The Sins that brought the End
Ezekiel 22:1-31
In chapter 22 of the book of Ezekiel, God declares through His prophet, Ezekiel to reveal the sins of Jerusalem that caused the coming judgement of God.
I. Bloodshed and Idolatry that brought the Judgement of God (1-5)
In Jerusalem (her), they have shed blood and have become defiled by the idols they have made (2, 3,4a). Note that two sins (bloodshed and idolatry (detestable practices)) were pointed out three times in verse 2, 3 and 4a.
Resultant judgement of God:
- Her end has come (4b)
- Becoming an object of scorn (4c)
- Becoming a laughing-stock (4d)
- Becoming an object of mockery (5)
II. The 1st List of Sins that brought the Judgement of God (6-12)
- In this city, princes misuse their power to shed blood (6).
- In this city, they have treated their father and mother with contempt (7a).
- In this city, they have oppressed the foreigner and ill-treated the fatherless and the widow (7b).
- In this city, they have despised God’s holy things and desecrated God’s Sabbaths (8).
- In this city are slanderers who are bent on shedding blood (9a).
- In this city are those who eat at the mountain shrines and commit lewd acts (9b).
- In this city are those who dishonour their father’s bed (10a).
- In this city are those who violate women during their period, when they are ceremonially unclean (10b).
- In this city, one man commits a detestable offence with his neighbour’s wife, another shamefully defiles his daughter-in-law, and another violates his sister, his own father’s daughter (11).
- In this city are people who accept bribes to shed blood (12a).
- They take interest and make a profit from the poor (12b).
- They extort unjust gain from their neighbours (12c).
- They have forgotten God (12d).
III. The Exile and the Siege of the City Foretold (13-22)
God foretold the Exile. See v15.
15 I will disperse you among the nations and scatter you through the countries; and I will put an end to your uncleanness.
Before the Exile took place, Jerusalem had been sieged by Babylon for 1.5 years until all food ran out in the city (Jeremiah 39, 2 Kings 24:10-17). This was foretold in v17-22.
IV. The 2nd List of Sins that brought the Judgement of God (23-29)
More sins in Jerusalem (her) are listed below.
- Sins of Princes: There is a conspiracy of her princes within Jerusalem like a roaring lion tearing its prey; they devour people, take treasures and precious things and make many widows within her (25).
- Sins of Priests: Her priests do violence to God’s law and profane God’s holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of God’s Sabbaths, so that God is profaned among them (26).
- Sins of Officials: Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill people to make unjust gain (27).
- Sins of Prophets: Her prophets whitewash these deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations. They say, “This is what the Sovereign LORD says”—when the LORD has not spoken (28).
- Sins of People: The people of the land practise extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and ill-treat the foreigner, denying them justice (29).
V. No Mediator Found (30-31)
God considered an alternative to the judgement through a right person. However, when he looked for a mediator, He found none. See v30.
30 ‘I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so that I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.
So, God went ahead with His judgement as He planned (31).
References
[1] The Holy Bible: New International Version (Anglicised Edition, 2011). (2011). (Revised and updated edition). London: Hodder & Stoughton.
The Parable of the Great Banquet
Luke 14:12-24
In v12-14, Jesus taught them to invite, if they give a luncheon or dinner, the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and to be blessed.
“Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” (13)
In v15-24, Jesus taught the parable of the great banquet. v15 indicates this parable is related to the feast in the kingdom of God.
When the servant said to the invited guests, “Come, for everything is now ready.” (17), they all alike began to make excuses such as field, oxen, and marriage, and refused to come (18-20). Some of these excuses were valid reasons for excluded to attend a war (Deuteronomy 20:5-7). However, in the parable, the excuses are unacceptable to the master as the banquet (salvation) was reserved for (Jesus died for) the invited guests, not to mention the feast in the kingdom of God being the celebration of great joy and value (salvation).
As a result, the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant to hurry to bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame from the streets and alleys of the town (21). After this, there was still room. The master asked his servant to fill the house by compelling them to come in from the roads and country lanes.
The owner of the house (God) expects to fill the house (23). Luke emphasized the divine necessity of evangelism in order to fill up the kingdom as well as the assurance that such efforts would succeed [2]. As Fitzmyer [3] observes, “God’s will is not foiled by the rejection of human beings; the places at the kingdom banquet will be filled.”
