Today, we are reading 1 Chronicles 8:29-40, 1 Chronicles 9:1, Daniel 4, and Ezekiel 40:1-37. Do you have a favorite?  I love history, so the Old Testament is lots of fun for me (well, most of the time!).  It’s remarkable how the Bible always has a lesson for us, and how we can apply the Word from ages ago to this very moment.  When you are done reading, come on back!

Daniel 4 has too much for a minute!

As Nebuchadnezzar is enjoying the benefits and blessings of God, he has also detached himself from the poor, far away from their concerns and troubles:

“King Nebuchadnezzar to everyone, everywhere—every race, color, and creed: “Peace and prosperity to all! It is my privilege to report to you the gracious miracles that the High God has done for me.^‘His miracles are staggering, His wonders are surprising. His kingdom lasts and lasts. His sovereign rule goes on forever’. I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home taking it easy in my palace, without a care in the world” (Daniel 4:1-7 MSG)

Taking it easy, without a care in the world, when a dream disturbs him.  Daniel is able to interpret and offers a warning:

“So, king, take my advice: Make a clean break with your sins and start living for others. Quit your wicked life and look after the needs of the down-and-out. Then you will continue to have a good life” (Daniel 4:27 MSG)

Sadly, Nebuchadnezzar does not heed Daniel’s warning.  As he continues to ignore the needs of his people, he shifts from being a RULER to being RULED himself – as we read further in the chapter, we see that the consequences were severe.

And there’s our lesson, written ages ago, instructing us in this very moment: look after the needs of others as you trust God to look after your needs!

Today, we’re all in 1 Chronicles – keeping it simple! 🙂 We’ll read 1 Chronicles 5: 18-26, 6:3, 6:49, 6:4-15, 7, and 8:1-28. Come on back and let’s share our highlights – here’s mine:

“Because the war was God’s” (1 Chron 5:22 NKJV)

Lord, help me always recognize who the battle belongs to. If the battle is the Lord’s, we can be confident throughout that there is victory.  insert big sigh of relief here We are not reposponsible for the victory – we are responsible for our own faithfulness during the battle.

Another aspect of the battle belonging to the Lord?  If we can allow that the battle belongs to the Lord, we must also allow that the victory belongs to the Lord – and victory may not look the way we want it to look.  His thoughts our not our thoughts, and what you think is voctory might not be the outcome that the Lord intends.  Relax and let Him fight for you!  He has our best in His heart always.

Lots of reading, lots of places today – hang with me!  Here we go: Ezekiel 32:17-32, 33:1-20, Jeremiah 52:28-30, Psalm 137, 1 Chronicles 4:24-43, and 1 Chronicles 5:1-17.  Don’t miss anything 🙂 Come on back and share your highlight! Here’s mine:

“The children of your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair’ but it is their way which is not fair” (Ezekiel 33:17 NKJV)

Exactly!  God is always fair.

“By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down, yea, we wept
When we remembered Zion. We hung our harps
Upon the willows in the midst of it.
For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song,
And those who plundered us requested mirth, Saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” (Psalm 137:1-3 NKJV)

It’s sad and precious that the people want to hear songs from home, from Zion, about the God who gives comfort in their captivity. We need to turn to the Lord for comfort first.

“if the watchman sees war coming and doesn’t blow the trumpet, warning the people, and war comes and takes anyone off, I’ll hold the watchman responsible for the bloodshed of any unwarned sinner” (Ezekiel 33:6 MSG)

Everyone is a watchman for someone, it is a role to be taken seriously.

Let’s read Ezekiel 37, 39, 39, and 32:1-16. Lots going on – big day!  Let’s visit:

There is too much in 37 to cover in a minute!

 ^“God, the Master, told the dry bones, ‘Watch this: I’m bringing the breath of life to you and you’ll come to life. I’ll attach sinews to you, put meat on your bones, cover you with skin, and breathe life into you. You’ll come alive and you’ll realize that I am God!’ ” (Ezekiel 37:5-6 MSG)

Still through the passages, we can underline the phrase “then they shall know I am the Lord” – God never acts without purpose.

All in one place today – that makes it easy!  Please read Ezekiel 34, 35, and 36 and come on back!  Leave a comment – I’d love to hear what you think!

I love Ezekiel 34 and the tenderness of the True Shepherd.  

“‘I’ll make a covenant of peace with them. I’ll banish fierce animals from the country so the sheep can live safely in the wilderness and sleep in the forest. I’ll make them and everything around my hill a blessing. I’ll send down plenty of rain in season—showers of blessing! The trees in the orchards will bear fruit, the ground will produce, they’ll feel content and safe on their land, and they’ll realize that I am God” (Ezekiel 34:25-26 MSG)

Such a picture of comfort in the midst of judgment. Brings to my mind Psalm 23, and Psalm 119:176. The mention of David (Ezekiel 34:23-24) always stands out to me – at this point, he’s been dead for more than 400 years and his covenant is still being honored (and that reference is to Jesus, the Shepherd from the Davidic line).  

