EZEKIEL 16:
This book should make modern day ‘prophets’ reconsider what they do in the Lord’s name. In this book we have heard again and again that the Lord will punish those who prophesy falsely. And in the part about the wood of a vine being useless in yesterday’s reading, there is only one useful thing a grape vine does, and this is bear grapes. And God was saying that since Israel did not bear the proper fruit, He would judge them, and do this without delay. The complaints become even more graphic in today’s reading.

ISAIAH 1:
For a number of years now, Isaiah has marked the end of my year. We will be reading Isaiah in our poetry portions until day number 365. Since I start my readings anew every January 1st, I always enjoy the preparation Isaiah gives for Christmas, and also the correspondences with Revelation in the New Testament, which we also will read at the end of our reading calendar.

Isaiah was written between 739 and 681 BC. I am of the opinion that the break in material at chapter 40 does not signal a different author. Isaiah simply was older and the Lord gave him different messages at the end of his life. Isaiah was a man of royal blood and of high standing.

In the New Testament, Isaiah is the most frequently quoted OT book. Isaiah has 66 chapters and the Bible has 66 books. Further, Isaiah dIvides just where the testaments break, with 40 corresponding to Matthew in the NT. The first part of Isaiah deals with God’s judgment on Judah and on other nations. The senselessness of idolatry is preached against all the way through Isaiah. In Isaiah we can also see two comings for Christ, with Isaiah giving the wonderful 53rd chapter about the suffering Servant (Christ), and his coming in power is spoken about in chapter 34.

MATTHEW 27b:
Today we hear the second half of the crucifixion events.

GNT Translation note:
Ez. 16:23 The Sovereign Lord [says//said], “You are doomed! Doomed! You did all that evil, and then
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Mat. 27:40 “You were going to tear down the Temple and build it back up in three days! [Go on and] Save yourself if you are God's Son! Come on down from the cross!”
56 Among them were Mary [from the village of Magdala//Magdalene], Mary the mother of James and Joseph ([who were Jesus’ half-brothers//0]), and the wife of Zebedee.

EZEKIEL 14-15:
The title that the Lord calls Ezekiel is ‘son of man’, which the Lord is using in the normal sense, meaning ‘ordinary human’. The title for Jesus— ‘Son of Man’, is a special usage. For that, check out Daniel 7.

Note in yesterday’s reading when Ezekiel acted out how King Zedekiah would go into exile, Ezekiel covered his eyes. It was revealed to Ezekiel that Zedekiah would go to Babylon but not see it. This was fulfilled since Zedekiah had his eyes blinded after watching his sons’ deaths. This also fulfilled the prophecy against his sons.

If you are reading along with me in the GNT, in chapter 14, verses 14 and 20, GNT followed the liberal side of Biblical scholarship popular in the 1960s in identifying Daniel the prophet as Danel, the mythical Ugaritic hero. Ezekiel and Daniel were contemporaries. Ezekiel arrived in Babylonia only 9 years after Daniel. I think it very plausible that Daniel’s miraculous deeds (publicized even in the king’s proclamations) would have made him famous, especially among his fellow exiles during the time Ezekiel was writing. So I disagree with GNT and will read Daniel instead of Danel.The remote Ugaritic figure named Danel was not famed to be righteous, as would be necessary in today’s passage. See the footnote in the NET in 14:14 and these articles for more information.

Article: Did Ezekiel know Daniel?

Wallace: Who is Ezekiel’s Daniel?

https://www.everlastingstrength.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Daniel-_-Ezekiel-Timeline-Tabloid-11x17.pdf

SONG OF SOLOMON 8:
Yesterday we heard more passionate expressions of love, and today is the final chapter of Solomon’s Song.

MATTHEW 27a:
I imagine that as the high priest tore his clothes and shouted ‘blasphemy’ that his expression was not one of grief, but of triumph. And Peter recognized that Jesus was to be sentenced to death when he denied Christ.

GNT Translation note:
Mat. 27:34 There they offered [to] Jesus wine mixed with a bitter substance; but after tasting it, he would not drink it.

EZEKIEL 12-13:
In yesterday’s reading, the vision of the glory of the Lord left the temple. Then God disagreed with what the leaders of the Israelites were saying, that they were safe in the ‘pot’ of Jerusalem.

SONG OF SOLOMON 7:
As we heard yesterday, the bride is captivating in beauty, and so radiant that she is compared to the sun and moon.

MATTHEW 26b:
In yesterday’s reading we heard about these events: the plot to kill Jesus, Jesus being anointed at Bethany, the Last Supper, and Peter vowing that he would never deny Jesus.

GNT Translation notes:
Mat. 26:45 Then he returned to the disciples and said, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look! The hour has come for [me,] the Son of Man[,] to be handed over to the power of sinners.
64 Jesus answered him, “So you say. But I tell all of you: from this time on you will see [me,] the Son of Man[,] sitting at the right side of the Almighty and coming on the clouds of heaven!”