Good morning, everyone!
Today I read Ezekiel 4-8.
In today's reading, God details the punishments for Israel's disobedience.
Then, He promises that a remnant will survive His wrath. He will not wipe out His people entirely.
He then takes Ezekiel in a vision to see the sins of Jerusalem, from jealousy to idol worship. The people did not believe God could see what they were doing.
But that isn't true. God always knows what we are doing, and when we sin, that makes Him sad, and if we continue in sin without repentance, especially when we know better, that can incite His wrath.
I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Ezekiel 9-12.
Friday, August 31, 2018
Thursday, August 30, 2018
Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 241: Ezekiel
Good morning, everyone!
Today I read Ezekiel 1-3.
In today's reading, Ezekiel receives a vision from God, who instructs him to take His word to the people of Israel, to speak only what God gives him. At this point, in the vision, Ezekiel eats the scroll that God gives him, thus taking God's word into himself.
Israel is rebelling again, and Ezekiel is the prophet chosen to go to them. Ezekiel is to speak God's word whether the people choose to listen or not.
God tells Ezekiel that though Israel is stubborn, He will make Ezekiel just as stubborn.
Israel is often in trouble because of sin and rebellion, aren't they? Just as we sometimes are.
Well, I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Ezekiel 5-8.
Today I read Ezekiel 1-3.
In today's reading, Ezekiel receives a vision from God, who instructs him to take His word to the people of Israel, to speak only what God gives him. At this point, in the vision, Ezekiel eats the scroll that God gives him, thus taking God's word into himself.
Israel is rebelling again, and Ezekiel is the prophet chosen to go to them. Ezekiel is to speak God's word whether the people choose to listen or not.
God tells Ezekiel that though Israel is stubborn, He will make Ezekiel just as stubborn.
Israel is often in trouble because of sin and rebellion, aren't they? Just as we sometimes are.
Well, I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Ezekiel 5-8.
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 240: A Plea
Good morning, everyone!
Today I read Lamentations 3:37-5:22.
The people have been captured. They have been overtaken by their enemies. They are dying, either by the sword or from starvation. It looks bleak.
Yet Jeremiah still cries out to God. He knows that it is never too late to ask God for help. Chapter 5 is his plea for the deliverance of God's people. He begs for relief, for salvation. He prays for mercy.
And we already know that God is merciful. We also know that He did not wipe out the entire nation of Israel.
I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Ezekiel 1-4.
Today I read Lamentations 3:37-5:22.
The people have been captured. They have been overtaken by their enemies. They are dying, either by the sword or from starvation. It looks bleak.
Yet Jeremiah still cries out to God. He knows that it is never too late to ask God for help. Chapter 5 is his plea for the deliverance of God's people. He begs for relief, for salvation. He prays for mercy.
And we already know that God is merciful. We also know that He did not wipe out the entire nation of Israel.
I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Ezekiel 1-4.
Tuesday, August 28, 2018
Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 239: Jeremiah's Lament
Good morning, everyone!
Today I read Lamentations 1-3. You thought we were finished talking about Jeremiah, but according to my Bible, the third chapter at least, is Jeremiah's lament.
Regardless, this person is lamenting and crying out to God because of the plight of the Israelites. They are telling God how His wrath has been poured out. They are not arguing with His punishment, but rather acknowledge Israel's sins. Still, they lament and cry out, begging God to forgive, to reverse His wrath, and relent in His punishment.
Remember, the Israelites are once again in captivity because they turned away from God.
And doesn't that apply to us too? When we turn from God, even for a moment, and let sin overtake us, then it can feel like we are bound by the weight and guilt of that sin. It can feel like God has forgotten us, like He wouldn't want anything to do with us anymore. It can feel like our sin has separated us from Him forever.
But God is merciful. And loving. And forgiving. That's something else this person reminds God of in the lament.
Sometimes we mess up. It's usually not as intense or as often as the whole nation of Israel, but for that time, we are separated from God by our sins, and if we persist, His anger will kindle against us.
