Month: September 2026

A Transition

A Transition

Dan

Today is the last day that Pepper will be posting essays and images on this blog. Since its inception, she has been right here—carefully reviewing posts and providing vital insight into how readers might react. Her feedback and personal views have shaped the very direction and tone of this blog. She has served our readers with grace and a deep love for Jesus, but it is now time for her to move on to other things. She is a remarkable person. I will miss her influence every time I wonder if an essay has “hit the mark.”

Elohim is taking her in a new direction, and I know He will bless her immensely in this next chapter. As she once wrote: “I choose to leave judgment where it belongs, in the hands of the One who is perfectly just and perfectly merciful.” She followed it with: “Like Dan, Like You, I choose Jesus.”

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Like a Fragrant Incense

Dan

It was my observation that Ezekiel 20 provides an interesting view into God’s thoughts concerning rebellion and restoration. He takes a rather pragmatic view towards the practice of sin and the fragile nature of the human mind. He makes it clear the Hebrews have no more power to protect themselves than the Babylonians do (consider the things Cyrus will soon implement in Babylon).

I was reminded of 1 Kings 18:18-21; where we find a conversation between Ahab and Elijah. Ahab calls Elijah a troubler, Elijah replies I am no such thing. You abandoned God and took up Baal. Then speaking to a large group of Hebrews, Elijah was clear – he asked them how long they would waffle between two viewpoints. If Elohim is the Lord of their life, follow him; if Baal is their God, follow Baal, but get on with it, make a decision! It is very unwise to fake a relationship with God and act out the part – we must avoid contaminating his name with fake offerings and gifts (also see Amos 5:21-27).

The listeners of Ezekiel were standing naked, swimming in foolishness, for the most part unaware of the troubles coming. Soon God will separate the sheep in their midst from the imposters. He will cause them to pass through a threshold, where he determines who is part of the Remnant (Leviticus 27:32). He will isolate the rebels from the sheep, those who have brought grief, scandal, and calamity to the flock. They will be isolated and dispersed into the wilderness. They have no place in the promised land nor will they access the safe haven God has provided during their time in Babylon. The judgement of God will find them and vanquish them.

Ezekiel 20:38-44 says – I will purge you of those who revolt and rebel against me. Although I will bring them out of the land where they are living, yet they will not enter the land of Israel. … Go and serve your idols, every one of you! But afterward you will surely listen to me and no longer profane my holy name with your gifts and idols, for on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord, there in the land all the people of Israel will serve me, and there I will accept them. … Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the land I had sworn with uplifted hand to give to your ancestors. There you will remember your conduct and all the actions by which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil you have done. You will know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for my name’s sake and not according to your evil ways and your corrupt practices, you people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord [NIV].

And now we see his Grace in action. He will help them find the path to repentance and restoration. They come to understand the full depth of their rebellion. They learn how gracious God really is as they begin to walk with him. They find truth and deep joy in their walk. Their happiness points to a prevailing disposition for God’s service. Now, their offerings and fruit are found to be acceptable at the altar.

Now as they learn about the gracious attitude of God towards them, they are overcome with his kindness, the blush as the recall their poor attitudes and rebellion towards the one true living God. In his mercy he tells them of the wonderful things that will be found on the holy mountain of God. He will reveal himself to them, they shall know firsthand of his power and majesty. They shall know firsthand of his kindness and faithful ness to his covenant – he will keep his oath. They will grow as the days pass into a much deeper walk with him. They learn that he nurtures his people that they may glorify him through their service, that he may be known as the God who pardons sin and keeps his promises (see Psalms 126:3). That the people around those he blesses, take notice, and know that God is on the move.  I choose Jesus.

Boasting Leads to Trouble

Dan

It was my observation that the informal lamenting by Ezekiel is now being authored by God. In the case of chapter 19, the lamentation is about the leaders of Jerusalem. When we read in this lamentation about princes of Israel, I think we are talking about a king. I think God calls the king ‘a prince’ as a ‘dig’. He has no respect for them. Some interpreters seem to think we are reading about Jehoahaz the lion and Jehoiachin the cub that became a strong lion.

Ezekiel begins the message and listens as much as he speaks. I suspect he takes the message to heart. Ezekiel grieves as he observes the Hebrew kings mistreat their people. He grieves that the kings do not place a value on the covenant of God.

Ezekiel 19:1-9 says — Take up a lament concerning the princes of Israel and say: What a lioness was your mother among the lions! She lay down among them and reared her cubs. She brought up one of her cubs, and he became a strong lion. He learned to tear the prey and he became a man-eater. The nations heard about him, and he was trapped in their pit. They led him with hooks to the land of Egypt. When she saw her hope unfulfilled, her expectation gone, he took another of her cubs and made him a strong lion. He prowled among the lions, for he was now a strong lion. He learned to tear the prey and he became a man-eater. [NIV]

The story behind the lamentation begins in the early days of Israel’s transition from Judges to Kings. The Hebrews had problems when Eli (a judge), getting older, appointed his two sons as judges. They turned out to be unacceptable (1 Samuel 2:22-25). I suspect that Eli the Judge knew his sons were problematic, perhaps he hoped the role would raise their behavior to an acceptable level. But, alas, it did not. His sons did not walk with God, rather they pursued personal gain. They took bribes and thwarted justice. The boys had real problems so God removed them (1 Samuel 2:12-36).

