Ezekiel 1 (résumé): The living creatures & the glory of the Lord

The Book of Ezekiel was written by Ezekiel the priest during the Babylonian exile and it covers the judgement of God owing to the Jews idolatry, it highlights that God is sovereign, and it points to eventual restoration with a new covenant. 

In Ezekiel 1 Ezekiel receives the initial call of God in Babylon by the Kebar River in 593 BC. He had a vision of the glory of God and in the fire he saw 4 living creatures like men and each of them had 4 faces and 4 wings. Their faces were of men, lions, oxen and eagles. Accompanying the creatures were 4 very big wheels whose "rims were high and awesome, and all 4 were full of eyes all around". Above all this the was an "expanse" and above this there was "a throne of Sapphire, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man". "This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord", and the whole vision would seem to be symbolic of the majesty of God.

Highest Point

I will be preaching at the anniversary service of our Matureia church this evening. Matureia has the highest point in our state of Paraiba which is 1,208 metres (3,963 feet). I have been asked to preach on 'Walking in Integrity' from Proverbs 10:9. The pastor there is Pastor Renilson. 

Yesterday we visited Pastor João George in hospital in Patos where he is ill with a Gall stone which has made its way to his liver and it will need to be removed some way or another. Please pray for him.

I have finished my résumé of the Book of Lamentations so now it's on to another of the major prophets: Ezekiel.

Tomorrow a group of young people, including our grandson Lucas, are coming to Brazil for a 2-week visit led by Ben and Miriam Price who used to work with us here. The group of 18 is from the Hub Community Church in Basingstoke. They will be based at Ibiara and will be going round churches in that area plus Campina Grande, João Pessoa and Green Pastures.

Last night I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study and fireman Romildo brought the study on Titus 2. It was a good service.

Lamentations 5 (résumé): What has happened to us?

Lamentations 5 acknowledges hereditary sin as the Jews cry for God's mercy and restoration. "Our fathers sinned and are no more, and we bear their punishment... our inheritance has been turned over to aliens... we are feverish from hunger... our women have been ravished... princes have been hung up by their hands... joy is gone from our hearts... retore us to yourself O Lord, that we may return; renew our days as of old... O Lord reign forever!"

Lamentations 4 (résumé): The gold has lost its lustre

Lamentations 4 is another acrostic poem describing the siege and destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. The proud people of Jerusalem were reduced to destitution and starvation by their sin. "My people have become heartless... children beg for bread... people are destitute in the streets... the punishment of my people is greater than that of Sodom... their skin has shrivelled on their bones... racked with hunger they waste away... women have cooked their own children... the Lord has given full vent to his wrath... because of the sins of her prophets". Finally comes a note of hope: "O Daughter of Zion, your punishment will end; he will not prolong your exile!"

Lamentations 3 (résumé): The rod of his wrath

Lamentations 3 is the centre of this little book beginning with despair at Babylon's siege and destruction of Jerusalem, but then switching to hope in the Lord whose "compassions never fail... and whose faithfulness is great". Initially the author remarks about having experienced "the rod of God's wrath... he has besieged me... he has weighed me down in chains... he shuts out my prayer... he pierced my heart with arrows... he has broken my teeth with gravel". The author feels trapped, beaten and abandoned by God. Then the author "calls to mind that which gives him hope... that is that because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed... for his compassions never fail... they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness... the Lord is my portion... I will wait for him... it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord...  for men are not cast off by the Lord forever... why should any man complain when punished for his sins?" Finally the author calls the nation to "examine our ways, repent, and return to the Lord... I called on your ways O Lord, from the depths of the pit... and you heard my plea... you redeemed my life... pay back my enemies O Lord"!

Pastor Iremar

 Pastor Iremar leads our Juá and Funcionários III churches and his father has died. Please pray for Pastor Iremar and family.

The Life Squad was in action at the Patos prison yesterday evangelizing the 400 plus inmates. Please pray for this ministry.

I have finished my synopsis of the big book of Jeremiah. It was quite a job with many massive chapters. This means I have written the résumés of 797 chapters of the Bible, which totals 24 books and 67% of the whole Bible - so two thirds of the Bible are done! Now it's on to Lamentations. 

Lamentations 2 (résumé): The Daughter of Zion

In another acrostic poem Lamentations 2 points to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple as a result of the insistent rebellion and sin by the Jews. "Without pity the Lord has swallowed up all the dwellings of Jacob... in his wrath he has torn down the strongholds of Judah... like an enemy he has strung his bow... and poured out his wrath... the Lord has abandoned his sanctuary... her gates have sunk into the ground... my eyes fail from weeping... the children and infants ask where there is bread and wine?... your wound is as deep as the sea... the visions of your prophets were false and worthless... the Lord has done what he planned and fulfilled his word... the hearts of the people cry out to the Lord... should women eat their offspring?... you have slain men and maiden in the day of your anger... you have slaughtered them without pity... in the day of the Lord's anger no-one escaped or survived".