Comments for October 7

v.31 - the word continually, referred to the worship under the Old Testament, is picked up in Heb.7:3, 10:1, 13:15 to show the contrast with the New.

23:25 Yahweh planned to give Israel rest after their wandering Deuteronomy 3:20 This promise is picked up by Joshua 22:4 23:1 But was not fully achieved but Solomon saw it when the temple was erected and dedicated when he had been made king 1 Kings 8:56 1 Chronicles 23:25 But this was only a shadow - the destruction of Babylon - the symbol of all that offends picked up in Revelation will bring in that rest - Jeremiah 50:34 So let us labour to enter -- Hebrews 4:11

v. 3 tells us that the Levites were counted from age 30 years and upward and yet according to v.24 they did the work from age 20 years and upward. Does this set a precedent for a 10 year training period for new people?

:1 So the old man David makes Solomon king
:2-32 David speaks of the divisions of the Levites in the temple worship that is to come.
:7 Sons of Gershom
:12 Sons of Kohath
:21 Sons of Merari

In making Solomon king David again delineates the sons of Levi for their work according to their fathers.

That David made Solomon king 'when he was old' ignores all the intrigue of Absalom and Adonijah. The focus of 1 Chronicles is the continuing kingdom of God through the sons of David. Conflict, at this time, is not relevant to the theme being developed here. This is the Kingdom of God!

23:25 In speaking of the giving of rest David is harking back to the situation in his day (2Sam 7:1) but more particularly to what God had said (1Chron 22:9) about Solomon who was to reign after him.

V.5 David seems to have been an inventor of many of the musical instruments used in the temple. Amos 6:5 appears to confirm this.

David deputed almost 2/3rds of the Levites to oversee the work of the building the new temple
(1Chron 23:4).  This was going to be the very best building David could produce.  It's interesting to note that the catalogue of Solomon's workers on the temple project includes 3,500 overseers (2Chron 2:1-2).  I wonder what happened to his father's 24,000 Levites? Or, are we to understand that the 24,000 were to serve as priests in the new temple?

V.3 In preparation for the new (forthcoming) temple, David re-organised the duties of the Levites.  He also required them to become involved at an earlier age. 

Hitherto, Levites started their probationary service at 25 years of age (Num 8:24-26) and their full service at 30 years of age (Num 4:2,3,22,23,29,30). 

David now required that their probationary service began at 20 years of age (vs.24,27).  Perhaps he thought this was warranted given the greater and more varied tasks of temple service.

23:1  In telling us that when David was old he made Solomon king we, and doubtless David, realised that Solomon was not going to be Messiah – the son promised in 1Chron 17:11  who was to be made king ‘when thy days be expired’

V.22 Eleazar had daughters but no sons.  His daughters would have been eligible for their father's inheritance since the daughters of Zelophehad petitioned Moses for a change in the Law (Num 27:1-11). 

23:27 Whilst we read here that these are the ‘last words of David’ we see another occasion – 2Sam 23:1 – when we are shown the last words of David and then Psa 72:20 we see ‘the prayers of David are ended’. Each of these three events mark different ends. The record in 1 Chronicles speaks of David’s last instructions relating to temple worship. 2Sam 23 records David’s last words about his expectations and Messiah whilst Psalm 72 marks the end of David’s prayers about Messiah.

GIVING 100 PERCENT

23:1 So from chapter 16 we have covered almost 33 years. The point I wish to make is that we are not told a lot about the years when David was king in Jerusalem.

V.1 David made Solomon king while he was still alive.  The promised son, whose kingdom would last forever, could not, therefore, have been Solomon (1Chron 17:11,12).  The promised son was Jesus (Isa 9:7; Luke 1:32).

23:30 We hear about morning and evening sacrifices –2Chron 13:11– but notice here that praise was part of their activities. There is more to serving God than simply following His instructions

V.10 This is not the same Shimei who cursed David and was subsequently killed (2Sam 16:5-7; 1Kin 2:36; 41-46).

Vs.24-27 Much of the labour concerning the tabernacle had ceased since the ark had come to rest in Jerusalem.  Therefore, David could relax some of the age restrictions that were in place. 

Moses had deemed that the Levites who did tabernacle work had to start at the age of 30 (Num 4:3). But, now David numbered the Levites from 20 years old and up.  Furthermore, there was a reassignment of duties.

23:3 Notice in preparing things for Solomon the emphasis is not upon any military strategy. It is upon the work of the priests - :3,7,12

23:25-26       So David clearly saw that once the people had rest as promised in Deut 12:10 that the rest implied that the ark would  not move again.

1Chron 23:13 -

How could it be stated that Aaron and his descendants were set apart forever to minister before God, when it's a certainty that the Law of Moses and therefore the role of any of Aaron's descendants was fulfilled with the death and resurrection of Christ?

The simple answer to this question - which sounds almost heretical when you first hear it - is that "for ever" doesn't always mean forever. In the Old Testament, the word translated "ever" with the "for" attached is "olam", and it literally means "age or age lasting." Now it may very well be that that age encompasses eternity as when, for example, it is applied to God in Dan. 12:7 - "Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time...." But many a time as is the case here in 1 Chr. 23, it simply means for that age - in this case the Mosaic age which would come to an end soon after the death and resurrection and ascension of Christ - and absolutely for all Jews with the Roman invasion of Jerusalem ~A.D. 70 and the destruction of the Temple. I counted up ~30 times within the books of Exodus through Deuteronomy of this word being used, and there it's always in connection with some aspect of the Law of Moses which would eventually come to an end (or better yet, be fulfilled in the work of Christ).

