Ezekiel 10-11

Ezekiel 10-11

Ezekiel 10-11 | Israel's Idolatry Drove God Away | April 2, 2023

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Ezekiel 10:1-22 CSB

(1) Then I looked, and there above the expanse over the heads of the cherubim was something like a throne with the appearance of lapis lazuli. (2) The LORD spoke to the man clothed in linen and said, "Go inside the wheelwork beneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with blazing coals from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city." So he went in as I watched. (3) Now the cherubim were standing to the south of the temple when the man went in, and the cloud filled the inner court. (4) Then the glory of the LORD rose from above the cherub to the threshold of the temple. The temple was filled with the cloud, and the court was filled with the brightness of the LORD's glory. (5) The sound of the cherubim's wings could be heard as far as the outer court; it was like the voice of God Almighty when he speaks. (6) After the LORD commanded the man clothed in linen, saying, "Take fire from inside the wheelwork, from among the cherubim," the man went in and stood beside a wheel. (7) Then the cherub reached out his hand to the fire that was among them. He took some and put it into the hands of the man clothed in linen, who took it and went out. (8) The cherubim appeared to have the form of human hands under their wings. (9) I looked, and there were four wheels beside the cherubim, one wheel beside each cherub. The luster of the wheels was like the gleam of beryl. (10) In appearance, all four looked alike, like a wheel within a wheel. (11) When they moved, they would go in any of the four directions, without pivoting as they moved. But wherever the head faced, they would go in that direction, without pivoting as they went. (12) Their entire bodies, including their backs, hands, wings, and the wheels that the four of them had, were full of eyes all around. (13) As I listened the wheels were called "the wheelwork." (14) Each one had four faces: one was the face of a cherub, the second the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. (15) The cherubim ascended; these were the living creatures I had seen by the Chebar Canal. (16) When the cherubim moved, the wheels moved beside them, and when they lifted their wings to rise from the earth, even then the wheels did not veer away from them. (17) When the cherubim stopped, the wheels stood still, and when they ascended, the wheels ascended with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in them. (18) Then the glory of the LORD moved away from the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim. (19) The cherubim lifted their wings and ascended from the earth right before my eyes; the wheels were beside them as they went. The glory of the God of Israel was above them, and it stopped at the entrance to the eastern gate of the LORD's house. (20) These were the living creatures I had seen beneath the God of Israel by the Chebar Canal, and I recognized that they were cherubim. (21) Each had four faces and each had four wings, with what looked something like human hands under their wings. (22) Their faces looked like the same faces I had seen by the Chebar Canal. Each creature went straight ahead.

