Reading from Saturday, November 6

Today we went on a thrift store tour with our youth group. It's pretty much exactly what it sounds like. A bunch of high school and college kids pile into a van and travel out to the middle of PA and rummage through other people's old crap. I got a sweet sweater that has a deer on it. I almost bought a pink cardigan that said "Special Lady" on it, but it also said "my former owner once peed on me" on the sleeve - by the elbow. And by that I mean, I think there was a pee stain on it.

Reading for November 6
Ezekiel 14:12-16:41
God cites a familiar analogy here in comparing Jerusalem to an unfaithful spouse. He compares the initial building and growing of the nation of Israel to that of a single infant - unloved and unwanted, God came by and helped this dying baby to live. As it grew older, God gave it the finest food and clothes and even luxuries like jewelery to really set it apart and special. But time and again this child whom God raised and protected and spoiled to a degree would turn and give the love God deserved to another god or idol.

God repeatedly calls Israel a prostitute, and in a really kind of mean way. Well, not mean, but stern and almost instructing in tone. Here:

³⁵ “‘Therefore, you prostitute, hear the word of the LORD! ³⁶ This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because you poured out your lust and exposed your naked body in your promiscuity with your lovers, and because of all your detestable idols, and because you gave them your children’s blood, ³⁷ therefore I am going to gather all your lovers, with whom you found pleasure, those you loved as well as those you hated. I will gather them against you from all around and will strip you in front of them, and they will see you stark naked.

Meaning - all the other nations' gods that Israel ended up worshiping over the years, God would turn those nations against Israel and when Jerusalem is destroyed they will see the Israelites "stark naked" so to speak. To me, I believe he means that as tragedy strikes the true character of a person is revealed.  So they will see their personalities "stark naked" - but still just as shameful, if not more so. Especially if you're a panicky person in tragedy, like me.

Hebrews 7:18-28
Remember back when I started and I was all concerned about the animal sacrifice thing and why Jesus didn't do it and why modern Jews still don't practice it today. Paul sums it up perfectly:

²⁶ Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. ²⁷ Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.

Now I'm not sure if this true - I'm kinda back and forth on the divinely perfect nature of Paul's letters. Sometimes I think he's just a really smart and learned Christian with some great ideas and thoughts on God and Jesus, but I just don't know if I take everything he says at his word.

Psalm 106:1-12
This is another historical psalm about the history of the Jews in Egypt and their subsequent escape.

⁸ Yet he saved them for his name’s sake,
   to make his mighty power known.

Not for the sake of his people or the world, but for his own sake. This was coming up a lot a couple of months ago, but I still don't like how it sounds. Did he do it so his name would be well known and that's it? Or does he want his name well known because of the gift he is able to offer them? Couldn't tell ya, but it sure comes off as arrogant and childish. 

Proverbs 27:4-6

 ⁴ Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming,
   but who can stand before jealousy?
 ⁵ Better is open rebuke
   than hidden love.
 ⁶ Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
   but an enemy multiplies kisses.

Passing out. Thrifting is tough work.