Today’s Reading: Daniel 6; Psalm 27

The Lord is my light and my salvation – so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?
When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.
Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident. – Psalm 27:1-3

If you can ignore the fact that he was in captivity, you can say that everything had gone right for Daniel. He went from being a Jewish captive to a member of the royal service to ruler over the whole province of Babylon, as well as chief over all King Nebuchadnezzar’s wise men. Under King Belshazzar’s reign, Daniel was made the third highest ruler in the kingdom and Darius the Mede appointed Daniel as one of three administrators over all the high officers. Darius made plans to place Daniel over the entire empire and the other administrators had had enough! They reacted with jealousy and found pleasure in the possibility of seeing something go wrong in Daniel’s life. Sadly, we see this same reaction play out today on the job, within families, and sometimes even in the church.

The plot to destroy Daniel struck where they knew it would affect him the most – the worship of his God. They stroked the pride of King Darius and tricked him into issuing a decree that no one could pray to any god except the King himself. Once more, someone placed in a leadership position and given authority allowed pride to take over and made a foolish decision based on his own wants and desires.

But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down AS USUAL in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, JUST AS HE HAD ALWAYS DONE, giving thanks to his God. Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help. – Daniel 6:10-11

JUST AS HE HAD ALWAYS DONE, Daniel went to his knees to pray to his God for protection. He was not praying because he was now in a difficult situation and needed rescuing; he prayed JUST AS HE HAD ALWAYS DONE, three times a day, giving thanks to his God.

Daniel had faithfully developed a habit or life pattern of spending time in prayer, which is what made him the kind of man we have been studying. Spending time daily in God’s presence resulted in God’s presence dwelling daily within Daniel, giving him strength and wisdom. Today was no different. Daniel trusted in God, JUST AS HE HAD ALWAYS DONE.

As a result of his decree, King Darius had no choice but to follow through with the punishment as declared in the new law – Daniel would have to be thrown into the den of lions. The king was deeply troubled and spent the night fasting for the protection of his faithful servant, Daniel.

Was Daniel scared? Did he question his decision to pray JUST AS HE HAD ALWAYS DONE, with the windows wide open? I choose to believe that Daniel reacted the same way his friends Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did. I choose to believe that Daniel trusted in God to save him, but also loved God enough to say, “But even if He doesn’t…”

The next morning, the king hurried to the lion’s den and called out, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?”

Daniel answered, “Long live the king! My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.” – Daniel 6:20-22

As a result of Daniel’s faithfulness and his testimony of how God had rescued him from what seemed an impossible situation, God was glorified and given the praise. I pray those around us can see that we serve God faithfully and that we trust in Him through all situations, good and bad. This kind of faithfulness starts in our quiet times with the Lord. It is in the intimate moments with God that He takes us deeper in our relationship with Him and draws us closer to Him, creating fellowship and oneness with Him.

“The lasting value of our public service for God is measured by the depth of the intimacy of our private times of fellowship and oneness with Him” – Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest. Chambers’ words bring conviction this morning, but they also inspire me. Oh how I long to go deeper.

Here me as I pray, O Lord.
Be merciful and answer me!
My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”
And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” – Psalm 27:7-8

I have no idea what you are going through right now, but I pray that the depth of your daily private times of fellowship and oneness with God give you the strength of faith to trust in Him. I pray you believe that He can rescue you just as He rescued Daniel. I pray He will strengthen your faith and give you the courage to say, “But even if He doesn’t…”

Today’s Reading: Daniel 5, Psalm 93

Common people are as worthless as a puff of wind,
and the powerful are not what they appear to be.
If you weigh them on the scales, together they are lighter than a breath of air. – Psalm 62:9

Have you stepped on the scale lately? It is one of my least favorite things to do yet I find myself doing it every day. Like it or not, the number on the scale is the reality I am facing and the need to make improvements in my daily habits is evident. I have been weighed on a balance and the truth is speaking louder than my denial.

The days of you being in control are numbered (Mene), you have been weighed (Tekel) on the balances and you have not measured up. Your kingdom has been divided (Parsin) and given to someone else. This is the writing on the wall – God’s message to the next King of Babylon, Belshazzar.

