Ezekiel 21—34

The Big Picture

As we continue through the book of Ezekiel, we see constant affirmation of God’s sovereign hand in world affairs. More than 50 times in the book, God says He will bring about certain events so that people “will know that I am the LORD.”

In these chapters, we read about God’s coming judgment upon the seven nations that are neighbors with Judah. These nations have oppressed the Jewish people for centuries, and God will punish them for their evil deeds against the Israelites.

Things to Watch For

What behaviors does God condemn in these chapters? Note the reasons for God’s judgment against the people of Judah and the neighboring countries. Are there similar behaviors in our own lives that we need to confess and repent of? Though we don’t worship idols of silver or stone, have we set up metaphoric idols in our hearts?

Applications for Today

• God’s judgment is impartial. He judges both His own people (Israel and Judah) and well as the enemies of His people.

• God is very patient when it comes to pouring out His judgment. He gave His people numerous warnings over extended periods of time. Still, we need to be careful that we do not presume on God’s grace when it comes to any sin that might be in our lives. We should be eager to turn away from anything that doesn’t please Him.

Hebrews 10—13

The Big Picture

Up until now, we’ve been reading about Christ’s person, Christ’s priesthood, and Christ’s sacrifice—all of which stand as a testimony of His superiority over angels, Moses, and the priests. He is the great High Priest who accomplished what no angel or human leader could accomplish.

From Hebrews 10:19 onward, we transition from the object of our faith (Christ) to the practice of our faith. Most notable is Hebrews chapter 11, also known as the “Hall of Faith,” where we read about many Old Testament examples of great faith. Many of these people trusted God’s promises and stood strong in faith even though it meant waiting patiently (sometimes for many years!) before those promises were fulfilled.

When we fix our eyes upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, then we are able to endure hardship and divine discipline.

Things to Watch For

Consider the great patience of the individuals in Hebrews chapter 11 as they waited upon God’s promises to them. How does your patience compare? Have you considered that perhaps God is using your difficult circumstances to strengthen your patience and faith?

Applications for Today

• Spiritual maturity takes time. God worked for years in the lives of Abraham, Sarah, Joseph, and others in order to cultivate greater faith in them. If you are willing, He can do the same in you.

• It is faith—complete trust in God even when we don’t understand our circumstances—that holds us solid when the storms of life threaten to blow us over. God asks only that we trust Him. He doesn’t ask us to understand Him or figure out the answers on our own.

• When we are in need of help, we need only to fix our eyes upon Jesus (Hebrews 12:2). He knows what it is like to suffer, and by the example He set for us, He can show us the way to victory.

Ezekiel 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.

Jeremiah 35—50

The Big Picture

Chapters 35-45 describe the siege and fall of Jerusalem, and chapters 46-50 look ahead to God’s future judgment against the enemy nations around Judah (the southern kingdom of Israel). In these judgments, we learn that 1) God is sovereign over all nations—He has power not only over His own people, but their enemies; 2) God is impartial—He judges all sin, whether the sins of His own people or the sins of those who reject Him. God does not play favorites with anyone.

What to Watch For

Note the great severity of Jeremiah’s warnings. He did not try to sugarcoat the extent of God’s coming judgment. God is serious about sin, and Jeremiah made sure his listeners knew that. God is still serious about sin today; we should always be careful to never take sin lightly.

Applications for Today

Jeremiah was unpopular because he proclaimed a message people did not want to hear. Fortunately, Jeremiah was more concerned about pleasing God rather than pleasing his fellow Jews. What about you? Are there times when you catch yourself trying to please people rather than please God? Ask the Lord to give you the courage to do what is right in any given situation.

2 Timothy

The Big Picture

This book reads like the apostle Paul’s last will and testament to Timothy—it’s a letter of encouragement for Timothy to remain faithful in His service to God even in the midst of persecution and opposition to the truth.

What to Watch for

All throughout 2 Timothy, look for and list Paul’s specific commands to Timothy for standing strong in the faith and carrying out the work of ministry. For example:

• “Retain the standard of sound words” (1:13)
• “Guard…the treasure which has been entrusted to you” (1:14)
• “The things which you have heard from me…entrust these to [others]” (2:2).

