Ezekiel 17
Parable of given to house of Israel verse 1- 2
And the word of the LORD came unto me
saying
Son of man – put forth a riddle
and speak a parable unto the house of Israel
First great eagle described: Babylon verse 3- 6
And say
Thus says the Lord GOD
A great eagle with great wings – longwinged – full of feathers
which had divers colors – came unto Lebanon
and took the highest branch of the cedar
he cropped off the top of his young twigs
and carried it into a land of traffic
he set it in a city of merchants
He took also of the seed of the land – and planted it in a fruitful field
he placed it by great waters – and set it as a willow tree
And it grew – and became a spreading vine of low stature
whose branches turned toward him
and the roots thereof were under him
so it became a vine
and brought forth branches
and shot forth sprigs
Second great eagle described: Egypt verse 7- 8
There was also ANOTHER great eagle with great wings
and many feathers – and – BEHOLD
this vine did bend her roots toward him
and shot forth her branches toward him
that he might water it by the
furrows of her plantation
It was planted in a good soil by great waters
that it might bring forth branches
that it might bear fruit
that it might be a goodly vine
LORD describes outcome of vine verse 9- 10
Say you – Thus says the Lord GOD
Shall it prosper?
Shall he not pull up the roots thereof
and cut off the fruit thereof – that it wither?
It shall wither in all the leaves of her spring
even without great power or many people to pluck
it up by the roots thereof
YEA – BEHOLD – being planted – shall it prosper?
shall it not utterly wither – when the east wind touches it?
it shall wither in the furrows where it grew
Parable explained regarding first eagle verse 11- 14
Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me – saying
Say now to the rebellious house
Know you not what these things mean?
Tell them
BEHOLD the king of Babylon is come to Jerusalem
and has taken the king thereof – and the princes thereof
and led them with him to Babylon
and has taken the king’s seed and made a covenant with him
and has taken an oath of him
he has also taken the mighty of the land
that the kingdom might be base
that it might not lift itself up
BUT that by keeping of his covenant it might stand
Parable explained regarding second eagle verse 15- 18
BUT he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt
that they might give him horses and much people
Shall he prosper? – Shall he escape that does such things?
OR shall he break the covenant – and be delivered?
As I live says the Lord GOD
surely in the place where the king dwells that made him king
whose oath he despised – and whose covenant he brake
even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die
Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company make
for him in the war – by casting up mounts – and by building forts
to cut off many persons
seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant
when – lo – he had given his hand
and has done all these things
he shall not escape
Reason for defeat of Jerusalem verse 19- 21
THEREFORE thus says the Lord GOD
As I live – surely MINE oath that he has despised
and MY covenant that he has broken
even I recompense upon his own head
And I will spread MY net upon him
and he shall be taken in MY snare
and I will bring him to Babylon
and will plead with him there for his
trespass that he has trespassed against ME
And all his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the sword
and they that remain shall be scattered toward all winds
and you SHALL KNOW THAT I THE LORD
HAVE SPOKEN IT
LORD states that HE is sovereign verse 22- 24
THUS says the Lord GOD
I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar – and will set it
I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one
and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent
in the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it
and it shall bring forth boughs
and bear fruit – and be a goodly cedar
and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing
in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell
AND all the trees of the field shall KNOW THAT I THE LORD
have brought down the high tree – have exalted the low tree
have dried up the green tree
have made the dry tree to flourish
I THE LORD HAVE SPOKEN AND HAVE DONE IT
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 18 Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand, and has done all these things he shall not escape. (959 “despised” [bazah] means contemptible, regard with contempt, to look down on with contempt, think lightly of or to trample with the feet.)
DEVOTION: Once the king swore to a covenant with the king of Babylon he was under obligation to keep his promise as far as the LORD was concerned. He might have even used the name of Jehovah in his promise to the king of Babylon.
However, he went to Egypt for help to rebel against the king of Babylon and this meant that he was breaking his promise to the king and also breaking his witness concerning the LORD.
Today we give our word to people that we will do something. If we don’t do it we have to confess it to them and to the LORD. We are to be honest people in the eyes of the LORD and in the eyes of the people who are around us. This is not always easy.
Flattery can be a real problem when someone asks “How do I look? When what they look like is not good. We have a choice to make – tell the truth or tell them what they want to hear. There was a television commercial where Abraham Lincoln was asked by his wife how she looked. There was silence.