Ezekiel 11:1-25 CSB

(1) The Spirit then lifted me up and brought me to the eastern gate of the LORD's house, which faces east, and at the gate's entrance were twenty-five men. Among them I saw Jaazaniah son of Azzur, and Pelatiah son of Benaiah, leaders of the people. (2) The LORD said to me, "Son of man, these are the men who plot evil and give wicked advice in this city. (3) "They are saying, 'Isn't the time near to build houses? The city is the pot, and we are the meat.' (4) "Therefore, prophesy against them. Prophesy, son of man! " (5) Then the Spirit of the LORD came on me, and he told me, "You are to say, 'This is what the LORD says: That is what you are thinking, house of Israel; and I know the thoughts that arise in your mind. (6) "You have multiplied your slain in this city, filling its streets with them. (7) " 'Therefore, this is what the Lord GOD says: The slain you have put within it are the meat, and the city is the pot, but I will take you out of it. (8) "You fear the sword, so I will bring the sword against you. This is the declaration of the Lord GOD. (9) "I will take you out of the city and hand you over to foreigners; I will execute judgments against you. (10) "You will fall by the sword, and I will judge you at the border of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD. (11) "The city will not be a pot for you, and you will not be the meat within it. I will judge you at the border of Israel, (12) "so you will know that I am the LORD, whose statutes you have not followed and whose ordinances you have not practiced. Instead, you have acted according to the ordinances of the nations around you.' " (13) Now while I was prophesying, Pelatiah son of Benaiah died. Then I fell facedown and cried out loudly, "Oh, Lord GOD! You are bringing the remnant of Israel to an end! " (14) The word of the LORD came to me again: (15) "Son of man, your own relatives, those who have the right to redeem your property, along with the entire house of Israel ​-- ​all of them ​-- ​are those to whom the residents of Jerusalem have said, 'You are far from the LORD; this land has been given to us as a possession.' (16) "Therefore say, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: Though I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.' (17) "Therefore say, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.' (18) "When they arrive there, they will remove all its abhorrent acts and detestable practices from it. (19) "I will give them integrity of heart and put a new spirit within them; I will remove their heart of stone from their bodies and give them a heart of flesh, (20) "so that they will follow my statutes, keep my ordinances, and practice them. They will be my people, and I will be their God. (21) "But as for those whose hearts pursue their desire for abhorrent acts and detestable practices, I will bring their conduct down on their own heads." This is the declaration of the Lord GOD. (22) Then the cherubim, with the wheels beside them, lifted their wings, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them. (23) The glory of the LORD rose up from within the city and stopped on the mountain east of the city. (24) The Spirit lifted me up and brought me to Chaldea and to the exiles in a vision from the Spirit of God. After the vision I had seen left me, (25) I spoke to the exiles about all the things the LORD had shown me.

Ezekiel 8-9

Ezekiel 8-9

Ezekiel 8-9 | Idolatry in God's Temple - A VisioN | March 26, 2023

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Ezekiel 8:1-18 CSB

(1) In the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, I was sitting in my house and the elders of Judah were sitting in front of me, and there the hand of the Lord GOD came down on me. (2) I looked, and there was someone who looked like a man. From what seemed to be his waist down was fire, and from his waist up was something that looked bright, like the gleam of amber. (3) He stretched out what appeared to be a hand and took me by the hair of my head. Then the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and carried me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the inner gate that faces north, where the offensive statue that provokes jealousy was located. (4) I saw the glory of the God of Israel there, like the vision I had seen in the plain. (5) The LORD said to me, "Son of man, look toward the north." I looked to the north, and there was this offensive statue north of the Altar Gate, at the entrance. (6) He said to me, "Son of man, do you see what they are doing here ​-- ​more detestable acts that the house of Israel is committing ​-- ​so that I must depart from my sanctuary? You will see even more detestable acts." (7) Then he brought me to the entrance of the court, and when I looked there was a hole in the wall. (8) He said to me, "Son of man, dig through the wall." So I dug through the wall and discovered a doorway. (9) He said to me, "Go in and see the detestable, wicked acts they are committing here." (10) I went in and looked, and there engraved all around the wall was every kind of abhorrent thing ​-- ​crawling creatures and beasts ​-- ​as well as all the idols of the house of Israel. (11) Seventy elders from the house of Israel were standing before them, with Jaazaniah son of Shaphan standing among them. Each had a firepan in his hand, and a fragrant cloud of incense was rising up. (12) He said to me, "Son of man, do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his idol? For they are saying, 'The LORD does not see us. The LORD has abandoned the land.' " (13) Again he said to me, "You will see even more detestable acts that they are committing." (14) Then he brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the LORD's house, and I saw women sitting there weeping for Tammuz. (15) And he said to me, "Do you see this, son of man? You will see even more detestable acts than these." (16) So he brought me to the inner court of the LORD's house, and there were about twenty-five men at the entrance of the LORD's temple, between the portico and the altar, with their backs to the LORD's temple and their faces turned to the east. They were bowing to the east in worship of the sun. (17) And he said to me, "Do you see this, son of man? Is it not enough for the house of Judah to commit the detestable acts they are doing here, that they must also fill the land with violence and repeatedly anger me, even putting the branch to their nose? (18) "Therefore I will respond with wrath. I will not show pity or spare them. Though they call loudly in my hearing, I will not listen to them."

