by Paul Apple | Dec 5, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE RESTORATION OF YAHWEH’S LAND REQUIRES FIRST RENDERING EDOM DESOLATE FOR HER TREATMENT OF ISRAEL INTRODUCTION: These two sections (chap. 35 and chap. 36:1-15) are mirror-images of one another. They are paired in such a way as to highlight the contrasts....
by Paul Apple | Dec 3, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: RESTORATION REQUIRES REPLACING SELFISH FORMER SHEPHERDS WITH THE MESSIANIC SHEPHERD-KING = THE NEW DAVID INTRODUCTION: Lamar Cooper: Chapter 34 comprises figurative messages to the leaders of Israel as shepherds (vv. 1–16) and to the people as sheep (vv....
by Paul Apple | Dec 2, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: REJECTION OF GOD’S PROPHETIC WORD CONFIRMS BOTH THE REMNANT IN JUDAH AND THE EXILES IN BABYLON ON THEIR PATH TO CONTINUED DIVINE JUDGMENT INTRODUCTION: Ezekiel prepares to deliver six messages related to Israel’s ultimate restoration to the Promised Land....
by Paul Apple | Nov 30, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: ISRAEL MUST RESPOND IN REPENTANCE TO EZEKIEL’S WARNINGS AS A FAITHFUL WATCHMAN APPOINTED BY GOD INTRODUCTION: In this transitional chapter moving from God’s judgments against the nations to His plan of restoration and hope for His covenant people, we find a...
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...
