Psalm 74

Dear RTB’ers,

Truly, this Psalm shocked me! In my head I see all the Psalms (or any one Psalm) as Davidic psalms, with words of persecution and deliverance, with laments, with praise. But here the psalmist is telling us a story, recounting details of the destruction of the temple by the Babylonians: They set Your sanctuary on fire; they profaned the dwelling place of Your name, bringing it down to the ground. (v. 7) He is apparently writing during the exile, during the time of Ezekiel, all the destruction about which we just read. He could be one of those Jerusalem priests who were taken to Babylon in the second deportation, 586 B.C. He is asking God why all this has happened, when is He going to act. (See Ps. 74:1, 10, 11.)

But then he comes back to what he knows is true, that God is God; He is the God who acts when He chooses: Yet God my King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. Yours is the day, yours also the night; You have established the heavenly lights and the sun. You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth; You have made summer and winter. (v. 12, 16-17) And in the end he calls on the Lord for deliverance; his words hearken for praise, Let not the downtrodden turn back in shame; let the poor and needy praise Your name. (v. 21)

It’s a sad song, but also redemptive. We would do well to recall this Psalm when difficulties overwhelm us.

Blessings.

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See also:

• June 28 (2022) / Psalm 74:1-11
• June 29 (2022) / Psalm 74:12-23

Psalm 73

Dear RTB’ers,

It’s been a while since we’ve been in the Psalms – more than eight months, in fact. Back then we had finished Book 2 of the Psalms. Many (most?) of the Psalms in Book 2 had been written by David. You may recall that many of his psalms were written when he was in danger from Saul or Absalom, so he was often praying for protection and deliverance. Today as we move to Book 3 we’ll see a different focus – still prayers for protection and laments, but also a lot of praise. And so, we begin Book 3 of the Psalms.

With today’s opening line we see right away that we have left Ezekiel: Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. (v. 1) No more of the Lord’s railing against sin and injustice back in Jerusalem. But then, after that wonderful opening line the psalmist moves to jealousy, envious of evildoers who never seem to get hammered for their arrogance, their violence – they were always at ease in their wealth. But for the psalmist, himself, his was a life of pain: All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning. (vv. 13-14)

Thankfully, the psalmist does not wallow in self-pity: Nevertheless, I am continually with You; You hold my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will receive me to glory. (vv. 23-24) And, he knows that in the end God is just and evildoers will be judged according to their evil deeds: For behold, those who are far from You shall perish; You put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to You. (v. 27)

It’s nice to be back to the Psalms!

Blessings.

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See also:

• June 26 (2022) / Psalm 73:1-17
• June 27 (2022) / Psalm 73:18-28

Ezekiel 31-32

Dear RTB’ers,

Today, three more oracles against Egypt (see Ez. 31:1, 32:1, 32:17) and a lament (Ez. 32:2, ff.). The first oracle is unusual. The Lord through Ezekiel uses an allegory, telling a story of Assyria as a great cedar tree which had fallen and gone to ruin: Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: “Because it is tall in stature and has put its top among the clouds, and its heart is haughty in its loftiness, I hand it over to a ruler of the nations; he will thoroughly deal with it. In accordance with its wickedness I have driven it out. Foreign tyrants of the nations have cut it down and left it… (vv. 31:10-12a) Assyria’s pride was its ruin. The allegorical connection to Egypt is not revealed until the last sentence in the chapter: This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, declares the Lord GOD. (v. 31:18b)

Assyria gets another mention in the next chapter (Ez. 32:22-23), along with Elam, Meshech-Tubal, Edom, “princes of the north” and the Sidonians, all of whom have gone down in shame with the slain, for all the terror that they caused… (v. 32:30b) Again, in this chapter’s last sentence Egypt is connected with these deposed nations: …he shall be laid to rest among the uncircumcised, with those who are slain by the sword, Pharaoh and all his multitude, declares the Lord GOD. (v. 32:32b)

Now we leave Ezekiel for a while, quieting ourselves with the Psalms for the next two weeks before returning to finish Ezekiel’s final sixteen chapters.

Blessings.

