Old Testament reading: Ezekiel 17-18
Ezekiel 17 contains the parable of the two eagles. Fortunately, the explanation of the parable is contained in the text. In the opening of the parable, the great eagle of verse 3 represents Babylon, while the cedar branch represents God’s people who were carried away (v 12). The second eagle of verse 7 represents Egypt (v 15), to whom Zedekiah reached out in an attempt to free himself from Babylonian bondage (Jer 37:1-10). God condemned Zedekiah for breaking his covenant with Nebuchadnezzar, as he had made a covenant with him when Nebuchadnezzar set him up as king (2 Chr 36:9-10). The prophet said that Zedekiah would die in the midst of Babylon, which he did (Jer 52:11). I also found it interesting that God condemned Zedekiah for breaking his covenant with Nebuchadnezzar (17:15). God expects us to keep our word and honor our covenants… even those made with pagan kings! Ezekiel 18 is a marvelous text that shows no man will be judged based on the actions of another, neither is any man predestined to salvation or condemnation from birth. Ezekiel 18:20 is incompatible with the doctrine of hereditary depravity, while Ezekiel 18:31 is a marvelous refutation of unconditional election, these being two of the five tenets of Calvinism.
New Testament reading: Acts 3-4
“It’s all about Jesus.” Following the healing of the lame man in Acts 3, Peter asked the gathering and gawking audience, ‘Why are you looking at us as if we, by our own power or godliness, have made this man walk?’ He then immediately pointed his audience to Jesus and, as he had done on Pentecost, accused his hearers of the murder of the Son of God. Peter’s charge was consistent with most of the preaching in the early days of the church. While we would not do well to specifically accuse men today of murdering the Son of God, we should still point people to Jesus in all we do and say. In this discourse, Peter referred to Jesus as God’s Servant, the Holy One, the Prince of Life, the prophet like unto Moses, and the only authority and name by which we must be saved. In our present day of religious pluralism, we must unwavering point people to Jesus – the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6).
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