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Take a breath, find your place, and read deeply. Discover the joy of reading God’s word with the Immerse New Living Translation (NLT) Bible.
This daily Bible podcast will take you through the Bible in a year following the Immerse Bible Reading Experience. So grab your family and small group and go through the Bible in a year together with Immerse. Each of the 6 volumes is available online or at your favorite Christian bookstore.
Nancy: Welcome to immerse: the
daily bible reading experience.
day 200 and 76
once again, a message came to
me from the Lord, son of man.
Give your people this message.
When I bring an army against a
country, the people of that land choose
one of their own to be a watchman.
When the watchman sees the enemy coming,
he sounds the alarm to warn the people.
Then if those who hear the alarm
refuse to take action, it is
their own fault if they die.
They heard the alarm but ignored
it, so the responsibility is theirs.
If they had listened to the warning,
they could have saved their lives.
But if the watchman sees the enemy coming
and doesn't sound the alarm to warn
the people, he is responsible for their
captivity, they will die in their sins.
But I will hold the watchman
responsible for their deaths.
Now, son of man, I am making you a
watchman for the people of Israel.
Therefore, listen to what
I say and warn them for me.
If I announce that some wicked people
are sure to die and you fail to tell
them to change their ways, then they
will die in their sins and I will
hold you responsible for their deaths.
But if you warn them to repent and they
don't repent, they will die in their sins.
But you will have saved yourself.
Son of man give the people
of Israel this message.
You are saying, our
sins are heavy upon us.
We are wasting away.
How can we survive?
As surely as I live says the
sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure
in the death of wicked people.
I only want them to turn from
their wicked ways so they can live,
turn, turn from your wickedness.
So people of Israel, why should you die?
Son of man, give your people this message.
The righteous behavior of righteous
people will not save them if they turn
to sin, nor will the wicked behavior
of wicked people destroy them if
they repent and turn from their sins.
When I tell righteous people that
they will live, but then they sin
expecting their past righteousness
to save them, then none of their
righteous acts will be remembered.
I will destroy them for their sins.
And suppose I tell some wicked
people that they will surely die,
but then they turn from their sins
and do what is just and right.
For instance, they might give back
a debtor security return what they
have stolen and obey my life giving
laws no longer doing what is evil.
If they do this, then they
will surely live and not die.
None of their past sins
will be brought up again.
For, they have done what is just
and right and they will surely live.
Your people are saying the Lord isn't
doing what's right, but it is they
who are not doing what's right for,
again, I say when righteous people
turn away from their righteous behavior
and turn to evil, they will die.
But if wicked people turn from
their wickedness and do what is
just and right, they will live.
Oh, people of Israel, you are saying
the Lord isn't doing what's right, but I
judge each of you according to your deeds.
On January 8th, during the 12th year of
our captivity, a survivor from Jerusalem
came to me and said the city has fallen.
The previous evening, the Lord had
taken hold of me and given me back
my voice, so I was able to speak when
this man arrived the next morning.
Then this message came to me from the
Lord Son of man, the scattered remnants
of Israel living among the ruined cities.
Keep saying, Abraham was only one man, yet
he gained possession of the entire land.
We are many.
Surely the land has been
given to us as a possession.
So tell these people, this is
what the sovereign Lord says.
You eat meat with blood in it, you
worship idols and you murder the innocent.
Do you really think the land should be
yours, murderers, idolaters, adulterers?
Should the land belong to
you, say to them, this is
what the sovereign Lord says.
As surely as I live, those living
in the ruins will die by the sword,
and I will send wild animals to eat
those living in the open fields.
Those hiding in the forts and
caves will die of disease.
I will completely destroy the
land and demolish her pride.
Her arrogant power will come to an end.
The mountains of Israel will
be so desolate that no one
will even travel through them.
When I have completely destroyed the
land because of their detestable sins,
then they will know that I am the Lord.
Son of man, your people talk about you
in their houses and whisper about you
at the doors they say to each other,
come on, let's go hear the prophet.
Tell us what the Lord is saying.
So my people come pretending to
be sincere and sit before you.
They listen to your words, but they
have no intention of doing what you say.
Their mouths are full of lustful words
and their hearts seek only after money.
