Weekly Guide：Week 84
September 01, 2019
Foreword
We continue to read the Book of Ezekiel this week. Judah suffered greatly in the hands of Babylon and Israel doubted if The Lord was still their God. The chosen people were in exile in foreign land while the promised land was occupied and destroyed by their enemies. Are we not the chosen one? Is Jerusalem not the holy city of God? They asked. No matter how depressing is the circumstances, the faith toward God is central to peace. There were many mysteries in Ezekiel’s visions, but one was bright and clear: The Lord is the God of Israel and the world and He still sits on the throne with authority over all things in and under heaven. Ezekiel was encouraged and strengthened because he saw the glory of God in the flame. Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
May you all be renewed in God’s word each day!
Question
What were Ezekiel’s signs of Jerusalem’s siege?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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God commanded Ezekiel to draw out on a block of clay the siege of Jerusalem as a sign to the people of Israel.
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God commanded Ezekiel to lie on his left to put the sin of the people of Israel upon himself and to lie on his right to bear the sin of the people of Judah.
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God commanded Ezekiel to make bread for himself, to eat the bread and drink water according to the number of days of he was lying on his sides as a sign that the people would be in anxiety as food and water would be scarce and rationed in Jerusalem.
Meditation: My Story
- Fidelity - Ezekiel’s daily life was under much restriction in order to deliver God’s message. When I testify for the Lord, do I feel being restricted? How do I feel about the price I pay for following God?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
How did God command Ezekiel to prophesy Israel’s exile?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The Lord commanded Ezekiel to shave his head as an analogy to Jerusalem’s rebellion of God’s laws and decrees.
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The Lord commanded Ezekiel to prophesy against the mountains of Israel that His was about to bring a sword against them.
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The Lord would spare some, for some of the Israelites would escape the sword when they were scattered among the lands and nations. Those who escape would remember God and repent.
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The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel, God would judge against Israel according to her conduct and repay her for all her detestable practices.
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Israel made detestable idols in the temple. God would give their wealth as plunder to foreigners and as loot to the wicked of the earth.
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God commanded Ezekiel to prepare chains as a sign of Israel’s exile.
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - God judge the people to let them know “their silver and gold will not be able to deliver them, will not satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs, for it has caused them to stumble into sin.” How do I see my own wealth? How should I make use of my wealth?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
What detestable things did Israel do in God’s house?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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In the sixth year, in the sixth month on the fifth day, the hand of the Sovereign Lord came on Ezekiel.
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In a vision from God, Ezekiel was taken by God to the entrance of the north gate of the inner court, where the idol that provokes to jealousy stood.
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On the walls of the inner court were all kinds of crawling things and unclean animals and all the idols of Israel.
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At the entrance of the north gate of the house of the Lord, women sat there mourning the god Tammuz.
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At the inner court of the house of the Lord, and there at the entrance to the temple, were about twenty-five men. With their backs toward the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the east, they were bowing down to the sun in the east.
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Therefore, God would deal with them in anger.
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - The leaders of Jerusalem thought the Lord does not see them; the Lord has forsaken the land. Do I often follow my own will thinking that God does not see me? Pray and ask God for forgiveness.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
Who were slaughtered and who were spared when the glory of God came?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The Lord commanded to bring those who are appointed to execute judgement on the city, each with a weapon in his hand.
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The glory of God went up to the threshold of the temple. He called to put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament but slaughter all the rest.
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The Lord commanded a man to fill his hands with burning coals from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city.
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The glory of the Lord rose from above the cherubim and moved to the threshold of the temple. Beside the cherubim were four wheels sparkled like topaz.
Meditation: My Story
- Integrity - Who received the marks and were spared? What does this message say to me? How does it alert or comfort me?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
What was God’s will for those Israelites who were in exile?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The leaders of the people and those who were plotting evil were slaughtered.
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The Lord would deliver them into the hands of foreigners and inflict punishment on them.
