Week 35 - Day 5

Ezekiel 46-48; Psalm 132

*Click here to read these passages:

Ezekiel 46-48 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 132 YouVersion(NIV)

I have to admit that reading these last several chapters of Ezekiel has been somewhat of a challenge for me.  It has been hard to stay focused and easy to lose interest.  It has kind of been like going back to the books of the law at the beginning of the Old Testament with all the specific regulations for something that doesn’t directly impact my daily life. 

I’m sure any Bible scholar or just anyone who is very knowledgeable about Scripture might gasp at that confession.  I know that as a prophet Ezekiel had messages and visions from God that were relevant to what was happening in his time as well as futuristic prophecies.  I know that there are many similarities in the book of Ezekiel to the book of Revelation.  Specifically in these chapters today there are several similarities within Revelation chapters 21 and 22, which are the last two chapters of the Bible.  I do find this fascinating and I am looking forward to diving in to that deeper and reviewing and corresponding with the book of Ezekiel when I get to the book of Revelation.

However, today, my mind is not really going there.  Today the phrase that rocked me was the last sentence of the book of Ezekiel: “And the name of the city from that time on will be: THE LORD IS THERE.”

My mind started racing of the possibilities of different cities as well as nations around the world where there would be such a movement of God that all would take notice and say, “The Lord is there.”  Right now that is not quite happening yet in the city in which I live, but I know it is on the verge.  Churches are rising up, Christians are uniting together and acting on their faith, the younger generations are on fire serving others, and God is moving.  And with God all things are possible!  

I pray that people would take notice and that it would be known that “The Lord is there.”  That is my prayer for our country as well, which seems to be going in the opposite direction now, that there would be such a movement of God that other nations would take notice and know “The Lord is there.”  I pray for the nations that as a whole do not accept the truth and even persecute those who do, that believers would rise up and His Good News would spread so that entire nations would turn to the Lord, and the world would know “The Lord is there.”    

Week 35 - Day 4

Ezekiel 43-45; Psalm 131

*Click here to read these passages:

Ezekiel 43-45 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 131 YouVersion(NIV)

“I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.  But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother.”  (Psalm 131:1b-2)

I love being a mom.  I love holding my babies tight.  I love seeing, feeling, and hearing them completely relax and just rest so peacefully in my arms.  There have been countless times that I have been able to comfort one of my crying children by picking them up, holding them close, and singing softly in their ear.  So I love this image of my soul being stilled and quieted like a child with its mother.  I can trust that God is holding me.  And when I need reminding that I am not alone, He picks me up and whispers in my ear – “I am here.” 

I found it interesting that the verse does not just say “a child with its mother;” it says, “a weaned child with its mother.”  As a mom, I’ve also experienced countless hours of an inconsolable baby.  When my husband and I brought home our first baby, he had colic, and it seemed like nothing we did could get him to stop crying.  And even with our other two, even though they were easier, like all newborns, there were times when they would just cry, and cry, and cry.  When babies need or want anything they just cry.  It is when they get a little older that they can ask for the things they need and desire. 

That is the reason why David wrote “like a weaned child with its mother.”  Instead of wailing every time we need or want something, we can go to the Lord and ask for His intervention.  We can be still and know that He loves us, He protects us, and He provides what we need.  

“Be still and know that I am God.”  ~ Psalm 46:10 

Week 35 - Day 3

** Reminder: This is another 5-Day week as we finish up the book of Ezekiel.  If you have personal reflections from the readings or something God has been teaching you that you would like to share for our Day 6 - Reflect/Review day, please email me at ejmushlock@gmail.com . **

Ezekiel 40-42; Psalm 130

*Click here to read these passages:

Ezekiel 40-42 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 130 YouVersion(NIV)

“Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice.”  ~ Psalm 130:1

“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope.”  ~ Psalm 130:5

When we cry out from the depths we can know He will hear us, and He will rescue us.  His Word is true, and in Him there is always hope. 

“If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?  But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.” ~ Psalm 130:3-4

I think sometimes we hold tight to our record of sins carrying it around wherever we go, but praise the Lord, He does not do this.  He forgives; His mercies are new every day.

