Through Joel 2 (p. 1110)

I dedicate this posting to my grandmother, Dolly Sherman, Resting with Jesus now December 1, 1918 - August 17, 2010.  I love you Nanny.

Daniel 5

I feel sorry for the wives of that day.  They had to accept their husbands having many wives and girlfriends!

:30 - Belshazzar died the same night as the writing appeared on the wall

Daniel 6

:7 - Yea, we've experienced some of this creating new permits/laws out of thin air.

:1 - 120 princes and Daniel = president

Daniel 7

4 beasts, 4th had 4 heads and 4 horns

:10 - thousands ministered unto him

Daniel 8

 River, Ram, he-goat

:16 - banks of Ulai

Daniel 9

:21 - evening oblation = evening sacrifice

http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H4503&t=KJV

Daniel 10

:6 - voice of a multitude
:9 - voice of his words
:13 - Michael, one of the chief princes - I have always heard this as Michael, the angel.  Perhaps that is how it is stated in other translations.  So princes of cities are angels.  And there are more than one "chiefs".
:20 - prince of Grecia - wondering if his coming next is something to look forward to or not.

Daniel 11

:7 - king of the north
:9 - king of the south
:11 - choler = bitter

http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H4843&t=KJV

:21 - obtaining the kingdom/estate by flatteries - sounds WAY too close to home right now.  And haven't we all met this breed of folk before?
:32 - 

And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do [exploits]. 

~Hallelujah!  Deception by flattery indicates not knowing God.

Daniel 12

The beginning of this chapter reminds me of one of my favorite messages:  Battle in the Heavenlies, by Pastor Harlo White.  http://www.harlowhiteministries.org/
Otherwise, wow.  Revelation all the way!  Daniel heard these things way before John the Revelator was even born!

~By the way, I just realized that I have read all this before....explaining the overwhelming feeling of deja vu.  I feel like re-titling the blog "Reading the Bible TWICE in ONE YEAR"  It is worth it.  Through computer crashes, cell phone crashes, and then death in family...nothing's going to stop us now!!!~

Hosea 1

So now a man has to experience a woman who has many husbands and boyfriends.  How is that any worse than a man having many women???
Looks like Hosea's children had to be named after God's judgment on Israel and Judah.  Poor kids.

Hosea 2
:5 - Rich lovers do not equal Godly ones.

Hosea 3

Is this another whore wife?  Or the same one recounted?

Hosea 4

:1 - Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth,  nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. ~Sounds present and familiar even today.

Hosea 5

Ephraim gets the rebuke.
:15 - I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early. ~Apologies to God are necessary.  We like to receive apologies when we feel we are wronged, but God's laws are the ones that matter.  And offending Him is the only thing to really fear.

Hosea 6

:3 - Perhaps a reference to Jesus' death and resurrection?
:6 - For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. ~Often quoted with the scripture concerning obedience and sacrifice, but with a different meaning and context, obviously.

Hosea 7

:6 - having a heart like an oven

Hosea 8

:7 - Sow the wind, reap the whirlwind.

Hosea 9

:6 - Memphis is in the Bible!
:7 - Visitation from God in a negative connotation.

Hosea 10

:4 - hemlock in the furrows of the field = venom or poison in the ridges of the land

:12 - Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for [it is] time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.~Yes and Amen!!!
Hosea 11
:3 - How many still don't know that God healed them?

:7 - backsliding mentioned
:12 - Judah is finding redemption, unlike Israel and Ephraim.

Hosea 12

Jacob is given as an example of having power with God.

Hosea 13

:4 - God verifies Himself as the only saviour.

Hosea 14

Prophecy of a returning to the Lord.

Joel 1

:4 - Palmerworm, locust, cankerworm, and caterpiller
:12 - vine, fig tree, pomegranate tree, palm tree, apple tree, all trees of the field
Everyone talks about Joel 2, but no one realizes it takes Joel 1 to get there. (:14 - Sanctify a FAST)

Joel 2

Many instructions and prophecies!
:1 - Blow the trumpet in Zion
:7 - No breaking ranks 
:8 - Falling on a sword won't wound
:10 - Earth will quake and heavens tremble before "them" (the great and strong people from verse 2)
:11 - This is God's army.
:12-13 - Commandment:  
Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye [even] to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:  And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he [is] gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

:14 - Maybe God will repent of the evil.  Maybe He will leave a blessing/offering behind him back to Himself (the Lord your God).

:17 - One's duty in the ministry.

:25 - The army of destruction, which was sent by the Lord.

:28 - One of my grandmother's favorite scriptures, which she didn't even know why she liked:  your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.

Through Daniel 4 (p. 1080)

Ezekiel 36
My computer crashed- yet another mere speed bump on this journaling journey!  I don't mind reading chapters more than once!
:26- A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you:  and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I  will give you a heart of flesh.~A classic and one of my favorites!
Ezekiel 37
Famously quoted Valley of dry bones passage.
Ezekiel 38
Gog, Magog, Meshech, Tubal
:22- Hailstones, fire, brimstone


Ezekiel 39
:2 - North parts again
:9- burn with fire for 7 years?  
:14- continual employment, seven months - first of all, the continual employment part strikes me as a necessity for today.  Secondly, 7 is used for7 years,and  then 7 months in this  chapter.  Truly, 7 is a number of completion and perfection. 

