Comments for September 10

v.3 - passing through the fire was a euphemism for child sacrifice [2Chr. 28:1-4] - an aspect of Baal worship which God particularly abhorred. This seems to be the start of something of a run of this practice in Israel [2 Kings 17:17, 23:10] and is directly condemned in the law - Lev.18:21, 20:2.

v. 1-9 Whilst Ahaz was plotting to save his own life the prophet Isaiah was speaking words to encourage Ahaz to trust in Yahweh. What he said can be found in Isaiah 7 - 8.
These chapters can be best understood against the background of this time in the historical record.

v.7 - How often do we turn to the world for help when we are in trouble rather than to God?

16:10 Isn't it odd that Ahaz sought to copy the Syrian altar even though he sought to the Assyrians for support. Maybe he thought he should copy Syria's altar because he was afraid of the Syrians. Maybe he thought that having their altar and, by implication, their God, he would be allied with Syria.

SELLING ETERNITY

Ahaz had it said of him that "he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD his God." (2 Kings 16 v 2) What follows through the rest of the chapter, are examples from the reign of Ahaz, that show how he pushed God behind his back and effectively sold him to pursue his own ends.

It began when Ahaz needed a friend to help him overcome the threat of the king of Aram. To buy the friendship, Ahaz took the silver and gold found in the temple of the LORD and gave it as a gift to the king of Assyria.
Then Ahaz had a new altar made to replace the bronze altar that God had designed. The bronze altar was shoved to the side, out of the way. In his pride Ahaz pushed God aside, replacing him with what he thought was better.
Finally he stripped away much of the glory of the temple, the bronze bulls, the Sabbath canopy, the royal entrance, the side panels and movable basins - all to continue his friendship with the king of Assyria.

Ahaz sold God for friendship, security and pride. Even today too many people sell their faith to buy relationships that are not based on God. Others give their spirituality away to secure their careers, or push God aside to make room for pleasure or entertainment. God can provide all our needs - not just for now, but eternally. The most precious things we have are eternal. Let's not sell them for pleasures that will not last.

:5 This event is the basis on which Isaiah makes his promise (Isaiah 7:3-16) that Syria and Israel would cease to be a threat to Ahaz. It is always valuable to relate the events in the historical books to the contemporary prophets and vice versa. Such comparisons help to fill out our understanding of the record.

16:1 Just a little point. From this record we have to conclude that Jotham was 19 years old when Ahaz was born to him see (2Kin 15:33, 16:1) so Ahaz was born before Jotham came to the throne. This sort of data can be calculated for many of the kings.

V.5 Notwithstanding their great efforts and military preparations, they failed to take it and, being disappointed, raised the siege and returned home. Isa 7:1

Ahaz, the evil king of Judah, "Took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the Lord", and sent it as a present to the king of Assyria, to hire him to fight against Judah's enemies. How little he regarded the things of the Lord!  Ahaz also desecrated the holy Temple, with his import of an altar built to a pattern seen in Damascus. He even converted a part of the temple to become a place for the king of Assyria.

V.7 Ahaz had a complete lack of respect for Isaiah; in spite of the assurance given him by the prophet by two signs that the confederate kings would not prevail against him (Isa 7:14, Isa 8:4). He still sought assistance from Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria. He put aside what he had been told by the prophet of God to do that which he desired. Man's thinking for the most part has not changed, what a lesson for each one of us.  

V.2 Ahaz did not do right in the sight of God and his subsequent evil acts are catalogued. 

V.5 Yahweh prophesied, through Isaiah, that Rezin and Pekah would not overcome Ahaz in war (Isa 7:4-7). 

The sign that Ahaz was given contains duel prophecies (Isa 7:14-16).  In the more immediate historical setting, we are told that before this child is old enough to reason morally, the two offending kings, Rezin and Pekah would be destroyed (Isa 7:16).  The child, here, is Isaiah's son Shear-jashub (Isa 7:3).

Pekah reigned 752-732 BC and then was assassinated (2Kin 15:27,30); Rezin died when Damascus was destroyed.  Tilgath-pileser attacked both their kingdoms (Aram and Israel; and Damascus, which was destroyed in 732 BC). 

Both of these events occurred within 12 years of the prophecy's being given.  In Judaism, one is considered to have reached moral understanding at 12 years of age.  This complies with Isa 7:16 cf. Luke 2:42. 

The second reference, in Isaiah's prophecy, belongs to the future when Jesus will, ultimately, save His nation Israel (Isa 7:14; Matt 1:23).

16:3  Whereas Ahaz’s sons were made to pass through the fire Ahaz should have been teaching them the law of God – Deut 6:7 – but as Ahaz was not learning from God but rather from the kings of Israel’s behaviour it was not surprising that he was teaching his sons error. We must guard to ensure that we are being instructed by God for if we are not then we will be unable to instruct our sons and daughters.

As we read the account of Ahaz's reign, we feel that there is a strong exhortation for those of us who live in the affluent societies of the 21st. century. We would suggest that the great increase of worldly wealth and luxury during the reigns of Azariah and Jotham introduced a large number of corruptions, which, during the Ahaz's reign, and by the influence of Ahaz, brought forth the idolatrous practices which prevailed in all parts of his kingdom (2Chron 28:24). Let each one of us be aware of the potential dangers of wealth and of luxurious living.