Ezekiel 9:1-11 CSB

(1) Then he called loudly in my hearing, "Come near, executioners of the city, each of you with a destructive weapon in his hand." (2) And I saw six men coming from the direction of the Upper Gate, which faces north, each with a war club in his hand. There was another man among them, clothed in linen, carrying writing equipment. They came and stood beside the bronze altar. (3) Then the glory of the God of Israel rose from above the cherub where it had been, to the threshold of the temple. He called to the man clothed in linen and carrying writing equipment. (4) "Pass throughout the city of Jerusalem," the LORD said to him, "and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the detestable practices committed in it." (5) He spoke to the others in my hearing: "Pass through the city after him and start killing; do not show pity or spare them! (6) "Slaughter the old men, the young men and women, as well as the children and older women, but do not come near anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary." So they began with the elders who were in front of the temple. (7) Then he said to them, "Defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain. Go! " So they went out killing people in the city. (8) While they were killing, I was left alone. And I fell facedown and cried out, "Oh, Lord GOD! Are you going to destroy the entire remnant of Israel when you pour out your wrath on Jerusalem? " (9) He answered me, "The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is extremely great; the land is full of bloodshed, and the city full of perversity. For they say, 'The LORD has abandoned the land; he does not see.' (10) "But as for me, I will not show pity or spare them. I will bring their conduct down on their own heads." (11) Then the man clothed in linen and carrying writing equipment reported back, "I have done all that you commanded me."

Ezekiel 6-7

Ezekiel 6-7

Ezekiel 6-7 | The Drama of Judgment II | March 19, 2023

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Ezekiel 6:1-14 CSB

(1) The word of the LORD came to me: (2) "Son of man, face the mountains of Israel and prophesy against them. (3) "You are to say: Mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD! This is what the Lord GOD says to the mountains and the hills, to the ravines and the valleys: I am about to bring a sword against you, and I will destroy your high places. (4) "Your altars will be desolated and your shrines smashed. I will throw down your slain in front of your idols. (5) "I will lay the corpses of the Israelites in front of their idols and scatter your bones around your altars. (6) "Wherever you live the cities will be in ruins and the high places will be desolate, so that your altars will lie in ruins and be desecrated, your idols smashed and obliterated, your shrines cut down, and what you have made wiped out. (7) "The slain will fall among you, and you will know that I am the LORD. (8) "Yet I will leave a remnant when you are scattered among the nations, for throughout the countries there will be some of you who will escape the sword. (9) "Then your survivors will remember me among the nations where they are taken captive, how I was crushed by their promiscuous hearts that turned away from me and by their eyes that lusted after their idols. They will loathe themselves because of the evil things they did, their detestable actions of every kind. (10) "And they will know that I am the LORD; I did not threaten to bring this disaster on them without a reason. (11) "This is what the Lord GOD says: Clap your hands, stamp your feet, and cry out over all the evil and detestable practices of the house of Israel, who will fall by the sword, famine, and plague. (12) "The one who is far off will die by plague; the one who is near will fall by the sword; and the one who remains and is spared will die of famine. In this way I will exhaust my wrath on them. (13) "You will all know that I am the LORD when their slain lie among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, on all the mountaintops, and under every green tree and every leafy oak ​-- ​the places where they offered pleasing aromas to all their idols. (14) "I will stretch out my hand against them, and wherever they live I will make the land a desolate waste, from the wilderness to Diblah. Then they will know that I am the LORD."

