Revelation 21 – There is a lot of crossover between what Isaiah writes in chapter 65 and the 21st chapter of Revelation. “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will …
Ezekiel
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Revelation 15 – The divine judgment which was revealed by the seals and proclaimed by the trumpets will now be poured out by the seven bowls. From a literary standpoint, the seventh seal was unleashed by the …
Revelation 12 – The Woman It is out of Israel that the Messiah will come, therefore, it makes sense that the woman would represent not only Israel but also the Messianic community. We can marry these two …
Revelation 11 – I think a major issue with Revelation 11 is the fact that it relies heavily on Revelation 10 for continuity. It is best to read on and view chapters 10 and 11 as one …
Revelation 10 – This vision differs from the others for the simple fact that John is engaged in the action firsthand. The angel that appears before John is hidden in a cloud and his legs were pillars …
Revelation 7 – God’s primary motive in our hearts has always been this: transformation. I think it’s important to understand Revelation in terms of the overall picture instead of as individual narratives. We see a great transformation …
Revelation 6 – I grew up in Berne, Indiana which sits directly on top of the continental divide. If you are not familiar with the continental divide, it is an area of raised terrain that …
Revelation 4 – The Throne We just recently studied the book of Ezekiel and Leviticus which have some strong ties to the language here in Revelation. Before God’s throne, John sees brilliant and vivid imagery that is …
Revelation 2 – Although these letters are addressed to specific congregations in the first century, I believe they are representative of all churches that will exist throughout history. No matter what church you attend, it is likely …
Jeremiah 48 – Moab can trace its ancestry all the way back to Lot. Historically, Israel and Moab experienced times of peace and hostility but there was little love lost between these two nations. Moab seemed to play both sides of the fence. Often, they were a thorn in the side of God’s people. …
Jeremiah 27 – It is fascinating to me to see the way that God is handling wayward Judah in these chapters. Back in Chapter 21 of Jeremiah, we saw the Lord first introduce this idea of submission …
Isaiah 63 – At the beginning of Isaiah 63, we find a familiar theme in Scripture. There is someone with blood-stained clothes who is robed in splendor and striding forward in the greatness of strength. This can …
Isaiah 23 – Babylon was the great city along the eastern side of the ancient world and Tyre was considered the great city of the west. Tyre was known for their fabulous wealth – a benefit to …
Isaiah 20 – Let’s first set the stage. Coming on the heels of Isaiah 19 and the oracle concerning Egypt, we now see the unfolding of God’s judgment. King Sargon of Assyria orders his commander to invade …
Isaiah 14 – There are some deep theological principles at work in this chapter. There is also some controversy as to the correct translation of the phrase, “Oh Lucifer, Son of the morning” in verse 12. Many …
Ezra 10 – A powerful victory is found here in Chapter 10 with humility and repentance. In fact, the whole event takes place after Ezra’s intense act of grief. Notice that what spoke to the people in …
2 Kings 25 – It’s definitely fitting that the fate of Israel was determined at Jericho. “It seems ironic that here, at the very spot where Israel first set foot on the Promised Land, the last of …
Genesis 36 – The bullet points of Esau’s life were not great. God blessed him and his family, but the blessings were only material in nature. Long before, Isaac and Rebekah were concerned about Esau’s choice to …
Genesis 1 – In his book, The Good Book, author Deron Spoo gives us perspective on what we should treasure about Genesis 1. In his opinion, the primary purpose of this first chapter is to affirm that …
John 9 – Jesus and the disciples are out for a stroll when suddenly they encounter a blind man. In the ancient world, blind people were especially helpless in many ways. They were easily manipulated and exploited. …
Nehemiah 9 – Nehemiah 9 describes a scene of revival. God was working collectively and personally to bring about reflection, ownership, repentance, and obedience. There is something to be said about reflecting on our history with God. …
Zechariah 13 – In order to understand this chapter, we must rewind to the end of Zechariah 12. In the end times, after Jesus has returned, Zechariah predicts a time of mourning where Israel will finally realize …
Joel 1 – The book of Joel centers around The Day of the Lord. Here is a brief synopsis of what that entails… The Day of the Lord Though it probably refers to future events, it …
Psalm 133 – Through Jesus, the Holy Spirit has been poured out over us. Like a priest who would be anointed by a fine oil, we as believers have been abundantly blessed by the Holy Spirit. This …
Psalm 67 – Many forget God’s original intent when He chose Israel as His people. “I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will place them …
