Ezekiel 28 The king of Tyre in this passage seems to be the human portrayal of Satan.. He was wise and powerful and rich.. he considered himself a "god".  His heart was "lifted up".. full of pride because of his riches and success.  Because of this, the Lord would bring about his death by the hand of strangers.... "You will die the death of the uncircumcised..for I have spoken! declares the Lord." 

Beginning in verse 12.. Ezekiel is given a lament.. but the words are no longer directed to the mortal man, but to the "anointed cherub"..  created perfectly, "full of wisdom and perfect in beauty"... covered with every "precious stone" and placed in a position of honor.. "And I placed you there.. on the holy mountain of God".  

"You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, until unrighteousness was found in you."  Because of pride.. the one who was in Eden.. who covered the holy mountain.. and who was beautiful beyond measure.. was corrupted and violent.. and God cast him down to the ground. (v17).

Satan's future is one that all will see.. "All who know you among the peoples are appalled at you; you have become terrified, and you will be no more." 

This chapter ends on a positive note.. a message for Israel.. "When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and shall manifest My holiness in them in the sight of the nations, then they will live in their land which I gave to My servant Jacob."  That day has not come yet.. but it a wonderful promise that will come and then all will know that the Lord is God!

Father in heaven, we hallow Your Name!  There is no other god... no king.. no angel.. no man who can stand against You.  We are thankful that You control the future and it is certain that every promise will be fulfilled.  Satan will be done away with.. prideful leaders will be removed.. and all who call upon the Name of Jesus will be saved. We long for the day when we see Your holiness.. manifested in Your people and You will be exalted in all the earth.  Father, keep us from the sinfulness of pride and self-exaltation.  Keep us from the evil one and lead us in the paths of righteousness. Let Your will be done and Your kingdom come.. we pray.  In Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Ezekiel 25-26  The Lord gives Ezekiel a series of prophecies regarding those nations that had scorned Israel and Judah. Because they rejoiced over the downfall of God's people, they would face His judgement and discipline.  Each of these nations would be removed.. Ammon, Moab, Edom,  Philistia, and Tyre.. would be forgotten among the nations.. and they would  know that the Lord is God alone. 

God disciplined His own people because of their sinfulness.. but.. He did not desire for these other nations to scorn and abuse them. The consequences were devastating. 

In chapter 27 Ezekiel is told to "take up a lament over Tyre.." Verses 1-25 describe Tyre as a great ship.. a beautiful, powerful city.. actually an island,  with every kind of wealth.. an abundance of everything you can think of.  They did business with every nation.. buying and selling everything from precious jewels to war horses.. from lambs and goats.. to garments of blue and embroidered works and carpets..  Verse 25 says, ".. and you were filled and were very glorious in the heart of the seas."

But.. The Lord said to Tyre, " Your wealth, your wares, your merchandise, your sailors and your pilots, your repairers of seams, your dealers in merchandise, and all your men of war who are in you, with all your company that is in your midst, will fall into the heart of the seas on the day of your overthrow." (verse 27)

All the wealth in the world will not save a nation.. or a soul.. "You have become terrified, and your will be no more."  Nebuchadnezzar attacked and destroyed the Old Tyre.. situated on the mainland.. and laid siege to the "newer" part of the city.. on the island.  However, it was Alexander the Great who eventually brought Tyre down.  All that Ezekiel prophesied was completed in God's time. 

What can we learn from this passage? God will make His name known.. in every nation.. one way or another.  Those nations that refuse to come to Him, will be in the same situation as Tyre.  Also, the relationship that each nation has with Israel is very, very important.  Thankful that our nation supports Israel at this time.. but.. we also know that our nation is filled with the kinds of wealth and pride that will bring about God's discipline in His timing.. 

Father, there is no God like You.. Who knows the heart of every nation and  of every person.  You see the pride and darkness in the heart of our nation.. and we pray that You will hear our prayers of intercession.. that Your Word would once again be heard in America and that hearts would be brought to repentance before You. We pray for the nation of Israel... that they would return to the One True God and find their rest and hope in You. We pray these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

 Ezekiel 24 The Lord gives Ezekiel a parable to tell the people... a boiling pot with meat added and boiled until it is ruined.. until the pot itself glows in the heat.. that its "filthiness may be melted in it."  Verse 13 is powerful.. " In your filthiness is lewdness. Because I would have cleansed you, yet you are not clean, you will not be cleansed from your filthiness again, until I have spent My wrath on you." 

