The Seven Streams Method

Malachi 1:1-2:16 We are in the Exile Stream reading from the New Century Version. 7streamsmethod.com | @7streamsmethod | Donate Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Lord, we pray that the offerings of our lives, a contrite spirit, is acceptable to you. Amen.

Israel was back in their land and had been for about a century now. Nehemiah had finished the wall.  The Jewish people thought that the Messiah would come soon now.  And yet there were attitudes among the Hebrews that would bar any Messiah coming the way they wanted Him to arrive. Malachi is living/prophesying in the block of time between 450 and 400 B.C.  The Jewish people were not rampantly idolatrous as they were 200 years prior but the problems were that they were neglecting the house of God. The priests were lackadaisical, ill-attentive, and not fervent in their assignments at all. The population was somewhat lethargic spiritually as they were following their priests lead. So here they are thinking that Messiah coming would fix everything to make them vibrant and glorious again - like in Solomon's day.  Messiah was going to come one day, but he would pronounce judgment on such attitudes as theirs' v.s. endow them with God's glory.  Basically some serious "house-keeping" is in order come Malachi's day. This is not a generation that had earned any trophies, not at all.

1:1- 14 - It doesn't take Malachi long to address Israel's passive aggressive whining and they are on a bogus lament, "God, you say you love us, how is it that you love us?..."  I must say, I sit here and roll my eyes as I read this. But God is a bit more patient than the rest of us. And, hearing this, don't get distracted by the "I hate Esau" wording as to what is really being said. God had prescribed that Babylon come through and destroy Easu and Judah. And it happened.  But here is Israel inhabited and living and growing again, while Edom [Esau's land] is a desolate area as it still is 2400+ years later.  So God is quick to retort their pathetics akin to, "don't tell me I don't care about you and imply that my love has gone to another! Save that prattle for someone who isn't listening!"  [yes, that wording is accurate!]  The Priests were not training the people right.  The altar was disrespected, the offerings were sick and lame, their fires then were sending up an aroma that had Him plugging His nose.  God even exclaimed, "just shut the whole thing down!" It's unreal when God gets to this point, isn't it?!. The people were not giving God their best by any means.  They were bringing God their leftovers, if you know what I mean. How many of you would rummage through your rag box or dirty laundry basket to gift a pair of socks to an endeared loved one for Christmas?  Well THIS is what the Israelites were doing to God with their offerings. And God had had enough of it. So God makes it known that in His next great moves, He is going to open the door to welcome other nations who do honor Him. 2:1-16 - Malachi is next prompted by God to "give the business" to the priests. They neede serious exhortation.  They are so disgustingly derelict in their duties. If you ran a kitchen they way they were running the priesthood, absolutely no one would eat in your kitchen; not a soul. The illustration God uses as to how He is going to punish them is grotesque. No comment needed, you just read it, yeeeesh.  Malachi also nails the matter of them dumping the wives that they've had since they were young and taking up with foreign women; pagans who were raised in all manner of religious filth.  But this was intriguing to many of the disgruntled Jewish men who were past their prime. God hated this trend like He hated Esau's shunning him in 1800's B.C., like He hated Edom's treatment of the Israelites when Moses brought them through in 1300's B.C.  This is how much God hated them ditching their wives for "interesting, spicy" women. Too many of the Hebrew men were doing this, and other cruel things, and bringing junk to offer to God, and then going to the prayer altar and slobbering/crying/wailing to God "why don't you accept meeee?"  God more or less said, "oh, please! Knock it off!"                        And next week, we will see how the Old Testament ends . . . 

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Ezekiel 44-46 We are in the Prophetic Stream reading from the New Century Version. 7streamsmethod.com | @7streamsmethod | Donate Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis

Lord of Heaven and earth, your plans and ways are beyond understanding. Build our faith and increase it through a knowledge that understands that your ways are even greater and higher than we know or understand. Amen.

The final nine chapters of Ezekiel [40-48] are the vision of the rebuilt Temple.  Ezekiel is telling of a temple that didn't get built after the exile. And it isn't Herod's temple from the first century; That one was flattened by Romans in 70 A.D. just as Solomon's Temple from ca. 950 B.C. was flattened by Babylonians in 586 B.C.  This is a vision of a Temple that will be an item to behold during the Messianic Era; is it in the Millennium and yet there are elements that do not seem to fit a Millenial Era temple - and I hope we can employ that term without triggering too many arguments.  Of those nine chapters, today we read about the fifth, sixth, and seventh of these chapters.  It is not a simple nor straightforward layout not a simple interpretation.

