“Hear this word, you cows of Bashan,
    who are on the mountain of Samaria,
who oppress the poor, who crush the needy,
    who say to your husbands, ‘Bring, that we may drink!’
2 The Lord God has sworn by his holiness
    that, behold, the days are coming upon you,
when they shall take you away with hooks,
    even the last of you with fishhooks.
3 And you shall go out through the breaches,
    each one straight ahead;
    and you shall be cast out into Harmon,”
declares the Lord.
4 “Come to Bethel, and transgress;
    to Gilgal, and multiply transgression;
bring your sacrifices every morning,
    your tithes every three days;
5 offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving of that which is leavened,
    and proclaim freewill offerings, publish them;
    for so you love to do, O people of Israel!”
declares the Lord God.
Israel Has Not Returned to the Lord
6 “I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities,
    and lack of bread in all your places,
yet you did not return to me,”
declares the Lord.
7 “I also withheld the rain from you
    when there were yet three months to the harvest;
I would send rain on one city,
    and send no rain on another city;
one field would have rain,
    and the field on which it did not rain would wither;
8 so two or three cities would wander to another city
    to drink water, and would not be satisfied;
yet you did not return to me,”
declares the Lord.
9 “I struck you with blight and mildew;
    your many gardens and your vineyards,
    your fig trees and your olive trees the locust devoured;
yet you did not return to me,”
declares the Lord.
10 “I sent among you a pestilence after the manner of Egypt;
    I killed your young men with the sword,
and carried away your horses,
    and I made the stench of your camp go up into your nostrils;
yet you did not return to me,”
declares the Lord.
11 “I overthrew some of you,
    as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah,
    and you were as a brand plucked out of the burning;
yet you did not return to me,”
declares the Lord.
12 “Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel;
    because I will do this to you,
    prepare to meet your God, O Israel!”
13 For behold, he who forms the mountains and creates the wind,
    and declares to man what is his thought,
who makes the morning darkness,
    and treads on the heights of the earth--
    the Lord, the God of hosts, is his name!
 
Meditation
God’s heart is for His people to return home. Illustrating God’s heart for intimate relationship, the prophet Hosea purchased Ghomer to return “and dwell” with him (Hosea 3).  The Father in the prodigal son story (Luke 15) waited for his wayward son to walk home, eager to lavish him with unconditional love. God’s word reveals God’s heart for His people to return home. Today’s reading is the other side of the coin, God’s anger when His people reject the invitation.
 
“…yet you did not return to me” is the repeated phrase throughout this refrain (6, 8, 9, 10, 11). Israel did not hear the cries of the poor and were going to be taken into captivity (1-3). Their worship had been hypocritical (4-5) and they had ignored God’s repeated efforts to get them to come to their senses and return to Him (6-11). The roaring lion was poised to pounce on the rebellious people (12-13).
 
To help Israel come to their senses and return home God had taken away food, rain, produce, human and animal life, and had overthrown people like Sodom and Gomorrah. The discipline was designed to lead the people to repentance (Deuteronomy 30:1-10) but they would not listen. Israel did not return.
 
God’s love is lavish, willing to be torn to pieces by death so we can be forgiven and restored in our lives. Jesus was sent by the Father so we can return to the Father as sons and daughters, the family of God. God’s love calls you today:
 
“Return to Me!”
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you about God’s lavish love, eager to welcome and celebrate all who return to Him?
 
-Why do people reject His invitation, not listening to the discipline He sends to help us come to our senses?
 
-Where do you need to return to the love of our Father. Coming to your senses to be celebrated in His grace?
 
Key verse(s)
6, 8, 9, 10, 11 “…yet you did not return to me.”

Oh sing to the Lord a new song;
    sing to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
    tell of his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvelous works among all the peoples!
4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
    he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
    but the Lord made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
    strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
 
7 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!
8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    bring an offering, and come into his courts!
9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;
    tremble before him, all the earth!
10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!
    Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
    he will judge the peoples with equity.”
 