If only they would have asked Him.. if only they had repented of their sins.. if only.. He would have cleansed them, restored them, and blessed them.  This is what the good news still tells us!  If we ask.. if we repent.. if we will turn to Him who has the power to save.. He will forgive us.. cleanse us.. restore us and bless us. 

Ezekiel then receives a very difficult word from the Lord.. "Son of man, I am about to take from you the desire of your eyes with a blow; but you shall not mourn, and you shall not weep, and your tears shall not come."  He was instructed instead to put on his turban and shoes.. and to not act out the grief that would fill his heart.. "so I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died.. " 

Then, Ezekiel did what the Lord commanded.. and he was a sign to the people that something horrific was about to happen so that they would "know that I am the Lord God".  On that day.. the temple would be profaned.. all the pride and desire of Israel would be removed.. their sons and daughters would be taken away.. and only a few would escape the destruction... "And they will know that I am the Lord." 

Often, it is in the times of tragedy..that we realize how much we need the Lord.. we need His strength, His peace, His wisdom, and His grace.  Sometimes it takes terrible circumstances to make us see that we need to know the Lord who is the only True God.   Praise God.. We have had experiences that have led us to turn from our sinful ways and turn to the One who is able to cleanse us and make us whole.  God will do what it takes to burn away the rust and the filthiness of our lives. May we know His grace and find that cleansing fountain.. in Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Father in heaven, thank You for showing us our sins.. and bringing us to repentance and restoration through Jesus Christ Your Son.  We are groaning for the loss of others.. ones that we have loved.. but who have not responded to the message of Your salvation. Oh that those still living would turn to You before it is too late!  Father, send forth Your Spirit to convict them of sin and death.. and righteousness. Seek them and draw them to Yourself we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Ezekiel 23  This message compares Samaria ( Israel) and Jerusalem ( Judah) to two sisters.. both of whom belonged to the Lord.. and both  of whom turned to other nations... other men.. other gods.. and played the harlot. The Lord sees everything and nothing is hidden from Him.  He sees the degradation, the abominations, the lust and the violence.  He knows the heart of mankind and sees the darkness and evil. 

The Lord judged Israel and Judah.. He used the very people that they had turned to and lusted after.. and they bore the penalty of their sins.

This chapter is very graphic in its description of the sins of Israel. It is heartbreaking.. for even now there is much sin that fills the hearts of God's people.. not just in Israel, but all over the world. We hear of those who live the same kinds of lives.. lust and greed..adultery and idolatry. Sacrifice of children to the idol of abortion.. profaning all that is sacred and holy. 

The Lord is still warning us.. reminding us.. that we belong to Him and that He will not allow these sins to go unpunished. He will do what He has to do so that we will know that He is the Lord God. Many will perish in their sins... 

Father in heaven, our prayers continue to be.. let Your Kingdom come.. may hearts be broken over sin and evil, let ears be open to hear the Good News of Jesus who came to rescue us from this dominion of darkness and to bring us into His Kingdom.  Let the Word of the Lord be proclaimed that more people will turn to Jesus.  Fill Your church with Your Spirit, Lord God.. and give us boldness to preach the gospel wherever we go.  In Jesus' name we pray, amen. 

 Ezekiel 22 This chapter contains 3 messages with one theme.. the sins of Israel.  Verses 1-16 spell out the case against Israel..and Ezekiel is called to judge. 

First, Israel is to be judged because it is a "bloody city". And secondly, it is to be judged because of "her abominations."  They are judged and found "guilty by the blood which you have shed, and defiled by your idols."

"They have treated father and mother lightly.. the alien they have oppressed...the fatherless and the widow they have wronged.."  They "despised My holy things and profaned My sabbaths."  They slandered and committed "acts of lewdness".  They committed "abomination.. with [their] neighbor's wife.. [their] daughter-in-law.. sister.. "  They took bribes.. they charged interest.. they injured others.. "and you have forgotten Me.. "

The Lord spoke and acted.. to "consume" their "uncleanness".  Every judgement was meant to make them "know" that He is the Lord.

The second message is found in verses 17-22.  Here the Lord tells Israel that they have become "dross" to Him. The silver was refined by fire and the dross.. the bronze and tin and iron and lead..  was gathered, removed, and melted.  The people of God were going to experience the fire of God's wrath.. and melted in the midst of Jerusalem. 

The final message of this chapter is found in verses 23-31.  Here the Lord announces the sins of specific groups of people:

The prophets.. "devoured lives"; took "treasures"; and "made many widows." They also "whitewashed" the sins of others.. "seeing false visions and divining lies.." 

