Ezekiel 37-39: Chapter 37 contains the most familiar of the prophet’s visions that of the dry bones representing the dead and divided nation. The Lord commands Ezekiel to prophesy to the wind and the dry bones become a living army signifying the resurrected nation. Following this vision is the reunification of the kingdoms symbolized by the union of two sticks. Chapters 38 and 39 describe a time period before, during and after an invasion of Israel by armies lead by Gog, ruler of Magog. It is thought to be after the rapture of the church but before the tribulation. God destroys the armies and reveals His holiness to the Gentile nations as well as to Israel. The Lord then cleanses the land, calls for a feast (birds and beasts) and demonstrates His compassion.
2 Peter 2:This chapter contains Peter’s denunciation of the false teachers in which he points out their conduct (heretical behavior), their condemnation by God and their characteristics such as arrogance, wickedness and depravity.

This month you will complete the ROAD Challenge. You will be reading the words of thirteen Old Testament prophets and six New Testament letters from three apostles. Because the subject matter is wide-ranging and changing almost daily, the format of this commentary will be different; instead of offering daily teaching in an expository format, I will be asking you observational questions on each day’s readings.
December 1, Ezekiel 40-41; 2 Peter 3.
Ezekiel begins to describe a memorial temple. Where will it be located? Are the dimensions the same as for Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 6)? Do the cherubim in Ezek 41:18 look the same as the creatures in Ezek 10:14-15?
How will the earth be destroyed in 2 Peter 3:10? What do believers look forward to in 2 Peter 3:13? How should we behave (2 Peter 3:14)?

December 2, Ezekiel 42-44; 1 John 1.
Who comes into the temple in Ezekiel 43:2-4? What is the law of the temple in Ezekiel 43:12?
What four verbs does John use to describe his perception of the Word of life (1 John 1:1)? Why does John write this letter (1 John 1:4)? To whom does “we” refer in 1 John 1:1-5? What about in verses 1:6-10?

December 3, Ezekiel 45-46, 1 John 2.
What will be celebrated in the memorial temple in the first month of the year (Ezekiel 45:21)? When will the temple be opened (Ezekiel 46:1)?
Why does John write this letter (1 John 2:1)? Who is our advocate (2:1b)? How should we conduct ourselves (1 John 2:6)?

Ezekiel 35-36:In chapter 35 the prophet pronounces God’s judgment on Edom (Mount Seir) for their pride, greed and anger as they had assisted the Babylonians in the seige of Jerusalem. The next chapter looks ahead with encouraging messages of what God will do in the future. He will restore the land and regenerate His people. They had been guilty of polluting the land and profaning God’s name. Both sins had to be dealt with.
2 Peter 1:The second letter is a remonder of the truth of Christianity as opposed to the heresies of false teachers. The development of faith is expressed in the first chapter in terms of its growth in terms of divine power and its ground in terms of divine inspiration of the Word of God.

Ezekiel 33-34: In chapter 33 the prophet returns to some of his earlier messages as he turns the light of God’s Word on the sins of the entire nation, those of the people left in Jerusalem and those of the exiles in Babylon and he reveals what was in their hearts and lives. In the next chapter Ezekiel exposes the sins of the leaders who exploited and abused the “flock” and then turns his attention to the rescue and protection of the “flock”.
1 Peter 5: In this last chapter Peter encourages fellow shepherds in the grace of serving in humility, submission and self-control to the glory of God in Christ Jesus. The final remarks are a call to remain steadfast in that grace of God.