11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
    let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
12     let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
13     before the Lord, for he comes,
    for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness,
    and the peoples in his faithfulness.
 
Meditation
Most people do not want to sing, much less sing a new song.  The right response to the redemption God brings is to sing a new song. The scope of the choir should give us strength to sing as our voice joins all nations, all the earth, and all the heavens! Let us sing!
 
David sung this psalm after the ark was brought into Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 15). God fulfilled His promise by restoring His presence to the center of life with His people. Shouting and singing sprang forth! So we too will have praise pour out when our soul is saturated with our Savior and His salvation.
 
Singing is not the only response running forth from rejoicing in our redeemer and His redemption. We share of His salvation day to day (2), declare His glory among the nations (3), ascribing to the Lord glory and strength (7-8)! We worship the Lord in His splendor, trembling before His holiness, (9) as we say among the nations, “Our God reigns!” (10) The heavens and earth join the celebration (11) of day to day jubilation from our great salvation.
 
This psalms command is the right response God’s redemption demands, whether returning home from exile (Isaiah 40:3) or joining redeemed men and women from every tribe, tongue, and nation (Revelation 5:9). Go beyond a joyful noise to celebrate God’s salvation-SING! SHARE! And DECLARE! Join the cosmic chorus of Sing to the Lord a new song!
 
Richly Dwelling
-Are you hesitant to celebrate the salvation of Jesus in a public way? Timid to sing of your salvation? Why or why not?
 
-The scope of celebration is cosmic- every nation, all the earth, and all the heavens. Your song is not a solo! Does the cosmic scope of this redemptive response strengthen your desire to sing?
 
- After focusing on our Savior and His salvation which imperative from the passage is most inviting?
 
Key Verse
Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth!

The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus says the Lord God:
“Wail, ‘Alas for the day!’
3     For the day is near,
    the day of the Lord is near;
it will be a day of clouds,
    a time of doom for the nations.
4 A sword shall come upon Egypt,
    and anguish shall be in Cush,
when the slain fall in Egypt,
    and her wealth is carried away,
    and her foundations are torn down.
5 Cush, and Put, and Lud, and all Arabia, and Libya, and the people of the land that is in league, shall fall with them by the sword.
6 “Thus says the Lord:
Those who support Egypt shall fall,
    and her proud might shall come down;
from Migdol to Syene
    they shall fall within her by the sword,
declares the Lord God.
7 And they shall be desolated in the midst of desolated countries,
    and their cities shall be in the midst of cities that are laid waste.
8 Then they will know that I am the Lord,
    when I have set fire to Egypt,
    and all her helpers are broken.
9 “On that day messengers shall go out from me in ships to terrify the unsuspecting people of Cush, and anguish shall come upon them on the day of Egypt's doom; for, behold, it comes!
10 “Thus says the Lord God:
“I will put an end to the wealth of Egypt,
    by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
11 He and his people with him, the most ruthless of nations,
    shall be brought in to destroy the land,
and they shall draw their swords against Egypt
    and fill the land with the slain.
12 And I will dry up the Nile
    and will sell the land into the hand of evildoers;
I will bring desolation upon the land and everything in it,
    by the hand of foreigners;
I am the Lord; I have spoken.
13 “Thus says the Lord God:
“I will destroy the idols
    and put an end to the images in Memphis;
there shall no longer be a prince from the land of Egypt;
    so I will put fear in the land of Egypt.
14 I will make Pathros a desolation
    and will set fire to Zoan
    and will execute judgments on Thebes.
15 And I will pour out my wrath on Pelusium,
    the stronghold of Egypt,
    and cut off the multitude[f] of Thebes.
16 And I will set fire to Egypt;
    Pelusium shall be in great agony;
Thebes shall be breached,
    and Memphis shall face enemies[g] by day.
17 The young men of On and of Pi-beseth shall fall by the sword,
    and the women[h] shall go into captivity.
18 At Tehaphnehes the day shall be dark,
    when I break there the yoke bars of Egypt,
and her proud might shall come to an end in her;
    she shall be covered by a cloud,
    and her daughters shall go into captivity.
19 Thus I will execute judgments on Egypt.
    Then they will know that I am the Lord.”
Egypt Shall Fall to Babylon20 In the eleventh year, in the first month, on the seventh day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me:21 “Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and behold, it has not been bound up, to heal it by binding it with a bandage, so that it may become strong to wield the sword. 22 Therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt and will break his arms, both the strong arm and the one that was broken, and I will make the sword fall from his hand. 23 I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them through the countries. 24 And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon and put my sword in his hand, but I will break the arms of Pharaoh, and he will groan before him like a man mortally wounded. 25 I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh shall fall. Then they shall know that I am the Lord, when I put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon and he stretches it out against the land of Egypt.26 And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”
 
