Category: 843 Acres

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Peacefully Resisting Gog and Magog

Scripture Focus: Ezekiel 38.21-23
21 I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Sovereign Lord. Every man’s sword will be against his brother. 22 I will execute judgment on him with plague and bloodshed; I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him. 23 And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’

Reflection: Peacefully Resisting Gog and Magog
By John Tillman

The identity of Gog and Magog is one of those mysteries well-meaning Christians have spent much energy deciphering without success. 

Ezekiel used symbolic names (Oholah and Oholibah) for Israel and Judah. Gog and Magog could be symbolic names as well. However, Ezekiel pronounced judgments by name against nation after nation, including Egypt, Sidon, and Tyre. He didn’t have a problem putting them on blast. It makes sense that Gog and Magog are metaphors for many kings and kingdoms rather than having specific symbolism.

Gog and Magog show us how nations and powers align themselves against God’s people wherever they settle. Ezekiel tells us the thoughts in the invaders minds. “The villages have no walls. The people are peaceful. The land is unsuspecting. Once we loot them, we will prosper at merchants who will buy what we steal.” (Ezekiel 38.10-13) God’s people seem like an easy target. These invaders come against a land that seems defenseless but they face destruction they have no defense against. Gog’s swordsmen will turn on themselves. Magog’s hellish aggression will fall on his own troops. (Ezekiel 38.21-22). 

Perhaps Gog and Magog were intended to represent specific kingdoms but it seems more likely, and more useful to our discipleship, to see Gog and Magog standing in for all kingdoms. They might represent any nation or powerful group.

The Gog and Magog that come against us today are not necessarily physical kingdoms. They can be kingdoms of ideas and agendas armed with misinformation and conspiracy theories. They think us easy marks. They expect to conquer us, using us to enrich themselves. They expect us to defend ourselves adopting their tactics and weapons.

We can frustrate the kingdoms of this world by refusing to meet these expectations. We don’t live in the dreamy world of idyllic safety and peace that Ezekiel describes, yet; we can resist hostility and aggression with spiritual defenses.

By simply living under our own vine and fig tree and refusing to be made afraid, we nullify arguments based on fear. By living in openness and hospitality, we destroy weaponized racism and division. By treating enemies with grace, we conquer them with kindness. 

Powers aligned against God’s people will always think us an easy target. But God is our defender and hope. When we rely on him we do not need to let anyone make us afraid and we will bring glory to him no matter the outcome.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence
Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe; you are my crag and my stronghold. — Psalm 71.3

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Today’s Readings
Ezekiel 38 (Listen 4:23) 
1 Peter 1 (Listen 3:53)

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In scripture the sword is not inanimate. The sword is hungry…The sword is wielded by kings and empires and then cuts them down.

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It seems ludicrous that we must keep repeating that the God of the Bible is not American, not White, and not partial to any race.

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God Hears What We Celebrate

Scripture Focus: Ezekiel 35.5-15
5 “ ‘Because you harbored an ancient hostility and delivered the Israelites over to the sword at the time of their calamity, the time their punishment reached its climax, 6 therefore as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will give you over to bloodshed and it will pursue you. Since you did not hate bloodshed, bloodshed will pursue you. 7 I will make Mount Seir a desolate waste and cut off from it all who come and go. 8 I will fill your mountains with the slain; those killed by the sword will fall on your hills and in your valleys and in all your ravines. 9 I will make you desolate forever; your towns will not be inhabited. Then you will know that I am the Lord. 

10 “‘Because you have said, “These two nations and countries will be ours and we will take possession of them,” even though I the Lord was there, 11 therefore as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will treat you in accordance with the anger and jealousy you showed in your hatred of them and I will make myself known among them when I judge you. 12 Then you will know that I the Lord have heard all the contemptible things you have said against the mountains of Israel. You said, “They have been laid waste and have been given over to us to devour.” 13 You boasted against me and spoke against me without restraint, and I heard it. 14 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: While the whole earth rejoices, I will make you desolate. 15 Because you rejoiced when the inheritance of Israel became desolate, that is how I will treat you. You will be desolate, Mount Seir, you and all of Edom. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’”

Reflection: God Hears What We Celebrate
By John Tillman

Edom, to whom this prophecy is directed, was family to Israel. Esau and Jacob were brothers. They were very different from each other, yet remained family. Esau was a burly outdoorsman. Jacob, who would become Israel, was a soft-skinned homebody. Esau was a skilled hunter in the wilderness. Jacob was a skilled cook in the kitchen.

They were separated from each other by guile and deception. They harmed each other and spent years apart due to anger and hatred. God brought about their reconciliation. But their descendants never gave up the old conflict. 

“Since you did not hate bloodshed, bloodshed will pursue you.”

