Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel 29–32; Revelation 11 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus’ kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved.
TODAY'S EPISODE:
Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! On this September 5th episode, Hunter guides us through Ezekiel 29–32 and Revelation 11.
Ezekiel speaks into a world dominated by powerful empires. Egypt appears strong and permanent, but the prophet reminds us that nations built upon violence, conquest, and human pride eventually pass away. Assyria, Egypt, Tyre, Ethiopia, and the other great powers all seemed invincible in their day. None of them were.
Against this backdrop, Ezekiel repeatedly marks time according to the captivity of King Jehoiachin. His very name carries a reminder that God upholds. Even while Jehoiachin remains imprisoned and God's people live in exile, God has not forgotten them.
Revelation 11 widens the horizon even further. The kingdoms that appear to rule the world do not possess the future. John hears the declaration that the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever.
Today's devotion is an invitation for anyone who feels trapped in a season of waiting, loss, or captivity. The circumstances that seem permanent are not permanent. Empires fall. Seasons end. Prison doors open. But the steadfast love of God endures forever.
TODAY'S DEVOTION:
He is steadfast.
Ezekiel is marking time.
Again and again, he tells us where he is in the story by measuring the years, months, and days of King Jehoiachin's captivity.
Jehoiachin has been taken away to Babylon.
The king is in prison.
Jerusalem is broken.
God's people are scattered.
And Ezekiel is counting the days.
Maybe you know what that feels like.
Sometimes we measure our lives according to our own captivity.
It has been six months since the diagnosis.
Three years since the relationship ended.
Five years since the loss.
Ten years since the dream disappeared.
We remember when life changed, and without realizing it, we begin measuring everything from that moment.
Ezekiel does something like that.
But there is something fascinating about the name of this captive king.
Jehoiachin means something like, “The Lord will uphold.”
Imagine that.
Every time Ezekiel marks another year of captivity, he speaks the name of a man whose very name bears witness to the steadfastness of God.
The Lord will uphold.
The circumstances seem to say otherwise.
Babylon appears to have won.
The great empires seem permanent.
Egypt looks powerful.
The gods of war appear to rule the world.
But Ezekiel looks across history and reminds us that these empires come and go.
Assyria comes and goes.
Egypt comes and goes.
Tyre comes and goes.
Babylon itself will come and go.
The kingdoms built through violence, fear, conquest, and domination eventually find their way into the grave.
But God remains.
He is steadfast.
He upholds.
And Revelation 11 gives us an extraordinary picture of where all of this is heading.
John hears loud voices in heaven declaring that the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ.
And he will reign forever.
That is the direction of history.
Not toward the endless reign of Babylon.
Not toward the endless reign of Egypt.
Not toward the endless reign of violence, fear, greed, or death.
History is moving toward Christ.
The kingdoms of this world will give way to the kingdom of our Lord and his Christ.
And his kingdom is unlike the kingdoms we build.
Jesus does not conquer through violence.
He conquers through self-giving love.
He does not climb over others to seize a throne.
He empties himself.
He kneels.
He serves.
He gives his life.
This is our King.
And this King is steadfast.
Maybe you're going through a hard time today.
Maybe you're measuring time according to the days of your captivity.
If so, remember Jehoiachin.
For more than thirty years he lived as a prisoner in Babylon.
Thirty years is a long time to wait.
But his story wasn't over.
Eventually a new king came to the throne of Babylon. Jehoiachin was released from prison. His prison clothes were removed. He was given new clothes, and a permanent place was prepared for him at the king's table.
What a picture of grace.
The prisoner is brought out.
He is clothed.
He is given a seat at the table.
That sounds a lot like the gospel to me.
God has not forgotten you in your...