Meditation
God rules over all nations. No international headline is outside of God’s hand. The geo-political powers of the earth are pawns for God’s purposes. Heaven gives God’s people hope: “Heaven Rules!” (Daniel 4:26)
 
Nations large and small are swept up in God’s sovereignty throughout this passage. Egypt, one of the most wealthy and powerful nations of Ezekiel’s day, would be wiped out. Babylon, led by king Nebukadnezzar, would be the implement of destruction the Lord would yield. But Cush, Put, Lud, Arabia, and other regions and nations were pawns for God’s purposes too. The message is clear- God is working history for His purposes, all things according to His will (Ephesians 1:11).
 
As God used Assyria to carry Israel into exile so God will use Babylon to carry Judah from the promise land and destroy Israel. All of this is to reveal the sovereign rule of the Lord, that the nations “will know God is the Lord” (17, 25).  The “Lord gives kingdoms to whomever He wishes” (Daniel 4:17) because “His dominion is everlasting, enduring to every generation… He does according to His will among the hosts of heaven and all the inhabitants of the earth” (Daniel 4:34-35).
 
God’s sovereign rule should humble us and give us peace. God is working good and glory for all who belong to Him (Romans 8:28) and the nations are His tools to shape the story. Jesus gave Himself to the authorities of Rome so we can trust the Lord in our hearts and homes. Heaven rules! Jesus is King.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Do the international headlines give you heartache more than the promises of Scripture give you hope? Why or why not?
 
-Egypt and Babylon would be equivalent to China, Russia, or the United States today. Do you believe God is orchestrating history today, in and through the political powers of our day?
 
-Jesus is king of kings and Lord of Lords. No power or political party is greater than Jesus! Jesus is mightier. Jesus rules. Take a moment to rest your heart in this reality.
 
Key Verse
10 “Thus says the Lord God: “I will put an end to the wealth of Egypt, by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.