People in disadvantages/difficulties are more open-minded to the invitation than people who are busy and well off. This teaches why inviting people in difficulties is a better fit for the banquet as also taught in v12-14.
Finally, see what the master said in v24.
“I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.”
Here, we can learn that the invited quests who refused were disqualified to attend the banquet. It was of great significance in the reality, where persons foolishly declined God’s gracious offer of salvation [2].
References
[1] The Holy Bible: New International Version (Anglicised Edition, 2011). (2011). (Revised and updated edition). London: Hodder & Stoughton.
[2] Stein, R. H. (1992). Luke (Vol. 24, p. 394). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[3] Fitzmyer, Joseph A. (2008). The Gospel according to Luke X–XXIV (The Anchor Yale Bible | AYB). Yale University Press.
“Return, faithless people,” declares the Lord
Jeremiah 3:14
“Return, faithless people,” declares the Lord, “for I am your husband. I will choose you—one from a town and two from a clan—and bring you to Zion.
Jeremiah 3:20
But like a woman unfaithful to her husband,
so you, Israel, have been unfaithful to me,”
declares the Lord.
Some things in the world are shadows of true things.
Relationships such as father, children, husband, and wife in the world represent true relationships between God and men.
Earthly father is a shadow of true father, who is heavenly Father – God.
Likewise, true husband is God.
The warning about a way that appears to be right, that leads to death in the end
12 There is a way that appears to be right,
but in the end it leads to death. (Proverbs 14:12, Proverbs 16:25)
This warning may be applied to those who live according to
- their commonsense
- their pseudo philosophy
- their religion
without the basis of the Holy Bible.
The Holy Bible is able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. See 2 Timothy 3:15-16.
15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
In Matthew 7:13-14 and John 12:24-25 Jesus teaches the way that leads to life.
13 ‘Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)
24 Very truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (John 12:24-25)
Also, Galatians 6:7-10 says,
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
References
[1] The Holy Bible: New International Version (Anglicised Edition, 2011). (2011). (Revised and updated edition). London: Hodder & Stoughton.
Chapter 2 in the Book of Proverbs
Proverbs 2:1-22
The Protasis (=condition) (1-4)
1-2 Listen attentively to the teacher (accept as valid, memorize, focus all attention)
3-4 Seek
3: call out for insight, cry aloud for understanding (as for asking God or a king for deliverance from trouble)
4: as one seeks lost money or hidden treasure
The Apodosis (=result) (5-11)
Greater insight that comes from Wisdom
5-8 begins with ‘then’. This part emphasizes understanding of God and His ways.
9-11 begins with ‘then’. This part focuses on proper and carful behaviour in life.
The Two Tempters (12-19)
12-15: wicked men with perverse words
16-19: the adulterous woman with her seductive words
Concluding Summation (20-22)
This part begins with ‘thus’. You will be in the ways of the good and the paths of the righteous (20).
21 vs 22 contrasts the two consequences of the upright/blameless and the wicked/unfaithful: life and death.
References
[1] Garrett, D. A. (1993). Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of songs (Vol. 14, pp. 75–77). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
Wisdom and Understanding in the Proverbs
Proverbs 2:1-5
1 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding—
3 indeed, if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
Verse 1 can begin by ‘reading’ the book of Proverbs. This book is easy to read even when you are new to the Bible. Especially, when you read chapter 10 ~ 31, you will notice that each verse shines inside your heart like the light. This book consists of 31 chapters. So, it is good to read one chapter a day. So, the whole book can be read once a month. What the book promises may be fulfilled if you read it regularly (v1) because you seek wisdom and understanding as described in v2-4. Then the result will be as shown in v5 and Proverbs 2:6-22.
References
[1] The Holy Bible: New International Version (Anglicised Edition, 2011). (2011). (Revised and updated edition). London: Hodder & Stoughton.
Psalm 3
Psalm 3
A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom
1 Lord, how many are my foes!
How many rise up against me!
2 Many are saying of me,
‘God will not deliver him.’
3 But you, Lord, are a shield around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
4 I call out to the Lord,
and he answers me from his holy mountain.
