Sat.’s Devo - The Five Kingdoms

Read: Daniel 7:1-28; 1 John 1:1-10; Psalm 119:153-176; Proverbs 28:23-24
Daniel had a strange dream and didn’t pass it off as a pizza dream. He wrote it down which is what we should do when we have strange dreams or any dream. Some dreams are junk mail but most dreams have meaning.
Daniel dreamed of a storm on the sea. Four different beasts came out of the sea. The first was like a lion with the wings of an eagle. Its wings were torn off and it was lifted up from the ground to stand on two feet like a man with the heart of a man. The second beast looked like a bear raised up on one for its sides with three ribs in its mouth. It was told to get up and eat the flesh on the earth.
The third looked like a leopard with four wings. This beast had four heads and was given authority to rule. The fourth beast was terrifying and powerful with iron teeth and ten horns. It devoured and trampled its victims. As Daniel looked at the horns he saw another horn which started out small and uprooted three of the horns. This horn had eyes an a mouth of a man.
Then the Ancient of Days in all his glory and splendor sat on his throne. All of the beasts were stripped of their power and the last beasts with the horns was thrown into the fire. The other beasts were allowed to live for a time.
Next he saw the son of man come down with the clouds of heaven and approach the throne. He was given power and authority and people from every nation worshipped him. He was given an everlasting kingdom that would not be destroyed.
Daniel was given the interpretation. The four beasts were the four kingdoms that would run the earth but the last kingdom was the kingdom of salvation that comes through the blood of Jesus.
Daniel asked about the last beast and found that it was the last kingdom that would reign on the earth. It would consist of ten kingdoms but one leader would rise above them all. He would try to change the times and the laws of God. This man would the the Anti-Christ.
God will judge him and the kingdoms and their power will be taken away and the rule of the earth will be given to God’s people and Jesus will be the king.
John spoke as an eye-witness to the life and light of Jesus. We have never seen Jesus in the flesh but we can see him through the eyes of faith. If we walk in the light of the Word, and his spirit is in us then we will have fellowship with one another an will be purified from all sin.
Lord, it is exciting to live in your light and not have to fear the future.

Fri.’s Devo - Good Wins in the End!

Read: Daniel 6:1-28; 2 Peter 3:1-18; Psalm 119:129-152; Proverbs 28:21-22
The story of Daniel in the Lion’s Den is one of our favorites. It is right up there with David and Goliath. It is the perfect story. The hero is so worthy of being a hero and everything turns out good in the end. I can’t help comparing this to what is happening in our government right now. They keep trying to find some offense to bring down our president and it is not going to work because God has placed him where he is for our good.
Daniel was an exceptional man. He had served faithfully under Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar. Belshazzar had elevated Daniel to third in his kingdom the night Darius rode into town and took over. But, Belshazzar also recognized his qualities of being trustworthy and diligent and had plans to set Daniel over his whole kingdom. Belshazzar had 120 satraps that ruled throughout his kingdom and Daniel was one of them. The other satraps got wind that Daniel was going to be promoted above them and came up with a plan to put him out of the running. They wanted him dead.
The only thing they could pin him on was his faith in God so they flattered the king into making a law that if anyone prayed to any god but him for the next thirty days, they would be thrown into the lion’s den.
Daniel prayed three times a day in his own house bowing towards Jerusalem. The ones who wanted to frame him knew this and caught him. They brought him before the king and reminded the king of his decree. The king was distraught and tried to think of any way to save Daniel but couldn’t find a loop hole. When he escorted Daniel to the lion’s den he told him he hoped that his god could rescue him. The king spent the night in agony and unrest.
The next morning the king ran to the lion’s den and called out to Daniel, asking him if his god had been able to rescue him. Daniel responded that God had sent his angel to shut their mouths. The king was elated and had him brought out of the den and threw his accusers and their families in instead. The hungry lions ate them before they touched the ground. Then King Darius wrote a new decree that everyone must fear and reverence Daniel’s God because he was the eternal living God. This is quite a statement coming from a king who was believed to be a god himself!
Daniel prospered during his reign and during Cyrus’ reign.
Peter wrote to believers to encourage them to not lose hope in Jesus’ return. He is coming back and it will be right on time. He gives us a clue: with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. We will be here for six days and the seventh will be the millennial of rest. According to the Hebrew calendar we are at 5880 so we still have 120 years if their calendar is right. The thing we have to remember is that Jesus will not come as a thief to us (1 Thessalonians 5:4). Those looking for his returning will go in the rapture, those left behind will go through tribulation. To the ones that don’t repent, Jesus will come as a thief.
Lord, stimulate us to wholesome thinking and give us your thoughts. Help us to see our lives from your perspective and not our own. Your ways are higher!

Thurs.’s Devo - The Writing on the Wall

Read: Daniel 5:1-31; 2 Peter 2:1-22; Psalm 119:113-128; Proverbs 28:19-20
Nebuchadnezzar died and left his kingdom to his son, Belshazzar. Belshazzar didn’t learn from his father’s mistakes so he was full of pride. He had a banquet and had his officials bring out the gold and silver goblets his father had taken from God’s temple in Jerusalem and they drank wine from them. Immediately God responded with a message he wrote himself on the wall. All that was visible to the human eye was God’s hand writing the message. It scared Belshazzar so much he turned pale and his knees knocked together. He called in all his wise men but they couldn’t interpret the words.
His mother remembered Daniel and how he had helped her husband with dreams and interpretations so he told Belshazzar about him. Daniel was called in and immediately knew the meaning. He rebuked Belshazzar for his pride and for not learning from his father’s mistakes then told him that the meaning of the words Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin meant that his reign had been measured and was brought to an end. It would be divided between the Medes and the Persians.
Belshazzar had promised Daniel a purple robe, a gold chain and the position of third in his kingdom. Daniel had told him he could keep his gifts but when he interpreted the words, Belshazzar was obligated. Daniel was given a purple robe, a gold chain and a position of third in the kingdom. That night Belshazzar was killed and the Medes and the Persians took his kingdom under the rule of Darius the Mede.
Peter said that those that introduce destructive heresies that deny the sovereign Lord bring swift destruction on them selves.
God will repay false teachers who make up stories to gain followers. God didn’t spare the angels when they sinned and followed Satan and he will not spare them, nor the ungodly people during the days of Noah, nor the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah during the time of Abraham. He will rescue his godly from trials but hold the unrighteous for judgment.
It will not go well for those who deceive the children of God. A man is a slave to whatever has mastered him so these false teachers are slaves to Satan and his lies. If these false teachers were once Christians it will be even worse for them in judgment.
Lord, the wages of sin is death, but the fruit of righteousness is life everlasting. Thank you for eternal life!

Wed.’s Devo - The Tree

Read: Daniel 4:1-37; 2 Peter 1:1-21; Psalm 119:97-112; Provers 28:17-18
Nebuchadnezzar had another dream but this time he told his wise men the dream. When they couldn’t interpret it, he called in Daniel because he knew Daniel could.
He had dreamed of a huge beautiful fruitful tree that touched the sky. An angel from heaven gave the decree to cut down the tree and leave only a stump. Its roots were to bound with iron and bronze and remain in the field. The tree was to be left to live with the animals and its mind changed from that of a man to that of an animal till 7 times passed by.
Daniel interpreted the tree to be Nebuchadnezzar. He had grown mighty and proud. He would be cut down and driven from humanity to live with animals. He would have to be chained because he would lose his mind. He would remain insane for seven years. Then he would regain his sanity when he realized that God was the king over the earth. Then his kingdom would be returned to him.
Twelve months later, as Nebuchadnezzar was walking on his roof and looking over his kingdom, he praised his own power and what he had done and immediately the dream came to life. He had to be driven from his kingdom and chained in the field like an animal. His hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails looked like the claws of a bird. After 7 years, he humbled himself and praised God and his sanity returned. He was restored to be greater than before but more humble.
Peter reminds us that God has given us everything we need to overcome evil and live a life of godliness. His Word is full of promises that enable us to participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
He gave us characteristics we should walk in: goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. If we keep increasing in these characteristics our walk will be affective and productive.
Peter reminded them of the prophesies that had been spoken long ago and how they had seen them manifest in their own lives. They heard the voice of God speaking from the mountain on the day they saw Jesus transfigured in glory. They were to remember these things so they wouldn’t lose their faith.
God has given all of us things in our lives that we can go back to to build our faith.
Lord help us to remember all the answered prayers and miracles that you have done in our lives. We set our goal of finishing our race strong in your power and love.