Ezekiel 7:1-27 CSB

(1) The word of the LORD came to me: (2) "Son of man, this is what the Lord GOD says to the land of Israel: An end! The end has come on the four corners of the earth. (3) "The end is now upon you; I will send my anger against you and judge you according to your ways. I will punish you for all your detestable practices. (4) "I will not look on you with pity or spare you, but I will punish you for your ways and for your detestable practices within you. Then you will know that I am the LORD." (5) This is what the Lord GOD says: Look, one disaster after another is coming! (6) An end has come; the end has come! It has awakened against you. Look, it is coming! (7) Doom has come on you, inhabitants of the land. The time has come; the day is near. There will be panic on the mountains and not celebration. (8) I will pour out my wrath on you very soon; I will exhaust my anger against you and judge you according to your ways. I will punish you for all your detestable practices. (9) I will not look on you with pity or spare you. I will punish you for your ways and for your detestable practices within you. Then you will know that it is I, the LORD, who strikes. (10) Here is the day! Here it comes! Doom is on its way. The rod has blossomed; arrogance has bloomed. (11) Violence has grown into a rod of wickedness. None of them will remain: none of that crowd, none of their wealth, and none of the eminent among them. (12) The time has come; the day has arrived. Let the buyer not rejoice and the seller not mourn, for wrath is on her whole crowd. (13) The seller will certainly not return to what was sold as long as he and the buyer remain alive. For the vision concerning her whole crowd will not be revoked, and because of the iniquity of each one, none will preserve his life. (14) They have blown the trumpet and prepared everything, but no one goes to war, for my wrath is on her whole crowd. (15) The sword is on the outside; plague and famine are on the inside. Whoever is in the field will die by the sword, and famine and plague will devour whoever is in the city. (16) The survivors among them will escape and live on the mountains. Like doves of the valley, all of them will moan, each over his own iniquity. (17) All their hands will become weak, and all their knees will run with urine. (18) They will put on sackcloth, and horror will overwhelm them. Shame will cover all their faces, and all their heads will be bald. (19) They will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will seem like something filthy. Their silver and gold will be unable to save them in the day of the LORD's wrath. They will not satisfy their appetites or fill their stomachs, for these were the stumbling blocks that brought about their iniquity. (20) He appointed his beautiful ornaments for majesty, but they made their detestable images from them, their abhorrent things. Therefore, I have made these into something filthy to them. (21) I will hand these things over to foreigners as plunder and to the wicked of the earth as spoil, and they will profane them. (22) I will turn my face from them as they profane my treasured place. Violent men will enter it and profane it. (23) Forge the chain, for the land is filled with crimes of bloodshed, and the city is filled with violence. (24) So I will bring the most evil of nations to take possession of their houses. I will put an end to the pride of the strong, and their sacred places will be profaned. (25) Anguish is coming! They will look for peace, but there will be none. (26) Disaster after disaster will come, and there will be rumor after rumor. Then they will look for a vision from a prophet, but instruction will perish from the priests and counsel from the elders. (27) The king will mourn; the prince will be clothed in grief; and the hands of the people of the land will tremble. I will deal with them according to their own conduct, and I will judge them by their own standards. Then they will know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 4-5

Ezekiel 4-5

Ezekiel 4-5 | The Drama of Judgment | March 12, 2023

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Ezekiel 4:1-17 CSB

(1) "Now you, son of man, take a brick, set it in front of you, and draw the city of Jerusalem on it. (2) "Then lay siege against it: Construct a siege wall, build a ramp, pitch military camps, and place battering rams against it on all sides. (3) "Take an iron plate and set it up as an iron wall between yourself and the city. Face it so that it is under siege, and besiege it. This will be a sign for the house of Israel. (4) "Then lie down on your left side and place the iniquity of the house of Israel on it. You will bear their iniquity for the number of days you lie on your side. (5) "For I have assigned you the years of their iniquity according to the number of days you lie down, 390 days; so you will bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. (6) "When you have completed these days, lie down again, but on your right side, and bear the iniquity of the house of Judah. I have assigned you forty days, a day for each year. (7) "Face the siege of Jerusalem with your arm bared, and prophesy against it. (8) "Be aware that I will put cords on you so you cannot turn from side to side until you have finished the days of your siege. (9) "Also take wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt. Put them in a single container and make them into bread for yourself. You are to eat it during the number of days you lie on your side, 390 days. (10) "The food you eat each day will weigh eight ounces; you will eat it at set times. (11) "You will also drink a ration of water, a sixth of a gallon, which you will drink at set times. (12) "You will eat it as you would a barley cake and bake it over dried human excrement in their sight." (13) The LORD said, "This is how the Israelites will eat their bread ​-- ​ceremonially unclean ​-- ​among the nations where I will banish them." (14) But I said, "Oh, Lord GOD, I have never been defiled. From my youth until now I have not eaten anything that died naturally or was mauled by wild beasts. And impure meat has never entered my mouth." (15) He replied to me, "Look, I will let you use cow dung instead of human excrement, and you can make your bread over that." (16) He said to me, "Son of man, I am going to cut off the supply of bread in Jerusalem. They will anxiously eat food they have weighed out and in dread drink rationed water (17) "for lack of bread and water. Everyone will be devastated and waste away because of their iniquity.