King Belshazzar knew Babylonian history. He knew that King Nebuchadnezzar’s heart and mind had been puffed up with arrogance and that he was brought down from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. Knowing all of this, King Belshazzar still did not humble himself but proudly defied God by drinking from the cups brought to Babylon from the Temple in Jerusalem (Daniel 5:20-23).

“You have not honored the God who gives you the breath of life and controls your destiny! So God has sent this hand to write this message. This is the message that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, and PARSIN.” – Daniel 5:23b-25

He knew better. He knew what could happen if he put himself and what he wanted above the Most High God. He knew and yet he chose to build his own kingdom instead of honoring God. How often are we found guilty of the same thing? If we were weighed on a balance would we measure up? When we choose our own way and do our own thing and hope that God will bless our plans, we are fooling ourselves. The days of us being in control of our own life are numbered and the blessings God has poured out on our life can easily be taken away and given to someone else.

But when the queen mother heard what was happening, she hurried to the banquet hall. She said to Belshazzar, “Long live the king! Don’t be so pale and frightened. There is a man in your kingdom who has within him the spirit of the holy gods. During Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, this man was found to have insight, understanding, and wisdom like that of the gods. Your predecessor, the king – your predecessor, King Nebuchadnezzar – made him chief over all the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and fortune-tellers of Babylon. This man Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, has exceptional ability and is filled with divine knowledge and understanding. He can interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means.” – Daniel 5:10-12

The queen mother was not a believer and yet she saw the difference in Daniel. She knew that Daniel had a holy spirit within him that set him apart from others. Each day we are surrounded by unbelievers and we have the opportunity to let them see something different in us that cannot be found in the hearts of the world – they can see Jesus!

That night King Belshazzar was killed and a new king took his place, King Darius. Just as the writing on the wall foretold, Belshazzar’s days were numbered and his kingdom was divided.

Darius the Mede decided to divide the kingdom into 120 provinces, and he appointed a high officer to rule over each province. The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the high officers and protect the king’s interests. Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire.

Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy. – Daniel 6:1-4

Daniel: insight, understanding, wisdom, exceptional ability, filled with divine knowledge and understanding, ability to interpret and solve difficult problems, capable, faithful, always responsible and completely trustworthy. Wow, what a description! When weighed by others, Daniel was found to be all of these things. When weighed by God, Daniel was found to be humble and faithful, and God’s blessings increased in his life.

If we were weighed on a balance would we measure up? If left to our own ability and strength, probably not. But Daniel had something we have even more access to – a Holy Spirit. It is not a matter of trying harder and hoping to be something extraordinary, it is a matter of humbling ourselves before God and allowing Him to fill us with Himself so that He can be exactly who He is and we can become just what He created us to be.

Lord, I pray that others can see the evidence of your presence in our lives. I pray that you will be glorified in all that we say and do so that those around us will grow in their faith. As we step on the scale this morning, we pray that our value will be measured by the fruit of your Spirit living within us.

Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness. – Psalm 145:3

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 40-48

Ezekiel chapter 10 speaks of a vision Ezekiel had of God’s presence leaving the Temple and going into the wilderness. What a huge loss for Jerusalem. They had forsaken their God and were now experiencing life without His daily protection and provision. Babylon had attacked the city and destroyed the Temple. It sat in ruins in the middle of the city. The pride of Jerusalem was now nothing more than a pile of rubble.

BUT WHEN IT SEEMS ALL IS LOST, GOD HAS A WAY OF RESTORING HOPE INTO OUR LIVES.

Chapter 40 begins a detailed description of another vision of Ezekiel’s. In this vision, God took hold of Ezekiel and placed him on a very high mountain where he could see what appeared to be a city. As God brought him closer, he saw a man whose face shone like bronze standing beside the entrance. The man was holding a linen measuring cord and a measuring rod.

The man began to measure the wall that surrounded the Temple area, and then he measured each gateway to the Temple. He measured the outer courtyard, each room in the Temple and then the inner courtyard. The details of the Temple were slowly being revealed as the man took time to show Ezekiel the exact measurements of each element of the building. After measuring the inside of the Temple, the man led Ezekiel out to measure the entire perimeter. The area was 875 feet on each side and had a wall around it to separate what was holy from what was common.

