Savor the taste of our previous brew

In the previous passage, verses 23-27, concludes the larger poem about the LORD’s divorce from Israel intended to show that He judged National Israel to get the recognition from them they failed to show Him during their marriage (v.27).

23 The LORD has repeated the message over and over that He and National Israel are through. He knew the rebels labored under the misconception that Jerusalem would never fall because it housed His Temple. They fanatically counted on the divine presence to keep their enemies out and them safe within the city’s walls. In the past, the LORD postponed judgment on the people for their endless sins. The people mistook this delay for divine contentment, as though the covenant would never end and their sacrifices were keeping the Almighty at bay. But, the sinning never let up and going through the motions without repentance left their sins un-forgiven. Eventually, the sanctuary – polluted with sins – became unfit for God to dwell there. So He moved out – an event dramatized by Ezekiel in chapters 1-3. The LORD’s departure symbolized divorce from National Israel, and set the stage for Jerusalem’s siege, fall, and exile that characterized life without God’s favor.

This verse underscores the inevitability of their eviction from the Promised Land. Like children spoiled by permissive parents, the rebels expected God to rescue them once again in spite of their detestable sins. But, instead of eleventh-hour deliverance, the LORD orders, “prepare chains for my people” to carry them into Babylonian captivity because, or “for the land is bloodied by terrible crimes.” Blood is the quintessential symbol of guilt, especially referring to people who have prospered at the expense of others. Ironically, the people sacrificed so many animals they flooded the Temple with rivers of blood. But instead of cleansing themselves from guilt, they “bloodied” or polluted the innocent land – just as the land was cursed because of Adam at the fall. The LORD reinforces this sense of “bloodied” by adding, “Jerusalem is filled with violence.” Blood, as guilt, stems from blood as a sign of death due to violence. The defilement of the Temple with stains of un-forgiven sin has overflowed the sacred precincts and “bloodied” or covered the entire country with guilt. Even the jewel of Jerusalem, the holy city brims with guilt. Forged by centuries of crimes against God, the time has come to “prepare” or bind the rebels for exile with chains of their own making, attaching them to each other for a pitiful single-file exit from Palestine and procession to Babylon.

“Prepare chains for my people, Shackle my former wife with the chains she forged during our marriage with her endless nauseating sins

for the land is bloodied by terrible crimes. Because the innocent ground is covered with the blood from her repulsive law-breaking

Jerusalem is filled with violence. The once holy city brims with injustice, prospering at others’ expense like Cain did to Abel

The Grind

Since everything in the Bible leads into and prepares the way for what comes after it, refresh yesterday’s Brew to let the previous passage get you ready for today’s verses. Though you should have already explored the passage, personally with Jesus, here is the heart of what we saw, together.

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24 Additional irony colors the aftermath of covenant divorce. In Deuteronomy 6:10-11, the LORD promised to give the fugitives from Egypt, the land and houses of the pagan occupants of Canaan. Here, He guarantees to “bring the most ruthless of nations [who least deserve it] to occupy their homes.” Infidelity to God has forfeited God’s blessings and reversed National Israel’s fortunes. Like Isaiah, Ezekiel sees the once grand bride of God stripped of every promised advantage and blessing (cf. Isa. 47:1). That the nation is “the most ruthless,” implies this will not be a peaceful transition. The word “ruthless,” promises a painful, violent takeover rather than a gentle change. In addition to eviction from their living quarters, symbolizing loss of the privilege to live in the land, and replacement by pagans so they can’t return, the LORD also announces “I will break down their proud fortresses and defile their sanctuaries.” On top of the humiliation of losing out to pagans, the LORD will see to it that the symbols of their defiance, pride and arrogance are destroyed. First, He will smash the “proud fortresses” they trusted instead of God to defend them against anyone who would take their blessings away from them. He will do this to show them they cannot prevent losses or consequences due to sin with human strength. At the same time, He will also violate “their sanctuaries” where they cheated on God, imagining that their idol-lovers would keep them safe from their covenant husband’s wrath. He did this to show them that nothing manmade, no matter how dazzling or imposing, can withstand the penalties for sin.