Tues.’s Devo - Deliverance From the Fiery Furnace

Read: Daniel 2:24-3:30; 1 Peter 4:7-5:14; Psalm 119:81-96; Proverbs 28:15-16
Daniel went before the king and told him that what he had asked of the wise men was something that no human could do, but their was a God in heaven who knew everything and he had told Daniel the dream and its interpretation. He then told the king that he had dreams the future. He had seen a huge statue with a head of gold, shoulder and chest of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, and its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. A huge rock cut by God struck the statue at its feet and the whole statue fell into peices and dust which the wind blew away. The rock became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.
Then Daniel interpreted the dream. The head was Nebuchadnezzar. The other parts working from the top own were coming kingdoms that would arise. In the end there would be two that were divided. The rock was God’s kingdom that would crush all of them.
When King Nebuchadnezzar hear Daniel’s words he fell down prostrate before Daniel and recognized Daniel’s god as the God of gods and Lord of kings. He promoted Daniel to a high position and gave him many gifts. He was made a ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed in charge of the wise men. Daniel requested that his three friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be administrators over Babylon while he sat at the royal court.
King Nebuchadnezzar set up a golden image 90 feet high and 9 feel wide and had a huge dedication. He made a decreee that when the trumpet blew everyone was to bow down and worship or they would be thrown into the fiery furnace. Some of the jealous wise men took note that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow. They brought them before the king and when questioned they told the king that they could never bow before the stature but only to God. They were sentenced to die in the fire. Before they entered they told the king that their God was able to deliver them but if he didn’t they would not bow. This only made the king madder so he had the fire heated 7 times hotter than usual. It was so hot that the men that threw them into the fire burnt alive. But as the king watched he noticed 4 men walking unaffected in the fire. He was so astonished he called Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego out. They came out with no smell of smoke on them and no burns. He then praised their God and decreed that anyone who spoke against their God would be cut to pieces.
Peter warned the people that the time of the end was near. We are nearer than them. He tells us to keep our conscience clear and walk in self-control so we can pray. We are to love like Jesus loved and rejoice when we suffer for Christ’s sake. If we are elders we should serve the people with meekness and humility. We are to cast all our cares on Jesus because God’s hand is mighty to deliver us and give us peace.
Lord, we thank you that you save us from all our fiery trials and set us on solid ground. You are always faithful.

Mon.’s Devo - The Tests

Read: Daniel 1:1-2:23; 1 Peter 3:8-4:6; Psalm 119:65-80; Proverbs 28:14
Daniel and his friends, Hananiah, Michael, and Asariah were taken to Babylon in the first group Nebuchadnezzar took. They were the cream of the crop - the young scholars being trained for leadership. In Babylon, they were retrained for three years to learn the laws and customs of Babylon. Daniel and his friends couldn’t be retrained. Daniel asked his overseer, Arioch if he could do a test so he would not have to eat the king’s meat which was unclean meat to a Jew. Arioch agreed to let him only eat vegetables and drink water for 10 days and then be tested. He and his friends tested 10 times wiser than their students. They got rewarded for each day of their test. They were allowed to continue eating vegetables and water.
Even Babylon saw the dignity of not making a person defile their conscience. (Something America could learn from.)
A year later, the king had a disturbing dream he did not understand. He wanted to test his wise men so he told them that they had to tell him the dream and the interpretation or they would be cut into little pieces and their houses torn down. Arioch was assigned to carry out the deed. When none of the wise men could do it, Daniel learned of the dilemma. He asked Arioch to give him a night to pray. He agreed to give him a night. Daniel prayed and God gave him the same dream and the interpretation. The first thing Daniel did was to get on his knees and praise God for hearing his prayer and answering it.
Peter tells us that peace is always to be our goal, but if it is not possible then we are not to repay evil for evil. If we suffer for doing what is right we will be rewarded. We are not to fear what the world fears.
Jesus was put to death on the cross, then descended in to Sheol and preach to the spirits of those who had died during the flood. Only eight had been saved in the flood and the flood was their baptism which cleanses our conscience of our sins and gives us right standing with God. Jesus suffered and did away with sin so that we don’s have to live the rest of our lives for our evil human desires but we can live for the will of God.
Lord, thank you that you give us the key to mysteries and show what is hidden by the Spirit. I thank you that you reveal your mysteries to your children. Thank you for the tests you give us in order to promote us for the next assignment.

Sun.’s Devo - The Order of the Tribes

Read: Ezekiel 47:1-48:35; 1 Peter 2:11-3:7; Psalm 119:49-64; Proverbs 28:12-13
God took Ezekiel to the eastern side of the temple to observe a river that flowed from the south side (earth) out the eastern gate. He walked through water that got deeper and deeper until his feet couldn’t no longer touch the ground. This was a picture of the Holy Spirit being poured out upon the earth. The farther you walk in the Spirit, the more you lose control and he carries you. Life is in the Holy Spirit and it is given to everyone who draws near. You decide how deep you want to go in it.
God’s people are suppose to be the salt of the earth. In the Spirit, the salty become renewed. The trees that are along the sides of the river that bear fruit are the people that choose to get their nourishment in the river of life - the flow of the Spirit. They will bear fruit just like Psalm 1 says about the man who walks in the Spirit. He will bear fruit in every season of life.
God gave Ezekiel the boundaries of his land. The land inside the boundaries was to be divided among the tribes in stripes starting at the top and going south. The top down was: Dan, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, Rueben, Judah, then the city where the sanctuary dwells. The Levites were to live in the city to tend to the duties of the temple. The prince would own land on both sides of the temple. The next tribal lands would be owned by Benjamin, Issachar, Zebulun, and Gad. Every tribe would have their own gate into the city. Rueben, Judah, and Levi would enter the north gates. Joseph, Benjamin and Dan would enter the gates on the east. Simeon, Issachar and Zebulun would enter the gates on the south and Gad, Asher, and Naphtali would enter the western gavels. The name of the city would be “The Lord is There.”
I love First Peter. Whoever told us we had to sin every day had not understood the Bible correctly. Today we read to abstain from sinful desires as if it is totally possible to do that, because it is! If we submit to God’s authority we can walk in righteousness. That is the power that the Holy Spirit gives us to overcome our desires and choose God’s. Jesus was our example of how a man with earthly desires could lay them down to follow God and walk in righteousness.
We honor the authority of God by obeying the authorities on earth - even when the authority is harsh and unjust. God will give us grace.
Lord, open truth to us and give us a double measure of your Holy Spirit to walk in righteousness and truth.

Sat.’s Devo - Spiritual Inheritance

Read: Ezekiel 45:13-46:24; 1 Peter 1:13-2:10; Psalm 119:33-48; Proverbs 28:8-10
The princes of Israel are pictures of the sons of God - us who have dedicated our lives to worship and love the Lord. The Prince is Jesus. We walk as his ambassadors.
The people would give into the pot of the sacrifices to be offered but the prince would present the gift to God. This is a picture of Jesus, bringing our offerings to the Lord. The pRince offers the sacrifice for sin and fellowship to make atonement for the sins of the people just as Jesus offered his body as the final sacrifice to atone for our sins. He was to make atonement for sins people did who didn’t realize they were sinning. Jesus is our intercessor and advocate. Passover represents our salvation and the cross.
The gate of the inner court facing east was to be closed and only opened on the Sabbath and on the day of the New Moon. The Sabbath represents the last 7th millennial when Jesus will reign as our Prince and king. The New Moon represents the born again. Only they will be able to enter heaven with Jesus.
The Prince walked with the priests in their daily chores just as Jesus walks with us in ours. Jesus is the door.
If we are given a spiritual gift or office it will be passed down to our children and they will walk in our gifts also. If we are a servant and not a son, our gifts will return to the Lord on the day of Jubilee which means the last day. If we only served God with our mouth but we never received him into our being to be reborn into God’s family, then our gifts will not follow us to heaven because we will not go to heaven. Servants are bound by law but sons are entitled because of relationship. It is the difference between the law and grace.
Peter tells us to be ready to act according to what is in our minds. Satan is after our minds. We are called to be holy just like God. If it wasn’t possible he wouldn’t keep saying it.
We are to live as strangers here because this is not our home. We have been born again into God’s kingdom with will never perish. We are stones in the building of God with Jesus as the chief cornerstone. Everyone will be measured according to Jesus.
Lord, help us to walk as chosen people, part of a royal heavenly priesthood. We are a holy nation of people who belong to you that we might praise the one who called us out of darkness into light.

