August 26 - Evening
"Then the man brought me to the gate facing east, and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with his glory.
The vision I saw was like the vision I had seen when he came to destroy the city and like the visions I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell facedown.
The glory of the Lord entered the temple through the gate facing east. Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.
While the man was standing beside me, I heard someone speaking to me from inside the temple.
He said:
'Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet. This is where I will live among the Israelites forever. The people of Israel will never again defile my holy name — neither they nor their kings — by their prostitution and the funeral offerings for their kings at their death.' "
- Ezekiel 43:1-7
The vision I saw was like the vision I had seen when he came to destroy the city and like the visions I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell facedown.
The glory of the Lord entered the temple through the gate facing east. Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.
While the man was standing beside me, I heard someone speaking to me from inside the temple.
He said:
'Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet. This is where I will live among the Israelites forever. The people of Israel will never again defile my holy name — neither they nor their kings — by their prostitution and the funeral offerings for their kings at their death.' "
- Ezekiel 43:1-7
The Lord Returns to Israel, to Jerusalem and to the Temple in Glory
In Ezekiel 43:1-7 the appearance of the glory of God is described. The glory (Hb, kabod) of the Lord that Ezekiel sees is identified as the same glory and the same Lord that Ezekiel saw when God appeared to him at the Kebar River in chapters 1 and 3. It is the same God that left the temple in Jerusalem in chapter 10-11 (also Ezekiel 8:2-5). Ezekiel is given a vision of the Lord returning to Jerusalem to occupy a new temple that had been described in detail in Ezekiel 40-42.
It seems clear that this text is describing the Lord returning in glory to his restored people of Israel to occupy a future temple that is yet to be constructed in Jerusalem. Zerubbabel’s temple of 516 BC and Herod’s temple of the New Testament would not meet the description, the dimensions, the conditions and it did not have the returned glory of the presence of God. Also, neither of those two temples held the Ark of the Covenant.
The appearing of the Lord in glory and coming from Mt. Olive east of the Jerusalem temple mount would fit well with Zechariah’s description of the same event that will inaugurate the kingdom reign of the Lord (Zechariah 14:1-9). This would be the return of Jesus described by Jesus in Matthew 25:31 and 26:29.
In verse 7 of Ezekiel 43 we hear the Lord begin to speak to Ezekiel from his throne in the Most Holy Place of the New Temple. Ezekiel is told in 43:10-11:
“As for you, son of man, describe to the house of Israel the temple, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and they shall measure the plan. And if they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the temple, its arrangement, its exits and its entrances, that is, its whole design; and make known to them as well all its statutes and its whole design and all its laws, and write it down in their sight, so that they may observe all its laws and all its statutes and carry them out.” - Ezekiel 43:10-11
Anakainoo (Gr) – renew (Eng) – the Greek word anakainoo is a compound word made with the prefix ana- meaning “again” or “back,” being place in front of kainos which is the Greek word
for “new.” Together ana-kainoo literally means “again-new.” So, anakainoo is translated as
“renew” in 2 Corinthians 4:16 and Colossians 3:10. In Ephesians 4:23 the word ananeoo
(from ana- meaning “again” and neos meaning “recent”) is used for “renew”
Is the power of the Word, the power of Faith and the power of the Holy Spirit changing me?
I will be transformed into the image of Christ through the renewing of my mind.
I will be transformed into the image of Christ through the renewing of my mind.
Bible Reading Descriptions Here
Personal
Food and healthy diet
Church
Attitude of repentance
Nation
Health care
World
Martinique
Someone to Quote
“Although claiming my true identity as a child of God, I still live as though the God to whom I am returning demands an explanation. I still think about his love as conditional and about home as a place I am not yet fully sure of. While walking home, I keep entertaining doubts about whether I will be truly welcome when I get there.”
– Henri J. M. Nouwen
in his book
“The Return of the Prodigal Son”
(quotes from book.)