Psalm 51 – It is known as “The Sinner’s Guide” and contains some of the most quoted verses in all of Psalms. It is not surprising that this Psalm features some of the most beautifully articulated phrases …
Mark 9 – We all know the greatest commandment according to Jesus. Here’s a refresher… “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. …
Deuteronomy 30 – I was drawn specifically to verse 6 of this chapter because it relates closely to the process a believer undergoes within the New Covenant. “Moreover the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and …
Deuteronomy 5 – False teachers love to cherry-pick verses and twist the context to their liking. A perfect example of this is found in Deuteronomy 5:9. ‘You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness …
Ezekiel 48 – Some view the final chapters of Ezekiel as a literal prophecy to be fulfilled during the end times. This is definitely possible. However, I tend to lean more toward the immediate context for readers …
Ezekiel 47 – If we read this chapter as a future prophecy of the end times, we get a picture of the amazing geographical changes that will occur in the middle east. The water becomes a source …
Ezekiel 45 – Nelson’s New Illustrated Commentary points out the emphasis of holiness in this chapter. There are specific details of what was expected by God in regards to being holy. Stop the use of violence and …
Ezekiel 46 – First, this is a tough chapter to reconcile with our modernized Christian worldview. Second, there are many details that paint a clouded picture of what a fulfillment would look like. We can rest assured …
Ezekiel 44 – “They shall enter My sanctuary; they shall come near to My table to minister to Me and keep My charge.’ Ezekiel 44:16 NASB We must understand that every true believer is a saint and …
Ezekiel 43 – In chapters 8-11 of Ezekiel, we find the presence of the Lord leaving the temple. This was symbolic of what was about to happen to the people as their protection was removed and they …
Ezekiel 42 – The visual created by this chapter draws special interest. From a bird’s-eye view, the design of the temple itself had many layers with different levels of holiness. Inside was the holy of holies where …
Ezekiel 41 – The previous chapters of condemnation were hard to swallow. They were, however, necessary. Now, we have entered into the consolation section of this visionary prophet’s writings. The people were no doubt weary from their …
Ezekiel 40 – Ezekiel’s ministry began with a vision of God. The last 9 chapters end with a vision for his people. This vision is one of reconciliation, protection, trust, and blessings. Throughout his book, Ezekiel has …
Ezekiel 39 – Until the time that Jerusalem fell, the message of Ezekiel was negative and full of judgment. Now, God turns His attention towards hope. There would be a new spirit, new leadership, and a new …
Ezekiel 38 – This chapter has gained a lot of attention in recent years as expositors have focused on the connection to modern-day events. Though some scholars are quick to label this chapter as apocalyptic, many are …
Ezekiel 37 – The phrase, “I will be their God and they will be my people” is a familiar phrase. We read it here in Ezekiel as an analogy for how God will unify both Israel and …
Ezekiel 36 – Verses 22-38 immediately drew my attention. The title over the section reads “I Will Put My Spirit Within You.” We must remember that when we read this, it is God speaking to His people, …
Ezekiel 35 – The land of Edom was just south of the Dead Sea. Located in Edom, we find Mount Seir. This would be the Edomites’ stronghold as they were the people of Esau. Historically, the Edomites and …
Ezekiel 34 – There are so many false teachers out there who twist the message of the Bible to have personal and selfish benefits. Muddled behind spiritual words is a subtle self-glorifying message. Ultimately, the concern is …
Ezekiel 33 – The role of watchman that was given to Ezekiel is one of the most fascinating metaphors for a prophet. We first read it in Ezekiel in Chapter 3. “Son of man, I have appointed …
Ezekiel 32 – There is really not much to say here other than what has been said over and over again over the last several chapters. The plain and simple truth is that God will judge righteously. …
Ezekiel 31 – The cedars of Lebanon were highly esteemed as symbols of excellence and domination. They towered up to 80 feet in height and were thick with spreading branches. God says not even the trees of …
Ezekiel 30 – The historical validity of this chapter is amazing. In verse 13-19, God speaks specifically to cities within Egypt and gives vivid details for what they will face. Is it ironic that one of the …
Ezekiel 29 – God would make His punishment very personal for Egypt. Say that this is what the Sovereign LORD is telling the king of Egypt: I am your enemy, you monster crocodile, lying in the river. …
Ezekiel 28 – This chapter raises a lot of questions. From where did Ezekiel derive his imagery used in this chapter? Was it from Genesis? Furthermore, who is the king of Tyre being compared to? It seems …
Ezekiel 27 – What kind of future is in store for those who ferociously cling to their pride and arrogance? When pride comes, then comes dishonor, But with the humble is wisdom. Proverbs 11:2 Pride goes before …