Given this usage, one could reasonably ask - Does that mean that if I, through the grace of God, receive eternal life on the day of judgment - that that life might one day come to an end? And the answer is, of course, No! For in the New Testament, "eternal life" is quite often = to immortality. And immortality does really mean living forever.

One could reasonably ask the question then about the promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob concerning the inheritance of the land of promise forever, along with the covenant God made with David about his seed (Jesus) sitting on God's throne forever. And that question would be - Does forever really mean forever, or is it confined to a specific age? I would think that it's the 2nd, and the age is the 1000 year reign of Christ on earth. For when the 1000 years is over and all the mortal nations who are faithful are granted immortality, then we know that "God will be all in all" (1Cor 15:28), and His purpose with the earth - to fill it with His glory - has been accomplished. But what He has in store for all the faithful from that point on and into eternity is not revealed. We all just know that whatever that may be - we want to be there!

23:5   We should remember that the selection of the various individuals to officiate in Solomon’s temple was done by David and Samuel many years ago, when David was fleeing from Saul – 1Chron 9:22

23:1    In stating simply that the old man David made Solomon king the record passes over all the intrigue and plotting of both Absalom and Adonijah. The reason being that the record here is concerned to focus on the direct line of kings through the line of David. The plotting and intrigue would detract from the focus on the line of David.

23:6    David had made Solomon king (verse :1) but David did not lose all interest in the things of the temple. Even before the temple was built by Solomon David was preparing how worship should be conducted in it. 

v22 here is another occasion where a family only had daughters so there was a danger that the family line of Eleazar would die out. The solution was for the women to seek husbands from their cousins so that their children would still inherit the same land. Otherwise the inheritance of Eleazar would have passed to another tribe or family. (See also the comments about the daughters of Zelophehad on April 9 and May 31.)

23:26   So finally the tabernacle which had walked with Israel and has had no permanent resting place is at rest. A significant step in God’s plan is completed.

23:24 So we see that the hard work of working in the tabernacle is described as “the service of … the Lord”. When we do work in the ecclesia or for fellow believers for whom do we think we are doing the work? Is it a chore or do we strive to commit ourselves to more working knowing that we are working for God?

23:5    We see David, even though the temple has not even started to be built, focusses on the work that had to be done in service to God in that temple.

23:1    David, in making Solomon king during his life, differed from the vast majority of kings of Judah after him. Normally the new king came to the throne after the death of his father.

23:1   When David, during his lifetime, made Solomon king he would have realised the promise of Messiah after his death - 2Sam 7:12– was not going to be fulfilled in Solomon, his son.

23:5 We can see easily how that porters did a valuable work in moving things round to effect the service in the temple. It is worth noting that there were those who “praised the Lord” listed with the porters. This should help us to understand that praise to God is as important as the physical work required in service. 

23:5-6 David had made instruments for music and now organises courses of priest to do the work. Whilst he had made instruments, it seems of his own design; he does not modify the God given courses of priests. A lesser man might well have tried to change things to a “better” format! We need to be careful not to change things for the sake of change

23:1in the vast majority of the cases when the son follows the father as king in the line of the kings of Judah the son is not anointed until after the death of the father. Even on the occasions when the father and son were co-regent we are not told. So the significance of what we are being told here is important. Namely that Solomon, though a man of peace, would not be the Messiah spoken of in the promise to David.

23:5  In establishing workers from amongst the priests we see what some might see as unproductive word – praising God. We should never underestimate the value of singing Godly praise to our Father. We can praise Him in song, prayer and careful reading of His word. All useful when associated with building the house of God – the family of believers.

23:21-22  We should appreciate that many of the  named individuals had died long before the time that David made Solomon king. In telling us that Eleazar the grandson of Merari died not having fathered a son shows that his line of priestly sons died out.

v.5 - How can we fail to take warning from this verse? Exo.9:19-21, 2Kings 6:10, Acts 2:37-41, Heb.2:1-3, 11:7

33:31 A comment upon the elders who came 8:1 20:1 to enquire of Ezekiel.
This area of Ezekiel provides the basis for the parable of the man who built his house on sand and the man who built his house on rock

Although v.5 places a responsibility on us to be ready when the trumpet sounds, as it were, and even greater task is outlined in v.6, where it is clear that as watchmen it is required that we sound the trumpet when we see the things begin to come to pass, that others, hearing our trumpet sound, might not perish.

33:31-32 The way in which the elders of Israel came to listen to Ezekiel's words they even seem to have rejoiced in what he said - 'a very lovely song' but their hearts were far from God. One wonders how often we rejoice at the things we read or hear and then go our own way disregarding the things we have heard or read.

33:21 We are now 1 year and 5 months after the time when the city was smitten (Jeremiah 52:13 Ezekiel 33:21)

WATCHMEN
In every city people choose a watchman. He is the one who will sound the alarm if an enemy army is about to invade. The safety of the city and the lives of the people in it depend on him. But not only do people need to be saved from the immediate threat of death, they need to be saved from eternal death, from the consequences of sin. Now here are the searching questions that accompany that fact. Has God placed watchmen in strategic places in the world to warn the people of the threat of eternal death? Are you one of those people? Who have you warned?
Just as with Ezekiel, whom God especially sent as a watchman to the house of Israel, there will be some people who will listen and some who will not. But whether we think they will listen or not, they must be warned. God said that Ezekiel would be surprised at who took his warnings. Some who thought they were righteous would ignore him, and others who were wicked would change their lives. We never know who will respond to the gospel message and like Ezekiel, we may be surprised at the results - I have been!
So let us warn all the people in our part of our world so that they can repent and live for God and be saved.

33:2-7  Ezekiel is being told again that he is a watchman to Israel. He had been told before (3:17)  is this because Ezekiel  was struggling with the responsibility or because God wanted the people to know that they were guilty and responsible because Ezekiel had been a faithful witness?

