Month: November 2010

Reference links:

Ezekiel 23:1-49 Hebrews 10:18-39 Psalm 109:1-31 Proverbs 27:13

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 get a graphic description of Jerusalem and Samaria as two sisters who prostitute themselves even from their youth. Even after God marries them they continue their prostituting ways.

I know this is supposed to be a condemnation of Samaria and Jerusalem, but what does God expect is going to happen if he marries prostitutes?  Sudden reformation?

The upshot of the sin of these sister cities was that both they both earned God’s anger and destruction.

New Testament

Today we finally finish (at least for the moment) the discussion of Jesus as the ultimate High Priest. To close this discussion, the author of Hebrews declares that the purification that came from Jesus’ sacrifice allows believers to go into the presence of God.

But the author then goes on to say that anyone who deliberately continues to sin after receiving this purification cannot be saved by any sacrifice. In other words, they are lost to God’s punishment (and, as our OT readings make clear, that sucks). There are no second chances in this view.

Because falling off the wagon is so terrible, the author of Hebrews reminds his readers to keep their trust in the Lord strong.

Psalms and Proverbs

I think the upshot of today’s proverb is that you should be cautious with those who make risky financial decisions:

Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger’s debt.
Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Reference links:

Ezekiel 12:1-14:11 Hebrews 7:1-17 Psalm 105:37-45 Proverbs 27:3

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 Ezekiel gives the people in exile with him a show. He is pretending to go into exile. This, apparently, is a message for the people in Jerusalem.

First of all, does Ezekiel really think that the people of Jerusalem are going to be impressed by someone who is already in exile pretending to go into exile? Second, this doesn’t seem like much a prediction to make. Some of the people of Jerusalem have already been exiled and the tension lies thick between Babylon and Jerusalem. Predicting more exiles does not exactly constitute an out there opinion.

After that we get a bit which, if it was a prophecy, was actually a rather good one:

Even Zedekiah will leave Jerusalem at night through a hole in the wall, taking only what he can carry with him. He will cover his face, and his eyes will not see the land he is leaving. Then I will throw my net over him and capture him in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Babylonians, though he will never see it, and he will die there.

I don’t know what’s going on with the bit about the whole in the wall but, he did have his eyes gouged out before he was taken to Babylon,

Then some more standard fare: predictions of forthcoming destruction and railing against false prophets. This includes some railing specifically against false female prophets. I wonder if there were people considered true female prophets. In any case, apparently these female false prophets were fond of magic charms and veils.

We then read about how Ezekiel was visited by some leaders of Israel. I wonder, were they actually from Israel or were they in exile along with Ezekiel? In any case, they have set up idols in their heart, so God will turn against them.

The reading ends with a perplexing passage:

And if a prophet is deceived into giving a message, it is because I, the Lord, have deceived that prophet. I will lift my fist against such prophets and cut them off from the community of Israel.

So God’s punishing people for sins he makes them commit? Rather lacking on both the justice and mercy fronts, I would say.

New Testament

More about Melchizedek. Melchizedek appeared in one story in Genesis and one psalm. These passages, especially the psalm, hint at a larger tradition which has been lost, but those are the only two Biblical references to Melchizedek outside of Hebrews. From this, the author of Hebrews constructs an elaborate theory about how Melchizedek is greater than Abraham and, therefore, greater than the high priests descended from Abraham. It’s not, exactly, a bad story that he weaves, but it spreads the source material pretty thin.

It’s also a huge stretch to say that just because Melchizedek’s genealogy was not mentioned, he has “no beginning or end to his life” and “we are told he lives on”. Maybe the author of Hebrews means this metaphorically, but in that case, the same could be said of anyone who’s genealogy isn’t mentioned.

The funny thing about all this head scratching and trying to figure out how Melchizedek could be a priest without being a Levite is that there is a simple solution: Abraham was honoring a priest of a different god, some god of the land Abraham was in.

The author’s ending note is this: since Jesus never died, he is a priest like Melchizedek and since neither he nor Melchizedek was a Levite, they don’t have to follow the Levitical laws. Ummm… yeah. That’s a pretty parallel to draw, especially since Melchizedek’s continuing life was only tenuously established in the first place.

Psalms and Proverbs

Nothing of note.

Reference links:

Ezekiel 10:1-11:25 Hebrews 6:1-20 Psalm 105:16-36 Proverbs 27:1-2

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

Yesterday’s vision continues. We get another detailed description of the many winged, many faced, wheel accompanied cherubim. Ezekiel really wants to emphasize that these are the same creatures he saw in his earlier vision. Exactly the same. To be sure we get the point, he repeats various parts of his description several times.

Then Ezekiel, in his vision, prophecies judgment against the leaders of Jerusalem. They will, not surprisingly, be slaughtered.

The Lord then emphasizes to Ezekiel that he is still the God of the exiles even though they are no longer in Jerusalem. This is actually quite the significant advancement in Jewish thought. Even as the idea of God changed from a tribal God to a universal God, he was still strongly associated with a place: Israel, Jerusalem, the Temple.

