COMMENTS ON THE CAPTIVITY

“Then those of you who escape will remember Me among the nations where they are carried captive, because I was crushed by their adulterous heart which has departed from Me, and by their eyes which play the harlot after their idols; they will loathe themselves for the evils which they committed in all their abominations” (Ezek. 6:9 NKJV).

Here the prophet Ezekiel is given instructions from the Lord regarding Israel’s captivity. God was grieved with the sinfulness of the people, and would use the pain of captivity to cause them to know Him. Thus we want to note the remembering in the captivity, the reason for the captivity, and the revulsion in the captivity.

Remembering in the captivity - “Will remember Me.” Many who went into captivity did so because they had forgotten God. In their captivity, they begin to remember God. How often crisis and hard times cause people to start remembering God. Before the crisis, folks are too busy to think about God; but after the crisis and the resulting loss and sorrow, folks start talking about God and about praying to Him. Thus sometimes God allows crisis to come into our lives to drive us back to Him.

Reason for the captivity - “Has departed from Me . . . played the harlot after their idols.” The captivity of Israel was not without good reason. Israel had forsaken God and gone after idols. That was offensive to Almighty God, and resulted in Israel being punished and taken into captivity by other nations. It may be popular to turn away from God, stop honoring Him and instead seek the popular evil practices of the day. But judgment will come when we leave God. Popularity does not stop Divine punishment.

Revulsion in the captivity - “They will loathe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations.” At the time of temptation, sin may seem so appealing. However, the time will come when we will loathe (hate / detest) our wicked conduct. We will look at our sinful behavior with great disgust and regret. Sometimes this loathing is so strong it can literally drive people out of their mind. Sin has a very bad aftertaste. It looks exciting at first, but we will eventually loathe our sinful conduct.

(Adapted from Butler's Daily Bible Reading)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“Do not be deceived; happiness and enjoyment do not lie in wicked ways!”

Isaac Watts (1674 – 1748)

English Congregational Minister, Hymn Writer, Theologian and Logician

Word Study

Drove

In Acts 18:15-16 we read, “But if it is a question of words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves; for I do not want to be a judge of such matters. And he drove them from the judgment seat” (NKJV).

Drove is the Greek word apelaunō (ἀπελαύνω =ap-el-ow'-no). It is made up of two words: “apo” which means away, and “elaunō” which means to drive or dismiss. Thus the word means to drive away, to drive off. In classical Greek apelaunō means to drive away, expel, exclude, keep at a distance, ward off or avert. In the Septuagint apelaunōwas usedof driving away a flock, in the sense of driving them from danger to safety (Ezek. 34:12). In the New Testament apelaunō is used only once, here in Act 18:16. It refers to Gallio harshly driving the Jews away from the civil judgment seat at Corinth.

Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus

Old Testament Prophecy – Messiah would be God’s Servant (Zech. 3:8).

New Testament Fulfillment – John 17:4

Did You Know…

In the Bible it states that the Lord Jesus came to proclaim freedom for believers (Luke 4:18).

Bible Quiz

According to 1 Timothy, what word did the apostle Paul use to describe those who had rejected “faith and a good conscience?”

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz: What gift did Samuel’s mother bring to him once a year? A little coat (1 Sam. 2:19).

Names For God Found in the Bible

“Yahweh Elyon”

"I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High” (Psalm 7:17, cf. 47:2; 97:9).

1. Meaning – Yahweh Elyon means “The Lord most high.” This name emphasizes the sovereignty of God as the One who is in control.

2. Insights – In context, David ended his petition by giving thanks to the Lord. He is expressing gratitude and praise for whatever God chooses to do; no matter what it is, it will be consistent with God’s perfect righteousness. God chose not to resolve David’s persecution by Saul for several years. Nevertheless, God kept His promises to David and vindicated him before his opponents and made him the king of Israel.

Did You Know...Christian History

Henry Francis Lyte was born June 1, 1793, at Ednam, near Kelso, Scotland. He was an Anglican Minister, hymnodist, and poet.

Lyte was left as an orphan very young. Despite his poverty, he managed to attend college, winning awards for his poetry. He had originally thought to become a physician but was called to the ministry during his college days.

The death of one of his friends brought about a profound change in him as he was called to his bedside to offer solace and comfort. There, he discovered that both he and his dying friend had little to offer by way of consolation. Through prayerful search of the scriptures, they both came to a firmer faith in Christ.

Lyte pastored English churches the rest of his life. Twenty-three of those years were at Brixham, a Devonshire fishing town. His people loved him, for he took a strong interest in their work and visited the boats whenever they returned from sea. Anna Maxwell, his wife, visited the sick and lent a hand in the town’s projects. By careful management of household expenses, she saved enough money to send Henry to warmer France and Italy by himself every winter.

Lyte had long suffered from a lung disorder that turned into tuberculosis. At the age of 54, he preached his last sermon with difficulty and planned a therapeutic holiday in Italy.

Before leaving, he took a long walk along the coast in prayer then retired to his room. An hour later he emerged with a written copy of “Abide with Me.” Some say he wrote the poem in that hour, others say he discovered it in the bottom of his desk as he packed for Italy. It is likely that, finding sketches of a poem he had previously started, he revised and completed it that evening.

Shortly after this he departed for Italy, and on his travels again revised the hymn and mailed it to his wife. He checked into a hotel in Nice on the French Riviera before his lungs gave out and he passed away. Another clergyman who happened to be staying in the same hotel, and attended him during his final hours, stated that Henry’s last words were, “Peace! Joy!”

A memorial service was held in Brixham and it was on this occasion that “Abide With Me” was first sung. A little cross marks his grave in the English cemetery at Nice where he is buried and many visit his grave telling stories of how the hymn had brought them to faith.

A Little Humor

Addressing the congregation, the pastor made this opening statement: “Some of you won’t like what I am going to say this morning, but that’s OK. I have got a big church and a beautiful wife. Thank God it’s not the other way around.”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“The curse for sin finds its only remedy in the cross of Christ!”