Readings for:
Saturday, September 21: Joel

Today we have three short chapters from the Prophet Joel. Although Joel is only 3 chapters, it does not disappoint. Its a great read that recalls the days of Egypt and the plagues and looks forward to the days of Christ and God’s Spirit poured out all all people. If you haven’t read though Joel yet, I’d encourage you to do just that.

Recalling the plagues of Egypt: Those dreaded locust. They are everywhere! However rather than plaguing Pharaoh and the Egyptians, these locust have a hunger for all things Israelite. They are relentless! Then as the people repent and find their way, these same locust are sent our as an army of God.

God’s Spirit poured out: “I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.” (Joel 2:28-29) The future telling of the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2) gives us hope and the promise of the great and glorious day of God’s eternal reign.

Lastly for us Lutherans a little liturgical reference: “Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.” (Joel 2:13) Sound familiar? Put it to music and we have the Gospel acclamation that is sung during the Season of Lent.

Finally we’ll close out our thoughts on Joel with our friends from thebibleproject and their video on Joel. Hope you enjoy!

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Readings for the next few days:
Sunday, September 22: Amos 1 – 5
Monday, September 23: Amos 6 – 9
Tuesday, September 24: Obadiah & Jonah
Wednesday, September 25: Micah

Readings for:
Thursday, September 19: Hosea 1 – 7
Friday, September 20: Hosea 8 – 14

Our Year of Scripture is now taking us somewhat quickly through the minor prophets. As we do, I may do a summary of each of the prophets rather than each day, make several posts so each prophet gets some of their own attention and thought.

On to Hosea . . .

Where Daniel and Ezekiel were speaking in the time or near the time of Exile, we have to rewind the clock to the time of Kings and realize that Hosea’s words come to the people not long after the death of Jeroboam II. Things were ugly for the people, because in God’s eyes we had become pretty ugly in the way we live. With that in mind, we might have an easier time understanding the repeated image of prostitution and the golden calf.

We have heard these images before. Ezekiel used the image of Judah and Samariah as prostitutes perverse in their ways of life. However Hosea takes that image one step further, at God’s command he marries one, starts a family, and remains faithful to her even as she runs off to another man. He is so faithful that he buys her back, and starts all over again. In my mind I kept thinking we’ve read this before. As hard as I looked, I couldn’t find a similar passage in the prophets we have just read. However I did discover that we had this as a Sunday morning reading a few months ago. (Maybe that’s why it sounded familiar) Either way, its a great reminder of God’s faithfulness. Even as far as we fall and stray, God, through Christ, buys us back and claims us as his own.

Then of course we have the golden calf of the last several chapters. Who knew that would make a bit of a reprise?

Before we close, let’s look at our friends from thebibleproject to check out what they had to say about Hosea.

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Readings for the next few days:
Saturday, September 21: Joel
Sunday, September 22: Amos 1 – 5
Monday, September 23: Amos 6 – 9
Tuesday, September 24: Obadiah & Jonah

Readings for:
Wednesday, September 18: Daniel 10 – 12

As Daniel comes to a close, we are challenged with some intriguing time lines regarding the end of times. When, where, what, how?

We actually have to turn back just a few chapters to get the whole of Daniels prophecy on time (back to ch. 9), and while we can only interpret what Daniel is saying, we have to make our best guess. Here is one diagram that I found that does help to provide a bit of clarification on the 70 weeks:

What I love on this and many of the other interpretations that I have read, always centers the on the cross, where “the Anointed one will be put to death and will have nothing.” (Daniel 9:26) As we near our completion of reading the Old Testament, here we find a bit of Gospel truth. Even with the cross, it is a breath of fresh air for us faithful readers. Redemption and salvation is soon at hand.

Still the question remains, when? Even Daniel asks “How long will it be?” (Daniel 12:6) While the Angel Michael gives a number for days, I have to fall back on words of Jesus for this one.

“But about that day or hour no one knows,
not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.“
Mark 13:32

Until that day, until that time we wait for the glory of God!

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Readings for the next few days:
Thursday, September 19: Hosea 1 – 7
Friday, September 20: Hosea 8 – 14
Saturday, September 21: Joel
Sunday, September 22: Amos 1 – 5

Readings for:
Tuesday, September 17: Daniel 7 – 9

Daniel turns from the fun Sunday School version of readings with the Lion’s Den and the Fiery Furnace into some pretty scary stuff. Much like Jeremiah and Ezekiel, Daniel begins to tell of the end times complete with angels, multi headed beast, horns, and horns growing out of horns. For our timid reader this could be frightening stuff. For our in-depth reader, we may leave wanting answers and explanations. Rather than me trying to decipher all that Daniel is placing upon us, I’m going to turn to our friends at the bibleproject.com and have them explain away:

