Day 247 of My 3rd Bible Study Journey - 4 September 2023 reflections
Day 247, 4 September 2023
1)Ezekiel 32,33,34
Ezekiel 32
A Lament for Pharaoh and Egypt
1 (Eze 30:20; 32:17) In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month,
on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
2 (Eze 29:3; 27:2) Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh king
of Egypt and say to him:
You likened yourself to a young lion of the nations,
but you are as the monster in the seas;
and you burst forth in your rivers,
and muddied the waters with your feet,
and made foul their rivers.
3 (Eze 12:13) Thus says the Lord God:
I will therefore spread out My net over you
with a company of many peoples,
and they shall bring you up in My net.
4 (Isa 18:6; Eze 29:5) Then I will leave you upon the land;
I will cast you out on the open field,
and I will cause all the fowl of the heavens to remain upon you.
And I will fill the beasts of the whole earth with you.
5 (Eze 31:12) I will lay your flesh upon the mountains,
and fill the valleys with your refuse.
6 (Isa 34:3; Ex 7:17) I will also water the land with your blood,
as far as the mountains;
and the rivers shall be full of you.
7 (Isa 13:10; Joel 2:31) When I put you out, I will cover the heavens
and make their stars dark;
I will cover the sun with a cloud,
and the moon shall not give its light.
8 (Ge 1:14) All the bright lights in the heavens
I will make dark over you,
and set darkness upon your land,
says the Lord God.
9 (Rev 18:10-15) I will also vex the hearts of many peoples when I bring
your destruction among the nations, into the countries
which you have not known.
10 (Eze 26:16; 27:35) Indeed, I will make many peoples amazed at you,
and their kings shall be horribly afraid for you when I brandish My sword
before them. And they shall tremble at every moment, every man for his own
life, on the day of your fall.
11 For thus says the Lord God:
The sword of the king of Babylon
shall come upon you.
12 (Eze 28:7; 29:19) By the swords of the mighty,
I will cause your multitude to fall.
All of them are tyrants of the nations;
they shall destroy the pride of Egypt,
and all its multitude shall be destroyed.
13 (Eze 29:11; 29:8) I also will destroy all the beasts
from beside many waters;
nor shall the foot of man muddy them anymore,
nor the hoofs of beasts muddy them.
14 Then I will make their waters settle,
and cause their rivers to run like oil,
says the Lord God.
15 (Ex 7:5; Eze 6:7) When I make the land of Egypt desolate,
and the country is destitute of that by which it was full,
when I smite all those who dwell in it,
then shall they know that I am the Lord.
16 (2Sa 1:17; 2Ch 35:25) This is the lamentation, and they shall chant it.
The daughters of the nations shall chant it. They shall chant it over Egypt
and over all her multitude, says the Lord God.
[1] And it came to pass in the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, in the
first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[2] Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh king of Egypt, and say
unto him, Thou art like a young lion of the nations, and thou art as a
whale
in the seas: and thou camest forth with thy rivers, and troubledst the
waters with thy feet, and fouledst their rivers.
[3] Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will therefore spread out my net over thee
with a company of many people; and they shall bring thee up in my net.
[4] Then will I leave thee upon the land, I will cast thee forth upon the
open field, and will cause all the fowls of the heaven to remain upon thee,
and I will fill the beasts of the whole earth with thee.
[5] And I will lay thy flesh upon the mountains, and fill the valleys with
thy height.
[6] I will also water with thy blood the land wherein thou swimmest,
even to
the mountains; and the rivers shall be full of thee.
[7] And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the
stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall
not give her light.
[8] All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over thee, and set
darkness upon thy land, saith the Lord GOD.
[9] I will also vex the hearts of many people, when I shall bring thy
destruction among the nations, into the countries which thou hast not
known.
[10] Yea, I will make many people amazed at thee, and their kings shall be
horribly afraid for thee, when I shall brandish my sword before them; and
they shall tremble at every moment, every man for his own life, in the day
of thy fall.
[11] For thus saith the Lord GOD; The sword of the king of Babylon shall
come upon thee.
[12] By the swords of the mighty will I cause thy multitude to fall, the
terrible of the nations, all of them: and they shall spoil the pomp of
Egypt, and all the multitude thereof shall be destroyed.
[13] I will destroy also all the beasts thereof from beside the great
waters; neither shall the foot of man trouble them any more, nor the hoofs
of beasts trouble them.
[14] Then will I make their waters deep, and cause their rivers to run like
oil, saith the Lord GOD.
[15] When I shall make the land of Egypt desolate, and the country shall be
destitute of that whereof it was full, when I shall smite all them that
dwell therein, then shall they know that I am the LORD.
[16] This is the lamentation wherewith they shall lament her: the daughters
of the nations shall lament her: they shall lament for her, even for Egypt,
and for all her multitude, saith the Lord GOD.
A Dirge for Egypt
17 (Eze 32:1) In the twelfth year, on the fifteenth day of the month,
the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
18 (Eze 31:14; Jer 1:10) Son of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt
and cast it down, her and the daughters of the powerful nations,
to the nether parts of the earth, with those who go down into the pit.
19 (Eze 31:18; 32:29-30) "Whom do you surpass in beauty? Descend and make
your bed with the uncircumcised."
20 (Ps 28:3) They shall fall in the midst of those who are slain
by the sword. She is delivered to the sword. They have drawn her
and all her multitudes away.
21 (Isa 14:9-10; Eze 32:27) The strong among the mighty shall speak
to him and those who help him out of the midst of Sheol:
"They have gone down, they lie still, uncircumcised,
slain by the sword."
22 (Eze 32:26; 32:24) Assyria is there and all her company.
Her graves are around her. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword,
23 (Eze 26:20; Ps 27:13; Eze 26:17) whose graves are set in the sides
of the pit and her company is all around her grave. All of them are slain,
fallen by the sword, who cause terror in the land of the living.
24 (Ge 10:22; Jer 49:34-39) There is Elam and all her multitude all around
her grave, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, who descended
uncircumcised into the nether parts of the earth, who caused their terror
in the land of the living and bore their shame with those who went down
to the pit.
25 (Ps 139:8) They have set a bed for her in the midst of the slain
with all her multitude. Her graves are all around it. All of them
uncircumcised, slain by the sword; though their terror was caused
in the land of the living, yet they have borne their shame
with those who go down to the pit. They were put in the midst
of those who are slain.
26 (Eze 27:13; Ge 10:2; Eze 38:2-3) There is Meshek, Tubal,
and all her multitude. Their graves are all around them.
All of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword, though they caused
their terror in the land of the living.
27 (Isa 14:18-19; Job 3:13-15) They shall not lie with the mighty
who are fallen of the uncircumcised, who have gone down to Sheol
with their weapons of war and whose swords were laid under their heads.
But the punishment for their iniquity rested upon their bones,
though the terror of these mighty ones was once in the land of the living.
28 Indeed, you shall be broken in the midst of the uncircumcised
and shall lie with those who are slain with the sword.
29 (Jer 49:7-22) There is Edom also, its kings and all its officials,
who for all their might are laid by those who were slain by the sword.
They shall lie with the uncircumcised and with those who go down to the pit.
30 (Eze 38:6; 28:21) There are also the officials of the north, all of them,
and all the Sidonians, who in spite of the terror from their might have gone
down in shame with the slain. So they lie down uncircumcised with those
who are slain by the sword,
and bear their shame with those who go down to the pit.
31 (Eze 31:16; 14:22) Pharaoh shall see them, and shall be comforted
over all his multitude slain by the sword, even Pharaoh and all his army,
says the Lord God.
32 (Eze 32:27) Though I have caused a terror of him in the land
of the living, yet he shall be laid in the midst of the uncircumcised
with those who are slain with the sword, even Pharaoh and all his multitude,
says the Lord God.
[17] It came to pass also in the twelfth year, in the fifteenth day of the
month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[18] Son of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt, and cast them down, even
her, and the daughters of the famous nations, unto the nether parts of the
earth, with them that go down into the pit.