V.10-20 In these few verses, Ezekiel shows the beautiful balance, of on the one hand the willingness of God to forgive our sins if we repent, and on the other, the need for vigilance and faithfulness in our walk before Him.

V.1 etc. The exhortation for us to be watchmen, to warn others of the coming calamity, is clear.  Just as Noah tirelessly preached for 120 years until the flood, so must we. The earth was cleansed of wickedness at that time, and so it shall be again (Luke 17:26). 

But, the job of the watchman also applies within the ecclesia.  We have a responsibility to look out for our brethren.  If we see misconduct or false teaching, we must address the problem (Heb 3:12,13). 

V.18  warns us that accumulated righteousness means nothing if we should turn to iniquity.  Let us make sure that we continue moving forward in Christ. 

V.12-13 No matter how righteous a man has been in the past, that righteousness will not save him from death if he turns away from God and becomes wayward. This principle is confirmed by the apostle Peter."For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning" 2Pet 1:20

a) Part way through today’s chapter Jerusalem is taken (Eze 33:21,22). The first part of the chapter is God explaining how sins bring punishments. Obviously the Lord is preparing the Jews for the news which is to come from Jerusalem. The prophet was no longer dumb from this time onwards.
b) “A very lovely song” (Eze 33:32).  The people might just as well have gone to a concert, and listened to a wonderful tenor singer, for all the good the prophet’s words did them!  What an indictment! We must therefore make sure that when we listen to the words of the Lord it has more meaning to us than the words of “A very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument”.

33:24  In appealing to Abraham being only one person when the land was promised to him and comparing that with the fact that Israel were now ‘many’ it seems that the people are appealing, on the basis of numbers rather than behaviour, that the very fact that there are many of them they should be allowed to remain in the land promised to Abraham.

V.11 Yahweh takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked.  He also expects His people to have the same attitude (Prov 24:17,18).  Yahweh would rather the wicked repent of their evil ways and be saved (1Tim 2:4).

33:22 So Ezekiel’s speech is restored. He has been dumb from the time he began his prophecy until now, only speaking when God moved him.

33:30-33 Even though the people came and listened to what Ezekiel said, it was not to listen to what he had to say, but to be entertained. Ezekiel was to them as a musician. Not unlike going to a concert, or a sporting event. But, they will see what he said in a different light when it comes to pass, and rest assured it will come to pass.

33:14 In telling the people ‘thou shalt surely die’ the prophet is quoting God’s punishment upon Adam and Eve – Gen 2:17

33:11 Israel might have thought that God did take pleasure in their death, after all He was punishing them with death. However they needed to remember that He would rather that they repented of their sins and lived – Eze 18:32

V.21 This incident occurred 18 months after the fall of Jerusalem (See Jer 39:2). It fulfilled the prophecy of Eze 24:26.

Vs.24-26 Israel was claiming the promises to Abraham as its own without exhibiting the faith of Abraham.  The claim of Israel was negated by its behaviour.

Similarly, we have no claim to Christ’s reward if we do not keep His commandments (Matt 7:22,23; John 15:14).

Vs.30-32 Let us not only hear the word but implement it also (James 1:22-25).

From v12 to 19 we have a discourse on salvation by works. Notice the specific wording of v13:

(if he) trusts in his own righteousness and commits iniquity, none of his righteous works shall be remembered

This is a very serious point for all those who have been trying to serve God for some time. All our "good work" can be taken away with one sin. So we can see that trusting in righteousness is extremely pointless. James picks this up when he says "For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all". Can you imagine building a twelve storey house of cards, and just as you place the last one, you knock it with your elbow and the whole thing falls down?

But for us the simple truth is that "the righteous shall live by his faith" (Hab 2:4) and if we can be content with that, we're on the right track (Gal 3:9).

33:2 Ezekiel has pronounced judgements against many nations around the land of Israel. Those in captivity may well have listened and rejoiced at Ezekiel’s words of judgement against those nations. Though doubtless now their rejoicing would turn to consternation as the prophet now reproved them.

33:7    So Ezekiel is commissioned again to ‘warn’ Israel and others.  We may want to infer that Ezekiel was unwilling to do this. Or we may infer, more helpfully, that the task he had been given was so challenging that he needed to be encouraged by God to do the job he had been given.  Which view is the most Christ like?

33:11 We do well to remember that God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked. In His mercy, even though all men deserve to die, He seeks repentance and restoration to fellowship with Him. Is this how we view those who are astray from a relationship with God? Or do we find it more convenient to shun such individuals, being more comfortable with those we feel are not in need of a physician?

Note Links supplied by Brother John Owen

1. Ezekiel 33 to 48 - predictions regarding Israel and the nations after the 586 BC fall of Jerusalem continuing on to the revival of Israel and the punishment of her enemies:

2. Ezekiel 33 to 39 - preparation for the return of glory:

3. Eze 33:1-9 - the watchman:

4. Eze 33:2-6 - general duties of a watchman.

5. Eze 33:7-9 - these watchman duties applied to Ezekiel (see Eze 3:16-21):

6. Eze 33:9 - note the contrast between the punishment of death and the reward of life (i.e. having one's "soul"<5315> delivered); the promised restoration depended upon repentance and turning to God (Deut 30:1-3); not until Israel listens to the ultimate Son of man (Matt 24:36-44;Luke 21:31-36), Jesus, will Israel's restoration be accomplished (Isa 58:1;Zech 12:9-11).