Samuel was next in line. Fast forward to 1 Samuel 8, we see more problems with the Judges and we get to the point of this line of reasoning. Israel rejects Samuel as a Judge. Samuel had similar issues with his sons as Eli did. By now the Hebrews were done with the system of Judges. They wanted something different. At this point things get messy. The Hebrew elders visited Samuel’s home and mentioned that Samuel was getting older and his sons were troublesome. They had lost confidence in the system of Judges. They wanted Samuel to appoint a king (1 Samuel 8:4-5). This caused Samuel much displeasure, he complained to God.

The reply to Samuel was simple — Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt, until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim his rights. (see 1 Samuel 8:7-9).

And claim his rights the king did. Look again at the passage from Ezekiel. We see a leader who is abusing his power and abusing his people. The King has claimed his rights.  A horrid mess was created when the Hebrews started the gradual separation from the path God set for them. The nation died from a gradual decline and a thousand cuts. The Hebrew line of kings turned out to be a trail of tears that lead to the exile. There were bright spots of hope, but we know that many of the kings were near vipers. It is remarkable that God offered grace and mercy all through this period to his people. It is equally remarkable they often resisted the offer of mercy. I choose Jesus.

Where is Wisdom?

Dan

This is my second observation while reading chapter 28 in the book of Job, there is a strong theme presented as a question — Where does man look for wisdom?  Job 28:1-3 says “Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold that they refine. Iron is taken out of the earth, and copper is smelted from the ore. Man puts an end to darkness and searches out to the farthest limit the ore in gloom and deep darkness.” This quote is a little obtuse when it comes to evidence, but as in most things, patience is a virtue. Continue reading, you will find this observation about exerting hard work to mine precious metals is right on target – we work hard to find things important to us.

Man digs into the darkest parts of the earth to mine silver, gold, iron, and copper…but he doesn’t find wisdom. Job 28:4 says “He opens shafts in a valley away from where anyone lives; they are forgotten by travelers; they hang in the air, far away from mankind; they swing to and fro”.  When Job says they hang in the air and swing to and fro, Job is describing man descending with ropes and swinging back and forth.  Man risks his life digging tunnels where nobody lives, in places people have forgotten about, but he doesn’t find wisdom.  Job 28:5 says “As for the earth, out of it comes bread, but underneath it is turned up as by fire.”  Grain and wheat are used to form Bread – the grains come up out of the earth, but when you go down into the earth deep enough there’s nothing but fire, referring to molten rock and lava.

Job 28:6 says “ Its stones are the place of sapphires, and it has dust of gold”. Man finds precious stones such as sapphires and gold …does not find wisdom. Now after 6 verses, we form a theme – many people expend very hard work (mining rock) to learn wisdom on their own (God’s irony makes me smile sometimes). Can it be done? Can we discover wisdom apart from God? So far, their effort has not yielded any discernable wisdom. Let us continue.

Job 28:7 says — “That path no bird of prey knows, and the falcon’s eye has not seen it”. Man searches out places no bird has ever flown or seen…but still no wisdom. Job 28:8 says — “The proud beasts have not trodden it; the lion has not passed over it.” Man searches out places that powerful animals (such as the lion) have never gone. Job 28:9-10 says “Man puts his hand to the flinty rock and overturns mountains by the roots. He cuts out channels in the rocks, and his eye sees every precious thing.” Man breaks open large rocks and cuts tunnels into them. He finds all manner of precious thing that he believes is important … but he does not take the time to search for wisdom.

Job 28:11-12 says “They search the sources of the rivers and bring hidden things to light; But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?” So, where is this place of understanding?  Man creates dams to stop rivers so he can search out riverbeds. If there’s anything valuable hidden in the dark, he brings the valuables to light.  He looks everywhere in pursuit of value, but he doesn’t find wisdom.

Job 28:13 says “No mortal comprehends its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living.” Man doesn’t find wisdom, because he’s not looking for it, he’s not looking for it in the right place, and he misunderstands value of wisdom.  He’d rather find riches and gold, but… Proverbs 3:15 [Wisdom] “is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her”. Man will look everywhere for wealth; but does not look for wisdom…even though wisdom is more valuable.

In my next two posts I want to answer three questions: (1) should we pursue wisdom? (2) How do we find the source of wisdom? and (3) Can wisdom be found outside of God?

I choose Jesus.