November 3 – The Cult of Tammuz

TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
Ezekiel 7:1-9:11
Hebrews 5:1-14
Psalm 105:1-15
Proverbs 26:28

Ezekiel 7:19 — ”Their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD.” Money can buy many things, but it can’t buy protection from God’s wrath!

Ezekiel 7:24 — I talked to someone who said “I’m okay with God judging me. He’s God after all. But Him using others to judge me, that’s harder to swallow.” But as we see in Ezekiel, that’s exactly what God uses: “the worst of the heathen” to judge us!

Ezekiel 8:14 — Tammuz wasn’t a suffering sister but an ancient Mesopotamian god of shepherds. Responsible for fertility and crops growing, Tammuz death was mourned every year, marking the rotation of seasons. On the Arabic calendar, Tammuz is the name of the month of July. During the month his death and resurrection were celebrated. His consort was the “Queen of Heaven,” Ishtar (Jeremiah 7:18, Jeremiah 44:17-25), who was worshiped with cake offerings. The cult of Tammuz survived until the 1700’s AD.

Ezekiel 8:16 — Inside the house of the LORD, at the very altar of the LORD, twenty-five men have turned their backs on the Temple and are worshiping the sunrise and not the creator of the sun.

Ezekiel 9:4 — God marks His people throughout different times:

  • Past – Exodus 12:13
  • Present – 2 Corinthians 1:22
  • Future – Revelation 7:3

Ezekiel 9:10 — This is the 5th time we see the expression, “no pity.” Judgment time is coming and fake repentance will not get you out of Judgement Day.

Hebrews 5:6 — The mystery of Psalm 110:4 is solved! Who was the LORD talking to that is a “priest forever?” Who is the coming King (Psalm 110:1)? This is the Son of God, Jesus the Messiah!

Hebrews 5:8 — God learned from suffering. The omnipotent Creator of the World learned obedience from suffering. My mind struggles to grasp that. And before we can go on to more incredible truths, we are reminded that we should be further down the road (Hebrews 5:12).

Psalm 105:5 — In this psalm we see not an emphasis on the Word of God (Psalm 119), but on the works of God. The works are proof that He remembered His covenant (Psalm 105:8).

Psalm 105:8 — How long is a thousand generations? By some estimates we’re only 150 generations from Adam and Eve. God’s faithfulness extends farther and wider than we can imagine!

Proverbs 26:28 — Be careful with your tongue!

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