Day 194 – July 13, 2021
Scriptures: Malachi 3-4, Luke 1 Gospel of Luke Bible Project A great connection exists between Malachi and Luke. ““Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the Lord Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves. Then you will trample on the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty.” (Malachi 4:1–3, TNIV) Malachi is pointing towards a greater day ahead, there is hope in God acting and doing away with evil. Luke’s Gospel opens with an account of John the Baptist’s birth. There is great anticipation for his ministry. He will be the last prophet before Jesus. “And you (John), my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”” (Luke 1:76–79, TNIV) The Sun is going to rise. A new light is dawning. And age of righteousness and forgiveness and love. This is the hope that is set forth in John the Baptist message and ministry, who ultimately points to the righteous one. Jesus will rise and bring healing to the land. Jesus will announce the Good News, announcing peace, and healing the sick. The Sun rises, a new light is here. Have a blessed day, Jordan
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Day 193 – July 12, 2021
Scriptures: Ecclesiastes 9-12, Malachi 1-2 Malachi - Bible Project We have reached the conclusion in Ecclesiastes, life is but a vapor, but we are wise to, “Fear God and Keep his commandments.” Malachi leads us to a court case. That’s its presentation style, anyways. It offers a statement, a rebuttal, and a rebuttal to the rebuttal. Malachi is making the case for God against the Israelite community. There is a particular emphasis on the priests. God uses Malachi “God’s messenger” to declare the truth. It has 6 questions that are asked and investigated. It’s a fun text, where God gets in the last word on his covenantal faithfulness and love, and with prophetic precision strikes to the heart of the Israelites. The phrases go something like this: “I have loved you.” Then the people question it, like this, “How have you loved us?” “It is you priests who show contempt for my name” But you ask, “How have we shown contempt for your name? “By offering defiled food on my altar.” Statements, rebuttals in the form of questions, and then overwhelming evidence to the point. Each argument is like a court case. And God’s message comes across clearly - the hearts of the people have wandered from him. They are giving God their second and third best, if not nothing at all. You could say simply, they have forgotten the most important thing, “To fear God, and keep his commandments.” Let’s resolve to give God our hearts and our best today! Jordan Day 192 – July 11, 2021
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5-8, Psalms 73 There is a similar tone between the teacher in Ecclesiastes and this Psalm of Asaph. Asaph begins a lament of sorts. He looks at all of the wicked people prospering around him and he is sick of it. There is a bitterness that resides in his heart. He’s kind of wondering, “Why am I living righteously, it doesn’t seem to be getting myself anywhere?” But soon he realizes the foolishness of this, and says, “As for me, my feet have almost slipped.” He has a heart change and reflects on the benefits of righteousness. Not unlike the teacher in Ecclesiastes, we learn that the best thing for humankind is to love God and work hard. Let it all sort of shake out in the wash. While Ecclesiastes reiterates the meaninglessness of life, the vapor that it is – Asaph discovers that true meaning in life comes from a life with God. “Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.” God be with you, Jordan Day 191 – July 10
Scriptures: Song of Solomon 7-8, Ecclesiastes 1-4 The Bible project video gives great insight on the book Ecclesiastes, authorship and more. Please watch it! The author will instruct us about the meaningless of life. Better stated as the vapor that life is. The book can be a bit of a depressing look at life. But it is about gaining wisdom to navigate life well. It is a call to love well and seek first the will of God. As we look for meaning, we need this encouragement and guide. What really matters? Is it work? Is it seeking all the pleasure possible? What is there to life? As we will see there is a time for everything. A time to plant and sow. A time for life and death. What time do we find ourselves in? What should we set our hearts and minds on? What season are you in? Jordan Day 190 – July 9