The priests.. did "violence to" the Law; "made no distinction between the holy and profane"; did not "teach the difference between the unclean and the clean" ; and did not even keep the sabbath. 

The princes.. acted like "wolves.. shedding blood and destroying lives in order to get dishonest gain."

The people.. "practiced oppression.. committed robbery.. wronged the poor and needy.. and oppressed the sojourner without justice."

The Lord tells Ezekiel that He looked for one man.. someone to "build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me."  But there was not one.. 

Oh how thankful we are that there is ONE! One who stands in the gap for us.. one who intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father!

We.. our nation.. our cities.. our world..  we look so much like ancient Israel.  There is still so much blood shed; so many idols.. so much that is lewd and profane.. and destructive. There are so many who oppress others; rob and devour and destroy.  The wrath of God will be poured out once more.. but until that Day.. may we.. the church.. the followers of Jesus Christ.. determine to "stand in the gap" for Him. 

Let us pray.. let us give.. let us go.. let us build up the Body.. the Temple of the Lord God, so that the lost can be found, the hopeless can find hope, and the oppressed can be freed! Let the Truth be shouted from the rooftops and flow throughout the land!

Father, do Your great work in us today! We need You. Fill us Spirit of God with Yourself that we might be faithful servants.. found obedient to the Word.. persevering in faith.. until that Day. Amen. 

 Ezekiel  20  As another "word of the Lord" came to Ezekiel, he is told to "groan with breaking heart and bitter grief.. "  The news that is coming will be so much worse than they think.  It will "melt" their hearts and cause them to tremble and faint. 

Ezekiel is told to cry and wail.. for the sword would come against the nation of Israel because of their sins.  They could not hide their transgressions.. they could not pretend any longer.  The Lord would bring "ruin" to the great city of Jerusalem... to the Holy Temple.. to the nation that He had chosen for Himself... because they no longer worshiped Him alone. They looked for direction from any other source and failed to remember their God. He was bringing a "sword sharpened.. and polished".. 

Yet, even in this awful day of judgement there is a word of hope.. "A ruin, a ruin, I shall make it.. until He comes whose right it is; and I shall give it to Him." ( v27) There is a King who is coming again! There will be a time when every tear will be wiped away. There will be a day when a New Jerusalem will be brought down from heaven.. when His Kingdom will come and His will done on earth.. as it is in Heaven. 

Do we groan.. do we have broken hearts.. for the judgements to come? Ezekiel did. His heart was breaking at the loss of his nation.. at the sins of his people.. He had to be emotionally and physically broken at the messages that the Lord gave to him.. Perhaps we don't feel it.. because we don't really believe it? Or we think that there is still lots of time? Perhaps God is telling us through Ezekiel.. "groan with breaking heart".. for the Day of judgement is coming.. soon. 

Father in heaven, open our hearts to Your Word and fill us with Your Spirit. We long for the coming of Jesus.. the One who will rightfully rule on the throne of Israel and over all the earth.. yet we know there are many who will be found lacking.. covered in their own sinfulness and without hope.  May the Gospel of Jesus Christ be made known as the hearts of Your children begin to be broken and poured out before You.  Open our eyes and ears Lord.. and give us the words to speak boldly! In Jesus' name. amen. 

 Ezekiel 18-20  The Lord makes it clear to Israel that He judges each and every person.. according to their individual conduct and character.  His judgements will be based on their "present" state.. not the good or bad that they did in the past.. but what they are doing now.  Life with the Lord needs to be a continual walk.. daily.. hourly.. step by step.  He desires for us to repent of all sins..and.. He does not hesitate to judge iniquities.   "For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies, declares the Lord God. Therefore repent and live." 

Chapter 19 is a lament for the nation of Israel.. revealing that they cannot be the great nation that they were meant to be.. without the power of God in them.  This is made clear also in chapter 20.  When the elders came to Ezekiel to "inquire of the Lord".. He refused to speak to them any longer.  Their hearts were still not yielded.. they were still not rid of their idols.. they were still not listening to His voice.  Their rebellion was still like that of those who had been in the wilderness of Egypt..like those who had first entered the promised land...failing to leave the old ways behind... failing to truly repent and turn back to Him with all their hearts.