Ezekiel 26 – Tyre was attacked at least five different times until 332 BC. The reason none of these were fully successful is because of the unique design of the city. It consisted of the main city …
Ezekiel 25 – It’s easy to read the first 24 chapters of Ezekiel and think that God is only concerned with punishing His own people. This is not the case. He has demonstrated from the beginning of …
Ezekiel 24 – Ministry is hard. And I don’t just mean formal ministry positions. I really mean following Jesus is hard. There are so many days I feel like I’ve run for miles and traveled nowhere. Love …
Ezekiel 23 – “Playing harlot” can generally refer to any type of sinful behavior. In this case, it would be idol worship and trust in foreign nations that would seal Judah’s fate. Specifically, in verses 11-14, Ezekiel …
Ezekiel 22 – Spiritual sin = practical consequences. This is a fact. Though the OT and NT are under different covenants, God is consistent. Israel would experience physical consequences for the heinous acts they committed spiritually. Though …
Ezekiel 21 – Ezekiel was a unique and inspired writer that often used abstract visuals to drive home deep spiritual principles. Although the topic is horrific, this chapter is a prime example of this. Take, for instance, …
Ezekiel 20 – For a good part of my adult life, I chased after the hopes and dreams of man. I had my eyes set on the material pleasures and the finite comforts of this world. God’s …
Ezekiel 19 – In this elegy, Ezekiel mourns the lion cubs (kings of Judah) who were brought up by the lioness (nation of Judah). An elegy is a poem of serious reflection that is typically a lament …
Ezekiel 18 – Turn away from your sins and live. In this chapter, a foundational Christian belief is described in detail. Though the punishment during Ezekiel’s time was on a national scale, the sin that caused the …
Ezekiel 17 – Let’s start by getting an understanding of the allegory. The first great eagle represents Babylon, or, King Nebuchadnezzar. The cedar is Judah. The topmost young twig is Jehoiachin, the king of Judah who was …
Ezekiel 16 – This chapter is an anti-entitlement message. Once again, there is application that is extremely relevant for our culture today. The truth is, we all have skeletons in our closet. We are not always who …
Ezekiel 15 – The grapevine was of utmost importance to the agriculture of ancient Israel. Coming off the heels of Chapter 14 (which was about false prophets), it’s interesting to consider that Jesus makes a direct correlation …
Ezekiel 14 – After introducing His hand of judgment, God reveals four ways in which He will punish the rebellious people. Ezekiel 14:13 – “If a country sins…My Hand….will bring famine.”Ezekiel 14:15 – “If I were to …
Ezekiel 13 – Wow! What a relevant topic! For years, false prophets have been stirring up dissension in order to dismantle what God is building among His people. To make a clear point, God compares a false …
Ezekiel 12 – “Son of man, what is this proverb you people have concerning the land of Israel, saying, ‘The days are long and every vision fails’? Ezekiel 12:22 NASB “Son of man, behold, the house of …
Ezekiel 11 – Although it was written thousands of years ago, Ezekiel 11 has a lot of application for our current society. God said to me, “Mortal man, these men make evil plans and give bad advice …
Ezekiel 10 – Think for a moment about the devastation caused by sin. This was not just a “mistake” or “moral failure.” No matter how much we dress up the sins of the people, the severity of …
Ezekiel 9 – It’s tough to read about the judgment of God with regard to sin, however, it reveals the character of God. The standard set by the holiness of God is not the same as our …
Ezekiel 8 – The people thought that because the temple was located in Jerusalem, their shameful acts of sin were covered. They really believed that the temple guaranteed their security. In reality, their acts had caused God …
Ezekiel 7 – The Babylonians invaded Judah twice but the people could not comprehend the severity of the destruction. It’s like they could not connect the dots. They couldn’t see the connection between their sin and the …
Ezekiel 6 – “However, I will leave a remnant, for you will have those who escaped the sword among the nations when you are scattered among the countries. Ezekiel 6:8 NASB Since the beginning of God’s plan, …
Ezekiel 5 – Each person in Jerusalem was predicted by God to suffer one of three fates. Each of these was symbolized by the three mounds of equally cut-off hair. 1) One-third would burn along with the …
Ezekiel 4 – Just as Isaiah was asked to walk naked and barefoot for 3 years, Ezekiel is asked to portray the coming judgment on His people. Ironically, we see this type of teaching style used in …
Ezekiel 3 – First, let’s paint a backdrop of what Ezekiel is dealing with here. The people of Israel have continually rejected the Word and the prophets. They are stubborn and obstinant (Eze 3:7). They, like us, …
Ezekiel 2 – It is intriguing to consider that God’s Spirit entered Ezekiel in order to empower him to complete the task. This was not always the case in the OT as God sovereignly chose those individuals …
Ezekiel 1 – Ezekiel was 25 years old when he was taken into captivity and was 30 when he was called into ministry. Outside of the book named after him, there is no other reference to Ezekiel …