You are very entertaining to them.
Like someone who sings love songs
with a beautiful voice or plays
fine music on an instrument.
They hear what you say,
but they don't act on it.
But when all these terrible things happen
to them, as they certainly will, then they
will know a prophet has been among them.
Then this message came to me from
the Lord Son of Man prophesy against
the shepherds, the leaders of Israel.
Give them this message
from the sovereign Lord.
What sorrow awaits you, shepherds who
feed yourselves instead of your flocks,
shouldn't shepherds feed their sheep.
You drink the milk, wear the wool,
and butcher the best animals,
but you let your flocks starve.
You have not taken care of the weak.
You have not tended the sick
or bound up the injured.
You have not gone looking for those
who have wandered away and are lost.
Instead you have ruled them
with harshness and cruelty.
So my sheep have been scattered
without a shepherd, and they are
easy prey for any wild animal.
They have wandered through all
the mountains and all the hills
across the face of the earth, yet
no one has gone to search for them.
Therefore, you shepherds hear the
word of the Lord, as surely as
I live, says the sovereign Lord.
You abandoned my flock and left them
to be attacked by every wild animal,
and though you were my shepherds,
you didn't search for my sheep when
they were lost, you took care of
yourselves and left the sheep to starve.
Therefore, you shepherds
hear the word of the Lord.
This is what the sovereign Lord says.
I now consider these shepherds my
enemies and I will hold them responsible
for what has happened to my flock.
I will take away their right to
feed the flock and I will stop
them from feeding themselves.
I will rescue my flock from their mouths.
The sheep will no longer be their prey
for this is what the sovereign Lord says.
I myself will search and find my sheep.
I will be like a shepherd
looking for his scattered flock.
I will find my sheep and rescue them
from all the places where they were
scattered on that dark and cloudy day.
I will bring them back home to
their own land of Israel from
among the peoples and nations.
I will feed them on the mountains
of Israel and by the rivers and in
all the places where people live.
Yes, I will give them good pasture
land on the high hills of Israel.
There they will lie down in
pleasant places and feed in
the lush pastures of the hills.
I myself will tend my sheep and give
them a place to lie down in peace.
Says the sovereign Lord.
I will search for my lost ones who strayed
away and I will bring them safely home.
Again.
I will bandage the injured and
strengthen the weak, but I will
destroy those who are fat and powerful.
I will feed them, yes, feed them justice.
And as for you, my flock, this is what
the sovereign Lord says to his people.
I will judge between one animal
of the flock and another.
Separating the sheep from the goats.
Isn't it enough for you to keep the
best of the pastures for yourselves?
Must you also t trample down the rest?
Isn't it enough for you to drink
clear water for yourselves?
Must you also muddy the
rest with your feet?
Why must my flock eat what you have?
Trampled down and drink water?
You have fouled.
Therefore, this is what
the sovereign Lord says.
I will surely judge between the fat
sheep and the scrawny sheep for you.
Fat sheep pushed and butted and
crowded my sick and hungry flock until
you scattered them to distant lands.
So I will rescue my flock and
they will no longer be abused.
I will judge between one animal
of a flock and another, and I
will set over them one shepherd.
My servant David, he will feed
them and be a shepherd to them.
I, the Lord will be their
God and my servant David will
be a prince among my people.
I the Lord have spoken.
I will make a covenant of peace
with my people and drive away the
dangerous animals from the land.
Then they will be able to camp
safely in the wildest places and
sleep in the woods without fear.
I will bless my people and
their homes around my Holy Hill.
In the proper season, I will
send the showers they need.
There will be showers of blessing.
The orchards and fields of my
people will yield bumper crops
and everyone will live in safety.
When I have broken their chains
of slavery and rescued them from
those who enslave them, then they
will know that I am the Lord.
They will no longer be prey for
other nations and wild animals
will no longer devour them.
They will live in safety and no one
will frighten them, and I will make
their land famous for its crops.
So my people will never again suffer from
famines or the insults of foreign nations.
In this way.
They will know that I the Lord their
God and with them, and they will know
that they, the people of Israel are my
people, says the sovereign Lord, you
are my flock, the sheep of my pasture.
