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.