by Paul Apple | Oct 28, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: JUDGMENT ON JERUSALEM JUSTIFIED IN LIGHT OF THE TREACHERY OF ZEDEKIAH BUT ULTIMATELY SUPERSEDED BY MESSIANIC RESTORATIONINTRODUCTION:This parable (or allegory or fable) once again reinforces the certainty of coming judgment against Jerusalem. This time the...
by Paul Apple | Oct 27, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: DESPITE UNPRECEDENTED ABOMINATIONS, PRIVILEGED BUT UNFAITHFUL JERUSALEM WILL BE RESTORED TO COVENANT SECURITY AFTER APPROPRIATE JUDGMENTINTRODUCTION:The guilt of Jerusalem is set against the backdrop of her privileged adoption as God’s chosen nation. The...
by Paul Apple | Oct 16, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: JERUSALEM AS THE WORTHLESS VINE CAN’T ESCAPE THE CONSUMING FIRE OF GOD’S JUDGMENTINTRODUCTION:Constable: This is the first in a series of three parables designed to impress on the overly optimistic exiles that there was no possibility that Jerusalem would...
by Paul Apple | Oct 15, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: JERUSALEM CANNOT ESCAPE JUDGMENT EVEN IF THE MOST RIGHTEOUS MEN INTERCEDEINTRODUCTION:Context: God promising to bring 4 judgments upon Jerusalem – even the intercession of the most godly men could not avert that judgment; yet we want to learn from the...
by Paul Apple | Oct 13, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: HIDDEN IDOLATRY PROVES TO BE A STUMBLING BLOCK FOR SIN AND A RED FLAG IN TERMS OF DIVINE CONFRONTATION AND CONDEMNATIONINTRODUCTION:Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart. These respected Jewish elders living in exile with Ezekiel in...
by Paul Apple | Oct 12, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: FALSE PROPHETS AND PRACTITIONERS OF THE OCCULT MUST BE CONDEMNED FOR THEIR LIES AND EMPTY PROMISES THAT ORIGINATE FROM THEIR OWN CRYSTAL BALLINTRODUCTION:Ezekiel had just finished refuting the false claims of those who either denied the certainty of coming...
by Paul Apple | Oct 11, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY SILENCES ANY MOCKING OF DELAY IN GOD’S TIMETABLEINTRODUCTION:Scoffers have always made fun of God’s prophetic word – charging God with long delays in fulfillment – essentially mocking the veracity of God’s promises. But God is neither...
by Paul Apple | Oct 11, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: KING ZEDEKIAH AND THE JEWS STILL IN JERUSALEM SHOULD FEAR IMMINENT DEPORTATION- IT IS CERTAIN- IT WILL BE DEVASTATINGINTRODUCTION:Much false confidence and false optimism and arrogance can be traced to what seems to be a delay in God’s guillotine of judgment...
by Paul Apple | Oct 8, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: AS THE GLORY OF THE LORD DEPARTS JERUSALEM, EZEKIEL’S VISION CONCLUDES WITH WORDS OF JUDGMENT AND OF MERCYINTRODUCTION:God constantly proclaims a message of both Judgment and Mercy – as he does here in the conclusion of Ezekiel’s vision. At the crux always...
by Paul Apple | Oct 6, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: JERUSALEM WILL BE JUDGED BY FIRE AFTER THE GLORY OF GOD DEPARTS FROM THE TEMPLEINTRODUCTION:The imminent judgment upon Jerusalem (to be burned with fire by the Babylonian troops) was directly tied to the retreat of the Glory of God from His residence in the...
by Paul Apple | Oct 5, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE MARK OF GOD DIFFERENTIATES BETWEEN JUDGMENT AND PRESERVATIONINTRODUCTION:The visions of the abominations in chapter 8 naturally lead to the execution of God’s justice in chapter 9. Here we see the tension between the vast majority of ungodly who must be...
by Paul Apple | Oct 4, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: IDOLATROUS ABOMINATIONS POLLUTING THE TEMPLE AROUSE DIVINE JEALOUSY AND DISGUSTINTRODUCTION:Chapters 8-11 form our next unit of revelation in the book of Ezekiel. A series of visions captures the depravity of the idolatrous abominations defiling worship in...
by Paul Apple | Oct 1, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD’S PROMISED IMMINENT AND COMPREHENSIVE JUDGMENT AGAINST JUDAH REPAYS SINFUL ABOMINATIONS WITH HORRIFIC AND INESCAPABLE ABOMINATIONSINTRODUCTION:The end has come, according to Ezekiel. There is no possibility of God relenting or showing pity. Any remaining...
by Paul Apple | Sep 29, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: DIVINE JUDGMENT EXALTS THE SUPREMACY OF THE LORD IN THE EYES OF BOTH THE JEWS IN ISRAEL AND THE EXILES DISPERSED AMONG THE NATIONSINTRODUCTION:What a horrifying picture – God setting His face in judgment against His own people and His holy city Jerusalem. It...
by Paul Apple | Sep 28, 2021 | Sports
What a brilliant stealth move by the Ravens personnel department. Before their rash of running back injuries, when there was no way to hang on to Nate McCrary, they subtly allow him to leak out to the Denver Broncos. Now on the game week when they need that valuable...
by Paul Apple | Sep 27, 2021 | Sports
The Ravens are certainly providing the best value for the entertainment dollar this season. In another miracle finish, Lamar overcomes a fourth and 19 hole to set up Justin Tucker for a game-winning record 66 yard field goal as time expires. Not only that, but the...
by Paul Apple | Sep 24, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: CATASTROPHIC PUNISHMENT OF APOSTATE JERUSALEM EXECUTED BY THE ANGRY DIVINE JUDGE BEFORE A WATCHING WORLDINTRODUCTION:Privilege brings with it responsibility. The greater the light, the greater the accountability. Here the culpability of the privileged elect...
by Paul Apple | Sep 22, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: SINNERS CAN EXPECT GOD’S HORRIFYING JUDGMENT IN THE FORM OF EXTREME DEPRIVATION AND HUMILIATING DEFILEMENTINTRODUCTION:What should persistent sinners expect from a holy God? Despite His patience and long-suffering and mercy and lovingkindness, His justice...
by Paul Apple | Sep 21, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD HAS SET HIS FACE IN JUDGMENT AGAINST JERUSALEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DURATION OF HER INIQUITIESINTRODUCTION:Following his commissioning, the ministry of Ezekiel opens with a series of action-sermons where the Lord uses drama to enact special...
by Paul Apple | Sep 19, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE RESPONSIBILITY OF A WATCHMAN INVOLVES THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF FAITHFULLY COMMUNICATING GOD’S WORDS OF WARNING TO THOSE IN NEED OF REPENTANCEINTRODUCTION:This section concludes the commissioning of Ezekiel as he enters into his ministry to the Jews in exile...