16:2-3 Ahaz, a son of David, is presented as using another as his role model – the kings of Israel. We need to watch carefully who is our role model. So often the things that those in the world do see so attractive. If we think we are not affected just think how easily we remember the catch phrases of those in the entertainment industry.

V.11 Ahaz had Urijah (Uriah), the priest, build an altar, of Syrian design, on which to sacrifice to the gods of Syria.  He also sacrificed to the same pagan gods on the altar of Yahweh (v.15). 

Ahaz was a wicked king, but, the attitude of Urijah was more disappointing.  He complied with Ahaz rather than challenging him on the wrongness of his actions. 

As apprentice priests, of Christ, we have to challenge error when we see it, even in our own house (Rev 1:6; 5:10).

16:1 The conjunction of the ‘seventeenth year of Pekah’ with the beginning of the reign of Ahaz provides us with a fixed point which we can use when developing our own list of the kings of Israel and Judah. This detail helps us to see which king was reigning in Judah when certain kings were reigning in Israel.

V.1 Ahaz means possessor.

V.3 Scripture condemns Ahaz (Lev 18:21; 20:2).

V.4 Ahaz is condemned again by scripture (Deut 12:2).

We should remember, that if one rejects God’s Word, he/she shall be judged by that Word (John 12:48).

V.9 Amos prophesied that the Arameans would be taken captive by the Assyrians and moved to Kir (Amos 1:5; 9:7).  Kir was a region between the Black and Caspian Seas (present-day Armenia, Kurgistan, or Georgia).

16:6 This ‘Rezin’ king of Syria is the ‘Rezin’ mentioned in Isa 7:1-8, 8:6, 9:11

16:17-18        Having established his own altar he now proceeds to change other ordinances of God. So Ahaz corrupted the worship of God with his own ideas. Therein is a powerful warning for us.

16:7-9   Ahaz, by his actions, had compromised himself with the king of Assyria. A time of reckoning would come. Assyria would want her “pound of flesh” which actually happened in the days of Hezekiah –2Kin 18:14

16:10     Syria had been a threat to Ahaz. The Assyrians had removed that threat. So why did Ahaz want to copy the altar of the Syrians? Surely he knew that the gods of the Syrians were no gods. However we can be just like Ahaz. The things of the world cannot save us. We know that. However from time to time we may, by our thoughts and actions, show that we are trusting those things that cannot save.

Exerpts from The Christadelphian, Vol 42 (1905):

What was the brazen altar in its symbolic representation? It was a type of Christ. “We have an altar,” says Paul, “of which they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle” (Heb. 13:10). That is Jesus. The displacement of the altar by Ahaz then amounted to a symbolic proclamation of the doctrine now so popular among nominal Christians, namely, that men can approach God in acceptable worship otherwise than by the Christ-altar, approached by the antitypical baptismal “laver of regeneration” (Titus 3:5), through faith and obedience. Hezekiah’s thorough-going destruction of his father’s abominations, and his whole-hearted restitution of the worship of God’s appointment (see Kings and Chronicles), was a symbolic revival of the truth, and we can imagine how pleasing to God such a course must have been. It is a great encouragement to us in these days, when in toilsome endeavour we are set to uphold the truth of God in the midst of an apostate world. God will certainly prosper us in the work, as He did Hezekiah, in proportion as we, like him, “do that which is right in his eyes.”

Then Ahaz “cut off the borders of the bases and removed the laver from off them; and took down the sea from off the brazen oxen that were under it and put it upon a pavement of stones.” Here again is a symbolic destruction of the truth. The laver of brass in tabernacle and temple was symbolic of Christ. Brass is a yellow alloy made in the fiery furnace—the colourof gold, but of inferior value. It is the divine symbol of the flesh in sacrificial manifestation. As Aaron and his sons washed their hands and feet at the laver when they went into the tabernacle or came near the altar, so the true worshippers of the Father, in spirit and in truth, wash at the Christ-laver in being baptized into him, and so are in the tabernacle—in the altar—and if slain for their testimony are represented as “souls under the altar.” All this Ahaz symbolically repudiated in his sacrilegious enterprises in Jerusalem. He became, as it were, an early champion of “the great unwashed”—“the generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet are not washed from their filthiness.” The truth’s mission is a perpetual protest against such, involving much hatred and contempt. There is always a danger of taking the Ahaz course. Let us not weary in well doing. Remember the inglorious end of the champion of apostacy, and the glorious future of “the Son of David,” who has come and is to come. The truth replaces the displaced “laver of regeneration,” which has figuratively been taken away by Christendom just as effectively as Ahaz of old took away the literal lavers of Solomon’s temple.

Then again, there was the “sea” of brass taken off its twelve brazen oxen and put upon “a pavement of stones.” What was this but a typical destruction of the whole “hope of Israel.” God proposes the salvation of the world through Israelwith an “everlasting salvation,” of which Gentiles are invited to partake on condition of becoming “Israelites indeed” through thesacrifice of Christ in faith and obedience. Those who are seen by John in Patmos standing in victory on the sea of glass, having been mingled with fire, “sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb” (Rev 15). “The Lamb” is otherwise represented by the sacrificial oxen of the Mosaic economy. It all rests upon him.The world, or the kingdom of men, has no such foundation. Its “troubled sea” of nations is founded on nothing better than human device, a mere “pavement of stones.” Here, again, Ahaz is (unwittingly, no doubt) a champion of the popular doctrines of the apostacy, viz., that all men can be saved in their own way; and that the “tribal theology of Israel,” as they call it, is a piece of bigotry to be scouted and held in contempt; and that the notion that “salvation is of the Jews” is absurd. It matters not that they condemn Christ himself: that is now considered a light matter. It is for the truth to insist on the truth, and the facts of history are always on its side, and will be so more and more till Israel’s “sea of glass” is at last a fact in the earth.