Rebellion.. refusal to obey God's word.. refusal to honor His Name.. rejecting His ways.. will bring about the same thing that Israel experienced.. exile from God's Kingdom.. absence of God's Presence.. and the reality of His wrath. God makes it clear that we must  draw near to Him.. listen to Him.. seek Him.. and come to know that He is the Lord.. the Sovereign King.. the Creator and the Ruler.  He desires for us to be in the right relationship with Him.. based on His will.. not on our own selfish motives. Israel learned that in exile. They still need to learn it in this generation. 

Father in heaven, teach us to walk in Your Spirit.. that we continually and diligently draw near to You, that we love You with ALL of our hearts and souls and minds... that we hallow Your Name and desire Your will.. that we seek first Your Kingdom and Your righteousness.  Father, thank You for the salvation that we have in Christ Jesus, who came to seek us and find us and restore us. We cannot live in any other strength.. only in the power of Jesus Christ who lives in us. He is the Hope of glory. Hallelujah! Amen. 

 Ezekiel 16 This message to Jerusalem is a powerful and graphic description of the sins.. the abominations..of Israel.  The Lord compares Israel to a baby girl.. thrown out into a field at birth, whom He rescued and gave life to.  Then, He sees her once again as a young woman.. alone and naked.. so He covers her, marries her, and provides everything for her.. until she is like a queen.. beautiful, rich, and famous. 

But.. she became arrogant and trusted in her own beauty and fame... she began to "play" the harlot.  She took all that He had given her and used it for idolatry and wickedness.  She even took the children that God had given her.. and sacrificed them to idols.  She was never satisfied with her sinfulness. More and more her heart lanquished.. "while you do all these things, the actions of a bold-faced harlot". 

She was worse than any prostitute.. who received payment and gifts from her lovers.. for Israel would pay out instead of receiving payment.. "Thus says the Lord God, 'Because your lewdness was poured out and your nakedness uncovered through your harlotries with your lovers and with your detestable idols, and because of the blood of your sons which you gave to idols, therefore behold I shall gather all your lovers ... even all those whom you loved and all those whom you hated. So I shall gather them against you from every direction and expose your nakedness to them... Thus I shall judge you , like women who commit adultery or shed blood are judged; and I shall bring on you the blood of wrath and jealousy." 

Israel would lose everything.. all that God had given them.. all the protection and provision that God had offered them.  He would bring their "conduct down on [their] own head."  He would show them no more pity or mercy.  They would know only their own shame. 

But, once again God does not forget His promises.. He remembers His covenants.  He will make them remember.. be ashamed and even humiliated.. so that they would know that He is the Lord.  And then... He will forgive..."all that you have done.." 

Father in heaven,  Jesus Christ, my Lord... how can it be.. that You,  my God.. should die for me? That you would forgive "all" my sins and make me new again? Father, how can we ever thank You enough for the mercy that You have shown us.. for the grace that You have poured out on us!  Let the Word expose our hearts, Lord.  May we turn from every idol.. every abomination.. every temptation and selfish way.. and live for You and with You.. glorifying Your Name in all we do and all we say.  In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

 Ezekiel 15  The Lord compares the inhabitants of Jerusalem to a piece of wood from a vine.. it is not useful as a "peg... on which to hang any vessel.."  It is not useful as fuel for a fire because it is consumed too quickly. It is not useful after it has been charred in a fire, for it is too weak.  

"Therefore, thus says the Lord God, 'As the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so have I given up the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I set My face against them... Thus I will make the land desolate, because they have acted unfaithfully.' declares the Lord." 

Both Isaiah and Jeremiah speak of Israel as a "the choicest vine.." (Isaiah 5:2; Jeremiah 2:21)  A choice vine that should have produced "good grapes, but it produced only worthless ones."  Jeremiah says that they "turned.. into the degenerate shoots of a foreign vine." 

Jesus said, "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gatherer from thorn bushes.. even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit...every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." ( Matthew 7:16-20)

How much more meaningful then are His words spoken in John 15.. " I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser, every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit."   We are commanded to "abide in" Him.. so that we can bear fruit.. so that we can do what He calls us to do.. so that we can ask for what we need and He will do it... so that we can glorify the Father.. by bearing much fruit and prove to be His disciples.. (John 15:1-8)

A vine that does not bear fruit.. acting "unfaithfully" as Israel acted.. will be useless.. cut off.. and thrown into the fire. But, a vine that is faithful.. abiding in the True Vine, Jesus Christ.. bears good fruit.. and glorifies the Father. 

