Sun.’s Devo - Ezekiel’s Calling

Read: Ezekiel 1:1-3:15; Hebrews 3:1-19; Psalm 104:1-23; Proverbs 26:24-26

The book of Ezekiel starts in the “thirtieth year”. Thirty years ago began the era of the Babylonian empire. It was also the year that Josiah found the book of the law in the temple and began a national revival to the Lord. It was also Ezekiel’s thirtieth year to be alive. He was contemporary with Jeremiah and Daniel. Jeremiah had prophesied for thirty-four years before Ezekiel, and continued to do so for six or seven years after him. The call of Ezekiel followed the very next year after the communication of Jeremiah's predictions to Babylon (Jer 51:59), and was intended as a sequel to them. Daniel's predictions came mostly later than Ezekiel’s. 

Ezekiel had been a priest in Jerusalem and had left with the first group to Babylon. He continued to lead the nation as a priest to the Lord. He was at the river Chebar when he saw a vision. In the vision he saw the four living creatures from heaven. Each was the same. Their heads had four different faces on its four sides. One was a human face, one an ox face, one an eagle face and the last the face of a lion. They had the wings of the eagle, the feet of the ox, hands like the man and the quickness of the lion. They moved on wheels within wheels which gave them the ability to change directions. The wheels were covered with eyes. Their spirit was in these eyes. They made the sound of an army and the crashing of waves. Over their heads was the likeness of a throne. God sat on this throne in all his glory and brightness. 

When Ezekiel saw all this he fell on his face and heard God speak. He told him to stand up. Ezekiel stood and listened to God’s orders. God was sending him to speak to the people of Israel who God called “a nation of rebels.” He was to speak whatever God told him and not be afraid of them. 

God gave Ezekiel a book and told him to eat it. It was a scroll written on the front and the back. Then he was to go and tell them whatever God said to say. They would not listen to him because they were not willing to listen to the Lord, but he was still to say God’s words. 

God’s spirit lifted Ezekiel up and he heard the sound of an earthquake behind him as the wings of the creatures touched one another. Then Ezekiel was taken back to the exiles at Tel-abib by the Chebar canal. Ezekiel sat silently for seven days before he could speak, he was so overwhelmed by what he had seen and heard. 

In Hebrews, the writer points them to Jesus who was the house that Moses was building. Moses’ assignment was give the people God’s laws and to build all the things in the tabernacle that would point to Jesus. He, like Ezekiel, had to deal with a rebellious people who refused to be faithful to God. Moses still did his job in spite of their stubborn hearts. 

Now, God was appealing to this generation to not be like the one in Moses’ day. The people of Moses’ generation were not able to enter into God’s rest because of their unbelief. They had to die in the wilderness and didn’t get to enter into the land promised them. God does not want us to be like them. He wants us to make it to our place of rest.

Lord, may we not be rebellious and hard-hearted but humble and ever-seeking, always praising You. May we with patience endure trials and suffering knowing that in your perfect timing you will bring us into rest. 

Sat.’s Devo - Our Hope is in our High Priest

Read: Lamentations 4:1-5:22; Hebrews 2:1-18; Psalm 103:1-22; Proverbs 26:23

Jeremiah gives us a sad picture of the priesthood. What was supposed to be precious (the gold) has changed and is filthy. The holy stones which represent the different tribes worn in the breastplate of the High Priest have lost their value and are nothing more than earthen pots. The people have lost all dignity, honor and worth. The wild animals are more humane than them. No one has pity for the children and babies. They have lost everything and their punishment is worse that Sodom and Gomorrah. They were gone in a moment, but their pain goes on and on. 

Their priests were once righteous, but became so sinful they didn’t even resemble the priests God chose. It would have been better to have died in the battle than suffer living in the siege. The women have boiled and eaten their own children. 

The very foundation of the people has been shaken through God’s wrath because the leaders and kings refused to believe in him. They didn’t believe anyone would ever penetrate their walls. 

The prophets and priests shed innocent blood and that blood was on their hands. They were the ones who needed to call “Unclean” wherever they walked. 

They kept waiting for some nation like Egypt to come and help them, but no one was coming. The same fate would come to Edom. They had to watch their nation become ravished and plundered with no hope. 

In the end, it is God who reigns forever and his throne will never be destroyed or overthrown. Jeremiah prays that God will one day restore and renew them. 

In Hebrews, even the angels were punished for their rebellion and so it will be for us if we rebel against God. God gave this world to man and not to angels. Jesus came as a man and put everything in this world under his feet. He conquered sin, death and hell, yet we don’t see the result of this yet. 

Jesus went to glory to bring us there one day. He did this through all he suffered. He had to be made a man to be our high priest since the high priest had to be a man who could understand the weakness of man and pray effectively for them. Jesus did this and is now our High Priest. He can intercede for us in our weaknesses and help us overcome them.

Lord, thank you for becoming a man and enduring the pain and shame and persecution for us. Thank your for your death and your resurrection. Thank you that you intercede for us in our weaknesses and make us strong because you live in us and through us. May you be strong today in your people.