7. Eze 33:10-20 - a call to repentance:

8. Eze 33:11 - if the people of Israel would repent they would be saved (see Eze 18:31-32).

9. Eze 33:12-16;18:26-27,21-24 - no matter how righteous a person has been in the past, they will not be saved if they turn away from God and become wayward - this demonstrates the concept of "once saved, always saved" to be false (the first lie was man wouldnt die and many religions still cling to this lie Gen 3:4;Psa 145:20;Psa 146:4 with belief in an immortal soul or reincarnation; 1Cor 9:24-27 we must run the good race and endure until the end; 2Pet 2:20;Heb 10:26); conversely, the wicked who turn to righteousness will live; as we read in Ezekiel 33:15 true repentance is manifested by not committing iniquity (Rom 6:4,12,13).

10. Eze 33:17 - the Jews as captives in exile grumbled about their plight saying, "the way of the Lord is not equal", this is the same argument found in Eze 18:2 "the fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge" i.e. we are suffering for the sins of our fathers, but God deals with His children on an individual basis as we read in Eze 33:20 "O ye house of Israel, I will judge you each after his ways". Eze 33:17-20 compares to  Eze 18:25-30.

11. Eze 33:21-22 - Ezekiel's dumbness removed (about 18 months after Jerusalem fell - 2Kin 25:2-4); the arrival of one that escaped from the fallen city of Jerusalem was predicted (Eze 24:25-27) and this confirmed that Ezekiel was a true God inspired prophet.

12. Eze 33:23-29 - the wicked remnant who remained in the land of Judea:

13. Jer 40:6-7 - some Jews after the sacking of Jerusalem were left behind.

14. Eze 33:24 - those left behind were arrogant and faithless.

15. Eze 33:25 - they rebelled against God and murdered His faithful children (Jer 41:1-3) and instead of inheriting the land a remnant went to Egypt allowing the land to become desolate (Eze 33:27-28;Jer 43:4-7).

16. Eze 33:30-33 - the Jews in Babylon:

17. The turning point in Ezekiel's ministry was the prophesied fall of Jerusalem (in 586 BC), this demonstrated that he was a chosen mouthpiece of God's prophetic word; from this point on Ezekiel is mainly encouraging  with prophecies of future restoration; so Ezekiel won the respect of the exiles who now listened to him with their ears, but unfortunately not their hearts which exhibited "covetousness"<1215>, but God's purpose would not not depend on the response of the exiles (Rom 11:29;Eze 36:22).

18. Eze 33:33 - "Lo, when this comes to pass" - the promised restoration had fulfillment when the Jews returned under Zerubbabel though its complete fulfillment awaits the future.

Psa 134 Speaks about the watchman as in Eze 33:4

This psalm is talking about the temple watch and the psalm is split into 2 one watch in V1 is warning the other watch in v2 of its duty. The second watch answers in v2 by a solomn blessing praising Yahweh.

And this of course takes us back to the watchmen in the temple service watchmen constantly on the lookout.

 We too are to keep watch warning each other about the coming thief in the night pointing out and encouraging each other of the signs in the world of his coming kingdom.

33:4    The concept of punishment returning on the head of the one instigating the sin is seen often in Scripture1Sam 25:29, 1Kin 2:32, 2Chron 6:23, Neh 4:4, Psa 7:6, Eze 17:13, Joel 3:4,7, Obad 1:15

33:13   A keeping of the law of Moses granted the worshipper “righteousness” –Deut 6:24-25. However it is clear that righteousness could not give life because the righteous person still sinned.

33:12 Keeping the law was righteous. However everyone who tried to keep the Law of Moses failed and died. The righteousness of keeping the law cannot save because of the frailty of human nature. Salvation comes because of God’s righteousness – Rom 3:24-26

33:31  Those elders who spoke as if they observed the law but whose hearts did not follow God forms the basis for Jesus’ condemnation of the religious leaders of his day – Matt 15:8

33:2  So as well as Ezekiel being a watchman God is telling Ezekiel to warn the people that the watchmen that they might set over the people will be responsible for their actions. Given that the people set over them false prophets we might see those false prophets as those who the people had set as ones who should have been watchmen.

33:33   This is the test of a prophet. The evidence is the fulfilled prophecies. Though it will be too late for those who doubted.

33:19   The warning to Ezekiel has already been given  –3:9 – possibly indicating that Ezekiel was reluctant to speak against a nation who took no notice of what he was saying .

33:21 when one hat escaped from Jerusalem when it fell to the Chaldeans arrived to tell Ezekiel we see the words spoken in  24:26 were fulfilled.

33:13 A problem with the nation of Israel was that they sought to establish their own righteousness  - Rom 10:3 – whilst continuing to disobey God’s laws. A warning for all servants of God who re “justified by faith” - Rom 5:1. As such our lives must change. We cannot “continue in sin” (Rom 6:1). Rather we should consider that we are “dead to sin” – Rom 6:11. That is see disobedience to His commands as something to avoid, not indulge in.

= 33:15-16 The nation of Israel were in captivity because of their sins. They might have, in despair, think that there was no hope for them. However God, through the prophet, gives hope. Repentance will being forgiveness. Also God will forget their previous sins! That is exactly the position that those who are “in Christ” are in.

33:12,13 The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him  when he transgresses ... if he trusts in his righteousness and does injustice, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered.

These verses show that the following ideas are not found in Scripture:

1. Once saved, always saved.

2. God's love is unconditional.

33:32 You [Ezekiel] are to them like one who sings lustful songs with a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument, for they hear what you say, but they will not do it.

What constitutes God-honouring hearing of a talk, especially an exhortation? 

Answer: One which results in change in the hearer.

A non-hearer:     "The talk is over. When is lunch?"

A good hearer:    "I really enjoyed that talk"

A better hearer:  "I really enjoyed that talk, particularly the point about [insert point]"

The best hearer:  "I really enjoyed that talk, particularly the point about [insert point]. I now realise the particular  areas in my life that need to change".

