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In our first Ezekiel reading we learned that the prophet is in exile, hundreds of miles east of Jerusalem, when the word of the LORD comes to him.  In those first visions the LORD assures the captives that Jerusalem will be destroyed – affirming Jeremiah’s message to settle into seventy years of exile. 

Today we aren’t sure where Ezekiel is, except that he is to “set [his] face toward the mountains of Jerusalem, and prophesy against them…” In chapters 6 and 7 the LORD reaffirms His commitment to bring an end to Judah’s kingdom – in fact the word “end” appears six times in chapter 7.  There is a cadence to these chapters, built around another specific repeated phrase that I want you to listen for.  Consider what the LORD means, and what He wants Israel to grasp. 

In chapter 8 the hand of the LORD GOD fell on Ezekiel as he sat in his house, “with the elders of Judah sitting before me.”  Remember that these are not meaningless details.  At the very least they ground Ezekiel’s coming vision in a place and time.  Even more, these details let us know who is hearing what the LORD is saying through the prophet – and therefore who is accountable for heeding it.   

In this vision a form that has the appearance of a man leads Ezekiel on a tour of the Temple, peering into hidden places where people believe their idolatry is hidden from the LORD.  In chapter 9, the LORD represents His vengeance for Judah’s abominations.  And in chapter 10, Ezekiel again sees an image of the glory of the LORD.

Take a moment and remember when and where we are.  This is during the reign of Zedekiah, whom Ezekiel never even acknowledges.  His frames of reference all date from Jehoiachin’s exile.  The LORD has been speaking forcefully from inside Jerusalem, through Jeremiah.  His prophecies, though filled with metaphor, are nothing like the visions the LORD gives Ezekiel.   Remember that the subject of this book is the LORD. Glean what you can about His nature and character, through all His modes of communication. 

Our verse for this week is 2 Peter 3:9: The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Ezekiel 6 through 10.  Now let’s read it!

In our first Ezekiel reading we learned that the prophet is in exile, hundreds of miles east of Jerusalem, when the word of the LORD comes to him.  In those first visions the LORD assures the captives that Jerusalem will be destroyed – affirming Jeremiah’s message to settle into seventy years of exile. 

Today we aren’t sure where Ezekiel is, except that he is to “set [his] face toward the mountains of Jerusalem, and prophesy against them…” In chapters 6 and 7 the LORD reaffirms His commitment to bring an end to Judah’s kingdom – in fact the word “end” appears six times in chapter 7.  There is a cadence to these chapters, built around another specific repeated phrase that I want you to listen for.  Consider what the LORD means, and what He wants Israel to grasp. 

In chapter 8 the hand of the LORD GOD fell on Ezekiel as he sat in his house, “with the elders of Judah sitting before me.”  Remember that these are not meaningless details.  At the very least they ground Ezekiel’s coming vision in a place and time.  Even more, these details let us know who is hearing what the LORD is saying through the prophet – and therefore who is accountable for heeding it.   

In this vision a form that has the appearance of a man leads Ezekiel on a tour of the Temple, peering into hidden places where people believe their idolatry is hidden from the LORD.  In chapter 9, the LORD represents His vengeance for Judah’s abominations.  And in chapter 10, Ezekiel again sees an image of the glory of the LORD.

Take a moment and remember when and where we are.  This is during the reign of Zedekiah, whom Ezekiel never even acknowledges.  His frames of reference all date from Jehoiachin’s exile.  The LORD has been speaking forcefully from inside Jerusalem, through Jeremiah.  His prophecies, though filled with metaphor, are nothing like the visions the LORD gives Ezekiel.   Remember that the subject of this book is the LORD. Glean what you can about His nature and character, through all His modes of communication. 

Our verse for this week is 2 Peter 3:9: The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Ezekiel 6 through 10.  Now let’s read it!

Today we return to 593 B.C., almost midway between the first massive exile to Babylon and the ultimate fall of Jerusalem.  From the opening verses, it appears that Ezekiel was among that first group of exiles, or at least journeyed among them, for we find him by the Chebar canal in Babylon.  Beyond the fact that Ezekiel is described as a priest, little else is known about him. 

What matters is that the word of the LORD came to him there – well beyond the borders of Judah – and that Ezekiel was commanded to proclaim it.  “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for Israel…go to the exiles, to your people, and speak to them and say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD God,’ whether they hear or refuse to hear.”

That last line: “…whether they hear or refuse to hear” is an interesting diversion from what we’ve seen before.  Ezekiel’s commissioning vision holds some elements you’ll recognize from Isaiah and Jeremiah, as though there is formulaic rhythm to be kept.  But this acknowledgement of Israel’s stubbornness gets elaborate treatment here, and throughout this book you can try to discern whether this is saying something about the prophet, as well as the audience. 