44 - The gate that is talked about here in the first three verses is the gate [as it happened] that Jesus came through for the Triumphal Entry days before His Crucifixion.  It has been mortared shut over the centuries by those hostile to Christ; to Judaism, Christianity as they thought themselves smart to make sure Christ doesn't return through here (like He said He would).  The Muslims who did this centuries ago are not privy to Ezekiel 44, they are simply thinking they are out-foxing Jesus. Let them play their games, you might say.  But after this gate detail is mentioned, Ezekiel sees the glory of the Lord in his vision.  Then the remainder of the chapter is spent reminding the priests of their rightful duties.  Since the divided Kingdom they have had quite a habit of forgetting to follow or teach the Law. God will have no more of this.  And in the era of this rebuilt Temple, with God's glory even more a dynamic, is He going to let the priests go lax on their assignments? Hardly.   The minutiae of the steps they are to take are eerily similar to what is laid out in Leviticus, btw. 45 - As the land is allotted there will be land set aside for the Temple that is much more than it has been. Jerusalem and its perimeter is apparently much bigger.  The priests shall have their place. And 'the ruler' (some translations call him "the Prince") will be granted a notable portion of land.  The powers-that-be in Jerusalem are near scolded in their warnings to be be fair and just, and to stop the cruelty. They still have offerings to bring forth. There are feasts to observe, and the Passover was to be celebrated along with the other feasts.  If we are in the Messianic Era during all this, is the Law for unconverted Jews to follow? Are they for the Christians to exercise so to commemorate all that Christ has replaced through his sacrifice long ago? It is ambiguous and Ezekiel does not confirm it for us. This certainly keeps the discussion upended and lively, doesn't it? 46 - The rigorous details of the worship services, the feasts, the offerings and the priestly duties continue through this chapter. The offerings are to be regular, daily, seasonally, annually. The Temple details tell us it is a Temple that is yet to be built.  The sacrifices are clearly reminiscent of the second millennium B.C. It leaves one pondering what millennium we are in ... then when we go straight into a fountain of life as we do next week {Ez. 47ff], it goes right back to sounding like the Messianic era.  Perhaps this is ethereal verbiage to have us musing about how God is going to distill all of history into a cohesively unified concept that reaches back AND forward through all history through is only begotten Son...? Perhaps this is the point that encapsulates the truth without being specified?  Well, Ezekiel wrote this final vision and finished it up in 570 B.C. And here we are 26 centuries later still discussing it.  It could be his way of keeping our minds on the ever unfolding plans of God. If that is what and why he did it this way, it is still working.  For we are still reading and discussing "this Temple."

Song of Solomon 1-4 We are in the Wisdom Stream reading from the New Century Version. 7streamsmethod.com | @7streamsmethod | Donate Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Lord God, you love us in same the way that we are to be completely enamored and hopelessly "lost in love" with eachother. Thank you for loving us so much.  Thank you Jesus.  Amen. Here begins the final assessment of Solomon's love life (a scenario that was immense and tangled) He got into a polygamous mess because he had the power to have more wives though it was not wise nor blessed.  Solomon came to the end of it all and realized that he should have just found his every need and dream and desire in this one woman. ALL the others were simply a waste of time that drained his life, withered his soul and blurred his walk with God. It is intriguing to have this colorful book in the Bible. Let it be known that the way one treats their espoused is the way one is in their prayer life also.  Whether rich and deep and real and passionate OR phoney, callous, sporadic and aloof, one's love life and prayer life are as linked as our image in life is with our image in the mirror.  It will show and be an exact replication; i.e.our love life and our prayer life are very linked. 1 - It's evident right from the start that this woman is crazy about her man. She wants to be held and kissed and ravished. Remember that country song? " ...a woman needs someone warm to hold..."  Her heart is racing to be taken into Solomon's palace. The Cinderella syndrome is the stuff of legend: this woman too has had to work during her days. She isn't "a princess" who was pampered in the palace and all absorbed in herself. And do you catch Solomon's comment of where she fits on the beauty scale? She is the most beautiful of women - more beautiful than any he'd ever seen. Solomon has known 1,000 regal women and though the experiences gave him his professional opinion, it isn't a virtuous part of his resume~. Nonetheless, he knows what he is talking about in calling her the most beautiful. And she is a whole new adventure for Solomon. She is from the outdoors and here they are getting "acquainted" in the outdoors - in a meadow.  She is far more than just another woman on his list.  She takes over Solomon's heart and eclipses all other females for him. 2 - She claims she is one "among the lilies and roses" - Solomon replies that all other women are thorns in comparison to her. Solomon knows what a thorny issue "other women" are - yes it's another professional opinion coming from Solomon. This isolated love is ecstatic and therein begins a theme that is recited several times in S/Sol. for emphasis. "do not wake love before it's time for love."  Yes, love is like a bonfire, a road flare that cannot be put out once lit. While fire keeps life alive on earth, it must be contained; kept in the stove. In the wrong place, at the wrong time, it will burn everything to the ground. Those with disastrous love-lives know what this means!  On a good note, these two are longing to be together, always seeking eachother.  When they can't be together, their thoughts are consumed with eachother until re-united.  As for the "little foxes that spoil the vine" motif - it is encouraging people do deal with the irritations, the obstacles, the problems, barriers (at any level) in their relationship.  This is clear advice to keep enemies of your relationship away and neutralized, whatever their source. 3 - Here's a strange passage. She cannot find him. Many times in the cycle of a love life, one of them goes through a strange season, emotionally, physically, spiritually.  And it severely affects the other one as well.  This is also time to search eachother out.  Look for eachother. Husband and I have been in church life for a combined century and we have seen this happen to both wives and husbands.  This is here in the Bible to urge us to be fervently seeking eachothers' well being even when these seasons hit. Don't fold arms and resign, "well they went odd a week or a month ago, I'm calling an attorney..." Stop that jive-talk!  Help them through it. What kind of hearts do we have if we will not hang on through valleys and treks through the shadow of death? This is not time to run elsewhere, it's time to pray, and wait and work while longing for a return to the journey of love that all dream to be sailing upon.  The picture of Solomon returning, being carried on a regal bed of cedar and silver and gold, draped with purple linen carried by strong men is quite a scene.  It's also worth her waiting for him to come home. 4 - This is symbolism and detail that needs no extra comment to describe what is being said. If love is feast, it is Thanksgiving day for these two! No dish is left untouched, unturned, untasted. It is a lovesong turned anthem chorus as these two are besides themselves. Solomon is thrilled to the core with her; her life, her soul, her beauty and he tells her so. Ladies need to hear from their man how beautiful and valued they are. And Solomon gushes all through this chapter with vivid description of her beauty. Everything about love leaves these two breathless and longing for more of eachother. And as mentioned in the intro above, does our prayer life leave us wanting God more and more.  All this earthly love is God priming us for when we see Him in all His glory.  And in that day all we are able to do is fall on our faces in worship; completely unable to do anything different, anything less.  It is like Solomon's bride gushing, "I am faint with love!"