Applications for Today

When we consider all Paul’s commands and encouragements to Timothy, it should be clear to us that the Christian life is a disciplined life. How are you doing in disciplining yourself to “fight the good fight of faith” (4:7)? Look at the list you created in the “What to Watch For” section above. What one or two ways can you improve in your personal discipline so that you are more diligent in your service to the Lord?

Jeremiah 22:15—34

The Big Picture

Chapters 22—28 focus primarily on warnings of coming judgment upon the people of Judah, and chapters 29—33 contain words of hope, in which Jeremiah predicts Judah will one day return from Babylon and rebuild the city of Jerusalem. Though God’s people are headed for destruction, they will eventually be restored.

What to Watch For

Note especially God’s promises of restoration in chapter 33. What do these promises tell you about the character of God? About His love for His people?

Practical Applications for Today

• When we make wrong spiritual choices, there can be serious consequences.

• Though we may be unfaithful, God is always faithful. He will never break His promises.

2 Thessalonians

The Big Picture

This sequel to 1 Thessalonians was written a few months later. In this letter, Paul encourages the persecuted, corrects some misunderstandings about Jesus’ second coming, and exhorts the Thessalonian believers to carry on with their basic responsibilities and avoid idleness.

What to Watch For

Note Paul’s encouragements to those who are feeling the brunt of persecution. What promises are given in 1:6, 1:8, 1:9? And what action does Paul say he will take, according to 1:11 and 1:12?

Practical Applications for Today

• God can use your suffering to bring glory to Himself.

• Paul felt it was important to help the Thessalonian believers understand specific truths about Christ’s return. Have we taken any time in our own lives to try to understand at least the basic truths about Christ’s return?

• Our expectation that Jesus might return soon should not distract us from fulfilling our daily responsibilities.

1 Timothy 1—4

The Big Picture

This is a letter of advice from a spiritually mature leader to a young pastor. Paul has some valuable lessons to share about good spiritual leadership—lessons that have been preserved for church leaders through all time. Though this is a guidebook on pastoral ministry, this epistle contains a lot of practical guidelines for those who want to grow spiritually mature.

What to Watch For

We live in an age in which many people in the church say that unity is more important than truth. But is that correct? Note carefully how much time does Paul spend on the matters of truth and error. How should this affect us as Christians?

Practical Applications for Today

• Paul worked hard to mentor Timothy and help him become a good spiritual leader. What can we learn from Paul’s example?

• How important is a good role model in helping others go grow spiritually mature? Are you satisfied with the kind of role model you are? What are some areas in which you would like to improve?

Jeremiah 6:15—21:14

The Big Picture

Jeremiah “the weeping prophet” not only warns the people of Judah (the southern kingdom of Israel) of God’s judgment, but illustrates these warnings through visual object lessons. Among the object lessons in this portion of the book are the hiding of a linen loincloth (13:1-11), abstinence from marriage (16:1-9), a pot on a potter’s wheel (18:1-12), and the shattering of a clay jar to pieces (19:1-13).

What to Watch For

As you read these chapters, note especially two things:

1. The descriptions of the ways the people of Judah have fallen away from God. For example, in Jeremiah 13:25 God says, “You have forgotten me,” and in Jeremiah 14:10 God says, “They greatly love to wander; they do not restrain their feet.”

2. The seriousness God shows toward sin—for example, in Jeremiah 17:9 He says, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” And in Jeremiah 19:15 He proclaims, “I am going to bring on this city [Jerusalem] and the villages around it every disaster I pronounced against them, because they were stiff-necked and would not listen to my words.”

Applications for Today

Do you take sin seriously? Do you consider how it affects your relationship with God and with other believers? When you allow sin to remain unchecked in your life, what are the possible consequences?

Colossians 2:8—1 Thessalonians 5

The Big Picture (Colossians)

In the latter portion of Colossians, the apostle Paul warns against false doctrine (2:8-23), encourages submission to Christ and holy living (3:1—4:6), and gives personal greetings to some specific individuals.