If a talk does not result in a determination to change then it will be easily forgotten. Isn't that the purpose of examining ourselves prior to taking the emblems?

33:17 When the people said “the way of the Lord is not equal” they were actually saying God was not fair in the way He treated His people. That is like, today, some people might say “why me?” when difficulties arise.

Of course such thinking will never be found in the faithful believer.

6 v. 12 - contrast with ch1:3. Spirituality in 'High Places' can be of different sorts. Compare the 'high places' of the evil kings of the Old Testament, which they refused to remove from the land.

5:19 The list 'Psalms, Hymns, Spiritual songs' is also found in Colossians 3:16. We may conclude that the singing in the first century could be broken down into these three elements. 'Psalms' is easy to understand – the Old Testament has 150 Psalms. The other two are more difficult to explain as these are the only two places where these three types of singing occur.

6:21-22 In sending Tychicus to see them, Paul was concerned that they would learn of his state. As he had founded the ecclesia at Ephesus and was now unable to visit them he was concerned to maintain their concern for him. It was to be through their concern for him that their fellowship with him might be developed.
We must continue relationships with our brethren and sisters wherever they are. A phone call or a letter is better than no communication at all. If we can visit all the better.

5:22 and 5:25 must be understood as being closely related. The wife cannot submit herself as 'unto the Lord' unless the husband behaves as 'the Lord' Likewise the wife should be willing to, as she is to Christ' be submissive even though at times - like our life in Christ - the human desire is otherwise. If one side of the relationship is not willing to comply with the divine model the relationship will not work.

6:2-3 That the loving of parents is a command 'with promise' is most interesting. The promise was 'that thy days might be prolonged … in the land' (Deuteronomy 5:16) Our future inheritance is contingent upon a willingness to live the principles of God's character in our lives now.

ch. 5 - Notice the recurring 'walk' (:2, :8, 15) that we saw in 2:10

6:18-19 Whilst Paul is concerned that the believer prays for himself as part of his armour he is also concerned that the believer prays for him also that the work may be furthered. Do we ever think that our prayers for others are part of our own armour

IMITATORS OF GOD

Every parent knows how much their children imitate them. Sometimes with young children it comes as quite a shock when our children trot out phrases, sayings or actions that exactly mirror what we say or do and how we do it. Paul told the Ephesians and he also tells us to "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." (Ephesians 5 v 1).

So in the same way that children copy our actions, we need to copy the actions of our greatest role models - the Lord our God and his Son, Jesus Christ. We need to get to know them and be familiar enough with them to imitate. Children can't copy something they have never seen or never taken enough notice of to copy. Children only copy what is familiar to them. We too are only able to copy what we have seen or observed. So let us follow closely the examples we are given in the scriptures. Let us become familiar with them and imitate the love we are shown, the love that has so freely been given to us, giving ourselves up as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God just as Jesus did for us.

5:10 "Proving" "DOKIMAZO" 1381 to test: As we prove a coin by the eye and feel, and by using it, so by accurate and continued study, and above all by practice, we may prove or test "what is acceptable unto the Lord."

Submission, Love, and Mutual Sanity in Relationships

Eph 5:22,25,28 - wives and husbands. Eph 6:1-4 - children and parents.

Immoral Behaviour

Eph 5:3-5 - the importance of moral purity.

5:26 We understand that washing is the way that one becomes clean. But notice it is the word that cleanses. Rather like David’s realisation Psa 119:9

6:10 ‘Be strong in the lord’ is the antidote to thinking that we can, by our own will power, overcome sin.

5:2 Sweet smelling savour or an odour of a sweet smell. Our Heavenly Father is well pleased with an offering on the ground of its sweetness. The ointment compounded of spices, poured upon Aaron's head answers to the graces by which he was enabled to offer himself for a sweet smelling savour. Another type was the sweet savour which God smelled in Noah's sacrifice (Gen 8:21). Paul wrote we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ (2Cor 2:17). Again, as what Christ is, believers are also (1John 4:17).

6:7 Doing things as if unto God is the ideal that we should aspire to. Jesus taught the same thing – Matt 25:40.

In modern western society, with the protection of human rights, it is hard to think of being persecuted for the sake of one's religion.  And yet, Paul says: In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2Tim 3:12) (NIV). 

It pays not to become too comfortable or complacent in a society whose values can change rapidly.  In fact, we are seeing religious intolerance starting to manifest itself now. As we see society in financial difficulty, we can expect a further breakdown in the social fabric.

Paul talks of preparing for such a time: ...so that when the day of evil comes... (6:13) (NIV).  Notice he talks of an inevitable event, not a possible one.  He urges defensive preparation (6:13-18). 

Preparation takes time, so let's start right away.

6:11   The description of the warrior fighting against Adam provides the analogy for Peter – 1Pet 4:1– where he says ‘arm yourselves …’

5:26 Paul uses a beautiful expression to speak of the way in which our minds are cleansed – it is a process ‘washing’. We are not scrubbed or cleansed in some quick way, It is a process which requires regular activity. And so we read Scripture daily.

5:5 Notice that Paul equates covetousness with idolatry (See Col 3:5).

5:9 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal 5:22,23) (ESV).

5:14 This is not a direct quote from any passage, but is most likely to be a paraphrase of Isa 60:1,2.

5:16 Are we making the best use of these evil times to serve the Lord?

5:20 We can never be too grateful to Yahweh for what we have, and what we will have, by His grace.

6:1,2 Children should obey and honour their parents as a law of Christ (Col 3:20). However, they will only know to do this if they have been taught.

6:4 The teaching of children to obey and honour their parents is the responsibility of the parents (Prov 22:6).