You are my people and I am your God.
I, the sovereign Lord, have spoken again.
A message came to me from the Lord,
son of man turn and face Mount ssr
and prophesy against its people.
Give them this message from the
sovereign Lord, I am your enemy.
Oh Mount seer.
And I will raise my fist against
you to destroy you completely.
I will demolish your cities
and make you desolate, then you
will know that I am the Lord.
Your eternal hatred for the people of
Israel led you to butcher them when
they were helpless, when I had already
punished them for all their sins.
As surely as I live says the
sovereign Lord, since you show no
distaste for blood, I will give
you a blood bath of your own.
Your turn has come.
I will make Mount Sr.
Utterly desolate.
I.
Killing off all who try to
escape and any who return.
I will fill your mountains with the dead.
Your hills, your valleys, and
your ravines will be filled with
people slaughtered by the sword.
I will make you desolate forever.
Your cities will never be rebuilt.
Then you will know that I am the
Lord for you said the lands of
Israel and Judah will be ours.
We will take possession of them.
What do we care?
That the Lord is there.
Therefore, as surely as I live
says the sovereign Lord, I will pay
back your angry deeds with my own.
I will punish you for all your
acts of anger, envy, and hatred,
and I will make myself known
to Israel by what I do to you.
Then you will know that I, the Lord
have heard every contemptuous word
you spoke against the mountains of
Israel for you said they are desolate.
They have been given to us as food to
eat and saying that you boasted proudly
against me and I have heard it all.
This is what the sovereign Lord says.
The whole world will rejoice
when I make you desolate.
You rejoice at the desolation
of Israel's territory.
Now I will rejoice at yours.
You will be wiped out.
You people of Mount Sr
and all who live in Edem.
Then you will know that I am the Lord.
Son of man prophesy to Israel's mountains.
Give them this message.
Oh, mountains of Israel.
Hear the word of the Lord.
This is what the sovereign Lord says.
Your enemies have taunted you saying, aha.
Now the ancient heights belong to us.
Therefore, son of man, give
the mountains of Israel this
message from the sovereign Lord.
Your enemies have attacked
you from all directions.
Making you the property of
many nations and the object
of much mocking and slander.
Therefore, whole mountains of Israel
hear the word of the sovereign Lord.
He speaks to the hills and mountains,
ravines and valleys, and to ruined
wastes and long deserted cities
that have been destroyed and
mocked by the surrounding nations.
This is what the sovereign Lord says, my
jealous anger burns against these nations.
Especially Edem because they
have shown utter contempt for me
by gleefully taking my land for
themselves as plunder, therefore
prophesy to the hills and mountains,
the ravines and valleys of Israel.
This is what the sovereign Lord says.
I am furious that you have suffered
shame before the surrounding nations.
Therefore, this is what
the sovereign Lord says.
I have taken a solemn oath that those
nations will soon have their own
shame to endure, but the mountains
of Israel will produce heavy crops
of fruit for my people, for they
will be coming home again soon.
See, I care about you, and
I will pay attention to you.
Your ground will be plowed
and your crops planted.
I will greatly increase the population
of Israel and the ruined cities will
be rebuilt and filled with people.
I will increase not only the
people, but also your animals.
Oh, mountains of Israel.
I will bring people to
live on you once again.
I will make you even more prosperous
than you were before then.
You will know that I am the Lord.
I will cause my people to walk on you once
again and you will be their territory.
You will never again rob
them of their children.
This is what the sovereign Lord says.
The other nations taunt you saying
Israel is a land that devours its
own people and robs them of their
children, but you will never again
devour your people or rob them of their
children, says the sovereign Lord.
I will not let you hear those
other nations insult you, and you
will no longer be mocked by them.
You will not be a land that causes its
nation to fall, says the sovereign Lord.
Then this further message came
to me from the Lord Son of man.
When the people of Israel were living
in their own land, they defiled
it by the evil way they lived.
To me, their conduct was as unclean
as a woman's menstrual cloth.
They polluted the land with
murder and the worship of idols.
So I poured out my fury on them.
I scattered them to many lands to punish
them for the evil way they had lived.
But when they were scattered among
the nations, they brought shame on.