16:11  Ahaz was wrong in requesting a copy of the altar that he had seen in Damascus be built for him. However Urijah the priest was also at fault. The priests responsibility was to teach Israel right ways – Mal 2:7– But here the priest simply accepts the request of Ahaz and thus compromises himself. How often do we neglect to highlight error when we are confronted with it?

The counterfeit altar

How was it that there was an altar in Damascus that Ahaz could mistake for an altar of God? Ahaz had already started to worship the idol god created by Jeroboam of Israel (v3), and Ahab king of Israel had had parts of Damascus made in his name (see 1Kin 20:34). It seems likely that the altar Ahaz saw was one that Ahab or a subsequent King of Israel had set up in Damascus, thus Ahaz was importing Israel's idolatry. Isaiah 7:8 confirms that at this time Rezin the king of Israel is the "head of Damascus".

2Kin 16:20 - this is the first mention of Hezekiah who can be compared to Christ:

1. A child of promise (Immanuel), 2. His great work was prophesied, 3. He came to a nation estranged from God,

4. He cleansed the temple of God, 5. He sanctified priests for a reconstituted temple, 6. He called worshippers from the north and from Jerusalem to keep a new Passover, 7. The defiled people were accepted through his merits and prayers, 8. Gentiles were accepted also, 9. He offered sacrifices for himself and for the people, 10. He provided living water (Siloam - means "sent" from God) to a people ready to perish, 11. He faced unflinching the temptations of the adversary, 12. The adversary was destroyed, 13. Although upright before God, 14. he was afflicted with an incurable sickness (the sin-disease), 15. He went to "the gates of hell", 16. but with a manifestation of the Glory of the Lord, 17. he was miraculously restored, 18. on the third day, 19. Then he went up to the House of the Lord, 20. In thanksgiving for this the people sing ceaseless praise in the House of God, 21. After restoration, he took a Gentile bride, 22. Thus the continuing fulfillment of the great promise to David was assured, 23. In a great year of Jubilee, 24. the land was freed from its enemies, 25. and the people of God regathered from dispersion and captivity, 26. The king was acknowledged by all nations, 27. who brought gifts and homage, 28. There followed a period of unexampled prosperity.

....................

Hezekiah The Great, Harry Whittaker, 1985. p98-99.

16:16 This is not how it should have been. The king should have taken instruction from the priest, not the other way round.

16:14 Just to be clear the altar that is spoken of is the one which Ahaz copied from Damascus. Not the brazen altar.

“At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews {Judeans} from Elath…”

"Strictly speaking, it is incorrect to call an ancient Israelite a "Jew" or to call a contemporary Jew an "Israelite" or a "Hebrew." The first Hebrews may not have been Jews at all," The Jewish Almanac (1980).
The word, Jew, in our modern usage is a misrepresentation; a slang word coined by the Babylonian conquerors and inadvertently classed the Semitic tribes of the sons of Israel with the diverse mass of races and religions living in Judaea at the time. This indiscriminate use of the word, Jew, has become a modern colloquial idiom without regard, or recognition of the true and Biblical meaning of the original word.
According to Jewish historian Josephus, the Israelitish high priest-king of Judah, John Hyrcanus "subdued all the Idumeans; {Edomites, Esau’s descendants} and permitted them to stay in that country {Judah}, if they would circumcise their genitals, and make use of the laws of the Jews; and they were so desirous of living in the country of their forefathers, that they submitted to the use of circumcision, and of the rest of the Jewish ways of living; at which time therefore this befell them, that they were hereafter no other than Jews ” - Antiq. B. XIV. ch. 8. sect. 1; B. XV. ch. 7. sect. 9. Of the War, B. II. ch. 3. sect. 1; B. IV. ch. 4. sect. 5. This, in the opinion of Josephus, “made them proselytes of justice, or entire Jews, as here and elsewhere” - Antiq. B. XIV. ch. 8. sect. 1.
The word, Judaism, was first coined by Flavius Josephus in the first century in order to pit it against Hellenism. It was not coined with the intent of starting a religion nor is Judaism even mentioned in the Bible.
Most dictionaries claim that the word Jew comes from Judah first given to those belonging to the tribe of Judah and in contradistinction from those belonging to the ten tribes, who were called Israelites. This is incorrect. As already pointed out, it was originally coined by the Babylonians during the captivity around 587 BC irrespective of what race or religion they came from long after the 12 tribes split around 980 BC! If the generally accepted understanding today of the English 'Jew' and 'Judean' conveyed the identical implications, inferences and innuendoes as both rightly should, it would make no difference which of these two words was used when referring to the Hebrews/Israelites/Judahites. But the implications, inferences, and innuendoes today conveyed by these words are as different as black is from white. The word 'Jew' today is not a synonym for 'Judean’ nor is 'Judean' a synonym for 'Jew'. The apostle Paul describing himself as coming from the stock of Israel of the tribe of Benjamin, (which was from the tribe of Judah)  did not identify himself as a Jew, as wrongly translated in Acts 22:3, but as a Judean and properly identified as being a Hebrew (Phil 3:5)!
One of the purposes of the Law was to keep the nation of Israel a distinct people from all others (Deut 14:2). This distinction has long been lost since the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
History records that the Jews today who call themselves Jews have no Biblical connection to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The true descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel are enumerated in several Scriptural passages (cf. Rom 9:6-8; Gal 3:8-29). The true biological line of Shem if it exists today is not known to us, but to Yahweh. The only true line, and none other, recorded in Scripture is related directly to the line of Messiah, after which it fell into obscurity. However, if we are in Christ, we are the true seed for in Christ we are no longer Hebrews/Israelites/Judahites, we are no longer Gentiles; we are no longer Jews, Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, and all the other denominations extant of the harlot Mother, but all ONE in Yahshua the Messiah (Gal 3:28,29; Col 3:11).

