Reflections
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Divine Renewal and Abundance in Ezekiel 47: River Symbolism
HISTORICAL CONTEXT Ezekiel 40-48, written around 572 BCE, comes fourteen years after Jerusalem’s fall, while Ezekiel and his people remain in exile with at least thirty more years to endure. Unlike Psalm 137, which laments the exile, Ezekiel encourages the… Continue reading
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Ezekiel 33:7-16a: Watchman, Justice, and Mercy
HISTORICAL CONTEXT Ezekiel 18 emphasizes individual responsibility, highlighting that each person is accountable for their spiritual life. God offers every individual an open future based on their actions, and Israel’s future hinges on the hearts and minds of its people.… Continue reading
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Ezekiel’s Obedience and Sacrifice
HISTORICAL CONTEXT Ezekiel’s name means “strengthened by God,” and he delivered God’s messages through visions, prophecies, parables, signs, and symbols. Captured along with 10,000 Jews in 597 BCE, Ezekiel and his wife lived in Tel-Abib, near the Chebar River in… Continue reading
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Zedekiah’s Reign and Judah’s Devastation: Lessons in Leadership and Divine Justice
HISTORICAL CONTEXT In 2 Kings 23, King Josiah of Judah is killed by Pharaoh Neco of Egypt in 609 BCE. This marks the beginning of the final twenty-three years of Judah’s history, as recounted in 2 Kings 24–25. The first… Continue reading
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Jeremiah 20:7-13 – The Prophet’s Inner Turmoil and Divine Calling
HISTORICAL CONTEXT Jeremiah 20 reflects a pivotal moment in the prophet’s ministry around 605 BCE when the Babylonian Empire, under Nebuchadnezzar, posed a significant threat to Judah. Jeremiah warned the people, conveying God’s message, but was met with rejection (Jeremiah… Continue reading
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Transformative Promise: Exploring the New Covenant in Jeremiah 30-31 and John 1
HISTORICAL CONTEXT Jeremiah 30:1–31:40 is part of the Book of Reconciliation (chapters 30–33), following Jeremiah’s letter urging the exiles to settle in Babylon for a long stay (Jeremiah 29). This section is filled with poems centered on the theme of… Continue reading
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Unwavering Faith: The Rechabites’ Testament of Obedience
COMMENTARY As we open our Bibles to Jeremiah 35, we step into a powerful lesson on obedience and faithfulness. This chapter presents us with the story of the Rechabites, a family group known for their steadfast commitment to the commands… Continue reading
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True Worship: Beyond Rituals and Sacrifices
HISTORICAL CONTEXT The court of the Temple had seven gates: three on the north, three on the south, and one in the east. The eastern gate, known as the Gate of Mercy, was the primary entrance for the people of… Continue reading
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Empowerment and Faithfulness: Unveiling the Prophet Jeremiah’s Narrative
HISTORICAL CONTEXT Jeremiah’s name means “YHWH exalts” or “YHWH has established.” He was likely descended from Abiathar, the priest banished by Solomon to Anathoth (1 Kings 2:26-27). Jeremiah began his ministry in the thirteenth year of Josiah’s reign, around 627… Continue reading
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Isaiah 52–53: The Suffering Servant’s Redemption
HISTORICAL CONTEXT Isaiah 52–53 contains one of the four “suffering servant” songs, offering hope and redemption for those in Babylonian exile. The suffering servant, which could represent Israel or the exiled community, symbolizes how God would redeem and restore His… Continue reading
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