Devoted to Scripture

https://netbible.org/bible/Daniel+4-6/

This is day 254 of our journey.

Our reading today talks about three different kings and the way God humbled them.  In Daniel 4, we read of Nebuchadnezzar.  He again has a dream that no one can interpret apart from Daniel.  The dream talks of Nebuchadnezzar's great power, but warns of a time when he will be humbled.  Some time later, Nebuchadnezzar speaks of the greatness of the city that he has built by his great power.  In that moment, God takes his sanity from him and he is forced to roam the fields like a beast and eat grass like an ox.  After 7 years, he humbles himself and is restored to power.  Daniel 5 occurs years later when Belshazzar is king.  Belshazzar gives a great feast and calls for the articles of God's temple to be brought in for himself and his guests to use.  At that moment, a hand appears and writes on the wall.  Belshazzar is terrified and brings in Daniel to interpret what has happened.  Daniel informs him that his kingdom is about to be taken from him.  Sure enough, that very night, Darius the Mede killed Belshazzar and took control of the kingdom.  Daniel 6 tells the familiar story of Daniel in the lion's den.  Darius appoints Daniel to a high position and makes the other officials jealous, they use Darius's pride to trap Daniel by causing Darius to issue a law that no one may pray to anyone but the king.  Daniel continues to pray to God and is thrown in the den of lions, but God is able to rescue him and after a night in the den, Darius pulls him out and gives honor and glory to God.

Join me in Daniel 4-6 and give honor to the God of heaven!

Key verses:

Daniel 4:37

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all his deeds are right and his ways are just. He is able to bring down those who live in pride.  

Daniel 5:5

At that very moment the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the royal palace wall, opposite the lampstand. The king was watching the back of the hand that was writing.  

Daniel 6:23

Then the king was delighted and gave an order to haul Daniel up from the den. So Daniel was hauled up out of the den. He had no injury of any kind, because he had trusted in his God.  

All Scriptures are from the NET.

https://netbible.org/bible/Daniel+1-3/

This is day 253 of our journey.

The book of Daniel begins with the conquest of Jerusalem and follows the lives of four of the young men who were taken into exile in the king's court. When they arrived in Babylon, they were placed in a training program to prepare them to serve King Nebuchadnezzar.  Part of this program allowed them to eat the food and delicacies of the king.  But, Daniel and his friends refused to defile themselves with this unclean food, they requested vegetables and water instead and were blessed by God with good health and strength for their choice.  Daniel 2 tells of a dream that Nebuchadnezzar had that disturbed him greatly.  He called on his wise men to reveal and interpret his dream, but they were unable to do so, when Daniel learned of the problem, he prayed to God for mercy and wisdom.  He was granted the knowledge of the dream and its interpretation.  In Daniel 3, King Nebuchadnezzar has a great statue made of himself and calls all his officials together to worship the image.  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse to worship the image, but rather trust God to deliver them from the hand of the king.  They are thrown into a furnace for their refusal, but God protects them from the fire and reveals to Nebuchadnezzar that he IS the true God!

Join me in Daniel 1-3 and rejoice at God's vindication for those who serve him.

Key verses:

Daniel 1:8

But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the royal delicacies or the royal wine. He therefore asked the overseer of the court officials for permission not to defile himself.

Daniel 2:28

However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the times to come. The dream and the visions you had while lying on your bed are as follows.  

Daniel 3:17

If our God whom we are serving exists, he is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and he will rescue us, O king, from your power as well.

All Scriptures are from the NET.

Check out these links for more thoughts on the topic:

https://thebibleproject.com/explore/daniel/

https://netbible.org/bible/Ezekiel+46-48/

This is day 252 of our journey.

Today Ezekiel ends with a description of the offerings to be given in the new temple.  He then moves on to talk about the allotment of the land returned to the tribes of Israel.  Running through the land will be a river flowing from the sanctuary that will water the land and produce trees that give fruit all year round.  This city will be called "The Lord Is There"!

Join me in Ezekiel 46-48 to rejoice in the Lord's city!

Key verses:

Ezekiel 46:3

The people of the land will bow down at the entrance of that gate before the Lord on the Sabbaths and on the new moons.  

