WEBVTT 00:00:00.999 --> 00:00:03.700 Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're 00:00:03.700 --> 00:00:05.740 taking this journey together to read the Bible 00:00:05.740 --> 00:00:09.039 in a year. Today's reading is from the book of 00:00:09.039 --> 00:00:13.320 Ezekiel chapter 12 and Psalm 89. The book of 00:00:13.320 --> 00:00:16.559 Ezekiel chapter 12. Now the word of the Lord 00:00:16.559 --> 00:00:19.600 came to me saying, Son of man, you dwell in the 00:00:19.600 --> 00:00:22.339 midst of a rebellious house, which has eyes to 00:00:22.339 --> 00:00:24.760 see but does not see, and ears to hear but does 00:00:24.760 --> 00:00:28.140 not hear. for they are a rebellious house. Therefore, 00:00:28.320 --> 00:00:31.100 son of man, prepare your belongings for captivity, 00:00:31.420 --> 00:00:34.340 and go into captivity by day in their sight. 00:00:34.539 --> 00:00:37.219 You shall go from your place into captivity to 00:00:37.219 --> 00:00:39.979 another place in their sight. It may be that 00:00:39.979 --> 00:00:42.619 they will consider, though they are a rebellious 00:00:42.619 --> 00:00:45.659 house. By day you shall bring out your belongings 00:00:45.659 --> 00:00:48.579 in their sight, as though going into captivity, 00:00:48.859 --> 00:00:51.500 and at evening you shall go in their sight like 00:00:51.500 --> 00:00:54.350 those who go into captivity. Dig through the 00:00:54.350 --> 00:00:56.630 wall in their sight and carry your belongings 00:00:56.630 --> 00:00:59.350 out through it. In their sight you shall bear 00:00:59.350 --> 00:01:02.210 them on your shoulders and carry them out at 00:01:02.210 --> 00:01:05.069 twilight. You shall cover your face so that you 00:01:05.069 --> 00:01:07.689 cannot see the ground, for I have made you a 00:01:07.689 --> 00:01:11.040 sign to the house of Israel. So I did as I was 00:01:11.040 --> 00:01:13.760 commanded. I brought out my belongings by day, 00:01:13.859 --> 00:01:16.620 as though going into captivity, and at evening 00:01:16.620 --> 00:01:19.780 I dug through the wall with my hand. I brought 00:01:19.780 --> 00:01:22.659 them out at twilight, and I bore them on my shoulder 00:01:22.659 --> 00:01:25.579 in their sight. And in the morning the word of 00:01:25.579 --> 00:01:28.329 the Lord came to me, saying, Son of man, Has 00:01:28.329 --> 00:01:30.269 not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, 00:01:30.430 --> 00:01:33.590 said to you, What are you doing? Say to them, 00:01:33.689 --> 00:01:36.310 Thus says the Lord God, This burden concerns 00:01:36.310 --> 00:01:39.150 the prince in Jerusalem and all the house of 00:01:39.150 --> 00:01:42.709 Israel who are among them. Say, I am assigned 00:01:42.709 --> 00:01:45.890 to you. As I have done, so it shall be done to 00:01:45.890 --> 00:01:48.310 them. They shall be carried away into captivity. 00:01:48.709 --> 00:01:51.370 And the prince who is among them shall bear his 00:01:51.370 --> 00:01:54.290 belongings on his shoulder at twilight and go 00:01:54.290 --> 00:01:56.959 out. They shall dig through the wall to carry 00:01:56.959 --> 00:01:59.500 them out through it. He shall cover his face 00:01:59.500 --> 00:02:01.900 so that he cannot see the ground with his eyes. 00:02:02.079 --> 00:02:04.819 I will spread my net over him, and he shall be 00:02:04.819 --> 00:02:07.579 caught in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon, 00:02:07.840 --> 00:02:10.419 to the land of the Chaldeans, yet he shall not 00:02:10.419 --> 00:02:13.620 see it, though he shall die there. I will scatter 00:02:13.620 --> 00:02:16.240 to every wind all who are around him to help 00:02:16.240 --> 00:02:18.719 