Ezekiel 5:1-17 CSB

(1) "Now you, son of man, take a sharp sword, use it as you would a barber's razor, and shave your head and beard. Then take a set of scales and divide the hair. (2) "You are to burn a third of it in the city when the days of the siege have ended; you are to take a third and slash it with the sword all around the city; and you are to scatter a third to the wind, for I will draw a sword to chase after them. (3) "But you are to take a few strands from the hair and secure them in the folds of your robe. (4) "Take some more of them, throw them into the fire, and burn them in it. A fire will spread from it to the whole house of Israel. (5) "This is what the Lord GOD says: I have set this Jerusalem in the center of the nations, with countries all around her. (6) "She has rebelled against my ordinances with more wickedness than the nations, and against my statutes more than the countries that surround her. For her people have rejected my ordinances and have not walked in my statutes. (7) "Therefore, this is what the Lord GOD says: Because you have been more insubordinate than the nations around you ​-- ​you have not walked in my statutes or kept my ordinances; you have not even kept the ordinances of the nations around you ​-- ​ (8) "therefore, this is what the Lord GOD says: See, I myself am against you, Jerusalem, and I will execute judgments within you in the sight of the nations. (9) "Because of all your detestable practices, I will do to you what I have never done before and what I will never do again. (10) "As a result, fathers will eat their sons within Jerusalem, and sons will eat their fathers. I will execute judgments against you and scatter all your survivors to every direction of the wind. (11) "Therefore, as I live" ​-- ​this is the declaration of the Lord GOD ​-- ​"I will withdraw and show you no pity, because you have defiled my sanctuary with all your abhorrent acts and detestable practices. Yes, I will not spare you. (12) "A third of your people will die by plague and be consumed by famine within you; a third will fall by the sword all around you; and I will scatter a third to every direction of the wind, and I will draw a sword to chase after them. (13) "When my anger is spent and I have vented my wrath on them, I will be appeased. Then after I have spent my wrath on them, they will know that I, the LORD, have spoken in my jealousy. (14) "I will make you a ruin and a disgrace among the nations around you, in the sight of everyone who passes by. (15) "So you will be a disgrace and a taunt, a warning and a horror, to the nations around you when I execute judgments against you in anger, wrath, and furious rebukes. I, the LORD, have spoken. (16) "When I shoot deadly arrows of famine at them, arrows for destruction that I will send to destroy you, inhabitants of Jerusalem, I will intensify the famine against you and cut off your supply of bread. (17) "I will send famine and dangerous animals against you. They will leave you childless. Plague and bloodshed will sweep through you, and I will bring a sword against you. I, the LORD, have spoken."