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Nehemiah 13 - Esther 4 We are in the Nation Stream reading from the New Century Version. 7streamsmethod.com | @7streamsmethod | Donate Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Lord, we see people who are caught in dilemmas - for we have been there ourselves. What an inspiration Esther is to step in for your people in this critical hour - and for Nehemiah to rise to the occasion as he did. We realize this is the family of God at work; our family. Amen. Neh. 13 - Nehemiah returns from a time with Artaxerxes and finds all kinds of shekanery in process back in Judah. Men had hitched up with foreign wives who had been raised in a cauldron of squalid paganism. Y'can hear their excuses, "yea, but she was so prrrettyyyy....". That was going on plus rooms in the Temple area were being used for storage facilities by someone who in no way deserved such privileges. The Temple grounds were being misused, and desecrated, people were not paying in their tithes. As for the Sabbath, the attitude of some was, "yeah, right, whatever...!" Nehemiah comes back to town (like Clint Eastwood - if you can picture this) and he set everything straight despite the obstacles and whining or excuses. If leaders would be so forthright today, what a change the world would see. Not one to then ride off into the sunset, Nehemiah lived long and led virtuously for God's sake the rest of his days in Judah. And he passed on around 413 B.C. Esther is a surprise book, as is Ruth. Biblical history is marching along in all its colorfrul splendor [and gore] and then Ruth is dropped in there. It's a book stating'oh, by the way' let me tell you about the heavenly grace and virtue of one of Jesus' great great grandmothers". Esther is another, "oh, by the way, let me tell you about a wonderful maiden-turned-queen who stepped to save our nation from being annhiliated." Esther happened before Ezra and Nehemiah though it is listed in the Bible after them. Just so you understand, Esther is made queen in Persia in 478 B.C. Ezra went Persia to Jerusalem in 457 B.C. Nehemiah did the same in 444 B.C. Esther 1 - What paved the way for Esther to become queen was that the current queen cops-an-attitude and won't obey the King during a moment at the end of a protracted feast celebrating his greatness. Don't get distracted by all the gender tension prattle that marks the current culture today. The issue isn't that men are loud and bossy and get more so after several drinks, nor that women who are their own women (hear them roar - 'won't be bossed around no more), This is not the issue. The matter is that the way is being cleared for Esther to step into one of the most latently powerful positions on earth. And surprise - there's a vacancy on the queen's throne. 2 - Esther is gorgeous and chosen to be taken into the king's realm for her year of beauty treatments. Now, any of us enjoys a spa day here and there. Well, eat your heart out folks, Esther has a spa-YEAR!! and is given numer-ous tenants. When her 'time with the king' arrives, he is smitten and she is chosen to take the top place; Xerxes dubs her the new Queen. The favor of Esther skyrockets when she relays an assassination plan to the king that her uncle discovered. It proved to be true and the men behind the plot are hanged. The king favor and trust undoubtedly grew toward Esther. And it's interesting that he still did now know her origin, nor that she was a Jew. 3 - The plot develops as a certain Haman is promoted in the kingdom, and Esther's uncle Mordecai won't bow to the chump as he walks by. Haman's heart isn't right as we learn. Mordecai knows this and won't pay him homage. Mordecai is obviously Jewish and his ethics stink in Haman's mind. Who's in the wrong here, Haman or Mordecai? The current culture has the same ire toward Evangelicals. Why? Because we don't bow down to the tide of secularism and ludeness that is being taught in the government schools, by the media, and is all signed off by politicians as it has for generations. Do any of us need to be more like Mordecai today v.s. remaining silent about the crass pop culture? Haman is mad as murder at Mordecai. He wants him and all the Jews killed because of it. He gets political, pulls a duplicitous stunt, and gets the king to sign off on this plan. StressStressBaby 4 - The gavel had been dropped, the Jewish nation was on death row and time was running out. Mordecai got word to Esther the Queen... it was becoming clear that a devastating plot was unfolding at a runaway rate. Mordecai gives Esther a word that becomes among the most famous lines in all literature. You know it and we've all heard it much of our lives, " ... for such a time as this...!" it makes chills go up your spine. What is Esther going to do? What would you do? The pagans on the loose across the world are out to close churches, demonize pastors, ridicule Christians, tax and threaten them into silence. execute every one they can find between Morocco and Burma/Myanmar. Paganism and bad religion is forced into the minds of the young all over the world while prayer to the God of Abraham/Isaac/Jacob/Moses/David; prayer to Jesus is vehemently censored. Are you going to remain silent so (in your mind) you don't ruffle feathers at work and can thereby hang on to your 401K? What if Esther did this?