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Although the Lord sent them far away among the nations, yet for a little while He have been a sanctuary for them in the countries where have gone.
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The Lord will give them an undivided heart and put a spirit in them then they will follow Him as His people.
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The glory of the Lord went up from within the city and stopped above the mountains east of it. The spirit lifted Ezekiel up and brought him to the exiles in Babylonia.
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The Lord commanded Ezekiel to pack belongings for exile, as a sign to the prince of Jerusalem that they would go in exile as captives.
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The Lord said this about those living in Jerusalem and Israel: They will eat their food in anxiety and drink their water in despair.
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - Those who remained in Jerusalem thought the exiles were forsaken by the Lord. But God promised salvation for those were in exile. Do I feel forsaken by God when I encounter difficulties? How does God’s promise help me?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
How does God treat the false prophets?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The Lord rebukes the Israelite proverb: “The days go by and every vision comes to nothing.” The Lord will put an end to this proverb for when the days are near, all visions will be fulfilled.
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The words of the Lord will no longer be delayed, whatever He said will be fulfilled.
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The Lord commanded Ezekiel to prophesy against the prophets of Israel, woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!
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The Lord’s hand would be against the prophets who saw false visions and utter lying divinations.
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The Lord commanded Ezekiel to prophesy against the daughters of those who prophesy out of their own imagination for they disheartened the righteous with their lies and encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways to save their lives.
Meditation: My Story
- Fidelity - The false prophets prophesy out of their own imaginations. What does this mean for today’s Christians? How do I know God’s will? How may I testify for God?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Scripture Reading
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How did the Lord promise Israel's return?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: "The days are coming, when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and restore them."
+ The Lord declared: "In that day, I will break the yoke off their necks and they will serve the Lord their God."
+ The Lord comforted Israel: "Do not be afraid, do not be dismayed."
+ The Lord would restore the fortunes of Jacob's tents. He would punish all who oppress them.
+ The Lord would be the God of all the families of Israel, and they would be His people.
+ Hear the word of the Lord, you nations; proclaim it in distant coastlands.
+ The days are coming when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - What are the characteristics of the Lord's new covenant? Let me look in the New Testament to see how the prophesies are fulfilled: Acts 13:38-39; Romans 10:9-12; 2 Corinthians 3:6; 5:17; 1 Peter 2:10; 1 John 2:20, 27. What do these mean to me?
+ **Integrity** - In that day, I will break the yoke of king of Babylon off their necks. Am I facing difficulties? How may I wait for that day quietly?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How did the Lord reaffirm His promise?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ The army of the king of Babylon was then besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was confined in the courtyard of the guard in the royal palace, foretold that Hanamel would come and ask him to buy his field at Anathoth.
+ Jeremiah took the deed of purchase-the sealed copy containing the terms and conditions, as well as the unsealed copy-and gave this deed to Baruch.
+ Jeremiah prayed to the Lord: "Nothing is too hard for you."
+ The Lord will surely gather them from all the lands; he will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety.
+ While Jeremiah was still confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the Lord came to him a second time.
+ In the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are deserted, inhabited by neither people nor animals, there will be heard once more the sounds of joy and gladness.
+ The Lord declares: "The days are coming, when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah."
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Jerusalem would bring the Lord renown, joy, praise, and honor before all nations and they will tremble for it. Has God already gained that glory? How may I glorify God?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How did the Lord judge Jerusalem?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Nebuchadnezzar and all his army were fighting against Jerusalem, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord: "I am about to give this city into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will burn it down."
+ King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to proclaim freedom for the slaves. All the officials and people who entered into this covenant changed their minds and took back the slaves they had freed and enslaved them again.
+ The Lord said: "You have not obeyed me, so I proclaim you to fall by the sword, plague, and famine. I will make you abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth."
+ The Lord used the Rekabites' obedience as example to rebuke Israel for their disobedience.