[19] Whom dost thou pass in beauty? go down, and be thou laid with the
uncircumcised.
[20] They shall fall in the midst of them that are slain by the sword: she
is delivered to the sword: draw her and all her multitudes.
[21] The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell
with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain
by the sword.
[22] Asshur is there and all her company: his graves are about him: all of
them slain, fallen by the sword:
[23] Whose graves are set in the sides of the pit, and her company is round
about her grave: all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which caused
terror in the land of the living.
[24] There is Elam and all her multitude round about her grave, all of them
slain, fallen by the sword, which are gone down uncircumcised into the
nether parts of the earth, which caused their terror in the land of the
living; yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit.
[25] They have set her a bed in the midst of the slain with all her
multitude: her graves are round about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain
by the sword: though their terror was caused in the land of the living, yet
have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit: he is put in
the midst of them that be slain.
[26] There is Meshech, Tubal, and all her multitude: her graves are round
about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword, though they
caused their terror in the land of the living.
[27] And they shall not lie with the mighty that are fallen of the
uncircumcised, which are gone down to hell with their weapons of war: and
they have laid their swords under their heads, but their iniquities shall be
upon their bones, though they were the terror of the mighty in the land of
the living.
[28] Yea, thou shalt be broken in the midst of the uncircumcised, and shalt
lie with them that are slain with the sword.
[29] There is Edom, her kings, and all her princes, which with their might
are laid by them that were slain by the sword: they shall lie with the
uncircumcised, and with them that go down to the pit.
[30] There be the princes of the north, all of them, and all the Zidonians,
which are gone down with the slain; with their terror they are ashamed of
their might; and they lie uncircumcised with them that be slain by the
sword, and bear their shame with them that go down to the pit.
[31] Pharaoh shall see them, and shall be comforted over all his multitude,
even Pharaoh and all his army slain by the sword, saith the Lord GOD.
[32] For I have caused my terror in the land of the living: and he shall be
laid in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that are slain with the
sword, even Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 33:1-20
Renewal of Ezekiel's Call
1 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
2 (Eze 3:11; 33:17) Son of man, speak to the children of your people
and say to them: If I bring a sword upon a land, and the people of the land
take a man from among them and set him for their watchman,
3 (Hos 8:1; Ne 4:18) and he sees the sword come upon the land
and blows the trumpet and warns the people,
4 (Eze 18:13; 2Ch 25:16) then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet
and does not take warning, and a sword comes and takes him away,
his blood shall be upon his own head.
5 (Ex 9:19-21; Heb 11:7) He heard the sound of the trumpet yet did not
take warning. His blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning
delivers his soul.
6 (Eze 18:20; 18:24) But if the watchman sees the sword come
and does not blow the trumpet and the people are not warned
and a sword comes and takes a person from among them,
he is taken away in his iniquity. But his blood I will require
from the hand of the watchman.
7 (Jer 26:2; Isa 62:6) Now as for you, son of man: I have set you a watchman
to the house of Israel. Therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth
and warn them from Me.
8 (Eze 18:4; 33:14) When I say to the wicked, "O wicked man,
you shall surely die," and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way,
that wicked man shall die in his iniquity. But his blood I will require
from your hand.
9 (Eze 3:19; 3:21) Nevertheless, if you on your part warn the wicked to turn
from his way and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity.
But you have delivered your soul.
God's Justice and Mercy
10 (Lev 26:39; Isa 49:14) Therefore as for you, son of man, say to the house
of Israel: Thus you have spoken, saying, "Surely our transgressions
and our sins are upon us, and we pine away in them. How should we then live?"
11 (Eze 18:23; 2Pe 3:9) Say to them: As I live, says the Lord God, I have
no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn
from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why will you die,
O house of Israel?
12 (2Ch 7:14; Eze 18:21) Therefore you, son of man, say to the sons of your
people: The righteousness of a righteous man shall not deliver him in the day
of his transgression. As for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall
by it in the day that he turns from his wickedness. Nor shall the righteous
be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sins.
13 (Eze 18:24; Heb 10:38) When I say to the righteous that he shall surely
live and he so trusts in his righteousness that he commits iniquity,
all his righteousness shall not be remembered. But for that iniquity
of his that he has committed, he shall die.
14 (Eze 18:27; Isa 55:7; Jer 18:7-8) Again, when I say to the wicked,
"You shall surely die," and he turns from his sin and does that which
is lawful and right,
15 (Eze 20:11; Lk 19:8) if the wicked man restores a pledge, gives back
what he had robbed, walks in the statutes of life without committing
iniquity, he shall surely live. He shall not die.
16 (Eze 18:22; Isa 43:25) None of his sins that he has committed shall be
remembered against him. He has done what is lawful and right.
He shall surely live.
17 (Eze 18:25; 18:29) Yet the sons of your people say, "The way of the Lord
is not right," when their way is not right.
18 (Eze 33:12-13) When the righteous turns from his righteousness
and commits iniquity, he shall die by it.
19 But if the wicked turns from his wickedness and does that which is lawful
and right, he shall live by them.
20 (Eze 18:25) Yet you say, "The way of the Lord is not right." O house
of Israel, I will judge you, every one according to his ways.
[1] Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[2] Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When
I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their
coasts, and set him for their watchman:
[3] If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and
warn the people;
[4] Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not
warning;
if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.
[5] He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood
shall
be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.
[6] But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and
the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among
them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the
watchman's hand.
[7] So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of
Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from
me.
[8] When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou
dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall
die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
[9] Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he
do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast
delivered thy soul.
[10] Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye
speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine
away in them, how should we then live?
[11] Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the
death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn
ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
[12] Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The
righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his
transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall
thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the
righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.
[13] When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he
trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses
shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he
shall die for it.
[14] Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn
from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;
[15] If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk
in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live,
he shall not die.
[16] None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he
hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.
[17] Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal:
but as for them, their way is not equal.
[18] When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth
iniquity, he shall even die thereby.
[19] But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful
and right, he shall live thereby.
[20] Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O ye house of Israel, I
will judge you every one after his ways.
The Fall of Jerusalem
21 (2Ki 25:10; Eze 1:2) In the twelfth year of our captivity,
in the tenth month, on the fifth day of the month, one who had escaped
out of Jerusalem came to me, saying, "The city is taken."
22 (Eze 1:3; 3:26-27) Now the hand of the Lord was upon me in the evening,
before those who escaped came. And He opened my mouth at the time
they came to me in the morning. Therefore my mouth was opened
and I was speechless no more.
23 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
24 (Isa 51:2; Eze 33:27) Son of man, those who inhabit these wastes
in the land of Israel are saying, "Abraham was one, yet he inherited the land.
But to us who are many, the land has been given for an inheritance."
25 (Ge 9:4; Dt 12:16) Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord God:
You eat meat with the blood in it and lift up your eyes toward
your idols as you shed blood. Should you then possess the land?
26 (Ge 27:40; Mic 2:1-2) You rely upon your sword, you work abominations,
and every one of you defiles his neighbour's wife. Should you then possess
the land?
27 (1Sa 13:6; Jer 42:22) Thus you shall say to them, Thus says the Lord God:
As I live, surely those who are in the ruins shall fall by the sword,
and him who is in the open field I will give to the beasts to be devoured,
and those who are in the forts and in the caves shall die of pestilence.
28 (Eze 7:24; Jer 44:2) For I will make the land a desolation and a waste,
and the pomp of her strength shall cease. And the mountains of Israel
shall be desolate so that none shall pass through.
29 (Eze 6:7) Then shall they know that I am the Lord, when I make the land
a desolation and a waste because of all their abominations which they have
committed.
30 (Isa 29:13; 58:2) As for you, son of man, the sons of your people
are talking about you by the walls and in the doorways of the houses;
and they speak to one another, each saying to his brother,
"Come now, and hear what the word is that comes from the Lord."
31 (Ps 78:36-37; Isa 29:13) They come to you as people come, and they sit
before you as My people, and they hear your words; but they will not do them.