16:7    Against the plans the king was making God had presented a better option – trust Him – see Isa 7:16

16:3   Ahaz did have good examples to follow in the earlier kings of Judah. He also had faithful prophets such as Isaiah speaking to him. Nevertheless he followed the kings od Israel. There is no value in having faithful instruction around us if we do not listen to it and heed its instruction.

16:5    Israel and Judah were “brothers” and yet Israel sought the assistance of Syria to fight against them. Such behaviour is totally against God’s principles. We read so often of strife between Israel and Judah that we might think it “normal”. Actually the repeated examples we are given in the Bible should teach us that strife within groups that share the same ideas is not good.

16:6 In driving the Jews from Elath the king of Syria is taking back the city that Azariah had built it – 2Kin 14:22.

16:4 sacrificing under every green tree mimics the behaviour of the nations that Israel were to remove form the land of Canaan – Deut 12:2. So we see that truly those nations were thorns and pricks to Israel Num 33:55.

16:3 It seems as if the kings of Judah walked either after the kings of Israel’s or David’s behaviour. We must ask whether we walk after the manner of Adam or Christ. What determines which we do is seen in our lifestyle as Jesus told the Jews of his day – John 8:39-44.

16:7 Syria and Samaria were a real threat to Ahaz. He did well to consider what to do about it. However his failing was to seek help from Assyria. A consequence of his actions would be that he would be holden to Assyria.

How often do we work out a solution to our own problems only to find out a little later that the solution we have worked out is in fact a solution which beings with is disastrous consequences/

16:4 By the time of Ahaz was king in Jerusalem the nation had a temple – the place where God’s name was to be placed. There was now no excuse for offering sacrifices all around the land. However Ahaz persisted in his practices because the way of the nations round about him was more appealing than the law of God.

v.3 - Here we have the 'high places' mentioned again. They are clearly not places for the worship of God, though one assumes they started off with that intention, which only makes it worse. This subject of destruction of these places of idol worship stems from the curses [Lev.26:30] and is the subject of some prophecy - here, Isa.27:9

v.4 - 5 The promise that the dead one would be laid down before the idols was to demonstrate that the idols could not save. You might get the kids to look for other places where this sort of thing happens. For example the way that Dagon fell down before the ark of the covenant.

v.8 The 'remnant' are those who sighed and cried for Jerusalem, in chapter 9.

v.12 the pestilence and the sword catch the curses of Deuteronomy 28.

v.13 And all the punishment is to show that Yahweh is the Lord. Again the kids might enjoy searching out other times when this sort of thing is said.

v.7,10 - We know that God is the Lord when things go wrong in our lives too. God chastens those He loves in an effort to encourage them to greater faith and patience and humility - to bring to the fore those characteristics of which He approves. Let us be sure to recognise His chastening hand and to respond by being exercised by it. Heb 12:11

The fact that Ezekiel, in the land of Babylon, is still warning of impending punishment upon the land of Israel implies that there was communication between Israel and Babylon. Also those who were in Babylon we still being warned that the captivity that they were experiencing was only part of the story. The rest of the nation were going to be punished also.

6:14 So Israel were told that the land would be desolate as well as the fact that they would be driven out of the land. Of course once they were out of the land they would have no idea what the land was like. So God is concerned to let them know that their sinfulness not only affected them but had an impact upon the land which God had His eyes on all the year round (Deuteronomy 11:12)

6:5 The scattered bones that Ezekiel speaks of here are the same bones which are 'the whole house of Israel  (Eze 37:11)

V.2 There is a close connection between the land and the people. In Lev 26 it is made plain that if the people were obedient, then the land would be blessed(v.4), whereas if the people were unfaithful to God the land would be made desolate(v.33). Judgement pronounced upon the land is an indication of the wicked state of the people in it.

V.14 Yahweh promises that Israel will be laid waste from north to south. 

The town Diblah should read Riblah which is a northern Syrian town bordering Babylon.  The Vulgate helps this understanding, and it was probably a copyist who made a mistake by putting D instead than R. And so the expression the wilderness toward Riblath literally means from the wilderness in the south to the border of Babylon in the north.  It is equivalent to the saying, in the time of Judges and Samuel, which described the extent of Israel as from Dan even to Beersheba (Judg 20:1).
 

Israel sinned against God in the matter of their religion, Eze 6:3-7.  They made idols and images. They worshipped false gods. In the sense that God was their husband, and Israel was the bride, they committed adultery, see Isa 54:5, and Jer 2:14). That was why the Lord was punishing them.

6:7  Amidst all the words of warning about judgment we learn the reason for it all. God was concerned that Israel would recognise that He was Yahweh – their God. This was their problem. They would not recognise Him in their lives but He was concerned that they might worship Him so that they might be blessed.