I will bring the most ruthless of nations I, the Eternal One will weaponize the most brutal of the outsiders

to occupy their homes. To kick them out of and repossess their houses

I will break down their proud fortresses I, the Eternal One will overwhelm the network of strongholds they trusted instead of Me to intercept invaders and keep them from reaching Jerusalem

and as well as

defile their sanctuaries. Have the invaders violate the places where they expected their false idol-lovers to protect them from Me

25 When the rebel’s strongholds fall and their safe places fail to keep intruders out, the people will realize their helplessness and lose all of their false hope. The verse borrows imagery from the hedgehog, the root of the word translated “terror and trembling.” Its root idea of rolling together and shrinking back reminds us of the spiny mammal that rolls itself into a ball of sharp spikes that force its enemies to retreat. In the same way, the people will recoil in horror from the Babylonian juggernaut as it steamrolls or “overcomes” their defenses. Unable to stop advancing invaders with “their proud fortresses“ or keep them out of their so-called “sanctuaries” where they thought they were safe from God’s wrath, the people will panic. Vulnerable, defenseless, and powerless – they will want the disorder and confusion to stop, but the peace God gave them in the past will no longer be available to them – now that He is their enemy.

Terror and trembling will overcome my people. My ex-bride will suddenly realize how vulnerable she is

They will look for peace Her citizens will try to find the serenity she had during our marriage

but yet

not find it. It will remain hidden from their search.

26 In the Book of Job, the LORD gave Satan permission to attack His righteous servant – over and over – to test his loyalty. As the hits kept coming followed by one report of the evil directed against him after another, Job wavered until he received a vision that restored his hope. Here, “calamity will follow calamity,” just as it did to Job, followed by an endless stream of reports, “rumor will follow rumor” about the evil assaulting them. But, while God gave Job a vision, a glimpse of the future beyond his troubles, the rebels “will look in vain for a vision from the prophets,” God’s official spokesmen, unable to see past the chaos – symbolizing that they have no future beyond the siege, fall, and exile. Terror has replaced their former arrogance. Bold enough to disrespect God, National Israel had also dared to rebel against Babylon. Using the siege, fall, and exile to show them the consequences of their foolishness, the LORD simultaneously showed them what their sins had earned for them. At the same time the priests went silent, their spiritual guides had nothing to offer them, either. The

rebels used to manipulate the priests with offerings to give them false hope and bribed secular leaders with their wealth to give them what they wanted. Now, in the face of divine wrath and stripped of their former resources, the rebels can no longer shape their destiny. The priests who enabled the sinful people in the past are now powerless to reconcile them to God, to soothe their aching consciences, or to tell them what they should do to regain His favor. As for the leaders, unable to arrange a political settlement with Babylon or negotiate a truce, they have no advice to calm the rebel’s fears or restore their former serenity.

Calamity will follow calamity; One disaster will lead into another

rumor will follow rumor. An endless stream of negative reports will come one after the other

They will look in vain for a vision from the prophets. The rebels will yearn to hear my official messengers announce a break in their catastrophes, but they have nothing to show them

They will receive no teaching from the priests the rebels, unable to manipulate a false sense of security at the Temple will find their priests speechless

and plus

no counsel from the leaders. No longer able to bribe their political leaders, who are unable to negotiate a truce, will have nothing good to say

27 The disorder and confusion will affect everyone – from the loftiest to the lowest. Referring back to the leaders in v.26, Ezekiel announces that “The king and the prince,” the one in power now and the understudy waiting in the wings to take over in the future will be paralyzed – unable to do anything for themselves or the rebels. These social giants will be reduced to tears, a symbol of helplessness – at the same time the common people, “the people of the land” that the big shots called “the common herd,” will shake with anxiety – a symbol of powerlessness to do anything about their situation. The LORD declares His intention to “bring on them [that is, on everyone from top to bottom] the evil they [all] have done to others.” Then, He announces the outcome of His campaign against them in advance, guaranteeing, “they [without exception, regardless of their social, economic, or political class] will receive the punishment they so richly deserve.” Not only will they stand by, watching helplessly as the Babylonian juggernaut relentlessly rolls ever closer to them, but, unable to stop it will also be run over and flattened by the weight of their sins – road kill for the LORD. Only one person could turn the tables on Israel like this and use the mightiest nation on earth for an errand boy – and the people will finally realize – that their former husband has divorced them. Only the One Whose voice terrified them at Sinai, whose power left them speechless in Egypt and the wilderness – could paralyze and silence them in the Promised Land. Only the One Who created the universe out of nothing and made a way out of Egypt when there wasn’t any – could find a way to dethrone His unfaithful wife and bring her to justice. Only the Eternal One who existed before they twinkled in their fathers’ eyes and alone has immortality – will continue to live long after the divorce and Jerusalem is gone. Only the One with the authority to set up kings and kingdoms as well as take them down – could overthrow their impregnable city. The evidence will be overwhelming – that their ex is the LORD He always said He was and the husband they should have loved from the beginning.

