Ezek. 12

12:1 The Lord’s message came to me: 2“Son of man, you are living in the midst of a rebellious house. They have eyes to see, but do not see, and ears to hear, but do not hear, because they are a rebellious house.

3“Therefore, son of man, pack up your belongings as if for exile. During the day, while they are watching, pretend to go into exile. Go from where you live to another place. Perhaps they will understand, although they are a rebellious house. 4Bring out your belongings packed for exile during the day while they are watching. And go out at evening, while they are watching, as if for exile. 5While they are watching, dig a hole in the wall and carry your belongings out through it. 6While they are watching, raise your baggage onto your shoulder and carry it out in the dark. You must cover your face so that you cannot see the ground because I have made you an object lesson to the house of Israel.”

7So I did just as I was commanded. I carried out my belongings packed for exile during the day, and at evening I dug myself a hole through the wall with my hands. I went out in the darkness, carrying my baggage on my shoulder while they watched.

8The Lord’s message came to me in the morning: 9“Son of man, has not the house of Israel, that rebellious house, said to you, ‘What are you doing?’ 10Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: The prince will raise this burden in Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel within it.’ 11Say, ‘I am an object lesson for you. Just as I have done, so it will be done to them; they will go into exile and captivity.’

12“The prince who is among them will raise his belongings onto his shoulder in darkness and will go out. He will dig a hole in the wall to leave through. He will cover his face so that he cannot see the land with his eyes. 13But I will throw my net over him, and he will be caught in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans (but he will not see it), and there he will die. 14All his retinue—his attendants and his troops—I will scatter to every wind; I will unleash a sword behind them.

15“Then they will know that I am the Lord when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them among foreign countries. 16But I will let a small number of them survive the sword, famine, and pestilence, so that they can confess all their abominable practices to the nations where they go. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”

17The Lord’s message came to me: 18“Son of man, eat your bread with trembling and drink your water with anxious shaking. 19Then say to the people of the land, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says about the inhabitants of Jerusalem and of the land of Israel: They will eat their bread with anxiety and drink their water in fright, for their land will be stripped bare of all it contains because of the violence of all who live in it. 20The inhabited towns will be left in ruins, and the land will be devastated. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

21The Lord’s message came to me: 22“Son of man, what is this proverb you have in the land of Israel, ‘The days pass slowly, and every vision fails’? 23Therefore tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I hereby end this proverb; they will not recite it in Israel any longer.’ But say to them, ‘The days are at hand when every vision will be fulfilled. 24For there will no longer be any false visions or flattering omens amidst the house of Israel. 25For I, the Lord, will speak. Whatever word I speak will be accomplished. It will not be delayed any longer. Indeed in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and accomplish it, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

26The Lord’s message came to me: 27“Take note, son of man, the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision that he sees is for distant days; he is prophesying about the far future.’ 28Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: None of my words will be delayed any longer! The word I speak will come to pass, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

Ps. 74

74:1 A well-written song by Asaph.

Why, O God, have you permanently rejected us?

Why does your anger burn against the sheep of your pasture?

2Remember your people whom you acquired in ancient times,

whom you rescued so they could be your very own nation,

as well as Mount Zion, where you dwell.

3Hurry to the permanent ruins,

and to all the damage the enemy has done to the temple.

4Your enemies roar in the middle of your sanctuary;

they set up their battle flags.

5They invade like lumberjacks

swinging their axes in a thick forest.

6And now they are tearing down all its engravings

with axes and crowbars.

7They set your sanctuary on fire;

they desecrate your dwelling place by knocking it to the ground.

8They say to themselves,

“We will oppress all of them.”

They burn down all the places in the land where people worship God.

9We do not see any signs of God’s presence;

there are no longer any prophets,

and we have no one to tell us how long this will last.

10How long, O God, will the adversary hurl insults?

Will the enemy blaspheme your name forever?

11Why do you remain inactive?

Intervene and destroy him.

12But God has been my king from ancient times,

performing acts of deliverance on the earth.

13You destroyed the sea by your strength;

you shattered the heads of the sea monster in the water.

14You crushed the heads of Leviathan;

you fed him to the people who live along the coast.

15You broke open the spring and the stream;

you dried up perpetually flowing rivers.

16You established the cycle of day and night;

you put the moon and sun in place.

17You set up all the boundaries of the earth;

you created the cycle of summer and winter.

18Remember how the enemy hurls insults, O Lord,

and how a foolish nation blasphemes your name.

19Do not hand the life of your dove over to a wild animal.

Do not continue to disregard the lives of your oppressed people.

20Remember your covenant promises,

for the dark regions of the earth are full of places where violence rules.

21Do not let the afflicted be turned back in shame.

Let the oppressed and poor praise your name.

22Rise up, O God. Defend your honor.

Remember how fools insult you all day long.

23Do not disregard what your enemies say

or the unceasing shouts of those who defy you.

1 Tim. 6:11–21

6:11 But you, as a person dedicated to God, keep away from all that. Instead pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness. 12Compete well for the faith and lay hold of that eternal life you were called for and made your good confession for in the presence of many witnesses. 13I charge you before God who gives life to all things and Christ Jesus who made his good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14to obey this command without fault or failure until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ 15—whose appearing the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, will reveal at the right time. 16He alone possesses immortality and lives in unapproachable light, whom no human has ever seen or is able to see. To him be honor and eternal power! Amen.

17Command those who are rich in this world’s goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment. 18Tell them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others. 19In this way they will save up a treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the future and so lay hold of what is truly life.

20O Timothy, protect what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the profane chatter and absurdities of so-called “knowledge.” 21By professing it, some have strayed from the faith. Grace be with you all.