The river flowing from the temple is a fascinating. In the middle of a seemingly practical tour intended to provide instructions, the blueprints for rebuilding, there is this image of a river. A very dramatic and miraculous river. Where this river flows, there is life. It clarifies salt water, brings life to a desert: it … Continue reading Ezekiel 45-48
Tag: prophecy
Ezekiel 37-39
Prophecy is difficult. There's a passage here that sounds fairly Messianic. David will rule over them once more. Christ is of the line of David, and Christ will come to redeem them. But then you stop and think about it and you realize the people didn't exactly accept Christ all that whole heartedly, and they … Continue reading Ezekiel 37-39
Ezekiel 34-36
So, being familiar with Psalm 23, David, and the metaphor of Christ as shepherd, it's fairly easy to read this prophecy as a metaphor, as about more than just the shepherds. So when it get down to the more explicit statements, it's not much of twist or reveal. I wonder, though, whether the people that … Continue reading Ezekiel 34-36
Ezekiel 9-12
All right. I don't really have anything passage significant today. So I'm going to take this opportunity to remind whoever happens to be reading that it is perfectly all right to be down right confused by a passage of Scripture. It is good idea to look for help from pastors, friends, books, podcasts, blogs, what … Continue reading Ezekiel 9-12
Micah 1-4 Psalm 129
The beating of swords into plowshares is a beautiful metaphor that many people have taken comfort in. It's great. The idea that our weapons will no longer be needed, that our instruments of war will be repurposed to the service of peace, is wonderful. It's no wonder that many cling to this promise. It isn't … Continue reading Micah 1-4 Psalm 129
Obadiah Psalm 127
Do you ever wonder if they got tired of the prophecies? I mean, there are several prophets serving several kings in both nations delivering the same warnings. Did they get tired of hearing it? Did they ever doubt it was ever really going to happen? Like, that last guy said the same thing? And, the … Continue reading Obadiah Psalm 127
Amos 1-5 Psalm 125
So I get that Israel messed up really badly and was judged for it. I mean, that much has always been made really really clear. How many prophets really needed to say it? But something stuck out to me reading this passage. Can't say I'm surprised. That tends to happen about 90% of the time, … Continue reading Amos 1-5 Psalm 125
Hosea 1-5 Psalm 122
I always feel kind of bad for Hosea’s children. I get the metaphor of the prophet marrying the whore and taking her back after she abandons him to return to whoring. It’s powerful. It’s all the more powerful for having been lived out. God asked a man to live through that. God asked Hosea to … Continue reading Hosea 1-5 Psalm 122
Isaiah 52-54 Psalm 119:97-128
Every since I memorized Isaiah 53 as a kid, it’s been one of my favorite passages. The language of it, especially in the King James Version, is just beautiful. (I don’t prefer the Kings James for many reasons, but there are a few passages that are just gorgeous the cadence of that translation.) The imagery … Continue reading Isaiah 52-54 Psalm 119:97-128
Isaiah 39-41 Psalm 118
I apologize for my absence: I have a bad run of migraines and fatigue. I appreciate your understanding. I will return to my schedule of double posting weekends until I catch up with my original timeline... Isaiah 39 is a trip. First you have Hezekiah giving a guided tour and showing everything he has to … Continue reading Isaiah 39-41 Psalm 118
Pieces of the Mosaic 