The king and the prince will stand helpless, The ruler and his future replacement will stand by, paralyzed and unable to do anything about the situation

weeping in despair, reduced to tears

and plus

the people’s hands will tremble with fear. The terrified rank and file won’t be able to use their shaking hands to carry out any plans

I will bring on them the evil they have done to others, I, the Eternal One will pay the rebels back, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, for the way they have mistreated one another

and they will receive the punishment they so richly deserve. Plus the rebels will finally suffer in the end the penalty they have earned from the beginning

Let us pour you a fresh cup, ground verse-by-verse from today’s passage

Then After that

they will know that I am the LORD.” every one of the rebels will realize that their ex-husband is the Almighty God, the only one who could turn the tables on them like this

In today’s passage, verses 1-4, begin an episode that starts in Jerusalem and ends with Ezekiel’s return to the exiles, so he can tell them what God has shown him there. So please open your Bibles to Ezekiel Chapter 8, and let me pour you a hot CuppaJesus from today’s brew, starting with v.1.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR TODAY Here are the main items in the text that will lead you to its understanding. P0

Pay careful attention to every item as you follow today’s devotional in your study Bible. We have already grouped them by colors in “Today’s Text,” so you can follow the writer's flow of thought for yourself. Capture and grasp what he is trying to tell you with matching color pencils to draw lines connecting items to others in the same color-family, and a black pencil to cross-link items from different color-families that still have something to do with one another. Use circles, boxes, triangles, etc. to identify topics and themes (triangles, for instance, might represent the Trinity). Also mark with asterisks, etc., the ones you need to look up later for more information or greater details.

TODAY’S TEXT

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1 Then on September 17, during the sixth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, while the leaders of Judah were in my home, the Sovereign LORD took hold of me.

2 I saw a figure that appeared to be a man. From what appeared to be his waist down, he looked like a burning flame. From the waist up he looked like gleaming amber.

Verse 1 Verse 2 Verse 3 Verse 4 Links Then, during, while Like 2x And 2x, then Suddenly, just as Persons King Jehoiachin’s, the

leaders of, my, me (Zeke), the Sovereign LORD

I (Zeke), a man, his, he 2x (the figure)

He, the Spirit, God, the LORD, me 3x (Zeke)

The God of Israel, I (Zeke)

Places On (9/17), Judah, in (my) home

From (waist) down, from (waist) up

Out, into, in, to 2x, up, Jerusalem, from, the north gate of, the inner courtyard, where there

There, in the valley

Things Sept. 17, the 6th year of, captivity

A figure that, what, waist, a burning flame, the waist, gleaming amber

What, a hand, the hair, the sky, a vision, the Temple, a large idol that

The glory of, it

Words Were, took hold of Saw, appeared to be 2x, looked 2x

Reached, seemed to be, took by, lifted, transported, was taken, is, has made very jealous

Was, had seen before

The BrewNow Serving

Parts

3 He reached out what seemed to be a hand and took me by the hair. Then the Spirit lifted me up into the sky and transported me to Jerusalem in a vision from God. I was taken to the north gate of the inner courtyard of the Temple, where there is a large idol that has made the LORD very jealous.

4 Suddenly, the glory of the God of Israel was there, just as I had seen it before in the valley.

THE EXPANDED BIBLE

8 It was the sixth year [C since king Jehoiachin’s exile (1:2)], on the fifth day of the sixth month [C September 17, 592 BC; this vision is the subject of chapters 8–11]. I was sitting in my house with the elders of Judah in front of me. There ·I felt the power of the Lord GOD [L the hand of the LORD GOD came upon me]. 2 I looked and saw something that looked like a ·human [man]. From the waist down it looked like fire, and from the waist up it looked like bright glowing ·metal [or amber]. 3 ·It [or He] stretched out the shape of a hand and caught me by the hair on my head. ·The Spirit [or A spirit; or The wind] lifted me up between the earth and ·the sky [heaven]. He took me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance to the north gate of the inner courtyard of the Temple. In the courtyard was the ·idol that caused God to be jealous [L image of jealousy; 2 Kin. 21:7; 2 Chr. 33:7, 15]. 4 I saw the glory of the God of Israel [C his manifest presence] there, as I had seen ·on the plain [in the valley].