Our responsibility is to represent Jesus Christ in all that we say and do. Those who are in leadership are held to a different standard than those who are in the pews because we set the mark. The LORD had Ezekiel setting a mark for the children of Israel to follow but they were not willing to listen to him.
Should Ezekiel quit and not fulfilled his responsibility to the LORD or continued to encourage the children of Judah to live the way that LORD wanted them to live? The answer is obvious. Every believer whether a prophet or priest or king was supposed to honor the LORD with their lives.
Today whether we are pastor, deacon or usher we need to make sure that we do what we say we will do to the best of our ability with the help of the LORD. If we do something that is contemptable we should expect the chastening of the LORD.
Will HE forgive us? YES!! If we confess the sin to the LORD and not act like the children of Israel did at this time. We have to turn around and do what we know the LORD expects of us. Confess and pay the consequences and move on to better service. There is only one human being that was sinless and that was Jesus Christ while HE was on this earth. We sin and need to confess regularly.
CHALLENGE: Keep your word to others. Confess when you don’t.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 19 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD; As I live, surely MINE oath that he hath despised, and MY covenant that he hath broken, even it will I recompense upon his own head. (959 “despised” [bazah] means contemptible, disdained, regard with contempt, to look down on with contempt)
DEVOTION: The king was rebellious against the LORD. He didn’t honor the covenant that the LORD had made with Israel. He didn’t look to the LORD for guidance. He went his own way and thought that the LORD would do nothing against him.
He had broken the covenant of the LORD and disregarded his solemn oath he had promised when he went into the office of king.
The LORD wants us to honor HIM if we claim to be a follow of HIM. The king had made a promise and then broke it. Today we have individuals who go forward in a service and say they are asking Jesus into their hearts but then leave and not honor the LORD with their life.
These individuals think that they are safe from eternity in hell when in reality they have never made a genuine commitment to the LORD. HE will not honor anything fake either in the Old Testament times or now in New Testament times. HE wants those who make a commitment to HIM to be genuine.
It is not easy to follow the LORD but we can only do it with the help of the Holy Spirit in our life. It takes a daily walk with HIM. HE wants us to grow in our knowledge of HIM HE wants us to confess our sins daily. HE wants us to serve HIM with all of our talents.
We have to ask ourselves if our commitment to HIM is genuine. We sin daily and with that fact we need to confess our sins daily and seek HIS guidance through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
CHALLENGE: Only we can answer how we are doing in our relationship with HIM. Our walk makes the difference in the blessings we receive each day.
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: 20 And I will spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon, and will plead with him there for his trespass that he has trespassed against me. (8199 “plead” [shaphat] means to judge, govern, vindicate, punish, or to decide controversy.)
DEVOTION: It is the picture of a courtroom. There is a judge, defense attorney and prosecutor. The case is before the court. What is the case? The LORD is the prosecutor. HE is going to help them decide that they are a wrong relationship to HIM.
They had broken a covenant they had made with Babylon. They had despised the oath they had given. The king was not a man of his word. He went to Egypt for help to rebel against the king of Babylon. He wanted horse and men from Egypt to come and help him fight with Babylon. They were a rebellious people.
The LORD was going to spread HIS net against Judah and Jerusalem. HE was going to have them go into captivity in Babylon. There HE was going to decide HIS controversy with them. Their trespasses or sins were going to be shown in evidence.
They were not going to listen unless they were in captivity. When people are in jail or prison, they will take things more seriously. The children of Israel are in captivity, which is, like being in jail or prison. They had trespassed against the LORD’S commands.
The LORD is the judge, as well as, the prosecutor. Their defense attorney is the LORD, as HE looks forward to a time when Christ will come to die on the cross for the sins of the world, which the animal sacrifices represent.
HE still loves them. HE still wants them to repent. HE still wants to see a change of behavior. They are still HIS children. They are going to return to the Promised Land after they serve their term of seventy years. That is how long they have not given the land rest as the LORD commanded. That is how long they had not honored the Sabbath rest.
The LORD had spoken and it was going to happen. That is as true today as it was in this time period. HE always gives hope to a remnant of the people. Those who are followers of Christ are the remnant in all nations that will be called up to meet HIM in the air in the near future. Are we ready?
CHALLENGE: The LORD is the one who has to trap us once in a while to get our attention. Our thoughts and ways are not HIS ways and thought most of the time. Honor HIM and HE will honor you.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 24 AND all the trees of the field shall KNOW THAT I THE LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I THE LORD HAVE SPOKEN AND HAVE DONE IT. (1361 “exalted” [gabahh] means higher, upward, lofty, tall, or to make high.)