Something to Ponder
When Jesus died some of the believers who had previously died and been placed in tombs around Jerusalem returned to life at the time of Jesus death. After his resurrection they went into the city and appeared to people. (Matthew 27:52-53)
Here’s a Fact
The first capital city of the northern kingdom of Israel was Tirzah. Jeroboam I ruled here in 1 Kings 14:17. Tirzah was excavated in 1949. According to 1 Kings 16:23-24 Omri moved the capital of Israel from Tirzah to Samaria. These things were found in the excavation of Tirzah that confirm the biblical record:
(1) The construction of governmental buildings of Tirzah had begun, but construction had been abandoned and left unfinished. This would match the time of Omri’s move to Samaria;
(2) There were very, very wealthy people living next to extremely poor people living in extreme poverty as Israel’s prophet Amos says when he rebukes his culture in Amos 5:11;
(3) The destruction level of the Assyrian invasion in 721 BC is irrefutable.
(Details 1, 2. Photos 1, 2.) Samaria Video below:
(1) The construction of governmental buildings of Tirzah had begun, but construction had been abandoned and left unfinished. This would match the time of Omri’s move to Samaria;
(2) There were very, very wealthy people living next to extremely poor people living in extreme poverty as Israel’s prophet Amos says when he rebukes his culture in Amos 5:11;
(3) The destruction level of the Assyrian invasion in 721 BC is irrefutable.
(Details 1, 2. Photos 1, 2.) Samaria Video below:
Proverb
"The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly."
- Proverbs 26:16
- Proverbs 26:16
Coach’s Corner
The greatest miracle is salvation. The godliest spiritual manifestation is the transformed soul.
Ezra 8 New International Version (NIV)
List of the Family Heads Returning With Ezra
8 These are the family heads and those registered with them who came up with me from Babylon during the reign of King Artaxerxes:
2 of the descendants of Phinehas, Gershom;
of the descendants of Ithamar, Daniel;
of the descendants of David, Hattush 3 of the descendants of Shekaniah;
of the descendants of Parosh, Zechariah, and with him were registered 150 men;
4 of the descendants of Pahath-Moab, Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah, and with him 200 men;
5 of the descendants of Zattu, Shekaniah son of Jahaziel, and with him 300 men;
6 of the descendants of Adin, Ebed son of Jonathan, and with him 50 men;
7 of the descendants of Elam, Jeshaiah son of Athaliah, and with him 70 men;
8 of the descendants of Shephatiah, Zebadiah son of Michael, and with him 80 men;
9 of the descendants of Joab, Obadiah son of Jehiel, and with him 218 men;
10 of the descendants of Bani, Shelomith son of Josiphiah, and with him 160 men;
11 of the descendants of Bebai, Zechariah son of Bebai, and with him 28 men;
12 of the descendants of Azgad, Johanan son of Hakkatan, and with him 110 men;
13 of the descendants of Adonikam, the last ones, whose names were Eliphelet, Jeuel and Shemaiah, and with them 60 men;
14 of the descendants of Bigvai, Uthai and Zakkur, and with them 70 men.
The Return to Jerusalem
15 I assembled them at the canal that flows toward Ahava, and we camped there three days. When I checked among the people and the priests, I found no Levites there. 16 So I summoned Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah and Meshullam, who were leaders, and Joiarib and Elnathan, who were men of learning, 17 and I ordered them to go to Iddo, the leader in Kasiphia. I told them what to say to Iddo and his fellow Levites, the temple servants in Kasiphia, so that they might bring attendants to us for the house of our God. 18 Because the gracious hand of our God was on us, they brought us Sherebiah, a capable man, from the descendants of Mahli son of Levi, the son of Israel, and Sherebiah’s sons and brothers, 18 in all; 19 and Hashabiah, together with Jeshaiah from the descendants of Merari, and his brothers and nephews, 20 in all. 20 They also brought 220 of the temple servants—a body that David and the officials had established to assist the Levites. All were registered by name.
21 There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. 22 I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.” 23 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.