THE SCRIPTURES 1998/2009

1 And it came to be in the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth of the month, as I sat in my house with the elders of Yehuḏah sitting before me, that the hand of the Master יהוה fell upon me there.

2 And I looked and saw a likeness, like the appearance of fire. From His waist and downward the appearance was like fire, and from His waist and upward the appearance of brightness, like glowing metal.

3 And He stretched out the form of a hand, and took me by a lock of my hair. And the Spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heavens, and brought me in visions of Elohim to Yerushalayim, to the door of the north gate of the inner court, where the seat of the image of jealousy was, which causes jealousy.

4 And see, the esteem of the Elohim of Yisra’ĕl was there, like the vision that I saw in the plain.

THE NET BIBLE

1 In the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth of the month, as I was sitting in my house with the elders of Judah sitting in front of me, the hand of the sovereign LORD seized me.

2 As I watched, I noticed a form that appeared to be a man. From his waist downward was something like fire, and from his waist upward something like a brightness, like an amber glow.

3 He stretched out the form of a hand and grabbed me by a lock of hair on my head. Then a wind lifted me up between the earth and sky and brought me to Jerusalem by means of divine visions, to the door of the inner gate which faces north where the statue which provokes to jealousy was located.

4 Then I perceived that the glory of the God of Israel was there, as in the vision I had seen earlier in the valley.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL: 1 This passage begins a four-chapter vision of Jerusalem that God gave to Ezekiel. It starts with Ezekiel’s supernatural transport to Jerusalem and ends with his return to the exiles so he can tell them everything God has shown to him. God wants the exiles to know they can’t pin any hopes on Jerusalem – the flagship of Judah – because it is corrupt, beyond repair, and must be destroyed. It’s unbridled idolatry warrants drastic punishment.

The four chapters look like this:

A. God takes Ezekiel to Jerusalem in a vision (8:1-4) B. Ezekiel sees visions of abominations committed in and near the Temple (8:5-18) C. The LORD commands His messengers to destroy the city (9:1-11) D. The man wearing linen is ordered to destroy the city with fire (10:1-7) E. Vision of the cherubim and the wheels, again (10:8-17) F. The LORD’S glory crosses the threshold and hovers over the cherub (10:18-19) G. Vision of the cherubim, again (10:20-22) H. Vision of 25 wicked counselors near the Temple (11:1-13) I. An oracle of regeneration after exile (11:14-21) J. The LORD’S glory vacates the Temple and Ezekiel returns to the exiles (11:22-25)

It is September 17, 592 BC, fourteen months since the vision God gave Ezekiel at the Chebar River. Instead of referring to King Zedekiah back in Jerusalem, Ezekiel says that this occurs, “during the sixth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity.” Foreign powers had interfered with the throne of Judah since Pharaoh Necho slew King Josiah in 608 BC. Three months after Josiah’s younger son Jehoahaz ascended the throne, Necho appointed his older brother Jehoiakim, King of Judah. Eleven years later, to avenge his rebellion against Babylon, raiders from surrounding nations killed him at the instigation of Nebuchadnezzar. His son Jehoiachin came to power, but was dethroned only 3 months and 10 days later, when Nebuchadnezzar seized Jerusalem and deported him, his family, and 3,000 upper class Jews to Babylon on March 15/16, 597 BC. Nebuchadnezzar appointed his uncle, Zedekiah to take over as King. Daniel 2:21 says that God “controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings.” In harmony with his fellow captive, taken into captivity at Jerusalem’s first fall in 605 BC, Ezekiel, himself deported to Babylon at its second fall in 597 BC, refuses to acknowledge Nebuchadnezzar’s authority to decide, who rules Judah. To him and Daniel, Jehoiachin is still Judah’s king, though he lives in exile. You might say that Jehoiachin became king as the result of foreign appointment, too but he was the son of Josiah’s firstborn and the legitimate heir to Judah’s throne. When Necho appointed his father Jehoiakim, he actually righted the wrong that placed Jehoahaz on the throne. As Jehoiakim’s son, he was the next in line to rule Judah. While Zedekiah was also a son of Josiah, he was not Judah’s rightful king. Ezekiel honors the line of descent that decided Israel’s true monarchs.