Now, Ezekiel has a vision which tells him that the exiles are still God’s people. However, the connection to the homeland is still strong. Ezekiel is also told that the people will return to their homeland and then live the way that God wants them to live.

This point is emphasized symbolically when the glory of God (which is distinct from the spirit of God) leaves the Temple and Jerusalem.

New Testament

Today’s reading in Hebrews does not quite seem aligned with other New Testament books. Those books seemed to emphasize the fundamental, essential truths. Today, the author of Hebrews tells people that continued teaching of those basic truths are not valuable; they should already be known. These two ideas are not explicitly contradictory, but there is certainly tension between them.

The author of Hebrews also seems to think that once a believer has stopped believing, they can never turn back. They have forever removed themselves from favor. I think many a modern Christian would disagree with that sentiment and be surprised that it was stated so explicitly in the Bible.

The author then goes on to make some questionable claims about oaths. Oaths from God in particular, but the sentiments apply to oaths in general:

Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding.

Why do I say this is questionable? It implies that oaths are good and proper; the binding power of the oath is what gives God’s promises power. However, this reliance on oaths seems to contradict the spirit of words attributed to Jesus. From Matthew 5:33-37:

“You have also heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the Lord.’ But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne. And do not say, ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is his footstool. And do not say, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. Do not even say, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black. Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.

Psalms and Proverbs

A couple good proverbs today:

Don’t brag about tomorrow,
since you don’t know what the day will bring.

Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth—
a stranger, not your own lips.

Reference links:

Ezekiel 7:1-9:11 Hebrews 5:1-14 Psalm 105:1-15 Proverbs 26:28

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

Predictions of death, disease, doom, destruction, desolation, and despair. As well as other things which don’t begin with ‘d’.

Then Ezekiel has another vision. This time, he God shows him the idolatry occurring in Jerusalem and the temple. Because of this, in this vision, God commands the murder of everyone who is participating in the idolatry. It’s been awhile since we have had any good God commanded mass murders and genocide. Babylon was supposed to be God’s weapon of destruction, but it’s good to get a direct reminder of God’s ugly violence.

New Testament

An early verse in today’s reading struck me for its contrast to our OT reading:

And [the high priest] is able to deal gently with ignorant and wayward people because he himself is subject to the same weaknesses.

What a contrast to the God of Ezekiel who cannot deal gently or show understanding of human beings and their weaknesses. Who murders instead of dealing gently. This contrast certainly makes the desire for a mediator messiah make more sense than any more than any modern notion that God is love. If God were loving, it would seem to less the the need for, as Hebrew puts it, an ultimate High Priest. However, if God is an easily angered, violent killer driven by pure justice with no mercy, the need becomes clear.

I am also struck by a slightly later verse:

That is why Christ did not honor himself by assuming he could become High Priest.

This seems to support the idea that Jesus was the adopted son of God, not the begotten son of God. For if he were the begotten son of God, he would be the only one who could take on the role of High Priest. But this sentence implies that God could choose to call anyone for the role.

The adoption guess seems further supported by:

And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God.

The reading ends with an amusingly harsh criticism of the believers this essay is directed to:

There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. … You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.

Psalms and Proverbs

Nothing particularly noteworthy.

Reference links:

Ezekiel 3:16-6:14 Hebrews 4:1-16 Psalm 104:24-35 Proverbs 26:27

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

Apparently Ezekiel is also into performance art. After Ezekiel receives another vision in which God reemphasizes to Ezekiel that he will be God’s prophet and, as such, is compelled to deliver the message God asks him to deliver, he receives further instructions. God wants him to symbolize the sins, the seize, and the destruction of Israel by laying on his side, and staring at an image of the siege of Jerusalem. At some point, he’ll have to eat bread cooked over dried human dung (later, at Ezekiel’s request, changed to cow dung). Later, he’ll use his hair to symbolize the death and exile coming to the people of Israel.

Ezekiel is to deliver the message that the people of Israel and Judah have displeased God and will receive his anger. He will destroy them and their homeland, scattering a remnant of them. This remnant will someday recognize the wrong they have done.

New Testament

The author of Hebrews makes a tenuous connection between God resting in the creation story and the wandering ancient Israelites not being able to enter the promised land, their place of rest. He then tries to make the case that the coming of Jesus signifies a second chance after the chance lost by the wandering Israelites.

The reading finishes with a passage which discusses how Jesus understands us because he was tempted like we are (but can act as the ultimate High Priest because he did not sin). Does this imply that God does not understand his creation? I have always considered that a weakness of the guess that the reason that Jesus had to become human and die was so that Jesus could be a fully understanding mediator for humanity. It is not a view that is problematic in and of itself, but it becomes problematic in light of standard ideas of God’s omniscience.

Psalms and Proverbs

Good proverbs although, sadly, not always true:

If you set a trap for others,
you will get caught in it yourself.
If you roll a boulder down on others,
it will crush you instead.