November 10 Psalm 122 Hebrews 10:1-18 Ezekiel 19; 20:1-44
Psalm 122
From the Garden of Eden to the City of Jerusalem we see God providing a place for people to meet with Him. From walking through a natural environment undisturbed by violence to joyful streets leading to the Holy Place of forgiveness and peace, God made Himself available. In the same way, we can now set aside places dedicated to enjoying God’s presence. Responding to a call to worship, pilgrims traveled to Jerusalem for spiritual festivals and sang as they journeyed (these Psalms were written for this purpose). There was joy in their response. They would pray for (and work toward) the shalom peace of God in Jerusalem and in the preservation of the place of worship.
Hebrews 10:1-18
The One True Living God is perfect in faithful love. God invites us into a committed loving relationship. In our human nature, we are not perfect. We bring brokenness to this relationship with God. To continue in this relationship with God we need to be forgiven. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, took on Himself the sins of the human race. Jesus became the once and for all sacrifice to remove sin, by offering up the body God the Father gave Him. Now we can receive God’s forgiveness by receiving Jesus as Savior. This makes a way for us to live in that loving relationship with God. Our wholehearted devotion includes adoration, thanksgiving, and worship in response to the living God.
Ezekiel 19; 20:1-44
God cares about each person, their life, and their death. God’s heart is revealed in the Ezekiel 19 funeral song about the death of kings who rejected God and refused to repent. This song points to the specifics of King Jehoiachin who would be taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar, as seen in 2 Kings 24:15. The leaders of Israel came seeking a new promise from God, through Ezekiel. They did this without realizing the depth of their own sins and the damage it had caused. Ezekiel walks them through the relevant history lesson. God asks them, “Are you going to continue your spiritual promiscuity?” Every single human life will come to recognize Yahweh God as the one true living God. Over the course of human history (and as seen in Israel’s history recounted in Ezekiel 20) Yahweh God has repeatedly reached out to people, offering His unfailing love. God has made a personal relationship with Him available. It includes the commitment He has made to us, and an invitation for each of us to enter this covenant agreement. It’s a dedicated love.
November 10 Psalm 122 Hebrews 10:1-18 Ezekiel 19; 20:1-44
Please read the suggested passages, prayerfully consider them, and the questions below. My comments here may be helpful after those moments. The suggested daily reading is for the purpose of reading through the whole Bible within a year.
Reading the Bible is helpful in taking the next steps to follow Jesus. It may not be easy and yet it can be rewarding. Digging into Scripture alongside people you know is a life-giving way to pursue answers together. We discover the love that God has for us has been expressed through Jesus.
What’s the plain simple truth of the verses you read?
Based on today’s reading, what is one thing God is saying to you?
What should you do about that truth?