24 Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests, namely, Sherebiah, Hashabiah and ten of their brothers, 25 and I weighed out to them the offering of silver and gold and the articles that the king, his advisers, his officials and all Israel present there had donated for the house of our God. 26 I weighed out to them 650 talents of silver, silver articles weighing 100 talents, 100 talents of gold, 27 20 bowls of gold valued at 1,000 darics, and two fine articles of polished bronze, as precious as gold.
28 I said to them, “You as well as these articles are consecrated to the Lord. The silver and gold are a freewill offering to the Lord, the God of your ancestors. 29 Guard them carefully until you weigh them out in the chambers of the house of the Lord in Jerusalem before the leading priests and the Levites and the family heads of Israel.” 30 Then the priests and Levites received the silver and gold and sacred articles that had been weighed out to be taken to the house of our God in Jerusalem.
31 On the twelfth day of the first month we set out from the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he protected us from enemies and bandits along the way. 32 So we arrived in Jerusalem, where we rested three days.
33 On the fourth day, in the house of our God, we weighed out the silver and gold and the sacred articles into the hands of Meremoth son of Uriah, the priest. Eleazar son of Phinehas was with him, and so were the Levites Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui. 34 Everything was accounted for by number and weight, and the entire weight was recorded at that time.
35 Then the exiles who had returned from captivity sacrificed burnt offerings to the God of Israel: twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven male lambs and, as a sin offering, twelve male goats. All this was a burnt offering to the Lord. 36 They also delivered the king’s orders to the royal satraps and to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, who then gave assistance to the people and to the house of God.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
List of the Family Heads Returning With Ezra
8 These are the family heads and those registered with them who came up with me from Babylon during the reign of King Artaxerxes:
2 of the descendants of Phinehas, Gershom;
of the descendants of Ithamar, Daniel;
of the descendants of David, Hattush 3 of the descendants of Shekaniah;
of the descendants of Parosh, Zechariah, and with him were registered 150 men;
4 of the descendants of Pahath-Moab, Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah, and with him 200 men;
5 of the descendants of Zattu, Shekaniah son of Jahaziel, and with him 300 men;
6 of the descendants of Adin, Ebed son of Jonathan, and with him 50 men;
7 of the descendants of Elam, Jeshaiah son of Athaliah, and with him 70 men;
8 of the descendants of Shephatiah, Zebadiah son of Michael, and with him 80 men;
9 of the descendants of Joab, Obadiah son of Jehiel, and with him 218 men;
10 of the descendants of Bani, Shelomith son of Josiphiah, and with him 160 men;
11 of the descendants of Bebai, Zechariah son of Bebai, and with him 28 men;
12 of the descendants of Azgad, Johanan son of Hakkatan, and with him 110 men;
13 of the descendants of Adonikam, the last ones, whose names were Eliphelet, Jeuel and Shemaiah, and with them 60 men;
14 of the descendants of Bigvai, Uthai and Zakkur, and with them 70 men.
The Return to Jerusalem
15 I assembled them at the canal that flows toward Ahava, and we camped there three days. When I checked among the people and the priests, I found no Levites there. 16 So I summoned Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah and Meshullam, who were leaders, and Joiarib and Elnathan, who were men of learning, 17 and I ordered them to go to Iddo, the leader in Kasiphia. I told them what to say to Iddo and his fellow Levites, the temple servants in Kasiphia, so that they might bring attendants to us for the house of our God. 18 Because the gracious hand of our God was on us, they brought us Sherebiah, a capable man, from the descendants of Mahli son of Levi, the son of Israel, and Sherebiah’s sons and brothers, 18 in all; 19 and Hashabiah, together with Jeshaiah from the descendants of Merari, and his brothers and nephews, 20 in all. 20 They also brought 220 of the temple servants—a body that David and the officials had established to assist the Levites. All were registered by name.
21 There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. 22 I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.” 23 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.