6:5-7 That means bosses; public servants; civic authorities; or anyone with a ruling capacity in this world.

6:9 Bosses who are followers of Jesus must remember their boss, Jesus, and act like Him.

6:16 Jesus is the door whereby the faithful can be secured and receive salvation (John 10:1,2,7,9). The word door in Greek is thura. The shield (of faith) in Greek is thureos which means door shaped. The link between Jesus, as the door, and the shield of faith becomes clear.

6:6-8 Notice the repeated emphasis that it is the ‘heart’ which determines the quality of the work of the servant and that he is Christ’s servant and so, ultimately, the Lord not the servant’s master – will provide the reward. In reality the master did not reward his servants, the servant was but a chattel. But in Christ our Master goes far beyond the responsibilities of a master to a servant

BENEFITS OF THANKFULNESS

"But among you there must not be ... obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving." (Eph 5:3-4) "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to the Father for everything in the name of Jesus Christ." (v.19-20)

Apart from the fact we are told to, there are some very good reasons to be thankful.

1. Thankfulness encourages us to count our blessings. When we count our blessings and see how many things there are thankful for in our lives, we will be more positive people.
2. Having counted our blessings, our love for those who brought us the blessings will grow. Our love for God and love for the people around us will become deeper.
3. With a positive, thankful attitude we will become an inspiration to the people around us, encouraging them to keep going and maybe even see them turn to God.
4. Focusing on the things we are thankful for can keep us from sin. When our minds and our mouths are occupied in counting blessings and giving thanks, we have little time left to think of saying things that would cause us or others to sin.
5. Being thankful is pleasing to God

The picture of a soldier, armed and ready for battle, is a curious one for followers of Christ who should shun wars and violence. So what is this picture there for? Notice in 6v18-20 the conclusion of the passage. It is by praying for others that we wage war. Paul is saying that we should be fully equipped and dedicated for this vital work: "to that end keep alert with all perseverance".

THE SECRET OF A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE

(The Basis of Love v.21-33)

1. It must be a sacrificial love v.25

2. It must be a purifying love v.26-27

3. It must be a caring love v.28-30

4. It must be an unbreakable love v.31

5. The whole relationship must be "in the Lord" v.32-33

Marriage in the Lord has not 2 but 3 partners (God in the middle)

5:14 this verse alludes to Isa 60:1 which speaks of the call of the gentiles as can be seen from Isa 60:3

Eph 6:1-3

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.”

Three of the Ten Commandments, the fifth, seventh, and tenth, directly involve strengthening and preserving the unity of marriages and families. The fifth commandment speaks directly to parents and children, laying the foundation of responsibility each has to the other. (Eph 5:22-33). Marriage and family are the foundations of a healthy society, and when these two bedrocks are dismantled we witness the deterioration of society.

Carl Marx in his Communist Manifesto wrote: “The family will vanish as a matter of course with the vanishing of the capital.” Marx, as being in the best interest of society, denied the Biblical concepts of the home and family. It is a fact of Communism’s checkered history that easy divorces, and sexual promiscuity were once encouraged, but when it was found that the State was in danger and strong family ties were desperately needed, there was a complete change of attitude towards marriage and divorce. President Ronald Reagan was aware of this when he stated, “The strength of our families is vital to the strength of our nation.”

Robert J. Morgan in his book, "Then Sings My Soul," page 151, writes:

A 6000-year-old Egyptian tomb bears this inscription: “We live in a decadent age. Young people no longer respect their parents. They are rude and impatient. They inhabit taverns and have no self-control.”

Socrates wrote: “Children now love luxury, have bad manners, contempt for authority, show disrespect for elders, and love chatter.”

Plato wrote: “The youth are rebellious, pleasure-seeking, and irresponsible, they have no respect for their elders.”

Martin Luther wrote: “The young people of today are utterly dissolute and disorderly.”

Malachi reveals God castigated Israel and Judah for tolerating easy divorce laws, and for treating marriage loosely (Mal 2:11-15). Thus, the chance of producing “godly seed” was and is greatly diminished. There is a lot of truth to the cliché, “Some things never change.” What would we write about most of the children in today's society?

Eph 5:15-16

"Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise; redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

Brother H.P. Mansfield in his book, In Defence of the Faith, has a wonderful article on time. He writes: “There are various words translated ‘time’ in the Bible. The one used by Paul in Ephesians 5:16 is ‘kairos,’ and denotes a fixed duration of time, and therefore, a time of limited ‘opportunity’. Indeed, the same word is rendered ‘opportunity’ in Galatians 6:10. Accordingly, Paul’s statement can signify, ‘Buy up opportunity!’”

When we were baptized into Christ, we were set free from the bondage of the old way of living, and entered the season of opportunity. This is why we are exhorted to redeem the time not living our lives the way we used to. We are to make the most of this opportunity while we still can in conducting ourselves daily as becometh saints (Eph 5:3; 2Cor 5:17).

“Redeeming the time” is in the present imperative. It is a command well worth remembering in these days of vacations and ease. If we miss this opportunity, it will never come back. The Chinese have a proverb that goes like this: “Time is like a river – it flows by and doesn’t return.” In other words, once our time is up, it’s up!

Eph 6:11-17

“Put on the whole armour of God... Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace… taking the shield of faith…the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

This wonderfully evocative text is an amazing description of the complete armour of God. It has captured the imagination of millions of Christians throughout many generations. Whether we live in times of peace or war, most of us understand the language of the battle against an enemy.