Ezekiel 36:33 is such an encouragement:

“Message of God, the Master: On the day I scrub you clean from all your filthy living, I’ll also make your cities livable. The ruins will be rebuilt. The neglected land will be worked again, no longer overgrown with weeds and thistles, worthless in the eyes of passersby. People will exclaim, “Why, this weed patch has been turned into a Garden of Eden! And the ruined cities, smashed into oblivion, are now thriving!” The nations around you that are still in existence will realize that I, God, rebuild ruins and replant empty waste places. I, God, said so, and I’ll do it” (36:33 MSG)

As God’s judgement – as God’s judgement was being carried out, He was simultaneously enabling the people to live and continue in faithfulness. Always about restoration!

Let’s read Jeremiah 42, 43, 44, and Ezekiel 33:21-33. Come on back when you’ve finished and let’s visit!

“All the army officers…. accompanied by all the people, small and great, came to Jeremiah the prophet and said, “We have a request. Please listen. Pray to your God for us, what’s left of us. You can see for yourself how few we are! Pray that your God will tell us the way we should go and what we should do.

Jeremiah the prophet said, “I hear your request. And I will pray to your God as you have asked. Whatever God says, I’ll pass on to you. I’ll tell you everything, holding nothing back.”

They said to Jeremiah, “Let God be our witness, a true and faithful witness against us, if we don’t do everything that your God directs you to tell us. Whether we like it or not, we’ll do it. We’ll obey whatever our God tells us. Yes, count on us. We’ll do it.” (Jeremiah 42:1-6 MSG)

I’m so grateful for people in my life who can pray and hear from God – but I’m mostly thankful that I don’t have to depend on others to hear from God for me.  God can and does speak to us directly!

Twelve years into the exile – remember when God told them He would come for them in 70 years?  

Today we are reading Lamentations 5, Obadiah 1, 2 Kings 25:22-26, Jeremiah 40:7-16, and Jeremiah 41.  It’s remarkable how we can always apply the Word in a practical way.  What stands out to you today? Here’s my take-a-way:

In Lamentations 5, the people connect their circumstance to their own sin – we haven’t heard that happen in a long time.

“Bring us back to you, God—we’re ready to come back.
    Give us a fresh start” (Lamentations 5:21 MSG)

Our actions carry consequences, our actions have repercussions – let’s not blame God when we are disobedient.

Today, we are reading Lamentations 2, 3, and 4.  Even though the name is “lamentations” and bible scholars traditionally attribute this book to the “weeping prophet” Jeremiah, we will still find cause for joy!  What’s your highlight from today?  Here’s mine:

Lamentations 2:8 MSG says the “stones wept” – in Luke 19:40 (we’ll get there sometime, I promise!), the Bible tells us that rocks will cry out in praise. God will get a reaction from somewhere, if not from us.

Lam. 3:22-23 is familiar to us:

I like how the MSG translates 3:21 “I keep a grip on hope”. After chapters 1 and 2, it’s hard to imagine hope – BUT GOD. With God, there is always hope.

Today we are reading Jeremiah 39:11-18, Jeremiah 40:1-6, 2 Kings 25:8-21, Jeremiah 52:12-27, 2 Chronicles 36:15-21, Lamentations 1.  Come on back and let’s visit a little bit.  What stands out to you today?  What’s your take-a-way for the morning? Here’s mine, a few snapshots:

While Jeremiah was still in custody, he received a word from the Lord –

“Yes, I’ll most certainly save you. You won’t be killed. You’ll walk out of there safe and sound because you trusted me.” (Jeremiah 39:18 MSG)

Deliverance because of the trust placed on the Lord in the gap between seeking and revealing, unknowing and knowing.️  Sometimes, like Jeremiah, we have to trust while we are still in the middle of a situation.

Jeremiah 52:12-27 and 2 Chronicles 36:15-21 – Do you recognize these items from Moses and the tabernacle, from David setting aside items and materials for Solomon, from Solomon building the temple? Heartbreaking when the king of Babylon “carries them away captive”… now the stage is set for Lamentations.

Let’s read Ezekiel 26:15-21, Ezekiel 27, 28, 2 Kings 25:3-7, Jeremiah 52:6-11, Jeremiah 39:2-10 today.  Here we go!

“God, the Master, says, ‘When I gather Israel from the peoples among whom they’ve been scattered and put my holiness on display among them with all the nations looking on, then they’ll live in their own land that I gave to my servant Jacob. They’ll live there in safety. They’ll build houses. They’ll plant vineyards, living in safety. Meanwhile, I’ll bring judgment on all the neighbors who have treated them with such contempt. And they’ll realize that I am God.’ ” Ezekiel 28:25-26 MSG

And there it is, the restoration, praise the Lord. It was always there, always in the Lord’s heart toward us.  Once we can accept that restoration is the Lord’s desire, we need to develop trust between our seeking and the Lord’s revealing, between the unknowing and the knowing.

Thank You Lord!