There's a pretty consistent theme that comes through in these chapters. God is going to completely destroy the Israelites, the people, the city, the riches, the livestock....everything. In the first paragraph of chapter 6 he talks a lot about the idols that the people had constructed.
5 I will lay the dead bodies of the Israelites in front of their idols, and I will scatter your bones around your altars.
I think its REALLY important for us to remember that God is a jealous God. You can almost predict the future for the Israelites....the are saved by God, and then the wander themselves into destruction...then God saves them and they wander again. It must look like a futile pattern to God. It really angers him when we replace him with something man-made, or with anything at all. It drives him crazy to the point that he will destroy us. I don't think I live my life with the extreme mindset. I am not creating a golden staute that I build an altar for, and worship.....but, I do struggle with replacing God with my own plan, or with my own ambition, or with a desire for materism, or with my own family. I let things get in front of God everyday! I'm more aware of it lately, and am working on it.
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Monday, September 28, 2015
Ezekiel 5
Whoa!
This is a pretty scary prophecy.
17 I will send famine and wild beasts against you, and they will leave you childless. Plague and bloodshed will sweep through you, and I will bring the sword against you. I the Lord have spoken.”
Lots of horrible things are about be befall Jerusalem. There is a lot of imagery here, that I can only assume would mean more to that time than it does to me. I don't understand the cutting of the hair, and splitting it up into thirds....and then doing such specific things to it. The only thing I can grasp at, is that letting your hair grow seemed to be a thing that has come up in other books, almost as a committment to God and living his lifestyle. Now he is asking to shave the head and the beard. Maybe this represents a break with the "detestable people".
tp
This is a pretty scary prophecy.
17 I will send famine and wild beasts against you, and they will leave you childless. Plague and bloodshed will sweep through you, and I will bring the sword against you. I the Lord have spoken.”
Lots of horrible things are about be befall Jerusalem. There is a lot of imagery here, that I can only assume would mean more to that time than it does to me. I don't understand the cutting of the hair, and splitting it up into thirds....and then doing such specific things to it. The only thing I can grasp at, is that letting your hair grow seemed to be a thing that has come up in other books, almost as a committment to God and living his lifestyle. Now he is asking to shave the head and the beard. Maybe this represents a break with the "detestable people".
tp
Friday, September 25, 2015
Ezekiel 4
15 “Very well,” he said, “I will let you bake your bread over cow dung instead of human excrement.”
GROSS!
shortest one yet.
tp
GROSS!
shortest one yet.
tp
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Ezekial 3
0 “Again, when a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before them, they will die. Since you did not warn them, they will die for their sin. The righteous things that person did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.
So Ezekial had a pretty high standard God gave him...share the words of God with the people or be accountable for their wrong doings. I believe we are saved through Jesus blood not through our own act of sharing God's word. But at the same time it seems learning from Ezekial that not only should we want to share God's word with others, we have a responsibility to share what we learn in his word with others.
short and sweet,
knut
So Ezekial had a pretty high standard God gave him...share the words of God with the people or be accountable for their wrong doings. I believe we are saved through Jesus blood not through our own act of sharing God's word. But at the same time it seems learning from Ezekial that not only should we want to share God's word with others, we have a responsibility to share what we learn in his word with others.
short and sweet,
knut
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Ezekiel 1-2
Time to kick off another book--
Ch 1-27 I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him.
Consistently throughout the bible when there are visions of encounters with God it is describe with brilliantly bright light. It must really go beyond what human words can describe. Those who experience it seem changed forever, they have an absolute faith that cannot be challenged or weakened by any humans.
Ch 2- 7 You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious.
And so Ezekiel is about to be given revelations he must share that are probably not going to be well received. But I guessing his experience in ch. 1 was so burned into his being that there is no doubt in his mind he needs to share all that is revealed to him.
I am imaging if I could grab onto even a sliver of this level of faith the impact God could have on those within my circle of influence.
knut
Ch 1-27 I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him.
Consistently throughout the bible when there are visions of encounters with God it is describe with brilliantly bright light. It must really go beyond what human words can describe. Those who experience it seem changed forever, they have an absolute faith that cannot be challenged or weakened by any humans.
Ch 2- 7 You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious.
And so Ezekiel is about to be given revelations he must share that are probably not going to be well received. But I guessing his experience in ch. 1 was so burned into his being that there is no doubt in his mind he needs to share all that is revealed to him.
