September 14 - Daniel 1-3: God Sets Things Right for Those who Trust Him

Today’s Reading: Daniel 1-3

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah trusted in God even after seeing God's great punishment.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

King Nebuchadnezzar assembled exiled Judah's brightest for training. Daniel (Belteshazzar), Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach), and Azariah (Abednego), proposed a developmental competition: their vegetable-and-water diet against the king's menu. The four became exceedingly-more helpful than their peers.
Nebuchadnezzar's dream deeply disturbed him. Daniel asked God for its interpretation. God told Daniel it forecasted Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom. Daniel and his three friends were highly promoted.
Nebuchadnezzar ordered his kingdom's leaders to worship his statue. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused. Nebuchadnezzar threatened them. They again refused. Nebuchadnezzar threw them in a furnace. They were unaffected—and joined by a god-like figure. Nebuchadnezzar blessed God.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego trusted God more than they feared their captors.

Before we look at this story we need to understand that Daniel and the three men with him have seen terrible atrocities in Jerusalem. They (presumably) had to watch their family and neighbors die horrible, agonizing deaths. Questioning, doubting, or rejecting God would be a reasonable response. Full faith in God even when given the opportunity to live a long, luxurious life in the king's palace would be unfathomable. This setting is what makes their test of a diet full of vegetables and water vs. the king's food and wine a test of faith, not a proof of the vegetarian/vegan lifestyle. Although they were improved by not drinking the king's wine and eating all of his food, their test proved it was better to trust God than abandon Him—even in their exiled land. Trust God in everything and God will set things right in your life. You may not be rewarded as Daniel and his friends, but you will excel.

Daniel's trust in God soothed Nebuchadnezzar's nerves.

The king wanted the young men to learn magic and fortune-telling—two things specifically prohibited in God's Law. When his dream disturbed him, he called the ones who learned magic and fortunetelling to figure out and interpret the dream (and exposed fortunetelling as a fake practice of reading a person and telling them what they want to hear). Daniel and the three prayed to God to give them the interpretation. God gave Daniel both the dream's contents and its interpretation. Daniel blessed God. When Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar the dream's interpretation he gave God the credit. Nebuchadnezzar blessed God. When God's Chosen People trust Him, God can set things right for non-Chosen People.

God protected Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego because of their trust that He would set all things right.

The great lesson from the three being thrown in the furnace is two-fold: 1. God will protect His Chosen People to uphold His Name; and 2. When non-Chosen People see God's Protection, they, too, will give praise to God. The three were unwilling to compromise their trust in God even in the face of death. Nebuchadnezzar saw God protect them and praised God for doing so. What an awesome God!

Are you willing to trust God to set all things right?

September 13 - Joel: God's Spirit for Everyone!

Today’s Reading: Joel

The Message

English Standard Version

Joel brings us to 31 books. Eight more to go.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God would punish the ones who treated Judah terribly.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God's Message through Joel:
"Tell future generations what has happened. Nothing will save the Temple. Nothing compares to God's all-encompassing Judgment.
"Everyone—no exception—fast and pray! Maybe God will remove our punishment!
"Celebrate! God has done great things! God will give us a Teacher. Every kind of person will have His Spirit. Everyone who calls for God's Help will receive it.
"'Yes, I will put the world back together. Tyre, Sidon, and Philistia, you sold Judeans into slavery. Prepare to be shattered!
"'Hide in Me and you will know I am your God. All things will be set right.'"

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God's Judgment is serious business.

We often have difficulties accepting this aspect of God's Love. We want the John 3:16 god who loves us but we do not want the Joel 1 god who will punish us because we took matters into our own hands. But we must understand, the God who sets all things right does so by blessing those who set things right and punishing wrongdoers.

God continues to call Judah to return.

The same god who is punishing Judah greatly because they do not set things right also wants them to change their way of living. If they fasted, changed their clothes, and changed their lives God would consider changing their fate. We must include this aspect of God to understand the previous, difficult part. God always wants to set things right, even in the midst of punishment.

God would give His Spirit to ever kind of people.

All of the Old Testament prophets were Jewish men. Deborah was a judge but was still a Jew. God would one day no longer limit His Prophets to men. Women would join them. Old people, young people, servants, masters, men, and women would receive God's Spirit. Anyone who called on God would be helped, not just Israel. No longer would Israel have a monopoly on God's Spirit. God's Spirit is for anyone!