In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah, king of Israel, Hezekiah the son of Ahaz, king of Judah, began to reign.2 He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah. 3 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done. 4 He removed the high places and broke the pillars and cut down the Asherah. And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it (it was called Nehushtan). 5 He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him. 6 For he held fast to the Lord. He did not depart from following him, but kept the commandments that the Lord commanded Moses. 7 And the Lord was with him; wherever he went out, he prospered. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and would not serve him. 8 He struck down the Philistines as far as Gaza and its territory, from watchtower to fortified city.
9 In the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah, king of Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria and besieged it, 10 and at the end of three years he took it. In the sixth year of Hezekiah, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken. 11 The king of Assyria carried the Israelites away to Assyria and put them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes, 12 because they did not obey the voice of the Lord their God but transgressed his covenant, even all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded. They neither listened nor obeyed.
Sennacherib Attacks Judah13 In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them. 14 And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria at Lachish, saying, “I have done wrong; withdraw from me. Whatever you impose on me I will bear.” And the king of Assyria required of Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. 15 And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the Lord and in the treasuries of the king's house. 16 At that time Hezekiah stripped the gold from the doors of the temple of the Lord and from the doorposts that Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid and gave it to the king of Assyria. 17 And the king of Assyria sent the Tartan, the Rab-saris, and the Rabshakeh with a great army from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. When they arrived, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is on the highway to the Washer's Field. 18 And when they called for the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the secretary, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder.
19 And the Rabshakeh said to them, “Say to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: On what do you rest this trust of yours? 20 Do you think that mere words are strategy and power for war? In whom do you now trust, that you have rebelled against me? 21 Behold, you are trusting now in Egypt, that broken reed of a staff, which will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.22 But if you say to me, “We trust in the Lord our God,” is it not he whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and to Jerusalem, “You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem”? 23 Come now, make a wager with my master the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them. 24 How then can you repulse a single captain among the least of my master's servants, when you trust in Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?25 Moreover, is it without the Lord that I have come up against this place to destroy it? The Lord said to me, “Go up against this land and destroy it.”’”
26 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah, said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it. Do not speak to us in the language of Judah within the hearing of the people who are on the wall.” 27 But the Rabshakeh said to them, “Has my master sent me to speak these words to your master and to you, and not to the men sitting on the wall, who are doomed with you to eat their own dung and to drink their own urine?”
28 Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out in a loud voice in the language of Judah: “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria! 29 Thus says the king: ‘Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to deliver you out of my hand. 30 Do not let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord by saying, The Lord will surely deliver us, and this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.’ 31 Do not listen to Hezekiah, for thus says the king of Assyria: ‘Make your peace with me and come out to me. Then each one of you will eat of his own vine, and each one of his own fig tree, and each one of you will drink the water of his own cistern, 32 until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey, that you may live, and not die. And do not listen to Hezekiah when he misleads you by saying, “The Lord will deliver us.” 33 Has any of the gods of the nations ever delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?34 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? 35 Who among all the gods of the lands have delivered their lands out of my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?’”
36 But the people were silent and answered him not a word, for the king's command was, “Do not answer him.”37 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn and told him the words of the Rabshakeh.
 
Meditation
God is worthy of our trust. God is faithful to His word and by His grace He invites us to, “Trust in the Lord with all our hearts, to lean not on our own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5) “Blessed is the person who trusts the Lord, whose trust is in the Lord.” (Jeremiah 17:7)
 
Hezekiah trusted in the Lord (7) but blessing did not seem near. Assyria had captured the Northern Kingdom and carried them into exile, and this was after defeating several other countries as they expanded their empire. Their expanding power put Judah and Jerusalem in a pinch.
 
Difficult days grew more intense with the taunting of the Assyrian army. After surrounding Jerusalem they assaulted them with discouragement- Do you really trust the Lord to save you? Do you believe King Hezekiah who says to trust the Lord to deliver…”has any gods of the nations ever delivered his hand out of the hands of the king of Assyria?” (33)
 
The people were silent. God remained faithful to His promises, proving Himself worthy of our trust. Those who trust in the word of the Lord will never be put to shame.
 
Jesus points to birds of the air and flowers of the field- If our Father provides for them will He not take care of His children? (Matthew 6:26) God is faithful to the promises of His word. In dark and difficult days the word of God is a lamp unto our feet and a light for our path. Let us trust our faithful God.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Do you trust the Lord with all your heart? If not, what do you trust that is not the Lord?
 
-Hezekiah and his troops were taunted by the enemy, mocked for trusting God. What taunts your trust in God and His word?
 
-Jesus promises God will be faithful and guarantees God’s covenant commitment through His death and resurrection. How can your focus on the faithfulness of Jesus increase your awareness of His presence, His faithfulness to His promises, and His grace to give you power to walk forward in trust?
 
Key Verse
7 And the Lord was with him; wherever he went out, he prospered. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and would not serve him.