Fri.’s Devo - The Prince

Read: Ezekiel 44:1-45:12; 1 Peter 1:1-12; Psalm 119:17-32; Proverbs 28:8-10
The eastern gate was to remain shut because the Lord had entered through it and it was for the prince. The prince would the the only one worthy to sit inside the gateway and eat in the presence of the Lord. He was to enter by the porch of that gate and exit the same way.
Jesus is the prince and he is sitting by the door waiting for a signal from God to come through that gate again.
Next, Ezekiel was taken to the north gate and once again witness the Holy Spirit coming through that gate and filling the temple. One day, God was sending his Holy Spirit down to earth and filling his temple on earth. He did this on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2. They were to learn from this because they had not been faithful to keep charge of God’s holy things.
No uncircumcised person or stranger will be able to enter into God’s temple. (No unsaved person will be able to enter into heaven.) The priests who caused Israel to sin by worshipping idols would be judged for their sins and be kept from the temple. But the Levites, the sons of Zadok that were faithful will be able to minister to the Lord and enter his temple. They will be clothed in white linen as a picture of holiness. They were not to sweat because man’s work and man’s worry will not be allowed in God’s temple. Their walk was to be holy and full of life.
God gave Ezekiel the plan for the city and its dimensions and the placement of the temple. The prince was to have land bordering both sides of the temple. The prince was to be a safeguard for the presence of the Lord and the people. The princes they had had stolen from the people and were not just. They would be judged for wrongly representing Jesus.
Peter identifies us as God’s elect and strangers in this world. We have been chosen by the Father who chose us from the foundation of the earth that we would be cleansed by the Spirit and sprinkled with Jesus’ blood. We have been born again to a living hope though the resurrection of Jesus Christ and into an inheritance that can not be taken from us but is kept for us in heaven.
Now, we live in this would which is full of trials which God uses in our lives to purify and strengthen our faith.
Thank you for the great inheritance you have stored up for us who endure. Give us grace to overcome.

Thurs.’s Devo - The North and South Entrances

Read: Ezekiel 42:1-43:27; James 5:1-20: Psalm 119:1-16; Proverbs 28:6-7
The priests who entered the north door of the temple to serve lived right outside the north entrance in priest’s quarters. The priests who entered the south door lived outside the south door in priest’s quarters. In those quarters they would eat the meat from the sacrifices.
Once them ministered they were not to go out without changing their garments and putting on their other clothes.
The priests who ministered from the north entrance represented the believers whose ministry is from heaven to earth. The ones from the south represent those who minister from earth to heaven. God’s priests in heaven have their abode in heaven and earthly worshipers have their abode on earth. We both attend to God’s house.
At the eastern gate, Ezekiel saw the glory of God enter and fill the temple. This is the gate that Jesus will enter when he returns. The Muslim know this prophecy and have walled up this gate to keep him out. Rocks have never intimidated Jesus. When the Spirit came and filled the entire temple the angle proclaimed that this was the place of God’s throne and where he would dwell with his people forever. He was speaking of the temple within us and God’s temple in heaven. The people of Israel would not be able to profane this temple again.
The angel gave Ezekiel instructions to tell the people all the measurements of the temple because it was all symbolic. He said that the very layout of the temple should keep them from wanting to sin. The measurements are a mystery that we are suppose to understand. God hides things for us, not from us. I have to admit that I haven’t figured out the mystery but it is solvable or he wouldn’t have given it to us.
The law of the temple was holiness. Then he told them they would once again sacrifice in this temple. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit and our sacrifice is praise.
James rebukes the rich for hoarding their wealth instead of being generous. They needed to realize that their wealth was not their own but they were stewards of God’s money. James encouraged them to wait patiently for Jesus’ return and face persecution and suffering with perseverance and grace. We do that by staying repentant and walking in righteousness.
Lord, unlock the mysteries hidden in your Word that we might be more powerful against sin and our enemy the devil. All we have and are belongs to you so we offer ourselves daily as a sacrifice of praise.

Wed.’s Devo - The Temple

Read: Ezekiel 40:28-41:26; James 4:1-17; Psalm 118:19-29; Proverbs 28:3-5
Today we read about the inner court where only the priest could go. The ratio was one to five. Five has to do with grace which is how the priest could do what he did. He had to be operating under a spirit more powerful than man’s. There were tables where the sacrifices where slaughtered. There were prongs to put the sacrifices on the altars. There were two rooms. One was on the north side that faced south. It was for the priests in charge of the temple. The other room was on the south side and faced north. It was for the priests who had charge of the altar. These were the sons of Zadok and they were the only Levites who could draw near to the Lord to minister to him. They were always facing up to heaven - north.
Next, he was taken into the Most Holy Place. It was the only dimension that had the number 7 in it because it is complete and perfect.
The wall of the temple was 6 cubits because six is the number of man and the temple was for men. Each level of the temple got larger as it went up because as we grow in the Lord, our capacity to hold his presence and revelation increases.
The outer sanctuary was covered in wood signifying man since we are depicted as trees throughout scripture (Psalm 1). Palm trees and cherubim were all around the inner and outer sanctuary showing interaction between the spiritual realm and the natural and how God longs to meld the two together. The cherub had two faces: the face of a man facing the palm tree on one side and the face of a lion facing the palm tree on the other side. That is the two pictures God gives us of angels: man and lion. In the temple that Solomon built there were angels and palm trees. In John 12:13 we see a glimpse of the manifestation. Jesus was riding into Jerusalem and the people took the branches of palm trees and waved them before Jesus saying, “Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that coms in the name of the Lord.” Our hands are the palm branches that we lift in praise and worship to the Lord. We interact with the angels when we worship as they do.
James checks our motives. He says that most of the quarrels we have with others are over stuff. It makes me think of inheritances. Nothing will split a family like the death of a parent and the dividing of their stuff. God says that we should check our motives and ask ourselves why we want something. If we ask God what he wants us to have and trust that he knows best, we will find ourselves delighting in Him and not in our selves. Then every gift will come from him.

Tues.’s Devo - The Two Temples

Read: Ezekiel 39:1-40:27; James 2:18-3:18; Psalm 118:1-18; Proverbs 28:2
Ezekiel continues his prophesy against Gog. He describes the feast of Leviathan mentioned in Revelation 19:17-18. The angels called to the fouls of the heavens and the beasts of the field to come an eat the flesh of the slain. These are those that followed the beast and the kings of the earth instead of the king of heaven and earth. God pronounced six plagues against them: pestilence, blood, overflowing rain, hailstones, fire, and brimstone. So many would die that it would take them 7 months to bury them. Can you imagine the stench of all those dead bodies lying in the sun for months! Of course they had been ravaged by the animals and the birds so they will be burying parts. This happened in the past and is a picture of what will happen in the future.
After this great battle, Judah will return to their land and dwell in safety and prosper. God took Ezekiel to Jerusalem in a vision and set him on one of the mountains around Jerusalem. He got a birds-eye-view of the city. A bronze man was standing in the gateway with a linen cord and a measuring rod in is hand. He took Ezekiel into the temple measuring as he went. He saw the same temple described in Revelation 21 with 12 gates or porticos, 3 on each direction (north, south, east and west). The one Ezekiel saw was a small replica to the one in Revelation which was 24 times larger. Ezekiel’s temple was decorated with palm trees which represent people who overcome. Revelation’s temple was decorated with precious stones which is how God sees the people in from heaven’s perspective. “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5)”
The temple God showed Ezekiel was a replica of the one in heaven just like the tabernacle that Moses built was a much smaller replica of the temple in heaven that Moses was shown on the mountain. We are the temple of God and we may feel small and unimportant down here, but we are huge in heaven. We have been chosen by God to carry his presence everywhere we go. What we do matters.
James makes the point that you cannot just have faith to be saved but your life has to follow your faith. His obedience and his faith is what saved him. “You see that a person is justified by what he does and not be faith alone.” James 2:24.
James gives us two examples: Abraham and Rahab. Abraham is known for his faith but his faith alone could not justify him. Rahab showed her faith by saving the spies who came into Jericho. Both Abraham and Rahab acted on their faith and were saved.
In Chapter three, James gives instructions to teachers. They hold the responsibility of being a role model in the way they conduct their lives. Because they teach from their mouths, they need to be able to bridle their own tongues and use them as tools of righteousness because they are the ones who deal out wisdom. James gives us a description of wisdom: pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. If we give this to others we will get a harvest of righteousness in return.