5 I lie down and sleep;
I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
6 I will not fear though tens of thousands
assail me on every side.
7 Arise, Lord!
Deliver me, my God!
Strike all my enemies on the jaw;
break the teeth of the wicked.
8 From the Lord comes deliverance.
May your blessing be on your people.
Let us study Psalms and learn how to pray. Today let us study Psalm 3.
I. Many foes (1, 2)
See verse 1. David expresses he has many foes. Devils are accusers. No one is without sins, but they try to make you lose confidence in God by accusing you of your sins.
See verse 2. David says what his foes say of him: ‘God will not deliver him.’ It may be their bad wishes and curses. We can learn this is what the enemy wants and if you believe this, you will not be able to pray to God.
II. Confidence in the LORD (3-6)
Then, how David pray in this situation? See verse 3. He declares LORD is a shield (protection) around him, his glory (reputation), and the One who lifts his head high (encouragement). God has accepted his repentance and forgiven him even though God put him in chastisement.
See verse 4. He calls out to God. He cries aloud to God. God answers him from His holy mountain Zion, Jerusalem, where the Ark of God is.
He had confidence in God’s protection and did not afraid of ‘the number’ (5, 6). Like David, we can confess our faith/confidence in our prayer!
III. Deliver, Strike, Break (7, 8)
See v7. This expression shows the intimacy between David and God. He confidently and actively asks God for deliverance. Also, he expresses outright how his enemies and the wicked to be destroyed. Let us see the evil and wickedness behind the scene and learn this prayer.
Differently to ordinary citizens, policemen would face many more criminals because they stand for justice. Likewise, anyone who stands for the truth would see hatred and (spiritual) attacks from the wicked much more clearly and frequently. Proverbs 8:13 says,
13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behaviour and perverse speech.
V7 shows David’s stance.
David declares the truth about deliverance, “The deliverance comes from the LORD.” (8a). Amen.
“May your blessing be on your people.” (8b)
David probably said this as the king to bless his people of Israel.
Prayer
If you find hard to pray, you may follow the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6:9-13.
9 ‘This, then, is how you should pray:
‘ “Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.”
The book of Psalms is a good reference for prayer because it shows examples of prayers.
The prayer could be done using your audible voice (as opposed to silence) especially if you find it helps you pray. Rather be concise than keep on babbling (see Matthew 6:7-8).
The prayer may include repentance, thanks, and praises.
You could tell God about various issues, and (recent) incidents you concern about.
You could pray for others (intercession).
# Many verses including John 16:23 teach us to pray “in the name of Jesus”.
References
[1] The Holy Bible: New International Version (Anglicised Edition, 2011). (2011). (Revised and updated edition, Mt 6:9–13). London: Hodder & Stoughton.
Psalm written by the warrior of faith, David
I started reading the book of Psalms recently after having finished reading the book of Job. Coincidently, I came across with Bible.is app and downloaded it to my smartphone recently, too. I found out this app was perfect for reading/meditating the book of Psalms. There is different background music for each chapter and it is read at a perfect speed to understand and follow along with the reading. The book of Psalms shows how intimate David was to God, how confidently David approached God’s throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). Listening to Psalm supernaturally opened up the ability to pray greatly. I wish everyone may listen to his Psalms and become a warrior of prayer/faith like David!
I desire mercy, not sacrifice
Part I shows Sabbath related verses in the books of the Law (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) and Part II shows what Jesus taught about the Sabbath day (= the Sabbath).
I. Sabbath related verses written in the books of the Law in the Old Testament
II. What Jesus taught about the Sabbath day
② Working to Release someone from Satanic binding on the Sabbath (Luke 13:10-17)
I. Sabbath related verses written in the books of the Law in the Old Testament
God had completed His creation by the seventh day, so on the seventh day he rested from all his work (1). He blessed the seventh day and made it holy.
Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.
2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. (Genesis 2:1-2)
Sabbath rest is the 4th Commandment among the Ten Commandments.
8 ‘Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labour and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. (Exodus 20:8-11)
12 ‘Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you. 13 Six days you shall labour and do all your work, 14 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns, so that your male and female servants may rest, as you do. 15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day. (Deuteronomy 5:12-15)
Based on Exodus 23:10-12, Sabbath rest (the 7th year and the 7th day) was particularly considered for the poor and the slaves as well as animals.