For they do the lustful desires in their mouth, and their heart goes after
their covetousness.
32 (Mk 6:20) You are to them as a sensual song of one who has a pleasant
voice and can play well on an instrument. For they hear your words,
but they do not do them.
33 (Jer 28:9; Eze 2:5) When this comes to pass, and it is coming to pass,
then shall they know that a prophet has been among them.
[21] And it came to pass in the twelfth year of our captivity, in the tenth
month, in the fifth day of the month, that one that had escaped out of
Jerusalem came unto me, saying, The city is smitten.
[22] Now the hand of the LORD was upon me in the evening, afore he that was
escaped came; and had opened my mouth, until he came to me in the morning;
and my mouth was opened, and I was no more dumb.
[23] Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[24] Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel
speak,
saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land: but we are many; the
land is given us for inheritance.
[25] Wherefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Ye eat with the
blood, and lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood: and
shall ye
possess the land?
[26] Ye stand upon your sword, ye work abomination, and ye defile every one
his neighbour's wife: and shall ye possess the land?
[27] Say thou thus unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; As I live, surely
they that are in the wastes shall fall by the sword, and him that is in the
open field will I give to the beasts to be devoured, and they that be in
the
forts and in the caves shall die of the pestilence.
[28] For I will lay the land most desolate, and the pomp of her strength
shall cease; and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate, that none shall
pass through.
[29] Then shall they know that I am the LORD, when I have laid the land
most
desolate because of all their abominations which they have committed.
[30] Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking
against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to
another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what
is the word that cometh forth from the LORD.
[31] And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee
as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with
their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their
covetousness.
[32] And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a
pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words,
but they do them not.
[33] And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know
that a prophet hath been among them.
Ezekiel 34
A Prophecy Against Israel's Shepherds
1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
2 (Jer 23:1; Ps 78:71-72) Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds
of Israel. Prophesy and say to those shepherds, Thus says the Lord God:
Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not
the shepherds feed the flock?
3 (Zec 11:16; 11:5) You eat the fat and clothe yourself with the wool;
you kill those who are fed without feeding the flock.
4 (Ex 1:13-14; Eze 34:16) The diseased you have not strengthened,
nor have you healed that which was sick, nor have you bound up
that which was broken, nor have you brought back that which was driven away,
nor have you sought that which was lost. But with force and with cruelty
you have subjugated them.
5 (Mt 9:36; 1Ki 22:17) They were scattered because there was no shepherd.
And they became meat to all the beasts of the field and were scattered.
6 (Ps 142:4; 1Pe 2:25) My sheep wandered through all the mountains
and upon every high hill. Indeed, My flock was scattered upon
all the face of the earth, and no one searched or sought after them.
7 Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord:
8 As I live, says the Lord God, surely because My flock became a prey,
and My flock even became meat to every beast of the field, because
there was no shepherd, nor did My shepherds search for My flock;
but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock,
9 therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord.
10 (Jer 21:13; Eze 13:8) Thus says the Lord God: I am against the shepherds.
And I will require My flock from their hand and cause them to cease from
feeding the flock. Nor shall the shepherds feed themselves anymore,
for I will deliver My flock from their mouth so that they may not be
meat for them.
The True Shepherd
11 (Lk 19:10) For thus says the Lord God: I, even I, will search
for My sheep and seek them out.
12 (Eze 30:3; Jer 13:16) As a shepherd seeks out his flock in the day
that he is among his sheep that are scattered, so I will seek out My sheep
and will deliver them out of all the places where they have been scattered
in a cloudy and dark day.
13 (Eze 11:17) I will bring them out from the peoples, and gather them
from the countries, and bring them to their own land, and feed them upon
the mountains of Israel by the rivers and in all the inhabited
places of the country.
14 (Jn 10:9; Jer 31:12-14) I will feed them in a good pasture,
and upon the high mountains of Israel their grazing ground shall be.
There they shall lie on good grazing ground, and in a rich pasture
they shall feed upon the mountains of Israel.
15 I will feed My flock, and I will cause them to lie down, says the Lord God.
16 (Isa 10:16; 49:26) I will seek that which was lost and bring back
that which was driven away and bind up that which was broken
and will strengthen that which was sick. But I will destroy the fat
and the strong. I will feed them with judgment.
17 (Mt 25:32-33; Eze 34:20-22) As for you, O My flock, thus says
the Lord God: I will judge between sheep and cattle, between the rams
and the male goats.
18 (Nu 16:9; 16:13) Does it seem a small thing to you to have eaten up
the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the rest
of your pastures? Or that you should drink of the clear waters,
that you must foul the rest with your feet?
19 And as for My flock, they eat that which you have trodden with your feet,
and they drink that which you have fouled with your feet.
20 Therefore thus says the Lord God to them: I, even I, will judge between
the fat sheep and between the lean sheep.
21 (Dt 33:17; Lk 13:14-16) Because you have thrust with side
and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns
until you have scattered them abroad,
22 (Ps 72:12-14; Jer 23:2-3) therefore I will save My flock, and they shall
no more be a prey. And I will judge between one sheep and another.
23 (Isa 40:11; Jn 10:11) I will set up one shepherd over them,
and he shall feed them, even My servant David. He shall feed
them himself and be their shepherd.
24 (Eze 36:28; 37:27) I the Lord will be their God, and My servant David
shall be prince among them. I the Lord have spoken.
25 (Isa 11:6-9; Lev 26:6) I will make with them a covenant of peace
and will cause the wild beasts to cease from the land so that they dwell
safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods.
26 (Ge 12:2; Isa 44:3) I will make them and the places all around My hill
a blessing. And I will cause the showers to come down in their season.
They shall be showers of blessing.
27 (Jer 30:8; Lev 26:13) The tree of the field shall yield its fruit,
and the ground shall yield its increase, and they shall be safe in their land.
Then they shall know that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bands
of their yoke and delivered them out of the hand of those who enslaved them.
28 (Jer 30:10; Eze 34:25) They shall no more be a prey to the nations,
nor shall the beast of the land devour them. But they shall dwell safely
and no one shall make them afraid.
29 (Eze 36:29; Isa 4:2) I will raise up for them a planting place of renown,
and no more shall they be consumed with hunger in the land, nor shall
they bear the shame of the nations anymore.
30 (Ps 46:7; 46:11) Thus shall they know that I, the Lord their God,
am with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are My people,
says the Lord God.
31 (Ps 100:3; 78:52) As for you, My flock, the flock of My pasture,
you are men, and I am your God, says the Lord God.
Ezekiel 34
[1] And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[2] Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say
unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the
shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed
the flocks?
[3] Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are
fed: but ye feed not the flock.
[4] The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that
which
was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye
brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which
was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.
[5] And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became
meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.
[6] My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill:
yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did
search or seek after them.
[7] Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;
[8] As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey,
and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no
shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds
fed themselves, and fed not my flock;
[9] Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;
[10] Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I
will
require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the
flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will
deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.
[11] For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my
sheep, and seek them out.
[12] As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his
sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver
them
out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark
day.
[13] And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the
countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the
mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the
country.
[14] I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of
Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a
fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.
[15] I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the
Lord
GOD.
[16] I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven
away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that
which
was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with
judgment.
[17] And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I judge
between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats.
[18] Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture,
but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? and to
have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet?
[19] And as for my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your
feet; and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet.
[20] Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD unto them; Behold, I, even I, will
judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle.
[21] Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the
diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad;
[22] Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey;
and I
will judge between cattle and cattle.
[23] And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even
my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.
[24] And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among
them; I the LORD have spoken it.
[25] And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil
beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the
wilderness, and sleep in the woods.
[26] And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing;
and
I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers
of blessing.
[27] And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall
yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know
that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and
delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them.
[28] And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the
beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall
make them afraid.
[29] And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no
more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the
heathen
any more.
[30] Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that
they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord GOD.
[31] And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God,
saith the Lord GOD.
