but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with judgement." 

Ezekiel is given a beautiful glimpse of the Messiah.. "Then I will set over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he will feed them; he will feed them himself and be their shepherd. And I the Lord will be their God and My servant David will be prince among them; I the Lord, have spoken." (v23-24) 

That time is coming.. when the people of God will know the "showers of blessing" that He has promised.. "Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bars of their yoke and have delivered them from the hand of those who enslaved them." (v27)

What a wonderful Word Ezekiel was given!  It must have filled his heart with joy.. as ours are filled with the Truth of our Good Shepherd.. who told us.. " ( John 10:27-28) 

Father in heaven, our Mighty Shepherd.. who declares us Your sheep, the sheep of Your pasture.. our God, hallowed be Your Name. Thank You for the promises to bring us to Your blessed Kingdom.. where we will find rest forever in Your care. Father, remove those, who even now, are like the fat shepherds.. who feed themselves and help no one.. who do not know You or love You.. who do not feed Your flock or tend Your lambs.  Restore Your flock, restore Israel.. and bring the lost and scattered back to Your Truth. Bring us fully into Your Presence that we might know You, our God and King.. Jesus, our Shepherd who has called us by name.. we praise You!  Thank You gracious Father. Amen! 

 Ezekiel 33:1-20 The Lord tells Ezekiel that he has been appointed "a watchman for the house of Israel".  The duty of a watchman is to warn the people of the coming battle.... "If I bring a sword upon the land and the people of the land take one man from among them and make him their watchman; and he sees the sword coming upon the land, and he blows the trumpet and warns the people then he who hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, and a sword comes and takes him away, his blood is on his own head."  The responsibility of those who hear the warning, is to heed the warning. 

However, if the watchman fails to sound the trumpet and give the warning.. then the blood of those who are taken will be on that watchman. 

Ezekiel was given the ministry of warning Israel of their wickedness, "O wicked man, you shall surely die.. " If that man turns from his sin then all is well.. if not, it is on his own head.  But, if Ezekiel failed to give the warning.. then he would take the responsibility on his own head. 

The warning that Ezekiel gave was very clear, " As I live! declares the Lord God, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then do you die, O house of Israel?"

The next verses are so powerful.. the Lord tells us that we cannot count on our past righteousness to save us from our present sinfulness...the penalty of sin is death...  But.. if we turn from sin and "practice justice and righteousness".. if we restore a pledge, pay back what we stole, walk by the Word of life.. we will live. In the end the Lord says, " I will judge each of you according to your ways."  

Verses 21-33 Refugees arrived that day from Jerusalem, which had fallen.  They still felt as though they deserved to possess the land.. but the Lord spoke to them sternly.. "You eat meat with the blood in it, lift up your eyes to your idols as you shed blood. Should you possess the land?  You rely on your sword, you commit abominations, and each of you defiles his neighbor's wife. Should you possess the land?" 

The Lord does not accept their arguments.. He does not accept ours either.. our excuses or explanations.. our selfish and prideful thinking does not hold water with Him!  Israel saw with their own eyes what happens to a land that does not heed the warnings that God sends..  They came to hear what Ezekiel said, but they still  did not turn from their "lustful desires" and their hearts continues to seek their own gain.  ".. for they hear your words; but they do not practice them.." the Lord tells Ezekiel.   

James echoed this in his epistle, " But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves." ( James 1:22) 

Oh gracious Father, You are  God.. who has given us warning after warning that we must turn back.. turn back to You and know that You alone are the Lord and that You will judge every sin.  You call us to Yourself.. to find the righteousness that You require in the Son, who came to restore us to Yourself.  You call us to be hearers and doers of Your Word. You have given to us Your Spirit to help us to hear and to do Your good pleasure. Thank You for giving us the warnings... for the watchmen that You commissioned who recorded Your Words of life that we might find salvation from our sins.   May our hearts seek You always and may we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 

 Ezekiel 29-32  Over a period of about 2 years, Ezekiel prophesied about the fate of Egypt.  Pharaoh had considered himself a god and had boasted that the Nile was his.. that he had made it himself.  As with the other nations, Egypt was filled with pride about its power and wealth.  But God, never allows any nation to continue in their wickedness.. but works to reveal to them that He alone is Lord.  

Egypt would become desolate. Darkness would fall.. the sword would come against them, and Nebuchadnezzar would be given her wealth.  Pharaoh would watch as judgement came upon his nation and then as Assyria would also be brought down. He had thought himself indestructible but would find himself in the same situation as every other "uncircumcised"  person.. brought down to the "nether world with those who go down to the pit." (32:18)

32:18-32 gives a stark picture of the death of those who are "uncircumcised" .. those who rejected the Lord God...  "They have gone down, they lie still, the uncircumcised, slain by the sword."  The strong.. the powerful.. the heroes.. the kings and princes.. the chiefs.. and Pharaoh also.. those who "instilled terror in the land of the living... "  would bear their disgrace.. would find "punishment for their iniquity rested on their bones"... would be ashamed.. as they went down to the pit. 

This is the reality for every human being.. as the writer of Hebrews wrote, " And insomuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after that comes judgement." ( 9:27)  Paul wrote about this in Romans 1.. " For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness... " God is not impressed with wealth, power, status, or strength.. Pharaoh was no different than any of us.. he had a choice.. to worship God or himself.. and he chose himself.  For that, he was judged and has "gone down" into the pit. 

Ezekiel's messages are definitely not easy to read.. they are not full of  joy and gladness.. but a necessary truth.. God sees each and every heart.. and He alone will judge every one of us.  We need to remember this.. to think about those who are walking in darkness around us.. those who call themselves strong or powerful.. those who think they are heroes or princes.. but don't know Jesus. They are headed into that same pit.. and their only hope is Jesus Christ.  Oh how they need to hear the Good News!

Father in heaven, You are God alone and there is no other.  We have no other hope except in Your salvation, provided by the blood of Jesus Christ who was slain for us, that we might be forgiven our iniquities and cleansed from all unrighteousness. Thank You for such a great salvation.  We pray for those in our lives.. our families and friends.. our neighbors and even strangers.. that they might hear the Word of the Lord and turn from their pride and sin.. and come to call upon the Name of Jesus Christ and be saved.  Send forth workers into this harvest field we pray. In Jesus' name amen.