Author: Dave Dishman (Page 313 of 459)

Among his many prophecies, Ezekiel shared a funeral lament concerning the king of Tyre. Interestingly, over the years many commentators understood this passage to refer to Satan. See if you see why in these words from the Lord:

You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God…You were anointed as a guardian cherub…You were on the holy mount of God; You walked among the fiery stones.

You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. Your heart became proud…you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor, so I threw you to the earth.

Sounds like Old Scratch, does it not?

But the passage also shares tons of detail that only apply to the king of Tyre, ruler of a fabulous wealthy nation, who turned his pride into a consuming passion. So we don’t really know for sure.

Either way, Ezekiel underscored the Lord’s hatred of pride. The oldest sin, rebellion in the heavens, coalesced around pride. The king of Tyre featured here is only one of a long line of arrogant and domineering monarchs found in scripture.

Pride—the Lord hates it. This point arises again and again in scripture, perhaps one of the strongest themes that emerges. I struggle with pride, and you struggle with pride. Pride leads us to dark places, and overweening pride evidences the darkness of our hearts.

Fortunately, the flip side exists: God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). Praying in the direction of humility, I’m more in line with the grace of God than the resistance of God. Which seems a better place to be.

Ezekiel 28 in week forty-four of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Norbert Buduczki

After a bout of hard teaching, when Jesus affirmed to those closest to him that he was indeed sent from God, and was the only way to God, and they must eat his flesh and drink his blood—offensive language especially to Jews—a number of his followers left.

From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

I don’t often think of this period in the ministry of Jesus. Crowds surrounded Jesus constantly, listening to him and considering his words. Some folks found Jesus compelling, others not so much. But here formed a pivotal moment. Jesus shared stark truth, and many of his closest followers walked away. The call to commitment, the radical nature of Jesus, turned their stomachs.

Today people use the term deconstruction to describe their path away from Jesus. I hear the word used as people talk about leaving the faith over issues of the church, and over church people’s attitudes towards politics or race or gender or sexuality—any number of issues. Deconstruction serves as a hip word for leaving, what older generations called apostasy.

People turned from Jesus in Galilee, and people turn from Jesus today. I’ve watched people turn from Jesus all my years of ministry. To stay and wrestle with the hard truths of Jesus, to endure the strictures of his teaching, to hash through confusing Bible passages takes commitment and resolve.

I notice that those who de-construct rarely re-construct. I don’t know why, I cannot speak for them. But I have the feeling that they’ve wanted to leave for awhile, and using the cover of deconstruction makes it seem like someone else’s fault. And perhaps it was. I understand the challenges of faith and the urge to walk away. I hope and pray they return to Jesus.

But I resonate with the words of Peter when Jesus asked him, You do not want to leave too, do you? Peter replied, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.

As for me, I can’t walk away—there’s nowhere else to go.

John 6 in week forty-four of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Nick Jio

The book of Ezekiel pulls no punches. Page after page records the impending judgement on Jerusalem, Israel and the surrounding nations. The Lord tired of his people pursuing other gods, and spoke of the punishment to result.

But the Lord also looked to extend mercy.

I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.

Moses stood in the breach in his day (Psalm 106:23), but no one stepped forward in the days of Ezekiel. Tragic losses followed.

What might it mean to stand in the gap on behalf of the land?

First it means I should pray. Pray for those around me, my family and neighbors. I should extend prayers for my leaders, both locally and nationally. I pray for wisdom, and for hearts turned to the things of the Lord.

Along with prayer, these words call for leadership. It may involve small steps to start, but helping where I can, serving my neighbor, and looking for ways to bless my community.

The Lord needs people to take the lead toward righteous living—never a path too crowded. Standing in the gap is not complicated, but it does take courage and perseverance.

Ezekiel 22:30 in week forty-four of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Ivan Aleksic

I watched a TV series a couple of weeks ago about people turning into vampires. I must admit that I like scary movies. October usually brings a few new ones to check out, and vampires always turn my head.

In this show two characters discussed what happens when we die. They shared a fairly benign dream about being one with the stars and melding with the universal energy around us, the sort of thing I hear often, although not in many vampire movies. I was caught off guard when one said that she will finally become the I AM.

Many years ago I read a book by a famous actress, all about her spiritual journeys. In the last chapter she also revealed how she came to realize she is the I AM.

Jesus spent a good deal of time arguing with religious teachers, explaining to them who he was and why he came. Jesus told of Abraham, and how he rejoiced at seeing the day of Jesus arrive. The teachers objected, as Abraham was long dead. Jesus told them, Very truly I tell you, before Abraham was born, I AM.

Jesus asserted his continual existence, from before the birth of Abraham to that day. He made an audacious claim to divinity. Remember what God told Moses? This is what you are to say to the Israelites, I AM has sent me to you (Exodus 3:14).

When Jesus claimed I AM for himself, the astutely theological Jews around him picked up stones to stone him, understanding his claim to godhood. Only God goes by the name I AM. To appropriate it for ourselves points to the heights of vanity and hubris—an impulse that never quite leaves our hearts.

Thankfully, there’s only one I AM, and it ain’t you and it ain’t me.

John 8 in week forty-four of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Joshua Newton