Deuteronomy 29-31 We are in the World Stream reading from the New Century Version. 7streamsmethod.com | @7streamsmethod | Donate Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Lord Jesus, you are good and true, all the time. And we thank you for that.  Amen.

29 - Moses gathers them for final reminders and briefings.  It is very late in Moses' life. He is 120, time is running out for him and he must say these things on behalf of God who had brought them this far.  He has them recollect that they have been fed and clothed (without farming or weaving!) this last 40 years in the desert. They've been blessed and cared for as well as protected from heat/cold/enemies.  They have suffered when reverting to idols. They've been blessed as they saw God work mightily in their favor.  Moses told them the immensity of their calling and testimony as they stand in for the Lord God to be a light to the nations - and most of the world traversed through here, so it isn't a trifle assignment!  God was placing them and He had a worldwide strategy for doing so.  Simply put, they must adhere themselves, their lives, minds, families/children to the teachings of the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses - who was speaking to them still.

30 - The issue is driven even deeper as Moses asserts that God is even going to love them back, even if he has to do reparation on them and bring them back from captivity that they drive themselves into.  Yes, God is that true. Yes, people will prove to be that fickle, dull-headed, disobedient, and shallow.  "Hey, we're nearing the end of dress rehearsal, folks!  Show time will be go time in no time!  The curtain is raising and you will go in and the fight is on - and God will be with you.  Just obey and win.!"  This isn't difficult. God asks nothing of you that is too hard for you.  Stay on the straight and narrow.  Certain death awaits the soul who strays from my path. God WANTS to bless and establish you - you must let Him do so .... by way of your obedience. 31 - Moses starts to say his goodbyes.  He more or less declares that his time is up, Joshua will take it from here and the Lord leads you; His Nation.  Did you catch the epochal event when Moses takes all he has written and hands it to the priests? That document he wrote was the centerpiece of the world God intends to work through. It is the manual for monotheism.  It went to the Priests/Levites and it was up to them to relay all that was parlayed from God.  Those who would adhere to this document would find life, while those who shunned it would do so to their own demise!  It was read, but not enough.  Nehemiah's day it was read to the people comprehensively.  But the gap between Moses and Nehemiah was too long of a patchy run for biblical illiteracy. The people couldn't say that God or Moses failed to tell them. Then God called Moses and Joshua to the tent of meeting and gave them a sobering word about the people's penchant and hopeless tendency to disobey.  Astonishing isn't it?! Nonetheless, they were to be given an anthem; a song to sing that would help remind them and rally them to walk with God in His Covenant all their days.  God had a word of encouragement for Joshua, and a word of sobriety to the Levites who were likely not going to be the responsible men they were called to be as leaders.    As the Italians say, "whaddaya-gonna-do?"