him, and all his troops, and I will draw out 00:02:18.719 --> 00:02:21.520 the sword after them. Then they shall know that 00:02:21.520 --> 00:02:24.039 I am the Lord when I scatter them among the nations 00:02:24.039 --> 00:02:26.719 and disperse them throughout the countries. But 00:02:26.719 --> 00:02:29.000 I will spare a few of their men from the sword, 00:02:29.199 --> 00:02:31.719 from famine, and from pestilence, that they may 00:02:31.719 --> 00:02:34.500 declare all their abominations among the Gentiles 00:02:34.500 --> 00:02:37.620 wherever they go. Then they shall know that I 00:02:37.620 --> 00:02:40.610 am the Lord. Moreover, the word of the Lord came 00:02:40.610 --> 00:02:43.590 to me, saying, Son of man, eat your bread with 00:02:43.590 --> 00:02:45.629 quaking, and drink your water with trembling 00:02:45.629 --> 00:02:48.310 and anxiety. And say to the people of the land, 00:02:48.449 --> 00:02:51.009 Thus says the Lord God to the inhabitants of 00:02:51.009 --> 00:02:53.629 Jerusalem and to the land of Israel, They shall 00:02:53.629 --> 00:02:55.849 eat their bread with anxiety and drink their 00:02:55.849 --> 00:02:59.080 water with dread. so that her land may be emptied 00:02:59.080 --> 00:03:01.439 of all who are in it, because of the violence 00:03:01.439 --> 00:03:04.180 of all those who dwell in it. Then the cities 00:03:04.180 --> 00:03:07.060 that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the 00:03:07.060 --> 00:03:09.520 land shall become desolate, and you shall know 00:03:09.520 --> 00:03:12.159 that I am the Lord. And the word of the Lord 00:03:12.159 --> 00:03:15.219 came to me, saying, Son of man, what is this 00:03:15.219 --> 00:03:18.180 proverb that you people have about the land of 00:03:18.180 --> 00:03:21.240 Israel, which says, The days are prolonged, and 00:03:21.240 --> 00:03:24.379 every vision fails? Tell them therefore, thus 00:03:24.379 --> 00:03:27.060 says the Lord God, I will lay this proverb to 00:03:27.060 --> 00:03:30.180 rest, and they shall no more use it as a proverb 00:03:30.180 --> 00:03:33.919 in Israel. But say to them, the days are at hand, 00:03:34.060 --> 00:03:36.879 and the fulfillment of every vision, for no more 00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:39.840 shall there be. any false vision or flattering 00:03:39.840 --> 00:03:42.719 divination within the house of Israel, for I 00:03:42.719 --> 00:03:46.000 am the Lord. I speak, and the word which I speak 00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:48.960 will come to pass. It will no more be postponed. 00:03:49.400 --> 00:03:52.219 For in your days, O rebellious house, I will 00:03:52.219 --> 00:03:55.219 say the word and perform it, says the Lord God. 00:03:55.919 --> 00:03:57.919 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 00:03:58.219 --> 00:04:01.099 Son of man, look, the house of Israel is saying, 00:04:01.300 --> 00:04:03.979 the vision that he sees is for many days from 00:04:03.979 --> 00:04:07.719 now, and he prophesies of times far off. Therefore 00:04:07.719 --> 00:04:10.599 say to them, Thus says the Lord God, None of 00:04:10.599 --> 00:04:13.379 my words will be postponed any more, but the 00:04:13.379 --> 00:04:16.019 word which I speak will be done, says the Lord 00:04:16.019 --> 00:04:22.800 God. Psalm 89 A Contemplation of Ethan the Ezraite 00:04:22.800 --> 00:04:25.740 I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever. 00:04:25.939 --> 00:04:29.019 With my mouth will I make known your faithfulness 00:04:29.019 --> 00:04:32.079 to all generations. For I have said, Mercy shall 00:04:32.079 --> 00:04:34.850 be built up forever. Your faithfulness you shall 00:04:34.850 --> 00:04:37.670 establish in the very heavens. I have made a 00:04:37.670 --> 00:04:40.430 covenant with my chosen. I have sworn to my servant 00:04:40.430 --> 00:04:43.329 David. Your seed I will establish forever and 00:04:43.329 --> 00:04:46.149 build up your throne to all generations. Salah. 