Is God your place to hide?

September 12 - Ezekiel 46-48: God Parcels Israel's (Returned) Land

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 46-48

The Message

English Standard Version

We've now read 30 of 39 Old Testament books! We are less than 20 days away from finishing the Old Testament! Keep going! You're almost there!

Thought to Guide Your Reading

The prince would be given more land and would be responsible for more of the offerings.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God continued, "The prince should supply the offering for everyone. Everyone except the prince should exit the opposite gate they enter.
"The royal family's land may be given to servants but must return at the Jubilee. The royal family cannot run any family off their land."
God showed me a river that would supply water and fish for the local people. Then God told me how to divide the land between the tribes and current residents of Israel. The Levites and priests would receive choice parts of the land for their pastures. There would be a new city, named "God-Is-There".

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

The royal family would be given a larger amount of land but a larger amount of responsibility.

The royal family taking land was commonplace in the area. Jezebel taking Naboth's vineyard cost Ahab his family's future. God wanted to make sure Ahab's situation never repeated. Princes were also charged with supplying animals for the corporate sacrifice. This responsibility would tie the royal family to the rest of the country. This arrangement would prevent the need for bribes and a blasé attitude toward Israel. God's way is for the leadership to have more possessions in return for more responsibility.

God gave land to the resident aliens among Israel.

This is a very big shift from the first time Israel settled Canaan. God would open His Temple to the nations and open His Land to people who will set things right. The reason He wanted the previous inhabitants to be driven out was because they worshiped other gods. God has not changed—the people living in the land have changed. God accepts anyone willing to set things right.

God prepares for His Chosen People to return.

Similarly to the first time God parceled out Israel's land, God wanted to make sure they knew where they were to go. For a god who punished His chosen People for disobeying Him, He cares enough to plan their return. That is the greatest comfort we can get from this book—God cares enough for His Chosen People that He will prepare their way when they exit their punishment.

What did you think of Ezekiel?

September 11 - Ezekiel 44-45: God Separates the Holy from the Common

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 44-45

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God would only accept worship from people circumcised both physically and in the heart.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

We came to a gate. "God went through this gate. It must remain locked. The Prince may only sit and eat with God."
God's Glory filled the Temple. "Pay attention to My instructions for the Sanctuary. Israel broke my trust by bringing people uncircumcised in heart or body in to My Sanctuary.
"Only the family of Zadok can offer sacrifices to Me. They were the only family that did not abandon Me.
"The priests are to model the difference between unclean and clean. Tell the princes to stop taking advantage of My People. Honesty must reign.
"Observe the festivals."

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Israel broke trust with God by bringing people who were not dedicated to Him setting all things right in to the Temple.

God makes it plain to Ezekiel that His Sanctuary is not for just anyone to come inside. His sanctuary is only for those who are willing to set things right. Physical circumcision does not necessarily mean a person wants to set things right but all of God's Chosen People must be circumcised. If they are not, they lose the tangible sign of the covenant and can forget who they are—as did the Israelites. Therefore, God reiterates that His Policy is only circumcised people—in heart and body—can be in His Presence.
What does this mean for Christians today? We do not have a "Sanctuary" as the Temple (we will read that in the coming months), but we do have people closely associated with churches (groups of Chosen People dedicated to God setting all things right). I would suggest that we should encourage people who lead worship to be "circumcised" in heart and body before coming. The body part is not as big of an issue anymore. Being "circumcised in heart" is what churches struggle with today.

God wants a clean break between "holy" and "non-holy".

God wanted only certain priests whose family never worshiped other gods to offer sacrifices. The priests were to wear separate clothes when they were doing "holy" acts. Alcohol was prohibited in "holy" areas and at "holy" times. They could only marry "unspoiled" women. All of these were meant to show Israel the difference "between the holy and the common, to show them how to discern between unclean and clean" (44:23, The Message). God wishes to be separated from "common" things. It was a sign that God's Chosen People should be different than the nations around by being wholly for Him.
What does this mean for us today? We should keep separate things that are dedicated to God and things that are not. We should not mix alcohol and worship. We should try to keep times to worship God separate from all other things we do. However, this does not mean we should separate church from life. When we do that, we are susceptible to dualism and making the church seem unnecessary.

Are you circumcised in heart and body?