I am imaging if I could grab onto even a sliver of this level of faith the impact God could have on those within my circle of influence.
knut
Reading List
| Book: | Completed |
| Written by Moses | |
| 1. Genesis | Oct-13 |
| 2. Exodus | Dec-13 |
| 3. Leviticus | Mar-14 |
| 4. Numbers | |
| 5. Deuteronomy | Oct-11 |
| OT Narratives | |
| 6. Joshua | Oct-11 |
| 7. Judges | Dec-11 |
| 8. Ruth | Dec-11 |
| 9. 1 Samuel | Feb-12 |
| 10. 2 Samuel | Mar-12 |
| 11. 1 Kings | |
| 12. 2 Kings | |
| 13. 1 Chronicles | |
| 14. 2 Chronicles | |
| 15. Ezra | Apr-14 |
| 16. Nehemiah | Apr-14 |
| 17. Esther | May-14 |
| Wisdom Literature | |
| 18. Job | Aug-14 |
| 19. Psalms | Ch 1-32 Jan 2013, Ch 33-150 Sep 2015 |
| 20. Proverbs | Mar-13 |
| 21. Ecclesiastes | Apr-13 |
| 22. Song of Songs | Apr-13 |
| Major Prophets | |
| 23. Isaiah | Isaiah 1-35 Jun-13 |
| 24. Jeremiah | Apr-15 |
| 25. Lamentations | May-15 |
| 26. Ezekiel | |
| 27. Daniel | |
| Minor Prophets | |
| 28. Hosea | Sep-14 |
| 29. Joel | Sep-14 |
| 30. Amos | Sep-14 |
| 31. Obadiah | Sep-14 |
| 32. Jonah | Sep-14 |
| 33. Micah | Oct-14 |
| 34. Nahum | Oct-14 |
| 35. Habakkuk | Oct-14 |
| 36. Zephaniah | Oct-14 |
| 37. Haggai | Oct-14 |
| 38. Zechariah | Dec-14 |
| 39. Malachi | Dec-14 |
| NT Narratives | |
| 40. Matthew | Feb-14 |
| 41. Mark | Jan-15 |
| 42. Luke | Jan-13 |
| 43. John | May-15 |
| 44. Acts | Aug-13 |
| Epistles by Paul | |
| 45. Romans | May-12 |
| 46. 1 Corinthians | May-12 |
| 47. 2 Corinthians | Jul-12 |
| 48. Galatians | Jul-12 |
| 49. Ephesians | Jul-12 |
| 50. Philippians | Aug-12 |
| 51. Colossians | Aug-12 |
| 52. 1 Thessalonians | Sep-12 |
| 53. 2 Thessalonians | Sep-12 |
| 54. 1 Timothy | Sep-12 |
| 55. 2 Timothy | Sep-12 |
| 56. Titus | Sep-12 |
| 57. Philemon | Sep-12 |
| General Epistles | |
| 58. Hebrews | Oct-12 |
| 59. James | Apr-12 |
| 60. 1 Peter | Nov-12 |
| 61. 2 Peter | Nov-12 |
| 62. 1 John | Nov-12 |
| 63. 2 John | Nov-12 |
| 64. 3 John | Nov-12 |
| 65. Jude | Nov-12 |
| Apocalyptic Epistle by John | |
| 66. Revelation |
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Psalms 149-150!
6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord.
Well, Psalms was REALLY long, and sometimes seemed to be the same song, next verse to me. But, here I am at the end of it. And I love the final verse. It really sums up the entire book for me. If we praise the Lord, truly praise him in our lives....everything else will work. Isn't that crazy? All the hoops we try to jump thru, all the positioning we do to get ourselves in thet "right" spot.....and all we really need to focus on is praising him.
Short take to end a long book.
yahoo
tp
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Psalms 146-148
I think I've said this before, but it really feels to me like these times must have been very unsettled. There seems to be a sense of fragility. Things can go wrong at any moment. An attack could come from any angle. That's a very different way to live than the comforts we enjoy.
This "unsettled-ness" makes David look to God to support and protect him. You can hear it in every line. He talks about how God strengthens the gate to the city (worrying about foreign armies). He talks about how God sends the rain (worrying about drought and food for the people). Its in every line.
I think about the people that really have nothing, and how that generates a greater sense of faith, in them. They NEED to rely on God to sustain them. Although I wouldn't trade the comfort that I have, I am envious of that sense of desperate faith in God.
tp
This "unsettled-ness" makes David look to God to support and protect him. You can hear it in every line. He talks about how God strengthens the gate to the city (worrying about foreign armies). He talks about how God sends the rain (worrying about drought and food for the people). Its in every line.
I think about the people that really have nothing, and how that generates a greater sense of faith, in them. They NEED to rely on God to sustain them. Although I wouldn't trade the comfort that I have, I am envious of that sense of desperate faith in God.
tp
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Psalms 144-145
from 144 what are human beings that you care for them,
mere mortals that you think of them?
4 They are like a breath;
their days are like a fleeting shadow.