And wouldn't that be terrifying?
We don't have to be afraid of making mistakes, or messing up. We just shouldn't sin on purpose, continuously, without repentance. Because God is merciful and forgiving if we acknowledge our sin, acknowledge that He is God and ask for His forgiveness.
Unlike the Israelites who continued in their sin with pride and without fear or humility.
I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Lamentations 3:37-5:22
Today I read Lamentations 1-3. You thought we were finished talking about Jeremiah, but according to my Bible, the third chapter at least, is Jeremiah's lament.
Regardless, this person is lamenting and crying out to God because of the plight of the Israelites. They are telling God how His wrath has been poured out. They are not arguing with His punishment, but rather acknowledge Israel's sins. Still, they lament and cry out, begging God to forgive, to reverse His wrath, and relent in His punishment.
Remember, the Israelites are once again in captivity because they turned away from God.
And doesn't that apply to us too? When we turn from God, even for a moment, and let sin overtake us, then it can feel like we are bound by the weight and guilt of that sin. It can feel like God has forgotten us, like He wouldn't want anything to do with us anymore. It can feel like our sin has separated us from Him forever.
But God is merciful. And loving. And forgiving. That's something else this person reminds God of in the lament.
Sometimes we mess up. It's usually not as intense or as often as the whole nation of Israel, but for that time, we are separated from God by our sins, and if we persist, His anger will kindle against us.
And wouldn't that be terrifying?
We don't have to be afraid of making mistakes, or messing up. We just shouldn't sin on purpose, continuously, without repentance. Because God is merciful and forgiving if we acknowledge our sin, acknowledge that He is God and ask for His forgiveness.
Unlike the Israelites who continued in their sin with pride and without fear or humility.
I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Lamentations 3:37-5:22
Monday, August 27, 2018
Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 238: Judgment on Babylon and Israel
Good morning, everyone!
Today I read the final chapters of Jeremiah: 51-52.
In today's reading, Babylon is judged for its sins against Israel. Then, Israel is judged, and taken into captivity.
If all of this sounds familiar, that's because we got a fuller account in the Chronicles of the kings.
Well, I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Lamentations 1-3:36.
Today I read the final chapters of Jeremiah: 51-52.
In today's reading, Babylon is judged for its sins against Israel. Then, Israel is judged, and taken into captivity.
If all of this sounds familiar, that's because we got a fuller account in the Chronicles of the kings.
Well, I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Lamentations 1-3:36.
Sunday, August 26, 2018
Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 237: God's Judgment Foretold
Good morning, everyone!
Today I read Jeremiah 49-50.
In today's reading, God prophecies how He will destroy the other nations that have sinned and turned away from Him and have come against His people, but only after the Israelites have repented and turned back to Him.
Once the Israelites return to God, He will deliver them from their enemies.
I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Jeremiah 51-52, the final chapters.
Today I read Jeremiah 49-50.
In today's reading, God prophecies how He will destroy the other nations that have sinned and turned away from Him and have come against His people, but only after the Israelites have repented and turned back to Him.
Once the Israelites return to God, He will deliver them from their enemies.
I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Jeremiah 51-52, the final chapters.
Saturday, August 25, 2018
Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 236: Punishment Foretold
Good morning, everyone.
Today I read Jeremiah 46-48.
In today's reading, God describes the calamities which will befall the countries. He also tells what He will do to the Israelites, but promises that He will redeem a portion of them after their punishment for their disobedience.
I feel like I should apologize for my blog lately. I'm just not really getting anything from Jeremiah. In a few days I'll start Lamentations, and while that book can also be depressing, I learned some things the last time I read it, so I'm hoping I'll have more to share with you then.
I hope you'll still join me tomorrow when I read Jeremiah 49-50.
Today I read Jeremiah 46-48.
In today's reading, God describes the calamities which will befall the countries. He also tells what He will do to the Israelites, but promises that He will redeem a portion of them after their punishment for their disobedience.