2) Our Daily Bread for 4 September 2023 Extreme Kindness
Jeremiah 52:31-34
Jehoiachin Released
2Ki 25:27-30
31 (Ge 40:13; 40:20) In the 37th year of the captivity of Jehoiachin,
king of Judah, in the 12th month, on the 25th day of the month,
Awel-Marduk, king of Babylon, in the first year of his reign lifted up
the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah and brought him out of prison,
32 and spoke kindly to him, and set his throne
above the throne of the kings who were with him in Babylon.
33 (2Sa 9:7; Ge 41:14) Therefore Jehoiachin changed his prison garments
and continually ate meals before him all the days of his life.
34 (2Sa 9:10) For his allowance, there was a continual allowance
given him by the king of Babylon, every day a portion all the days
of his life until the day of his death.
[31] And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of
Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the five and twentieth
day of the month, that Evil-merodach king of Babylon in the first year of
his reign lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah, and brought him
forth out of prison,
[32] And spake kindly unto him, and set his throne above the throne of the
kings that were with him in Babylon,
[33] And changed his prison garments: and he did continually eat bread
before him all the days of his life.
[34] And for his diet, there was a continual diet given him of the king of
Babylon, every day a portion until the day of his death, all the days of his
life.
Titus 3:4-5
4 (Titus 2:10-11) But when the kindness and the love of God our Saviour
toward mankind appeared,
5 (Ro 12:2; 1Pe 3:21) not by works of righteousness which we have done,
but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of rebirth
and the renewal of the Holy Spirit,
[4] But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man
appeared,
[5] Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his
mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy
Ghost;
Fast-food restaurant worker Kevin Ford hadn't missed a shift in twenty-seven
years. After a video surfaced showing his humble gratitude for a modest gift
he received to commemorate his decades of service, thousands of people rallied
together to show kindness to him. "It's like a dream, a dream come true," he
said when a fundraising effort brought in $250000 in just over a week.
Jehoiachin, the exiled king of Judah, was also the recipient of extreme
kindness. He'd been incarcerated for thirty-seven years before the benevolence
of the Babylonian king resulted in his release. "[The king] freed him from
prison. He spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat of honor higher than those
of the other kings who were with him in Babylon" (Jeremiah 52:31-32).
Jehoiachin was given a new position, new clothes, and a new residence.
His new life was fully funded by the king.
This story pictures what happens spiritually when, out of no contributions
from themselves or others, people who believe in Jesus' death and resurrection
are rescued from their estrangement from God. They're brought from darkness
and death into light and life; they're brought into the family of God
because of the extreme kindness of God.
By: Arthur Jackson
Reflect & Pray
What acts of human kindness have reminded you of God'’s goodness?
How do you respond to the kindness of God who welcomes you into
His family based on what Jesus has done?
Father, thank You for Your forgiving kindness.
"Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe; sin had left a crimson stain.
He washed it white as snow."
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 7 Promises of Grace - Day 2 - Due Season
Gal 6:9
9 And let us not grow weary in doing good,
for in due season we shall reap, if we do not give up.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing:
for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Jackie's preschool class took on an exciting project: they were going to grow
flowers from seeds, Each child took the seed, planted it carefully in the
bedding soil, watered, and waited. But Jackie couldn't wait. Every day
for a week he ran to the window box, looked for his plants, poked, prodded,
unplanted the seeds and then planted them again. "It's no use,"
he pouted after the first week. "Nothing's gonna grow in there."
We live in an instant society - microwave dinners, quick fixes, easy answers.
We are conditioned by our environment to expect - even to demand -
immediate response, and when we have to wait,
we become impatient and irritable.
Paul's exhortation to the Galatians, "Let us not become weary in doing good,"
is as appropriate for twentieth-century believers as it was for the new church
at Galatia. We lose motivation when we don't see results,
and weariness sets in.
If our work does not seem to be producing as we hope, we want to abandon it
and move on to a new project.
But God says, "You will reap a harvest if you don't give up." We give up too
soon in our prayers for a loved one's salvation. We abandon hope too readily
when we don't see spiritual growth in our own lives, when our investment in
another's spiritual maturity seems to have no return. The Lord says,
"The harvest is coming; be patient; trust me."
In due season the harvest comes; when it's the right time. When the seed has
had time to germinate, when the roots are string enough, when the conditions
are right, the reaping time will come. But we must be willing to wait for
the due season, the moment of ripeness, when our labor brings its return.
Application
a) Have I ever felt that my spiritual labours have produced no harvest at all?
b) What does it mean to my own spiritual growth that there is a "due season"
for reaping the harvest?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Luke 7:23
23 (Isa 8:14-15) "And Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me."
23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Guiding Presence
Matthew 28:16-20
The Commissioning of the Disciples
Mk 16:14-18; Lk 24:36-49; Jn 20:19-23; Ac 1:6-8
16 (Mt 28:7; 26:32)Then the eleven disciples went away to Galilee,
to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.
17 (Mt 28:9) When they saw Him, they worshipped Him. But some doubted.
18 (Mt 11:27; Ro 14:9) Then Jesus came and spoke to them, saying,
"All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 (Mk 16:15-16; Ac 1:8) Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit,
20 (Mt 18:20; Ac 2:42) teaching them to observe all things
I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always,
even to the end of the age." Amen.
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee,
into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying,
All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:
and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2022 edition?)
Nova Scotia
Total population 942700
Muslim population (est.) 14629
With 6 of the Nova Scotia's 10 universities located in Halifax, there is
a high concentration of Muslin international students in the area,
a harvest field in itself.
Pray for Nova Scotia and her Muslim populations
- in and around Halifax and other cities
- on university campuses
- for new workers among Muslims
- for pastors and churches to be bold in vision, passion and outreach
to Muslims in their areas.
- for Muslims who are searching for a better way to find a Christian friend
to share Jesus with and disciple them
- for Muslim-background believers to be both wise and bold in sharing their
new faith in Jesus with other Muslims
Halifax is the centre of Muslim activity for the Province of Nova Scotia
with at least 10 Islamic centres (mosques) and musallas
(prayer locations, especially for Friday prayer). And there are other mosques
in Chebucto, Kearney Lake, Dartmouth, Bedford and Truro.
Though the original community of Muslims was primarily composed of
newcomers from Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India, continued immigration
has further diversified this community. Anf it is said thay Arabic
is the second most spoken language in Halifax.
while conservative estimates place the number of Muslims at almost 15000
in 2014, the Imama of a primary Halifax mosque estimates their population
somewhere between 25000 to 30000.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 12 They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other,
"What does this mean?"
13 (1Co 14:23) Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."
Peter's Speech at Pentecost
14 (Ac 1:26) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice
and said to them, "Men of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem,
let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose,
since it is the third hour of the day.
16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 (Isa 44:3; Ac 10:45) 'In the last days it shall be,' says God,
'that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.'
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, atheists, secular humanists, ...)
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
4nd Day of the Month
a) Pray for the preservation of godly values in Canada
(Prov 14:34 - Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a reproach to any people.
34 Righteousness exalteth a nation:
But sin is a reproach to any people.
)
b) Pray the political leaders will be awakened by God to the right
use of power and the right stewardship of their positions.
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray to know Him asthe Lord of Peace and Order.
Pray to the Lord: "Father, thank You for Your forgiving kindness.
'Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe; sin had left a crimson stain.
He washed it white as snow.' "
Pray to the Lord and pray to Him for patieince and to know his timing.
Pray to the Lord and pray not to be offended in Him.
Pray to the Lord and pray to be a good disciple.
Pray for Nova Scotia and her Muslim populations
- in and around Halifax and other cities
- on university campuses
- for new workers among Muslims
- for pastors and churches to be bold in vision, passion and outreach
to Muslims in their areas.
- for Muslims who are searching for a better way to find a Christian friend
to share Jesus with and disciple them
- for Muslim-background believers to be both wise and bold in sharing their
new faith in Jesus with other Muslims
Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
Pray for the preservation of godly values in Canada
Pray the political leaders will be awakened by God to the right
use of power and the right stewardship of their positions.