Mon.’s Devo - The Valley of Dry Bones Come Alive

Read: Ezekiel 37:1-38:23; James 1:19-2:17; Psalm 117:1-2; Proverbs 28:1
Ezekiel is taken in a vision to a valley where he is shown dry bones. God asks him if the bones could live. Practically speaking the answer is “no”. But, if you are talking to God, anything is possible and Ezekiel knew that. He told God that only He knew. So God told Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones to live. As he did, the bones came together and formed people without life in them. God told Ezekiel to prophesy breath into them and he did. Life came into them and they stood and became a huge army.
The bones were how Israel saw themselves: hopeless and scattered. But, God was going to bring them back together and breathe his Spirit in them and they were going to come to life. He said that he would open their graves and bring them up from the dead. God literally did this when Jesus rose from the dead. Matthew 27:51-53 “ And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.”
God told Ezekiel to take two sticks and write on one of them “Belonging to Judah” and “Belonging to Israel” on the other. Then he was to join them together and make it a single stick because that was what God was going to do when they came back together. They would no longer be two kingdoms divided but all the tribes would be one nation. They would no longer defile themselves with idols, but He would be their God. God would place his temple inside them and they would be his people.
In Chapter 38, God sent a word against Gog of the land of Magog. These are the kingdoms that God will use in the last days to bring total judgement. They were also used during the Maccabees. It alluded to the nations of Russia and Persia who would come against Jerusalem in the last days. We are given a vivid description of what will happen during that time.
Before Jesus appeared on earth, Antiochus Epiphanes ruled over Jerusalem and all Israel. He was a type of antichrist who slaughtered a pig on the altar thus defiling the temple. He also erected an altar to Jupiter Olympius. When it seemed like it couldn’t get any worse, Jesus appeared on the scene. He will appear on the scene again in just the same scenario.
Ezekiel gives us the description of the last days tribulation that will precipitate the Battle of Armageddon and the coming of the Messiah again. We see the earthquake, the war, plague, hailstone and burning sulfur just at it was in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. This is the picture of the end. This is how God will reveal himself to the nations and they will know that He is God.
James deals with favoritism and true godly love. True godly love doesn’t look at a person’s financial status, but looks as everyone as a creation of God, made in his image. It is the poor in spirit that will see God. God chooses mercy over judgment so we should too because we will be judged the way we judge.
Our faith should be evident in our deeds and vice versa.
Lord, help us to walk by faith and be bold as a lion. We speak to the dry bones of the people of God and tell them to arise and have the breath of God.

Sun.’s Devo - Perseverance

Read: Ezekiel 35:1-36:38; James 1!-18; Spalm 116:1-19; Proverbs 27:23-27
Mount Seir which means “hairy” and refers to Esau who was hairy. His descendants were the Edomites who harbored hostility towards Jacob’s family, the Israelites. The Edomites were glad when Israel was defeated and helped their enemies fight against them. Since they loved to shed Israel’s blood, their blood would be shed. All the horrible things they had wished on the Israelites would fall on them.
Mountains stood for kingdoms and Mt. Seir was a wicked kingdom who came against God’s kingdom. In Chapter 36, God turns his attention to His mountains or kingdom in Israel. His mountains would rise up in the end and be fruitful. The people would return to their home and prosper and once again be a sign to the earth that God is in control.
The people of Israel had to be driven from their own home because of their wickedness and stubborn hearts but when they return they will be a different people. God will put his spirit in them and they will know him. God will cleanse them of their sins and they will rebuild and settle in the land of their inheritance.
James explains trials in the New Testament. They are our friends that mature and complete us. It is not our riches or position that God measures us by but how we persevere under testing. If we persevere we will receive much more than monetary payment but we will obtain the crown of life.
The devil is the tempter and when we are open to hear his voice, we will be tempted to sin. He knows our desires by the things that we give attention to and he will use these to drag us away from God for some worldly gift. God’s gifts are from above and are full of life that change us for the good.
Lord, help us to be alive to your voice and desire the things that are heavenly, not of this earth.

Sat.’s Devo - The Sound of the Trumpet

Read: Ezekiel 33:1-34:31; Hebrews 13:1-25; Psalm 115:1-18; Proverbs 27:21-22
The trumpets in the Bible are the prophet’s mouths. They are responsible for warning the people and “blowing the trumpet”. If they don’t say what the Lord puts in their heart to say, then they are held responsible for the nation’s sins. If they speak the word of the Lord, then the people are responsible for their own sins and the prophet is free.
Ezekiel explains righteousness and how to end well. Salvation only comes through repentance. Repentance which is a turning away of sin and walking in righteousness needs to be the end product of ones life.
On the 5th day of the 10th month of the 12th year, God sent a word to his people. The people felt entitled to return to their land because Abraham was their father. God explained that they would not possess their land because their acts of wickedness kept them from their inheritance. Their land would be left in ruins as a picture of their hearts.
They came to Ezekiel to hear God’s word, but walked away and continued in their unrighteous acts. They didn’t strengthen the weak, heal the sick or bind up the injured. They hadn’t gone back to look for the strays that were lost, but instead ruled them harshly and brutally. So, now they were bearing the weight of their sins.
God was especially angry at the shepherds who handled the spiritual matters and ruled the people. They would be held responsible for their wickedness, deceitfulness and false prophesies. They had handled their responsibility selfishly for their own gain, not to serve God or the people. They would be held accountable for the people’s lack of knowledge.
God promised a righteous Shepherd who would tend the sheep and be a righteous prince over them. Through this man, Jesus, God would establish a covenant of peace with the people and rid the land of wild beasts so that the people would be able to sleep safely. God would shower down blessings on his faithful and hungry. They would no longer be plundered by nations or wild animals, but live in safety. They would have a land known for its crops and no longer be the victim.
In Hebrews we find that angels are all around us and sometimes they look like people. We should treat everyone like they were angels because they are created in God’s image whether they are in prison, our spouse, or our leaders. We should surround ourselves with godly people who teach the truth and encourage us in the grace of Christ.
We no longer have to offer the sacrifice of a lamb or grain but our sacrifice is praise and helping others. We are to obey our leaders because God placed them over us and pray for them.
Lord, may our praises to you be heard in heaven. We are so grateful to worship a God of love and mercy. Thank you for every good thing that you have showered down upon us. We love you!

Fri.’s Devo - The Fall of Pharaoh

Read: Ezekiel 31:1-32:32; Hebrews 12:14-29; Psalms 113:1-114:8; Proverbs 27:18-20;
In the 11th year of their captivity God gave Ezekiel a word for the Pharaoh of Egypt. Egypt and the Pharaoh are depicted as a huge tree of Lebanon. These trees stood about 80 feet high and had a diameter of about the same. The Pharaoh and his kingdom were like this great tree. Egypt was compared to Assyria in power and strength. They were watered from the same waters that watered the Garden of Eden in Genesis and like Adam, they sinned and would be driven out. Pharoah’s pride would bring him down along with all the nations around him who trusted in his strength to save them.
He compares this fall to Lucifer’s and all his angels that will be thrown to the pit to await judgment.
In the end of the 12th year, God spoke to Ezekiel again to take his message to the Pharaoh of Egypt. He saw a picture of all the mighty armies and leaders of the past in the pit of hell. That was the fate of the Pharaoh of Egypt also.
Hebrews spells out salvation. “Without holiness no one will see the Lord.” He is not talking about the holiness of Jesus but of us or he wouldn’t have told us to live at peace with all men, not to be sexually immoral or godless like Esau. He was to inherit Jacob’s leadership but instead sold his inheritance because he couldn’t put down his flesh. When he wanted to repent it was too late. Through the spirit we can resist sin.
We have not come to Mt. Sinai, the law; but to Mt. Zion, the mountain of God. Mt. Sinai was a place of fear and trembling and the giving of the Law. Mt. Zion is the name for spiritual Jerusalem where we have access to God’s presence through the blood of Jesus. There is no fear in Mt. Zion.
God will once again shake the earth like he did on Mt. Sinai but it will be for those who have not left for Zion.
Lord, thank you that we dwell in Zion in our spirits and will one day dwell there forever in our new bodies.