Revelation 7-11 We are in the Church Stream reading from the New Living Translation. 7streamsmethod.com | @7streamsmethod | Donate Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Lord, those who are against you have such woe coming to them. While those who are for you have protection and covering that can be relied upon. We thank you for putting us in the "latter camp".  It's much better being behind Your barricade than behind enemy lines.  Thank you Jesus.  Amen. 07 - We've come to an interlude within the first seven seals that have inflicted terrible suffering on the earth.  The first six of the seven seals are spelled out in the prior chapter. The seventh commences in chapter eight. Here there is a moment of pause.  There is a section where God's protection is declared on those who have His seal on their foreheads. [This is in clear contrast to those who have '666' on their foreheads]. This is God preserving His own; people who have come to Him even during the Tribulation. The Church has been raptured away from this in case you were wondering where all the Believers are.  The other part of this chapter is John's vision of paradise (so far) where God has gathered His own from every tribe and tongue and nation (the reverse of Babylon if you will).  It is angels and elders and paradise and God's children beyond number worshipping. It is a colossal scene that seems to spread wonder across an entire galaxy in terms of its size.  God is merely giving pause in here to encourage His own --> that He has a plan for them that is beyond this world and magnificent in its scope.  This scene is a vitally important vision to share with the church, presently as in the first century, amid a Roman government that is taking sadistic delight in tormenting them. It is an ensuring vision that pertains to the church in every century. 08 - The Seventh Seal is opened. It is segmented into seven trumpets that contain more horror than the first six combined.  But the chapter opens with a scene that makes the heavens fall silent for half an hour. [Some have joked that this is proof no women had arrived yet], but the angels and the rest are stunned at what is coming next. Prayers are sent aloft, the incense is released and then the angel sends fire to the earth along with thunder, lightning, and earthquake. The succession of events that follow leave the mind wondering how anyone ends up surviving. Fire falls like the world has never seen as ALL grass is burned by hail, fire, and blood.  One third of the entire sea turns to blood and there's death in the ocean; big time. Fresh water is destroyed, contaminating/killing untold amounts of people.  There is also cataclysmic events regarding sun and stars and this affects earth. Interesting to glance back at Genesis 1,2 and see Creation take place in succession: vegetation, water, land, sun and stars.  That is Creation. Genesis 7,8 tell of "un-Creation" as God needs to inundate the place so Noah and family can start over. In Rev.8 we are read of basically a "de-Creation".  Man has been so rebellious and uncooperative for so long that it's time to chemically destroy the place: pelt it, burn it, ransack it. It's a sorry picture really.  Y'ever wonder if the enviornmentalists are going to sue God for all these deeds? What court will they take Him to? The "Save the Earth" / Friends of the Earth / Granite-Planet support group network / and all the rest of them will be quivering in caves. 09 - the end of the final chapter tells of an eagle that screeches, "that was nothing compared to what is coming!"  The fifth trumpet releases demonic flying scorpions that torment all on earth for five months straight. No place to hide, nowhere to run, none are allowed to die - all suffer at what Satan has released here. Joel talks about locusts coming before the Day of Judgment. Egypt experienced locusts as a warning of their imminent end (Exodus 10). The sixth trumpet brings the next terror; an army of 200Million is loosed on the earth and they kill 1/3 of all remaining humans. The fourth seal back in Rev. 6:4 killed 1/4 of the earth. With a third of the remaining gone, half the world's population has now been removed. Death seems to be reigning on earth anymore. Do the survivors see/realize/know that God is the Lord? No. They barrel-on-ahead with their witchcraft, theft, murder, cult-sex & idolatry. 10 - this chapter is another interlude of sorts. Remember the interlude between the sixth and seventh seals? This is one between the sixth and seventh trumpets. The angel is announcing that what is coming next is set to happen and no one will be able to stop it. God has delayed his rage against rebellion long enough. This is final warning - just to warn you - as God does. But there is no way out for anyone looking for relief. [Similar to hell itself] 11 - John is to measure the Temple' inner court; that is to assess the worshippers even in these difficult days. Notice there is no interest in the outer court. God has had enough of the fringe people.  My husband and I have been in church for a cumulative century; for more actually. And we know about the fringe people; the tares who just like being around true believers but don't want to become involved for real themselves.  They sit on the edge, in the back, come late, leave early, are often there but "never there". God not with these people.    God then raises up two witnesses who have evangelistic power that is terribly great. Though the verbiage is mirrored in Zechariah 4, it is not stated who these two are but it will become clear in time. They are fiercely protected while doing great exploits ... then they are killed, lay dead before a fascinated world, then resurrect and are carried away to God. Verses15ff then declare that the Kingdom of the World has all been conquered and surrendered to the reigning Christ.  The elders worship, the Ark in heaven is opened and it is a glorious powerful scene! You may be thinking how this [at the middle of the book] can sound so 'final' - when there are 11 chapters left in Revelation.  The literature follows a typical biblical pattern of repetition, as Genesis 1 & 2 are different descriptions of the same process.  Rev. 6-11 runs in the same current and chronology as does Rev. 12-19.  You are sensing it right that the worship service John witnesses in John 11 is the same one he witnesses in John 19.  Again, Rev. 12-19 is a repeat of Rev. 6-11.  So next week the imagery will sound familiar as to what we read this week and on into  our finishing the Bible in two weeks from today. The Thread Through the Streams "Your decisions today determine your destiny tomorrow ... and your eternity.  Choose right people! ~ Deuteronomy 26 - 28 and the most bountiful wondrous blessings are laid before them provided they obey. The most ghastly and dreadful of cursed scenarios would engulf them were they to disobey. The choice couldn't be more clear with full impetus to decide to do right. Is the gravity of their dilemma going to spur them to choose rightly? ~ Nehemiah 9-12 the returned exiles from Babylon.  It was the sins of their forefathers who had these ones once living in Babylon (and God is gentlemanly enough to not rub their nose in it with "see, I told you!" The people all the same realize the heights from which they once were 500 years prior in Solomon's day and they confess; pledging to obey in the finest of reformations the nation of Israel had ever known. ~ Ecclesiastes 7-12  Solomon's reflects after a regal life of great character, wise leadership mixed with duplicitious personal decisions in his lovelife.  He knew the long term effects of living wisely and that the same held true for living-the-fool. He knew that the Lord knows all and will judge all whether good or bad.  Had he better mentored his secessors, there may have not been a national division that affected the rest of Israel's history. His decisions rippled for much longer than he expected. ~ Ezekiel 41-43  In the Temple, the Lord would reside in all His glory provided His people do not defile His holy name. [Ezekiel is speaking in firm yet ambiguous terms that recollect Solomon's Temple, the Tabernacle in Moses' - Davis's day, the Temple that would be rebuilt and also the Temple that is spoken of in Revelation. Honor God and He shows up. Mock Him with an ungodly life and WE get expelled.  It's a grand canyon of difference ~ Zechariah 13-14  The contrasts are stark and severe (as is the dilemma leading to everyone's destiny). The jolting prophecies of Christ appear without warning. Fighting against Jerusalem (...and Christ!) leads to life becoming a horror-show. On the contrary, to be on the Lord's side when He appears is Light and life and life-giving water (healing), and the worship we partake in together is pure. ~ John 18 the double-sided symbolism shines throughout Jesus' arrest and trial. Judas fakes his commitment in a kiss while Peter shockingly reveals his commitment through heated denials (had he not loved Jesus, he would have been completely non-plused.)  Judas and Peters' true motives surface clearly and in short order. Their true commitments end up taking them to completely different places / destinies, and to different eternities! ~ Revelation 7 -11 God's people are preserved by the name of the Lord on their foreheads.  However the people possessed of this world are wholly bent on remaining evil and they are tormented mercilessly.  So as the Bible grandly warns us, hundreds of time, in admonitions that go far back to Eden, the price for choosing wrong is not a subtle difference, it is cosmically bi-polar and eventually going to be irreversible ... and eternal.

