Read To Me Daily Semester 4Sample

EZEKIEL 36-37:
In Ezekiel chapter 34, we heard the passage that many Jews would have thought of when they heard Jesus say, “I am the good shepherd. I give my life for the sheep.” The Lord promised to take away corrupt shepherds and to shepherd the flock himself. 

ISAIAH 14:
Like we have already heard in Ezekiel and in Isaiah, and as we will hear in Revelation, Babylon will be judged. That historical kingdom was God’s tool to execute judgment, but afterwards they themselves felt God’s judgment. And this history will be repeated.

HEBREWS 10a:
In chapter 9 of Hebrews, details about rituals under the first covenant were given. The writer was showing by contrast how Jesus entered a greater, permanent, holy, divinely made Most Holy Place with the one-time-only sacrifice of his own blood. In our time, I think the details also show us the impossibility of our ever rebuilding a system like the Mosaic covenant. I take this opportunity to share my opinion— which I recognize will not be shared by all listeners. But here it is: Those who want to add old covenant observances to our Christian faith just add accretions of man-made ritual to their religion. It is better to study and understand how much better the new covenant is, rather than to add empty and powerless ritual and symbolism from the old to the new.

Let’s pray.
Heavenly Father and our Savior Christ Jesus, thank You for the New Covenant and that You have arranged an eternal salvation for us. We are amazed at all the complex detail in which rituals for purification from sin were established and practiced by the ancient people of Israel. You carefully were teaching and symbolically proclaiming how a more permanent and perfect salvation would one day work. Thank You that that perfect salvation is already here. Our High Priest accomplished the ratification of the New Covenant with his own blood. His sacrifice is perfect, needing to be done only once, and extending to all peoples and for all times. Instead of ritual purification where animal blood and water was sprinkled people’s bodies, our High Priest made the one perfect sacrifice that even purifies our consciences. Now, if our consciences are not clean, it is time to ask your forgiveness. And receiving your forgiveness, now we may boldly come before the throne of the living God to present our praises and our prayers.