Now comes fair warning: many of the visions given to Ezekiel are abstract, symbolic, and shall we say, creative.  Often, Ezekiel is given an elaborate exercise to perform as prophetic theater.  Today you’ll hear of winged creatures and spinning wheels; of bricks and dirt mounds and barley cakes cooked over human dung; of razor-sharp swords and burning hair. 

My encouragement to you is to simply read it through, accepting broad meanings that the author assigns without grinding out the details of every specific symbol.  For example, in chapter 1 Ezekiel experiences a vision of winged creatures and spinning wheels, above which sat a throne surrounded by light and fire.  At the end, without any reflection on the particular elements, Ezekiel simply relates: Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.  And When I saw it, I fell on my face…”

Our verse for this week is Hebrews 13:8: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Ezekiel 1 through 5.  Now let’s read it! 

Today we return to 593 B.C., almost midway between the first massive exile to Babylon and the ultimate fall of Jerusalem.  From the opening verses, it appears that Ezekiel was among that first group of exiles, or at least journeyed among them, for we find him by the Chebar canal in Babylon.  Beyond the fact that Ezekiel is described as a priest, little else is known about him. 

What matters is that the word of the LORD came to him there – well beyond the borders of Judah – and that Ezekiel was commanded to proclaim it.  “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for Israel…go to the exiles, to your people, and speak to them and say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD God,’ whether they hear or refuse to hear.”

That last line: “…whether they hear or refuse to hear” is an interesting diversion from what we’ve seen before.  Ezekiel’s commissioning vision holds some elements you’ll recognize from Isaiah and Jeremiah, as though there is formulaic rhythm to be kept.  But this acknowledgement of Israel’s stubbornness gets elaborate treatment here, and throughout this book you can try to discern whether this is saying something about the prophet, as well as the audience. 

Now comes fair warning: many of the visions given to Ezekiel are abstract, symbolic, and shall we say, creative.  Often, Ezekiel is given an elaborate exercise to perform as prophetic theater.  Today you’ll hear of winged creatures and spinning wheels; of bricks and dirt mounds and barley cakes cooked over human dung; of razor-sharp swords and burning hair. 

My encouragement to you is to simply read it through, accepting broad meanings that the author assigns without grinding out the details of every specific symbol.  For example, in chapter 1 Ezekiel experiences a vision of winged creatures and spinning wheels, above which sat a throne surrounded by light and fire.  At the end, without any reflection on the particular elements, Ezekiel simply relates: Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.  And When I saw it, I fell on my face…”

Our verse for this week is Hebrews 13:8: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Ezekiel 1 through 5.  Now let’s read it! 

“Paul, you are out of your mind…”  - Acts 26:24

After two aborted attempts, Paul is finally able to complete his entire testimony before Agrippa and Festus.  The scene is one of pomp and festivity: the puppet king of the region and the Roman governor presiding over a case that is more of a fascination to them than a matter of legal necessity – more theater than courtroom.    

Paul’s defense is confident and sincere.  Pay attention to its nuances: he insists “…that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee…” he calls out the Jews stubbornness by asking, “Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?...”  he recounts how he himself “was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth…”

But as Peter had once rebuffed the Sanhedrin, insisting that he could not help but testify about what he had seen and heard, today Paul offers that since that day on the road to Damascus, “…I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.” 

This, at the last, will be the defining tension of the book of Acts.  You’re allowed to read to the end, and meditate on the conclusion.  Luke ends this book the way he wants, making the point he wants, and completing the arc of the story that he wants. 

Before I send you there, I want to remind you of where this story began, over thirty years ago:

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”  He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”  And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.  

Our verse for this week is Hebrews 13:8: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Acts 26 through 28.  Now let’s read it! 

“Paul, you are out of your mind…”  - Acts 26:24

After two aborted attempts, Paul is finally able to complete his entire testimony before Agrippa and Festus.  The scene is one of pomp and festivity: the puppet king of the region and the Roman governor presiding over a case that is more of a fascination to them than a matter of legal necessity – more theater than courtroom.    

Paul’s defense is confident and sincere.  Pay attention to its nuances: he insists “…that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee…” he calls out the Jews stubbornness by asking, “Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?...”  he recounts how he himself “was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth…”

But as Peter had once rebuffed the Sanhedrin, insisting that he could not help but testify about what he had seen and heard, today Paul offers that since that day on the road to Damascus, “…I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.” 

This, at the last, will be the defining tension of the book of Acts.  You’re allowed to read to the end, and meditate on the conclusion.  Luke ends this book the way he wants, making the point he wants, and completing the arc of the story that he wants. 

Before I send you there, I want to remind you of where this story began, over thirty years ago:

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”  He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”  And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.  

Our verse for this week is Hebrews 13:8: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Acts 26 through 28.  Now let’s read it!