I feel like I should apologize for my blog lately. I'm just not really getting anything from Jeremiah. In a few days I'll start Lamentations, and while that book can also be depressing, I learned some things the last time I read it, so I'm hoping I'll have more to share with you then.
I hope you'll still join me tomorrow when I read Jeremiah 49-50.
Friday, August 24, 2018
Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 235: Warn, Ignore, Repeat
Good morning, everyone.
Today I read Jeremiah 42-45.
And not to sound rude, but it's more of the same. The people are sinning. Jeremiah warns the people. The people declare Jeremiah is a liar: "God would never hurt us!" and ignore his warning. God promises calamity.
But no calamity yet.
I'm used to this pattern: sin, warning, ignore the warning, calamity, repentance.
We haven't gotten to the last two yet. At least not enough for the Israelites to repent.
And this message really is so important. We can't just ignore God's warnings because we believe He won't punish us for doing wrong. We have to repent and ask His forgiveness when we do. Otherwise, we'll face His wrath and bring calamity on ourselves and our families.
Well, I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Jeremiah 46-48.
Today I read Jeremiah 42-45.
And not to sound rude, but it's more of the same. The people are sinning. Jeremiah warns the people. The people declare Jeremiah is a liar: "God would never hurt us!" and ignore his warning. God promises calamity.
But no calamity yet.
I'm used to this pattern: sin, warning, ignore the warning, calamity, repentance.
We haven't gotten to the last two yet. At least not enough for the Israelites to repent.
And this message really is so important. We can't just ignore God's warnings because we believe He won't punish us for doing wrong. We have to repent and ask His forgiveness when we do. Otherwise, we'll face His wrath and bring calamity on ourselves and our families.
Well, I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Jeremiah 46-48.
Thursday, August 23, 2018
Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 234: Secret Meeting
Good morning, everyone!
Today I read Jeremiah 38-41.
In today's reading, the elders go to the king and demand that Jeremiah be killed, so Jeremiah gets thrown in a cistern, or a tank that stores water, only there was no water, so he sunk into the mud.
But a man went to the king and told him that the elders had dealt wickedly with Jeremiah. So the king sent for Jeremiah and had a secret meeting with him so that Jeremiah could tell him all that the Lord had said, without the elders finding out.
And in the later chapters, all that Jeremiah told them that the Lord had said came to pass.
Babylon attacked and the people were either captured or killed. Even Jeremiah was taken, but he was released and allowed to go to the house of the man governing the people.
I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Jeremiah 42-45.
Today I read Jeremiah 38-41.
In today's reading, the elders go to the king and demand that Jeremiah be killed, so Jeremiah gets thrown in a cistern, or a tank that stores water, only there was no water, so he sunk into the mud.
But a man went to the king and told him that the elders had dealt wickedly with Jeremiah. So the king sent for Jeremiah and had a secret meeting with him so that Jeremiah could tell him all that the Lord had said, without the elders finding out.
And in the later chapters, all that Jeremiah told them that the Lord had said came to pass.
Babylon attacked and the people were either captured or killed. Even Jeremiah was taken, but he was released and allowed to go to the house of the man governing the people.
I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Jeremiah 42-45.
Wednesday, August 22, 2018
Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 233: Jeremiah in Prison
Good morning, everyone!
Today I read Jeremiah 35-37.
Jeremiah speaks the word of the Lord, and is thrown in jail. The king sends for him, hoping he'll change what he said. When Jeremiah repeats God's words about the calamity that will befall Judah and how the people and the king will be captured by Babylon, he is thrown back in prison.
I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Jeremiah 38-41.
Today I read Jeremiah 35-37.
Jeremiah speaks the word of the Lord, and is thrown in jail. The king sends for him, hoping he'll change what he said. When Jeremiah repeats God's words about the calamity that will befall Judah and how the people and the king will be captured by Babylon, he is thrown back in prison.
I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Jeremiah 38-41.
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