Suddenly, the glory of the God of Israel appeared from the east. The sound of his coming was like the roar of the rushing waters, and the whole landscape shone with his glory…I fell face down on the ground. And the glory of the Lord came into the Temple through the east gateway.

Then the Spirit took me up and brought me into the inner courtyard, and the glory of the Lord filled the Temple. And I heard someone speaking to me from within the Temple, while the man who had been measuring stood beside me. The Lord said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place where I will rest my feet. I will live here forever among the people of Israel…” – Ezekiel 43:2-7

Ezekiel was given instructions to describe this vision to God’s people, to remind them of how they had defiled His name. He was to give them the details and let them study God’s plan closely. This Temple would be different from the temple they had built. God would not be defiled in this holy place for the basic law of this Temple would be absolute holiness (43:12). Only those who have fully surrendered themselves to the Lord will worship there and God’s chosen priests will be given the responsibility to teach the people the difference between what is holy and what is common, and between what is ceremonially clean and unclean (44:23).

There was a stream flowing east from beneath the door of the Temple and passing to the right of the altar. The man measured the stream as he led Ezekiel into the waters. The water came to Ezekiel’s ankles, then to his knees. As they walked across the stream the water went from Ezekiel’s waist until it was too deep to walk across.

“Have you been watching, son of man?” – Ezekiel 47:6

Ezekiel noticed that there were trees growing on both sides of the river. The man revealed to Ezekiel that the water was flowing into the valley of the Dead Sea, healing the salty waters so that fish would abound and waters would be fresh for the first time. Someday fishermen will stand along the shores of the Dead Sea casting their nets into the water.

Fruit trees of all kinds will grow along both sides of the river. The leaves of these trees will never turn brown and fall, and there will always be fruit on their branches. There will be a new crop every month, for they are watered by the river flowing from the Temple. The fruit will be for food and the leaves for healing.” – Ezekiel 47:12

As Ezekiel described the vision to God’s people with the detailed description of what the Temple would one day be again, HOPE WAS RESTORED. God wanted them to see what was ahead for all those who choose to be faithful to Him. One day there will be a magnificent Temple in which God will dwell and His people will worship. Blessings will flow from this place of praise and adoration. Water will flow from this temple as it gives life to those who stand at its riverbanks and provides healing to all who step into the waters.

“And from that day the name of the city will be ‘The Lord Is There.’” – Ezekiel 48:35b

When God is present, sins are forgiven and hope is restored. We can enjoy the flow of His healing waters and find roots along the riverbank to grow in our knowledge of Him. He is the God of restoration and redemption; He is creating a place of absolute holiness. What a beautiful message of hope for us to cling to this morning!

Today’s Reading: Daniel 4, Psalm 107

The number of captives taken to Babylon in the 17th year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign was 3,023. Then in Nebuchadnezzar’s 18th year he took 832 more. In Nebuchadnezzar’s 23rd year he sent Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, who took 745 more – a total of 4,600 captives in all. – Jeremiah 52:28-30

Consider this context of the people of Judah being carried into exile, and let’s go back to the book of Daniel. Three of the young men living in exile were told they would be thrown into the fire if they did not bow down and worship the gold statue King Nebuchadnezzar had made. Even though they were captives in this foreign land, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego stood strong in their faith.

“O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. BUT EVEN IF HE DOESN’T, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” – Daniel 3:16-18

BUT EVEN IF HE DOESN’T

What an amazing example of trusting God. When life is difficult and there is nothing we can do to change the demands around us, our best option is to trust God. We can proclaim our belief that God will take care of us, yet be willing to cling to our faith even if He does not move the way we want Him to.

I admit I have had to overcome the tendency to solve my own problems. I had to let go of my need to manipulate and control a situation and let Him be Lord, saying – I know that the God I serve is able to save and rescue me by His power but, EVEN IF HE DOESN’T, I will trust Him. Daily I have to let go of the reins and trust that God reigns.

King Nebuchadnezzar had a similar lesson to learn, again through the interpretation of a dream: A large tree was growing very tall and strong, reaching high into the heavens for the whole world to see. It had fresh green leaves, was loaded with fruit, and offered shade to wild animals and a home for the birds nestled in its branches. This tree was large enough to feed all the people.