DEVOTION: Israel keeps trying to make itself higher than God in their thinking. They keep thinking that they can give their word and break it anytime they desire to.
They made a covenant with the LORD first and broke it. They make a covenant with the king of Babylon and broke it. Finally, they made a covenant with the Egyptians and they broke it.
They were into whatever made them happy at the time. They were not a nation that kept their promises. God was a God who kept HIS promises. HE wanted a people who were a nation of individuals who didn’t lie to get their own way.
The LORD doesn’t honor liars. They thought they could work their independence for the LORD by not keeping their word. They thought they could gain their independence from Babylon by not keeping their word. They were wrong.
God is sovereign. HE wants those who follow HIM to keep their word to HIM or HE will judge them. There is no escape from judgment even though Israel tried many times to get around their responsibility to the LORD.
Sometimes we make promises to the LORD that we don’t want to keep, in order that; we can get ourselves out of a problem situation. That is always wrong. God want us to be people of our word. HE is a God of HIS word. HE states often that when HE speaks – IT HAPPENS.
CHALLENGE: When we speak, do we keep our word to the LORD and to those around us? We should work on being an individual who does what he says he will do
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Word of the LORD verse 1, 11
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1, 11, 21, 24
Lord – Adonai (Owner, Master) verse 3, 16, 19, 22
GOD – Jehovah verse 3, 16, 19, 22
Lord GOD verse 3, 16, 19, 22
Mine oath verse 19
MY covenant verse 19
God’s snare verse 20
I the LORD have spoken it verse 21, 24
Actions of LORD known verse 24
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Lebanon verse 3
King of Babylon verse 12, 16, 20
Egypt verse 15, 17
Pharaoh verse 17
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Rebellious house verse 12, 15
Breaking covenant verse 15, 16, 18, 19
Despised oath verse 16, 18, 19
Trespass verse 20
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Keeping covenant verse 13, 14
Know the LORD verse 21, 24
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Son of man = Ezekiel verse 2
Speak a parable to the house of Israel
Great eagle came to Lebanon
Spreading vine
House of Israel verse 2, 23
Jerusalem verse 12- 16
King taken by Babylon
rebelled – sending ambassadors
into Egypt
shall die
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
The most notable feature of the prophet’s explanation is the way it shows how the dependent relationship imposed by Nebuchadrezzar on Zedekiah is regarded as amounting to a solemn covenant which the vassal breaks at his peril. Whatever may be thought of the standards of heathen nations, and Nebuchadrezzar’s policy was undoubtedly to make his neighbours weak and to keep them weak (14), Zedekiah had no option but to submit to his overlord. By sending ambassadors to Egypt, he despised the oath and broke the covenant (18), and, says Yahweh, this was my oath and my covenant (19). Such rebellion would bring not only the displeasure of Babylon, but the punishment of God—though in practice the one was identical with the other (20).
The implications of this attitude are far-reaching. It indicates that agreements entered into and obligations incurred by worshippers of God are as binding as if they had been made with God in person. What applied in the elemental code of international politics among the small states of the Middle East in the sixth century bc, must surely apply with equal force to international agreements in today’s more enlightened (?) world. And what applies to nations must presumably be binding for social and personal relationships as well. The breaking of a treaty, a contract, a promise or any other kind of covenant involves God as well as the person who is thus aggrieved. (Taylor, J. B. (1969). Ezekiel: an Introduction and commentary (Vol. 22, pp. 144–145). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
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17:9–10, 16–21. The results for the “vine” (v. 8) would be disastrous. It would be uprooted and stripped of its fruit and wither. Because Zedekiah violated his oath to Nebuchadnezzar (an oath ordained by God; cf. Jer. 27), Nebuchadnezzar would not spare the city. As Ezekiel explained, this revolt meant that Zedekiah would die in Babylon for Pharaoh in Egypt would be of no help. In breaking his oath to Nebuchadnezzar, Zedekiah was also opposing God. I will bring down on his head My oath that he despised and My covenant that he broke. God would see that Zedekiah was caught by Nebuchadnezzar (in his net and snare) and brought to Babylon, with his troops killed by the sword (cf. 2 Kings 24:3–7). (Dyer, C. H. (1985). Ezekiel. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1259). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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Nebuchadnezzar was kind to Zedekiah and the king took an oath to obey and serve him. Had he faithfully kept this treaty, Zedekiah would have saved the city and the temple; instead he chose to break the covenant and turn to Egypt for help. The second eagle represents Pharaoh who tried to rescue the kingdom of Judah but failed. This foolish decision on the part of Zedekiah resulted in the uprooting and withering of the vine, and this was the end of the kingdom of Judah. Nebuchadnezzar would not tolerate his treachery in seeking Egypt as an ally, so he captured Zedekiah, killed his sons before his eyes, blinded him, and took him captive to Babylon, where he died (Ezek. 17:16; 2 Kings 24:17–25:7).