God often allows or even orders violence against those who have brought violence on the Earth. He allows and even encourages tyrants to depose other tyrants. He “whistles for” empires to crush other empires as a man might whistle for a dog to retrieve slain game from a field. (Isaiah 5.26; 7.18-20) 

Often, when we find a particularly harsh and violent judgment from God, it doesn’t seem as harsh once we consider history. Multiple times in Israel’s history, Edom had the chance to behave like a brother, like family. Instead, they behaved like an enemy. Even when they did not directly attack Israel or Judah, they cheered on those who did and swept in to wipe out the survivors, enslaving or abusing them.

The bloodshed that Edom cheered when it was directed at their enemy, Israel, would turn and follow them. What they desired to happen to others would happen to them and God would set this in motion.

We need to be careful about what we love and what we hate. We need to be careful about what we approve and what we cheer.

God doesn’t slumber. God won’t sleep on us rejoicing in harm, violence, or threats upon others. He will not look away when we harbor ancient, or new, hostilities.

God hears our boastful cheers. Our boasts of power. Our boasts of gain. Our boasts of personal freedom. Our boasts of what we deserve. Our boasts of what our enemies deserve.

Rather than follow the path of Edom, and reap the judgment they sowed, let us sow differently.
Let us bless rather than curse.
Let us choose to behave like brothers, like family.
And even if our enemy stumbles, let us not be proud or rejoice. (Proverbs 24.17-18)

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons
Keep watch over my life, for I am faithful; save your servant whose trust is in you. — Psalm 86.2

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Today’s Readings
Ezekiel 35 (Listen 2:21)
Titus 1 (Listen 2:24)

Today’s Readings
Ezekiel 36 (Listen 6:40) Titus 2 (Listen 2:01)
Ezekiel 37 (Listen 5:07) Titus 3 (Listen 2:05)

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Prayer For Faithful Shepherds

Scripture Focus: 1 Timothy 6.2b-5, 9-10
2… These are the things you are to teach and insist on. 3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. 

9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 

Ezekiel 34.2-4
Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? 3 You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. 4 You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.

Reflection: Prayer For Faithful Shepherds
By John Tillman

Jesus had compassion on people who were “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9.35-38) The weak in faith needed their wounds bound for healing. Instead, the religious leaders bound “up heavy burdens” and would not lift a finger to help. (Matthew 23.1-12)

Echoing Jesus, Paul makes it clear that unfaithful shepherds will be a reality that the church will need to deal with. (It is such a strong theme in 1 Timothy that we have touched on it twice this week already.) Our reading from Ezekiel also addresses false shepherds. 

These unfaithful shepherds have many aspects in common. They are attracted to power and recognition. They demand control and authority. Service and selflessness are set aside. Mercy and humility are signs of weakness. They talk a big game about God’s law and “law and order” but fail to do justice or establish righteousness.

A leader doesn’t have to own a fleet of luxury vehicles to fleece his flock. There are other ways of being unfaithful beyond finances. We long for faithful shepherds. Unfaithful shepherds long for gains at our expense. We long for good leaders. But not many leaders long for our good. 

God describes to Ezekiel what he will be like when he comes as a shepherd for his people. What he describes is both the opposite of Ezekiel’s experience and a promise fulfilled by Jesus’ earthly ministry. We have published a checklist based on Ezekiel 34.4-6 before as a “self-assessment tool” for shepherds. This week, we adapt that list as a way to pray for the shepherds and leaders in your life. Pray that they may embody these qualities and contact them with a word of encouragement to thank them for their faithfulness.

We pray, Lord, for shepherds who: 
Do not shame the sick but heal them.
Do not subject the weak to abuse but strengthen them.
Do not ignore the bleats of the angry and hurt but tenderly call to them.
Do not scatter the doubtful with malice but search diligently to bring the lost home.
Do not crush dissenters with authority but tenderly guide and confront them with truth.

May our shepherds be more like Jesus and, under their guidance, may we be so as well. May our churches be known for mercy, humility, justice, and righteousness as we gather, feed, guide, protect, and heal the lost sheep loved by Christ.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence
You are the Lord; do not withhold your compassion from me; let your love and your faithfulness keep me safe forever. — Psalm 40.12

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Today’s Readings
Ezekiel 34 (Listen 5:11)
1 Timothy 6 (Listen 3:16)

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Implore Them to Stay

Scripture Focus: Ezekiel 33:9-11
9 But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved.
10 “Son of man, say to the Israelites, ‘This is what you are saying: “Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can we live?”’ 11 Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’

Reflection: Implore Them to Stay
By Erin Newton

Charles Spurgeon spoke of the importance of evangelism through vivid imagery about a journey to the afterlife. The language paints a picture of friends clinging to their loved one’s ankles.

“If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.”

By God’s calling, Ezekiel becomes a watchman. His job is to warn others of incoming danger, to alert his friends and family. To be a prophet was to be a watchman. Speak truth, warn others. The consequences of the audience’s response would fall upon themselves.