But then a holy messenger came down from heaven shouting, “Cut down the tree and lop off its branches! Shake off its leaves and scatter its fruit! Chase the wild animals from its shade and the birds from its branches. But leave the stump and the roots in the ground…For seven periods of time, let him have the mind of a wild animal instead of the mind of a human.” – Daniel 4:14-16

Although he was frightened by the meaning, Daniel interpreted the dream and advised the king to stop sinning and do what was right — to break from his wicked past and be merciful to the poor. Daniel was a refugee. He had been taken from his home into captivity and then taken away from his family to be assigned to the royal service of King Nebuchadnezzar, a very selfish and evil man. Interpreting this dream took courage and the kind of faith that says — I believe my God will rescue me…

BUT EVEN IF HE DOESN’T

The dream got the king’s attention but his attitude remained the same. His pride was stronger than his faith: “Look at this great city of Babylon! By MY OWN mighty power, I have built this beautiful city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendor” (Daniel 4:30).

While these words were still in his mouth, a voice called down from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, this message is for you! You are no longer ruler of this kingdom. You will be driven from human society. You will live in the fields with the wild animals, and you will eat grass like a cow. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses.” – Daniel 4:31-32

The king reigning over God’s people during their 70 years of exile was now experiencing his own exile of 7 years. When his sanity returned and he was given back the throne, his attitude had changed. “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of heaven. All his acts are just and true, and he is able to humble the proud” (Daniel 4:37). He had learned the hard way that God was in control and he was not, a lesson I have had to daily learn.

Lord, I have so many questions about the future, but I choose to once again give you the reins. I want nothing more than for you to be in charge. No matter what I face, I want to be able to say with confidence that YOU ARE ABLE. Reveal any pride in my life and replace it with humility. Help me to let go and trust YOU – the God who reigns! Lord, give me the strength in every situation to say…

BUT EVEN IF HE DOESN’T

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were right to trust God. In anger, King Nebuchadnezzar did throw them into the furnace, which he had heated seven times hotter than usual. But as the king looked into the fire, he saw four men walking around – unbound and unharmed! He called for the young Hebrews to come out of the fire and they did. The fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke! (Daniel 3:27b)

That is what our God is capable of. He can rescue us and chances are He will rescue us. BUT EVEN IF HE DOESN’T, are you willing to serve Him? Are you willing to trust Him even if there is a furnace ahead for you? Even if you don’t know how things will turn out in the end, are you willing to say with confidence that He is Lord? Will you let go of the reins and trust in the God who reigns?

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 25, Jeremiah 51-52, Psalm 79

So on January 15, during the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon led his entire army against Jerusalem. They surrounded the city and built siege ramps against its walls. Jerusalem was kept under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah’s reign. – 2 Kings 25:1-2

It had been two and a half years of terror. Those who were still in the city had been hiding behind the protection of the walls of Jerusalem. The famine within the city had become severe and there was nothing left to eat. A section of the wall finally succumbed to the siege and collapsed. The city was surrounded by Babylonians; there was no hope for survival.

The king and his soldiers decided to make a run for it. They waited until nightfall and escaped out of a gate behind the king’s garden, but the king was quickly captured. The Babylonians pronounced judgment on King Zedekiah, and made him watch as they slaughtered his sons. Then they gouged out his eyes so that the last image he would ever see would be the painful death of his family and the destruction of his city. They bound him in chains and led him to Babylon.

So this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I will bring such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of those who hear about it will tingle with horror. – 2 Kings 21:12

King Nebuchadnezzar and his officials came to Jerusalem to celebrate their victory. They set fire to the Temple, the palace, and all of the houses in Jerusalem. If a building was important, it came down. The army continued to pull down the wall around Jerusalem until there was very little left to what was once a magnificent city. It had been the place where families came to offer their sacrifices and celebrate the religious festivals. The Temple had been the pride of the people — the place where the God of Israel dwelled among His creation.

Everything made of gold, silver, or bronze was carried away by the Babylonians, as were the remaining residents of Jerusalem. Only a small group of the poorest people in the land were left to tend to the vineyards and fields. The last of the priests and leaders were brought before the king of Babylon and executed.