6:3 ‘I will destroy your high places’ utilises the punishment that God said would come – Lev 26:30 – if Israel were faithless.

Vs.2,3 The expression the mountains of Israel refers to the Judean Mountains. Jerusalem is situated there at an elevation of 2600 ft. above sea level. Ezekiel later prophesies that at the end times Israel will be living peacefully on the mountains of Israel (38:8).

The West Bank region is in the mountains of Israel, presently occupied by the Palestinians. Does that mean that the Palestinians will be displaced (or integrated)? This is something to watch for as we see events unfolding. We do know that the  confederacy of Gog will invade a peaceful Israel but will be destroyed on the mountains of Israel by the Lord Jesus (39:2-4).

6:5 Laying ‘the dead carcases of the children of Israel before their idols’ is a fulfilment of Lev 26:30. The repeated use of the curses of Leviticus 26 should have alerted Israel to the fact that they were sinful and had chosen the curses that would come upon them if they were unfaithful.

V.5 Often found on tombstones, in the west, is the expression: Rest in Peace (R.I.P.).  In the ancient Near East, however, conquering armies were not so considerate of their enemy's dead.  The final insult, to the vanquished foe, was to break open their sepulchres and scatter the bones of the deceased on the ground.  Yahweh promised this treatment for His people because of their idolatry.

6:11-12 The ‘sword’ ‘famine’ and ‘pestilence’ catches what Ezekiel has already spoken – 5:12. So Ezekiel continues with the same warning against Israel. The objective? Not simply to warn them that they will be punished but rather to encourage them to repentance

V.8 Yahweh has, and always will, keep a remnant of His people because they bear witness to His being (Isa 44:8).

V.13 This pagan practice of worship amongst the trees continued right up to the modern era.  In fact, the Christmas tree is an offshoot (literally) of this practice. More will be said in December on this matter.

Notice the emphasis: "in every high hill, on all the mountaintops, under every green tree, and under every thick oak" (v13). Idolatry had completely permeated society. It's worth noticing that God would not have brought this terrible judgement on Israel and Judah if there was significant good left in it. That's not the way God works (see for example Gen 18:20-33). So we're being told here that idolatry had spread everywhere, like a cancer that couldn't be chopped out any more. God's comment on it is simply: "there was no remedy" (2Chron 36:14-21).

6:4 The breaking of Israel’s ‘images’ is a fulfilment of Lev 26:30

6:9   And so even those who were carried captive were taken in fulfilment of Scripture – Deuteronomy 28:37

6:1-6   To prophesy against the ‘mountains of Israel’ is no mere poetic way of speaking. Rather it is a direct attack on the very elements of the land which caused the people to stray away from God’s law. They worshipped on the mountains in the high places.

6:6      Judah’s uncleanness was because of their idol worship. They were to be cleansed. This was to be achieved through the destruction of all of the places for false worship.

1. Eze 6:8-10 - a remnant to survive, as captives.

2. Eze 6:7,10,14 - purpose of chastizement is so they know the true God.

3. Eze 6:12;5:13 - "accomplish, accomplished"<3615>.

4. Eze 6:14 - land to be desolate (but will bloom again Isa 35:1-10).

6:8   The theme of the remnant started in 5:13 is presented here and again we see it in 14:22

JUDGED BY YOUR ACTIONS

Similar threats have been made against the people living in our generation. Of all generations, ours is living in the time closest to the return of Christ, but at the same time, in our western culture at least, people are turning away from God in droves. The new religion of Self is fast taking over from Christianity.

With the worship of self, moral standards have fled, everything is permissible as long as I think it is ok and no one gets hurt by it. No one is to force any other religion at me - especially Christianity, and we apparently got here by chance and not design.

But the time will come when the dreadful end time prophecies will be fulfilled. They will be days like the days of Noah and Sodom, when people will not want to hear God's message, but will hear it anyway, even though they choose not to listen. And when it all happens, as it was about to happen in Ezekiel's day, then we will all know that the LORD is God.

That's what the people of Ezekiel's time were to know when disaster came upon them, and that is what our generation will also have to learn the hard way.

But let's get personal - what about ourselves? Will we be forced to acknowledge God? Or are we making it our priority to honour and fear Him now?

6:12    The ones who “remained and is besieged” speaks of those who are still in Jerusalem as the final overthrow under the reign of Zedekiah has not yet happened.

6:7,10,13,14   Here we see the beginning of an ongoing theme in Ezekiel. Namely that God’s actions are designed to teach the unbelieving Jews who are idol worshippers that Yahweh is, in fact supreme.

6:8        By the time that Ezekiel is inspired to speak the northern kingdom has gone into Assyria and at least two waves of captives have been taken from Jerusalem to Babylon and Ezekiel is in Babylon also. From a human perspective it looks as if all hope is lost. Yet God, in His mercy, stated that their captivity will end.

6:2       It is only Ezekiel or all the prophets who is told to “set thy face” which echoes the way in which God said he would set His face against Israel - Leviticus 26:17

6:2 of the 16 times we read of the “mountains of Israel” in scripture all but one of them are to be found in Ezekiel’s prophecy. The other one is in Josh 11:21

6:9-10That those scattered among the nations would “remember [God]” is fulfilled in the way in which the Jewish people have maintained their identity since their scattering. However the complete fulfilment of the words will only take place when Jesus returns. It is only then when they will recognise Yahweh as their God.