Readings for the next few days:
Wednesday, September 18: Daniel 10 – 12
Thursday, September 19: Hosea 1 – 7
Friday, September 20: Hosea 8 – 14
Saturday, September 21: Joel

Readings for:
Monday, September 16: Daniel 4 – 6

Oh them lions they can eat my body
But they can’t (SLINKY!) swallow my soul [no no no]
They keep on trying to crash my party
But they can’t (SLINKY!) get control [no no]
No way, baby, uh-uh [no, no no]

You probably don’t recognize those words, do you? I didn’t expect that you would. They are the words to the chorus/refrain to “Lions” by Lost and Found, an alternative Christian Band that used to tour in the midwest when I was in college. I can’t help but sing when I read the story of Daniel in the Lion’s Den. “Oh them lions, they can eat my body, but they can’t swallow my soul.” I wonder if Daniel thought the same as he was placed in the Lions Den. Confident in his faith, whether he lived or whether he died, he know that he was in the hands of God! God then used Daniel’s faith to move the faith of others, as he was found alive the next morning. What a proclamation of faith! “Oh them lions, they can eat my body, but they can’t swallow my soul.”

Peace
Pastor Bailey

Readings for the next few days:
Tuesday, September 17: Daniel 7 – 9
Wednesday, September 18: Daniel 10 – 12
Thursday, September 19: Hosea 1 – 7
Friday, September 20: Hosea 8 – 14

Readings for the next few days: 
Sunday, September 15: Daniel 1 – 3

What a breath of fresh air after reading Jeremiah and Ezekiel! Finally some light hearted, engaging, joyous reading. Daniel is indeed a welcome change for all of us who have been reading along.

So some of the basic . . . Daniel and his three friends are all to be appointed as aids to the king while living in Exile in Babylon. They are all given new names. Names that we probably recognize as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Here’s a little bit of an oddity about me, I always wanted three dogs and you could guess their names . . . Imagine stepping out on the back porch calling out. ” Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego!” Well after two dogs, “Grover” and “Louie” I can promise three will never happen!

Anyways, as you read, did you see the parallels to the story of Joseph, way back in Genesis? Daniel is in prison (Exiled at least from his home land). The King is dreaming and no one can interpret his dreams. Amazingly God places Daniel in the right place to interpret the dream, and his is promoted to a pretty high place. Along with Daniel’s friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Sounds like Joseph, in prison, interpret’s Pharoah’s dreams, is promoted, and provides rescue for his family as they relocate to Egypt. How about that, history does repeat itself!

Then, just as the Israelites were enslaved by Pharaoh, those in Exile are about to be forced to worship a false god (one of many things they got put in Exile for in the first place.) What are we to do? What are we to do when we hear the “sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music?” Fall down and worship. No! Instead be faithful and dance in the fiery furnace. What a great reminder of God’s powerful presence with us!

Rejoicing that we have been saved from our own fiery furnace, in the words/song of Lee Ann Womack, “I hope you dance!”

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Readings for the next few days:
Monday, September 16: Daniel 4 – 6
Tuesday, September 17: Daniel 7 – 9
Wednesday, September 18: Daniel 10 – 12
Thursday, September 19: Hosea 1 – 7

Readings for: 
Thursday, September 12: Ezekiel 40 – 42
Friday, September 13: Ezekiel 43 – 45
Saturday, September 14: Ezekiel 46 – 48

We close out the Book of Ezekiel with a grand and great vision of the temple, which is measured not in cubits but with a “measuring reed” (NRSV) or “measuring rod” (NIV). Either way this reed/rod is six “long” cubits long (adding an extra hand to each cubit), and was regarded as the way to measure the vastness of the new temple complex. Simply said, this place was huge!

There were inner gates, outer gates, courtyards, kitchens, dinning spaces, a river that flowed through it, an altar for sacrifice, space for the priest, and on the list could go. This temple was nearly a city in itself, although the holy city was built farther off.

Now keep in mind, as great and grand as this temple may seem, as Ezekiel had his vision, this was not the temple to replace the Temple that had recently fallen during the time of Exile. In fact this temple has never been built. Many look at this with parallels found in Revelation and the river of life that flows forth from the thrown of God. While detailed in the description, many think the visions of Ezekiel are still yet to come, on that day when the people of God will be fully restored. When? One cannot say. The only thing we can say with certainty is that there will be a time when all people will be gathered together on that great and glorious day!

For fun, do a quick internet search on “Ezekiel’s Temple” and check out the variety of artistic interpretations that are made, and imagine gathering there for worship. Wow would that be a humbling experience!

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Readings for the next few days: 
Sunday, September 15: Daniel 1 – 3
Monday, September 16: Daniel 4 – 6
Tuesday, September 17: Daniel 7 – 9
Wednesday, September 18: Daniel 10 – 12

Readings for: 
Tuesday, September 10: Ezekiel 34 – 36
Wednesday, September 11: Ezekiel 37 – 39

In our recent readings we get a little bit of love, and a little bit of fun!