O God, pagan nations have conquered your land,
your special possession.
They have defiled your holy Temple
and made Jerusalem a heap of ruins.
They have left the bodies of your servants
as food for the birds of heaven.
The flesh of your godly ones
has become food for the wild animals.
Blood has flowed like water all around Jerusalem;
no one is left to bury the dead.
We are mocked by our neighbors,
an object of scorn and derision to those around us.
O Lord, how long will you be angry with us? Forever?
How long will your jealousy burn like fire? – Psalm 79:1-5

In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the year Awel-Marduk became king of Babylon, he released Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison. He did this on the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month. He spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat of honor higher than those of the other kings who were with him in Babylon. So Jehoiachin put aside his prison clothes and for the rest of his life ate regularly at the king’s table. Day by day the king gave Jehoiachin a regular allowance as long as he lived. – 2 Kings 25:27-30

HE PUT ASIDE HIS PRISON CLOTHES.

After 37 years of being imprisoned, God gave Jehoiachin favor with the new king of Babylon. I love the symbolism of Jehoiachin taking off his prison clothes in order to sit at the king’s table. The weight of the chains was gone, and he was experiencing some level of freedom and luxury once again. But what if Jehoiachin had continued to wear his prison clothes while feasting at the king’s table? What if he continued to identify with his old life instead of embracing this new opportunity?

So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. — Galatians 5:1

We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. – Romans 6:6-11

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! – 2 Corinthians 5:17

Father God, we thank you for the freedom that is available to us because you were willing to give your Son as a sacrifice for our sins. We are grateful for the opportunity today to cast off our prison clothes — to stop identifying with our sin and to no longer allow our shame to define who we are. We are a new creation in you, and so we come to your table as a child of God — redeemed, restored, renewed, and ready to be used by you today.

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 37-39, Jeremiah 45-49

The Lord took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley with bones. He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out. – Ezekiel 37:1-2

Can you picture this – a valley covered in old dry bones? What the Israelites probably pictured was the prophecy of Jeremiah just a few years before this:

“So beware,” says the Lord, “when that garbage dump will no longer be called Topheth or the valley of Ben-Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter. They will bury the bodies in Topheth until there is no more room for them. The bodies of my people will be food for the vultures and wild animals, and no one will be left to scare them away…Their bones will not be gathered up again or buried but will be scattered on the ground like manure…” – Jeremiah 7:32-8:2

What a horrifying picture. God was using this imagery to represent the people of Israel. By now Jerusalem had been destroyed and all of God’s people had been scattered. The Jews feared they would never be a nation again – that the people of Israel would slowly fade away and die.

Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, ‘We have become old, dry bones – all hope is gone. Our nation is finished.’ Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to RISE AGAIN. Then I will BRING YOU BACK to the land of Israel. When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the Lord. I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and RETURN HOME to your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes, the Lord has spoken!’” – Ezekiel 37:11-14

As angry as God was with the unfaithfulness of His prodigal children, He still heard their cries and wanted to give them HOPE. He spoke to his people through the prophet Ezekiel concerning the dry bones: “Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life.” – Ezekiel 37:4-7

As Ezekiel watched, that is exactly what happened to the valley of dry bones – They all came to life and stood up on their feet – a great army (37:10b). Praise God! The people already knew with confidence that God COULD extend grace to them, forgive them and breathe life back into their nation. The question was whether or not He WOULD. They needed to hear that He was not completely abandoning them in their sin but that there was indeed hope for their future (Jer. 29:11).

And that is the God we serve! There are times when God allows us to experience the full consequences of our sins. We reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7-8). But the God we serve is also a loving God who does not give up on us – HE BREATHES NEW LIFE INTO US through the blood of Jesus. There are also times in our lives when God allows us to suffer from illnesses, disease or tragedies. We know we serve a God who CAN heal and make everything better, but we find ourselves watching and waiting to see if He WILL.

Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil – the commander of the powers of the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is SO rich in mercy, and he loved us SO much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) – Ephesians 2:1-5

Let’s praise God along with the psalmist David and make this our prayer today:
No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.
My body rests in safety.
For you will NOT leave my soul among the dead
Or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.
You will show me the joy of your presence and
The pleasures of living with you forever. – Psalm 16:9-11

I am so thankful for a Father who never gives up on His prodigal children. I praise Him for being a God of grace and love who shows us the joy of His presence and leads us back into the fold.