“My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning.” ~ Psalm 130:6

A watchman standing guard through the night who is tired and weary is ready for a break, ready for the sunrise.  A watchman knows the dawn will appear.  The sun is going to rise without a doubt every day.  So it is with the Lord … every day He is here without fail. 

“Put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with Him is full redemption.”  ~ Psalm 130:7

Unfailing love … full redemption. 

Week 35 - Day 2

Ezekiel 37-39; Psalm 129

*Click here to read these passages:

Ezekiel 37-39 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 129 YouVersion(NIV)

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26)

I absolutely love how God uses pictures and stories to help us see and understand things … and what an unforgettable image God gives us in Ezekiel chapter 37.  The valley of dry bones – bones bleached by the sun covering the floor of a valley, and God asks, “Can these bones live?”  A reasonable answer would be “of course not,” but Ezekiel answers wisely, “O Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”  God not only brings the bones together and covers them with tendons, flesh, and skin, but then breathes life into them.  “…And breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.”

God told Ezekiel that these bones were the whole house of Israel.  They believed that all hope was gone, but God promised, “I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land.  Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.” (Ezekiel 37:14)

I hesitated on what to write about today because within these chapters of Ezekiel there is also a lot of historical as well as futuristic prophetic stuff that is very interesting and would be great to dive into a little deeper.  But I couldn’t get this image out of my head of hopelessness.  Dry bones, completely lifeless, so far gone, worth nothing … but Sovereign Lord can bring them to life and make them strong.  There are people everywhere who feel hopeless.  I just want them to know … God wants them to know … you are not done, you are not too far gone, you are not worthless.  He says “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you.”  He will breathe life into you and stand you up on your feet! 

Week 35 - Day 1

Ezekiel 33-36; Psalm 128

*Click here to read these passages:

Ezekiel 33-36 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 128 YouVersion(NIV)

Watchman and Shepherd

God says once again to Ezekiel that he is a watchman for Israel, just as He did when He first called Ezekiel.  A watchman for the city would stand guard, particularly at night, to watch for threats to the city and would warn the people of impending danger.  A watchman would have to know about the city and care about the city.  A watchman would have to sacrifice by staying awake and alert through the night.  He would put the needs and the lives of those in the city above his own needs and comfort.  Without a good watchman the people of the city could die.

God also tells Ezekiel to prophesy to the shepherds of Israel.  God said the shepherds of Israel were only taking care of themselves.  They would feed and clothes themselves but not take care of the flock.  They would not strengthen the weak or bring back the strays.  Because of this God said He would take over as shepherd.  A shepherd’s job was to feed and water the sheep, to take care of them when they were hurt or weak, sometimes even carrying them, to protect them from dangers, and to keep them all together so none got lost.  A good shepherd would know their sheep well and would love their sheep.  He would put their needs about his own needs and comfort.  Without a good shepherd the sheep might not live. 

Jesus is the ultimate watchman and shepherd for us all.  And we are called to be watchmen and shepherds like Him.  To do that, we must love … and do.  I’ve been reading a book called “Love Does” by Bob Goff, and he talks about how God’s kind of love, the kind of love we should have toward others, does not stop at thoughts and feelings, but takes action.  “Simply put: love does.” 

Week 34 - Day 6

Ezekiel 30-32; Psalm 127

*Click here to read these passages:

Ezekiel 30-32 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 127 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 127 has a great reminder for believers who get caught up and overwhelmed in the “doing” and “working” for the church. 

“Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.

Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.” (Psalm 127:1 NIV)

And I love The Message translation for verse 2:

“It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone.

Don’t you know He enjoys giving rest to those He loves?”

It does not say  - do not build, do not be a watchman, do not work – in fact, Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9:37-38)  But if in the building and working we forget who it is we’re working for and who it is that is really making things happen, it ends up being ineffective. 

The church I’m a part of is a church-planting network.  The first One Life Church launched on 10/10/10, then in August of 2012 we launched a second site, and we are currently preparing another site.  In the past few years of this journey it has been incredible to watch how God makes things happen.  It has also been great to see our leaders fully rely on God, trusting in His timing and provision, and checking every decision with whether or not it lines up with the vision God has given us.  We know that the moment we start thinking that we’re doing something great or the moment we start doing it on our own, our work becomes in vain.  It is God who is doing something amazing.   

Build, plant, work, protect … But do it for and with the Lord.  He’ll keep us rested and energized and show us what amazing things He can do. 