Scripture: Psalms 45, Song of Solomon 1-6 Bible Project - Song of Solomon We will spend today and tomorrow reading Song of Solomon. The Bible Project video is a helpful guide to what is happening in the poetry of the text. There is a wide range and openness to the interpretations of the text. One angle is Solomon and his first wife. Another angle is a description of Christ and his love for the church. Another is God and his love for Israel. All interpretations have their strengths and weaknesses. Ultimately, we see the power of love. The power of love to bring joy and intense happiness. As well as deepest despair. The Song of Solomon highlights the beauty of God’s Word and the disparity of it. Poetry has a place in scripture. So, we read it with the imagery it was intended. Let’s take a look at one instance. His Banner is Love. It’s not a literal banner in the sky. Banners were what was used by military to announce something. His Banner then is a proclamation of love. I imagine a romantic comedy with a young man holding a boom box below his betrothed window playing “Endless love.” We have poetry and love. And however we tackle the interpretation, if it’s a love sequence between Solomon and his first wife, Christ and the Church, or God and Israel, or something else entirely – the gift to us here is that the love we know exists between Christ and us. His Banner is the Cross, and the message is his endless love. See what I did there? God be with you Jordan Day 189 – July 8, 2021
Scriptures: Psalms 101, 2 Kings 23-25 “Nevertheless, the Lord did not turn away from the heat of his fierce anger, which burned against Judah because of all that Manasseh had done to arouse his anger.” (2 Kings 23:26) Josiah did all he could. He was truly a great king. He eradicated the land of all the evil that Manasseh had done, but the evil was so great that it aroused a great anger in God. The reform that Josiah enacted was considered some of the greatest reforms in the history of Israel/Judah. Babylon comes onto the scene. And while there were political allegiances that were happening between Assyria/Egypt, there was a new player in the political landscape. A great and mighty nation Babylon will come and take over the land. We leave 2 Kings with a grim outlook. Jerusalem is captured, and there is very little hope left. But with God, and his faithful promise, there is still a glimmer of hope. Because it was viewed that Babylon was being used by God to carry out his anger. It would soon be relented; God would lift his people up and restore them. It was simply a question of when? For that, we will continue our journey through scriptures. We will trust that God will accomplish his purposes and redeem His people. Jordan Day 188 – July 7, 2021
Scriptures: 2 Kings 20-21, Psalm 82, 2 Kings 22 Manasseh was as evil as a king as you can possibly imagine. He will be blamed for the final fall of Judah. It was his deviation from the law, the Lord and all that was good that will be the final blow to the nation. Manasseh brought harm and death to his people. He worshiped other gods, even the sun, moon, and stars. He worshiped what was created, and not the Creator. Unfortunately for Judah, he was also the longest reigning king, 55 years from 687-642 BC. After Manasseh’s death, we have one last righteous king. His name was Josiah and he reigned circa 640-609 BC. He undid much of what Manasseh did, he restore the Temple, and the book of the Law was discovered. Once it was discovered there was a great awakening and renewal. A calling of repentance and return to worship of the Lord. As I reflect on today’s text, I invite you to join with me and pray for an awakening to the worship of God. IT was in the renewal of the temple, that they found God’s Word. We need that awakening today in our own age, in our own place. For people to hear the Word of God and reform their lives again. I need it! You probably need it, and I know our community needs it! Let’s call people to worship, and open ourselves to hearing again the Word of the Lord. God bless your day! Jordan Day 187 – July 6, 2021
Scriptures: 2 Kings 19, Psalm 76, Nahum 1-3 Nahum Bible Project “God is renowned in Judah; in Israel his name is great.” (Psalm 76:1) 2 Kings 19, Psalm 76 and Nahum 1-3 are a convergence of several stories, that are difficult to keep straight. Today’s reading is not necessarily a timeline sort of connection. We are in the similar vicinity as far as timing is concerned, but it is not a one for one tale of the happenings of Judah and Nineveh and Assyria. What we have more clearly is a theme. God is renowned, and he uses the nations for his glory and honor. God will show his splendor and might. The King of Assyria, or in this case, the kings of Assyria are unaware of the glory of God. But they will soon find out, and the name of the Lord will be renowned throughout all the earth. God will, “break their yoke from your neck and tear your shackles away.” God will set Judah free. God is greater than Assyria and greater than the mighty kings. God, be glorified! Jordan Day 186 – July 5, 2021