Ezekiel 2-3

Ezekiel 2-3

Ezekiel 2-3 | The Calling of Ezekiel | March 5, 2023

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Ezekiel 2:1-10 CSB

(1) He said to me, "Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak with you." (2) As he spoke to me, the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet, and I listened to the one who was speaking to me. (3) He said to me, "Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to the rebellious pagans who have rebelled against me. The Israelites and their ancestors have transgressed against me to this day. (4) "The descendants are obstinate and hardhearted. I am sending you to them, and you must say to them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says.' (5) "Whether they listen or refuse to listen ​-- ​for they are a rebellious house ​-- ​they will know that a prophet has been among them. (6) "But you, son of man, do not be afraid of them and do not be afraid of their words, even though briers and thorns are beside you and you live among scorpions. Don't be afraid of their words or discouraged by the look on their faces, for they are a rebellious house. (7) "Speak my words to them whether they listen or refuse to listen, for they are rebellious. (8) "And you, son of man, listen to what I tell you: Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you." (9) So I looked and saw a hand reaching out to me, and there was a written scroll in it. (10) When he unrolled it before me, it was written on the front and back; words of lamentation, mourning, and woe were written on it.

Ezekiel 3:1-27 CSB

(1) He said to me: "Son of man, eat what you find here. Eat this scroll, then go and speak to the house of Israel." (2) So I opened my mouth, and he fed me the scroll. (3) "Son of man," he said to me, "feed your stomach and fill your belly with this scroll I am giving you." So I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. (4) Then he said to me: "Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak my words to them. (5) "For you are not being sent to a people of unintelligible speech or a difficult language but to the house of Israel -- (6) "not to the many peoples of unintelligible speech or a difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. No doubt, if I sent you to them, they would listen to you. (7) "But the house of Israel will not want to listen to you because they do not want to listen to me. For the whole house of Israel is hardheaded and hardhearted. (8) "Look, I have made your face as hard as their faces and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. (9) "I have made your forehead like a diamond, harder than flint. Don't be afraid of them or discouraged by the look on their faces, though they are a rebellious house." (10) Next he said to me: "Son of man, listen carefully to all my words that I speak to you and take them to heart. (11) "Go to your people, the exiles, and speak to them. Tell them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says,' whether they listen or refuse to listen." (12) The Spirit then lifted me up, and I heard a loud rumbling sound behind me ​-- ​bless the glory of the LORD in his place! ​-- ​ (13) with the sound of the living creatures' wings brushing against each other and the sound of the wheels beside them, a loud rumbling sound. (14) The Spirit lifted me up and took me away. I left in bitterness and in an angry spirit, and the LORD's hand was on me powerfully. (15) I came to the exiles at Tel-abib, who were living by the Chebar Canal, and I sat there among them stunned for seven days. (16) Now at the end of seven days the word of the LORD came to me: (17) "Son of man, I have made you a watchman over the house of Israel. When you hear a word from my mouth, give them a warning from me. (18) "If I say to the wicked person, 'You will surely die,' but you do not warn him ​-- ​you don't speak out to warn him about his wicked way in order to save his life ​-- ​that wicked person will die for his iniquity. Yet I will hold you responsible for his blood. (19) "But if you warn a wicked person and he does not turn from his wickedness or his wicked way, he will die for his iniquity, but you will have rescued yourself. (20) "Now if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and acts unjustly, and I put a stumbling block in front of him, he will die. If you did not warn him, he will die because of his sin, and the righteous acts he did will not be remembered. Yet I will hold you responsible for his blood. (21) "But if you warn the righteous person that he should not sin, and he does not sin, he will indeed live because he listened to your warning, and you will have rescued yourself." (22) The hand of the LORD was on me there, and he said to me, "Get up, go out to the plain, and I will speak with you there." (23) So I got up and went out to the plain. The LORD's glory was present there, like the glory I had seen by the Chebar Canal, and I fell facedown. (24) The Spirit entered me and set me on my feet. He spoke with me and said: "Go, shut yourself inside your house. (25) "As for you, son of man, they will put ropes on you and bind you with them so you cannot go out among them. (26) "I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth, and you will be mute and unable to be a mediator for them, for they are a rebellious house. (27) "But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you will say to them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says.' Let the one who listens, listen, and let the one who refuses, refuse ​-- ​for they are a rebellious house.