Father in heaven, we desire to hallow and glorify Your Name.  We desire to do Your will and bear much fruit as Christ Jesus works in us. We are clinging to You and rejoicing in Your Word that tells us that You will uphold us with Your right hand. Hold us close. Abide in us and fill us with Your Spirit.  Prune us.. purifying our hearts and minds and spirits by Your Word. Teach us the paths of righteousness and faithfulness as the Spirit produces His fruit in our lives. Thank You for the grace that You have lavished on us that we are called Your children.  King of heaven.. come and move in us we pray..that we might bear good fruit,  in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Ezekiel 14:12-23  Again God spoke to Ezekiel about the judgements that He has poured out on nations.. including famine, the sword, wild beasts, and plague.   His message this time explains that even the most righteous men known.. "Noah, Daniel, and Job".. would be unable to stop these judgements from happening.. they could only save themselves. They could not even save their own families.. "They would deliver only themselves by their righteousness." 

Every single person who survived the destruction of Jerusalem.. those who would be the last of the people exiled into Babylon.. would be judged according to their own "conduct and actions".  From this time on.. God would hold the individual responsible for his or her own life...of righteousness or of wickedness.  Evil actions can not be blamed on the society, the leadership, the religious system, or the family.  We are each responsible for our selves.. our choices.. our faith.. or lack of.. 

We are aware that the judgements to come.. according to the book of Revelations.. will also include the four that Ezekiel wrote about.. there will be famine, wars, plagues, and even the wild beasts... far worse than what happened before.  We are also aware that there is a coming judgement seat.. and we will each stand before Him and give an account of our actions.  God will not hesitate to hold us responsible for our sinfulness.. but.. O Praise God.. He will take into account the blood that Jesus shed for us on the cross.. if we have received Him as Lord and Savior!

Father in heaven, thank You for the cross.. for our Savior has delivered us!  He has set us free from sin and death.  He has covered our sins and made us whole.  We praise You for such a great and wonderful gift.. for it is by grace that we are saved...by faith.. Thank You Jesus! Amen!

 Ezekiel 14:1-11  This word is directed to the elders of Israel.  "Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and have put right before their faces the stumbling block of their iniquity." 

These men came to consult with the Lord, but their hearts were turned away from Him and filled with their "idols".  The Lord told them, "Repent and turn away from your idols, and turn your faces away from all  your abominations."  The stumbling block of iniquity.. the inner idolatry of mankind.. is an obstacle that keeps us from hearing from the Lord.  He will not be consulted by a people that have separated themselves from Him by anything or anyone else.  

The Lord warns the prophet to no longer speak His Word to these idolatrous men.. or their iniquity would become his own. God would stretch out His hand against him and against those who refused to repent.  All this.. God says.. is "in order that the house of Israel may no longer stray from [Him] and no longer defile themselves with all their transgressions. Thus they will be My people and I shall be their God." 

We are reminded again to examine our hearts, for Jesus said, "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things that defile man..."  To the religious leaders in His day, He said, "You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out that which fills the heart.. " 

Father in heaven, You see our hearts.. our inner most being.. and You know what kind of things fill us.. whether good or evil.  We pray that You will cleanse our hearts of any obstacles that keep us from You. Let no iniquity.. no idol.. become a stumbling block between our hearts and You, our God.  We repent and turn away from the things in this world that are obstacles.. enticements.. offenses... for we desire to be completely Yours alone.  Hold us in Your righteous Hands Lord God!  We ask this in the Name of our Savior who came to take away the sins of the world, Amen. 

 Ezekiel 13  Ezekiel is told to "prophesy against the prophets of Israel"..  The Lord condemned the false prophets because they spoke from their own imaginations and claimed they were speaking for Him. "Woe to the foolish prophets who are following their own spirit and have seen nothing." 

The false prophets were like wild foxes or jackals... they walked around Israel like they owned the place and did nothing to help restore the moral foundations. Their lies were the cause of Israel's ruin. They did nothing to build a wall of protection around the people. They proclaimed "Peace! when there is no peace."  They were covering over weak walls with "whitewash".. hiding the flaws.. the sinfulness of Israel.. and those walls would not stand when the storms came. 

Likewise, the prophetesses of Israel were also speaking from their own imaginations. They went even further away from God's truth.. making "magic bands".. amulets from good luck.. or for bad. People died that should not have died.. some lived who should not have lived. They "disheartened the righteous with falsehood.. but encouraged the wicked not to turn from his wicked way and preserve his life." 