**Want to know more about One Life?  http://onelifechurch.org/ **

Week 34 - Day 5

Ezekiel 27-29; Psalm 126

*Click here to read these passages:

Ezekiel 27-29 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 126 YouVersion(NIV)

I kept seeing a theme in these chapters of pride as well as this: wisdom without humility is not wisdom at all. 

~About the city of Tyre: “You say, O Tyre, ‘I am perfect in beauty.” Ezekiel 27:3

~About the ruler of Tyre: “In the pride of your heart you say, ‘I am a god; I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas.” Ezekiel 28:2

~About Pharaoh, king of Egypt: “You say, ‘The Nile is mine; I made it for myself” . Ezekiel 29:3 

~“Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor.”  Ezekiel 28:17

This last verse quoted from the second half of Ezekiel 28 was addressed to the “king of Tyre” as apposed to the “ruler of Tyre” as in the beginning of that chapter.  It seems to be telling the story of the fall of Satan. 

Throughout these chapters are stories of those who had great wisdom and understanding as well as great skill, which is why they also had great wealth.  But the other common thread was that these great and wise leaders became arrogant and prideful.  Because of this they corrupted their wisdom and faced a great fall from power, fame, and wealth.  God’s reminder – “You are a man and not a god.”  “Then they will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.” 

Wisdom, as well as the blessings that often come along with it, is a wonderful gift, but when pride comes along with it too and humbleness departs, everything starts to fall apart.  

“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” Proverbs 11:2

Week 34 - Day 4

Ezekiel 24-26; Psalm 125

*Click here to read these passages:

Ezekiel 24-26 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 125 YouVersion(NIV)

“God’s Message came to me: ‘Son of man, I’m about to take from you the delight of your life—a real blow, I know.  But, please, no tears.  Keep your grief to yourself.  No public mourning.  Get dressed as usual and go about your work—none of the usual funeral rituals.’  I preached to the people in the morning.  That evening my wife died.” (Ezekiel 24:15-17)

We’ve read before how God used the prophets and real visual examples from their lives to teach the Israelites and show them what is going to happen.  This one though … is rough.  Ezekiel loses his wife, the delight of his life.  Not only that, but he couldn’t mourn her death.  It is hard to understand how God would ask this of Ezekiel. 

When something is kind of hard to swallow in the Bible I go back to what I’ve learned about the character of God.  I remember first, His ways are higher than my ways … I’m not always going to understand why and how He does certain things.  I remember that God is powerful, God is just, God is good and merciful, He is faithful.  He does not delight in punishing; He does delight in restoration.  He cares deeply for those who experience injustice.  And more than anything … something so simple, yet means absolutely everything … God loves.  He loves His creation and He loves people more than anything.  It says in the Bible that He watches over and takes care of the sparrow and that we are worth far more in His eyes, so how much more does He watch over and take care of us.

This was a real blow to Ezekiel.  God knew that.  He knew He was asking something pretty tough of Ezekiel, but when God asks us to do something, He gives us the strength to do it.  How would Ezekiel have been able to get through that if God wasn’t there holding him up?  Psalm 125 says, “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.”    

Week 34 - Day 3

Ezekiel 22-23; Psalm 124

*Click here to read these passages:

Ezekiel 22-23 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 124 YouVersion(NIV)

“I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.” (Ezekiel 22:30)

This verse stopped me in my tracks.  God said He looked for a man, one man, so He wouldn’t have to destroy the land.  It says so He “wouldn’t have to” – which shows us once again that He didn’t want to destroy it.  So God looked for someone who would make a difference but couldn’t find even one.

Not one to stand up.  Not one to say yes.  I thought back through some whom God did great things through and how He didn’t force them.  Those such as Moses, Joshua, Isaiah, Jeremiah—He  showed them what He wanted them to do, and even though they may have been scared or doubtful, ultimately they said yes.

God is always looking for those who will say yes …

Week 34 - Day 2

Ezekiel 20-21; Psalm 123

*Click here to read these passages:

Ezekiel 20-21 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 123 YouVersion(NIV)

I think what is happening in Psalm 123 and in Ezekiel is quite opposite.  In the psalm there is a crying out to God, a “Pilgrim’s Song,” looking to God for mercy.  In Ezekiel there is an inquiring of the Lord, but God knows their hearts and knows their desires.  He reminds them that to that very day they were sacrificing their children to pagan idols and then they come inquire of the Lord.  He knows that they are thinking, “We want to be like the nations, like the peoples of the world, who serve wood and stone” (Ezekiel 20:32). 