Ezekiel 30-32:These three chapters contain the last four of seven oracles concerning God’s judgment of Egypt. The third pictures a great storm that shakes the very foundations of the land. The fourth refers to God’s mighty arm crushing the Egyptian Pharaoh’s military arms leaving the nation helpless. The fifth oracle uses the image of a great tree that is cut down to refer to the fall of the boastful Assyrians to the Babylonians as a warning to Egypt. The sixth oracle concerns the monster theme to signify the capture of Egypt (crocodile) and its punishment. The seventh and final oracle describes the people of Egypt descending into Sheol, the place of the dead, along with a multitude of people who would be slain by the swords of the Babylonians.
1 Peter 4:The theme of grace under suffering as a part of God’s will is demonstrated in the life of Christ. How one reacts to suffering is presented as an extension of God’s grace and as a demonstration of faith strengthened by God for His glory.

Ezekiel 27-29:Chapter 27 is a funeral dirge expressing in satirical fashion the rise and fall of the city of Tyre. The extended metaphor compares the city to a ship that eventually sinks and brings grief to merchants and customers alike. Chapter 28 addresses God’s judgment against Tyre’s prince and king for great pride. The prince is referred to as a man and the king as an anointed cherub. Also contained in the chapter are promises to Israel regarding judgment on Sidon and also a regathering/deliverance of Israel from Babylon. Chapter 29 contains the first two of seven oracles given to Ezekiel referring to Egypt. In the first a monster (Pharaoh Hophra) is slain and in the second wages are paid (to Babylon).
1 Peter 3:The message of grace in submission is continued in reference to husband and wife relations as well as harmonious relations among other believers. The subject grace in times of suffering is the next discussion point of the apostle. When suffering is experienced for doing what is right there is blessing.

Ezekiel 24-26:Chapter 24 is divided into two parts. The first deals with the parable about a boiling pot signifying the delusion under which Jerusalem’s leaders were living. The second part of the chapter is an action sermon involving the sudden death of the prophet’s wife and his show lack of grief signifying God’s removal of the temple in Jerusalem. Chapters 25 and 26 deal with God’s pronounced judgments on those nations related to Israel (Ammon, Moab and Edom) and those neighboring nations (Philistia and Phoenician capital of Tyre).
1 Peter 2: The apostle continues his exposition of the sobriety of God’s grace in the area of spiritual growth in the believer. He then moves to the area of submission to governmental agencies and then to masters in the workforce.

Ezekiel 22-23:Ezekiel has exposed the past sins of the nation, but now in chapter 22 he brings Jerusalem into the courtroom and brings the record up-to-date. He refers to the people as defiled, doomed, debased, deceitful and disappointing. The Lord is still seeking men and women who will take their stand for the moral law of God, stand in the gap at the wall and confront the enemy with His help. The next chapter describes the end of the kingdom as the people of Judah ignore God’s warning against political alignment with its neighbors. The people of the southern kingdom sinned even more than their northern cousins and will suffer the wrath of God to an even worse degree.
1 Peter 1: Peter addresses this epistle to a scattered multitude of believers who are suffering for their faith. He reminds them of the fact that they have been saved by grace which means certain security in this world and the next and should lead to a life characterized by sobriety (self-control) in holiness, fear and love.

Ezekiel 20-21:Ezekiel continues with the theme of responsibility in chapter 20 with a message on the nation’s history of irresponsibility on the occasion of some Jewish elders coming to him to inquire of the Lord. The prophet responds to their request with a review of Israel’s history of repeated rebellion and the gracious long-suffering of the Lord. Chapter 21 concludes with a focus on the fact that God has a responsibility to punish His people when they rebel against Him because He must be true to His character and His covenant.
James 5:The final mark of a mature Christian is that of prayerfulness during times of economic, physical, national and church troubles.

Ezekiel 18-19: Chapter 18 deals with the theme of individual responsibility. The prophet answers erroneous statements the Jewish exiles were making about God and their difficult situation. They couldn’t blame their ancestors and they couldn’t blame the Lord. Chapter 19 deals with the responsibility of the leadership by using two images – the lion and the vine.
James 4: The mark of the mature Christian presented in this chapter is that he/she is a peacemaker and not a troublemaker. James describes three wars, three enemies and three admonitions.