Ezekiel 47:12

On both sides of the river’s banks, every kind of tree will grow for food. Their leaves will not wither nor will their fruit fail, but they will bear fruit every month, because their water source flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.”  

Ezekiel 48:35

The circumference of the city will be six miles. The name of the city from that day forward will be: ‘The Lord Is There.’”  

All Scriptures are from the NET.

https://netbible.org/bible/Ezekiel+43-45/

This is day 251 of our journey.

In today's reading, we see God take up residence in His temple that was described in the previous chapters.  His glory fills the temple and he claims it as his throne.  He then gives instructions about how the people are to enter the temple and how they are to act when they arrive.  He gives instructions for the priests and the Levites.  The priests will serve as judges over disputes among the people and will also teach the people the difference between what is holy and what is common.  The Levites will serve in the temple as gatekeepers, they will slaughter the burnt offerings, and they will minister to the people.  Then he gives an admonition to the princes of Israel.  The princes are to promote what is just and right, they must put away violence and oppression and serve the people.

Join me in Ezekiel 43-45 for the return of God's glory to Israel!

Key verses:

Ezekiel 43:7

He said to me: “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet, where I will live among the people of Israel forever. The house of Israel will no longer profane my holy name, neither they nor their kings, by their spiritual prostitution or by the pillars of their kings set up when they die.

Ezekiel 44:23

Moreover, they will teach my people the difference between the holy and the common, and show them how to distinguish between the ceremonially unclean and the clean.  

Ezekiel 45:9

 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Enough, you princes of Israel! Put away violence and destruction, and do what is just and right. Put an end to your evictions of my people, declares the Sovereign Lord.  

All Scriptures are from the NET.

https://netbible.org/bible/Ezekiel+40-42/

This is day 250 of our journey.

Our reading today gives a vision Ezekiel received while living in exile.  He was taken in the vision to a mountain in Israel where a great structure was built.  We are given detailed descriptions of the vastness of the structure as an angel measures every aspect of it.  This structure has all the aspects of a temple with quarters for the priests to dwell and walls of separation between holy and common areas.

Join me in Ezekiel 40-42 for a vision of a restored temple.

Key verses:

Ezekiel 40:2

By means of divine visions he brought me to the land of Israel and placed me on a very high mountain, and on it was a structure like a city, to the south.  

Ezekiel 41:1

Then he brought me to the outer sanctuary, and measured the jambs; the jambs were 10½ feet wide on each side.  

Ezekiel 42:20

He measured it on all four sides. It had a wall around it, 875 feet long and 875 feet wide, to separate the holy and common places.

All Scriptures are from the NET.

https://netbible.org/bible/Ezekiel+37-39/

This is day 249 of our journey.

Today we read of Ezekiel's vision of the dry bones.  God tells Ezekiel to prophesy to them and they are given flesh and breath!  These bones are the nation of Israel; it has been destroyed, but God will raise it up again.  The northern and southern tribes will be fused together again as one nation instead of two.  Ezekiel continues with a prophecy about Gog and Magog.  They will gather a great army to attack and plunder Israel, but they will be defeated so that God may be glorified!

Join me in Ezekiel 37-39 and let the dry bones live again!

Key verses:

Ezekiel 37:4

Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and tell them: ‘Dry bones, listen to the Lord’s message.

Ezekiel 38:23

I will exalt and magnify myself; I will reveal myself before many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’

Ezekiel 39:25

 “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob, and I will have mercy on the entire house of Israel. I will be zealous for my holy name.  

All Scriptures are from the NET.

https://netbible.org/bible/Ezekiel+34-36/

This is day 248 of our journey.

Ezekiel 34 is a prophecy against the false shepherds of Israel.  It speaks of the ways that the leaders have mistreated and abused the people.  Those leaders will be brought low.  Then, it speaks to the coming Davidic shepherd who will rule with justice and compassion.  Ezekiel 35 speaks against Edom for the way they exploited Israel when they were oppressed and exiled.  As a direct response to their deeds, Edom will be made desolate!  Ezekiel 36 speaks of the future blessings and renewal that will come on Israel.  They have been oppressed, but they will once again rise up.  God will renew them to their rightful position.  He will be their God and will uphold them.  He will give them a new heart that seeks him!

