Nov 10

Reference links:

Ezekiel 21:1-22:31 Hebrews 10:1-17 Psalm 108:1-13 Proverbs 27:12

Overview of the Book of Ezekiel Overview of the Epistle to the Hebrews Overview of the Psalms Overview of the book of Proverbs

Old Testament

Today is all anger and destruction. There is not even a single thread of hope. God's mad and he's going to punish all whom he thinks deserve it. I don't really have much more to say. This may be the most concentrated presentation of God's anger we have seen all year, but it is certainly nothing new.

New Testament

Today's reading makes it clear that although he considered animal blood purifying, he did not consider it capable of taking away sins. I am not quite sure what distinction the author is making between those two (I can guess, but the text does not provide much clue).

In any case, the text continues to hammer on the same point: that Jesus' blood was adequate where the blood demanded under Mosaic law were not and that Jesus cancelled and replaced the old covenant.

Psalms and Proverbs

Prudent people prepare for danger. Simpletons don't.

Nov 9

Reference links:

Ezekiel 20:1-49 Hebrews 9:11-28 Psalm 107:1-43 Proverbs 27:11

Overview of the Book of Ezekiel Overview of the Epistle to the Hebrews Overview of the Psalms Overview of the book of Proverbs

Old Testament

I find it odd how Ezekiel refers to Israel rather than Judah. Maybe since the kingdom of Israel had fallen, the author feel Judah can lay claim to the name? Or maybe the distinction between the two is not important to the author?

In any case, men of Israel have come to Ezekiel for a message of God. God's answer contains what  seems like an odd (or at least oddly translated) turn of phrase coming from God,

a land I had discovered and explored for them

"Discovery" and "exploration" don't really seem like the right words for a supposedly omniscient God to choose.

God then goes on to recount (once again) how the terrible lack of fidelity shown by the people of Israel. We also learn that the only reason he did not crush the Israelites sooner is that he didn't want it to seem like he had made a mistake bringing them out of Egypt.

Throughout this we read repeated statements that obeying God's regulations would have given the Israelites life. This is interesting since Paul goes on and on about the insufficiency of the law on its own. Now, Paul's take was generally along the lines that the law could not be kept rather than a claim that it was insufficient (although, if I remember correctly, he sometimes veered near that territory). However, in today's reading, God implies that it was perfectly reasonably for him to expect the Israelites to keep his regulations (that or God's implying that he's a major jerk for trying to hold people to regulations they could never follow).

God finishes his review of how terrible the Israelites were by emphasizing that they are still terrible. However, he strikes a hopeful cord by stating that when he brings them back from exile, they will worship him properly. This is the thread of optimism that runs through Ezekiel. There is always the hope that Israel will be restored, exile ended, and then people will worship God correctly and prosper. How different reality has been from that dream (although I suppose there is some minuscule possibility that it could still happen; however, I am guessing that sacrifices will no longer be so popular as the Ezekiel supposes).

Also, the brushlands of the Negev will burn.

New Testament

Today we read what I have always consider a particularly repugnant explanation of the necessity of Jesus' death: As the blood from animal sacrifices was purifying, Jesus' blood was even more purifying. It provided the ultimate purification and thus no more sacrifices were needed. The idea that God considered animal blood to be magically purifying always seemed like a primitive holdover.  Thus, a God who demands human blood (from a very specific and special human, but human blood none the less) seems even more primitive.

Psalms and Proverbs

Nothing of particular note.

Nov 8

Reference links:

Ezekiel 18:1-19:14 Hebrews 9:1-10 Psalm 106:32-48 Proverbs 27:10

Overview of the Book of Ezekiel Overview of the Epistle to the Hebrews Overview of the Psalms Overview of the book of Proverbs

Old Testament

Today's reading starts out with God asking a good question:

Then another message came to me from the Lord: “Why do you quote this proverb concerning the land of Israel: ‘The parents have eaten sour grapes, but their children’s mouths pucker at the taste’?

Yeah! Where did people get this crazy impression that children will be punished for the sins of their parents? Oh wait, it was from God himself!

At least God is willing to change his mind on the matter:

As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, you will not quote this proverb anymore in Israel. For all people are mine to judge—both parents and children alike. And this is my rule: The person who sins is the one who will die.

He's still fixated on death as punishment, but it's good to see he's making progress. It's interesting to see what sort of man is considered punishable by death:

he worships idols on the mountains, commits adultery, oppresses the poor and helpless, steals from debtors by refusing to let them redeem their security, worships idols, commits detestable sins, and lends money at excessive interest. Should such a sinful person live? No! He must die and must take full blame.

This certainly sounds like a pretty terrible person, but other than the under defined "commits detestable sins", I would not say that it seems punishable by death. But then again, I suppose death is your main option when you don't have institutional prisons.

In any case, you can tell from the length of his example that Ezekiel is preaching a pretty radical idea when he says that only the guilty person deserves to be punished. However, as part of making his point, Ezekiel seems to fall back upon the simplistic idea prominent in the histories that the righteous will be rewarded and the wicked punished. However, that black and white vision is tempered by the idea that an individual can turn away from sin and back to righteousness and have his past sins forgotten. Of course, that sword cuts both ways: righteous people who turn wicked will have all their good deeds forgotten.

Ezekiel also illustrates the transition from group culpability to individual culpability.

Therefore, I will judge each of you, O people of Israel, according to your actions, says the Sovereign Lord.

It makes sense that individual responsibility would take root once the people were separated from their kingdom and the temple. Without centralized religious and government institutions to enforce behavior, it is much harder to accept the idea of group or cross generational responsibility for sins.

