For a description of the (Y2) reading plan, see the “About” page.
Rom. 15
“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” (Rom. 15:4). I want to chew on that verse for a minute. The Bible is the greatest love story ever told; the story of God and His people (which includes us Gentiles). As with any good love story, it ebbs and flows with triumph and tragedy, perseverance and hope. God gave it to us because He knew that our time here on Earth, this span of eternity called “time”, would be difficult. He knew how we got here and what we needed to get out of this turmoil and back to peace. Thus, the Bible shows us that path and how to travel it.
In the Bible we see the struggle of the human condition. Then we receive the encouragement of fulfilled promise. We also see the thread of hope throughout that is the promise of Jesus. Therefore, the Bible encourages us to endure the continued struggle because of the hope of the promise, which God will one day fulfill. Jesus summed it up in Matthew 24. “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” (Matt. 24:12-13).
Ezek. 27-28
What was Tyre’s strength? What was their weakness? Many think the description of the king of Tyre is symbolic of Satan. What would make people think that? The prophecy against the king of Tyre absolutely sounds like the story of Lucifer. He was “anointed as a guardian cherub…on the holy mount of God” (from Ez. 28:14). Yet God expelled him because he thought himself a god. Yup – sounds like Lucifer to me!
The sad part is how the rest of the prophecy against Tyre fits in with this. The truth is that Satan is the ultimate whitewashed tomb. He appears splendid and “perfect in beauty” on the outside, though the might of his wicked pride is great. Because of the appearance of his great beauty and wealth, he drew in the entire world to do business with him. That’s right – we all barter with the Devil for what we think looks good and what we think we want instead of going to God for what we truly need. For his sin of drawing the world away from God, Satan will, “come to a horrible end and will be no more.” (Ez. 27:36b and Ez. 28:19b).
Ps. 133
What is the result of God’s people living together in unity? How can you contribute to that unity? The entire book of Romans, which we have been reading, is Paul’s exhortation to the believers in Rome to dwell together in unity. In fact, this is the topic throughout much of the New Testament writings. As Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (Jn. 13:34).
While I don’t understand the full symbolism of the similes of the oil on Aaron’s head and the dew of Hermon, they give me a sense of anointing and refreshment. A quick search also revealed that both are images of something holy and life-giving flowing from top to bottom (Hermon was the highest peak in the area). Thus, I’d say that it is when God’s people are unified that He brings us as a body into His holy presence, allowing His blessing to flow through us to the entire world. Quite a thought!