00:04:46.389 --> 00:04:48.790 And the heavens will praise your wonders, O Lord. 00:04:48.990 --> 00:04:51.470 Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the 00:04:51.470 --> 00:04:54.069 saints. For who in the heavens can be compared 00:04:54.069 --> 00:04:56.269 to the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty 00:04:56.269 --> 00:04:59.110 can be likened to the Lord? God is greatly to 00:04:59.110 --> 00:05:01.529 be feared in the assembly of the saints and to 00:05:01.529 --> 00:05:04.350 be held in reverence by all those around him. 00:05:04.529 --> 00:05:07.550 O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty like you, 00:05:07.589 --> 00:05:10.269 O Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds you. 00:05:10.370 --> 00:05:13.209 You rule the raging of the sea. When its waves 00:05:13.209 --> 00:05:16.810 rise, you still them. You have broken Rahab in 00:05:16.810 --> 00:05:19.529 pieces as one who is slain. You have scattered 00:05:19.529 --> 00:05:22.230 your enemies with your mighty arm. The heavens 00:05:22.230 --> 00:05:25.250 are yours. The earth also is yours. The world 00:05:25.250 --> 00:05:27.550 and all its fullness, you have founded them. 00:05:27.870 --> 00:05:30.149 The north and the south, you have created them. 00:05:30.589 --> 00:05:33.649 Tabor and Hermon, rejoice in your name. You have 00:05:33.649 --> 00:05:36.810 a mighty arm. Strong is your hand, and high is 00:05:36.810 --> 00:05:39.730 your right hand. Righteousness and justice are 00:05:39.730 --> 00:05:42.410 the foundation of your throne. Mercy and truth 00:05:42.410 --> 00:05:45.629 go before your face. Blessed are the people who 00:05:45.629 --> 00:05:48.750 know the joyful sound. They walk, O Lord, in 00:05:48.750 --> 00:05:51.089 the light of your countenance. In your name they 00:05:51.089 --> 00:05:53.550 rejoice all day long, and in your righteousness 00:05:53.550 --> 00:05:56.920 they are exalted. For you are the glory of their 00:05:56.920 --> 00:05:59.899 strength, and in your favor our horn is exalted. 00:06:00.100 --> 00:06:02.879 For our shield belongs to the Lord, and our King 00:06:02.879 --> 00:06:05.720 to the Holy One of Israel. Then you spoke in 00:06:05.720 --> 00:06:08.860 a vision to your Holy One, and said, I have given 00:06:08.860 --> 00:06:11.800 help to one who is mighty, I have exalted one 00:06:11.800 --> 00:06:14.519 chosen from the people. I have found my servant 00:06:14.519 --> 00:06:17.819 David, with my holy oil I have anointed him, 00:06:17.959 --> 00:06:20.939 with whom my hand shall be established. Also 00:06:20.939 --> 00:06:23.199 my arm shall strengthen him, the enemy shall 00:06:23.199 --> 00:06:26.069 not outwit him. nor the son of wickedness afflict 00:06:26.069 --> 00:06:28.990 him. I will beat down his foes before his face 00:06:28.990 --> 00:06:32.490 and plague those who hate him. But my faithfulness 00:06:32.490 --> 00:06:35.269 and my mercy shall be with him, and in my name 00:06:35.269 --> 00:06:38.410 his horn shall be exalted. Also I will set his 00:06:38.410 --> 00:06:40.930 hand over the sea and his right hand over the 00:06:40.930 --> 00:06:44.029 rivers. He shall cry to me, You are my Father, 00:06:44.170 --> 00:06:47.329 my God, and the rock of my salvation. Also I 00:06:47.329 --> 00:06:50.300 will make him my firstborn. the highest of the 00:06:50.300 --> 00:06:53.360 kings of the earth. My mercy I will keep for 00:06:53.360 --> 00:06:56.100 him forever, and my covenant shall stand firm 00:06:56.100 --> 00:06:58.839 with him. His seed also I will make to endure 00:06:58.839 --> 00:07:01.720 forever, and his throne as the days of heaven. 