The rest of the days reading is a funeral strong. The section header added by the translators implies that it's a funeral song for Israel's kings.

New Testament

A description of temple ceremonies and the limited access to the innermost room of the temple, the Most Holy Place, is followed by a declaration of the inadequacy of that system.

Psalms and Proverbs

Sound advice: Don't abandon your friends (or your parents' friends). They may be able to help you when your family is too far away to help.

Nov 7

Reference links:

Ezekiel 16:43-17:24 Hebrews 8:1-13 Psalm 106:13-31 Proverbs 27:7-9

Overview of the Book of Ezekiel Overview of the Epistle to the Hebrews Overview of the Psalms Overview of the book of Proverbs

Old Testament

Today we continue the personification of Israel and add in the surrounding nations, especially Sodom and Samaria. Like Israel, they all are terrible, sinful places. Amongst other things we read,

Sodom’s sins were pride, gluttony, and laziness, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door.

I would like to note that the standard popular assumption about Sodom's source of sin is not mentioned here. Moving on, after talking about how much all of these nations suck, and will be (or have been) punished, God says that he will restore Israel and her sisters, and nations like Sodom and Samaria will be brought under Israel's covenant.

The representation of Sodom and Samaria as Israel's sisters who will one day be restored like Israel seems like Ezekiel's attempt to deal with the deep contradiction between the idea of a universal god and a god who pays so much attention (both good and bad) with the single nature of Israel. Ezekiel tries to reconcile this contradiction in a way that retains Israel's importance.

Following the graphic but comprehensible comparison of Israel to an adulterous wife, we read a comparison of Israel to a cedar tree planted by an eagle which turned to another eagle for water. This one requires a bit more head scratching (not surprising since it was described as a riddle). Fortunately, we receive an explanation: this is all about the puppet king of Israel breaking his oaths with Babylon and turning to Egypt for help. Since the oath was taken in the Lord's name, he is super mad about this. However, I would think that the first oath, even if it was made in the Lord's name, was probably coerced. Like the oath of Jephthah which caused him to sacrifice his daughter, I would think that the Lord should show a bit more understanding of the circumstances.

New Testament

Today is when we get hit on the head with Hebrews equivalent of platonic duality. Jesus is the ultimate high priest. He ministers at the real tabernacle in heaven and all of the duties of the temple priests on earth are but a shadow of this perfect worship.

As usual, the author of Hebrews stretches credulity. His scriptural justification for the idea that there is a perfect tabernacle in heaven: God's statement to Moses that the tabernacle must be built following God's directions exactly. To this my reaction is, that's the best you can do?

After that we get a rather long passage describing the new covenant. It should sound familiar because it's from Jeremiah.

Psalms and Proverbs

Only one good proverb today:

The heartfelt counsel of a friend
is as sweet as perfume and incense.

Nov 6

Reference links:

Ezekiel 14:12-16:42 Hebrews 7:18-28 Psalm 106:1-12 Proverbs 27:4-6

Overview of the Book of Ezekiel Overview of the Epistle to the Hebrews Overview of the Psalms Overview of the book of Proverbs

Old Testament

Today's reading has three parts. In the first part, Ezekiel conveys the message that the Lord's wrath is inescapable whether it be conveyed through famine, wild animals, war, or disease.

The second part compares Jerusalem to a vine. Vines are useless compared to wood. The only thing they are good for is fuel, but even in that role they are inferior. Like vines, Jerulsalem is good for nothing but burning. This was an interesting comparison since vines usually come up with a positive association in the context of wine.

The third part contains the most extended comparison we have seen comparing Jerusalem to a prostitute. It is obviously symbolic, but if you do happen to read it as if it were about actual people, it's a super creepy story: an abandoned baby is found and raised by the same person who later marries her. She lives an ungrateful and adulterous life and misuses the gifts given by her husband. In his anger, her husband publicly humiliates, tortures, and violently murders her.

New Testament

The author of Hebrews makes a rather questionable claim today:

This new system was established with a solemn oath. Aaron’s descendants became priests without such an oath, but there was an oath regarding Jesus.

For God said to him,

“The Lord has taken an oath and will not break his vow:
‘You are a priest forever.’”

There was no oath regarding the Levitical priests? Really? First off, note that the "oath" the author of Hebrews refers to is a line from a psalm. While it may be considered the word of God by virtue of being scripture, is not directly attributed to God.

Compare that to the instructions, many attributed directly to the Lord and passed on by Moses, regarding the Levitical priests.

Exodus 29:9:

Wrap the sashes around the waists of Aaron and his sons, and put their special head coverings on them. Then the right to the priesthood will be theirs by law forever. In this way, you will ordain Aaron and his sons.

Exodus 40:15:

Anoint them as you did their father, so they may also serve me as priests. With their anointing, Aaron’s descendants are set apart for the priesthood forever, from generation to generation.

Deuteronomy 18:5:

For the Lord your God chose the tribe of Levi out of all your tribes to minister in the Lord’s name forever.

That's just what I could find searching on the word "forever". There may be more such verses if I had searched for variants such as "for all time". It seems pretty firmly like God made an oath about Levitical priests. Oaths that, in two of the three cases above, are attributed directly to God. The author of Hebrews once again fails to make a convincing case.

After that, the author goes on more about how Jesus makes an awesome high priest.

Psalms and Proverbs


Some good proverbs today about emotional regulation and honesty:

Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood,
but jealousy is even more dangerous.

An open rebuke
is better than hidden love!

Wounds from a sincere friend
are better than many kisses from an enemy.