Matthew 17:1-9 | Guest Speaker - Drew Yamamoto

Matthew 17:1-9 | Guest Speaker - Drew Yamamoto

Matthew 17:1-9 | Guest Speaker - Drew Yamamoto | February 26, 2023

Matthew 17:1-9 ESV

(1) And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. (2) And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. (3) And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. (4) And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah." (5) He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." (6) When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. (7) But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and have no fear." (8) And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. (9) And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead."

Ezekiel 1

Ezekiel 1

Ezekiel 1 | See the Lord | February 19, 2023

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Ezekiel 1:1-28 CSB

(1) In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, while I was among the exiles by the Chebar Canal, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. (2) On the fifth day of the month ​-- ​it was the fifth year of King Jehoiachin's exile ​-- ​ (3) the word of the LORD came directly to the priest Ezekiel son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar Canal. The LORD's hand was on him there.

(4) I looked, and there was a whirlwind coming from the north, a huge cloud with fire flashing back and forth and brilliant light all around it. In the center of the fire, there was a gleam like amber. (5) The likeness of four living creatures came from it, and this was their appearance: They looked something like a human, (6) but each of them had four faces and four wings. (7) Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the hooves of a calf, sparkling like the gleam of polished bronze. (8) They had human hands under their wings on their four sides. All four of them had faces and wings. (9) Their wings were touching. The creatures did not turn as they moved; each one went straight ahead. (10) Their faces looked something like the face of a human, and each of the four had the face of a lion on the right, the face of an ox on the left, and the face of an eagle. (11) That is what their faces were like. Their wings were spread upward; each had two wings touching that of another and two wings covering its body. (12) Each creature went straight ahead. Wherever the Spirit wanted to go, they went without turning as they moved. (13) The likeness of the living creatures was like the appearance of blazing coals of fire or like torches. Fire was moving back and forth between the living creatures; it was bright, with lightning coming out of it. (14) The creatures were darting back and forth like flashes of lightning.

(15) When I looked at the living creatures, there was one wheel on the ground beside each of the four-faced creatures. (16) The appearance of the wheels and their craftsmanship was like the gleam of beryl, and all four had the same likeness. Their appearance and craftsmanship was like a wheel within a wheel. (17) When they moved, they went in any of the four directions, without turning as they moved. (18) Their rims were tall and awe-inspiring. Each of their four rims were full of eyes all around. (19) When the living creatures moved, the wheels moved beside them, and when the creatures rose from the earth, the wheels also rose. (20) Wherever the Spirit wanted to go, the creatures went in the direction the Spirit was moving. The wheels rose alongside them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. (21) When the creatures moved, the wheels moved; when the creatures stopped, the wheels stopped; and when the creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose alongside them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

(22) Over the heads of the living creatures the likeness of an expanse was spread out. It gleamed like awe-inspiring crystal, (23) and under the expanse their wings extended one toward another. They each also had two wings covering their bodies. (24) When they moved, I heard the sound of their wings like the roar of a huge torrent, like the voice of the Almighty, and a sound of tumult like the noise of an army. When they stopped, they lowered their wings. (25) A voice came from above the expanse over their heads; when they stopped, they lowered their wings.

(26) Something like a throne with the appearance of lapis lazuli was above the expanse over their heads. On the throne, high above, was someone who looked like a human. (27) From what seemed to be his waist up, I saw a gleam like amber, with what looked like fire enclosing it all around. From what seemed to be his waist down, I also saw what looked like fire. There was a brilliant light all around him. (28) The appearance of the brilliant light all around was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the likeness of the LORD's glory. When I saw it, I fell facedown and heard a voice speaking.

Ezekiel Overview

Ezekiel Overview

Ezekiel | Bible Project | February 12, 2023

Ezekiel Introduction

Ezekiel Introduction

Ezekiel Introduction | Theology of Exile | February 5, 2023

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Ezekiel 1:1-3 CSB

(1) In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, while I was among the exiles by the Chebar Canal, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. (2) On the fifth day of the month ​-- ​it was the fifth year of King Jehoiachin's exile ​-- ​ (3) the word of the LORD came directly to the priest Ezekiel son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar Canal. The LORD's hand was on him there.

