September 7

End of Ezekiel's Ministry - Ezekiel 29:17-21; Nebuchadnezzar's Temporary Insanity - Daniel 4:1-37; End of Jeremiah's Ministry - Jeremiah 52:31-34; 2 Kings 25:27-30

Poet William Blake's illustration of Nebuchadnezzar...obviously during his period of insanity.

King Nebuchadnezzar,

To the peoples, nations and men of every language, who live in all the world:

May you prosper greatly!

It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.

Daniel 4:1-2

Ahhh, the curious case of Nebuchadnezzar. I am fascinated by him.

Somehow I've always had the idea that Babylon was an evil empire. Seem to get that impression in scripture. But Nebuchadnezzar is a believer - or, at least, he is in the passages given here. And he gives his testimony about God. The story he relates is scripture. I'm inspired to find out more about the man.

Here are a few facts found in Wikipedia:

• A bottle of champagne filled with the volume equivalent of 20 standard bottles (15 litres) is called a Nebuchadnezzar.
• In The Matrix film trilogy, the hovercraft captained by Morpheus is named the Nebuchadnezzar.
• Saddam Hussein named one of his Republican Guards divisions after Nebuchadnezzar.
• ^{Saddam Hussein considered himself to be the reincarnation of Nebuchadnezzar and had the inscription "To King Nebuchadnezzar in the reign of Saddam Hussein" inscribed onto numerous bricks that were inserted into the walls of the ancient city of Babylon during a reconstruction project that he initiated.}

There are even historical references to Nebuchadnezzar's insanity described in Daniel. Again, from Wikipedia:

A clay tablet in the British Museum (BM34113) describes Nebuchadnezzar's behavior during his insanity: "His life appeared of no value to him... then he gives an entirely different order... he does not show love to son or daughter... family and clan does not exist." There is no record of acts or decrees by the king during 582 to 575 BC.

Nebuchadnezzar is another of the many voices who didn't come from the Jewish tradition yet had a relationship with God. In terms of eternity, we are all His chosen. Also note that perhaps those rulers of distant powers who we generally consider enemies to our way of life...maybe agents of God and believers.

Lord knows.

September 6

Ezekiel's Great Temple Vision - Ezekiel 44:4-31, 45:1-25, 46:1-24, 47:1-23, 48:1-35

The special portion you are to offer to the Lord will be 25,000 cubits long and 10,000 cubits wide. This will be the sacred portion for the priests. It will be 25,000 cubits long on the north side, 10,000 cubits wide on the west side, 10,000 cubits wide on the east side and 25,000 cubits long on the south side. In the center of it will be the sanctuary of the Lord. Ezekiel 48:9-10

God not only has a place for His presence in the Temple - the Most Holy of Holies; He also has property in the Promised Land - the sanctuary of the Lord. So what was that like? What happened on that piece of property? Was it like the Garden? Did God walk there in the cool of the evening? I imagine God liking the world He made so much there were times when He just walked through nature, considering and enjoying it. Is that what He did with the land He claimed for Himself. And what would I do if on my next hiking trip on the mountain, I happened upon God. In fact, most times I do.

Lord knows.

September 5

Ezekiel's Great Temple Vision - Ezekiel 40:1-49, 41:1-26, 42:1-20, 43:1-27, 44:1-3

An impressive Dutch Home Depot project. Creationish Johnan Hubers built this half-size ark in the town of Schagen. It too him two years with most of the work done by himself.

Ezekiel hasn't had any recorded word from the Lord for 12 long years. So when God speaks to him, I imagine there was some anticipation about what He would say. I imagine there was some relief that God wasn't ignoring him. Did Ezekiel miss hearing from the Lord? Or was it such a terrible, awe-inspiring thing that it was more dreaded than embraced. And then there was always the consequences of hearing from the Lord. The knowledge of destruction and death, the loss of a wife and the command not to mourn. Did Ezekiel miss not hearing from God? Or was the word of the Lord, the presence of the Lord so filled with power and love that nothing else matter? Was the rush so great that Ezekiel would long for it all of his days?

So now the Lord finally speaks after 12 years and what does He chose to talk about? Some intimate word? Some powerful commandment? Some great display of His incredible love? He gives a lengthy and tedious plan for the new temple, complete with exact measurements. Is this what we want to hear from the Creator of the Universe?

Why?

I'm sure the temple was more important to a captive people than to us. I'm sure it was a symbol of the freedom and triumph and a nation chosen by God. But why such a cold and elaborate object lesson? Sure it tells us how exacting is the nature of God and that He really like palm trees for decorations. But I wonder what it all means. When I look for something left brain and intimate He comes with something right brain, a treatises instead of a love letter. But sometimes I suppose He just needs to tell us exactly what to do.

Lord knows.

September 4

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego - Daniel 3:1-30

As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Daniel 3:5

Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horns, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language feel down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Daniel 3:7

You have issued a decree, O king, that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold.... Daniel 3:10

Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. Daniel 3:15

So the scriptures rattle off this identical list of instruments four times within the space of a few verses. Seems excessive. Even comic. But the understanding isn't as nearly as funny: How many times does God have to repeat Himself relative to our wellbeing and salvation? Lord knows.

September 3

Ezekiel's Restoration of Prophecies (Continued) - Ezekiel 32:1-32, 33:1-20

But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because of his son, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood. Ezekiel 33:6

What is our responsibility to the rest of the world? It seems like responsibility for ourselves and family and friends would be more than enough. Right? But we have knowledge and eyes the see and ears that hear and life of blessing from Him and with these good things comes a good deal of responsibility. We are the watchmen. We know and see and we must not be silent. We need to be a voice in this world.

Lord knows.

September 2

Ezekiel's Restoration of Prophecies (Continued) - Ezekiel 37:1-28, 38:1-23, 39:1-29

Your table just isn't complete without the "Saint and Sinner Wine Stopper Set."

They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people and I will be their God. Ezekiel 37:23

Curious. After Israel's exile and God reunites the people and gathers them to Him, he says they will no longer defile themselves or worship idols. Really? We know this isn't literally true. Israel, all of us, have never stopped sinning. So what does it mean? It means Christ.

The world will be reunited under the Messiah, truly. And in Christ, we will no longer sin because He will save us from all our "sinful backsliding." We cannot do it without Christ because we cannot do it and so Christ does it. lol, which is not to say so don't worry about your sin. It is to say, worry about your heart and make sure your heart receives this gift in thanks, in wonder, in action and not inaction. I, of course, am speaking to myself in all this but...he who has an ear let them hear.

Lord knows.

September 1

The Exiled Nation - Ezekiel's Restoration Prophecies - Ezekiel 33:21-33, 34:1-31, 35:1-15, 36:1-38

Ahhhhh, everybody loves a love song...

"My people come to you, as they usually do and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice."

God to Ezekiel in Ezekiel 33:31-32

How much of our religion is just words? We gather, as we "usually do" on Sunday morning and Sunday and Wednesday night and we "sit" "to listen." If you were an outsider, an alien, looking in, you'd have to surmise that our religion is about words and listening, right?

We find the gaining of knowledge and insight entertaining. And, in truth, the Gospel is a beautiful love song that it is wonderful to listen to...on and on and on, now for nearly 40 years of my 51 on this earth. But what about my heart? And what about the outpouring of God's love from my heart that should and will touch others? Enough words. Enough sitting. Enough knowledge. We should know by now what to do...and do it.

Lord knows.