:16 - Hamonah -  the name of a city to be founded to commemorate the defeat of Gog  http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H1997&t=KJV


:19- God makes sacrifice for the people.  
Ezekiel 40
:2 - back to the visions
:3 - a man whose appearance was like...- gives me the impression he's not sure what he's  looking at
Measuring the walls, gates, windows, posts, arches, court, and porch of the land of Israel.
Ezekiel 41
Measuring the temple.
:16 - cieled - KJV spelling of sealed
Ezekiel 42
:13 - Holy things were to be eaten in the northern chambers
:20 - separation between the sanctuary and the profane place- what a distinction!
Ezekiel 43
East gate.
:12 - This [is] the law of the house; Upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof round about [shall be] most holy. Behold, this [is] the law of the house. ~Good law!!! Should be quoted like "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
Ezekiel 44
:9- Being uncircumcised in heart and in flesh is necessary to enter God's sanctuary.
:22- A priest could only marry a widow if she was married before to a priest.
:30- The people are commanded the first of all first fruits of all things,and the first of their dough to give to the priest that he may cause the blessing to rest in thine house.
Ezekiel 45
:1 - Even a portion of their inherited land is to be given to God.  But not a tenth.  A certain flat rate measurement.
Ezekiel 46
:1- There is a gate that is only open one day a week - the Sabbath - plus new moons days.
:9 - Commandmentnot to leave the way they came, but continuestraight forward and then out the door in front of them...never turning around. I really like that.
~Distinction arises between princes and priests.~
Ezekiel 47
Miracle waters that heal all creatures are described coming out of the eastward gate.
:12- Trees by the river whose fruit = meat and leaves = medicine.
Ezekiel 48
Portion arrangements for the tribes.
Daniel 1
A great theme chapter for vegetarians.
Daniel 2
Chaldeans were magicians.  I am always amazed at the kings' demand that the magicians tell him not just the interpretation, but the dream since he couldn't remember. 
Daniel 3
So quickly the king  forgets  the miracle Daniel brought from HIS God!  Or maybe the king just didn't know the rules.  Or the truth. One God only.  Well, finally in the last verses he does.
Daniel 4
I preached this chapter for 2 years. God has the right to humble us as long as it takes to accomplish exactly what He wants!

Through Ezekiel 16 (p.1020)

This is my second reading of this section, as my first time through notes were written in a notebook that I lost! Praise the Lord! This must be an important section and God wants me to read it twice!

Lamentations 1

I wonder what would happen if we as God's people really weeped over America like Jeremiah weeps here for Israel. I wonder if any Christians really think there is something to cry about here?

:15 – God is trodding down the mighty men, the young men, and the virgin daughter of Judah.

Lamentations 2

:1 – Being covered with a cloud is not always a good thing. Clouds surrounding is the same as fog, which can be dreamy, but also cause accidents at the same time for unclear visibility.*This will preach.* And God hides himself in dark clouds, I have read.

Lamentations 3

:21 -:28 - This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him.

~As beautiful as the Psalms. Rather than talking about it, I thought it appropriate to just quote it. King James Version isn't copyrighted except in UK, where it is considered property of the crown.

[Copyright Information

The Authorized Version or King James Version (KJV), 1611, 1769.

Outside of the United Kingdom, the KJV is in the public domain. Within the United Kingdom, the rights to the KJV are vested in the Crown.]

http://www.blueletterbible.org/tools/printerFriendly.cfm?b=Lam&c=3&t=KJV&x=3&y=6

:44 – Another covering cloud.

Lamentations 4

:2 – sons of Zion are the gold

Lamentations 5

:16 – Jeremiah personally identifies with the sins of Israel.

Ezekiel 1

The Living Creatures chapter. What can I say about this? I had to read it .at least 4 times already. A good project for an abstract artist. What an interesting picture this chapter would turn into! 4 faces, wheels going wherever they go, wings with hands on the end, but somehow having the likeness of a man, a lion, an eagle, and an ox.

Ezekiel 2

God prepares Ezekiel to prophesy to the rebellious house of Israel.

Ezekiel 3

:17 – The prophet becomes a watchman.

:23 – That Chebar river must have been something. It is not mentioned before Ezekiel.

Chebar = a Babylonian river near which many Israelite exiles settled; maybe the 'Habor' or the 'Royal Canal' of Nebuchadnezzar  

http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H3529&t=KJV

Ezekiel 4

Ezekiel has to lay on his left and then right side for extended periods of time to bear the iniquities of the people. What a ministry!

:8 – God chained him on his side! I have never heard this mentioned in any sermons.

:9 – fitches = spelt =a wheat-like crop planted and harvested in the fall or spring ~My naturopathic doctor recommends this for people allergic to wheat. You can actually buy spelt bread.