Pray that those working with Ugandan Christian converts from Islam will
receive pastoral training.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.
1)Ezekiel 32,33,34
Ezekiel 32
A Lament for Pharaoh and Egypt
1 (Eze 30:20; 32:17) In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month,
on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
2 (Eze 29:3; 27:2) Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh king
of Egypt and say to him:
You likened yourself to a young lion of the nations,
but you are as the monster in the seas;
and you burst forth in your rivers,
and muddied the waters with your feet,
and made foul their rivers.
3 (Eze 12:13) Thus says the Lord God:
I will therefore spread out My net over you
with a company of many peoples,
and they shall bring you up in My net.
4 (Isa 18:6; Eze 29:5) Then I will leave you upon the land;
I will cast you out on the open field,
and I will cause all the fowl of the heavens to remain upon you.
And I will fill the beasts of the whole earth with you.
5 (Eze 31:12) I will lay your flesh upon the mountains,
and fill the valleys with your refuse.
6 (Isa 34:3; Ex 7:17) I will also water the land with your blood,
as far as the mountains;
and the rivers shall be full of you.
7 (Isa 13:10; Joel 2:31) When I put you out, I will cover the heavens
and make their stars dark;
I will cover the sun with a cloud,
and the moon shall not give its light.
8 (Ge 1:14) All the bright lights in the heavens
I will make dark over you,
and set darkness upon your land,
says the Lord God.
9 (Rev 18:10-15) I will also vex the hearts of many peoples when I bring
your destruction among the nations, into the countries
which you have not known.
10 (Eze 26:16; 27:35) Indeed, I will make many peoples amazed at you,
and their kings shall be horribly afraid for you when I brandish My sword
before them. And they shall tremble at every moment, every man for his own
life, on the day of your fall.
11 For thus says the Lord God:
The sword of the king of Babylon
shall come upon you.
12 (Eze 28:7; 29:19) By the swords of the mighty,
I will cause your multitude to fall.
All of them are tyrants of the nations;
they shall destroy the pride of Egypt,
and all its multitude shall be destroyed.
13 (Eze 29:11; 29:8) I also will destroy all the beasts
from beside many waters;
nor shall the foot of man muddy them anymore,
nor the hoofs of beasts muddy them.
14 Then I will make their waters settle,
and cause their rivers to run like oil,
says the Lord God.
15 (Ex 7:5; Eze 6:7) When I make the land of Egypt desolate,
and the country is destitute of that by which it was full,
when I smite all those who dwell in it,
then shall they know that I am the Lord.
16 (2Sa 1:17; 2Ch 35:25) This is the lamentation, and they shall chant it.
The daughters of the nations shall chant it. They shall chant it over Egypt
and over all her multitude, says the Lord God.
[1] And it came to pass in the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, in the
first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[2] Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh king of Egypt, and say
unto him, Thou art like a young lion of the nations, and thou art as a
whale
in the seas: and thou camest forth with thy rivers, and troubledst the
waters with thy feet, and fouledst their rivers.
[3] Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will therefore spread out my net over thee
with a company of many people; and they shall bring thee up in my net.
[4] Then will I leave thee upon the land, I will cast thee forth upon the
open field, and will cause all the fowls of the heaven to remain upon thee,
and I will fill the beasts of the whole earth with thee.
[5] And I will lay thy flesh upon the mountains, and fill the valleys with
thy height.
[6] I will also water with thy blood the land wherein thou swimmest,
even to
the mountains; and the rivers shall be full of thee.
[7] And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the
stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall
not give her light.
[8] All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over thee, and set
darkness upon thy land, saith the Lord GOD.
[9] I will also vex the hearts of many people, when I shall bring thy
destruction among the nations, into the countries which thou hast not
known.
[10] Yea, I will make many people amazed at thee, and their kings shall be
horribly afraid for thee, when I shall brandish my sword before them; and
they shall tremble at every moment, every man for his own life, in the day
of thy fall.
[11] For thus saith the Lord GOD; The sword of the king of Babylon shall
come upon thee.
[12] By the swords of the mighty will I cause thy multitude to fall, the
terrible of the nations, all of them: and they shall spoil the pomp of
Egypt, and all the multitude thereof shall be destroyed.
[13] I will destroy also all the beasts thereof from beside the great
waters; neither shall the foot of man trouble them any more, nor the hoofs
of beasts trouble them.
[14] Then will I make their waters deep, and cause their rivers to run like
oil, saith the Lord GOD.
[15] When I shall make the land of Egypt desolate, and the country shall be
destitute of that whereof it was full, when I shall smite all them that
dwell therein, then shall they know that I am the LORD.
[16] This is the lamentation wherewith they shall lament her: the daughters
of the nations shall lament her: they shall lament for her, even for Egypt,
and for all her multitude, saith the Lord GOD.
A Dirge for Egypt
17 (Eze 32:1) In the twelfth year, on the fifteenth day of the month,
the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
18 (Eze 31:14; Jer 1:10) Son of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt
and cast it down, her and the daughters of the powerful nations,
to the nether parts of the earth, with those who go down into the pit.
19 (Eze 31:18; 32:29-30) "Whom do you surpass in beauty? Descend and make
your bed with the uncircumcised."
20 (Ps 28:3) They shall fall in the midst of those who are slain
by the sword. She is delivered to the sword. They have drawn her
and all her multitudes away.
21 (Isa 14:9-10; Eze 32:27) The strong among the mighty shall speak
to him and those who help him out of the midst of Sheol:
"They have gone down, they lie still, uncircumcised,
slain by the sword."
22 (Eze 32:26; 32:24) Assyria is there and all her company.
Her graves are around her. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword,
23 (Eze 26:20; Ps 27:13; Eze 26:17) whose graves are set in the sides
of the pit and her company is all around her grave. All of them are slain,
fallen by the sword, who cause terror in the land of the living.
24 (Ge 10:22; Jer 49:34-39) There is Elam and all her multitude all around
her grave, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, who descended
uncircumcised into the nether parts of the earth, who caused their terror
in the land of the living and bore their shame with those who went down
to the pit.
25 (Ps 139:8) They have set a bed for her in the midst of the slain
with all her multitude. Her graves are all around it. All of them
uncircumcised, slain by the sword; though their terror was caused
in the land of the living, yet they have borne their shame
with those who go down to the pit. They were put in the midst
of those who are slain.
26 (Eze 27:13; Ge 10:2; Eze 38:2-3) There is Meshek, Tubal,
and all her multitude. Their graves are all around them.
All of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword, though they caused
their terror in the land of the living.
27 (Isa 14:18-19; Job 3:13-15) They shall not lie with the mighty
who are fallen of the uncircumcised, who have gone down to Sheol
with their weapons of war and whose swords were laid under their heads.
But the punishment for their iniquity rested upon their bones,
though the terror of these mighty ones was once in the land of the living.
28 Indeed, you shall be broken in the midst of the uncircumcised
and shall lie with those who are slain with the sword.
29 (Jer 49:7-22) There is Edom also, its kings and all its officials,
who for all their might are laid by those who were slain by the sword.
They shall lie with the uncircumcised and with those who go down to the pit.
30 (Eze 38:6; 28:21) There are also the officials of the north, all of them,
and all the Sidonians, who in spite of the terror from their might have gone
down in shame with the slain. So they lie down uncircumcised with those
who are slain by the sword,
and bear their shame with those who go down to the pit.
31 (Eze 31:16; 14:22) Pharaoh shall see them, and shall be comforted
over all his multitude slain by the sword, even Pharaoh and all his army,
says the Lord God.
32 (Eze 32:27) Though I have caused a terror of him in the land
of the living, yet he shall be laid in the midst of the uncircumcised
with those who are slain with the sword, even Pharaoh and all his multitude,
says the Lord God.
[17] It came to pass also in the twelfth year, in the fifteenth day of the
month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[18] Son of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt, and cast them down, even
her, and the daughters of the famous nations, unto the nether parts of the
earth, with them that go down into the pit.
[19] Whom dost thou pass in beauty? go down, and be thou laid with the
uncircumcised.