That, “the leaders [or, elders] of Judah were in my home,” means that the exiles had accepted Ezekiel as a true prophet of God. Apparently the exiles kept the social structure from Judah (cf. 2Kings 6:32), and meeting with him in his house implies they were on good terms with him. Since 6:26 states that the people wanted “a vision from the prophets “ and that their, “the leaders” had “no counsel” to give them, the leaders were probably there to consult with him about Jerusalem’s state and their fate. Their future depended on the future of their beloved homeland. Unless they can return to the city from which they came, they remain trapped in Babylon. Most likely, they were exploring the possibilities with Ezekiel when “the Sovereign LORD took hold of” him. This is standard language for entering a visionary trance, and by calling the LORD “Sovereign”, Ezekiel defers to Him what the future holds for them. The Eternal One is about to give him answers to their questions.

Then on September 17, during the sixth year of Next, 14 months after my, Ezekiel’s first vision, while

King Jehoiachin’s captivity, the rightful king was imprisoned by Nebuchadnezzar in exile

while the leaders of Judah were in my home, during the time that Judah’s elders were visiting me, Ezekiel in my house, inquiring about the fate of Jerusalem that determined their destiny

the Sovereign LORD took hold of me. The Supreme Ruler of us all, the Eternal One, Judah’s ex, grabbed me Ezekiel

2 Ezekiel describes the same celestial person that he saw in the first vision by the river. Unable to completely capture the way the LORD looked to him at that time, the speechless prophet merely compared Him to “a figure whose appearance resembled a man.” Here, he continues to use vague, visionary language saying that this figure

8:5-10:7 expose J’s corruption and she is judged

He still loves herTies to vision in Ch. 1

Ties to vision in Ch. 1

Cultic people

MisguidedPoints to Christ and the Gospel

Execution with no hope of parole

“appeared to be a man.” Like Isaiah 6:1, however, he confirmed that the LORD was “high above,” or exalted, in the loftiest position of everything presented to him. The description pointed forward to the incarnate Son of God, the God man who will return to judge the whole world (cf. Rev. 1:7, 13-16 with 14:14). Reduced to comparisons because the figure outclassed anything in creation, he repeats what he said then: “from what appeared to be his waist up” the figure on the throne “looked like gleaming amber,” a gem that allowed light to pass through it without giving away its exact appearance. It was “gleaming,” or shining with reflected light, because of the LORD’s fiery demeanor. “From his waist down, he looked like a burning flame, shining with [or, radiating with] splendor” because of His divine magnificence. As 14 months earlier, the LORD and their fate remains unchanged. He is still invested with fire from head to toe to show His complete readiness to punish and consume the wicked. I I, Ezekiel

saw a figure that appeared to be a man. Spotted what looked like a human shape

From what appeared to be his waist down, what came across as his lower body

he looked like a burning flame. gave the impression it was on fire

From the waist up what came across as his upper body

he looked like gleaming amber. gave the impression of a glowing yellow gem

3 Back in Chapter 1, the figure was content to let Ezekiel watch His majesty from a distance. Now, to give Ezekiel an accurate firsthand look at Jerusalem that he will relay to the elders, “He reached out what seemed to be a hand,” in order to transport Ezekiel to the distant city “and took [Ezekiel] by the hair.” The image emphasizes both Ezekiel’s inability to make the trip home and the need to take him there above and beyond the reach of the Babylonians. Once the figure had a firm grip on him, “the [same] Spirit [who gave the portable throne-chariot power to move in any direction, 1:20-21] lifted [Ezekiel] up into the sky and transported [him] to Jerusalem,” not on a conventional, time-consuming journey (hair could never withstand the strain of a normal voyage around the Fertile Crescent), but “in a vision from God.” To make sure that Ezekiel gets an accurate picture, God will show him what he is about to see rather than his imperfect eyes.