Ezekiel 29-30

Dear RTB’ers,

Today, an oracle against Egypt (chapter 29) and a lament for her (chapter 30). The oracle against Egypt is different from other oracles in three ways. First, the Lord says that Egypt will recover: At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the peoples among whom they were scattered, and I will restore the fortunes of Egypt and bring them back to the land of Pathros, the land of their origin, and there they shall be a lowly kingdom. It shall be the most lowly of the kingdoms, and never again exalt itself above the nations. And I will make them so small that they will never again rule over the nations. (vv. 29:13b-15) God has said the same about Judah, that after He has punished them that He will restore them. However, Judah’s restoration will be with might, not like Egypt’s weakened kingdom.

A second item noted above is that the Lord’s problem with Egypt seems to be less about idol worship or their brutality and revenge against Judah, but rather that Judah had been turning to Egypt for help and Egypt had been assisting: And it shall never again be the reliance of the house of Israel, recalling their iniquity, when they turn to them for aid. (v. 29:16) The Lord wanted Israel to call on Him, not on Egypt or any other nation. You’ll recall how strongly Jeremiah offered the same message.

A final item today is how the Lord used Nebuchadnezzar against Egypt. Babylon had been sent to Tyre to do battle against them. They had fought long and hard (my Study Bible said fifteen years), but failed to overtake Tyre. So the Lord gave Egypt as Babylon’s reward: Behold, I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and he shall carry off its wealth and despoil it and plunder it; and it shall be the wages for his army. (v. 29:19)

I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it. (v. 17:24b)

Blessings.

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See also: August 3 (2023) / Ezekiel 6-7; 29:1-16; 30:20-31:18 (again).

Ezekiel 27-28

Dear RTB’ers,

Except for the last six verses in the second chapter, it’s all about Tyre today. The first chapter is a straightforward lament. Tyre is described as a beautiful ship, and the splendor of her trade with dozens of cities and nations is recounted – until the ship and its cargo are dumped into the sea.

The second chapter is much more challenging. Ez. 28:2 mentions the prince of Tyre while Ez. 28:11 mentions the king of Tyre. Are these two people the same person? Seemingly, yes, with references to their “god-ness” mentioned for both: Because your heart is proud, and you have said, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of the gods, in the heart of the seas…; You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God… (Ez. 28:2b, 12b-13a; see also Ez. 28:15-17). Some scholars suggest that this prince-king is Satan, cast down from Heaven to the Earth. Try reading the chapter again, imagining that all the first nineteen verses in the chapter apply to Satan.

Finally, this second chapter closes with a short oracle against Sidon and encouragement for Israel. My Study Bible notes that these verses about Sidon are the only place in Scripture where Sidon is mentioned separate from Tyre. That is, there are dozens of mentions of the phrase “Tyre and Sidon” in the Bible, but only one (here) where Sidon stands alone. Interesting…

Blessings.

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See also: August 10 (2023) / Ezekiel 26-28, 32 (again).

Ezekiel 25-26

Dear RTB’ers,

Today, oracles against Ammon, Moab, Edom (Seir), Philistia, and Tyre. We’ll also see God railing against Sidon and Egypt in the next six chapters. The essence of God’s judgment is that these nations cheered when they saw destruction fall upon Jerusalem and Judah. Here are two samplings of His justification:

Thus says the Lord GOD, Because you [Ammon] said, ‘Aha!’ over my sanctuary when it was profaned, and over the land of Israel when it was made desolate, and over the house of Judah when they went into exile, therefore behold, I am handing you over to the people of the East for a possession, and they shall set their encampments among you and make their dwellings in your midst. They shall eat your fruit, and they shall drink your milk.

Ezekiel 25:3b-4

Because Edom acted revengefully against the house of Judah and has grievously offended in taking vengeance on them, therefore thus says the Lord GOD, I will stretch out my hand against Edom and cut off from it man and beast.

Ezekiel 25:12b-13a

The second quote above also mentions Edom’s revenge against Judah, followed a few verses later by the same charge against Philistia. The Lord does not want anyone but Himself acting with vengeance: Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord. (Romans 12:19, Paul citing Deuteronomy 32:35). We saw God’s call for compassion a few chapters back: “For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord GOD. “Therefore, repent and live!” (Ez. 18:32) We need to be people of compassion; leave judgment to God.

