Proclaim Hope Daily | Week 20

Below is a short summary or synopsis of the Bible reading for the day. Use it as a helpful tool to think through the Scripture. There are also some cross references to study other passages of Scripture to highlight or better understand that passage.

The Fatherhood of God shines through this triumphal psalm of praise. Glorified as the ultimate Father, God is always present, intimately knowing each need and providing with his majesty beyond measure. Here David emphasizes God the Father with the use of widows and orphans, as these two categories of individuals would be in desperate need concerning the sustenance provided for by a committed father. While there are here tones of a gentle and loving God, there too is a powerful display of the Mighty Father, whom scatters the enemies and persecutors of his children as the wind effortlessly dissipates smoke. There is amazing power in the providence of God, but all earthly deliverances fail in comparison to the gift and power of salvation; the greatest act of the Father which communicates his limitless sacrificial love which is fulfilled in his Son. The psalmist rightly invokes the praise of the nations, for the entire world, most particularly his children, have experienced in some way the presence and victory of the Lord.

(Numbers 10:35; Matthew 7:11; Ephesians 4:7-13; Philippians 4:19; James 1:27; 1 John 3:1)

Once again here in the wisdom literature, we see groupings of comparative statements drawing out the vast difference between the attributes of the righteous who reflect the character of God verses the unrighteous, those who do not embody or have outright rejected the ways of God. Not only are the outward appearances of these opposing hearts visibly different, but the outcomes of such positioning are as well. There is no mincing of words here, as the use of strong language concerning blessings and curses are utilized to draw the reader into seeing the obvious and simple truth; what God deems good brings blessing, evil perpetuates judgement and curses. These points of reflection verbally layout and illuminate two opposing paths, one leading to an abundance of life and the other leading to destruction. Another comforting aspect to these passages is the promise that even if the righteous find themselves in tribulation, not only will the Lord bring them through such time, but use it as a refiners fire, purifying them in the process (v.3).

(Deuteronomy 28:15,20; Romans 6:23, 8:13, 28; James 1:2-4, 14-15)

Human language could never properly convey the glory and majesty of the Lord and the heavenly throne room, yet here Ezekiel attempts to verbally paint us a picture of his vision as he is called from priest to prophet of the Most High God. It is only after being taken captive into Babylonia that Ezekiel is ordained as an instrument and mouthpiece of the Lord. Ezekiel will be used to address several issues concerning his fellow Jews; such as, their inclination towards apostasy as he calls them to repentance, their prolonged judgement in exile as refugees, and their future restoration and ultimate redemption by pointing towards the hope to be fulfilled in the Messiah.

(Ezekiel 10; Daniel 7:9-10; Revelation 4:6-5:14)

Daniel, an exilic prophet, was taken in the first of three waves into Babylonian exile as a refugee of war. Daniel was captured and transported with his three friends (Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah), but you probably know them by their given Babylonian names: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. A tactic of the Babylonians was to take their victims into captivity and indoctrinate them in order to advance their society and causes, as opposed to wiping them out completely. However, the faith of these four young men was strong, as scripture accounts their unwavering allegiance and trust in the God of their fathers. In the third chapter of Daniel, the defiant Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar attempts to make himself a god by commanding all to bow and worship him, in efforts to unify everyone unto himself. In this perhaps we can see the reflection of Israel/Judah’s idolatry and as a judgement, they are now forced to live under a pagan tyrant. The greatest takeaway is that true faith and obedience to God, when lived out and displayed to others, will reveal Christ and preach the deliverance of the Gospel message.
 
(Psalm 91:1-3; Isaiah 43:2; Matthew 5:16; Acts 4:19; 1 Corinthians 9:14; 2 Corinthians 5:20)

The sixth chapter of Daniel takes place years later, for Nebuchadnezzar had been replaced by Belshazzar (not to be confused with Belteshazzar) whom was then killed and conquered by the Medes and Persians. Now Darius, the Mede, and Cyrus, the Persian, are ruling over the former Babylonian kingdom, where the Jewish exiles remained. Much like the story of Joseph in Genesis, Daniel had the God-given ability to interpret dreams, and such gift afforded him great stature in the land. Daniel remained in a position of authority and finds favor with Darius. Similar to the story of Mordecai and Esther, those in close counsel with the king became jealous of Daniel and devised a plan to deceive the king and eradicate Daniel. Just like Haman’s plot, the scheme of the wicked backfires as the judgement falls on the accusers. In the end, God gets the glory and praise he deserves as the display of his power and sovereignty is witnessed among the nations through his faithful servants.

(Genesis 41:37-41; Esther 7:4-6,10; Psalm 37:40 Philippians 2:15; 1 Peter 2:12)

The prophet Hosea ministered during the 8th century BC in the northern kingdom of Israel, a period of apostasy and idolatry which lead to their fall in 722 BC. Hosea’s life and marriage to a prostitute was used as motivation for the prophet and an example of the relationship between God and his people. The bible often uses marital and covenantal language interchangeably, as we see God’s people pictured as the bride and Christ the bridegroom. The people of Israel and Judah had defiled themselves by whoring after other gods for centuries, just as Hosea’s wife Gomer continued to seek after other lovers. The immense beauty in a story of brokenness and debauchery is without a doubt the unwavering and unconditional love of Hosea, portraying that of God the Father. Although sin and defilement plague Israel/all humanity, the redeeming power of God through his Son Jesus Christ, the ultimate Davidic King, purchases us out of a life of depravity and enables us to dwell in the house of our Lord.

(Ruth 4:10; Jeremiah 3:20; Ezekiel 34:23-24; Romans 5:8, 11:25-27)

Joel is considered to be one of the twelve minor prophets, particularly one who served the people of Judah, and most likely lived in Jerusalem. During his generation there was a severe plague of locusts, nothing like the people had ever seen before. Joel recognized this as a judgement on the people for their wickedness and unfaithfulness to their God. The prophet uses this economic and national suffering as a chance to call all people to repentance and warn them of the ultimate judgement that is coming on “the day of the Lord.” This phrase is used regarding the forthcoming judgement against Judah, but primarily pertaining to the day in which the Lord’s wrath will be poured out on the nations of the earth and a blessing of reward to His people. For the wicked and unrepentant heart there will be judgement, but for those who repent out of conviction and love for the Lord there will be salvation.

(Isaiah 13:6,9; Zephaniah 1:14-2:3; Malachi 4:1-6; Acts 2:20-21)