Ezekiel ends up at “the north gate of the inner courtyard of the Temple where there is a large idol”. According to the IVP Bible Background Commentary: “Ancient Near Eastern thought, not unlike that familiar from Greek mythology, visualized a mountain height as the dwelling place of deity. There would have been little difference in their minds between the tops of mountains and the heavens. Baal’s home was purported in Ugaritic literature to be Mount Zaphon (commonly identified with Mount Casius, Jebel al’Aqra, in Syria, elev. 5807 feet). The Hebrew word zaphon means “north” and is translated here by the NIV “sacred mountain” (see Ps 48:2).” When Lucifer expressed his desire to replace God, he declared: “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High” (Isa. 14:13-14). So, erecting an idol at the north gate of the inner courtyard is another way of saying that the rebels had installed a rival in the True God’s place to make Mt. Zion like Mt. Zaphon and its home. To make matters worse, the King and the royal family used this entrance to make their way to the inner court for worship. The text implies that Zedekiah frequently passed it on his way to express adoration for the LORD – but did nothing to correct the situation, allowing this “home-wrecker and “co-respondent” in the divorce to stay.

The Ten Commandments, the terms and conditions of the Sinai Covenant begin with the warning: “I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me. “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me” (Ex. 20:1-5). No wonder Ezekiel describes this misplaced idol as one “that has made the LORD very jealous.” This is the same jealousy that moved the LORD to divorce Israel and implies that despite falling twice – clear warnings of doom to come – Jerusalem has moved a rival god into His house and

1. Open your Bible to today’s passage and review today’s brew. 2. Savor the passage, one verse at a time, listening for God’s still small voice. 3. Follow the trail you marked in each verse, pause to look up the terms you

flagged for further consideration, and write whatever the Spirit brings to mind.

.

continues to honor it in His place. Like a cheating wife who drives her husband away, the unfaithful rebels have made it impossible for God to stay. He reached out what seemed to be a hand The human-like image stretched what looked like fingers toward me

and took me by the hair. So it could grab me by the hair

Then the Spirit lifted me up into the sky After that the same Spirit who made the portable throne-chariot move in Chapter 1 picked me up off the ground into the air

and transported me to Jerusalem in a vision from God. Then, took me to the holy city in a trance to show me what the exiles wanted God to show them about the future (6:26)

I was taken to the north gate of the inner courtyard of the Temple, He carried me, Ezekiel to the north entrance of the most sacred court of God’s house

where there is a large idol that has made the LORD very jealous. A huge statue of a false-god stood there that made the Eternal One feel like a violated husband

4 Captivated by the idol and the brazenness that put it there, Ezekiel is startled by the ongoing presence of the LORD. “Suddenly, [or, abruptly, he noticed that] the glory of the God of Israel was there.” Despite the disrespect of the rebels, like the contempt of a cheating wife who openly flaunts her lover and infidelity, the full majestic presence, or “glory of the God of Israel was there.” Though his unfaithful bride had abandoned Him, the LORD had not deserted her. Still occupying the Temple, He remains loyal to His defiant people. To underscore the LORD’s unfailing love, Ezekiel compares God’s glory to the way it looked to him 14 months earlier, and says: it was “just as I had seen it before in the valley.” More than a display of courage that He is not intimidated by His rival, the equally intense majesty of the LORD’s presence implies that despite her adultery, His love for Israel is as strong as ever and He remains completely committed to her. They have already rejected Him, but He intends to stay with His people to the bitter end.

Suddenly, Abruptly and unexpectedly, out of nowhere

the glory of the God of Israel was there, the majestic presence of national Israel’s Creator was still in the house

just as I had seen it before in the valley exactly, or the same as it was when I first saw it by the Chebar Riverm, so He had not pulled back in any way from His devotion or commitment to His ex-bride

Well,we hope you enjoyed this morning’s CuppaJ for the Day, brewed verse-by-verse to bring out the full-flavor of the text. Now it’s your turn to explore the passage for yourself––to make this study good to the last drop. Remember, you haven’t really studied the Bible, God’s Written Word––until it connects you with Jesus, God’s Living Word. Then Jesus, the true Teacher can customize the text, so every word comes across written just for you. This morning’s CuppaJ is just a taste of what’s in the text––the starting point for a deeper learning experience with Jesus. So, go ahead; spend time alone with Him to go over this passage together. Let Jesus pour a tastier CuppaJ from the same brew, for you, today. Use the following form to jot down whatever Jesus shares with you.

Bible Study

Let Jesus pour you a fuller bodied, more flavorful CuppaJ from today’s brew A Tastier CuppaJ

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