Creative Space for Wanderers
Read: One of the key themes in Daniel is God’s deliverance in times of great trials–during times of difficulty, not from times of pain. Daniel’s reaction each time involves praying to God for help when troubles greet Daniel and his friends and I think it’s a model for us to learn from as our daily …
Read: From all appearances we’re taken to the end of time in the reading this morning, a time when God will show his ultimate power and might. There’s a lot of discussion amongst scholarly writing, probably dissertations written on the subject, a rather provocative subject for many. While I look forward to the final days …
Read: It’s always interesting how God speaks to me as I read His words and attempt to listen to His voice. In the beginning, as I read through the verses, I catalog those that seem to capture the story and provide a synopsis of what is happening. I try to be concise, to appreciate the …
Read: The last chapter in part one of Ezekiel compares Jerusalem to a cooking pot, the chosen are cooked along with the pot itself, one more parable for our ancestors to consider. The last section gives us something ponder: Ezekiel’s wife dies suddenly. The Lord tells Ezekiel and gives him direction to use this as …
Read: We’re nearing the end of the words against Jerusalem through Ezekiel, hard words to read for sure. Don’t miss if you read nothing else. Judgment on Jerusalem’s Sins Chapter 22 provides a summary and list of offenses found in the holy city of Jerusalem, the choice place for the chosen people. You city that …
Continue reading “Jerusalem Convicted; The Gap; Two Prostitutes: Samaria and Jerusalem”
Read: These five Hebrew acrostic poems1 lament the fall of Jerusalem (though the fifth is not officially an acrostic). Probably written by Jeremiah, we are invited to weep the loss of Jerusalem at the hands of the Babylonians. Like one attending a funeral, my words are few. It’s more important to listen to those who mourn …
Read: Except for the last chapter, these closing chapters of Jeremiah include words specific to nations that surrounded our ancestors at that time, with a pretty consistent theme: y’all is about to get destroy’d! Those that have held tight to their gods and their idols will not escape the wrath of God. : A Message About Egypt. But …
Read: Flashback a few years and a dozen chapters. We find this short chapter, just five verses, is intended to give Baruch, Jeremiah’s scribe, some peace about his role in the drama of Israel’s history. It’s really hard to know if we’re doing the right thing as life unfolds. Should we lead a protest or …
Read: This is an interesting narrative that follows the Babylonian capture of Jerusalem, the ups and downs of those left behind and the consistent word from Jeremiah. In a day that is marked by leaders ignoring the Word through Jeremiah, Gedaliah appears. He is relatively unknown, well, at least by yours truly, but appears here and …
Continue reading “Gedaliah and the Aftermath Beyond the Fall of Jerusalem”
Read: God used Nebuchadnezzar as an instrument of discipline against the nations. His actions are difficult to understand by most and we see prophets arise to say things the people wanted to hear, yet they were words not from the Lord. Jeremiah calls them out, not a pleasant exchange, but what else can he do? …
Continue reading “Nebuchadnezzar Rules; False Prophets; Letter to the Exiles”