Ezekiel 5

Parable with the hair. Shaving, weighing, separating into parts, burning, binding in the skirt (men wore them back then), smite with a knife, scatter in the wind. God is a hands-on God!

Ezekiel 6

:8 – Promise of a remnant.

Ezekiel 7

Sword, pestilence, famine, death. Judgment.

Ezekiel 8

6-5-6 – How interesting to have a new calendar every time a new ruler took over the land. To have a dating system based on the king.

:3 – the image of jealousy, which provoked to jealousy- The second “jealousy” in this section actually is from the Hebrew Strong's word number 7069, which does not even mean jealousy. Strange.

Strong's H7069 – qanah - 1) to get, acquire, create, buy, possess

a) (Qal)
1) to get, acquire, obtain
a) of God originating, creating, redeeming His people
1) possessor
b) of Eve acquiring
c) of acquiring knowledge, wisdom
2) to buy
b) (Niphal) to be bought
c) (Hiphil) to cause to possess

:8 - “Alice in Wonderland” moment. It reminds me of that story because when Ezekiel dug into the wall, he found a door.

Ezekiel 9

The cherub is sent to tell the man in linen with the inkhorn to go into the earth to mark people that are sorry for the abominations.

Ezekiel 10

:9 – the wheels were the color of a beryl stone

:12 – the wheels are full of eyes

:20 – Ezekiel realizes that the living creatures he keeps envisioning by the Chebar river are cherubims.

Ezekiel 11

:17 – God promises to gather them from where they've been scattered...the house of Israel, that is.

:19 – 20 – remove the heart of stone and give the heart of flesh ~ Famously quoted. Somewhat rarely witnessed.

Ezekiel 12

Many references to digging through the wall. Still working on that meaning or significance.

:28 – A good scripture to meditate upon and call forth when waiting on the Lord for a LONG TIME for something.

Ezekiel 13

God rebukes false prophets.

:18 – 20 - women sew pillows to make souls fly.??

Ezekiel 14

:14 – Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord God.~ First reference I've seen to these three names together.

Ezekiel 15

Vine tree vs. the other trees.

Ezekiel 16

If one ever needs reminding of the wrath of God against idolatry, read this chapter. A good reminder that God means business with judgment. Especially vs. 35-52.

Through Ezekiel 35 (p. 1050)

Ezekiel 17

The eagle tries to replant the branch, but only God can plant something that will grow.

Ezekiel 18

:4 – All souls are God's.

:20 – second mention of “the soul that sinneth shall die”

:25 – God's ways are equal.

:31 – God asks the people to make a new heart and a new spirit. Implication: we have a choice and the power to do so ourselves.

Ezekiel 19

Lioness parable.

:10 - Parable of the mother: vine in the blood.

Ezekiel 20

:1 – Date: 5-10-7

:18 – God gave up on the adults, but tried to teach the kids, who also later rebelled.

:26 – cause to pass through the fire – I think leaders still do this today to their followers.

:41 – I will be sanctified in you before the heathen

Ezekiel 21

The sword of the Lord.

:21 – He looked in the liver?

:26 – exalt the low, abase the high

Ezekiel 22

Ezekiel is asked if he will judge the city. Apparently, he and the word coming forth out of him did the judging together.

:21 – The fire of the Lord melts people. Some say this will be how God destroys the earth next time, instead of the flood during Noah's time.

Ezekiel 23

Harlots and whoredoms of God's people. I wonder what He would say concerning modern-day idols? Comfort? Tradition? Culture? Lifestyles?

:38 – profaning the Sabbath – a serious crime to God

Ezekiel 24

The pot and the scum.

:18 – Ezekiel's wife died, and he continued with his duties the next morning. Sounds familiar.

Ezekiel 25

Woe to the Ammonites. And the Moabites.

Ezekiel 26

Tyrus has spoken against Jerusalem and must now be judged.

Ezekiel 27

Reminds me of the church in the book of Revelation that thought they were clothed, but were naked.

Ezekiel 28

:12 – Take up a lamentation – I suppose that wasn't a dry-eyed conversation. Probably full of emotion. I am beginning to see that it is okay to have emotions in God...and even express them.

:13 – The precious stones were the covering

:14 - the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee [so]: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. ~fascinating. Due for more in-depth research!?

Ezekiel 29

10-12-10 It would be kind of weird now if we started a new millenium just because a new president had taken office. But that seems to be the case back then. The first year really meant the first year of the reign of whoever.

Ezekiel 30

:14 – No is a place!

Ezekiel 31

:9 – all the trees that were in the garden of God, envied him – If referring to Eden, which I believe this is, then the trees were more than just actual plants.

Ezekiel 32

Repeated phrases:

slain by the sword

with those that go down to the pit

Ezekiel 33

Appoint a watchman on the coast to blow the trumpet and warn the people.

:31-33 - And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee [as] my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, [but] their heart goeth after their covetousness. And, lo, thou [art] unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not. And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them.~Yes and amen. I know that's right!

Ezekiel 34

:26 - And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing. ~A great hymn!

Ezekiel 35

Prophecy against Mt. Seir