Dec 11

 Ezekiel 21 - 24

Reflection:

Today is one of the hardest date of reading Bible my mind enters. My mind is in full drift mode today, like it doesn't want to absorb anything of the bible. literally unfocused to the max. To make matters worse, each time I try and focus, something will try and distract me. Wife talking, suddenly remembering work, etc. It's like distraction 2.0 day, trying to make me give up reading the bible. after finishing 2 chapters, I still feel like nothing is going into my head. Yes, I am clearing chapters word for word and that I am understanding context and all, but from a revelation point of view? Nothing is going in at all. I will keep on pushing to see how far this goes until I get some form of revelation.

Chapter 23:

Finally, something I can get..... I always was of the impression that Israel has been sinning against God, and that God suddenly made the babylonians magically appear out of nowhere to conquer and take them out. but after reading this chapter, it now seems to indicate something else. As the Babylonians rise to power, Israel always has been in envy, in longing. and instead of trusting God, they followed Babylonian ways, even adopt their culture, their lifestyle and idols. the profanity that God mentions of Israel even includes incest and a lot of different adulterous versions. And it seems like Israel was openly doing it, following Babylonian ways.

Chapter 24:

This bit confuse me a bit. the part where God tells Ezekiel that his wife will die, and that he is not to mourn for his wife. The part that unravels me is who is God comparing Ezekiel to? What is the picture that he wants the Israelites to see from looking at Ezekiel handle that moment. is that the image of how God is seeing the whole situation? Because I can see that, but the words Ezekiel says later doesn't seem to telly with that. Or the other thought I have is God is using Ezekiel to show Israel how their emotional state will be when Babylon takes them into exile.

Dec 10

 Ezekiel 18 - 20

Reflections:

Chapter 18

Probably it's because my brain is wired heavily as an ENFP, reading Ezekiel isn't the easiest book. in fact.... it feels like the most confusing one. I recall, the earlier parts of the Old Testament, when fathers sin, the punishment tickles down to the next generation. I gather the reason is because earlier, reward is to the family, as the leader grows, God rewards via legacy. But at the same time, when they sin, God removes legacy. But in this case, God says the children shall not be accountable for the parents sin, but still maintains the parents are accountable for the children's sin. I think in this instance, the contrast is God is pointing at responsibility instead of legacy. Quite sure his earlier rule of "I will remove your legacy" still applies, but punishment also now targets specific individuals. But I recall Deuteronomy 28 was all about generational consequences that comes from sin. I don’t get this part.

Chapter 20: 

The sabbath here mentioned by God is highlighted not as a commandment, but something uniquely like a proof of protection disguised as a gift. (verse 12:  Moreover, I gave them my Sabbaths, as a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them.) 

I found that part interesting because most of us now sees Sabbath as like how we see rest. But from that verse, it looks like Sabbath like how we see tithe. an action that is done because God provides. Keeping Sabbath is another form of tithing.

Dec 9

Ezekiel 17 - 

Reflections

Chapter 17: this a bit confusing. the eagles, followed by the reference of Babylon. As I read it, it feels like both information are not syncronised. yes, I get that Babylon is one of the eagles, and Israel is the branch, but I don't get is whose loyalty is God asking Israel to show to, Babylon? or himself. And whoever is the 2nd eagle?

Dec 8

 Ezekiel chapter 14:

Reflection

Chapter 14

I noticed 1 thing. God was definitely angry. unhappy and pissed off that the leaders, not the people, but the priestly leaders have idols in their hearts. and are still coming to him for council. But instead of rejection or removing them, ignoring them, he says, get your hearts right first. remove your idols, repent, then only come to me, and he shall return. That was forgiveness in its most pure form that I see.

Next part was about the punishment, the price that comes with sin. especially sins that is of such a huge magnitude. He also clearly outline his 4 disasters when people put him aside: Sword-> killing, Famine -> finance, wild beast -> not sure what it represents but I think removal of safety, and pestilence -> sickness. how many of these are present in our neighborhood?

Chapter 15:

I don't get it... why "your father is an ammonite and your mother a Hittite" is used in reference to this chapter. I shall consult my more knowledgable friends on this.

Dec 7

 Ezekiel 13 

Reflection:

I spoke with a friend today asking for clarity about Ezekiel, and he said it's about judgment. the whole thing, the whole time, especially the front is about God's judgment. there were certain things he brought up, and I didn't fully understood the severity of it, until I thought back. But now that I am writing it, I understand the severity of God leaving his temple, completely departing from it, signaling abandonment of Israel. what I feel dangerous about myself is while I process it intellectually, I do not seem to have any resonance to this information on an emotional level. I used to, but for some reason, I don't at the moment. Like... am I not scared enough? 

Also, He mentioned Ezekiel is a very angry prophet. He called Israel prostitutes. Finally, I asked him about the cherubim, and he answered, they were the angel guarding the garden of eden. they are like heralds

Dec 5

 Ezekiel 9- 12

Reflection:

Ok, I am probably too ENFP to really like this book. it feels to stoic, non emotional and too factual and straightforward. But it's also a book with a lot of prophecies, so I will muscle through it.

Chapter 9: why is the mass killing needed? so according to the study bible, the killing was actually done by the angels of the lord. But 1 angel was set aside to protect the chosen group. the group that remained faithful. That group was spared from the killing spree. so the question then I have is, is it a vision? or is this the moment where Ezekiel was looking at the sacking of Jerusalem through the spiritual lenses? 

Chapter 10: Through out Ezekiel so far, there has been a lot of mention of the cherubim. I do not know what is its significance. it's like some bizarre weird creature that God created. not in the most amusing either. The feeling I get is like something weird like this doesn't really seem to be inline with the perception I have. this one? this is like some kind of greek mythology. Chapter 10 describes the creature to some deeper detail. How it looks, how it moves, etc. Weird.

dec 4

 Ezekiel 8 

nothing... unfortunately.... enters my brain. haha