Thurs.’s Devo - The Fall of Egypt

Read: Ezekiel 29:1-30:26; Hebrews 11:32-12:13; Psalm 112:1-10; Proverbs 27:17
God calls Pharaoh of Egypt the great monster. Egypt had been a source of slavery, torture and deception to Israel. Egypt was sentenced to 40 years of desolation and destruction. Then they would return to their land but remain a lowly kingdom in comparison to other nations.
In the 10th year of their captivity, God told Ezekiel about Babylon and Tyre. Babylon had started their 13 year siege against Tyre to no avail. God had wanted to reward Babylon for bringing Tyre down, but when they could not win, God gave them Egypt instead. Babylon took Egypt and went away with all her spoils. In the last verse of Chapter 29, God promised to cause the horn of the house of Israel to bud and open the mouth of one in the midst of them. This horn was Daniel who in the midst of Babylon began to speak forth prophesies of what was going to happen and proclaim the coming of the Messiah.
In Chapter 30, Ezekiel shifted to talk about the “day of the Lord.” This is the picture of the very end, after the rapture and during the time of Great Tribulation. It will be a day of woe and the time of the heathen.
At that time Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya, Lydia, Chub (a land near Egypt) would all fall. The judgment on Egypt was the beginning of a world-wide judgment on all the heathen enemies of God. Even the exiles from Israel would not escape this judgment on Egypt. The tower of Syrene means from one end of Egypt to the other. I’m guessing from that tower all of Egypt could be seen.
Egypt’s reign of terror and world dominancy was coming to an end. God had broken the arm of Pharaoh-hophra when he was attacked by the Chaleans when he tried to raise the siege of Jerusalem (Jer 37:5, 7). The next arm was Pharaoh-necho with all his conquests from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates (2Ki 24:7; Jer 46:2); also to the Egyptian disaster in Cyrene.
In other words it was the end of the power of the Egyptian Pharaohs. They would be deprived of making war again.
Hebrews gives us a list of some of the judges God raised up to deliver the nation of Israel out of the trouble they got themselves in. Although they did great things, they were all looking forward to a promise that they never saw fulfilled in their lifetime. We are living in what they got a glimpse of and yet we are looking forward to our promise too. We have the manifestation of Jesus as our Messiah and salvation by faith. We have the gift of the Holy Spirit to empower us to walk by faith. But we are looking forward to a new heaven and earth that is in our future. We need what our founding fathers left us and the stories of their lives just as generations to come need the legacy we will leave. We are all a step in the structure of the great temple in heaven. Everything we go through is to strengthen, teach and discipline us to keep walking in truth. We have a whole crowd of those that have gone before us cheering us on.
Lord, may we leave a legacy like the man in Psalm 112 who fears you and finds great delight in your commands.

Wed.’s Devo - Tyre and Sidon

Read: Ezekiel 27:1-28:26; Hebrews 11:17-31; Psalm 111:1-10; Proverbs 27:15-16
Tyre was the center of all the trade on the Mediterranean Sea.
They founded their colonies on the coasts and neighboring islands of the Aegean Sea, in Greece, on the northern coast of Africa, at Carthage and other places, in Sicily and Corsica, and in Spain at Tartess. They were known for their purple dye, weaving, beautiful glass, precious jewels, and engraving. They imported the best from all the lands around them. The people were steeped in idolatry and all sorts of evil sins.
Tyre consisted of two parts. One was on the mainland, called "Old Tyre.” The other was built on a small, rocky island about a half-a-mile from the shore. It was a place of great strength. It was besieged by Shalmaneser for five years, and by Nebuchadnezzar (B.C. 586-573) for thirteen years, apparently without success. But later, it fell under the power of Alexander the Great, after a siege of only seven months. Despite its capture, it remained a place of prominent commerce until the Christian era. It is referred to in Matt 11:21 and Acts 12:20. In A.D. 1291 it was taken by the Saracens, and has remained a desolate ruin ever since.
Ezekiel used the allegory of Tyre as being a great merchant ship carrying all the finest goods. It’s destiny was a total shipwreck. All the nations would be appalled at its end.
God rebuked the ruler of Tyre because he thought he was a god. He was the perfect picture of Satan. Then God gives us the story of Lucifer’s downfall.
Lucifer was in heaven as a guardian cherub who walked upon the fiery stones in heaven. He was arrayed in every precious stone and blameless at creation. But then wickedness was found in him which filled him with violence and sin. His heart became proud because of his beauty and his wisdom was corrupted. God threw him to earth and made a spectacle of him before kings of the earth. His own fire will consume him.
Sidon was Tyre’s mother city. It was a fishery known also for its arts and manufacturing. Their gods were Baal and Ashterah. Ezekiel prophesied plague, and the sword to bring her down.
Once these two principalities were gone, Israel would be able to return to her land and live in safety. Tyre means “to distress” and Sidon means “a hunting”. Once the one who hunts us down and causes us to fear is conquered in our lives we are able to return to our rest and be safe.
All of the people mentioned in Hebrews 11 are pictures of the main characters in God’s great plan. Abraham as a type of Father God, offered his only son to come to earth to die, knowing that he would receive him back. Issac was a type of Jesus who blessed his disciples and spoke into their future. Joseph was a type of Jesus who gave us a glimpse into heaven and our mansions that God has prepared for us. Moses’s parents were like Mary and Joseph who had to hide their son from death. Moses was a type of Jesus who refused to take the kingdom by force but chose to suffer with his Jewish brothers because he knew that enduring the cross would bring salvation to the world.
We are the people who passed through the Red Sea. We do that through salvation. We leave the sins of Egypt and cross over to the other side. Our enemies, like the walls of Jericho, fall before us because we are empowered by the Holy Spirit. The sinners of the world will be saved through our testimony.
Lord, your Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. May we walk in your light today.

Tues.’s Devo - God Judges the Nations

Read: Ezekiel 24:1-26:21; Hebrews 11:1-16; Psalm 110:1-7; Proverbs 27:14
Ezekiel marks this day. It has been nine years since Jehoiachin had been taken prisoner. Ezekiel was in captivity by the river Chebar when he prophecied that on this day, Babylon would lay siege Jerusalem. Second Kings 25:1 says, “And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built forts against it round about.” It happened just as Ezekiel said it would even though he was not there to see it.
The choice pieces, the pick of the flock would be put in the cooking pot to boil with the hope of boiling out its impurities but they would not be able to be removed even by fire. This referred to the leaders and the noblility of the land. They would be under siege and die a slow death but in their trials and death, they would not turn to the Lord.
God would take away their temple, their pride and joy. They would also take away their sons and daughters which would have carried on their name and they wouldn’t even be able to give them a proper funeral, but instead, they would be carried away to Babylon. To give them a vivid picture, Ezekiel’s wife died that night and he was not allowed to show any mourning for her. This would be the picture of what was awaiting them.
Ezekiel was told to prophecy against the Ammonites. They had rejoiced when Jerusalem fell so God would give them over to the nomadic tribes from the East. The same would happen to the people of Moab and Seir because they looked at what happened to Jerusalem and had no pity.
Edom had taken revenge on Judah so they would be ravaged by Israel who would kill them and their animals. The Philistines also had taken vengeance on Judah, so God himself was going to punish them.
Of Tyre, God spoke the harshest. Tyre was a city of great commerce. Judah had stood in her way at times, taking her business. Judah also produced corn which Tyre needed. When the people of Tyre heard that Jerusalem had fallen they rejoiced in the fact that they would have the corner on the market and their enemy and rival was defeated. God would send Nebuchadnezzar against them and he would trample down their city, plunder their wealth and kill their people. Tyre means
“a rock” and God said he would make her a bare rock that would never be rebuilt.
This is a picture of the very end when God will judge the unrighteous nations. He will bring them down to the pit and they will dwell in the earth below with those who are already there in hell. They will not return to take their place in the land of the living but have a horrible end and be no more. (Ezekiel 26:19-21) We who are saved will come back to dwell on the earth for the thousand years where Jesus will be the king and there will be righteous government and justice will prevail on the earth.
Faith is being able to see what is not yet there, yet know that it is coming. God specifically picked out the people he wanted in this chapter. Abel is the first who offered the perfect sacrifice. He was a type of Jesus who was the perfect sacrifice. Neither of them lived very long and were killed by the enemy, Satan. Their blood still speaks!
Enoch was raptured showing us that God always has a plan of escape for his people who walk closely with him.
Noah was a picture of those who will go through the tribulation but they will trust in God to carry them through it. Their faith will condemn the world of their sin.
Abraham was a picture of the family of the new millennium. Abraham never saw it but by faith he knew that this was not his home and that God was building a better one. We will see that new city in the millennium.
These examples were natural people but their lives pointed to something spiritual. We are not just natural people but we are spiritual houses for God’s Holy Spirit to dwell in. We can, by faith, enter into our heavenly house anytime we want to. In the future what we see in our spiritual eyes will be made manifest in our natural sight.
Lord, your plans and your ways are so past our understanding but we stand by faith and believe what you have said will happen. You are our hope.