+ For Rekabites have obeyed the command of their forefather, Jehonadab son of Rekab will never fail to have a descendant to serve the Lord.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Integrity** - As soon as the danger is past, all of Judah changed their minds and took back the salves they had freed. How does this remind me of my integrity? How does it reflect my own sin?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
Why did Judah king Jehoiakim burn Jeremiah's scroll?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ The Lord's word came to Jeremiah: "Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah and all the other nations."
+ Jeremiah called Baruch to write all the words of the Lord on the scroll and read to the people.
+ When Micaiah heard the words, he told everything he heard to all the officials.
+ All the officials asked Baruch to read the scroll to them and told Baruch and Jeremiah to hide.
+ The officials went to the king. Jehudi read the scroll to the king, the king had them cut off and threw into the fire. The king and all his attendants who heard all these words showed no fear, nor did they tear their clothes.
+ The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: "Take another scroll and write on it all the words that were on the first scroll." The Lord then added these about Judah king Jehoiakim: "I will punish him and his children and his attendants for their wickedness."
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - King Jehoiakim ordered the entire Judah to fast to repent and pray but burned Jeremiah's scroll. Are my actions and believe consistent? Am I willing to let God's word to reveal what's in the depth of my heart?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
Why was Jeremiah imprisoned?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Zedekiah was made king of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. He did not pay any attention to the words the Lord had spoken through Jeremiah the prophet.
+ King Zedekiah sent Jehukal to Jeremiah the prophet with this message: "Please pray to the Lord our God for us."
+ Pharaoh's army had marched out of Egypt, and when the Babylonians who were besieging Jerusalem heard the report about them, they withdrew from Jerusalem.
+ Jeremiah foretold: "Pharaoh's army will go back to its own land, to Egypt. Then the Babylonians will return and attack this city; they will capture it and burn it down."
+ Jeremiah started to leave the city to go to the territory of Benjamin. The captain of the guard, Irijah imprisoned Jeremiah in the house of Jonathan.
+ Jeremiah remained in prison a long time. King Zedekiah send for Jeremiah and asked him in private if any word of the Lord had come to him. Jeremiah replied, "you will be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon."
+ Jeremiah asked Zedekiah not to send him back into the house of Jonathan the secretary. King Zedekiah then gave orders for Jeremiah to be placed in the courtyard of the guard. They took Jeremiah and threw him into the cistern.
+ Ebed-Melek, a Cushite, an official in the royal palace, took thirty men and lifted Jeremiah out from the cistern.
+ King Zedekiah asked Jeremiah yet again. Jeremiah advised Zedekiah to surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon.
+ Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, "Do not let anyone know about this conversation, or you may die."
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Why didn't Zedekiah listen to Jeremiah's advice? Whom was Zedekiah afraid of in verse 38:19? Do I doubt in God's faithfulness and worry about things?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How was Jeremiah's life after the wall of Jerusalem was broken through?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ In the ninth year of Zedekiah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army and laid siege to it. And in Zedekiah's eleventh year, the city wall was broken through.
+ The king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. Then he put out Zedekiah's eyes and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon.
+ The Babylonians set fire to the royal palace and the houses of the people and broke down the walls of Jerusalem. They carried into exile to Babylon the people who remained in the city.
+ Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had given these orders about Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard: "Take him and look after him; don't harm him but do for him whatever he asks."
+ The Lord declared He would rescue Ebed-Melek the Cushite.
+ Commander of the imperial guard had released Jeremiah at Ramah and let him go back to Gedaliah whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the towns of Judah.
+ Jeremiah went to Gedaliah and stayed with him among the people who were left behind in the land.
+ Gedaliah took an oath to reassure them and their men. "Do not be afraid to serve the Babylonians, settle down in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you."
+ Johanan came to Gedaliah to warn him that Ammonites has sent Ishmael to take his life. But Gedaliah did not believe him.
+ Ishmael struck down Gedaliah with a sword.
+ Johanan went to fight Ishmael to rescue all whom were taken captive by Ishmael.