6:2-3 Ezekiel is not speaking to the literal mountains etc. but rather to the inhabitants of the area of Judah that was mountainous. That equates to the West Bank area today

6:5 It seems rather macabre that the dead bodies of the false worshipper would be laid before the idols. But in reality that is what happens to those who forsake Yahweh and serve other gods. Yahweh promises eternal life to His faithful. By contrast the idols only offer death and oblivion. So in seeing dead bodies lying before the idols highlights the stark choice. If we can keep such a clear focus is will doubtless help us to keep our focus on the Father and His son.

6:2  We should not assume that “the mountains of Israel” is a general description of the land. Rather is it a specific reference to the central region of the land that is hill country. The south and east are low lying plains.

6:9 here and  20:43 and 36:31 we see the prospect of Israel, once they recognise their sinfulness, will turn to God. A prospect that will be brought to fruition when they recognise Jesus as their Messiah.

v.46 - 'after three days'. Although this must have been a dreadful time for his parents, here we have a type of the death and resurrection to take place some years later. Jesus was gone for 3 days - possibly presumed dead. The joy of his resurrection can perhaps be better appreciated by our finite minds if we consider the joy of receiving back a child we thought was gone.

2:8 Shepherds abiding see                Micah 4:8
2:19 all these things and pondered       Genesis 37:11
2:29 let thy servant depart in peace     Genesis 46:30
2:30 I have seen thy salvation           Isaiah 52:10
2:32 A light to lighten the gentiles     Isaiah 42:6 etc:
2:40 and the child grew                  Judges 13:24
2:40 in spirit wisdom                    Isaiah 11:2
2:43 and his mother knew not             Judges 14:6
2:52 in favour with God and Man          Proverbs 3:4 1 Samuel 2:26

A point worth thinking about on this one is that Luke presents a number of events which are designed to show that the revelation of God is not to the mighty. On this occasion, when the high priest and all the priests are busying themselves about the Passover the Lord reveals His purpose to 'mere' farmers.
Notice, incidentally, that Luke does not record the visit of the wise men - this would not fit into the theme of God being manifest to the lowly.
Notice the way that language from the life of Samson is introduced. Whatever we think about Samson he was a man of faith - Hebrews 11 tells us this.

2:25 Simeon was 'waiting for the consolation of Israel' Joseph of Arimathea was 'waiting for the kingdom of God' (Luke 23:51). A little detail to which we can add John 12:42 'Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed …'. A confirmation that there were many who realised that the time period of Daniel was fulfilled and Messiah should come.

:19 In keeping 'all those things and' pondering Mary is behaving like Jacob (Genesis 37:11) reflected upon the words of the child Joseph.

Some questions to ponder:

• What was the significance of Jesus being born in the place where animals were born, and being laid in a feeding trough?
• Why are the shepherds the only Israelites that are informed of the birth?
• In v23, the law is quoted for the firstborn who was to be wholly given over to the Lord. In Exodus 13v2 we find that God required the firstborn of every animal to be His, including humans. In v15 we find the additional information that it actually meant killing them! The chapter gives a facility for redeeming a valuable ass with a less valuable lamb - but not for redeeming a man child! Why is this?

2:14 What prompted the angels to praise God? I suggested, that as angels are not all knowing (1Pet 1:12), they, on hearing the announcement, realised the significance of the birth of Jesus as part of the redemptive plan.  Their praise was a consequence of their growing understanding of God's redemptive plan.

V.39 This was the village of which Nathaniel said "Out of Nazareth can any good come" John 1:46 Yet, it was here that Jesus grew up. It was here that he spent much of his life. 

V.52 - Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men. We have an Old Testament passage seemingly referring to this learning/growth process in Isa 7:14-15.

V.1 Caesar Augustus was originally Caius Julius Caesar Octavianus, the grand-nephew of Julius Caesar. When Augustus' father died, he was adopted by Julius Caesar.  Augustus was simply a title meaning reverend one which was given to Octavianus by the Roman senate.

V.14 Every Christmas the apostate churches go gaga over the birth of Christ with their crèche displays of the nativity scene.  They love to cite and sing about this verse without understanding its meaning.  They naively believe that somehow this baby has brought peace to the world.  The Lord, himself, denies this: Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. (Matt 10:34 NIV). 

Much bloodshed has been wrought over the centuries, in the name of Jesus, by the apostasy. The Lord will ultimately bring peace when he returns, puts down His enemies, and reigns in His kingdom (Isa 9:6,7; 1Cor 15:25,26). 

However, most churches deny the scripture because they do not believe in the kingdom on earth, but rather have given themselves over to the pagan notion of immortal souls.

A corner stone of the true Gospel is the kingdom (Acts 8:12), and true believers should hold on tenaciously to its hope.  Therefore, true believers should never engage in any pagan rituals associated with Christmas, as their significance runs counter to the tenets of the Truth.  More will be said on this topic in December.

2:7  Various pieces of language used around the time of Jesus' birth are also used around the time of his death.

wrapped him Matt 27:59

laid him Luke 23:53

inn Luke 22:11 guestchamber - same word

4-5 Jesus said What is due to Caesar render to Caesar, and what is due to God render to God (Luke 20:25). Mary in these two verses had not delivered Jesus, yet he was being obeyed by both Joseph and Mary. There was never a thought in their mind of refusing to obey the emperor in a manner that was not contrary to the will of God.

