For a description of the (Y2) reading plan, see the “About” page.
Rev. 4
Reflect on the two songs sung before God’s throne (v. 8, 11). What do these suggest for your own worship of God? I look forward to the day when all these very strange visions in the Bible make some sense to me! I am certain every noted detail has some meaning, but it is lost on me. Perhaps that is simply an indication of what an incomprehensible mystery God is. And I would say that fact supports the praise lavished on Him in this chapter.
Ezra 1-2
The first three verses of Ezra are identical to the last two verses of 2 Chronicles. A seamless transition, for sure. Which makes me want to take a good look at what else was said at the end of 2 Chronicles and carry it with me as I read through the rest of Ezra. Perhaps it will offer me some perspective insight.
What I note from the end of 2 Chronicles is that those who escaped the sword and were exiled in Babylon were called “the remnant”. I also note that the land enjoyed seventy years of Sabbath rests, as prophesied by Jeremiah. That’s a bit of an odd comment to me. Why should it matter that the land received its due justice? Yet it does. The numbers are interesting to me as well. Since the land was to receive a Sabbath rest every 7th year, it received seventy sevens of due rest. That’s a number we see a few time in the Bible. Not only does it show up in some major prophesies, but it is also Jesus’ response to Peter when he asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me?” (Matt. 18:21). It must mean something significant.
Prov. 17
Choose one proverb that speaks to you and write an action step for the day. “One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper; one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.” (Pr. 17:20). The heart and the tongue – or mouth – matter. Jesus and His apostles pointed this out frequently in the New Testament. I looked up a few of the references.
- “But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.” (Matt. 15:18).
- “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (Luke 6:45).
- “For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” (Rom. 10:10).
- “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart” (Rom 10:8, quoted from Deut. 30:14).
This encourages me to pay attention to my words as a means of discerning where my heart lies. Do the words I say and the way I say them come from God’s Spirit? Or do they come from the remnants of my old human nature? If I allow those old remnants to take hold, they will lead me away from God and straight into that mentioned trouble. So I want to be sure that I use my words as Proverbs 17:27 suggests. “The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.” And how do I ensure that I apply knowledge and understanding to my speech? “A discerning person keeps wisdom in view, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.” (Prov. 17:24). The answer is always the same – I keep my focus on God.