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 32-36, Psalm 23, Jeremiah 50

“You are my flock, the sheep of my pasture. You are my people and I am your God. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken.” – Ezekiel 34:31

I find great comfort in the imagery that God is my shepherd, caring for me and watching over me each day. The analogy of the sheep and their dependence on the shepherd is used over and over again in the Bible. Of course, we could be a little insulted because of the lack of intelligence of sheep, yet we find ourselves agreeing with the fact that alone we are lost, unprotected and most definitely in need of a shepherd.

In Ezekiel, the Lord expressed anger with the leaders of Israel who were supposed to be “shepherding” the flock. “You abandoned my flock and left them to be attacked by every wild animal. And though you were my shepherds, you didn’t search for my sheep when they were lost. You took care of yourselves and left the sheep to starve” (Ezekiel 34:8).

Jesus expressed this same frustration with the leaders of Israel during His time on earth: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep” (John 10:11-15).

This is what the Good Shepherd has to say about how He will care for his sheep after their time of exile in Babylon: “I myself will search and find my sheep. I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day. I will bring them back home to their own land of Israel from among the peoples and nations. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel and by the rivers and in all the places where people live. Yes, I will give them good pastureland on the high hills of Israel. There they will lie down in pleasant places and feed in the lush pastures of the hills. I myself will tend my sheep and give them a place to lie down in peace, says the Sovereign Lord. I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again. I will bandage the injured and strengthen the weak” (Ezekiel 34:11-16).

Oh, how our Heavenly Father loves all of His sheep! He takes care of His flock, individually caring for each and every lamb. He doesn’t give up on the lost but actively draws them to Himself and heals them from their time away from the flock. This is what Jesus had to say about our Good Shepherd:

“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.” – Matthew 18:12-14

He cares more about the one who has wandered off into sin than for the one who has remained with the flock. We should be hurt by that, shouldn’t we? Oh, the sin of self-righteousness that trips us up over and over again. The prophet Isaiah clears this one right up for us: “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).

Let’s join the psalmist David in this prayer, recognizing that God is OUR Shepherd:
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,
He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name sake.
Even though I walk through the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,
For you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. – Psalm 23

We have so many reasons to praise and worship our Heavenly Father today. Let us enter into His presence with thankful hearts for our Good Shepherd, recognizing that we were once lost and now we are found!

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 25-31, Jeremiah 39-44

“I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to STAND IN THE GAP in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one.” – Ezekiel 22:30

There are many choices that people make in reaction to the sinful culture in which we live. Some are lured in by the promise of happiness and choose to join the party. Some plan to simply enjoy the pleasures of the world for just a short time; they ignorantly plan to have fun for a while and then submit to God later. Some mourn over the choices of the world and lock their doors, guarding themselves from the evil that is so prevalent in our society. But some are willing to be a voice for the Lord, just as Jeremiah and Ezekiel were.

This is not an easy decision to make. To speak out against sin is now defined as hate. To define what is moral and what is not is now considered hate speech. To call out the behavior of a group of people is now thought to be prejudice and is equated with racism or abuse. To be conservative politically is now regarded as judgmental and uncompassionate.

In the next few chapters of Ezekiel, God reveals His judgment for those who have taken the blessings of God and corrupted their thinking. He speaks out against those who have disregarded His call to righteousness and chosen their own path.

“You were blameless in all you did from the day you were created until the day evil was found in you.
Your rich commerce led you to violence, and you sinned…
Your heart was filled with pride because of your beauty.
Your wisdom was corrupted by your love of splendor.” – Ezekiel 28:15-17

But for those like Jeremiah and Ezekiel who have stayed faithful to God and been willing to be a vessel of truth, God had this message: “I will do to this city everything I have threatened. I will send disaster, not prosperity. You will see its destruction, but I will rescue you from those you fear so much. Because you have trusted me, I will give you your life as a reward. I will rescue you and keep you safe. I, the Lord, have spoken!” (Jeremiah 39:16b-18)

Just as He promised, God rescued Jeremiah from his chains. The captain of the guard recognized that God was pouring out His judgment just as He said He would. He took Jeremiah’s chains off and let him go. He even offered to let Jeremiah come with him to Babylon so that he could see that the prophet was well taken care of. He was given his freedom to go wherever he wanted to go but he chose to stay in Judah and minister to those who had been left behind under the leadership of Gedaliah, whom the King of Babylon had named governor.