10 ‘For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops, 11 but during the seventh year let the land lie unploughed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what is left. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.
12 ‘Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and so that the slave born in your household and the foreigner living among you may be refreshed. (Exodus 23:10–12)
Sabbath rest/celebration is a sign of ‘God’s people’ for the generation to come as a lasting covenant (for ever). The penalty to desecrate it is ‘death’.
12 Then the Lord said to Moses, 13 ‘Say to the Israelites, “You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so that you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.
14 ‘ “Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it is to be put to death; those who do any work on that day must be cut off from their people. 15 For six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day is to be put to death. 16 The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. 17 It will be a sign between me and the Israelites for ever, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.” ’
18 When the Lord finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the covenant law, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God. (Exodus 31:12–18)
It was repeatedly commanded.
21 ‘Six days you shall labour, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the ploughing season and harvest you must rest. (Exodus 34:21)
And the penalty (death) for breaking it is reconfirmed.
2 for six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a day of sabbath rest to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it is to be put to death. 3 Do not light a fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day.’ (Exodus 35:2–3)
According to Leviticus 23:1-3, sacred assembly on the Sabbath day is one of God’s appointed and anointed festivals.
The Lord said to Moses, 2 ‘Speak to the Israelites and say to them: “These are my appointed festivals, the appointed festivals of the Lord, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.
3 ‘ “There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a sabbath to the Lord. (Leviticus 23:1-3)
A man found working on the Sabbath day was stoned to death.
32 While the Israelites were in the wilderness, a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day. 33 Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and the whole assembly, 34 and they kept him in custody, because it was not clear what should be done to him. 35 Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘The man must die. The whole assembly must stone him outside the camp.’ 36 So the assembly took him outside the camp and stoned him to death, as the Lord commanded Moses. (Numbers 15:32–36)
Additional offering required on the Sabbath day:
9 ‘ “On the Sabbath day, make an offering of two lambs a year old without defect, together with its drink offering and a grain offering of one-fifth of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with olive oil. 10 This is the burnt offering for every Sabbath, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering. (Numbers 28:9–10)
Here, one-fifth of an ephah is about 3.2kg.
II. What Jesus taught about the Sabbath day
① I desire mercy, not sacrifice (Matthew 12:1-14)
See Matthew 12:1-14.
At that time Jesus went through the cornfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some ears of corn and eat them. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, ‘Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.’
3 He answered, ‘Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. 5 Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? 6 I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. 7 If you had known what these words mean, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice,” you would not have condemned the innocent. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.’
9 Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, 10 and a man with a shrivelled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, ‘Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?’
11 He said to them, ‘If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.’
13 Then he said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus. (Matthew 12:1–14)
Here Jesus pointed out that David and his companions ate the consecrated bread because they were in great hunger during the extreme difficulty after they became like vagabonds for a while. Also when the Law commands ‘Sabbath Offering’, the Law itself lets the priests ‘work’ in the temple on the Sabbath day (5). Jesus declared “Something greater than the temple is here.” (6). In Jesus who is greater than the temple, His believers (priests (1 Peter 2:9)) would be innocent for desecrating the Sabbath.
Jesus quoted “I desire mercy, not sacrifice” (Hosea 6:6) to teach the point (7). And Jesus declared “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” (8).
When they asked, ‘Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?’ (10), Jesus said to them,
‘If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.’ (11-12)
Jesus also said in Mark 2:27.
27 Then he said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
② Working to Release someone from Satanic binding on the Sabbath (Luke 13:10-17)
See Luke 13:10-17.
10 On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11 and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, ‘Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.’ 13 Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.
14 Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, ‘There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.’
15 The Lord answered him, ‘You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? 16 Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?’
17 When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.
Here, Jesus pointed out their common example of untying an ox or donkey from the stall and leading it out to give it water on the Sabbath to justify releasing a woman on the Sabbath, who has kept bound to cripple for 18 long years. Therefore, we can work very hard to release someone from Satanic binding on the Sabbath.
References
[1] The Holy Bible: New International Version (Anglicised Edition, 2011). (2011). (Revised and updated edition). London: Hodder & Stoughton.