But Ezekiel made it clear that it wasn’t only Nebuchadnezzar’s covenant that Zedekiah broke. He had broken God’s covenant; and it was God who punished him through Nebuchadnezzar. Zedekiah had sworn his oath in the name of the Lord (2 Chron. 36:11–14); therefore he was obligated to keep it. In looking to Egypt for help, Zedekiah turned a deaf ear to the warnings of Jeremiah (Jer. 38), and Isaiah had preached the same message over a century before (Isa. 31:1; 36:9). It was the Lord who caught the king and his officers in His net and turned them over to the Babylonians (2 Kings 25:1–10; Jer. 52:1–11). (Wiersbe, W. W. (2000). Be reverent (p. 80). Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor/Cook Communications.)
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17:11–21 putting him under oath. The parable is explained in detail. Babylon (v. 12) made Zedekiah a vassal subject to her, took captives, and left Judah weak (vv. 13, 14). Zedekiah broke the agreement (v. 15) in which he swore by the Lord to submit to Babylon (2Ch 36:13), and sought Egypt’s help, thus he was taken to Babylon to live out his life (v. 16, 19; Jer 39:4–7). Egypt was to be no help to him (v. 17) or any protector of his army (v. 21). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Eze 17:11–21). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
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That which was difficult for Israel to realize was that their own God was now arrayed against them, and He it was who had exalted Nebuchadnezzar and given him authority over the nations; so that it was in his power to remove or set up kings at his own will. While, doubtless, Nebuchadnezzar himself was unaware of the divine counsels, nevertheless, he acted under the guidance of that Jehovah whom he knew not, when he took Jehoiachin into captivity and set up the puppet king Zedekiah with whom he had made a covenant, and who had sworn by a solemn oath that he would rule as his representative in Jerusalem. By his vacillation and crafty plotting, Zedekiah aroused the ire of his overlord and exposed himself to the indignation of God, the Judge of all the earth, who loves truth and hates deceit and falsehood. Therefore Ezekiel predicted that the wretched king of Judah, who had despised the oath he had taken and violated the covenant to which he had agreed, should be taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar and carried to Babylon, there to learn in bitterness and sorrow the folly of trifling with God and scheming to thwart His counsels. (Ironside, H. A. (1949). Expository notes on Ezekiel, the prophet. (pp. 112–113). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
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Ver. 18. Seeing he despised the oath, by breaking the covenant, &c.] This is repeated again, to shew the heinousness of the sin Zedekiah had been guilty of, and what was the cause of his ruin: when, lo, he had given his hand; to the king of Babylon, to testify his hearty agreement with him, and that he might depend upon the oath and covenant being sacredly observed by him. This was a rite or custom frequently and early used in different nations, when covenants and agreements were entered into; we find it used in the times of Homer; and among the Romans. When Antoninus, Lepidus, and Octavius made peace, the historian saysa, they joined their hands together. Virgil speaks of the same ceremony used by Anchises to Achæmenides, for confirmation of friendship. Though some understand this of his giving the hand to Pharaoh king of Egypt, and entering into an alliance with him, and broke the covenant and oath made to the king of Babylon; and so the Targum, “and, lo, he stretched out his hand to Pharaoh:” and hath done all these things; been guilty of such and so many crimes, as ingratitude, perjury, covenant-breaking, and vain confidence: he shall not escape; divine vengeance, just and proper punishment for his sins. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 6, p. 84). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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A Jewess, Naomi, and her two daughters-in-law lose their husbands.
INSIGHT
In Ruth, we see one of the most stirring examples of loyalty in the Bible. In spite of Naomi’s urgings to the contrary, Ruth stays with her, looking not for personal fulfillment or material comfort but longing merely to maintain the relationship with one whom she loves. This loyalty comes from a pure heart, and it is not surprising that it extends not just to Naomi but also to the Lord.