Jeremiah continued to be a voice for God, encouraging the people to obey God so that everything would turn out well for them. He gave them the Lord’s message that they would be protected if they stayed in Judah but destroyed if they chose to live in Egypt. They looked at what little was left in Judah and lusted after all the promises of happiness that could be found in Egypt. They walked away from all God had to offer them in order to experience all the riches this world promised to give them.

Do not be surprised when those around you will not listen to you. Do not be shocked by their choice to indulge in the temporary pleasures of this world. God is calling us to continue to be the voice of truth in the midst of a sinful generation, while also being the voice of grace that offers salvation. We are not to celebrate the judgment of sinners but show them the love of Christ, continuing to invite them to follow after all God has to offer them. Show compassion to sinners without redefining morality; show love to those who are lost while also rescuing them from the lies of the enemy. Let’s SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE — kindly yet unapologetically — while we stand in the gap for our country.

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 21–24

“Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Again and again you remind me of your sin and your guilt. You don’t even try to hide it! In everything you do, your sins are obvious for all to see. So now the time of your punishment has come!” – Ezekiel 21:24

Now this message came to me from the Lord: “Son of man, are you ready to judge Jerusalem? Are you ready to judge this city of murderers? Publicly denounce her detestable sins and give her this message from the Sovereign Lord: O city of murderers, doomed and damned — city of idols, filthy and foul — you are guilty because of the blood you have shed…Every leader in Israel who lives within your walls in bent on murder…Your leaders are like wolves who tear apart their victims. They actually destroy people’s lives for money!” – Ezekiel 22:1-6, 27

As we read chapter after chapter of the bad behavior of the people, it is hard not to recognize the same carnality in our own culture. Our nation has continued to worship the things of this world instead of the God on whom our country was built. Our leaders have continued to destroy lives for their own gain and our people have continued to lust after all things sexual. The desire to feel good and redefine morality has changed the atmosphere in which the next generation is growing up.

A message came to Ezekiel from the Lord describing Samaria and Jerusalem as two sisters who lusted after attractive young men from Assyria. They wanted to be fondled and physically pleasured so they gave themselves as prostitutes to these men. They were abused and mistreated, but chose to become slaves to their sexual desires instead of turning back to the Lord. They gazed upon pictures of handsome men and longed to give themselves away, and so they did. They committed adultery by worshiping idols and murder by sacrificing their children (Ezekiel 23).

“And because you have forgotten me and turned your back on me, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: You must bear the consequences of all your lewdness and prostitution.” – Ezekiel 23:35

In chapter 24, Ezekiel told of another message from the Lord in which he described Jerusalem as a cooking pot that was so encrusted with sin that it would not come clean. The Lord ordered that wood be heaped on the fire to make the pot boil, but it was hopeless; the corruption could not be cleaned out.

“Your impurity is your lewdness and the corruption of your idolatry. I tried to cleanse you, but you refused. So now remain in your filth until my fury against you has been satisfied.” – Ezekiel 24:15

The Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. God took away their source of security and pride. Their sons and daughters left behind in Judea were slaughtered by the sword. God allowed their dearest treasures to be taken away. They had placed their delight in something other than the worship of God. They had found joy and glory in following their heart’s desire, making the things of this world their stronghold instead of trusting in God (Ez. 24:20-25).

So where do we see ourselves in this scripture? Have we fallen prey to the sexual addictions of our society. Do we lust after the things of this world? Have we made our own success the source of our security and pride? Have we found joy in pursuing what makes us feel good? Does our heart chase after the things of this world more than it longs for God? Perhaps God is calling us even now to stand in the gap of the broken wall around our country, praying for the repentance of our nation and the protection of our children. When it seems easier to give up and begin mourning, perhaps God is calling us to rebuild the wall of righteousness that used to guard our land.

