Nov 1, 2022
EZEKIEL 36-37:
In
chapter 34, we heard the passage that many Jews would have thought
of when they heard Jesus say, “I am the good shepherd. I give my
life for the sheep.” In Ezekiel 34, God promised to take away
corrupt shepherds, saying that He would replace them with only one
shepherd— namely David's descendant who will shepherd of the flock
of God forever.
ISAIAH 14:
Like
we heard in Ezekiel and in Isaiah, and will hear in Revelation,
Babylon will be judged. That kingdom was God’s tool to execute
judgment, but they themselves will feel God’s judgment.
HEBREWS 10a:
In
chapter 9 of Hebrews, details about rituals under the first
covenant were given. The writer was showing by contrast how Jesus
entered a greater, permanent, holy, divinely made Most Holy Place
with the one-time-only sacrifice of his own blood. In our time, I
think the details also show us the impossibility of our ever
rebuilding a system like the Mosaic covenant. I take this
opportunity to share my opinion— which I recognize will not be
shared by all listeners. But here it is: Those who want to add old
covenant observances to our Christian faith just add accretions of
man-made ritual. It is better to study and understand how much
better the new covenant is, rather than to add empty and powerless
ritual and symbolism from the old to the new.
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.