Today, evangelism often makes us think about global missions. Sometimes we think about memorizing gospel presentations or starting purposeful conversations with strangers. Christians are engaged in evangelism by living ordinary lives and glorifying God. Whether intentional or subconscious, warnings or murmurs of warnings are spoken each day.

I think we struggle with how intentional we ought to be. For many, there is an aversion to sharing the gospel because spiritual abuse has created skepticism and resentment. We sometimes don’t know what to say or what parts of faith are of primary importance. Far too often secondary and tertiary issues have dominated conversations about Christ. These erroneous hierarchical debates lead to nothing but more skepticism and resentment.

A decade ago, my husband and I decided we needed to engage more with others about our faith. It wasn’t some sort of pious endeavor; it was a small voice in my soul. I couldn’t shake this question, “Do you really believe what you say you believe?” Perhaps today, we might label that question as the stirring of deconstruction. For me, it was the unraveling of a stagnant faith that had been stuck in the monotonous drone of religion.

What did I believe? Did I truly believe that only those with faith in Christ will live eternally with Him? Yes. I still do.

God spoke to Ezekiel, giving him a job. Tell others what you know. God’s desire is that none should perish. None. No rejection of Him is lightly received. No rejection of Him is our guilt. We are asked, like Ezekiel, to go unto all the nations and proclaim the good news.

Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading
Jesus taught us, saying: “Be on your guard, stay awake, because you never know when the time will come. It is like a man traveling abroad: he has gone from his home, and left his servants in charge, each with his own work to do; and he has told the doorkeeper to stay awake. So stay awake, because you do not know when the master of the house is coming, evening, midnight, cockcrow of dawn; if he comes unexpectedly, he must not find you asleep. And what I am saying to you I say to all: Stay awake!” — Mark 13.33-37

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Today’s Readings
Ezekiel 33 (Listen 6:03)
1 Timothy 5 (Listen 3:22)

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Facing Wolves

Scripture Focus: 1 Timothy 4.1-5
1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3 They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. 4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

Acts 20.29-31a
29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard!…

Reflection: Facing Wolves
By John Tillman

Paul’s warning about false teachers echoes the words of Jesus. (Matthew 24.10-11; Mark 13.22) Paul would give similar warnings to the Ephesian elders in person. (Acts 20.28–31)

These were leaders who loved Paul well enough to travel nearly 50 miles to see him for the last time, as he journeyed to Rome. Yet some of them would become false teachers. Paul described these false teachers as “savage wolves” who “will not spare the flock.” (Acts 20.29)

Passages like this can make us paranoid and conspiratorial. “Anyone could be a false teacher—a demonic influence!” We can become obsessed with rooting out “demonic” false teachers. It can be exciting to think you are fighting demons and hunting wolves. However, in hunting for “wolves” we can injure a lot of sheep. People who hunt wolves often become wolf-like themselves.

What makes a wolf?

“Things taught by demons” sounds spookily supernatural, and it may be, but the lessons are mundane. The demonic teaching Paul is worried about isn’t exotic child sacrifices. It’s rule-following legalism and salvation by works: “Don’t marry,” “Don’t eat certain food.” (1 Timothy 4.3)

Legalism always ends in hypocrisy because legalists, and everyone else, fail to live up to their own standards. Hypocrisy and lies burn away people’s consciences. This is what makes a wolf. 

With consciences burned away, wolves refuse correction and scoff at compassion. A lack of humility or sensitivity makes them brutish, savage, and proud of it. A wolf glories in his teeth. Blood on his lips is a badge of honor. 

Like Timothy, we face “wolves” today. With hypocritical pride and calloused hearts, they are unsparing and brutal. However, Paul doesn’t seem to suggest that Timothy should hunt the wolves. He certainly doesn’t say, “mercilessly troll them on Twitter” or any 1st-century equivalent. I don’t want to minimize the danger of false teaching. We should take Paul’s warning seriously. We can’t ignore wolves or pretend they don’t exist. However, we do not have to worry about “exposing” wolves. They will expose themselves.

Rather than hunting wolves, Paul’s warning, given with tears, is not to become one of these wolves ourselves. (Acts 20.31) Paul tells Timothy to just keep feeding the sheep. (1 Timothy 4.6) Let’s hunt our own wolfish tendencies. Let’s resist legalism and hypocrisy with grace, truth, humility, and compassion.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Morning Psalm
But as for me, this is my prayer to you, at the time you have set, O Lord:
In your great mercy, O God, answer me with your unfailing help.
Save me from the mire; do not let me sink; let me be rescued from those who hate me and out of the deep waters.
Let not the torrent of waters wash over me, neither let the deep swallow me up; do not let the Pit shut its mouth upon me.
Answer me, O Lord, for your love is kind; in your great compassion, turn to me. — Psalm 69.14-18

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Today’s Readings
Ezekiel 32 (Listen 5:30)
1 Timothy 4 (Listen 2:05)

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