Luke 24:44-53

Luke 24:44-53

Luke 24:44-53 | The King Ascends to his Throne | January 29, 2023

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Luke 24:44-53

(44) Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." (45) Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, (46) and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, (47) and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. (48) You are witnesses of these things. (49) And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."

(50) And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. (51) While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. (52) And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, (53) and were continually in the temple blessing God.

Luke 24:36-43

Luke 24:36-43

Luke 24:36-43 | The King Appears | January 22, 2023

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Luke 24:36-43

(36) As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, "Peace to you!" (37) But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. (38) And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? (39) See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." (40) And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. (41) And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" (42) They gave him a piece of broiled fish, (43) and he took it and ate before them.

Luke 24:13-35

Luke 24:13-35

Luke 24:13-35 | The King Goes for a Walk | January 15, 2023

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Luke 24:13-35

(13) That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, (14) and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. (15) While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. (16) But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. (17) And he said to them, "What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still, looking sad. (18) Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" (19) And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, (20) and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. (21) But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. (22) Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, (23) and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. (24) Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see." (25) And he said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! (26) Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" (27) And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. (28) So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, (29) but they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them. (30) When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. (31) And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. (32) They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?" (33) And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, (34) saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" (35) Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Luke 24:1-12

Luke 24:1-12

Luke 24:1-12 | The King Rises | January 8, 2023

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Luke 24:1-12

(1) But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. (2) And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, (3) but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. (4) While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. (5) And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? (6) He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, (7) that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise." (8) And they remembered his words, (9) and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. (10) Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, (11) but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. (12) But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

Nehemiah 8:9-12 | Advent: Joy | Guest Speaker Chris Robins

Nehemiah 8:9-12 | Advent: Joy | Guest Speaker Chris Robins

Nehemiah 8:9-12 | Joy | Guest Speaker Chris Robins | December 11, 2022

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Nehemiah 8:9-12

(9) And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. (10) Then he said to them, "Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." (11) So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved." (12) And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.

1 Peter 1:3-5 | Advent: Hope

1 Peter 1:3-5 | Advent: Hope

1 Peter 3:1-5 | Hope | November 27, 2022

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1 Peter 1:3-5

(3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (4) to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, (5) who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Matthew 6:19-24 | Thanksgiving

Matthew 6:19-24 | Thanksgiving

Matthew 6:19-24 | Thanksgiving | November 20, 2022

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Matthew 6:19-24

(19) "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, (20) but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. (21) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (22) "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, (23) but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! (24) "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Luke 23:26-56

Luke 23:26-56

Luke 23:26-56 | The King’s Cross | November 6, 2022

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Luke 23:26-56

26 And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. 27And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. 28But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. 35And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” 36The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”

39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

44 It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. 47Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” 48And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. 49And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.

50 Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, 51who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. 52This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. 54It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. 55The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments.

On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

Luke 22:63-23:25

Luke 22:63-23:25

Luke 22:63-23:25 | The King’s Trial | October 30, 2022

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Luke 22:63-23:25

63 Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him. 64They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” 65And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him.

66 When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, 67“If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, 68and if I ask you, you will not answer. 69But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” 71Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”

1 Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. 2And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” 3And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” 4Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” 5But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.”

6When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7And when he learned that he belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. 8When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. 9So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. 10The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. 12And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.

13Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. 15Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. 16I will therefore punish and release him.”

18 But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— 19a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. 20Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, 21but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” 23But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. 24So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. 25He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.

Luke 22:47-62

Luke 22:47-62

Luke 22:47-62 | The King’s “Followers” | October 23, 2022

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Luke 22:47-62

47 While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, 48but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51But Jesus said, “No more of this!”And he touched his ear and healed him. 52Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”

54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. 55And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62And he went out and wept bitterly.