What to Watch For

Colossians contains practical advice for holy living. Chapter 3 begins, “since you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above…. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” In other words, your practice of the Christian life needs to be consistent with your position in Christ. Colossians 3:1—4:6 provides a nice “portrait” of what a Christian looks like.

Applications for Today

• Colossians is very Christ-centered, affirming that Christ is supreme and everything we need can be found in Him. This calls for total commitment to Him in all things.

• Being a Christian means putting on the qualities of the new self and putting off the qualities of the old self.

The Big Picture (1 Thessalonians)

When Paul preached the gospel in the city of Thessalonica, he received a good response. A church was quickly started, but jealous Jews drove Paul out of the city. Paul then sent Timothy to check on the church and its progress, and Timothy brought back a good report to Paul. Paul then wrote this letter of encouragement to the Thessalonians, encouraging them in the faith and toward holy living, especially in light of the fact Christ could return at any time.

What to Watch For

What does Paul commend the Thessalonians for in 1:1-6?

What is the result of the Thessalonians’ testimony, according to 1:7-8?

Do you take time each day to ask God to help your life be a similar testimony?

Applications for Today

• What do your words and actions tell others about the Christian faith?

• The knowledge that Christ could return at any time should prompt us to holy living.

• God will help you to live blamelessly if you let Him (5:24).

Isaiah 57:15–Jeremiah 6:14

The Big Picture

Isaiah closes with prophecies about the Lord’s future kingdom, in which the wolf and lamb will feed together (65:25). About 100 years after Isaiah dies, Jeremiah comes on the scene. He is called “the weeping prophet” because of his great sadness over the sinful rebellion of the Jewish people. Jeremiah warns that Jerusalem will fall and the people will be taken into exile.

What to Watch For

In Jeremiah chapter 1, pay close attention to God’s instructions to the prophet and the protection God promises to give to him.

Practical Applications for Today

The job that God gave to Jeremiah was not a pleasant one. Jeremiah had a difficult message of judgment for the Jewish people, and he knew the people would reject him. That’s why God’s promise of protection was so important.

Many of us today are afraid to speak about our faith or live a godly lifestyle because we don’t want to be rejected by others. Is that a fear you struggle with? What encouragement does Paul give us in 2 Timothy 1:7? Are you trusting God to protect you?

Philippians–Colossians 2:7

The Big Picture

Paul is in difficult circumstances when he writes to the Philippians–he is in jail, and realizes he might not have long to live. He writes a letter of thanks and encouragement to the believers in the church at Philippi, thanking them for sending Epaphroditus to minister to his needs. Chapter 2 is filled primarily with encouragement, chapter 3 with warnings, and chapter 4 with some final exhortations.

It appears that some heretical teachings about Christ were spreading in the city of Colossae, and the apostle Paul writes to warn against these teachings about “deeper spiritual knowledge.” Paul writes to say that Christ alone is all we need, and that He alone is the source of true wisdom and knowledge.

What to Watch For

In Philippians, notice Paul’s joyful attitude in the midst of his difficult circumstances.

In Colossians chapter 1, note the specifics of what Paul teaches about Christ (for example, in 1:16-17 Paul says Christ is the Creator and Sustainer of all things).

Practical Applications for Today

Philippians

We can still know joy even in difficult circumstances.

Unity in the church comes from putting other people first.

We are commanded not to worry, but to give all our anxieties to God.

Colossians

Christ is the source of everything we need in salvation and the Christian life. Christ is our sufficiency in all things.

The first 39 chapters of Isaiah emphasize God’s holiness and justice, with words of condemnation for Israel and the surrounding nations. From chapter 40 onward, the focus is on God’s compassion and grace. God promises that after Israel has been punished, He will restore the people. Isaiah says that the nation has a glorious future ahead.

What to Watch For

The themes of God’s forgiveness and faithfulness. Also, read Isaiah 53:2-12 carefully. Here, we see prophetic words about Jesus, the Suffering Servant.

Practical Applications for Today

• God cannot let sin go unpunished. When we repent, He is faithful to forgive.
• Just as God predicted Israel’s fall (which really happened), God has predicted Israel’s restoration (which really will happen someday). We have a God who keeps His promises.

Ephesians