They could not have it both ways.  They could not follow God while still following the world.  God gave them a little history review of the generations before them who tried to do this and failed over and over.  Why try to be like everyone else around you when God has something so much better in store for you?  God basically tells them to go, do what you want, but eventually you will realize my way is better.  “Then you will know that I am the Lord.” 

Don’t be stubborn like the Israelites … wanting to be like the world around us, wanting to do things our own way … His way is so much better.  God says – Trust me.  You’ll see.

Week 34 - Day 1

Ezekiel 17-19

*Click here to read this passage:

Ezekiel 17-19 YouVersion(NIV)

“God’s Message to me: ‘What do you people mean by going around the country repeating the saying,

The parents ate green apples,

The children got the stomachache?

‘As sure as I’m the living God, you’re not going to repeat this saying in Israel any longer.  Every soul—man, woman, child—belongs to me, parent and child alike.  You die for your own sin, not another’s.” (Ezekial 18:1-4 The Message)

The Israelites were not taking responsibility for their choices.  They were placing blame anywhere but on themselves.  They were complaining that God was not fair because He was punishing them for their ancestors’ sins, but God makes it clear here that this was not the case. 

They also had an apathetic attitude believing there was nothing they could do because it wasn’t their fault.  God tells them that even though they could not change the fate of their nation – judgment was still coming – they could save their individual lives if they would repent and turn to Him. 

It is easy to make excuses for our behavior and blame other people in our lives, our upbringing, our genetics, our financial situation, our culture, etc.  We can even blame God.  But at some point everyone has to take responsibility and stop placing the blame on something or someone else.  Then we can truly live.

    

“Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit.  Why will you die, O House of Israel?  For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord.  Repent and live!” (18:31-32)

Week 33 - Day 6

Ezekiel 13-16; Psalm 122

*Click here to read these passages:

Ezekiel 13-16 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 122 YouVersion(NIV)

“When people build a wall, they’re right behind them slapping on whitewash.  Tell those who are slapping on the whitewash, ‘When a torrent of rain comes and the hailstones crash down and the hurricane sweeps in and the wall collapses, what’s the good of the whitewash that you slapped on so liberally, making it look so good?” (Ezekiel 13: 11-12 The Message)

Whitewash means “to plaster over.”  God is saying that they have been like a poorly constructed wall that they plaster over to look good, but when the storm comes, it will crumble.  They needed to get to the heart of the matter and strengthen their foundation in God instead of trying to “whitewash” their sins. 

We can’t whitewash our sins and just try to ignore them or cover them up – they are still there and will eventually be revealed.  Jesus, however, can wash us white as snow.  He can clean us and cover us and strengthen us from the inside out.

There is a song I’ve loved for a long time that Hillsong United does called, “From the Inside Out.”  Praying these words from it today:

In my heart and my soul

I give you control.

Consume me from the inside out, Lord.

Let justice and praise

Become my embrace,

To love you from the inside out.

Week 33 - Day 5

Ezekiel 9-12; Psalm 121

*Click here to read these passages:

Ezekiel 9-12 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 121 YouVersion(NIV)

“My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—He who watches over you will not slumber.” (Psalm 121:2-3)

It is very comforting to know that God does not sleep, and He does not fail.  He does not come and go.  He is there.

“The Lord will keep you from all harm—He will watch over your life.

The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” (Psalm 121:7-8)

To those who put their trust in Him, He will be with and watch over for forever.  He knows our hearts and our sincerity.  In Ezekiel chapter 9 God, who is about to send judgment, knows that there are some who were grieved about the detestable things going on in their city, and He calls to a man clothed in linen to go throughout Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those people.  God said that those with the mark would not be touched.  He would keep them from harm and watch over their lives. 

This scene is very much like the Passover before the exodus from Egypt (Exodus 12) and is also like what Jesus does for us.  When we believe in Him He marks us as His own.  He is where our help comes from.  He watches over us both now and forevermore.  