God's judgement on these men and women.. who should have been preserving the Truth and restoring the people to God's ways.. but were actually contributing to moral failure and degradation.. would be severe. The prophets would be removed from their positions among the council of Israel. They would never again enter Israel, and their names would no longer be written in the "register of the house of Israel."  The prophetesses would no longer receive any kinds of visions and have no power over people as they had before. 

And.. all of this again.. was for one purpose.. "Thus you will know that I am the Lord." 

How does this passage speak to us? Those of us who have been given the Word of God.. are given a great responsibility.  We are told over and over in the Word, to speak the Truth. We have been given the Spirit of God and need to diligently keep filled with Him.. walking in the Spirit and in Truth. We are also reminded to examine ourselves, to test ourselves, to surrender everything to Him who is the Truth.. that we might do the works that He has prepared for us to do.

Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name in all the earth!  Forgive us for every trespass, every word that comes forth that is not from You. Cleanse us from all unrighteousness and lead us in Your paths.. to do Your will. Lead us away from temptations.. especially the temptation to speak from our own imaginations or inspirations. Speak to us from Your Word, by  Your Spirit and deliver us from all evil. We want to be Your good and faithful servants, Lord...  Speaking the Truth that will encourage righteousness and warn those who are straying from the Truth. Do Your work in us and through us today, Lord..in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord and King..and for His glory!  Amen. 

 Ezekiel 12  Ezekiel is given a series of instructions.. 

First, he was to act out the exile of the king of Israel.. he was to pack up all he had as if he was just now going into exile.  He was to dig a hole through the wall and then leave through that hole during the night.  He was to cover his eyes and load his baggage on his shoulders.  All of this would happen to Zedikiah.. he would go into exile from Jerusalem, he would carry his baggage, and he would be blinded. 

Next, Ezekiel was told to "eat [his] bread with trembling, and drink [his] water with quivering and anxiety".. ( v18).  This was a picture of what would happen to the inhabitants of Jerusalem because of the violence they committed and the desolation that was coming. 

Thirdly, Ezekiel was told that God was going to change the way that people perceived His Words.. up until this point they didn't concern themselves with the prophecies, because they thought that it would not happen for a long time. But, now God said, "For I the Lord shall speak and whatever word I speak shall be performed. It will no longer be delayed... "  

All that God did.. He did to make the people see that it was their own rebelliousness that they needed to understand.  Everything happened.. and the rest would happen just as He said.. so that they would know that He IS the LORD!

We need to hear what the Lord is saying to us today.. perhaps we too have felt like the Words of God.. the prophecies that have not yet been fulfilled.. are "far off".  Perhaps that has made us less urgent about the work He calls us to do.. preaching the Gospel to those who are of the same attitude as Israel.. rebellious and wicked.  We say we are waiting for the day of Christ's return.. but are we really?  

Lord God, our heavenly Father, may we have ears to hear and eyes to see.. may we not be a rebellious people or a people without faith that what You have said.. You will do!  Sometimes, it does seem as if the time is drawing near for the return of our Lord.. and other times.. it seems as if He will never come in our lifetimes.. Help us to have the right perspective.. to trust and obey.. as we wait on You.. resting in Your grace and goodness. Renew in us that urgency to share the gospel with those who need to hear.  Send forth workers into the harvest fields as You patiently allow more of Your children to be born again into Your great Kingdom.  Thank You for the Word and for Your Spirit who opens eyes and ears.  We are seeking You, Lord.  Fill us today. Amen. 

 Ezekiel 8-11  These chapters report a vision given to Ezekiel as he sat in his house with the elders of Judah... while in exile.  He was taken.. as the Spirit of God lifted him up by his hair.. and brought to Jerusalem.  There, God showed Ezekiel the extent of the "abominations" that Israel was committing.  They had an "idol of jealousy" at the gate of Jerusalem.. they had rooms engraved with "every form of creeping things and beasts and detestable things.." carved on the walls of the court.  They were offering sacred incense to the idols in these rooms.  The women were crying over Tammuz, a Syrian god, at the gate of the Lord's house.  In the temple men were "prostrating themselves eastward toward the sun."  They were filling the city with violence and wickedness. In every way.. they had forsaken the God that made them, loved them, and had given them a way to true Life through His Word. 

As Ezekiel encountered this scene, his heart must have broken.  For God was removing Himself from His sanctuary.. the place where His Name was meant to be.. Only those who were marked.. those who sighed and groaned over the "abominations".. would be spared.  All others would be slain. 