Mon.’s Devo - The Only God

Read: Ezekiel 23:1-49; Hebrews 10:18-39; Psalm 109:1-31; Proverbs 27:13
God uses a very graphic allegory of two sisters, Oholah and Oholibah from the same mother. Ohola which means “idolatrous sanctuary” refers to Samaria, the capital of Israel. Samaria was the center of their idolatrous worship. Oholibah means “my tent is within her” referring to Jerusalem in Judah. Israel and Judah were both from the same mother: Sarah. They both chose to prostitute themselves with the idols of the nations around them and when they needed help they went to them instead of to God. Their foreign lovers were about to turn on them and become their bitter enemies.
Israel had been the first to fall. They had trusted in Egypt and adopted their gods so they would be attacked and taken captive by the same people. Judah had done the same with Babylon so they would take them captive.
In the Old Testament the enemies were physical but they stood for spiritual forces. This is how the enemy works: if we trust in them they will take us captive and become our enemy. Paul says it so well in Romans 6:16. “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”
All of God’s judgements against them were so that they would know that He was the Sovereign and Only God. God’s greatest desire is that we know him.
Hebrews explains that if a person is told of Christ’s sacrifice for their sins and resurrection life and doesn’t choose it but continues to walk in sin, there is no hope for them. Jesus is the only way to salvation.
God encourages us to keep walking in trust and faith even in the midst of persecution and trials because we won’t be disappointed in the end. We will be richly rewarded!
Lord, thank you for your rewards and your promises. We long to know you as you long to be known. Open our eyes to your messages you send us and our ears to your voice.

Sun.’s Devo - God’s Wrath Had Come

Read: Ezekiel 21:1-22:31; Hebrews 10:1-17; Psalm 108:1-13; Proverbs 27:12
Ezekiel spoke first of the sword of the Lord which was coming to slay the wicked of his own people who refused to turn to him. He said it would strike three times: (1) The taking of Zedekiah (to whom the "rod," or scepter, may refer); (2) the taking of the city; (3) the removal of all those who remained with Gedaliah. Then he spoke of the road the Babylonians would take. It would branch off into two roads. One led south to the land of the Ammonites (where Jerusalem had adopted many of their idols) and the other lead north to Jerusalem. At the fork, the king of Babylon would seek an omen to tell him which one to take. To decide this they would take two arrows and mark them either Rabbah or Jerusalem, put them in a quiver and shake it. Whichever one they drew out first would determine which way they would go. They also would use a liver from a sacrifice and see if it was healthy or not. In other words, they left everything to chance and superstition.
His omens would lead him north to Jerusalem. There he would set up a siege with battering rams. His army will think it was a bad idea to go against Jerusalem, but the king would remind his army of this nation’s sins and they would agree to take them captive.
In Chapter 22, God made it very clear that it was their sin that had determined this horrible fate. Then he revealed the ugliness of their sin, just in case they thought they had done these things without being noticed. God was no longer speaking in parables, he was spelling it out very clearly so they would know it was their own fault this was happening.
One of the big signs of God’s indignation on their nation was their lack of the latter and the spring rains. Rain was a sign of God’s blessing on the land and they had had no rain. Their prophets had prophesied blessing even though nature was showing them their words were false. This was the day of wrath, not blessing.
Hebrews explains that the law was good in that it promised atonement from sin but it was only to be a shadow of what was coming and we now have through Jesus. It was impossible for the blood of animals to take away sin; it only covered it. The blood of Jesus takes away sin forever.
Lord, thank you that we are not living in the day of your wrath but we are determining the future for the next generation. May we leave a legacy of truth and faithfulness to the next generation and may we train them in righteousness and the fear of the Lord.

Sat.’s Devo - God’s Purposes and Love

Read: Ezekiel 20:1-49; Hebrews 9:11-28; Psalm 107:1-43; Proverbs 27:11
It is the seventh year of Jehoiachin’s exile and the seventh year of their 70 that they would be in captivity. Ezekiel gives five times that Israel rebelled and provoked God to bring judgement: in Egypt when God was ready to bring them out and they wouldn’t get rid of their idols, the wilderness when they refused to honor his laws, on the borders of Canaan when a new generation arose because the old generation would not trust God to bring them into Canaan, in Canaan when they chose the gods of the people of the land over God, and in the time of the prophet where once again they had chosen the gods of the heathens. They had compelled God to let them know him as a powerful judge since they were unwilling to know him as a gracious Father.
In verse 33, Ezekiel begins giving them what God purposes for them. Their 70 years would be like Israel’s 40 years in the desert with the intention purifying them and preparing them to reoccupy the land of their promise.
In the end of Ezekiel’s prophecy, Ezekiel tells the Lord that the people mock him for his parables so in the next chapter God allows him to spell it out clearly and plainly so they can’t complain that they don’t understand.
In Hebrews, God explains that Jesus is now our eternal High Priest who presides in the Temple of God in heaven. The Temple on earth and the priests on earth were just types of the Temple in heaven and the priests in heaven. The earthly priests had to sprinkle blood on everything to cleanse it from sin and they had to repeat it every year. But, Jesus shed his blood once and for all on the cross and his blood is eternally washing us of sin. Jesus will come back to earth again to bring total salvation for those who have applied his blood to their sins.
Lord, help us to consider your great love for your people. There is power in the blood of Christ.

Fri.’s Devo - A Parable of Lions

Read: Ezekiel 18:1-19:14; Hebrews 9:1-10; Psalm 106:32-48; Proverbs 27:10
The nation of Israel had a history of paying for the sins of the previous generation, but this generation would not be able to blame their fathers for their judgment. Their own sins had caused them to fall into the hands of their enemies. God went to great lengths to explain that everyone will be responsible for their own sins and live or die by their own merits. Mercy was always available for the one who repented.
In Chapter 19 there is a lamentation over the leaders of Israel, the princes of the twelve tribes. A mother lioness lays down with young lions and raises up one who preys on others. This young lion was finally taken in chains to Egypt. When this mother lion saw that her mentee was gone she raised up another one to do the same. He reeked havoc among the land and was put in chains and taken to Babylon.
The mother lion is Jehoiachin’s mother who raised two sons: Jehoahaz and Jehoiakin. Jehoahaz became the king and was evil. He was taken to Babylon. Then, Jehoiakin became king of Judah. He was also evil and he was taken to Egypt.
One day, the Lion from the tribe of Judah would come and restore his bride back to her inheritance.
Then we have the same scenario about a vine. The vine was the children of Israel that were planted in Canaan as strong leaders of the earth. Now in God’s wrath he was plucking her up by her roots and casting her down to the ground. She would be transplanted in Babylon where the spiritual atmosphere would be dry and she would long for spiritual water. Actually, Babylon was very fertile and well-watered but the physical would not satisfy their thirst for God.
Hebrews describes the first covenant as a religion of ordinances and rules that had to be followed to the letter. The only person who could enter into God’s presence was the High Priest and he could only go into the Holy of Holies once a year on the Day of Atonement. He could take away the penalty of their sins for the year but he could not take away their guilt or clear their conscience. That could only be done through the cross.
Lord, thank you for the cross that is our great salvation.