Week 33 - Day 4

Ezekiel 4-8; Psalm 120

*Click here to read these passages:

Ezekiel 4-8 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 120 YouVersion(NIV)

There are some interesting things happening in these chapters.  God uses Ezekiel, not only to speak a message to His people, but also to demonstrate God’s message in several symbolic actions.  First he holds an iron pan up between himself and a clay tablet with Jerusalem drawn on it with siege works against it to show that Jerusalem was going to be taken and God would hide his face from them.  Then he lies on his side representing the people of Israel being paralyzed while bearing their punishment.  Ezekiel eats as if he is experiencing starvation because the food supply to Jerusalem will be cut off.  And he shaves his head and beard representing the humiliation that would come as well as the different ways that the people would fall.

God used powerful visuals to get His message across.  I was reminded of something I’ve heard my pastor, Bret Nicholson, say many times, which is that God uses things we can see to help us understand things we can’t.  He wanted His people to understand what, why, and how things were going to happen.  And this phrase keeps coming back again and again: “Then they will know that I am the Lord.”  They had forgotten God.  Generations had forgotten Him.  They were going to be judged for their sins, and God wanted them to remember Him. 

I also find it interesting that the prophet Ezekiel who was also a priest focuses on the relationship between Israel and God, or the rejection of that relationship I should say.  He speaks of their idol worship but says little about injustices and how they are treating each other as the prophet Jeremiah often did.  Then God gives Ezekiel a vision of the atrocities going on in the Temple.  Ezekiel was a priest; He knew and cared about these things.  So God used him in that way.

God uses things we can see to understand the things we can’t.  And God uses the things we know and are passionate about to influence others.

Week 33 - Day 3

Ezekiel 1-3

*Click here to read this passage:

Ezekiel 1-3 YouVersion(NIV)

“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.  When I say to a wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood.” (3:17-18)

I have this dream periodically that reoccurs in different forms but always the same idea.  These dreams are the type that when you wake up they linger … they keep haunting you.  In these dreams there is always something terrible happening to someone and I’m the only one around to see it happening.  And in the dream I don’t do anything.  I stay in the house and watch from the window and do nothing.  I don’t call for help.  I don’t leave the house to help.  I just try to pretend I don’t see it and forget about it.

Can you see why this would keep haunting me when I wake up?  How horrible is that?  But how often do I do this in some form or another in real life?  When I’m surrounded by people in need and do not act … When I put my focus on other things and push out the thoughts of people in trouble … When I’m too afraid to take action, so I stay in my comfortable house … 

God challenged Ezekiel saying that he would be the watchman for God’s people, and he would be accountable if he didn’t take action to warn them.

I recently heard an incredible speaker, Brene Brown, say this: “You can have courage or you can have comfort – You can’t have both.”

I like what God says to Ezekiel in chapter 2 as well, when He says, “You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen …”  We have to trust God for the impact.  That part is in His hands.  Our job is to not be afraid, to not sit idly by, and to do what He tells us to do. 

Time to have courage and compassion and Do Something!  

Week 33 - Day 2

Lamentations 3-5

*Click here to read this passage:

Lamentations 3-5 YouVersion(NIV)

Lamentations chapters 1 and 2 as well as chapters 4 and 5 are all filled with such sadness and despair.  All of the 22 verses from each chapter (these were structured poems) painted the picture of just how terrible things had gotten.  But in the middle of this book, in chapter 3, are hidden some of the most incredible verses of hope. 

Chapter 3 verse 19 says:

“I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall.

I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me.

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:”

Here it is!

Verses 22-25:

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed for His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.’

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him”

And then verses 32-33:

“Though He brings grief, He will show compassion, so great is His unfailing love.

For He does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men.”

He doesn’t want us to experience afflictions and grief, but He also knows what is best and that grief is sometimes a part of that.  But when we grieve, because He loves us so much, He shows compassion. 

Just spend a little time today dwelling on each part of these verses of hope in the midst of darkness.

Because of His great love – We. Are. Not. Consumed!  For His compassions Never fail!  His mercies are new every morning – Great is Your Faithfulness!