24 Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests, namely, Sherebiah, Hashabiah and ten of their brothers, 25 and I weighed out to them the offering of silver and gold and the articles that the king, his advisers, his officials and all Israel present there had donated for the house of our God. 26 I weighed out to them 650 talents of silver, silver articles weighing 100 talents, 100 talents of gold, 27 20 bowls of gold valued at 1,000 darics, and two fine articles of polished bronze, as precious as gold.
28 I said to them, “You as well as these articles are consecrated to the Lord. The silver and gold are a freewill offering to the Lord, the God of your ancestors. 29 Guard them carefully until you weigh them out in the chambers of the house of the Lord in Jerusalem before the leading priests and the Levites and the family heads of Israel.” 30 Then the priests and Levites received the silver and gold and sacred articles that had been weighed out to be taken to the house of our God in Jerusalem.
31 On the twelfth day of the first month we set out from the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he protected us from enemies and bandits along the way. 32 So we arrived in Jerusalem, where we rested three days.
33 On the fourth day, in the house of our God, we weighed out the silver and gold and the sacred articles into the hands of Meremoth son of Uriah, the priest. Eleazar son of Phinehas was with him, and so were the Levites Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui. 34 Everything was accounted for by number and weight, and the entire weight was recorded at that time.
35 Then the exiles who had returned from captivity sacrificed burnt offerings to the God of Israel: twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven male lambs and, as a sin offering, twelve male goats. All this was a burnt offering to the Lord. 36 They also delivered the king’s orders to the royal satraps and to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, who then gave assistance to the people and to the house of God.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Lamentations 5 New International Version (NIV)
5
Remember, Lord, what has happened to us; look, and see our disgrace.
2
Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our homes to foreigners.
3
We have become fatherless, our mothers are widows.
4
We must buy the water we drink; our wood can be had only at a price.
5
Those who pursue us are at our heels; we are weary and find no rest.
6
We submitted to Egypt and Assyria to get enough bread.
7
Our ancestors sinned and are no more, and we bear their punishment.
8
Slaves rule over us, and there is no one to free us from their hands.
9
We get our bread at the risk of our lives because of the sword in the desert.
10
Our skin is hot as an oven, feverish from hunger.
11
Women have been violated in Zion, and virgins in the towns of Judah.
12
Princes have been hung up by their hands; elders are shown no respect.
13
Young men toil at the millstones; boys stagger under loads of wood.
14
The elders are gone from the city gate; the young men have stopped their music.
15
Joy is gone from our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning.
16
The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned!
17
Because of this our hearts are faint, because of these things our eyes grow dim
18
for Mount Zion, which lies desolate, with jackals prowling over it.
19
You, Lord, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation.
20
Why do you always forget us? Why do you forsake us so long?
21
Restore us to yourself, Lord, that we may return; renew our days as of old
22
unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
5
Remember, Lord, what has happened to us; look, and see our disgrace.
2
Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our homes to foreigners.
3
We have become fatherless, our mothers are widows.
4
We must buy the water we drink; our wood can be had only at a price.
5
Those who pursue us are at our heels; we are weary and find no rest.
6
We submitted to Egypt and Assyria to get enough bread.
7
Our ancestors sinned and are no more, and we bear their punishment.
8
Slaves rule over us, and there is no one to free us from their hands.
9
We get our bread at the risk of our lives because of the sword in the desert.
10
Our skin is hot as an oven, feverish from hunger.
11
Women have been violated in Zion, and virgins in the towns of Judah.
12
Princes have been hung up by their hands; elders are shown no respect.
13
Young men toil at the millstones; boys stagger under loads of wood.
14
The elders are gone from the city gate; the young men have stopped their music.
15
Joy is gone from our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning.
16
The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned!
17
Because of this our hearts are faint, because of these things our eyes grow dim
18
for Mount Zion, which lies desolate, with jackals prowling over it.
19
You, Lord, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation.
20
Why do you always forget us? Why do you forsake us so long?
21
Restore us to yourself, Lord, that we may return; renew our days as of old
22
unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.