The apostle Paul frequently compared the disciples to soldiers of Christ called to active duty (Phil 2:25; 2Tim 2:3; 2Cor 10:4). When Paul wrote this letter to the Ephesians, he had in mind the analogy to spiritual weapons the Roman armoury, and the armoured Roman soldier. The rise and flourishing of the Roman Empire was attributed to the well-equipped soldier trained in war strategies, weaponry, offensive and defensive tactics, and understanding the enemy’s mind. Paul showed visually that spirituality is both offensive and defensive. He is telling us how to handle ourselves and give witness to the Truth as children of God who live in the midst of great unrest and evil.

Our spiritual armour is composed of spiritual components. It is made up of six pieces covering virtually all the most important body parts. Once we put on the whole armour, and not pieces of it, we must never take it off, thus exposing and making ourselves vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy.

The battlefield we spend our entire life fighting is only six inches (15.2 cm) wide! It is the battlefield of our mind, and the distance when we lose the battle is about 18 inches (45.7 cm), the distance between our head and our heart! It is only when the Word moves our heart, and into action, that our faith comes alive. To put on the whole armour of God is to, “put on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 13:14). Having all the armour on, but losing connection with the Commander-in-Chief avails nothing, the battle is a lost one.

5:17    ‘unwise’ can equally be translated ‘foolish’ as can be seen in the RV margin. Whereas the contrast between fool and wise is seen extensively in Scripture, for example 1Cor 3:18, here the contrast is foolish and understanding. The wise has understanding as , for example, we see in 1:5

5:6-7    Whenever anyone says something to us they always put the best possible spin on what they are saying. No one is going to say that they are telling us something that is wrong Consequently we must cut through any thing that is being said to identify exactly what is being said and then measure the words against our understanding of Scripture. Being deceived is no excuse! In fact if we are deceived we are in fellowship with the one who has deceived us – we would be “partakers with them”

Eph 6:11

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

In using the word wrestle, the Ephesians immediately knew Paul meant business! The loser in a Greek wrestling match had his eyes gouged out, so we can almost sense the horror the Ephesian Greeks would have felt. Paul tells them that we do not wrestle against contending physical opponents, but against evil world rulers of this dark-age. This spiritual wrestling against the powers of darkness is no less desperate and fatal.

It is interesting to note how Paul changes the analogy from a heavily armed soldier to that of a wrestler, thus illustrating the intensity of that struggle. Paul warns us that apart from utilizing the weapons which God gave us, we are hopelessly underpowered.  Without the complete armour of God, we will lose the spiritual battle and wind up like the Greek wrestlers who lost and groped around in the dark for the remainder of their years.

5:30-31         If we thought that the creation narrative of Adam and Eve and their subsequent joining in marriage was just a means for procreation that understanding should have been corrected. The creation narrative shows that God had a plan for you and I as part of His purpose right from creation.

Eph 5:21-32 – Husbands and Wives

“… Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the ecclesia, and gave himself for it.”

Winston Churchill and Lady Nancy Astor both served in the British Parliament, but they could not stand each other. One day Lady Astor went up to Winston Churchill and said, “If I were your wife, I’d put arsenic in your tea.” Winston Churchill replied: “And if I were your husband, I’d drink it.”

God is the author of the Bible and within these passages God has left us instructions for a happy and successful marriage. The problem with marriages lies in the fact that these commands are not adhered to.

Aldous Huxley, British Philosopher and Author, wrote in 1932 a book, Brave New World. In it he writes: “… There are already certain American cities in which the number of divorces is equal to the number of marriages. In a few years, no doubt, marriage licenses will be sold like dog licenses, good for a period of 12 months, with no law against changing dogs or keeping more than one animal at a time.  As political and economic freedom diminishes, sexual freedom tends compensatingly to increase.” Gatlinburg, Tennessee, USA is the second most popular destination next to Las Vegas for getting married. As with Vegas, they have “drive-through” marriages. Las Vegas has for years been issuing one-year marriage licenses for those who want them! Aldous Huxley was right, and what a tragedy as we witness the fall of family and home!

The good news is that when all else fails, read the Book. The apostle Paul gave us an object lesson on what marriage ought to be like, and he said it is analogous of Christ and his ecclesia/bride. This is the key! If we want to know how wives ought to treat their husbands; how husbands ought to treat their wives, the answer is right here in Christ.

1) Wives are to submit to their husbands in everything because the husband is the head. We are to submit to Christ in everything, not just what we feel like submitting to, because he is the head of the ecclesia. God gave us a chain of command, but this does not mean that the wife is inferior to the husband (cf. 1Cor 11:3; Col 3:18; Gal 3:28). Note the realm of the submission – it is in everything! Submission is not restrictive; it frees us to be all that God wants us to be.

2) If the husband submits himself to Christ, the wife will not mind submitting to him in all things. Why? Because he will love his wife as Christ loves the ecclesia – selflessly in loving her sacrificially, in loving her sanctifyingly - helping her grow in the Word. The husband, like Christ, the prophet and priest, is to be forgiving, bury the past, intercede for her, lead her, teach her, protect her, and be her spiritual companion. The husband is to nourish his wife, cherish his wife and see that her needs are met. While a man is quick on the deposit, he is even quicker on the draw over a simple flaw. He forgets how often Christ forgave him. If a man is dictatorial, abusive and bossy he will not seek or care for his wife’s needs as God commanded. This kind of man is committing matrimonial suicide. It is not about having “my way, or no way,” but about having it His way!

The husband is to love his wife supremely, not his parents, not his former girlfriend, not his former spouse, not his child from a former relationship. He is to agape love his wife like Christ his bride. The husband is to love his wife steadfastly as joint heirs together of the grace of life (cf. 1Pet 3:7). He is to put her first.