[20] They shall fall in the midst of them that are slain by the sword: she
is delivered to the sword: draw her and all her multitudes.
[21] The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell
with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain
by the sword.
[22] Asshur is there and all her company: his graves are about him: all of
them slain, fallen by the sword:
[23] Whose graves are set in the sides of the pit, and her company is round
about her grave: all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which caused
terror in the land of the living.
[24] There is Elam and all her multitude round about her grave, all of them
slain, fallen by the sword, which are gone down uncircumcised into the
nether parts of the earth, which caused their terror in the land of the
living; yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit.
[25] They have set her a bed in the midst of the slain with all her
multitude: her graves are round about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain
by the sword: though their terror was caused in the land of the living, yet
have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit: he is put in
the midst of them that be slain.
[26] There is Meshech, Tubal, and all her multitude: her graves are round
about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword, though they
caused their terror in the land of the living.
[27] And they shall not lie with the mighty that are fallen of the
uncircumcised, which are gone down to hell with their weapons of war: and
they have laid their swords under their heads, but their iniquities shall be
upon their bones, though they were the terror of the mighty in the land of
the living.
[28] Yea, thou shalt be broken in the midst of the uncircumcised, and shalt
lie with them that are slain with the sword.
[29] There is Edom, her kings, and all her princes, which with their might
are laid by them that were slain by the sword: they shall lie with the
uncircumcised, and with them that go down to the pit.
[30] There be the princes of the north, all of them, and all the Zidonians,
which are gone down with the slain; with their terror they are ashamed of
their might; and they lie uncircumcised with them that be slain by the
sword, and bear their shame with them that go down to the pit.
[31] Pharaoh shall see them, and shall be comforted over all his multitude,
even Pharaoh and all his army slain by the sword, saith the Lord GOD.
[32] For I have caused my terror in the land of the living: and he shall be
laid in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that are slain with the
sword, even Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 33:1-20
Renewal of Ezekiel's Call
1 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
2 (Eze 3:11; 33:17) Son of man, speak to the children of your people
and say to them: If I bring a sword upon a land, and the people of the land
take a man from among them and set him for their watchman,
3 (Hos 8:1; Ne 4:18) and he sees the sword come upon the land
and blows the trumpet and warns the people,
4 (Eze 18:13; 2Ch 25:16) then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet
and does not take warning, and a sword comes and takes him away,
his blood shall be upon his own head.
5 (Ex 9:19-21; Heb 11:7) He heard the sound of the trumpet yet did not
take warning. His blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning
delivers his soul.
6 (Eze 18:20; 18:24) But if the watchman sees the sword come
and does not blow the trumpet and the people are not warned
and a sword comes and takes a person from among them,
he is taken away in his iniquity. But his blood I will require
from the hand of the watchman.
7 (Jer 26:2; Isa 62:6) Now as for you, son of man: I have set you a watchman
to the house of Israel. Therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth
and warn them from Me.
8 (Eze 18:4; 33:14) When I say to the wicked, "O wicked man,
you shall surely die," and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way,
that wicked man shall die in his iniquity. But his blood I will require
from your hand.
9 (Eze 3:19; 3:21) Nevertheless, if you on your part warn the wicked to turn
from his way and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity.
But you have delivered your soul.
God's Justice and Mercy
10 (Lev 26:39; Isa 49:14) Therefore as for you, son of man, say to the house
of Israel: Thus you have spoken, saying, "Surely our transgressions
and our sins are upon us, and we pine away in them. How should we then live?"
11 (Eze 18:23; 2Pe 3:9) Say to them: As I live, says the Lord God, I have
no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn
from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why will you die,
O house of Israel?
12 (2Ch 7:14; Eze 18:21) Therefore you, son of man, say to the sons of your
people: The righteousness of a righteous man shall not deliver him in the day
of his transgression. As for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall
by it in the day that he turns from his wickedness. Nor shall the righteous
be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sins.
13 (Eze 18:24; Heb 10:38) When I say to the righteous that he shall surely
live and he so trusts in his righteousness that he commits iniquity,
all his righteousness shall not be remembered. But for that iniquity
of his that he has committed, he shall die.
14 (Eze 18:27; Isa 55:7; Jer 18:7-8) Again, when I say to the wicked,
"You shall surely die," and he turns from his sin and does that which
is lawful and right,
15 (Eze 20:11; Lk 19:8) if the wicked man restores a pledge, gives back
what he had robbed, walks in the statutes of life without committing
iniquity, he shall surely live. He shall not die.
16 (Eze 18:22; Isa 43:25) None of his sins that he has committed shall be
remembered against him. He has done what is lawful and right.
He shall surely live.
17 (Eze 18:25; 18:29) Yet the sons of your people say, "The way of the Lord
is not right," when their way is not right.
18 (Eze 33:12-13) When the righteous turns from his righteousness
and commits iniquity, he shall die by it.
19 But if the wicked turns from his wickedness and does that which is lawful
and right, he shall live by them.
20 (Eze 18:25) Yet you say, "The way of the Lord is not right." O house
of Israel, I will judge you, every one according to his ways.
[1] Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[2] Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When
I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their
coasts, and set him for their watchman:
[3] If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and
warn the people;
[4] Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not
warning;
if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.
[5] He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood
shall
be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.
[6] But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and
the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among
them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the
watchman's hand.
[7] So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of
Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from
me.
[8] When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou
dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall
die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
[9] Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he
do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast
delivered thy soul.
[10] Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye
speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine
away in them, how should we then live?
[11] Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the
death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn
ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
[12] Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The
righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his
transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall
thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the
righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.
[13] When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he
trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses
shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he
shall die for it.
[14] Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn
from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;
[15] If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk
in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live,
he shall not die.
[16] None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he
hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.
[17] Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal:
but as for them, their way is not equal.
[18] When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth
iniquity, he shall even die thereby.
[19] But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful
and right, he shall live thereby.
[20] Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O ye house of Israel, I
will judge you every one after his ways.
The Fall of Jerusalem
21 (2Ki 25:10; Eze 1:2) In the twelfth year of our captivity,
in the tenth month, on the fifth day of the month, one who had escaped
out of Jerusalem came to me, saying, "The city is taken."
22 (Eze 1:3; 3:26-27) Now the hand of the Lord was upon me in the evening,
before those who escaped came. And He opened my mouth at the time
they came to me in the morning. Therefore my mouth was opened
and I was speechless no more.
23 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
24 (Isa 51:2; Eze 33:27) Son of man, those who inhabit these wastes
in the land of Israel are saying, "Abraham was one, yet he inherited the land.
But to us who are many, the land has been given for an inheritance."
25 (Ge 9:4; Dt 12:16) Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord God:
You eat meat with the blood in it and lift up your eyes toward
your idols as you shed blood. Should you then possess the land?
26 (Ge 27:40; Mic 2:1-2) You rely upon your sword, you work abominations,
and every one of you defiles his neighbour's wife. Should you then possess
the land?
27 (1Sa 13:6; Jer 42:22) Thus you shall say to them, Thus says the Lord God:
As I live, surely those who are in the ruins shall fall by the sword,
and him who is in the open field I will give to the beasts to be devoured,
and those who are in the forts and in the caves shall die of pestilence.
28 (Eze 7:24; Jer 44:2) For I will make the land a desolation and a waste,
and the pomp of her strength shall cease. And the mountains of Israel
shall be desolate so that none shall pass through.
29 (Eze 6:7) Then shall they know that I am the Lord, when I make the land
a desolation and a waste because of all their abominations which they have
committed.
30 (Isa 29:13; 58:2) As for you, son of man, the sons of your people
are talking about you by the walls and in the doorways of the houses;
and they speak to one another, each saying to his brother,
"Come now, and hear what the word is that comes from the Lord."
31 (Ps 78:36-37; Isa 29:13) They come to you as people come, and they sit
before you as My people, and they hear your words; but they will not do them.
For they do the lustful desires in their mouth, and their heart goes after
their covetousness.