Join me in Ezekiel 34-36 and receive God's heart!

Key verses:

Ezekiel 34:23

I will set one shepherd over them, and he will feed them – namely, my servant David. He will feed them and will be their shepherd.  

Ezekiel 35:15

As you rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of Israel because it was desolate, so will I deal with you – you will be desolate, Mount Seir, and all of Edom – all of it! Then they will know that I am the Lord.’”  

Ezekiel 36:26

I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your body and give you a heart of flesh.  

All Scriptures are from the NET.

https://netbible.org/bible/Ezekiel+31-33/

This is day 247 of our journey.

In Ezekiel 31, Egypt is warned to consider Assyria.  Assyria was great, once strong like a mighty cedar, but it was brought low.  So too, Egypt will not continue to stand against the Lord.  Chapter 32 continues the lament for Egypt.  In Ezekiel 33, Ezekiel is compared to a watchman on the wall.  He must tell the people of the trouble that is coming or he will be condemned.  If he does his job, he won't be judged for their response.  We can do only what God has called us to do, the outcome is in his hands!

Join me in Ezekiel 31-33 and consider God's word to you.

Key verses:

Ezekiel 31:3

Consider Assyria, a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches, like a forest giving shade, and extremely tall; its top reached into the clouds.  

Ezekiel 32:16

This is a lament; they will chant it. The daughters of the nations will chant it.They will chant it over Egypt and over all her hordes, declares the Sovereign Lord.”  

Ezekiel 33:32

Realize that to them you are like a sensual song, a beautiful voice and skilled musician. They hear your words, but they do not obey them.

All Scriptures are from the NET.

https://netbible.org/bible/Ezekiel+28-30/

This is day 246 of our journey.

Today we read prophecies and laments about Tyre, Sidon, and Egypt.  These nations have exalted themselves.  They have proudly set themselves up as gods.  They have oppressed Israel.  God will bring destruction on them.  Tyre and its king will be utterly destroyed.  Egypt will go into exile for 40 years and, even after returning, will never be a world power again.  Israel will be restored to prominence in the region.

Join me in Ezekiel 28-30 for God's faithfulness to his people.

Key verses:

Ezekiel 28:24

 “‘No longer will Israel suffer from the sharp briers or painful thorns of all who surround and scorn them. Then they will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.  

Ezekiel 29:21

On that day I will make Israel powerful, and I will give you the right to be heard among them. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”  

Ezekiel 30:10

 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:I will put an end to the hordes of Egypt, by the hand of King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon.  

All Scriptures are from the NET.

https://netbible.org/bible/Ezekiel+24-27/

This is day 245 of our journey.

In chapter 24, Ezekiel gives two object lessons to the people of Jerusalem.  First he speaks of a boiling pot. The pot is rusted and unfit for use so God will subject it to the fire to purify it.  After this, God warns Ezekiel that his wife will die but that, when she does pass away, Ezekiel is not allowed to mourn.  This is a sign of what will happen to the people when the temple is desecrated and their children die, they will also not be given time to mourn.  In chapter 25, Ezekiel speaks against Ammon, Moab, Edom and Philistia.  Each one will be destroyed for their hostility to Judah.  Chapters 26 & 27 are a long prophecy against Tyre.  Tyre was a great merchant city, a seaport that provided goods throughout the region.  But, Tyre would be completely destroyed and abandoned by her allies.

Join me in Ezekiel 24-27 and know that God's power is greater than man's.

Key verses:

Ezekiel 24:14

 “‘I the Lord have spoken; judgment is coming and I will act! I will not relent, or show pity, or be sorry! I will judge you according to your conduct and your deeds, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

Ezekiel 25:17

I will exact great vengeance upon them with angry rebukes. Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I exact my vengeance upon them.’”

Ezekiel 26:15

 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says to Tyre: Oh, how the coastlands will shake at the sound of your fall, when the wounded groan, at the massive slaughter in your midst!  

Ezekiel 27:35

All the inhabitants of the coastlands are shocked at you,and their kings are horribly afraid – their faces are troubled.

All Scriptures are from the NET.

Check out these links for more thoughts on the topic:

An interesting read on the destruction of the city of Tyre

https://biblereadingarcheology.com/2017/09/13/what-happened-to-tyre/