John 18 We are in the Christ Stream reading from the New Living Translation. 7streamsmethod.com | @7streamsmethod | Donate Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Lord Jesus, you laid it all out for us so that we can live with you in a place where again, you laid it all out for us.  We know that you are preparing a place for us so that we can be together permanently. Blessings abound, as does our gratitude. Amen. Jesus has just finished the part of John that we call the high priestly prayer, ending in John 17. They are in the Garden of Gethsemane (Gethsemane = "olive press"). John's wording makes it clear that he has no love whatsoever for Judas Iscariot as he arrives with a squadron of religious leaders determined to have Jesus dead and buried before the next sunset. Also entering the garden are 500+ Roman soldiers pulled in to certify the arrest and make it impossible to escape . . . as if Jesus was trying to run. The size of the posse arresting Jesus tells us about the manic attitude and fears of the "upper" eschalon in Jerusalem. Reaching and finding Jesus didn't require weapons, threats, strength, nor violence.    It's interesting that Jesus' admission blasts the crowd to the ground like Jesus' voice were a hurricane!   Peter lunges forward in great zeal and slices off the ear of the High Priest's servant.  That is a bold gesture of "commitment to the death" that Peter is showing for Jesus.  So Peter is committed, right?  The penalty for physically attacking the High Priest or his own was death. His inquisition by the High Priest reveals that the trial of Jesus is a bungled process.  Jewish law was violated repeatedly in Jesus' arrest and trial and crucifixion.  The leaders know they are not being true to principle and therefore are a conflicted nest of scheming hound-dogs.  And they know it.  So the trial goes along bumpy; passing Jesus to leader after leader hoping any or either of the others will drop the gavel on Jesus' execution. But no one will.  Meanwhile Peter is trying to stay close to Jesus, yet not too close.  His prophetic word from Jesus comes true as he denies knowing Jesus three times.  It is a revelation that brought tremendous anxiety and grief for Peter as he realizes a new layer of his commitment/noncommitment; the shady and selfish nature of his own heart and the perfect trueness of Jesus' character.  Jesus knew...all along, He always knew Peter's heart. So this event started a great transformation for Peter. From here on Peter knew he couldn't rely on himself. He also learned that He could rely on Jesus and he did so from Pentecost to his death in Rome 35 or so years later. And lest anyone criticize Peter for his panicky denial, know that in this century, the rules were when a self-proclaimed messiah was identified and found to be false, he was executed and all his followers were executed too. In Peter's mind, denying Christ kept him from being crucified at dawn along with Jesus. The perfunctory "trial" before Pontius Pilate is as off-kilter as it is illicit.  Notice the interaction again as Jesus' hired accusers hand Him over to Pilate, though they won't enter Pilate's compound. It's obvious Pilate doesn't agree with the hollering hoards who end up wanting Jesus executed.  If you remember "The Passion of the Christ" 2004, Mel Gibson's production did a very true rendition of Pilate's dilemma as he pondered his options and sorted it out through the tensions of his day.  He certainly was living at the the center of a vortex where passions ran deep and emotional anger was given far more credence than prudence was.    It turns out that no leader has enough "reverse fortitude" to condemn an innocent man -a man that all the religious leaders are afraid of.  So they convince the mob to call for Jesus' death.  And as happens throughout theological history - as in our own lives, a guilty man goes free while an innocent man is convicted to pay the price.  This was God's plan from the forming of the world. [heavy sigh]