I like this verse, because it puts us in the perspective of God. We think of our lives being long. We think we have time to do things....but in reality, its like a breath and its over. I think about that sometimes in the context of those who have passed....like your dad. Is it like a breath and then you are there with him? I wonder his perspective.
FROM 145
6 They tell of the power of your awesome works—
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
Second thought for the day. God has done tremendous things in my life. Some over time, and some instantly. But, I don't talk too much about those things. I tend to keep them to myself. Why? It would be so much better for the world if I talked about those things.
tp
mere mortals that you think of them?
4 They are like a breath;
their days are like a fleeting shadow.
I like this verse, because it puts us in the perspective of God. We think of our lives being long. We think we have time to do things....but in reality, its like a breath and its over. I think about that sometimes in the context of those who have passed....like your dad. Is it like a breath and then you are there with him? I wonder his perspective.
FROM 145
6 They tell of the power of your awesome works—
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
Second thought for the day. God has done tremendous things in my life. Some over time, and some instantly. But, I don't talk too much about those things. I tend to keep them to myself. Why? It would be so much better for the world if I talked about those things.
tp
Monday, September 14, 2015
Psalms 140-143
I kept reading, this morning, until something grabbed me. I made it all the way to 143 before it happened.
8 Show me the way I should go,
for to you I entrust my life.
I'm not sure the circumstance by which these chapter were written. But, I can imagine that David is writing these as he is hiding from King Saul in the desert. I can sense his desperation. His loneliness for company, and for God. I like the verse I copied. It shows a complete trust in God. After all, there's nothing more you can give him, than your entire life. When you are completely relliant on him, life is exciting and meaningfull. I'm not very good at that....but, am working on it.
tp
8 Show me the way I should go,
for to you I entrust my life.
I'm not sure the circumstance by which these chapter were written. But, I can imagine that David is writing these as he is hiding from King Saul in the desert. I can sense his desperation. His loneliness for company, and for God. I like the verse I copied. It shows a complete trust in God. After all, there's nothing more you can give him, than your entire life. When you are completely relliant on him, life is exciting and meaningfull. I'm not very good at that....but, am working on it.
tp
Friday, September 4, 2015
Psalm 138-139
139:16
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
This is one of those overwhelming mind bending chapters for me to think about. That of the billions of people who have passed through this vessel called earth, God knew who I was and would be from the beginning.
I'm probably going to be missing all of next week. I leave for Australia Saturday and return on Friday. I'll get logged on if I can--we have almost completed Psalm. When we started it this time I figured we would need to break again but I'm glad we are going all the way through it.
knut
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Psalm 134-137
136:1
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
I didn't get a lot today. But I do love how this verse from Psalm has been used in popular song. Its a song that I'm not sure we sing much at church anymore but whenever I hear it it gets in my head and sticks for a while. I knew it was directly from the bible but to be honest I didn't know what Psalm so it was a nice surprise to run across this morning.
I love the quick less history reminder this Psalm provides and the comfort it gives that his love has been here long before I came into the earth and will be until the earth is done being used. Also more than ever for me when we read these verses that cover other parts of the bible its nice to know I have actually read those parts of the bible and taken time to think about them. I'm looking forward to the day I can say I have read the bible...and know that it is a complete statement. then i'll be ready for round 2!
knut
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Psalms 131-133
1 My heart is not proud, Lord,
my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
or things too wonderful for me.
from 131
This one is a surprise to me. I often try to think outside the box with God. I try to see what others haven't thought of. In fact, Max and I have spent many a late night talking about God, and the things that can make your head hurt. Like.....there is an entire history of God that occurred before the bible begins. Lucifer has already been thrown out of heaven....those kinds of things. But, after reading this, I see the value in not trying to pry in deeper than my brain can grasp. I think God loves a simple person who is completely satisfied with him being their king.
from 133
1 How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!
We just started a short series that is talking about the need to live in community with other believers. I completely agree. Without the positive influence of others trying to live the same way as me....I will more easily be swayed by the ways of the world. Hence the blog! I love the influence. I love ya!
tp
my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
or things too wonderful for me.
from 131
This one is a surprise to me. I often try to think outside the box with God. I try to see what others haven't thought of. In fact, Max and I have spent many a late night talking about God, and the things that can make your head hurt. Like.....there is an entire history of God that occurred before the bible begins. Lucifer has already been thrown out of heaven....those kinds of things. But, after reading this, I see the value in not trying to pry in deeper than my brain can grasp. I think God loves a simple person who is completely satisfied with him being their king.
from 133
1 How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!
We just started a short series that is talking about the need to live in community with other believers. I completely agree. Without the positive influence of others trying to live the same way as me....I will more easily be swayed by the ways of the world. Hence the blog! I love the influence. I love ya!
tp
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