2:46 The way that Jesus is seen amazing the doctors of the law is a demonstration of the truth of Psa 119:100

V.8 indicates that the time of year was spring (lambing season, Feb./Mar.).  That is the reason the shepherds were in the field at night, protecting their flock.  This refutes the nonsense that Dec. 25th. (The pagan Roman feast day of Saturnalia) was the birth date of Jesus.

V.42 Twelve was the age of moral understanding in Judaism (see my note on today's 2 Kings 16 reading).

2:14   The angels saying ‘Glory to God in the highest’ is echoed by the common people – Luke 19:38 – at the time of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem.

2:9-10 We have already seen in verse :7 similar language to that which is found around the time of the crucifixion of Jesus. Here are some more similarities in this verse.

V.4 It is not likely that Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem very long before Jesus was born.  After the birth, Mary would have had to perform her days of purification according to the Law. The sequence would have run:

-eight days after birth, Jesus was circumcised (v.21 cf. Lev 12:3).

-Mary had thirty-three days of purification (v.22 cf. Lev 12:4).

After the days of purification, a burnt offering had to be made at the tabernacle (Lev 12:6-8).  In the case of Mary, that meant at the temple in Jerusalem (v.22).  Note that her offering of two birds, rather than a lamb, signified her state of poverty.

And so, from the time of Jesus' birth to the time of the departure to Jerusalem was 41 days.  During that time, Jesus was visited by the shepherds (vs.15,16) and the wise men (after Herod tried to recruit them for the young child's destruction) (Matt 2:1-9). Herod's attempts to kill Jesus, of course, were thwarted (Matt 2:12).

V.4 fulfils Mic 5:2

V.25 The consolation of Israel is a phrase that meant the redemption of Israel through its Messiah, which was long awaited by pious Jews. Simeon is derived from the Hebrew word shama which means hear.  The message about the Messiah had been heard and understood (vs.30-32).

V.32 See Isa 60:3.

V.36 Anna is a contraction of Hannah which means grace.

2:30 In recognising that he had ‘seen thy salvation’ Simeon, echoing Isa 52:10, is speaking of the fulfilment of Scripture.

Patience

Notice the excruciating periods of time in this chapter. Did they spend all 8 days in the stable waiting for Jesus to be old enough for circumcision? (Luke 2:21). Then where did they stay while Mary was impure for another 33 days? (Luke 2:22, Lev 12:1-4). Then a long journey to Jerusalem with a newborn baby in tow. Both Anna and Simeon had been waiting in the temple for decades (Luke 2:25, 36-38). And though it doesn't seem like a long time, could you bear three whole days wondering whether your son is alive or dead? (v46).

2:1-7  The narrative records the most natural thing. A census for the purpose of taxing was to be taken so Joseph and Mary returned to the city of their lineage. God had been at work through His angels on the minds of the Roman authorities to ensure that His will would be fulfilled. However none of those leaders had any idea that God was working  through them.

Luke 2:14

”Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, good will toward men.”

More accurately, what the angel is saying here is: “Glory to God, and on earth peace, toward men of good will.”  It is to his disciples of every Age that Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

As a child I found peace in the meadows, at riverbanks, beaches, mountaintops, and while strolling through the woods. They were moments of total peace and contentment. They didn’t come often, or last long, but they were so potent, and meant so much to me. But, when I grew up, I learned that this kind of peace is not the kind of peace that, “passeth all understanding” (Phil 4:6-7). This is because I ascribed my feelings to outward circumstances.

Isa 26:3 reads: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” This is the answer to achieving inner peace that surpasses all human thought and circumstances! This kind of peace is achievable even during the midst of turmoil. The Psalmist, David had seen dark and terrible times, and he realized that deliverances from God were not always instantaneously vouchsafed, yet he could say: “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: For thou, LORD (Yahweh), only makest me dwell in safety” (Psa 4:8). May we never lose sight of this.

Luke 2:21

“… his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.”

There is a lot of controversy over the name of Messiah with all sorts of speculations and conjectures. A lot of Christians and Messianic Jews call Jesus, Yeshua and are very passionate in pointing out that the name “Jesus” is wrong. Then there are those who say it is okay to use either name. But then again, there are those who say that the name “Jesus” is of a pagan origin and should not be used at all. The Druids in Britain circa 60 A.D. worshipped Zeus as Esus and if that weren’t enough, some say that “Jesus” is derived from “Zeus” and means “hail Zeus.” It is highly unlikely, though; that the Septuagint translators would have put in a pagan name for the Son of God, and so what is the answer?

Yeshua is a Hebrew name and means, “Yahweh saves” (Matt 1:21). The English translation of Yeshua is “Joshua.” However, when translated from Hebrew into the Greek language, the name is Iesous, and when translated from the Greek to Latin to Old English, the name became Jesus. The “J” was at that time pronounced with a soft “Y” sound. With time, the “J” sound became in Modern English hardened with the current English pronunciation of Jesus.

Basically, Jesus, or Yeshua, a contracted form of Jehoshua (<2424>), means the same thing: “Yahweh saves.” Yeshua and Isaiah, two totally different names, mean essentially the same thing too, “Yahweh is salvation!