Ezekiel watched as the glory of God departed the temple.. departed Jerusalem and  he cried out to the Lord.. "Alas, Lord God! Wilt Thou bring the remnant of Israel to a complete end?"

But, God did not leave Ezekiel without hope.. for He promised a restoration.. " I shall gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries among which you have been scattered, and I shall give you the land of Israel. And I shall give them one heart, and shall put a new spirit within them. And I shall take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances, and do them. Then they will be My people and I shall be their God."

Father in heaven, once again I see how our world has followed the footsteps of ancient Israel.. setting up "idols".. worshiping detestable things.. bowing before the creation that You made.. but not bowing to You. Violence and wickedness continue to fill our cities and Your glory has departed from us..But, Lord, we weep with those who weep.. we sigh and groan at the abominations all around us.. we wonder.. like Ezekiel.. will You leave any remnant?  Oh Father, how thankful we are that Your promise is still true.. You bring restoration.. You change hearts.. from stone to flesh!  You bring people that are not Your people.. and make them Your own!  Hallelujah! We have a Savior who gathers the lost and broken.. Who came for us.. and will come again.. soon.. to take us to the place He is preparing for us.. where Your glory dwells and will never depart.. Thank You for this great salvation.. for forgiving our sins.. for cleansing us and making us whole again... for giving us Hope!  We bow only to You, Lord God. Be exalted in all of the earth...we pray...  In Jesus' name. amen. 

 Ezekiel 7 "An end! The end is coming on the four corners of the land. Now the end is upon you... "  This message to Israel could be the warning that is yet to come for the end of days.. God's anger will be poured out upon the sinful earth.. and He will no longer show pity, "nor spare you".  God has said it again.. "A disaster, unique disaster, behold it is coming!"

Israel's fate is a warning to us.. "Behold the day! Behold it is coming! Your doom has gone forth; the rod has budded, arrogance has blossomed. Violence has grown into a rod of wickedness. None of them shall remain, none of their multitude, none of their wealth, nor anything eminent among them. The time has come, the day has arrived... " 

In that day, the Word says that "all of them will be mourning, each over his own iniquity." They will throw their useless silver and gold into the streets.. they will have nothing to deliver them from the wrath of the Lord.  "Disaster will come upon disaster, and rumor will be added to rumor; then they will seek a vision from a prophet but the law will be lost from the priest and counsel from the elders. The king will mourn, the prince will be clothed with horror, and the hands of the people of the land will tremble."

Sounds exactly like the judgements prophesied in Revelations. "According to their conduct I shall deal with them, and by their judgements I shall judge them. And they will know that  I am the Lord."

Father in heaven, we pray for our nation and our world.. filled with arrogance and violence and wickedness. We know that there will come a day when Your wrath will be poured out again.. on the whole earth and we fear for those who do not repent and turn back to You. What great horror and disaster awaits the rebellious and wicked.  What heartbreak and mourning awaits those who have turned their backs on the Truth that they have been taught, choosing arrogantly to do their own thing.. How can we pray?  What will move Your Spirit to bring salvation ? Father, before it is too late, will You pour out Your mercy on the lost and dying? Give ears to hear.. give hearts that will receive.. bring forth a harvest of souls that seek You and know Jesus Christ the Lord. We ask this in the mighty Name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

 Ezekiel 6  The Lord gives another message to Ezekiel.. to prophesy against the "mountains of Israel".  Every mountain, every hill, every ravine, every valley, every high place.. every green tree, every leafy oak... every single place where the people had worshiped idols.. would become desolate, for God would bring them to an end.   All of this so that the people.. His people would "know that I am the Lord"!

"Then those of you who escape will remember Me among the nations to which they are carried captive, how I have been hurt by their adulterous hearts which turned away from Me, and by their eyes, which played the harlot after their idols; and they will loathe themselves in their own sight for the evils which they have committed for all their abominations." 

The Lord would do what He said.. He would send plague, sword, and famine.. and His people would know... "know that I am the Lord"..  Four times this statement is repeated.  This is the Lord's will and desire.. that His people KNOW who He is!  If they do not know Him in peace and prosperity.. then they will know Him in desolation.  Everything else.. everything that they trusted and worshiped and lusted after..would be "blotted out". 

We must learn from this message and the aftermath of Jerusalem's fall.  God will do what He says.. and in the end.. we will all know that He is the Lord!  Everything that we trust.. outside of God Himself.. is empty and will come to an end.   As our Lord Jesus taught, "Everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act upon them, will be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. And the rain descended and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against the house; and it fell, and great was its fall." 

