Ezek. 8

8:1 In the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth of the month, as I was sitting in my house with the elders of Judah sitting in front of me, the hand of the Sovereign Lord seized me. 2As I watched, I noticed a form that appeared to be a man. From his waist downward was something like fire, and from his waist upward something like a brightness, like an amber glow. 3He stretched out the form of a hand and grabbed me by a lock of hair on my head. Then a wind lifted me up between the earth and sky and brought me to Jerusalem by divine visions, to the door of the inner gate that faces north where the statue that provokes to jealousy was located. 4Then I perceived that the glory of the God of Israel was there, as in the vision I had seen earlier in the valley.

5He said to me, “Son of man, look up toward the north.” So I looked up toward the north, and I noticed to the north of the altar gate was this statue of jealousy at the entrance.

6He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing—the great abominations that the people of Israel are practicing here, to drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see greater abominations than these!”

7He brought me to the entrance of the court, and as I watched, I noticed a hole in the wall. 8He said to me, “Son of man, dig into the wall.” So I dug into the wall and discovered a doorway.

9He said to me, “Go in and see the evil abominations they are practicing here.” 10So I went in and looked. I noticed every figure of creeping thing and beast—detestable images—and every idol of the house of Israel, engraved on the wall all around. 11Seventy men from the elders of the house of Israel (with Jaazaniah son of Shaphan standing among them) were standing in front of them, each with a censer in his hand, and fragrant vapors from a cloud of incense were swirling upward.

12He said to me, “Do you see, son of man, what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in the chamber of his idolatrous images? For they think, ‘The Lord does not see us! The Lord has abandoned the land!’” 13He said to me, “You will see them practicing even greater abominations!”

14Then he brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the Lord’s house. I noticed women sitting there weeping for Tammuz. 15He said to me, “Do you see this, son of man? You will see even greater abominations than these!”

16Then he brought me to the inner court of the Lord’s house. Right there at the entrance to the Lord’s temple, between the porch and the altar, were about 25 men with their backs to the Lord’s temple, facing east—they were worshiping the sun toward the east!

17He said to me, “Do you see, son of man? Is it a trivial thing that the house of Judah commits these abominations they are practicing here? For they have filled the land with violence and provoked me to anger still further. Look, they are putting the branch to their nose! 18Therefore I will act with fury! My eye will not pity them nor will I spare them. When they have shouted in my ears, I will not listen to them.”

Ps. 70

70:1 For the music director, by David; written to get God’s attention.

O God, please be willing to rescue me.

O Lord, hurry and help me.

2May those who are trying to take my life

be embarrassed and ashamed.

May those who want to harm me

be turned back and ashamed.

3May those who say, “Aha! Aha!”

be driven back and disgraced.

4May all those who seek you be happy and rejoice in you.

May those who love to experience your deliverance say continually,

“May God be praised!”

5I am oppressed and needy.

O God, hurry to me.

You are my helper and my deliverer.

O Lord, do not delay.

1 Tim. 3:14–4:16

3:14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructions to you 15in case I am delayed to let you know how people ought to conduct themselves in the household of God, because it is the church of the living God, the support and bulwark of the truth. 16And we all agree, our religion contains amazing revelation:

He was revealed in the flesh,

vindicated by the Spirit,

seen by angels,

proclaimed among Gentiles,

believed on in the world,

taken up in glory.

4:1 Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the later times some will desert the faith and occupy themselves with deceiving spirits and demonic teachings, 2influenced by the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared. 3They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4For every creation of God is good, and no food is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. 5For it is sanctified by God’s word and by prayer.

6By pointing out such things to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, having nourished yourself on the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 7But reject those myths fit only for the godless and gullible, and train yourself for godliness. 8For “physical exercise has some value, but godliness is valuable in every way. It holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.” 9This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance. 10In fact this is why we work hard and struggle, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of believers.

11Command and teach these things. 12Let no one look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in your speech, conduct, love, faithfulness, and purity. 13Until I come, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14Do not neglect the spiritual gift you have, given to you and confirmed by prophetic words when the elders laid hands on you. 15Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that everyone will see your progress. 16Be conscientious about how you live and what you teach. Persevere in this, because by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.