00:07:01.939 --> 00:07:05.120 If his sons forsake my law and do not walk in 00:07:05.120 --> 00:07:07.800 my judgments, if they break my statutes and do 00:07:07.800 --> 00:07:10.040 not keep my commandments, then I will punish 00:07:10.040 --> 00:07:12.399 their transgression with the rod and their iniquity 00:07:12.399 --> 00:07:15.029 with stripes. Nevertheless, my loving kindness 00:07:15.029 --> 00:07:18.689 I will not utterly take from him, nor allow my 00:07:18.689 --> 00:07:21.610 faithfulness to fail. My covenant I will not 00:07:21.610 --> 00:07:24.629 break, nor alter the word that has gone out of 00:07:24.629 --> 00:07:27.910 my lips. Once I have sworn by my holiness, I 00:07:27.910 --> 00:07:30.750 will not lie to David. His seed shall endure 00:07:30.750 --> 00:07:33.850 forever, and his throne as the sun before me. 00:07:33.949 --> 00:07:36.670 It shall be established forever like the moon, 00:07:36.790 --> 00:07:39.829 even like the faithful witness in the sky, Sila. 00:07:40.089 --> 00:07:43.459 But you have cast off and abhorred. You have 00:07:43.459 --> 00:07:46.879 been furious with your anointed. You have renounced 00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:49.459 the covenant of your servant. You have profaned 00:07:49.459 --> 00:07:52.220 his crown by casting it to the ground. You have 00:07:52.220 --> 00:07:54.500 broken down all his hedges. You have brought 00:07:54.500 --> 00:07:57.560 his strongholds to ruin. All who pass by the 00:07:57.560 --> 00:08:00.600 way plunder him. He is a reproach to his neighbors. 00:08:00.839 --> 00:08:03.680 You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries. 00:08:03.800 --> 00:08:06.860 You have made all his enemies rejoice. You have 00:08:06.860 --> 00:08:09.540 also turned back the edge of his sword and have 00:08:09.540 --> 00:08:12.439 not sustained him in the battle. You have made 00:08:12.439 --> 00:08:15.620 his glory cease and cast his throne down to the 00:08:15.620 --> 00:08:18.600 ground. The days of his youth you have shortened. 00:08:18.759 --> 00:08:22.420 You have covered him with shame. Salah. How long, 00:08:22.540 --> 00:08:25.399 Lord, will you hide yourself forever? Will your 00:08:25.399 --> 00:08:29.019 wrath burn like fire? Remember how short my time 00:08:29.019 --> 00:08:32.279 is. For what futility have you created all the 00:08:32.279 --> 00:08:35.340 children of men? What man can live and not see 00:08:35.340 --> 00:08:37.899 death? Can he deliver his life from the power 00:08:37.899 --> 00:08:41.809 of the grave? Salah. Lord, where are your former 00:08:41.809 --> 00:08:44.610 lovingkindness, which you swore to David in your 00:08:44.610 --> 00:08:47.450 truth? Remember, Lord, the reproach of your servants, 00:08:47.629 --> 00:08:50.389 how I bear in my bosom the reproach of all the 00:08:50.389 --> 00:08:53.529 many peoples with which your enemies have reproached, 00:08:53.610 --> 00:08:56.230 O Lord, with which they have reproached the footsteps 00:08:56.230 --> 00:08:59.629 of your anointed. Blessed be the Lord forevermore. 00:08:59.929 --> 00:09:08.309 Ameen and Ameen. I hope you enjoyed today's reading 00:09:08.309 --> 00:09:10.629 as much as I did. and I look forward to seeing 00:09:10.629 --> 00:09:12.690 you again tomorrow to continue on our journey. 00:09:12.830 --> 00:09:14.470 God bless you and have a great day.