“This is the law of the guilt offering. It is most holy. 2 In the place where they kill the burnt offering they shall kill the guilt offering, and its blood shall be thrown against the sides of the altar. 3 And all its fat shall be offered, the fat tail, the fat that covers the entrails, 4 the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys. 5 The priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering to the Lord; it is a guilt offering. 6 Every male among the priests may eat of it. It shall be eaten in a holy place. It is most holy.7 The guilt offering is just like the sin offering; there is one law for them. The priest who makes atonement with it shall have it. 8 And the priest who offers any man's burnt offering shall have for himself the skin of the burnt offering that he has offered. 9 And every grain offering baked in the oven and all that is prepared on a pan or a griddle shall belong to the priest who offers it. 10 And every grain offering, mixed with oil or dry, shall be shared equally among all the sons of Aaron.
11 “And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings that one may offer to the Lord. 12 If he offers it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the thanksgiving sacrifice unleavened loaves mixed with oil, unleavened wafers smeared with oil, and loaves of fine flour well mixed with oil. 13 With the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving he shall bring his offering with loaves of leavened bread. 14 And from it he shall offer one loaf from each offering, as a gift to the Lord. It shall belong to the priest who throws the blood of the peace offerings. 15 And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten on the day of his offering. He shall not leave any of it until the morning. 16 But if the sacrifice of his offering is a vow offering or a freewill offering, it shall be eaten on the day that he offers his sacrifice, and on the next day what remains of it shall be eaten. 17 But what remains of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burned up with fire. 18 If any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offering is eaten on the third day, he who offers it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be credited to him. It is tainted, and he who eats of it shall bear his iniquity.
19 “Flesh that touches any unclean thing shall not be eaten. It shall be burned up with fire. All who are clean may eat flesh, 20 but the person who eats of the flesh of the sacrifice of the Lord's peace offerings while an uncleanness is on him, that person shall be cut off from his people. 21 And if anyone touches an unclean thing, whether human uncleanness or an unclean beast or any unclean detestable creature, and then eats some flesh from the sacrifice of the Lord's peace offerings, that person shall be cut off from his people.”
22 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 23 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, You shall eat no fat, of ox or sheep or goat. 24 The fat of an animal that dies of itself and the fat of one that is torn by beasts may be put to any other use, but on no account shall you eat it. 25 For every person who eats of the fat of an animal of which a food offering may be made to the Lord shall be cut off from his people.26 Moreover, you shall eat no blood whatever, whether of fowl or of animal, in any of your dwelling places.27 Whoever eats any blood, that person shall be cut off from his people.”
28 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 29 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, Whoever offers the sacrifice of his peace offerings to the Lord shall bring his offering to the Lord from the sacrifice of his peace offerings. 30 His own hands shall bring the Lord's food offerings. He shall bring the fat with the breast, that the breast may be waved as a wave offering before the Lord. 31 The priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast shall be for Aaron and his sons. 32 And the right thigh you shall give to the priest as a contribution from the sacrifice of your peace offerings.33 Whoever among the sons of Aaron offers the blood of the peace offerings and the fat shall have the right thigh for a portion. 34 For the breast that is waved and the thigh that is contributed I have taken from the people of Israel, out of the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons, as a perpetual due from the people of Israel. 35 This is the portion of Aaron and of his sons from the Lord's food offerings, from the day they were presented to serve as priests of the Lord. 36 The Lord commanded this to be given them by the people of Israel, from the day that he anointed them. It is a perpetual due throughout their generations.”
37 This is the law of the burnt offering, of the grain offering, of the sin offering, of the guilt offering, of the ordination offering, and of the peace offering, 38 which the Lord commanded Moses on Mount Sinai, on the day that he commanded the people of Israel to bring their offerings to the Lord, in the wilderness of Sinai.
 
Meditation
God’s grace wants to grab your heart to capture you in His covenant love.
 
This section of Leviticus contains laws about sacrifices, regulations in renewing relationship with God. This section was given to Moses on Mt Sinai (38) along with other directions designed to deepen intimacy in covenant relationship. The Lord is the covenant King and the sacrificial regulations were shared so His redeemed people could be faithful covenant partners in His Kingdom.
 