“I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to STAND IN THE GAP in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one. So now I will pour out my fury on them, consuming them with the fire of my anger. I will heap on their heads the full penalty of all their sins. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!” – Ezekiel 22:30-31

Father God, our nation is a reflection of this passage of scripture. We have sinned against you. Our priorities are self-serving, sexual sin has corrupted our culture, and the unborn are daily sacrificed in the name of women’s sexual rights. Our nation does not deserve your mercy but we pray that you will raise up an army of your people to rebuild the foundation of righteousness on which this nation was formed. May our light shine brighter as this world grows darker, so that the lost may be found and so that hope will be restored. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Obadiah, Psalm 82

Just as the prophets foretold, God’s people were captured by Babylon and taken into captivity. Jerusalem was destroyed. God’s promise to His people was to bring them back home after seventy years of captivity. During this same time of God bringing forth judgment on the Israelites, he was also speaking judgment against the enemy nations that surrounded them. One of those enemies was their “brother nation”.

Think back to the story of Abraham and Sarah. God told them they would have many descendants and blessed them with a son in their old age. Isaac married Rebekah and she gave birth to twins – Esau and Jacob. These brothers started their struggle against each other in their mother’s womb and continued this adversarial relationship into adulthood. They left behind descendants who carried on the family feud.

God’s people, the Israelites, were descendants of Abraham’s grandson, Jacob. The descendants of Jacob’s twin brother, Esau, were the people of Edom. The prophet Obadiah spoke strongly against the reaction of the Edomites to the defeat of Israel, replaying the animosity that Esau felt towards Jacob. As the Jacob’s descendants were being attacked and carried into exile, Esau’s descendants were celebrating – they were gloating and even going as far as to assist the Babylonians, instead of stepping in and helping the Israelites.

GLOATING INSTEAD OF HELPING

O Lord, remember what the Edomites did on the day the armies of Babylon captured Jerusalem. “Destroy it!” they yelled. “Level it to the ground!” – Psalm 137:7

The Lord says to Edom, “I will cut you down to size among the nations; you will be greatly despised. You have been DECEIVED BY YOUR OWN PRIDE because you live in a rock fortress and make your home high in the mountains. ‘Who can ever reach us up here?’ you ask boastfully. But even if you soar as high as eagles and build your nest among the stars, I WILL BRING YOU CRASHING DOWN,” says the Lord. – Obadiah 1:2-4

“Because of the violence you did to your close relatives in Israel, you will be filled with shame and destroyed forever. When they were invaded, YOU STOOD ALOOF, refusing to help them. Foreign invaders carried off their wealth and cast lots to divide up Jerusalem, but you acted like one of Israel’s enemies. You should not have gloated…You should not have rejoiced…You should not have spoken arrogantly in that terrible time of trouble…As you have done to Israel, so it will be done to you.” – Obadiah 1:10-12,15

STANDING ALOOF INSTEAD OF CARING

God, help us! How often have we been found standing aloof while those around us are struggling? How often have we refused to help those around us who are suffering the consequences of their own actions? We stand back and say, “It serves them right” or “I’m not surprised” or “They are getting what they deserve…” Just as God expected the descendants of Esau to step in and help their neighboring brother nation, He communicated strong expectations in both the Old and New Testaments for how we are to help those around us.

“If you see your neighbor’s ox or sheep or goat wandering away, don’t ignore your responsibility. Take it back to its owner. If its owner does not live nearby or you don’t know who the owner is, take it to your place and keep it until the owner comes looking for it. Then you must return it. Do the same if you find your neighbor’s donkey, clothing, or anything else your neighbor loses. Don’t ignore your responsibility. If you see that your neighbor’s donkey or ox has collapsed on the road, DO NOT LOOK THE OTHER WAY. Go and help your neighbor get back on its feet!” – Deuteronomy 22:1-4

IGNORING INSTEAD OF SHOWING MERCY

“Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me your clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’
And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’
And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.” – Matthew 25:41-46

God obviously takes our responsibility to those around us VERY seriously – to the point of punishment here on earth and eternally. For this reason, we also should take it seriously. So how can we apply this? God has blessed us with so much and there are so many around us who have so little.

Dear Lord, show us today to whom you would have us reach out. Forgive us for our complacency and our gloating. Destroy our pride and replace it with compassion for others. Convict us when we look away and give us YOUR eyes to see the world around us. Amen.

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. – Romans 12:9-10 NLT