Thurs.’s Devo - The Breaking of the Covenant and the Promise of a New Covenant

Read: Ezekiel 16:43-17:24; Hebrews 8:1-13; Psalm 106:13-31; Proverbs 27:7-9
God rebuked Jerusalem for copying Israel, their older sister, to the north in their worshipping of idols. Then, they had copied their younger sister, Sodom to the south. But Jerusalem far surpassed the sins of Sodom. Sodom had become rich and arrogant, looking down on the poor and needy. Israel had fallen into idolatry, but none of these surpassed the sins of Judah in their idolatrous practices. Now God would deal with them as they deserved because they had broken the covenant.
He gave them an allegory about a great eagle which came to Lebanon. It took off the top of the tree and carried it away to a land of merchants. This referred to Babylonians coming to Jerusalem and taking King Jeconiah to Babylon.
Zedekiah, Jeconiah’s uncle was made king of Judah and he revolted against Babylon and refused to pay tribute anymore. This put Jerusalem and all of Judah in a very vulnerable spot leading to her downfall. Zedekiah broke his covenant with Babylon as a picture of Judah breaking their covenant with God. Now they were exposed and open for attack from earth and heaven.
The second eagle was Egypt who had horses. They had stalls from Thebes to Memphis that housed 40,000 horses and 20,000 chariots. Zedekiah had sent a message to Egypt to bring their horses and help them fight the Babylonians when they came. Would they be able to help them? That was the question that God answered. No, it would not help. Zedekiah could not escape breaking his covenant. He would be carried to Babylon where he would be judged. His army would die in battle and the survivors would be scattered all over the earth. When all seemed hopeless, the Messiah would come to earth and bring peace.
In their day, Zerubbabel was that savoir. “The shoot from the top of the cedar “ was the sprig that God raised up. Zerubbabel would bring the captives in Babylon back to Jerusalem, with Ezra and lay the cornerstone to the Temple. He was the picture of Jesus, who was the cornerstone. Jesus was the root out of a dry ground that would bring the kingdom of heaven down to earth. Zerubbabel was of lowly birth from the tribe of Judah just as Jesus as. He was a picture of Christ.
In Hebrews, we see that Jesus is our High Priest of a better covenant than that of Moses’. In our new covenant, the law is written in our hearts and Jesus is our High Priest.
Lord, thank you for our new covenant that is full of love and grace. We want to do your laws and they are not heavy or grievous to us. We follow out of love and not fear.

Wed.’s Devo - The New Priesthood

Read: Ezekiel 14:12-16:47; Hebrews 7:18-28; Psalm 106:1-12; Proverbs 27:4-67
God cut off the food supply of Jerusalem and even if Noah, Daniel and Job were living in the city, they would not be able to save anyone but themselves. Noah did save his family because they believed in what he had heard from God and helped him build the ark. Daniel was taken in the first group of exiles to Babylon, but none of his family was saved. Job prayed and sacrificed for his family and all but his wife were killed. What God was saying was that national judgement falls on a nation and all are responsible for their own sins. What happens in a nation affects everyone in it. Ezekiel was innocent and would be spared but he had to go through all the hardships because of the choices of the people. We are bearing the consequences of the sin of abortion in our nation even though we don’t agree with it.
Ezekiel put it another way: if the root of the tree is bad then the branches are bad. Jesus said that same thing in Matthew 3:10. “And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”
In Chapter 16 we have Israel’s history of how God chose her and raised her up from nothing and made her great. When she became a woman, she prostituted herself with the gods of every nation around her. She not only did this but she paid them instead of vice versa. She went after their gods and chose them over her own God. Now, she would be exposed to the nations who had watched God do such marvelous things for. She would be handed over to her lovers and they would not love her but enslave her instead.
In Hebrews, we continue the conversation about the priesthood. There has been a changing of the guards. The priesthood that was of this earth and governed by human priests who lived and died was replaced by the priesthood of heaven. Jesus was made our priest forever like Melchezekek. He will never die but remain our priest forever. Just like the priest of the earth, Jesus goes before the Father and makes intercession for us. We don’t have to wait until the Day of Atonement for this to happen because Jesus is always before the face of God praying for us. Earthly priests had to bring a sacrifice for their own sins, but Jesus had no sins so he is always clean and ready to do the job of our priest.
Thank you, Lord for your perfect plan that is always for our good. Thank you that you are our perfect priest who is always praying for us.

Tues.’s Devo - God’s High Priest

Read: Ezekiel 12:1-14:11; Hebrews 7:1-17; Psalm 105:37-45; Proverbs 27:3
Ezekiel was to be a sign and a wonder to the people. He acted out, like Jeremiah, what was about to happen. God told him to pack what he owned in a bag like he was going into exile. He was to carry it around the city then dig through the wall and take his bag on his shoulder through the hole. He was to cover his face so he couldn’t see where he was going.
He did this at dusk and the next day, God let him answer the questions of the people. He told them that the prince would do just as he did. He would be caught and carried to Babylon but he would not see the land. That is exactly what happened to Zedekiah (Jeremiah 39:4-7). He tried to escape by the gate in his garden and was pursued by the army of Nebuchadnezzar. They put out Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him in chains and carried him to Babylon.
The people had a proverbs that said: “The days go by and every vision comes to nothing”. God told Ezekiel to tell them that none of the visions of their false prophets would come to fruition but they were about to see all His words come to pass. God was delaying no longer. God was going to hold the false prophets responsible for telling the people lies. They had prophesied that peace was coming and they would be safe. They had lied to God’s people which killed those who should not have died and spared those who should not live. They had held the people captive with their incantations and spells, but God was going to release the people and save them.
The elders came to sit before Ezekiel to ask for a word from God. God told him that the only word he had for them was to turn from their idols. Once they removed the idols, they could see God and what he had to say to them.
In Hebrews, we read about Melchizedek who had no beginning or end and whose name means “king of righteousness” and also “king of Salem”. This is God’s High Priest in heaven. He met Abraham who was the Father of the Nations and Abraham paid him a tenth of his spoils from the battle of the kings. The kings on both sides of that battle were evil yet Abraham walked away with the spoils. He offered up a tenth to God through Melchizedek. Jesus was made a priest after his order just like all the priests on the earth were priests after Aaron’s order. Melchizedek was eternal and forever a priest, where Aaron was earthly and died. Jesus came from the tribe of Judah, the kingly tribe, yet he was made a priest after Melchizedek’s order making him both priest and king.
Lord, everything you say you will do, you do! Thank you for your promises and your faithfulness.