September 10 - Ezekiel 42-43: God Shows Ezekiel the Meaning of the Temple

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 42-43

The Message

English Standard Version

Today's and yesterday's readings chronicle Ezekiel's vision of the Temple in Honor of God-2.0. If you are behind, scan the first chapter and read the second.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God wants Israel to see how the Temple should be so they will change their lives and obey Him again.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

The man lead me back outside into the courtyard. Last we measured the wall separating the holy from the not-holy.
At the east gate I saw the Glory of God! A voice inside the Temple spoke to me, "Ezekiel, this is where I will live with Israel forever. No one will ever set up shrines to no-gods in here as they once did.
"Ezekiel, remind Israel of the past so they can learn from their mistakes. Challenge them to live by both its design and its intent."
God showed me the altar and gave instructions on how to offer sacrifices.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God shows Ezekiel the Temple as it should be to help give Israel a goal.

Israel had not worshiped God properly in over 400 years. They eventually brought their other gods into the Temple. God shows Ezekiel how He wants Israel to rebuild the Temple. This goal for their worship center would be a goal similar to the Law of Moses was for their life. We work best when we have a goal we are working for.

God wanted Israel to obey the letter and intent of the Temple.

God's use of the Temple was meant for Israel to have a physical representation of His Presence with them. His Presence would help them understand they were lighthouses to the world. When they saw other gods they would reject them and worship God alone. They would set things right and the nations would give up their no-gods and obey God. The focus of the Temple was not on the physical design alone. God wants us to understand both the design and intent of His Law.

Do you want to obey the intent of God's Law?

September 9 - Ezekiel 40-41: God Shows Ezekiel the Temple 2.0

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 40-41

The Message

English Standard Version

Today's and tomorrow's readings chronicle Ezekiel's vision of the Temple in Honor of God-2.0. Tomorrow we will understand the meaning behind the in-depth notes of these two chapters (plus one tomorrow). Remember, you are not going to be tested over the details in these chapters. If you are behind, scan today's reading.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Jerusalem has been demolished for 25 years and completely burned 14 years. Ezekiel may not remember what the Temple looked like.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Twenty-five years after God removed us from our land (14 years after Jerusalem was completely destroyed) God gave me a vision. In this vision I travelled back into Israel's land and saw a city. Inside the city was a man with a measuring stick who asked me to pay close attention to what I saw and to tell Israel everything I saw.
We began outside the Temple complex then moved inside. I took copious notes. Then he brought me into the Temple itself to measure and observe. I saw the table that stood before God in the Holy Place.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Ezekiel has never seen the Temple as it should have been.

When we read Ezekiel's vision we can remember when Solomon built the Temple in Honor of God. It has only been three months since we read this section. For Ezekiel, the Temple has not been used for this purpose his entire life. From the days of Rehoboam (Solomon's son), the Temple in Honor of God was stripped of its majesty and eventually used to worship other gods. God shows Ezekiel what the Temple in Honor of God should look like. Tomorrow we will understand why God gave Ezekiel this vision.

What do you see in all the detail?

September 8 - Ezekiel 38-39: God uses Gog to Show His Holiness to the Nations

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 38-39

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Gog would show the nations that Israel's enemies are God's enemies.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

"Ezekiel, when Gog tries to rob My Chosen People, My Holiness will be in view for everyone.
"Gog, years ago I prophesied that I would defend Israel when you attacked. You will help the world see I am God as I defeat your army. It will take seven years to burn your spears and shields and seven months to collect and bury your dead.
"Ezekiel, call the animals! They will feast on Gog's army. The nations will understand Israel's unfaithfulness was to blame for their exile.
"Once I return My Chosen People from their exile, we will live face-to-face."

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Gog's demise would show the nations God's Power.

God is redeeming His Name, as we read yesterday. Gog wanted to exploit these weak people by attacking and stealing what they had. God would show His Holiness for Israel by standing by them and defeating their enemy. God defeating an army the size of Gog's would show how powerful He was. God's punishment of Gog would prove His Allegiance and Power.

God would defend Israel to remind the nations that unholiness does not pay.

God would defend Israel this time because they had been stripped of their other gods. The Exile forced them to reconsider who they would worship. When they returned to their land and started setting all things right, He would bless them again. The nations would understand that blossoming crime would lead to punishment and blossoming goodness would lead to blessing.

Can you see God defending you?