by Paul Apple | Nov 29, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: DESCENT INTO SHEOL ELIMINATES ALL BOASTING FOR EGYPT AS SHE IS NO BETTER OFF THAN ANY NATION THAT WAS JUDGED FOR VIOLENCE INTRODUCTION: The judgment oracles directed against the powerhouse nation of Egypt trace her demise all the way down to the humiliating...
by Paul Apple | Nov 28, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD PROMISES TO UTTERLY DESTROY PHARAOH AND EGYPT INTRODUCTION: Two final laments in chapter 32 conclude the prophetic judgment uttered against Egypt. In the first lament (vv. 1-16) the focus begins on the demise of Egypt’s leader (vv. 1-10); and then in vv....
by Paul Apple | Nov 27, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: IF THE POWERFUL NATION OF ASSYRIA CAN SUFFER SUCH A HUMILIATING DEMISE, HOW MUCH MORE THE ARROGANT NATION OF EGYPT INTRODUCTION: This allegory of the felling of the mighty tree recounts the demise of powerful Assyria in order to apply its message to arrogant...
by Paul Apple | Nov 25, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: ULTIMATE SUCCESS OR FAILURE COMES FROM THE ARM OF THE LORD — BREAKING THE ARMS OF PHARAOH AND STRENGTHENING THE ARMS OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR INTRODUCTION: The world powers of Egypt (under the leadership of Pharaoh) and Babylon (under the leadership of...
by Paul Apple | Nov 25, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE COMING JUDGMENT ON EGYPT PREFIGURES THE ESCHATOLOGICAL DAY OF THE LORD AND IMPACTS EGYPT’S ALLIES INTRODUCTION: The fate of Egypt was revealed in chapter 29. Now this prophecy continues as Ezekiel makes the association with the Day of the Lord to show...
by Paul Apple | Nov 22, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: IMAGES OF A CAPTURED MONSTER CROCODILE AND A BROKEN REED SPEAK TO THE DEMISE OF EGYPT AS GOD REASSURES HIS PEOPLE INTRODUCTION: After finishing his prophecy against Tyre and Sidon, the prophet turns his attention in chapters 29-32 to the fate of the powerful...
by Paul Apple | Nov 20, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD STRIKES DOWN ARROGANT POLITICAL LEADERS (MOTIVATED BY SATAN) WHO BOAST IN THEIR WEALTH AND GLORY WHILE RESTORING ISRAEL TO A SECURE FUTURE IN THE PROMISED LAND INTRODUCTION: This chapter concludes the judgment prophecy against Tyre by focusing on her...
by Paul Apple | Nov 19, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: BOASTING IN PROSPERITY AND PROMINENCE BRINGS GOD’S DEVASTATING JUDGMENT INTRODUCTION: Tyre was the economic hub for worldwide commerce. She boasted in her vast wealth and influence. Here she is pictured as a magnificent vessel constructed from the most...
by Paul Apple | Nov 18, 2021 | Sports, Top Ten Lists
10) Why did we even give Le’Veon Bell a shot with the team when it was obvious he had lost a couple of steps and his deliberate style was not a match for our scheme? What are the reasons that we cannot get back to the type of running plays that Lamar utilized back in...
by Paul Apple | Nov 17, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: WAVES OF INVADING NATIONS (BEGINNING WITH KING NEBUCHADNEZAR) WILL UTTERLY DESTROY TYRE WHO HAD HOPED TO PROFIT BY JERUSALEM’S DESTRUCTION INTRODUCTION: One cannot overstate the magnitude of this prophecy of devastation against the most prominent Gentile...
by Paul Apple | Nov 15, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: MISTREATMENT AND MALICE TOWARDS ISRAEL BY SURROUNDING PROUD PAGAN NATIONS WILL BE PUNISHED BY GOD INTRODUCTION: Here we see the beginning of the second main section of the Book of Ezekiel. The earlier chapters had dealt with the Fall of Jerusalem. Now the...
by Paul Apple | Nov 12, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: DESPITE HER FALSE SECURITY, JERUSALEM EXPERIENCES THE DEVASTATION OF DESERVED JUDGMENT INTRODUCTION: This climactic chapter at the heart of the book of Ezekiel brings us finally to the Day of Reckoning for Jerusalem. After repeated prophecies emphasizing the...
by Paul Apple | Nov 10, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE ABOMINABLE SINS OF PERSISTENT SPIRITUAL HARLOTRY DEMAND SEVERE JUDGMENT INTRODUCTION: Daniel Woodhead: This chapter continues with the Lord’s displeasure of Israel’s sins. It is another long parable of spiritual harlotry similar to that which the Lord...
by Paul Apple | Nov 7, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD WILL UNLEASH DIVINE WRATH UPON HIS CORRUPT HOLY CITYINTRODUCTION:[Outline borrowed from sermon by Michael Crawford. This is the third oracle of judgment from chapter 22.]This is a famous scripture text: “Who will stand in the gap?” The various categories...
by Paul Apple | Nov 7, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: JERUSALEM DESERVED THE FURNACE OF GOD’S JUDGMENT BECAUSE OF HER DOCUMENTED ABOMINATIONSINTRODUCTION:God’s indictment against His people consisted in summary form of two basic categories of violations: shedding blood and making idols. These abominations then...
by Paul Apple | Nov 5, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE SWORD OF THE LORD WILL ACCOMPLISH ITS MISSION OF JUDGMENTINTRODUCTION:The last paragraph in chapter 20 starts a new chapter in the Hebrew bible since it fits with the context of chapter 21. The imagery of a consuming fire transfers over to the imagery of...
by Paul Apple | Nov 2, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: MILLENNAL RESTORATION TRANSFORMS WORSHIP AND GLORIFIES GODINTRODUCTION:Note that the familiar Recognition Refrain marks the end of each of the three segments of this section of the book (vs. 38, 42, 44). Ezekiel now looks ahead to the end times scenario when...
by Paul Apple | Nov 1, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: ISRAEL’S CONSISTENT PATTERN OF SIN DOWN THROUGH HER HISTORY JUSTIFIES GOD’S JUDGMENT AND MAGNIFIES HIS MERCYINTRODUCTION:Once the Lord has the attention of the elders in exile, He turns the table on their desire for some type of new counsel that would answer...
by Paul Apple | Oct 30, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE DAVIDIC DYNASTY HAS GONE DOWN IN FLAMES DUE TO FAILED LEADERSHIPINTRODUCTION:Here we have the sad lament of Judah’s failed leadership and its impact on the nation. The common figures of a lioness and a vine are employed to picture the rapid decline and...
by Paul Apple | Oct 30, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD CANNOT BE ACCUSED OF INJUSTICE BECAUSE HE HOLDS EACH INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTABLE FOR HIS OWN CONDUCTINTRODUCTION:Amidst the blame shifting and complaining of the exiles in Babylon who refused to take responsibility for sin, Ezekiel delivers a clear...