Week 33 - Day 1

Lamentations 1-2

*Click here to read this passage:

Lamentations 1-2 YouVersion(NIV)

“God did carry out, item by item, exactly what he said he’d do.  He always said he’d do this.  Now he’s done it – torn the place down.” (2:17 The Message)

God had warned them and warned them, but they did not turn away from their sin and they did not turn to Him.  So He did what He said He’d do.  Things were as bad as you could imagine.  Lamentations is a little hard to read because of the depth of sadness within it, but that is what it was meant to be – a lament, a dirge – a passionate expression of grief. 

There is a verse in Lamentations 2 that a couple of years ago just became so real to me and is one of those verses that keeps coming back in my thoughts quite often.  It is this (from verse 19): “Pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord.  Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children.” 

This is desperation for God.  Pouring out everything before Him.  Lifting your hands up reaching out for Him.  It says “for the lives of your children,” – their children were starving to death.  They were in such darkness, such despair.  To get out of their situation they had to get completely vulnerable and be completely desperate for God’s presence again.

This verse is often my prayer from week to week leading up to our church gathering for worship on Sundays.  That as a people gathered together we would pour out our hearts like water, lifting our hands to God in desperation for His presence … Desperate for His touch for the lives of our children, for our marriages, for our struggles, for our community, for our world. 

When we pour out everything before Him, He fills us back up with His love …

When we lift our hands reaching out to Him, He reaches down and picks us up …

Desperate for Your presence, Lord, we need Your touch.

Week 32 - Day 5

**As we finish up the book of Jeremiah today, tomorrow will not have a specific Bible reading, but will be a day to review and reflect.  If you want to share a reflection or something God has been teaching you lately, I would love to post some as our Day 6!  Just email me at ejmushlock@gmail.com **

Jeremiah 51-52; Psalm 119:169-176

*Click here to read these passages:

Jeremiah 51-52 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 119:169-176 YouVersion(NIV)

Finishing up the book of Jeremiah and Psalm 119 today, and as it so often happens, one phrase from the entire reading jumped off the page: “Portion of Jacob.”

“He who is the Portion of Jacob … He is the Maker of all things.”

Chapter 51 speaks of Babylon and how they had everything, but yet nothing because they didn’t have God as their leader.  Verse 13 in The Message translation says, “You have more water than you need, you have more money than you need – But your life is over.”  They had put their trust in themselves and in idols, but it says, “He who is the Portion of Jacob is not like these” (51:19 NIV).  Man is senseless and idols are worthless, “But the Portion of Jacob is the real deal” (51:19 The Message).

Jeremiah also wrote these words in Lamentations 3:24, “I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

He is unlike anything in this world.  He is everything I need.  He is my portion.  I will trust in Him.  I will wait for Him. 

Praying these words from the psalm today:

“May my lips overflow with praise …

May my tongue sing of your word …
May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your way.

Week 32 - Day 4

**As we are finishing up the book of Jeremiah this week, it will only be a 5-day week for the reading plan.  If you could share a reflection or something God has been teaching you lately, I would love to post some as our Day 6 this week!  Just email me at ejmushlock@gmail.com **

Jeremiah 49-50

*Click here to read this passage:

Jeremiah 49-50 YouVersion(NIV)

Jeremiah 50 – A Message About Babylon: “Babylon will be captured.”

Last week I remember reading a verse in Jeremiah that caught me off guard.  It was Jeremiah 27:6 – “Now I will hand all your countries over to my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.”

‘My servant Nebuchadnezzar’? Isn’t this the same Nebuchadnezzar who throws Shadrach Meshach, and Abednego into the fiery furnace?  And wasn’t Babylon this horribly sinful nation?  Why would God call Nebuchadnezzar His servant and let Babylon take over Judah and enjoy both power and riches?

This is just another reminder that God is the one in control.  Even though Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon, and even though he did not submit to God’s control, it didn’t matter.  God is and always will be the King of Kings and He is the one in control.  He chose to use Babylon for His purposes, so for a time, they appeared to be successful and thriving.  But the time came for Babylon’s judgment and punishment as well.

“You Babylonians had a good time while it lasted, didn’t you?  You lived it up, exploiting and using my people, frisky calves romping in lush pastures, wild stallions out having a good time!” (50:11)

“Just watch!  I’m bringing doom on the king of Babylon and his land.” (50:18)

All power, justice, and vengeance are in God’s hands.  He does what is just and right and in the right time.  He is in control!