My holy name for the nation, said,
these are the people of the Lord, but he
couldn't keep them safe in his own land.
Then I was concerned for my
holy name on which my people
brought shame among the nations.
Therefore, give the people of Israel
this message from the sovereign.
Lord, I am bringing you back,
but not because you deserve it.
I am doing it to protect my holy name
on which you brought shame while you
were scattered among the nations.
I will show how holy my great
name is, the name on which you
brought shame among the nations.
And when I reveal my holiness through
you before their very eyes says the
sovereign Lord, then the nations will
know that I am the Lord for I will
gather you up from all the nations
and bring you home again to your land.
Then I will sprinkle clean water
on you and you will be clean.
Your filth will be washed away, and
you will no longer worship idols.
And I will give you a new heart
and I will put a new spirit in you.
I will take out your stony stubborn
heart and give you a tender, responsive
heart, and I will put my spirit in
you so that you will follow my decrees
and be careful to obey my regulations.
You will live in Israel, the land
I gave your ancestors long ago.
You will be my people
and I will be your God.
I will cleanse you of
your filthy behavior.
I will give you good crops of grain, and
I will send no more famines on the land.
I will give you great harvests from your
fruit trees and fields, and never again
will the surrounding nations be able
to scoff at your land for its famines.
Then you will remember your past
sins and despise yourselves for
all the detestable things you did.
But remember says the sovereign Lord, I
am not doing this because you deserve it.
Oh my people of Israel, you should be
utterly ashamed of all you have done.
This is what the sovereign Lord says
when I cleanse you from your sins.
I will repopulate your cities
and the ruins will be rebuilt.
The fields that used to lie empty
and desolate in plain view of
everyone will again be farmed.
And when I bring you back, people
will say, this former wasteland
is now like the Garden of Eden.
The abandoned and ruined cities now have
strong walls and are filled with people.
Then the surrounding nations
that survive will know that I.
The Lord have rebuilt the ruins and
replanted the wasteland for I the Lord
have spoken and I will do what I say.
This is what the sovereign Lord says.
I am ready to hear Israel's prayers and
to increase their numbers like a flock.
They will be as numerous as the
sacred flocks that filled Jerusalem
streets at the time of her festivals.
The ruined cities will be crowded
with people once more and everyone
will know that I am the Lord.
The Lord took hold of me and I was
carried away by the spirit of the
Lord to a valley filled with bones.
He led me all around among the
bones that covered the valley floor.
They were scattered everywhere across
the ground and were completely dried out.
Then he asked me, Son of man, can
these bones become living people again?
Oh, sovereign Lord I replied.
You alone know the answer to that.
Then he said to me, speak a prophetic
message to these bones and say dry bones.
Listen to the word of the Lord.
This is what the sovereign Lord says.
Look, I'm going to put breath
into you and make you live again.
I will put flesh and muscles
on you and cover you with skin.
I will put breath into you
and you will come to life.
Then you will know that I am the Lord.
So I spoke this message
just as he told me.
Suddenly as I spoke, there was a
rattling noise all across the valley.
The bones of each body came
together and attached to
themselves as complete skeletons.
Then as I watched muscles and flesh
formed over the bones, Then skin
formed to cover their bodies, but
they still had no breath in them.
Then he said to me, speak a prophetic
message to the winds son of man.
Speak a prophetic message and say,
this is what the sovereign Lord says,
come oh breath from the four winds.
Breathe into these dead
bodies so they may live again.
So I spoke the message as he commanded
me, and breath came into their bodies.
They all came to life and stood
up on their feet, a great army.
Then he said to me, son of man, these
bones represent the people of Israel.
They're saying, we have
become old dry bones.
All hope is gone.
Our nation is finished.
Therefore, prophesy to them and
say, this is what the sovereign
Lord says, oh my people.
I will open your graves of exile
and cause you to rise again.
Then I will bring you back to the land
of Israel when this happens, all my
people, you will know that I am the Lord.
I will put my spirit in you
and you will live again and
return home to your own land.
Then you will know that I, the Lord
have spoken and I have done what I said.
Yes, the Lord has spoken.
This concludes today's
immerse reading experience.
Thank you for joining us.