+ Ishmael escaped from Johanan and fled to the Ammonites.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - After the wall of Jerusalem was broken through, the Babylonian killed all the nobles of Judah but left behind the poor and gave them vineyard and fields. How am I holding on tight what is important? Where am I storing my identity and value?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
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Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How was Barnabas and Paul's first missionary trip like?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Holy Spirit called Barnabas and Paul to go out on mission.
+ The proconsul Sergius Paulus saw Paul won over the false prophet with God's power and believed in God.
+ Paul spoke in Synagogue and many believed Jesus as the savior of all people.
+ The Jews rejected much of what they had heard, and the apostles turned to preach to the Gentiles.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Fidelity** - Antioch sent off their most important co-workers to go on mission with Paul. Can I set my mind to the Kingdom and to help build others, to raise co-workers, and make my church a missional church?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What decisions did the council in Jerusalem make?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Escaping death, apostles continued to preach gospel to build the disciples.
+ Completed the first missionary trip. Apostles described the wonders God had done through them and how Gentiles believed.
+ The council in Jerusalem confirmed that salvation comes through God's grace and stopped enforcing rules that are irrelevant to the faith.
+ Began the second missionary trip with Timothy joined.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Community** - Some of the people from Judea wanted the Gentile believers in Antioch to be circumcised or would not recognize them as been saved. Do I have prejudice against believers of different culture background?
+ **Fidelity** - After being almost killed by stoning, Paul continued to preach gospel. What does this remind me where the apostles put gospel preaching at higher priority than their own lives?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How did the Holy Spirit lead the apostles to bring gospel to Europe?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ The Holy Spirit lead the apostles to preach in Europe.
+ In Philippi, Lydia was converted near the river. The apostles praised God in prison and the jailer with his family were baptized.
+ Many believed in Thessalonica.
+ Many received the message with great eagerness in Berea.
+ Through the inscription, TO AN UNKNOWN GOD, Paul proclaimed God's truth.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Integrity** - Although imprisoned, Paul and Silas sang songs praising God and prayed because it was a natural outpouring of their lives that were immersed in Holy Spirit. Can I trust God's intention is all for my wellbeing even when I'm surrounded by difficulties? Pray and ask God to help me believe Him not just in prosperity, but in adversity, too!
+ **Fidelity** - Despite the distractions everywhere they went, the apostles had always prioritized gospel preaching according to the needs of the unbelievers. How does the way the apostles preached inspire me?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What was the effect of gospel in the morally deficient cities such as Corinth and Ephesus?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ A year and half after establishing the church in Corinth, the Lord said: "I have many people in this city."
+ Going through Ephesus marked the completion of the second missionary trip. The third missionary trip started right after.
+ Three years into establishing the church in Ephesus, many have repented and the word of God spread widely and grew in power.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Integrity** - Those who practiced sorcery in Ephesus burnt their expensive scrolls in public and turned away from their sinful past. Is there anything lingering in me that shackles me in sins? Pray and ask the Lord to grant me strength to escape from my sins.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How did Paul bid farewell to the elders of the Ephesian church?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ God's way transforms people's heart. The business of idol making fell like a rock.
+ I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Integrity** - Paul not only preached but lived out a transformed life that endured trials and tribulations. Am I asking God for blessings only but not willing to surrender myself for the gospel?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What dangers did Paul face in Jerusalem?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Paul went on to Jerusalem despite dangers.
+ Paul stated his repentance and portrayed God's calling.
+ Paul escaped death for his Roman citizenship.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Integrity** - When facing the crowd and his life was threatened, Paul calmly spoke to the crowd for he believed in God that he would be used for His purpose. Let us lean on God and ask Him to transform our lives so that we can have a genuine relationship with God like Paul.
+ **Fidelity** - Persecution gave Paul the chance to testify for the gospel to the crowd. In time of distress, would I see God's plan and find it as opportunity to testify for the gospel?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
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Prayer
Notes and Responses