Daily Bible Readings
Today’s Devotion by Tom Siderius
The Awful Consequences of Sin
This day’s readings are tough-going from an emotional standpoint. We want to read the Word and be uplifted and have pleasant thoughts for the day. There is little of that here, but rather a theme that goes through them all about the sins of man and the consequences of what happen from those sins. In Psalm 142 we see David pleading with God to save him from the lies that are the pit and snare of the Adversary that tries to imprison and entangle him.
Psalms 142:3-6(NLT)
When I am overwhelmed,
you alone know the way I should turn.
Wherever I go,
my enemies have set traps for me.
4 I look for someone to come and help me,
but no one gives me a passing thought!
No one will help me;
no one cares a bit what happens to me.
5 Then I pray to you, O LORD.
I say, “You are my place of refuge.
You are all I really want in life.
6 Hear my cry,
for I am very low.
Rescue me from my persecutors,
for they are too strong for me.
Then we read in Ezekiel the same themes of lying words and worship of all that is not God. As I read through chapters 22-23, I want to cry out to God to save those people from the destruction coming and for them to hear the words of the prophet, but they do not. They were judged and nations of all time will be judged by the actions and injustices that they do. If idols of stone or blood are worshipped instead of the true God, there will be consequences for individuals and nations.
Ezekiel 22:4-5(NLT) you are guilty because of the blood you have shed. You are defiled because of the idols you have made. Your day of destruction has come! You have reached the end of your years. I will make you an object of mockery throughout the world. 5 O infamous city, filled with confusion, you will be mocked by people far and near.
There is a near term fulfilment of this prophesy when the people are carried away from Israel at that time, and it has a far term fulfilment in the age to come when the same judgments are carried out for the same reasons.
Ezekiel 22:17-22 (NLT) Then this message came to me from the LORD: 18 “Son of man, the people of Israel are the worthless slag that remains after silver is smelted. They are the dross that is left over—a useless mixture of copper, tin, iron, and lead. 19 So tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because you are all worthless slag, I will bring you to my crucible in Jerusalem. 20 Just as silver, copper, iron, lead, and tin are melted down in a furnace, I will melt you down in the heat of my fury. 21 I will gather you together and blow the fire of my anger upon you, 22 and you will melt like silver in fierce heat. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have poured out my fury on you.’”
The Way Out
We then read of Jesus’ words on the way to the cross where he warns the people of the lies and injustices that they have done and the responsibility that they will bear for those actions. Jesus then prays to the Father and asks for forgiveness for his enemies and what they are doing. He is looking at the age to come through the lens of the Old Testament prophets. Jesus knows what’s coming and knows that the only way to defeat sin and death is by his obedience to death. These are truly sobering thoughts to think and it breaks my heart.
Luke 23:27-34 A large crowd trailed behind, including many grief-stricken women. 28 But Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the days are coming when they will say, ‘Fortunate indeed are the women who are childless, the wombs that have not borne a child and the breasts that have never nursed.’ 30 People will beg the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and plead with the hills, ‘Bury us.’ 31 For if these things are done when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
32 Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. 33 When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left.
34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”
But there is a great light in these passages to lift us up. When we read in Ezekiel 22 God says that He looks for the man to stand in the gap on the wall of righteousness. To restore His rule to the land and God’s righteous judgment to the people that look to Him.
Ezekiel 22:30(NLT) I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one.
Look at John 10 where Jesus shows us the path of righteousness that God has provided for us to follow. God has made the way for us to lose the life of sin and death and gain a new rich and satisfying life with Him and His Son. Jesus is the gateway into this new life and there is no other. He is the one that stands in the gap in the wall, and the sheep are protected by him. The shepherds of that time would literally sleep in the gateway, and so would literally become the gate of entrance. What a figure God gives us of what Christ is doing for us today and always.
John 10:6-11(NLT) Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, 7 so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. 9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.
Reflection Questions
- In reading Psalm 142 what similar feelings have you felt? What similar words have you spoken? What is the most uplifting thought in Psalm 142?
- In what ways do you need a shepherd? How does Jesus stand in the gap?
- How would you describe Jesus, and the need for Jesus, to someone who has never heard?
Prayer:
Father God thank you for deliverance from the snares and pits of the Adversary. We look to You today for the refining Word that You have given us. God we are so thankful for all that Christ has done for us to save us and protect us. Father, forgive us our bitterness and hurt against the people of this world and turn our hearts to Your love and grace. Help us to see as Jesus did all that is happening according to Your plans and intent. Thank you that You are our Father and Jesus is our shepherd in every situation of life. We pray these things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
