November 22
Ezekiel 44:1-45:12
1 Peter 1:1-12
Psalm 119:17-32
Proverbs 28:8-10
Ezekiel 44:4 – What did Ezekiel do when he encountered the glory of the LORD? He fell on his face. Some day we’ll see the glory of the LORD – and we’ll be in the presence of the One who died for me!
Ezekiel 44:9 – Ezekiel bares record of God’s immigration requirements. Notice the reference to “uncircumcised in heart.” Paul picks up on this in Romans 2:25-29, and goes back to Deuteronomy 30:6 – where God promises to circumcise your heart so we can love the LORD wholeheartedly!
Ezekiel 44:31 – Notice the similarities between this chapter and Leviticus 22 – God is reconsecrating the priesthood for a future responsibility!
Ezekiel 45:8 – God will reform the priesthood, and the political princes in the future! All of these passages remind us – God is not done with Israel yet!
1 Peter 1:8 – From the vault, Hilton Griswold, pianist for the Blackwood Brothers performing “Joy Unspeakable and Full of Glory”
1 Peter 1:11 – Notice that the prophets did not know what they were prophesying about! They studied what they said because they did not understand – but we now understand more than Ezekiel did! That is why we who have not seen Jesus (1 Peter 1:8) can rejoice with “joy unspeakable and full of glory.” We haven’t seen the wheel in a wheel, the visions of temples future. We haven’t seen Jesus in bodily form – unlike Thomas we haven’t put our fingers in his nail-scarred hands. But we love Him and believe Him and He gives us joy!. Peter will talk about this “more sure word of prophecy” (2 Peter 1:19).
Psalm 119:18 – As we approach His Word let’s pray that God will open our eyes!
Psalm 119:27 – Notice throughout this passage the seeming conflict between the active Psalmist (I have kept thy testimonies (Psalm 119:22), thy servant did meditate (Psalm 119:23), I have chosen the way of truth (Psalm 119:30), I have stuck unto thy testimonies (Psalm 119:31)) – with the dependent Psalmist (Open thou mine eyes (Psalm 119:18), hide not thy commandments from me (Psalm 119:19), teach me thy statutes (Psalm 119:26), make me to understand (Psalm 119:27)). How do we reconcile these two – are we supposed to work? Are we to wait on God working in us?
Psalm 119:32 – This verse reconciles the conflict – God will change our heart so we can run. As Christians we have received the LORD (Colossians 2:6) so we are to walk in Him. We don’t have an excuse for not obeying God – He changed our heart and put His Spirit in us!
Proverbs 28:9 – God has given us His revelation – if we ignore it, He won’t hear our prayers.
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