Scriptures: 2 Kings 18, Mark 16 Hezekiah was a godly king. One of the few who got it right in the land of Judah. Something interesting happens, the King of Assyria sends word to Hezekiah, “Look, I know you are depending on Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff, which pierces the hands of anyone who leans on it! Such is Pharaoh King of Egypt to all who depend on him. But if you say to me, ‘We are depending on the Lord our God’ – isn’t he the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah removed, saying to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You must worship before this altar in Jerusalem?’’ This is a fascinating and important moment. Hezekiah tore down the idols that were within the land, and people were worshiping. He even tore down the pole with a. serpent on it that dated back to when the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness and they were bit by snakes. The pole that they looked to for healing, in that moment, Hezekiah tore it down also. There is much confusion in the land about what it means to worship the Lord God. The Assyrian King believes that the way you worship Yahweh is through the Asherah poles and the idols of the land. In his mind, how can Hezekiah be worshiping the Lord God, if he has taken down all the altars? Surely, he is in cahoots with Egypt. That’s the only way possible. It is curious that the serpent pole, “Nehushtan” was also torn down. Perhaps Hezekiah saw it as necessary, that a good thing from the past, became an idol in the present. That instead of turning to the Lord, people were worshiping the snake on the pole. Problematic to say the least! Today’s reading brings us also to the final chapter of Mark. Mark 16 outlines the Resurrection of the Lord and the response of the disciples. They believe and go on proclaiming the Good News, healing and helping people, and leading them to the Lord. Jesus does a greater work than Hezekiah. He showed a complete dependence on the Lord, and he was lifted up. We look, not to a snake on a pole for our healing – but to Christ on the cross and risen from the dead. We look to him. This is who we truly worship. The rest of the New Testament is sorting out what true worship looks like. In the days of Hezekiah, even some of the Israelites were confused as to why the Asherah poles would be removed. It had become how the Israelites approached God for worship. They thought it was how to worship the Lord. Even though the Torah explicitly condemns it, it’s what became culturally acceptable form of worship. It leads to an important question. How do we worship the Lord? What have we just assumed is the way that we worship God, that perhaps needs removed as well? We are led to the cross and the resurrection. Everything in our life hinges on this. Jesus is victorious over sin and death. We have new life in him. We approach God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through the Spirit living in us. Jordan Day 185 – July 4, 2021
Scriptures: 2 Kings 17, Mark 15 The Northern Kingdom of Israel has fallen. It is besieged, ransacked and Assyria now occupies the land. There is interest in worshiping the God of the land, but it is a far cry from the desires of God. From this point onward, there is a desire to see Israel restored. The Kingdom will one day be restored, but not with the dramatic reforms that are necessary. It will subsequently be captured by Babylon. As of this moment though, in our Kings reading, the kingdom is divided, one is gone and the other is hanging on by a thread. It is revealed that now, the Southern kingdom is up to similar practices as their neighbors. Their hearts have turned as well. Will God accomplish his purposes? How can this be? How does God get what he wants through this? Through the death of a nation? The grief of the ransacked nation of Israel, is overshadowed by the death of Jesus, the Messiah. There were many who anticipated that he was the Messiah, the one who would restore Israel. He has fallen now as well. “Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.” (Mark 15:43) It appears they are still waiting for the Kingdom of God. All evidence suggest that Jesus wasn’t the one to restore Israel. In a few short verses, that notion will all change, and everything will make sense. But for now, we sit and we wait. We look at the tragedy of hearts that have fled God, who have turned to the worship of other gods, and look to the support of neighboring kings. We have crowned the wrong kings. Only one will do. Will we divert from the mob, and ask for the proper king? Give us Jesus of Nazareth, the True Messiah and King! We weep over a fallen nation, and we weep on this Friday of death. But Sunday is coming! And Jesus will Reign! Jordan |
AuthorJordan Ickes, Minister of Etna Green Church of Christ. Archives
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