Mon.’s Devo - Live for Eternity

Read: Ezekiel 10:1-11:25; Hebrews 6:1-20; Psalm 105:16-36; Proverbs 27:1-2
God’s priest, the man in linen, was told to take the coals from the altar and scatter them over the city. This was just what Aaron was told to do in Leviticus 16:12. He was to put incense on the coals and bring them into the Holy of Holies and put them on the mercy seat so that he would not die. Ezekiel was seeing this same ritual happening in heaven.
Ezekiel saw the four living creatures which are before the throne in heaven which watch over the kingdoms of the earth.
The face of the eagle stands for the Roman Empire, and the Apostle John who wrote to the Church and revealed Jesus as the Son of God. The lion stands for the Assyrian Empire, and the Apostle Matthew who wrote to the Jews and revealed Jesus as the King. The cherub which is also the ox, stands for the Persian Empire and the Apostle Mark who wrote to the Romans and revealed Jesus as the Servant. The face of the man represents the Greek Empire and the Apostle Luke who wrote to the Greeks revealing Jesus as the Son of Man.
In Chapter 11, Ezekiel was taken to the temple and shown the 25 priests who he was shown in yesterday’s reading bowing down toward the east. The leaders were Jaazaniah and Pelatiah and they were responsible for the false counsel and lies they were telling the people on God’s behalf. They told the people to build houses and that the end was not near.
Ezekiel was to warn the people that everything they feared was about to happen. Judgement was coming and they would not escape. When he said this, Pelatiah died. His name means “Jehovah’s way of escape.” This was a picture that there was no hope in Jehovah saving them or giving them a way of escape.
Ezekiel fell on his face and cried out for God to save a remnant. God gave Ezekiel the promise that he would save a remnant and bring them back to their land. He would give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them. They would follow his decrees and keep his laws. Ezekiel then awoke from his vision and was brought back to the exiles in Babylon where he shared what he had seen.
In Hebrews we see that it is impossible for someone who has come to the light, eaten of the heavenly gift, and participated in the acts of the Holy Spirit, who have experienced the fruit of God’s Word and seen his miraculous powers and then fallen away, to repent. I’m not sure if this person saw all this from an unsaved position or not but it is a perfect picture of what Satan did. He was once Lucifer who had tasted all of God’s goodness in heaven and was a believer and still is a believer in God. He is just not a worshipper of God. He will never be able to repent.
He gives us a practical picture to understand this concept. Ground that often drinks in the rain will produce fruit that is useful. A heart that feeds on the Word of God and the Holy Spirit will continually produce fruit. Land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and in danger of being cursed. A heart that produces curses and hatred will be cursed in the end and burned in the lake of fire.
In the same way, all our righteous acts and deeds will be remembered.
Lord, help us to remember that we are living for eternity.

Sun.’s Devo - Why Now?

Read: Ezekiel 10:1-11:25; Hebrews 6:1-20; Psalm 105:16-36; Proverbs 27:1-2
After all the prophesies about what would happen, finally happens. God called it “the end” which is a picture of the final end. Everyone was being judged according to their works. In James 2:20 says that faith without works is dead. The way a person conducts their lives reveals whether they have faith. Walking down an aisle and repeating a prayer is not salvation. Salvation comes by faith. What happens after a person walks out of that service will prove his salvation.
Today, in Ezekiel’s life everything had turned to doom and the rod had budded and arrogance had blossomed. It was the reverse of Aaron’s rod. This was like Satan’s rod blossoming. In other words, sin had come to its complete stage. No one from that crowd of sinners would be left.
Those who went out of the city of Jerusalem would die by the sword, those left inside would die of famine and disease. Those who escaped to the mountains would moan their sin. All of their gold and silver would not be able to save them.
In the 6th year, while Ezekiel was sitting with he elders of the city, he is taken up in a vision. God suspended him between earth and heaven and let him see the north gate of Jerusalem. There saw the statue of Baal and his wife Asherah. Josiah had had torn this idol of Baal down during his reformation, but they had rebuilt it.
Then Ezekiel was taken to the wall where there was a small hole in the wall of this temple of Baal. He dug into the wall and found a doorway. God told him to crawl in and look at what went on in this temple. He did and say all the horrid engravings on the wall. He saw the 70 elders of Israel inside this abominable temple offering incense to Baal.
Next he was shown the women mourning for Tammuz, or Adonis. Instead of weeping for the sins of their nation, they were weeping for this idol. His next stop was God’s temple. Inside were 25 priests who were on their knees with their backs to the altar and facing the east worshipping the sun god, Ormuzd who was a Persian god.
Ezekiel saw “the man in linen” throughout his life. These men in linen are the priests of God’s temple in heaven. Today, the man in linen had a writing kit at his side. He was to mark all the people on their foreheads who were mourning and repenting of their sins. This was the practice that Satan will copy in the last days when he will mark his followers with his own mark. Satan is not original and only counterfeits God.
God showed Ezekiel all this sin and abomination so he would understand why he had to bring judgment now.
In Hebrews, God explains why Jesus had to come to earth in order to be our High Priest in Heaven. He had to understand temptation and humanity first hand so he would have compassion on the weak and ignorant. Jesus became a priest like Melchizedek, God’s High Priest. Melchizedek walked the earth in the day of Abraham but he was not born of a human or did he die as a human.
Jesus had to learn obedience from what he suffered in life just as we do. Jesus was made perfect so he could be our Savior.
Lord, forgive us for complaining when things don’t go our way. Help us to see that everything works a good work in us so that we too can learn to obey and be perfected in love.

Sat.’s Devo - The Choice was Theirs to Make

Read: Ezekiel 3:16-6:14; Hebrews 4:1016; Psalm 104:24-35; Proverbs 26:27
God set Ezekiel as a watchman over the house of Israel. That means he was like their priest who was responsible to rebuke them if they were sinning and warn them of the judgment that would come if they didn’t repent. He would be held responsible if he did not tell them.
Ezekiel was to act out what would happen in the future if they didn’t repent. He was to go into his house and have someone tie him up and gag him so he could not come out or speak. Ezekiel would only be able to say what God told him to say.
Next, he was to take a clay tablet and draw the city of Jerusalem on it. He was to erect a siege work against it and a ramp up to it with battering rams around it. This was what was coming in their future.
He was to lie on his left side to bear the sins of Israel for 390 days then on his right side to bear the sins of Judah for 40 days. He was to eat rationed bread during these days to give them a picture of what the siege would look like.
After that he was to take his own hair and weigh it and divide it into three equal parts. One part was to be burned inside the city, one part was to be struck with a sword outside the city and the last part was to be scattered to the wind. But before he scattered the last part to the wind he was to take a few strands and hide it in the crease of his garment. What happened to the hair would be what would happen to his people. Some would be burned inside the city, some killed by the sword outside the city, and some scattered to other nations and a remnant would be left and preserved.
He reminded them that God has set them in the center of the nations to be the example and leader yet they had been more sinful than the nations around them. They had abandoned God’s laws and accepted the standards of the nations they were suppose to lead. God had to punish them and all the nations would watch in shock and surprise.
In Hebrews we learn that the invitation of walking in rest and the presence of the Lord is still available. There is a rest we can all walk in now which is the precursor to the seventh day or last millennium where the world will enter into rest. The only thing that keeps us from this rest is disobedience. The Word of God will divide everything and all secrets will be made open and the only thing that will live is truth and righteousness.
Lord, may we walk in your rest and presence.

Fri.’s Devo - God Sends Ezekiel

Read: Ezekiel 1:1-3:15; Hebrews 3:1-19; Psalm 104:1-23; Proverbs 26:24-26
Ezekiel begins “In the thirtieth year”. Thirty years before this Josiah was king and found the copy of the law and reformation began. Also, Ezekiel was born that year. A priest officially becomes a priest at the age of 30 so this is his year of priesthood. God was going to build a sanctuary for the captives and Ezekiel was going to be their priest to the prophets.
It was the 5th day of the 5th year of Jehoiachin’s captivity which was also one month after Jeremiah (29) had prophesied to them to give up their lofty notions of returning to Jerusalem so quickly.
Ezekiel had a vision of the throne room in heaven. He saw the four living creatures and the throne with God in his glory. God spoke to Ezekiel and told him he was sending him to the children of Israel who were still rebellious and hard hearted. Whether they listened to Ezekiel or not, they would know that there had been a prophet among them. He encouraged Ezekiel not to be afraid of their harsh words or their rejection, but to speak what he told him to speak. Then he gave Ezekiel a scroll and told him to eat it. It was full of lamentations, mourning and woe which tasted like honey.
Then, the spirit took him up and away. He awoke and went to the captives at Tel-abib and sat for a week, wasted by what he had experienced.
In Hebrews, Jesus is called an Apostle. In the Greek “Apostle” means an ambassador of the Gospel who has miraculous powers. He is also the chief of priests. His faithfulness is compared to Moses’ faithfulness. Jesus was found more worthy of glory than Moses because Jesus was the creator and fulfillment of the law and Moses was just the giver of the law.
Hebrews begs the people not to be like the children of Israel who hardened their hearts and refused to believe which kept them from entering their rest. The “rest” that he was referring to is an abode. It is a state of being in peace here in the land of the living and also in the land of the dead. It has to do with abiding in the presence of the Lord in life and living in heaven after life. Our biggest enemy is unbelief.
Lord, help us to have faith in all that you have said and written to us. May we eat your words and may they be like honey to our mouths.