Zechariah 13-14 We are in the Exile Stream reading from the New Living Translation. 7streamsmethod.com | @7streamsmethod | Donate Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Lord Jesus, do your mighty wonders.  And do include us in the process as you do your mighty deeds.  We pray this for we are yours.  Amen.

Coming to the end of this wondrous book today, it is a mind bender to look back and ingest all that Zechariah was seeing and saying. The images and illustrations Zechariah lays out are a marvelous and inspiring puzzle. The interaction and call to action leaves any literate person stunned at what God is doing and trying to do ... now if He could ever get His children to cooperate with Him! The references to the Savior are interspersed within the prophecies and they seem to smack you from behind as they tell of the wondrous future. And is Zechariah talking about the future 500 years away? 2,500 years away? 3,500 years away?  Keep reading friends.  Let's read this together as long as we live. It may help to invest eight minutes and see a YouTube video called, "The Bible Project  Zechariah".  My husband found this last week and was enthralled at the presentation, so much so that he watched it again. He was just as elated to watch it a third time. You will probably find it very helpful.

13 - A fountain opened up to cleanse Jerusalem. This fountain; this person is related to David. And Zechariah wrote this almost in the center of the time span between King David and Jesus...there's something to muse over! Pardon the rough treatment of self-proclaimed prophets. They had just had so many bad ones come through and they realized that following these opportunistic jokers is what got the whole nation ransacked. And they are just realizing this now in their recovery years. A Shepherd is going to be struck and the sheep are going to scatter.  A percentage will die as only a third will be left in the land. Jesus was struck, (Romans crucified Him) then 40 years later they came through and killed all Hebrews who would not yield . . . is God up to something here? 14 - There will be a day of chaos and violation for Judah's inhabitants, then the Lord will go out and fight all those who have come against Israel. There will be continuous light across the land but not from the sun. Healing waters will flow from Jerusalem/Mt.Olives. 'Sounds like heaven already, yet could well be the millennium...?  Zechariah leaves you to ponder all these scenes with their chronology.  As in much of Zechariah, Bethlehem, Calvary, the Diaspora, the Second Coming, the Millennium is all on his literative 'merry-go-round'.           Yet nothing is wonderful for those who've been contrary to the Israelites. Those who've fought the people of Jerusalem will be stripped of wealth and stricken with the plague.  Others of them will be given a chance as they come to worship in Jerusalem. Those who will not come will be pounding sand and eating sand as drought consumes their homeland.  As we have heard since Genesis, God will be worshipped. Those who refuse to will suffer.  The glory in Jerusalem is on a scale that is nothing short of fascinating. What a day.

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Ezekiel 41-43 We are in the Prophetic Stream reading from the New Living Translation. 7streamsmethod.com | @7streamsmethod | Donate Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis

Dear Lord, we learn so much as we study and ponder your Temple. It is overwhelming that we, your temple, are your favorite prize and first place where you wish to be reverenced. And so we do. In Jesus Name,  Amen. The vision of the rebuilt Temple that began in last week's Prophetic Stream continues here. This Tempe Theme occupies Ezekiel 40-48.  It is a vision that the prophet Ezekiel wrote of from 572-570 B.C.  Keep in mind that the Temple that Solomon built had been r-a-z-e-d to the ground just 14-15 years prior. The Temple described in these chapters was proportionate to Solomon's.  According to the consensus of evangelical thinking, this Temple is clearly a mark of the Messianic Era.  Will it be what 'goes up' in the millennium? This podcast is to tell you what is in the Bible - not what to think, so you can look up the various perspectives. It's a super quick hunt on internet search engines these days so you can do that during a free moment later today.  You could also type "Ezekiel 40-48" on the YouTube search bar. There are nearly a dozen videos that could prove to be helpful.  It's certainly an issue of intrigue as The Holy Spirit keeps this discussion alive for 25-26 centuries and counting.