Fri.’s Devo - God’s Day of Judgment on Jerusalem

Read: Lamentations 2:20-3:66; Hebrews 1:1-14; Psalm 102:1-28; Proverbs 26:21-22

 Jeremiah sees women eating their own children to stay alive, priests being killed in the sanctuary and young men and women dead in the streets from the sword. Not one person in Jerusalem is not touched by what is going on. 

Jeremiah sees all this and is devastated. He is almost hopeless till he remembers that the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases and his mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning which gives him cause to praise God for his faithfulness.  He knows he has to wait for the Lord who will come with salvation in his timing. God will not stay mad forever. His love is greater than his wrath. God is just and when he is finished punishing man for his sin, he will revive him. 

Jeremiah calls the people to repent for this sins and confess them to the Lord. He prays for his own life and the Lord told him not to fear. Jeremiah sees that God has judged him and is taking care of him in the midst of terrible judgement on Judah. Many leaders in Jerusalem wanted Jeremiah killed, but God preserved his life and saved him.

Hebrews is believed to have been written by Paul, but no one really knows. It is so deep and full of mysteries that I wonder if it wasn’t written by one of the men who walked with Jesus after his resurrection on the way to Emmaus. In the Old Testament, God used his prophets to talk to the people, but when Jesus came, he spoke God’s words. He was the word of God. He showed us God’s nature and how the universe is created and held by God’s word. When he gave his life to cleanse us he took his rightful seat in heaven on the right hand of God. 

God announced Jesus as his son. He told all the angels to worship his arrival. His kingdom would be one of righteousness and not wickedness and he would be anointed with the oil of gladness. He laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning and the heavens are the work of his hands. The heavens and the earth will one day wear out and have to be renewed and he will do this also. But, he will never wear out or need to be changed. He will reign forever and his enemies will be put under his power. All this power was given to Jesus and not the angels. They are spirits sent to minister to those chosen to inherit salvation. 

Lord, thank you for your great plan. Thank you for angels that minister to us and help us. Thank you that we are living to see you put your enemies under your feet. Thank you for your steadfast love that never ceases or comes to an end. And may we trust in your mercies that are new every morning.

Thurs.’s Devo - Lamentations

Read: Lamentations 1:1-2:19; Philemon 1-25; Psalm 101:1-8; Proverbs 26:20

The Book of Lamentations was probably written by Jeremiah who was known for his lamentations over Jerusalem and Israel. The Israelites had become very entitled. They thought that since they were “God’s chosen people” nothing bad would happen to them. They obviously didn’t read his laws and especially the ones that cursed those who didn’t obey them. They had declined so deep into sin and idolatry and refused to hear the warnings of the prophets who begged them to repent and turn back to God. The Book of Lamentations was written during the time when Nebuchadnezzar was besieging Jerusalem and the people were starving. It contrasts the time of prosperity to this time of hopelessness and chaos. 

Jeremiah gives a gut-trenching description of the streets and what was going on. It is heart-breaking, but he reminds them that this is the day that God announced would happen and it is their fault. God has become their enemy and is fighting against them. It is very hard for Jeremiah to watch all this happen even though he told them it would.

Today we read Paul’s letter to Philemon. Philemon was a wealthy slave owner who became a Christian under Paul’s ministry. Philemon lived in Colosse and had a slave named Onesimus. He either damaged some of Philemon’s property or stole something from him and fled to Rome. In Rome, he met Paul and was converted to Christ. He was very useful to Paul and Paul came to love him as a brother. When he found out his story, he felt it was right to send Onesimus back home to face his owner. 

Paul urges Philemon to do the right thing and treat Onesimus as a fellow brother in the faith. He even says that he will pay any debt Onesimus owes him. Paul is confident that Philemon will do the right thing concerning Onesimus and tells him he will be coming to stay soon.  

Lord, may we treat one another in the body of Christ like our brother and sister. May we not live like the world and hold on to grudges like the world does. May we accept the grace that God has given to us and extend it to others. 

Wed.’s Devo - Jeremiah’s Book

Read: Jeremiah 51:54-52:34; Titus 3:1-15; Psalm 100:1-5; Proverbs 26:18-19

When the first group of exiles were taken to Babylon, Jeremiah wrote down a word in a book. He gave it to the quartermaster Seraiah and told him to read it when he got to Babylon. Then he was to tie a rock around the book and throw it into the midst of the Euphrates River. In the book he wrote the downfall of Babylon. All her building and her great wall would be burned with fire and Babylon would be leveled to the ground. Like his book, Babylon would sink to rise no more. 

Zedekiah was Judah’s last king. He came to power at the age of 21 and reigned 11 years. He rebelled against the Lord and the Lord cast him out of his presence. Then he rebelled against the king of Babylon and they came to besiege Jerusalem in his 9th year as king. After two years the wall was finally breached and Zedekiah and his men fled to Arubah. They were captured and brought to face the king of Babylon in Riblah where Zedekiah had to watch all his sons killed and then they took out his eyes. He was bound in chains and taken to Babylon. 

The army of Babylon entered into Jerusalem and carried the  rest of the people, 4,600 of them, away to Babylon leaving a small remnant of the poorest people to take care of the vineyards and the fields.

They took the bronze pillars of the Temple, and all the vessels of bronze. They took the gold and the silver and the basin used for the priest to wash.

After thirty-seven years of exile, Evil-merodach became the king of Baylon. He brought Jehoiachin out of prison and was very king to him. He gave him new clothes and had him dine with him at his table and even gave him an allowance for his daily needs until he died. 

Why would God show Jehoiachin such favor? These are my thoughts: Jehoiachin was only eight years old when he became king of Judah and only reigned 100 days. He was the last direct heir to the throne of Judah. I think God had compassion on him because he was too young to make decisions for himself and he was a direct descendant of David. He was probably around 48 years old when he was finally treated more like a king than a prisoner. God is a just God. 

In Titus, Paul reminds them to treat those in authority with respect. Paul told them to remember how they were before God saved them and have patience with those who have not been saved yet. They were to avoid controversial conversations that would end in arguments. They were to warn those who stirred up division and if they continued more than twice they were to have nothing to do with them. 

Paul was always looking after those who labored with him. He wants them to send Zenas and Apollos on their way but to make sure they have everything they needed. He desired the people to learn how to use their time and effort to do good works and things that bear fruit.

Lord, may we be wise investors in your kingdom. May we support those who are on the front lines with our resources and our prayers. Thank your for our own testimony of grace and mercy. May our lives matter in your kingdom.

Tues.’s Devo - Babylon Will Fall

Read: Jeremiah 51:1-53; Titus 2:1-15; Psalm 99:1-9; Proverbs 26:17

God said he would raise up a country to destroy Babylon. On the day of the Lord, the Medes would  come and attack. Nothing they did could stop what was coming. God is judging Babylon for what they did first to Israel and then what they did to the world. The Medes and the Persians were the silver chest and arms in the statute that Daniel saw in the second chapter of Daniel. It was time for the head,Babylon, to fall. 

The god of Babylon was Bel which is another name for Baal who required human sacrifices and all sorts of perversion. The bowls of sin had become full of the blood of innocent people and it was time for God to act. 

In Titus, he told the older men and women to be righteous examples for those younger than them. They were to train the men to have self control and the women to love and respect their husbands. Workers were to honor their bosses and honor Christ in all they do.

Paul was always reminding them of Christ’s return. He wanted them to keep in mind all Christ did for them and what he redeemed them out of. They are to be a pure and holy people for Christ, doing the works he did. 

Lord, may we keep in mind the same things. There is a reward for those who are faithful till the end. May we reap the reward of our self-control and obedience. 

Mon.’s Devo - God’s Judgment and Plan for Israel

Read: Jeremiah 49:23-50:46; Titus 1:1-16; Psalm 97:1-98:9; Proverbs 26:13-16

Damascus, the capital of Syria and Hamath the capital of Upper Syria along with the city of Arpad would be taken by the Babylonians. 

Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor would be struck down. Kedar were the descendants of Ishmael’s second son. They were nomadic Arabs who dwelt north-west of Arabia. They lived in tents made of black hair. There was a saying that to dwell in the tents of Kedar was to be cut off from the worship of the true God. These nomads were next on the chopping block and would be destroyed by the Babylonians. 

Elam was the land of Shem and lay east of Babylon for about 1,000 miles. Elam had invaded Babylon several times and ruled over Babylon. Susa was its capital. God said it would be scattered to every nation of the world and he would send the sword to follow them until they were consumed. God would set his throne in Elam and destroy their government. Remember in the book of Esther, the king ruled from the city of Susa. God said that in the last days, he would restore the fortunes of Elam.

Then, God tells Jeremiah to proclaim that Babylon would be taken by the Persians. Their gods Bel and Merodach will not be able to save them. At that time Israel and Judah will go together to Jerusalem and return to the Lord. They will renew their covenant with God and not break it. God tells them to flee Babylon because it would soon be taken. Her walls will be thrown down and God will take out his vengeance on her because of what they did to his people and because they defied the Lord. Babylon would become a place for wild animals to dwell. It would be overthrown like Sodom an Gomorrah. No one would dwell there or come to visit. 

Little is known about Titus. He was not mentioned in Acts even though he was a coworker of Paul.  He was an uncircumcised Greek who was highly esteemed by Paul. Paul had left Titus on the island of Crete to care for the new churches. His job was to elect elders in every town and follow Paul’s list of qualifications given in verses 6-9. 

He told him to silent those of the “circumcision party” who said you have to be circumcised to be saved. He was to rebuke them and tell them not to devote themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of the people who have turned away from the truth. Their minds and the consciences were defiled. They claimed to know God but did not live for him. They were detestable and disobedient. 

Lord, may we hold firm to sound doctrine taught in your Word. And, may we be able to give instruction in truth and rebuke those who contradict it. Thank you for your Word. It is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.