Some love . . .
Chapter 34 turns our attention to the image of a shepherd. I hope that when you hear that, your recall to Jesus’ bold words, “I am the Good Shepherd.” What a comforting and loving image for us as Christians. Here in Ezekiel, God is the shepherd that is good. Others have lost their way, yet God promises to “I will search for them . . . seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered . . . I will bring the out from the peoples and gather them . . . I will bring them into their own land.” (34:11-13 select portions) In these words there is compassion and love, like only a loving Shepherd can give. Compassion and love . . . that us God’s people disparately need.

Some fun . . .
The valley of the dry bones, in chapter 37 is always a fun on, especially as Halloween Decorations are starting to go up. Skeletons are everywhere. As I read, I kept singing, “Them bones, them bones, them drrrrry bones.” And the image of Disney’s “Silly Symphony” came to mind as well. New life is found in this valley of the dry bones. Flesh and breath is given to them, as a reminder of how God will rebuild the nation of Israel. Yet, I can’t help but wonder, what happened to those dry bones after all was said and done. They had flesh. They were filled with breath from the corners of the earth. Ezekiel says they “lived,” so what happened next? Did they return to dust. Were they real people full of mind and spirit? Were they some type of Halloween zombie created by God? Interesting image to wrestle with and ponder, when happened next to these dry dry bones!

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Readings for the next few days: 
Thursday, September 12: Ezekiel 40 – 42
Friday, September 13: Ezekiel 43 – 45
Saturday, September 14: Ezekiel 46 – 48
Sunday, September 15: Daniel 1 – 3

Readings for: 
Saturday, September 7: Ezekiel 25 – 27
Sunday, September 8: Ezekiel 28 – 30
Monday, September 9: Ezekiel 31 – 33

How quickly we forget that God’s word through the prophets isn’t always reserved for the nation of Israel and those living in Jerusalem. We could turn back to Jeremiah and recall how his words were far reaching to the surrounding communities. Much is the same for Ezekiel. Through Ezekiel, God speaks to:

• The Ammonities (25:1-7)
• The Moabites (25:8-11)
• The Edomites (25:12-24)
• The Philistines (25:15-17)
• The nation and King of Tyre (26:1-28:19)
• The nation of Sidon (28:20-24)
• Egypt (29:1-30:26 and 32:1-33)

The list is long. Sometimes those words are of hardship and devastation. Amazingly enough, some of his words are a cry and lament for what is about to happen. While we are following the story of Israel, this is a great reminder that God’s people are all people, and as Children of God, we walk humbly in the light and life of God!

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Readings for the next few days: 
Tuesday, September 10: Ezekiel 34 – 36
Wednesday, September 11: Ezekiel 37 – 39
Thursday, September 12: Ezekiel 40 – 42
Friday, September 13: Ezekiel 43 – 45

Readings for 
Thursday, September 5: Ezekiel 21 – 22
Friday, September 6: Ezekiel 23 – 24

A few different times Ezekiel has probably made us uncomfortable as we read about the “prostitute.” Chapter 23 is full of those images as Oholah and Ohilibah as used to describe the nature of Samaria and Jerusalem. Neither has remained faithful in the eyes of God, and are called out for their promiscuous ways. Now we don’t like to think of the life of a prostitute. “Good Christians” as some would say, wouldn’t have anything to do with “those people,” yet I would challenge you on that. For who is it that Jesus spent his time with? Turning to the Gosples, we are reminded time and time again that Jesus associated with “tax collectors and sinners” many of whom may have been prostitutes. This is good news for us, for if Jesus came to save the least of these, then certainly we find redemption in his eyes as well.

However, let’s not get too self righteous! As Ezekiel speaks of Oholah and Oholibah, prostitutes symbolizing the depth of sin committed on behalf of Jerusalem and Samariah, I would dare say that you and I are prostitutes in our own way. Think of what we have squandered away. Think of what we have miss used and abused. Think of how we have mistreated ourselves, one another, and God’s good creation. Are we not guilty of being promiscuous with the gifts God has given us to treasure? Indeed we have! Maybe that it why we get so uncomfortable when hearing the word prostitute.

While we may hang our heads on that very thought, we can give thanks, that Jesus died for sinners such as you and I. We can give thanks that new life comes to all people, regardless of how promiscuous we may have be come. That is good news for us all!

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Readings for the next few days: 
Saturday, September 7: Ezekiel 25 – 27
Sunday, September 8: Ezekiel 28 – 30
Monday, September 9: Ezekiel 31 – 33
Tuesday, September 10: Ezekiel 34 – 36