Commentary for December 4-10
December 7th, 2006 CommentatorEzekiel 7-20
The Big Picture
These chapters are filled with both warnings of judgment and hope of restoration. Especially dismal is the description of God’s glory departing from the temple (chapter 10), and particularly encouraging is God’s assurance of His love for His chosen people (chapter 16). God makes it very clear why He will punish His people; He lists their sins so that no one will have an excuse.
What to Watch For
Ezekiel repeatedly states that the reason these things are going to happen is so that people “shall know that I am the Lord.” Through judgment, God affirms His total sovereignty over all people.
Applications for Today
Even when God disciplines us, He offers an opportunity restoration. Though the Israelites had sinned grievously, God still invited them to turn from their ways and return to Him. God cares enough about us to not give up on us.
Hebrews 5-9
The Big Picture
The high priests of the Old Testament, though they offered sacrifices yearly for the forgiveness of the people’s sins, were unable to truly remove anyone’s sin. What’s more, the priests themselves were sinners and had no power to conquer death. By contrast, Jesus Christ, the perfect High Priest, was not a sinner and obtained total and permanent forgiveness for us by conquering death and rising up from the grave. His priesthood, then, is more superior than that of any human.
What to Watch For
Find and compare as many differences as you can between the earthly priesthood and Christ’s priesthold (for example, Old Testament–blood of animals sacrificed; New Testament–blood of Christ sacrified).
Applications for Today
How often do you thank God for all that Christ accomplished for you with His sacrifice on the cross? Hebrews chapters 5-9 affirms again and again the wonders of what Christ did for us. Take some time today–and every day of this week–to rejoice in the greatness of our heavenly High Priest.