What a beautiful object lesson, a God-ordained pattern of marriage the Lord has left us! But sadly, few abide by these commands preferring rather to trade the old model for the new. Some just do not want the responsibility of family life, others stick together for outward appearance sake while living in a verbally and physically abusive and domineering environment. None of these situations live up to the ideal of a God-ordained marriage. This is not AS Christ would deal with his bride. It is not the unique dynamic oneness relationship in Christ. The focus on marriage is on the spiritual oneness in Christ, but we tend to limit it to the physical. If either partner is insensitive to these Biblical characteristics and fail to manifest them in their marriage; if the husband is not honouring his wife, but is rebellious and hostile, if he is not compassionate toward the weaker vessel, emotionally and physiologically being more vulnerable, choosing rather to walk away and be condemnatory, then God will not answer either one of their prayers. This speaks volumes on how seriously we ought to take our marriage.

Eph 5:21-32

A reader writes: “… I just read your Husbands and Wives. BEAUTIFUL!! … Even common sense should tell a man that if he keeps his wife happy, she will make his life happy. And a woman who feels the love, care, protection, and highest place of priority in his life, will give him more than he might think he would find in an adulteress relationship. All we need to do is stand back quietly and overview the benefits we have in Christ. Does this not prompt us to be as we o’t to be and would it not gain Christ’s approval? Would not a brother and a sister be happy they are honoring the head? Would it not please our Head Who knows all that is going on. Even apart from scriptural admonition, it makes common sense to live according to Eph 5:22 and Col 3:18. And, of course, primarily it is ‘well pleasing’ to the Lord… If the right choice was made in following Christ, then it goes without saying that the right choice is to let His word be our counsellor… If they live according to the word of God, the reward far out weights any other satisfaction or glorification they think they can have outside the boundaries set before us in the word of God.”

My reply: Thank you for your letter. God’s way is always the right way. It is when we go our own way that we usually wind up in the wrong way. Ecclesias need to be more pro-active and less condemnatory when marital problems arise. Ecclesias need to give Godly council according to sound doctrine. Sadly, too much wrong advice has been given in that separation is advocated with the intent that the couple will get back together after a while, but more often than not, this does not happen. Then when divorce ensues, these will be the first ones to criticize, ostracize, be whisperers and backbiters, dis-fellowshipping the very ones who took their advice in the first place. This is due to their incorrect interpretation of Scripture from which it stands to follow that incorrect advice will be given to the detriment of the couple.

5:17     the contrast between “unwise” and “understanding” draws on the wise man’s words –Prov 23:20 giving us instruction as to how to order our lives.

6:21   Tychicus is also found involved with the believers in Colosse –Col 4:17 and spent time, at Paul’s instigation at Ephesus – 2Tim 4:12

6:6    “from the heart” catches the way Paul had already written – Rom 6:17 – about how we should live and contrasts with the way the prophet – Isa 59:13 – spoke of Israel.

Eph 5:22-24

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church [ecclesia]: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church [ecclesia] is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.”

These passages abound with instructions for a successful marriage. A wife is to be submissive to her husband as the ecclesia submits to Christ as its head; love of the husband for his wife as Christ loves the [ecclesia], his bride. The husband is to love his wife, the wife is to respect her husband.

Submitting to one another is very important, the qualifier being out of reverence for Christ and God (cf. v. 21; Col 3:18; 1Peter 3:1). This call for submission to one another relates to the specific instructions to wives and husbands. Submission is about a voluntary yielding in love, a characteristic urged throughout Scripture.

The beauty of a Godly wife is the hidden person of the heart, a quality of a meek and quiet. This is precious in the sight of God (1Pet 3:4; cf. Prov 31:10-12,30).

Happiness is not having what you want. It is wanting what you have.

5:1     Notice Jesus is an acceptable savour to God because he willingly gave himself in service. So the same must be true of ourselves also. We can only please God by self sacrifice after we have accepted Jesus in the waters of baptism. Being baptised is not sufficient. A changed life – a life of service to God – must follow baptism.

Eph 5:16

“Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

From time immemorial, philosophers, scientists, and theologians have sought and speculated on the nature of time. Their biggest unresolved question is why time is irreversible. Time is an integral part of our lives. Our clocks are based on seconds, minutes, and hours, in which we operate and conduct our lives.  Everything around us is governed by time, from beginning to end. It is our consciousness of time that is one of the distinguishing features of humankind. Animals live in a continual present and have no concept of the past, present and future.

Isaac Newton (1642-1727), Astronomer and Theologian, believed time was eternal. Einstein, Physicist, proved by his Theory of Relativity that time actually had a beginning and so must have a Beginner! We learn from the Bible that time, as we know it, did not exist before the world began. It is difficult for us and for scientists to understand ‘time’ before time. “Because humans are trapped in time, where time is linear and cannot be halted or reversed, the idea that anything could exist ‘before’ time defies imagination.” Hugh Ross, Astrophysicist.

Our earth and universe arose from before time. God inhabits eternity (Isa 57:15) from where He operates (cf. Prov 8:22,23; John 1:3; 1Cor 2:7). Not only did God always exist, He had great plans for us before time began (2Tim 1:9; Titus 1:2). In the heart of God’s wisdom in creation was the plan of salvation, His gift of eternal life, determined for us before time (1Pet 1:18-20)!

We may choose to accept or reject God’s gift, but if our choice is to accept, then we are admonished to “redeem the time,” make the most of the time given us, as our opportunities to change our character and to do good is for a limited time and in very hostile territory (Eph 5:14-17; Col 4:5,6).

Our window of time is closing, and how we use our time reveals a lot about us (cf. Matt 6:21). Jesus said, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh when no man can work” (John 9:4). May we wisely yield to Paul’s admonition to redeem the time that remains in our lives, and the time remaining in this Age. 

Eph 5:11

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”