32 (Mk 6:20) You are to them as a sensual song of one who has a pleasant
voice and can play well on an instrument. For they hear your words,
but they do not do them.
33 (Jer 28:9; Eze 2:5) When this comes to pass, and it is coming to pass,
then shall they know that a prophet has been among them.
[21] And it came to pass in the twelfth year of our captivity, in the tenth
month, in the fifth day of the month, that one that had escaped out of
Jerusalem came unto me, saying, The city is smitten.
[22] Now the hand of the LORD was upon me in the evening, afore he that was
escaped came; and had opened my mouth, until he came to me in the morning;
and my mouth was opened, and I was no more dumb.
[23] Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[24] Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel
speak,
saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land: but we are many; the
land is given us for inheritance.
[25] Wherefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Ye eat with the
blood, and lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood: and
shall ye
possess the land?
[26] Ye stand upon your sword, ye work abomination, and ye defile every one
his neighbour's wife: and shall ye possess the land?
[27] Say thou thus unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; As I live, surely
they that are in the wastes shall fall by the sword, and him that is in the
open field will I give to the beasts to be devoured, and they that be in
the
forts and in the caves shall die of the pestilence.
[28] For I will lay the land most desolate, and the pomp of her strength
shall cease; and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate, that none shall
pass through.
[29] Then shall they know that I am the LORD, when I have laid the land
most
desolate because of all their abominations which they have committed.
[30] Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking
against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to
another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what
is the word that cometh forth from the LORD.
[31] And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee
as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with
their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their
covetousness.
[32] And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a
pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words,
but they do them not.
[33] And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know
that a prophet hath been among them.
Ezekiel 34
A Prophecy Against Israel's Shepherds
1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
2 (Jer 23:1; Ps 78:71-72) Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds
of Israel. Prophesy and say to those shepherds, Thus says the Lord God:
Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not
the shepherds feed the flock?
3 (Zec 11:16; 11:5) You eat the fat and clothe yourself with the wool;
you kill those who are fed without feeding the flock.
4 (Ex 1:13-14; Eze 34:16) The diseased you have not strengthened,
nor have you healed that which was sick, nor have you bound up
that which was broken, nor have you brought back that which was driven away,
nor have you sought that which was lost. But with force and with cruelty
you have subjugated them.
5 (Mt 9:36; 1Ki 22:17) They were scattered because there was no shepherd.
And they became meat to all the beasts of the field and were scattered.
6 (Ps 142:4; 1Pe 2:25) My sheep wandered through all the mountains
and upon every high hill. Indeed, My flock was scattered upon
all the face of the earth, and no one searched or sought after them.
7 Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord:
8 As I live, says the Lord God, surely because My flock became a prey,
and My flock even became meat to every beast of the field, because
there was no shepherd, nor did My shepherds search for My flock;
but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock,
9 therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord.
10 (Jer 21:13; Eze 13:8) Thus says the Lord God: I am against the shepherds.
And I will require My flock from their hand and cause them to cease from
feeding the flock. Nor shall the shepherds feed themselves anymore,
for I will deliver My flock from their mouth so that they may not be
meat for them.
The True Shepherd
11 (Lk 19:10) For thus says the Lord God: I, even I, will search
for My sheep and seek them out.
12 (Eze 30:3; Jer 13:16) As a shepherd seeks out his flock in the day
that he is among his sheep that are scattered, so I will seek out My sheep
and will deliver them out of all the places where they have been scattered
in a cloudy and dark day.
13 (Eze 11:17) I will bring them out from the peoples, and gather them
from the countries, and bring them to their own land, and feed them upon
the mountains of Israel by the rivers and in all the inhabited
places of the country.
14 (Jn 10:9; Jer 31:12-14) I will feed them in a good pasture,
and upon the high mountains of Israel their grazing ground shall be.
There they shall lie on good grazing ground, and in a rich pasture
they shall feed upon the mountains of Israel.
15 I will feed My flock, and I will cause them to lie down, says the Lord God.
16 (Isa 10:16; 49:26) I will seek that which was lost and bring back
that which was driven away and bind up that which was broken
and will strengthen that which was sick. But I will destroy the fat
and the strong. I will feed them with judgment.
17 (Mt 25:32-33; Eze 34:20-22) As for you, O My flock, thus says
the Lord God: I will judge between sheep and cattle, between the rams
and the male goats.
18 (Nu 16:9; 16:13) Does it seem a small thing to you to have eaten up
the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the rest
of your pastures? Or that you should drink of the clear waters,
that you must foul the rest with your feet?
19 And as for My flock, they eat that which you have trodden with your feet,
and they drink that which you have fouled with your feet.
20 Therefore thus says the Lord God to them: I, even I, will judge between
the fat sheep and between the lean sheep.
21 (Dt 33:17; Lk 13:14-16) Because you have thrust with side
and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns
until you have scattered them abroad,
22 (Ps 72:12-14; Jer 23:2-3) therefore I will save My flock, and they shall
no more be a prey. And I will judge between one sheep and another.
23 (Isa 40:11; Jn 10:11) I will set up one shepherd over them,
and he shall feed them, even My servant David. He shall feed
them himself and be their shepherd.
24 (Eze 36:28; 37:27) I the Lord will be their God, and My servant David
shall be prince among them. I the Lord have spoken.
25 (Isa 11:6-9; Lev 26:6) I will make with them a covenant of peace
and will cause the wild beasts to cease from the land so that they dwell
safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods.
26 (Ge 12:2; Isa 44:3) I will make them and the places all around My hill
a blessing. And I will cause the showers to come down in their season.
They shall be showers of blessing.
27 (Jer 30:8; Lev 26:13) The tree of the field shall yield its fruit,
and the ground shall yield its increase, and they shall be safe in their land.
Then they shall know that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bands
of their yoke and delivered them out of the hand of those who enslaved them.
28 (Jer 30:10; Eze 34:25) They shall no more be a prey to the nations,
nor shall the beast of the land devour them. But they shall dwell safely
and no one shall make them afraid.
29 (Eze 36:29; Isa 4:2) I will raise up for them a planting place of renown,
and no more shall they be consumed with hunger in the land, nor shall
they bear the shame of the nations anymore.
30 (Ps 46:7; 46:11) Thus shall they know that I, the Lord their God,
am with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are My people,
says the Lord God.
31 (Ps 100:3; 78:52) As for you, My flock, the flock of My pasture,
you are men, and I am your God, says the Lord God.
Ezekiel 34
[1] And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[2] Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say
unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the
shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed
the flocks?
[3] Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are
fed: but ye feed not the flock.
[4] The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that
which
was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye
brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which
was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.
[5] And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became
meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.
[6] My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill:
yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did
search or seek after them.
[7] Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;
[8] As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey,
and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no
shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds
fed themselves, and fed not my flock;
[9] Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;
[10] Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I
will
require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the
flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will
deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.
[11] For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my
sheep, and seek them out.
[12] As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his
sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver
them
out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark
day.
[13] And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the
countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the
mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the
country.
[14] I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of
Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a
fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.
[15] I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the
Lord
GOD.
[16] I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven
away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that
which
was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with
judgment.
[17] And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I judge
between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats.
[18] Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture,
but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? and to
have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet?
[19] And as for my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your
feet; and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet.
[20] Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD unto them; Behold, I, even I, will
judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle.
[21] Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the
diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad;
[22] Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey;
and I
will judge between cattle and cattle.
[23] And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even
my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.
[24] And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among
them; I the LORD have spoken it.
[25] And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil
beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the
wilderness, and sleep in the woods.
[26] And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing;
and
I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers
of blessing.
[27] And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall
yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know
that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and
delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them.
[28] And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the
beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall
make them afraid.
[29] And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no
more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the
heathen
any more.
[30] Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that
they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord GOD.
[31] And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God,
saith the Lord GOD.