In stark contrast to Samson, Ruth’s selflessness leads to beauty, fulfillment, and seeking the good of others. We should take instruction for our own lives and live as Ruth, not as Samson. (Quiet Walk)
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WHY JESUS CAME
He that hath seen me hath seen the Father. John 14:9
Christ came into this world in order that we might know God as our Father. So how does He reveal the Father to us? Well, I am just asking a question that introduces us to the four Gospels. Go back again to the New Testament, and quietly and simply read them with the idea in your mind that we are supposed to know God as Father.
Ask yourself, do I know Him like that; have I ever known Him as Father? There in the Gospels you will find that Christ revealed Him in His own life by living a spotless, sinless life. At the end He turned to His accusers and said, “Can anybody point a finger at Me? Can you convict Me of any failure with regard to God or the law?” His life was unique; it was perfect. He revealed God by being what He was.
Then He revealed God in His actions, His miracles—raising people from the dead, healing the sick, giving sight to the blind. Take these things out of the New Testament and what is left? It is an essential part; it is God in the flesh. It is not difficult to expect miracles if God incarnate is here, and that is what He claims to be. Look at Him in the things He does.
Similarly, He reveals the Father in His teaching. He put it like this: “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” Just before the end, Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us” (John 14:8). In essence, “You say You are going to leave us. Please don’t until You have revealed the Father to us. That is the one thing we want to know. We have had a vague belief in God, but we want to know Him as Father.” In essence, our Lord answered, “Look at Me, Philip—look at My life and My actions. Look at Me, and if you do so and see Me truly, you have seen the Father.”
A Thought to Ponder: It is not difficult to expect miracles if God incarnate is here.
(From The Heart of the Gospel, pp. 127-128, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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The Promise
“And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” (2 Peter 3:4)
Has Christ forgotten His promise? After His resurrection, He returned to heaven to wait “until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:21). Ever since the primeval promise in Eden (Genesis 3:15), God’s inspired prophets have kept assuring His people that He would come as Savior of the world and again as everlasting King, removing the curse of sin and death and bringing in everlasting life and righteousness.
But the centuries have come and gone, age after age, and the world continues to decay, growing worse and worse. With global pollution, disease pandemics, ever-increasing crime, and countless other intractable problems, there may be nothing left if He doesn’t come soon!
Has He forgotten His promise? No! says Peter, in this very same chapter. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
He has not yet returned because there are not yet enough who have “come to repentance”—that is, whose minds and hearts have turned away from the world system and have been renewed through faith in Christ as Creator, Savior, and Lord of all. We need not despair but simply “account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation” (2 Peter 3:15), seeking to lead people to Him until He comes.
His promise is sure, and one day He will return indeed! Therefore, Peter concludes, “we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2 Peter 3:13). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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Killing Me Softly
I have become mute, I do not open my mouth. PSALM 39:9
A man and his wife were having some problems at home and were giving each other the silent treatment. The husband realized he needed to be awakened early one morning to catch a business flight, but he didn’t want to be the first to break the silence. So he left a note on his wife’s side of the bed that read, “Please wake me at 5 A.M.”
By the time bright sunshine roused him the next morning, it was 9 A.M. Furious, he threw back the covers and shouted to his wife (who was nowhere to be found), “Why didn’t you wake me up like I asked you to?” That’s when he saw, stuck to the lamp on his bedside table, a note in her handwriting that read, “It is 5 A.M. Time to wake up.” It doesn’t take much to make us angry and create emotional distance from each other. But it does take great, courageous effort to fight through the silence to a place of forgiveness and oneness. Isolation seems to offer us protection, a certain kind of self-preservation. There is a type of peace found in avoidance that appears much more appealing than the pain of dealing with reality. (Moments with You Couples by Dennis and Barabara Rainey)
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Christ’s Call TO REFORM the Church by John MacArthur
That means if you are truly a believer, your faith will endure to the end. True faith is proven in the fires of persecution. It survives triumphantly. (p. 84)
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Perseverance is the reward, as it bears unimpeachable witness to the genuineness of their faith. (p. 84)
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It’s worth noting that Smyrna is the Greek word used in the Septuagint for myrrh, a strong fragrance used by the Jews to mask the scent of dead bodies…. It was made from the resin of small, thorny tree. Only when it was thoroughly crushed would it yield its pleasing fragrance. (p. 85)
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