Bible Reading Plan

Elihu exclaimed God’s justice and power over man. He argued God knew every act of man. God’s justice is right and should not be challenged by man because he is inferior to God. Elihu said Job spoke like wicked men who rebel against God. Elihu refuted Job because Job appeared to argue his case as more important than God’s.

The writings of Isaiah conclude with a prophesy of the end times. The prayers of the Lord’s people are answered with mercy. Those who would not listen to the message of the Messiah but turned instead to the religious traditions of their fathers and the idols they created will be punished. A portion of the Jews will be saved. The gospel message will not be received by God’s people (Jews) and will be shared among the Gentiles. The people of God will be brought together through His mercy. Many Jews will be converted, and people from all nations will turn to the Lord and be saved. These will be the church. The Lord’s vengeance will be upon those who turned from Him.

The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel. The Lord confronted His people, calling them useless because of their deeds against Him. He declared His judgement against them, resulting in desolation of the land. They did not place their faith in the Lord. The Lord compared His relationship with His people as that of a groom and a bride. The Lord was the groom who cared and provided for His people, the bride. They turned from Him and trusted in themselves, and idols made with hands. They gave themselves to people of other nations. The Lord said He would correct His people and make a covenant with them so they would know He was the Lord.

The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel condemning prophets who followed their own hearts and not the Lord. Prophetesses gave false prophesies convincing many they would experience peace where there was no peace. They gave physical ornaments symbolizing their prophesies. The Lord condemned them saying they would not enter Jerusalem, nor provide counsel to His people. The Lord condemned elders who trusted in idols. He called for repentance. The Lord described the destruction of all who turned from him. He promised to save those whose deeds were faithful and righteous.

The Lord gave Ezekiel a vision that those who led the people of Israel to follow ways counter to the Lord’s commands would be punished. The Spirit told Ezekiel the lord would bring those who turned to Him to their land, and they would be given a new spirit. Those who went after detestable things would be punished. The word of the Lord told Ezekiel he would tell the Lord’s message through symbolism. The message described Judah’s captivity. The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel again saying the Lord would spare some of His people so they could tell of His justice. The message from the Lord was that His word would come to pass against Judah.

Ezekiel received a vision from God condemning the idolatry of the Lord’s people in Jerusalem. The elders were committing abominations and did not believe the Lord could see their acts. The Lord showed Ezekiel a vision of His anger being poured out on those of Israel who performed abominations against the Lord. They were killed, and their bodies were placed in the court of the temple. Ezekiel saw a vision of angelic beings (cherubim), much like he described in chapter one. The vision is detailed in chapter ten. It depicted the glory of the Lord leaving the temple.

Ezekiel prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem because the people turned from the Lord and were not obedient to Him. A third of the people would die of pestilence and famine. A third would fall by the sword. A third would be scattered by the sword. Other nations would see the destruction and know the Lord’s anger. The high places where the people sacrificed to idols were to be destroyed. The Lord warned that He would pour out his anger on them because of their abominations against Him.

Ezekiel 3-4 April 24

Ezekiel was a prophet in the day of captivity in Chaldea (Babylonian captivity). Ezekiel experienced detailed visions from the Lord. The first vision began with the appearance of four living creatures with the likenesses of humans, and wheels that followed the living creatures. He saw a divine being in the likeness of a human enthroned above the living creatures. The appearance was in the likeness of the glory of the Lord. Ezekiel fell on his face in reverence and heard a voice speaking. Ezekiel was told to stand, and the Spirit entered Ezekiel and told him he would be sent to speak to the rebellious people of Israel. A hand stretched out to Ezekiel with a scroll of lamentation and mourning and woe.

Jeremiah described the punishment against the Lord’s people as being greater than the punishment on Sodom. The punishment upon Sodom was completed in a moment by the hands of God. The punishment upon the Lord’s people was at the hands of its enemies over time. What was great had become desolate. The people died by the sword and famine. The priests and elders were cast out as filth and were given no honor because they sinned against the Lord and His people. Jeremiah pleaded to the Lord for mercy and restoration of His people.