41 - Ezekiel is shown the sanctuary of the Temple. Its parts are measured and described. We read of it's walls, the terrace it was built upon, adjacent structures, the paneling, decoration/artwork, doorways, carvings

42 - What is described in this chapter is mostly the area that pertains to the Priests, their duties, outfits, and the obligations they had regarding offerings. We trust the videos will help you visualize what is being talked about. Remember, Ezekiel was shown the Temple in a vision. He didn't hear words in a monologue, he saw the Temple, so you will have an easier time seeing what this passage is saying if you scroll a few videos as mentioned above. 43 - Ezekiel sees the glory of the Lord shining and the Lord speaks.  It's clear His intent is to reveal Himself, but He cannot manifest in the presence of idols and mixed motives among those He intends to minister to and love. How would we be doing if upon visiting our child at college (and we were paying the tuition bill) if we come visit them on campus for their birthday and their dorm room was now a mini Mosque, they were growing and selling and smoking marijuana, they had moved in with a cheap lover, were teaching Ouija and Wicca at a Coven near campus, they were covered with tattoos, declared they had quit Christianity and and and...

1. Would you bless that?
2. Be happy with their new expression?
3. Would you keep paying for their schooling?

Hopefully, you say "No, no, NO!" We are this way in our sentiments because God is.   Lastly God gives the measurements/dimensions for the altar and the sacrifices to make so to be accepted unto God.  Like the Tabernacle in the wilderness, like the Temple that Solomon built, so it is with this new Temple to be rebuilt - God was not going to blurt out, "oh just slap something together. You know I'm not too fussy, it's just the heart and positive thoughts that matter to me.  No. God gets things right and wants us to be doing things right too.  

Ecclesiastes 7-12 We are in the Wisdom Stream reading from the New Living Translation. 7streamsmethod.com | @7streamsmethod | Donate Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Lord, thank you that we can learn from others' lives/words/teachings/writings; from those who are spent their lives doing their best to leave wisdom to us. May we learn and grow because from this we have heard today. Amen.

07 -  Solomon's proverbs continue along with his assessment that life (by its worldly self and apart from God) is an endless pursuit of ... who knows what. He opens with a great call to sobriety and grave interspection, to realize that our appointment with death is looming. He reminds us to wisely manage emotions and money, and to accept the lot that God dealt us with. The best plan in life (all things considered) is to live wisely. Accept human frailty and understand that people's loyalty is always under question. Consider yourself fortunate to not get tangled up with women (that's plural, guys!) God created us to be virtuous, though we have long forgotten it.

08 - There is great truth in wisdom and great need for wisdom also. It is best to simply obey those in authority over you - keep in mind Solomon is saying this from the top of the heap, btw. Any leader knows the stress of subordinates who will not do what is asked of them. It is wise to take pause in one's assessment and observation of good and evil. i.e. resolve to not be evil. Some are evil and think they will "skate on thru forever" and go unrebuffed - don't be fooled!  All in all: you're here so enjoy your family, your friends, your food, yourselves, and realize that you are under an omniscient God. 09 - He's said it before but Solomon again reminds us to be assured that our days are numbered and no one is leaving this earth alive. Be good because God wants for this for us; He planned for it. Don't expect "good boy" coupons because the good also suffer along with the bad. And don't act all apalled when the good suffer in life. Everyone suffers. As for the one you married, live joyfully with them. They are a reward to you. And know that wisdom can preserve just about anything. Live wisely - for everyone's benefit, whether you are thanked for it or not. And know that no one will appreciate your poverty: so do what you must to not be in poverty (or loud-mouthed or a Sinner) 10 - The trouble involved with foolish living is endless, so don't be a fool. And in life, brace yourself for manifold ironies: work is necessary, but be alert to danger. Use only the best tools. No one is impressed when you do otherwise. Always and only speak wisely. And like we told our children, "don't decide what the truth is, find out what the truth is. False assumptions will get you utterly lost."  Laziness, drunkenness, irresponsibility - DON'T or you'll end up in a shoddy house! Guard your thoughts, guard your words - because they will get out somehow. 11 - ship your goods out - you'll get paid. Get going now - don't wait until things are perfect. Plant many investments. Enjoy each day - for God did it. Let the elderly enjoy themselves. As for your youth, appreciate it ...and yet know that your youth is a passing gift. 12 - Youth is not to be wasted in a craze. God is not just a 'last resort' for the old.  God is for all of your life, since He gave you your whole life. So remember your God each step; start to finish. In conclusion, be teachable, honor God and obey what He commands.