Semikkah7

01/25/2026 – Week 13 of 13 – Ezekiel study (Nov 1st thru Jan. 24th) – Chapters 40 – 48 / Post 2 of 2 // Questions for Group Discussion and Fellowship included below.

---

I would encourage y’all to answer and/or share what is on your heart…. To reach “comments”, one has to be logged on. Then select “view” and you will see the comment. Of course, you can create your own comment or even post a comment to someone else’s comment and it will be stringed together. If someone posts a comment to your comment, you will get a notifying email, even if it occurs years after your post. To me, that is one more potential advantage to blog fellowships, besides being potentially global. I intend to post comments by e.o.d. – February 1st.

_______________________________________________________

These questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion in Wiersbe’s book can be found on pages 238 – 239:

1. How do you think God would describe “ideal worship”?
2. In what ways do you agree or disagree with the statement: “To much so-called worship is only a demonstration of man-centered religious activity that fails to bring glory to the Lord.”
3. Wiersbe talks about the difference between interpreting prophecies literally and symbolically. List some principles that can help us decide which way to interpret prophecies.

I would like to share an article that I thought covered the key principles:

christiancourier.com

Key Principles for Interpretation that I’ll share here:

1. Literal Principle
   • The Bible should generally be read literally. This means taking the text at face value unless there is clear evidence suggesting a figurative meaning.
2. Contextual Analysis
   • Always consider the surrounding context of a passage. This includes the verses before and after, as well as the overall theme of the book. Context helps clarify whether language is meant to be taken literally or figuratively.
3. Literary Genre
   • Recognize the genre of the text. Different genres, such as poetry or prophecy, often contain figurative language. Understanding the genre can guide interpretation.

Identifying Figurative Language

• Common Figures of Speech
  • Be aware of common figures of speech, such as hyperbole (exaggeration for emphasis) and metaphor (implying a comparison). These can indicate a symbolic meaning.
• Contradictions
  • If a literal interpretation leads to contradictions within Scripture, it may be a sign that the passage is intended to be symbolic.

Additional Considerations

• Historical Context
  • Understanding the historical and cultural background of the text can provide insights into its intended meaning.
• Consistency with Scripture
  • Ensure that interpretations align with the overall message of the Bible. Scripture should not contradict itself, so interpretations must be consistent across different passages.

By applying these principles, readers can more effectively discern when to interpret biblical texts literally or symbolically.

4. In what ways did the temple function for the Jews similarly to how our church buildings function for us today? What are the differences?

5. Many of the sacrifices reminded JJJews of the total devotion that God wanted from them. What rites do we maintain today that remind us to be devoted followers of God?

6. God was specific in His instructions about the rituals that would be maintained in the temple. What are the spiritual rituals that you maintain today that are most meaningful to you?

7. In what ways do you think we will experience the Lord’s presence differently in His future kingdom than we do now? How will worship be different in His future kingdom?

8. List the people today who fulfill the role of priest as Ezekiel represented it

9. The book of Ezekiel reminds us to revere God’s name. As you look around you, what places do you see where an increased reverence for God would make a difference.

10. What will be the most important things you take away from your study of Ezekiel?

_______________________________________________________________

Thoughts? Reflections? Questions? Prayer.

Questions for fellowship generation, the lifelong sanctification process:

• What does the text reveal about God’s character?
• How has this reading generated prayer for you and/or us?
• What themes stand out to you in this bible study?
• How does our reading fit into the bigger picture (creation, the fall, restoration, etc.)?
• What verse(s) jumped out at you like never before?  Is it explainable at this point?
• Do you have any questions you would like to put before the group as to how to interpret any particular verse(s)  in our reading.  Let scripture testify to scripture: Share with us where you sense contradiction between passages elsewhere.
• What did you find convicting and inspiring at the same time?  Share with us how the Spirit of God is working within you as a messenger, both within  and outside of our fellowship group.
• Share with the group how our study is calling or confirming to you a new mission to glorify God in our times.