2) Our Daily Bread for 4 September 2023
Jeremiah 52:31-34
Jehoiachin Released
2Ki 25:27-30
31 (Ge 40:13; 40:20) In the 37th year of the captivity of Jehoiachin,
king of Judah, in the 12th month, on the 25th day of the month,
Awel-Marduk, king of Babylon, in the first year of his reign lifted up
the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah and brought him out of prison,
32 and spoke kindly to him, and set his throne
above the throne of the kings who were with him in Babylon.
33 (2Sa 9:7; Ge 41:14) Therefore Jehoiachin changed his prison garments
and continually ate meals before him all the days of his life.
34 (2Sa 9:10) For his allowance, there was a continual allowance
given him by the king of Babylon, every day a portion all the days
of his life until the day of his death.
[31] And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of
Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the five and twentieth
day of the month, that Evil-merodach king of Babylon in the first year of
his reign lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah, and brought him
forth out of prison,
[32] And spake kindly unto him, and set his throne above the throne of the
kings that were with him in Babylon,
[33] And changed his prison garments: and he did continually eat bread
before him all the days of his life.
[34] And for his diet, there was a continual diet given him of the king of
Babylon, every day a portion until the day of his death, all the days of his
life.
Titus 3:4-5
4 (Titus 2:10-11) But when the kindness and the love of God our Saviour
toward mankind appeared,
5 (Ro 12:2; 1Pe 3:21) not by works of righteousness which we have done,
but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of rebirth
and the renewal of the Holy Spirit,
[4] But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man
appeared,
[5] Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his
mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy
Ghost;
Fast-food restaurant worker Kevin Ford hadn't missed a shift in twenty-seven
years. After a video surfaced showing his humble gratitude for a modest gift
he received to commemorate his decades of service, thousands of people rallied
together to show kindness to him. "It's like a dream, a dream come true," he
said when a fundraising effort brought in $250000 in just over a week.
Jehoiachin, the exiled king of Judah, was also the recipient of extreme
kindness. He'd been incarcerated for thirty-seven years before the benevolence
of the Babylonian king resulted in his release. "[The king] freed him from
prison. He spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat of honor higher than those
of the other kings who were with him in Babylon" (Jeremiah 52:31-32).
Jehoiachin was given a new position, new clothes, and a new residence.
His new life was fully funded by the king.
This story pictures what happens spiritually when, out of no contributions
from themselves or others, people who believe in Jesus' death and resurrection
are rescued from their estrangement from God. They're brought from darkness
and death into light and life; they're brought into the family of God
because of the extreme kindness of God.
By: Arthur Jackson
Reflect & Pray
What acts of human kindness have reminded you of God'’s goodness?
How do you respond to the kindness of God who welcomes you into
His family based on what Jesus has done?
Father, thank You for Your forgiving kindness.
"Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe; sin had left a crimson stain.
He washed it white as snow."
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 7 Promises of Grace - Day 2 - Due Season
Gal 6:9
9 And let us not grow weary in doing good,
for in due season we shall reap, if we do not give up.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing:
for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Jackie's preschool class took on an exciting project: they were going to grow
flowers from seeds, Each child took the seed, planted it carefully in the
bedding soil, watered, and waited. But Jackie couldn't wait. Every day
for a week he ran to the window box, looked for his plants, poked, prodded,
unplanted the seeds and then planted them again. "It's no use,"
he pouted after the first week. "Nothing's gonna grow in there."
We live in an instant society - microwave dinners, quick fixes, easy answers.
We are conditioned by our environment to expect - even to demand -
immediate response, and when we have to wait,
we become impatient and irritable.
Paul's exhortation to the Galatians, "Let us not become weary in doing good,"
is as appropriate for twentieth-century believers as it was for the new church
at Galatia. We lose motivation when we don't see results,
and weariness sets in.
If our work does not seem to be producing as we hope, we want to abandon it
and move on to a new project.
But God says, "You will reap a harvest if you don't give up." We give up too
soon in our prayers for a loved one's salvation. We abandon hope too readily
when we don't see spiritual growth in our own lives, when our investment in
another's spiritual maturity seems to have no return. The Lord says,
"The harvest is coming; be patient; trust me."
In due season the harvest comes; when it's the right time. When the seed has
had time to germinate, when the roots are string enough, when the conditions
are right, the reaping time will come. But we must be willing to wait for
the due season, the moment of ripeness, when our labor brings its return.
Application
a) Have I ever felt that my spiritual labours have produced no harvest at all?
b) What does it mean to my own spiritual growth that there is a "due season"
for reaping the harvest?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Luke 7:23
23 (Isa 8:14-15) "And Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me."
23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Guiding Presence
Matthew 28:16-20
The Commissioning of the Disciples
Mk 16:14-18; Lk 24:36-49; Jn 20:19-23; Ac 1:6-8
16 (Mt 28:7; 26:32)Then the eleven disciples went away to Galilee,
to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.
17 (Mt 28:9) When they saw Him, they worshipped Him. But some doubted.
18 (Mt 11:27; Ro 14:9) Then Jesus came and spoke to them, saying,
"All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 (Mk 16:15-16; Ac 1:8) Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit,
20 (Mt 18:20; Ac 2:42) teaching them to observe all things
I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always,
even to the end of the age." Amen.
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee,
into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying,
All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:
and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2022 edition?)
Nova Scotia
Total population 942700
Muslim population (est.) 14629
With 6 of the Nova Scotia's 10 universities located in Halifax, there is
a high concentration of Muslin international students in the area,
a harvest field in itself.
Pray for Nova Scotia and her Muslim populations
- in and around Halifax and other cities
- on university campuses
- for new workers among Muslims
- for pastors and churches to be bold in vision, passion and outreach
to Muslims in their areas.
- for Muslims who are searching for a better way to find a Christian friend
to share Jesus with and disciple them
- for Muslim-background believers to be both wise and bold in sharing their
new faith in Jesus with other Muslims
Halifax is the centre of Muslim activity for the Province of Nova Scotia
with at least 10 Islamic centres (mosques) and musallas
(prayer locations, especially for Friday prayer). And there are other mosques
in Chebucto, Kearney Lake, Dartmouth, Bedford and Truro.
Though the original community of Muslims was primarily composed of
newcomers from Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India, continued immigration
has further diversified this community. Anf it is said thay Arabic
is the second most spoken language in Halifax.
while conservative estimates place the number of Muslims at almost 15000
in 2014, the Imama of a primary Halifax mosque estimates their population
somewhere between 25000 to 30000.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 12 They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other,
"What does this mean?"
13 (1Co 14:23) Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."
Peter's Speech at Pentecost
14 (Ac 1:26) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice
and said to them, "Men of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem,
let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose,
since it is the third hour of the day.
16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 (Isa 44:3; Ac 10:45) 'In the last days it shall be,' says God,
'that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.'
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, atheists, secular humanists, ...)
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
4nd Day of the Month
a) Pray for the preservation of godly values in Canada
(Prov 14:34 - Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a reproach to any people.
34 Righteousness exalteth a nation:
But sin is a reproach to any people.
)
b) Pray the political leaders will be awakened by God to the right
use of power and the right stewardship of their positions.
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray to know Him asthe Lord of Peace and Order.
Pray to the Lord: "Father, thank You for Your forgiving kindness.
'Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe; sin had left a crimson stain.
He washed it white as snow.' "
Pray to the Lord and pray to Him for patieince and to know his timing.
Pray to the Lord and pray not to be offended in Him.
Pray to the Lord and pray to be a good disciple.
Pray for Nova Scotia and her Muslim populations
- in and around Halifax and other cities
- on university campuses
- for new workers among Muslims
- for pastors and churches to be bold in vision, passion and outreach
to Muslims in their areas.
- for Muslims who are searching for a better way to find a Christian friend
to share Jesus with and disciple them
- for Muslim-background believers to be both wise and bold in sharing their
new faith in Jesus with other Muslims
Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
Pray for the preservation of godly values in Canada
Pray the political leaders will be awakened by God to the right
use of power and the right stewardship of their positions.
Pray that those working with Ugandan Christian converts from Islam will
receive pastoral training.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.