Three more days of oracles against Judah’s neighbors.

Blessings.

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See also: August 10 (2023) / Ezekiel 26-28, 32.

Ezekiel 24

Dear RTB’ers,

Each of the last two days I have posted a closing: I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it. (v. 17:24b) Today the Lord speaks these words even more emphatically: I am the LORD. I have spoken; it shall come to pass; I will do it. I will not go back; I will not spare; I will not relent; according to your ways and your deeds you will be judged, declares the Lord GOD. (v. 14) Lest there be any confusion as to the Lord’s intentions…

I found myself moved by God’s instruction to Ezekiel when he is about to lose his wife: Son of man, behold, I am about to take the delight of your eyes away from you at a stroke; yet you shall not mourn or weep, nor shall your tears run down. (v. 16) He is asking Ezekiel not to mourn over his wife’s sudden death. As I have often asked, I put myself into that story – and I felt something like a deep hurt within me. Losing a spouse is difficult enough, but to not lament over that sudden loss – what a challenge that would have been for Ezekiel. But the Lord’s charge to him was all about Jerusalem; my Study Bible said that Ezekiel’s wife died on the same day that Jerusalem was burned. Behold, I will profane My sanctuary, the pride of your power, the delight of your eyes, and the yearning of your soul… (v. 21b) For the Israelis, their pride in their temple, their yearning to return there after their exile – it would all be gone. What a loss for them!

Another tough chapter…

Blessings.

Ezekiel 23

Dear RTB’ers,

Today, what a horrible chapter! I often ask us to put ourselves into the story. Not today! Not to be around either Oholah or Oholibah, or the Egyptians, Assyrians, or Babylonians. Nothing redeeming in this chapter…!! It’s all the Lord’s judgment against Samaria and Jerusalem. I couldn’t even find a verse that I wanted to quote!

Both STS and my Study Bible note that the figures and behaviors of Oholah and Oholibah refer more to political alliances than to idol worship – that Samaria and Jerusalem had sought after Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon for military protection. We have seen how the Lord hates His people seeking after and worshiping other gods instead of Him. Evidently He feels the same about us looking for “answers” elsewhere instead of seeking Him for His counsel. We need to be seeking Him daily, in every aspect of our lives.

I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it. (v. 17:24b)

Blessings.

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See also: August 1 (2023) / Ezekiel 22:1-22; 23.

Ezekiel 22

Dear RTB’ers,

In previous chapters we have seen God’s plans for judgment on Jerusalem, Judah, and its inhabitants, but we have not seen much in the way of details of their wrongdoings, other than idol worship. God, through Ezekiel corrects that omission today, with a listing of their many evils. Here’s a short list: shedding blood (could be murder or idol sacrifices); mistreating parents, sojourners, orphans and widows; profaning the Sabbath; slander; a long list of sexual evils; dishonest gain; usury; all these in addition to idol worship. Did I miss anything?

Then, after listing His commandments that they have broken, God provides a list of the wrongdoers: prophets (Ez. 22:25, 28), priests (Ez. 22:26), princes (think, royalty, Ez. 22:27), and the people (Ez. 22:29). Finally, to complete this chapter’s listings of transgressions committed against Him, God also notes that there is no one who can speak out for Him: And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. (v. 30) End of story.

I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it. (v. 17:24b)

Blessings.

Ezekiel 20:45-21:32

Dear RTB’ers,

Prophesies today against the Negev (the southern part of Judah along its southern border), Jerusalem, and Ammon. Again STS offers some good explanations.

…this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Remove the turban and take off the crown; this will no longer be the same. Exalt that which is low, and humble that which is high. Ruins, ruins, ruins, I will make it! This also will be no longer until He comes whose right it is, and I will give it to Him.’ (Ez. 21:26-27, NASB) I have quoted the NASB here because they capitalize deific pronouns, suggesting that these verses are Messianic. In the ESV it is not clear that these verses are Messianic; my Study Bible even suggests that the reference could be to Nebuchadnezzar.

So much of what we read depends on translation. We need to ask the Lord always to reveal to us what He wants us to know. If He wants us to become Old Testament scholars, that’ll be His call!

Blessings.