Let’s examine the epithet of Jesus as read in John 19:19-20 written in three languages:

Hebrew: Yeshua haNotzri Melech haYehudim

Greek    : Iesous ho Nazorajos ho Basileus ton loudaion

Latin      : Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum

Iesous (Ihsou) and zeus (zeu) are not related, and have two completely different spellings. The first letter from zeus (zeta) is vocalized with a dz sound, and the diphthongs eu (zeu) and ou (Iesou) have a totally different vocalization. The final "s" added on at the end of Iesous occurs in the standard transliteration of the proper masculine noun from Hebrew to Greek. Greek nouns and names almost always add an "s" at the end of the word to distinguish that the name is masculine. There is absolutely no relation between these words and the most basic Biblical scholars can easily prove this.

 Luke 2:34 -

2:21-22         Bethlehem is about 7 miles from Jerusalem so it seems that Mary and Joseph stayed there until she had fulfilled all the requirements of the law.  Joseph and Mary must have been amazed at the events that took place when they took Jesus to the temple. 

2:32 Notice the order of the blessings. The gentiles are first in the list. Thus we see that God’s plan was always to bless all faithful, whether Jew or gentile – see Gen 12:3

2:52 In saying that Jesus grew in Wisdom and stature with God and men we see two Old Testaments passages alluded to – Isa 11:2, Prov 3:4

2:7     There are many things said at the time of Jesus’ birth which are repeated at the time of his death.

Wrapped him           Mark 15:46

Laid him                  Mark 15:46

Inn                          Luke 22:18 guestchamber (same Greek word)

We are reminded here that it is the death, and not the birth of Jesus that is important when considering our redemption.

2:49  when Jesus said I must be about my Father’s business we see the beginning of a series of times when Jesus speaks of the essential requirement “must” that things were to happen.

Here is a list of all occasions Luke 2:49, 4:43, 9:22, 13:33, 17:25, 22:37, 24:44

2:31       From the perspective of the Jews Yahweh was their God. Here and in the next verse the all-embracing aspect of God’s care for His creation is seen. Of course this all embracing nature of God’s promise is seen early in the Bible, for example in the promises to Abraham – Gen 12:3

2:10    The message is clear.  The glad tiding would extend to gentiles as well as Jews. So we see again in 2:32 Jesus was to be a light for the gentiles.

2:24 the Law that specified the offerings is Lev 12:6. But notice in Leviticus there was the requirement for a lamb also. This is because the boy Jesus was the lamb.

2:17 the birth of Jesus was completely natural – though the location was unusual. The fact that the shepherds “made known” what the angels had said to them was the beginning of the spreading of the wonderful news that Messiah had been born.

2:3 under “normal” circumstances Jesus would not have been born in Bethlehem. It is only through God working through His angels that ensured the circumstances occurred that required Mary and Joseph to be in Bethlehem at the time she was to be delivered. Consider the precision of the organising of circumstances to bring this about. Mary had to conceive at a specific time. Claudius had to make the decree and implement it and Mary and Joseph had to be in Bethlehem.

The Creator planned it all beforehand.

Do we ever doubt that our God is in total control of world events?

Do we ever doubt His wisdom in giving the world its leaders that He has?

2:17 the birth of Jesus was completely natural – though the location was unusual. The fact that the shepherds “made known” what the angels had said to them was the beginning of the spreading of the wonderful news that Messiah had been born.

2:1-2  Whilst providing later readers time details that can be verified the giving of these events to Theophilus would be highly relevant as he would know, as a Roman official, when there things took place.

2:10  The first words of the angel was “fear not”. How often do we find those words on the lips of angels when they meet men?

A useful bit of research would be to look how often that is how they introduce themselves.

Such a review should help us to appreciate that God is not seeking our destruction but rather wants to communicate with us and ultimately give us a place in His kingdom – Luke 12:32

Luke 2:30-32

“For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.”

“Gentiles,” ethnos, is # <1484>, refers to all non-Israelites – Gentile, heathen, nation, people.”

“When Jesus was brought to the temple as a child one priest was filled with God’s spirit and recognized him by saying ‘my eyes have seen your salvation… a light for revelation to the Gentiles (Nations), and for glory to your people Israel.’ He called Yeshua (Jesus) ‘light of the nations’ (ohr goim) most likely referring to the promise in Isa 49:6…

In Hebrew ‘nations’ is (goim), the same word which is often translated as ‘gentiles’ into English. Typically Bible uses this term (goim) to refer to people who are not Israel. Interestingly, when God called Abram to go to the land that one day would be called the Land of Israel, he promised him that he would become a great nation (goy gadol). You see God’s promise to Abraham included not just future Israel but other nations as well.

God said that through Abram, all the other (mishpechot ha’adamah) ‘families of the earth’ would be blessed (Gen 12:1-3). This is where ‘nations’ (goim) come into play. When we read the New Testament or the Hebrew Bible translated into Greek (Septuagint) we see that this term was translated as ethnei.”

40 DAYS OF HEbrEW DEVOTIONS, Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg with Pinchas Shir & Jaime Purcell, pp. 47,48

The apostle Paul In Gal 3:8 quotes Gen 12:3. Only those of Abram’s faith are the true sons of Abram (Gen 15:6; Gal 3:6-9). It is to these to whom God’s blessings apply and those who execrate the children of Abraham, God will, likewise, execrate. “Curse,” # <779>, arar, “execrate.”  That is: to declare us “evil, or detestable, denounce.” Execrate Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster/

Unbelieving, Christ-denying Israelis after the flesh abuse and mis-apply these verses as applying to their physical descent contradicting YHWH and His Son (Gal 3:28,29; Rom 9:6-8).