Leviticus 7 focuses on the fellowship offering, transitioning focus from priests specifically to Israelites in general. God desires intimate community so He gives directions. Israelites who disregarded God’s direction would be “cut off” from fellowship with God and His people (20, 22, 25, 27).  God’s grace welcomes us back.
 
To reject God’s direction is to reject God Himself. Israelites who rejected sacrificial direction were exiled from community or, in some cases, exiled from life. A humble heart will embrace God’s direction and design. A haughty heart will rebel and be ruined (Acts 5:1-11), cut off rather than captured by God’s love.
 
Jesus is the greater fellowship offering who makes peace by the blood of His cross (Colossians 1:20). Jesus was cut off so that rebellious people can be forgiven and brought near. The love of our Father is revealed in the work of Christ who obeyed every aspect of God’s law and died in the place of rebels like you and me. How beautiful!
 
Our sin cuts us off from God and one another. God’s grace redeems and restores us to right relationship through Christ.
 
Richly Dwelling
-God is Holy and He is not too severe to sever relationship from people who rebel against His rules. How is God just to punish sinners?
 
-To be cut off or isolated is intense punishment. Jesus was cut off from the Father so that those who believe can be forgiven and welcomed into fellowship. Christ was isolated so you can be restored in communion! Meditate on this truth and celebrate the love of our Father.
 
-Many people live like they are cut off from God because they do not welcome the grace of God by faith. Where do you need to believe the grace of God that forgives your rebellion more than you believe the penalty of sin? There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus!
 
Key Verse
25 For every person who eats of the fat of an animal of which a food offering may be made to the Lord shall be cut off from his people.

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load.
6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Final Warning and Benediction
11 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

​Meditation
When you try and break God’s natural laws you will end up breaking yourself. Jumping off the side of a building will result in smashing into the ground. Gravity will win. Likewise, Paul warns Christians to not be deceived, knowing we will reap what we sow. Seeds put into the soil of our soul will sprout. God desires Spirit fruitfulness to grow from the ground of His grace.
 
The fruit of the Spirit will grow from hearts sowing seeds from the word of God. Scripture does not separate the Spirit of God and the Word of God. God’s Spirit is the Spirit of truth (John 16:12-13) and all truth is breathed by the Spirit (1 Timothy 3:16).
 
John Calvin is the “Theologian of the Spirit” because of his love for the Word of God. Calvin writes, “For by a kind of mutual bond the Lord has joined together the certainty of his word and of His Spirit.” (Institutes 1.9.3)
 
What does it look like to sow to the Spirit, to harvest fruit of the Spirit?  James 1:20 pleads with God’s people to, “Receive with meekness the implanted word.” James goes on to explain this means we are doers of the word, demonstrating our faith by the word forming our lives.
 
As we conclude Galatians I want to highlight seeds of the word from this letter to plant in the soil of your soul. Cultivate these with care:
 
Galatians 1:10 “…If I were still trying to please people we would not be servants of Jesus.”
Galatians 2:10 “…They asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.”
Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Galatians 3:13-14 “Christ redeemed us by becoming a curse for us… so that in Christ the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might received the promised Spirit by faith.”
Galatians 3:28 “You are all one in Christ.”
Galatians 4:4-6 “When the fullness of time had come, God sent His son… to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children of God. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” … you are no longer a slave, but a child of God.”
Galatians 5:1 “It is for freedom Christ has set you free.”
Galatians 5:16 “Therefore walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
Galatians 5:22-23 The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control… and those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
Galatians 6:7 “God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.”
Galatians 6:15 “Tor neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.”
 
Richly Dwelling
-Which verses above resonate with your soul?
 
-To sow to the flesh is to follow fleshy passions and desires. What seeds of the flesh do you need to not sow?
 
-How can you more intentionally scatter seed of the word in your life? Meditating on the word? Memorization? Daily saturation? Teaching? Discipling? Testifying?

Key Verse
7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 

Enjoy Andrew Peterson’s The Sowers Song and be inspired: