u/FergusCragson

Prayer

Dear Lord,

Please be with each of us who comes to r/BibleReading,
and guide us to find what you want us to know.
Please especially be with us all as we begin our new readings in the book of Ezekiel,
and show us how You have been working from long ago to bring us our hope in You,
and the hope of living with You.
Please forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us,
and provide for our needs, especially our deep, unspoken needs.
Thank you, Lord!
In Jesus' name we pray,
amen!

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#Introduction to the Book of EZEKIEL

Ezekiel was written during the exile to Babylon, probably some time between 593 and 565 BC, which fits its context very well. Ezekiel himself was a contemporary of Daniel and of Jeremiah.

Although the Book of Ezekiel has many fascinating sections, it can be divided into two major parts.

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#Part 1: "God has left the building."

The people of Israel have been sinning and following other gods for many, many years. And so God arranges for them to be delivered to Babylon. Babylon attacks. Israel begins to go into exile. Ezekiel, a priest whose name means "God strengthens", is one of those taken. In Babylon on his birthday, Ezekiel sees a vision of the glory of God, including a stunning description of cherubim, which is odd since God's glory should only be found in the Temple above the Ark of the Covenant. Instead, it is now hovering over Babylon. Why would God do this?!

Those left behind in Jerusalem continue to worship other gods both inside and outside the Temple at Jerusalem. Ezekiel is called by God to warn the people of another attack by Babylon due to their sin, but God also knows that they won't listen to Ezekiel. The reason God abandons the Temple and Jerusalem is because the people have been worshipping other gods, leading to idolatrous worship and violent injustice. And so God's glory leaves the Temple. But he doesn't abandon his people, he goes to Babylon to be with them in their exile.

Ezekiel realizes that God is not limited to one nation, but that God is the God of all.

Ezekiel outlines just what Israel has done and why it is so wrong, and why this leaves God no choice but to have Babylon take them into Israel, showing that they are worse than even Noah, Job, or Moses could have helped them from.

He also acts out several extreme visual parables, much like a shocking street performance artist, about just how terribly Israel has behaved and vividly demonstrating just how God will destroy Jerusalem and the Temple.

Ezekiel painstakingly outlines just how Israel has sinned; he follows up by detailing just how badly the surrounding nations have also sinned.

God speaks through Ezekiel to show how each person is responsible for their own sins, and no longer the children responsible for their parents' sins; He speaks to show how he desires the death of no one, but for all to return and to repent.

Although horrible things will first happen to both Israel and to the surrounding nations, especially Egypt and Tyre, yet God will also preserve a remnant from Israel and will restore them and bring good again, not only to Israel, but to the surrounding nations, and to the whole world.

#Part 2: The Shepherd King and the New Creation: GOD is There

Ezekiel prophesies that God will send the people the King that they have so long awaited, a good King who will care for them. God himself will shepherd his people.

God will also put a new heart into his people. God will give them the breath of his Spirit in them. God will remake his people so that, though dead, they live again, able to Love God at last.

God will also destroy "Gog of Magog," an image suggesting the violent and evil kingdoms of the world, and then destroy evil itself.

Following this, God's new Creation can begin. God will bring life to the dead, making the Dead Sea a Sea of Life and a return to the Garden, in a place called "God is There."

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Sources:

Source 1
Source 2
Source 3
Source 4
Source 5

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QUESTIONS

1. I am looking forward to the great hope to be found near the end of the Book of Ezekiel, especially as found in the coming Shepherd / King. What are you looking forward to in these upcoming readings?

2. Do you have anything to add about the Book of Ezekiel, whether your thoughts, or additional information?

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As always, feel free to leave any thoughts, comments, or questions of your own!

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For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:14-19, ESV

Prayer

LORD,
Please be my life within me,
Your Life, not mine,
so I may be humble,
and Loving,
and at Peace.
I have no power of my own to achieve this,
but You in me will fulfill this!
Let me give up everything to You,
trusting You,
trusting in Your purpose and completion,
bringing Joy to all whom You Love.
In Jesus' name, amen!

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#John 1:1–18, New King James Version

(For alternate translations, see here.)

#1

^(1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ^(2) He was in the beginning with God. ^(3) All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. ^(4) In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. ^(5) And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

^(6) There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ^(7) This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. ^(8) He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. ^(9) That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

^(10) He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. ^(11) He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. ^(12) But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: ^(13) who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

^(14) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

^(15) John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ”

^(16) And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. ^(17) For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ^(18) No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

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QUESTIONS

1. All things were made through him.
   Have you ever thought about that? What do you think of it?

2. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
   Read that again, but slow down. What is in Him? When we are looking for light, for real life, we know where to find it.
   Since this is the case, what is it we are to be following? A church? A religion? Or a person?
   Or do you see this differently?

3. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
   Are we God's children? Or are we God's adopted children? Or what?

4. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
   What have you seen of God through Jesus?
   What has Jesus declared about God that we didn't know via others who preceded Jesus?

In other words, how does Jesus clarify God for us?

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Feel free to leave any thoughts, comments, or questions of your own!

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For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
Colossians 1:16-17

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May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24