Only when we know that Jesus is Lord of all.. that our God and Father holds our lives in His hands.. that we are His and that He will not allow His glory to go to any false idol.. only when we hear His Words and act on them.. will our house.. our lives stand, through the storms, through the floods, through the winds.  

Father, You are speaking to us again, as You did to Ezekiel.. for Your Word is a Living Word.  Your desire is that we know You.. that You are the Lord.. Jehovah.. the self-existent and Eternal God.. and there is no other!  To trust in anyone or anything else.. is foolish.. and will result in destruction and desolation.  O Lord..  open our eyes.. give us ears to hear and hearts to receive Your Word and to act on them.  May we worship and obey You and honor Your Name in all we do.. all we say.. in every part of our lives.  Come near to us as we see draw near to You through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Oh what a Savior! For He has made a way and brought us back to You.  Hallelujah  and amen!

 Ezekiel 5  Here is a stark, frightening, and heart-breaking picture of God unfurling His wrath upon the rebels.. The nation that was "set.. at the center of the nations.. " that was given God's  statutes and ordinances.. who had every opportunity to be the greatest nation.. walked away from their God.  In His zeal and wrath.. He would pour out on them "judgements.. in the sight of the nations." 

Israel had disregarded God's commandments. They had put detestable idols in His sanctuary.  They committed every kind of wickedness in defiance of His holy Word.  The Lord told them, " I will also withdraw, and My eye shall have no pity and I will not spare." 

One third of the people would die of plague or famine so severe that men would eat their children... .  One third would die by the sword.  And, one third would be scattered "to every wind".  Every man, woman, and child would suffer because of the sins of Israel and Judah.  God declared, " I, the Lord, have spoken." 

What is God speaking to us today? Our nation has had great freedom and privilege.  Yet, wickedness is taking over our cities and states.  Sin is on every street corner and flows through the airways.  God's wrath will once again be poured out.. and this time on the whole earth. 

But... Jesus took upon Himself our sins and those of us who put their faith in Him are given "rivers of living water".. flowing from our hearts.  Living water that brings hope to the dying, help to the suffering, and love to those who know none. May we realized the truth of God's provision for us.. an endless fountain of His grace and mercy.. and through His Spirit may Life flow to those in our city and nation who are headed to eternal judgement.. far worse than even what Israel and Judah faced in the days of Ezekiel. 

Father, move in us. Have Your way in us. Flow through us. Help us to faithfully proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to a world of lost sinners for whom He was slain. Amen. 

 Ezekiel 4  When I read this chapter, my first thought is.. I'm so sorry for poor Ezekiel!  Glad I'm not him.. The Lord gave Ezekiel some of the most difficult assignments.  Here, he had to build a model of Jerusalem, with siege walls and camps and battering rams... Then he was told to lay on his left side for 390 days.. representing 390 years of iniquity for Israel, plus another 40 days on his right side for the house of Judah.  This whole time he was to eat a ration of bread that he had prepared and have a ration of water.  This also represented the current situation of Jerusalem.. under siege, and lacking bread and water.  

Ezekiel did not question the Lord on this assignment.. except for one thing... he did not want to cook his bread over human dung... so, the Lord allowed that to change.. to cow dung. 

Don't you think that Ezekiel was really regretting his calling as a prophet about this time?  We can't even imagine giving one day fully to the Lord.. let alone over a year of such sacrifice and surrender.  Think about the last time we were in the Lord's house.. on the Lord's day..  Did you sacrifice anything of your own comfort.. your own pleasure.. your own needs?  Was it a sacrifice of a few minutes of your time? 

Oh Father, how weak we  are.. how self-centered and self-absorbed.  We need to see Your glory.. to hear Your calling.. to take in Your Words.. like Ezekiel.. so that we can freely give ourselves fully to You.  May we see You and know Your greatness and glory in a new and deeper way, Lord God.. May we truly worship and obey You in all that You call us to do.  Help us we pray.. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Ezekiel 3:  Ezekiel is given a commission to "eat what you find..and go, speak.."  The scroll was fed to him.  He would be given words to speak from the Lord.. otherwise he would not speak.  He would be held responsible for the blood of those who died in their iniquity, if he did not warn them as he was told to.  He would be responsible for those who turned from their righteousness to commit iniquity, if he did not warn them..   How difficult this commission that Ezekiel was given.. 

Yet, he was also given the privilege of experiencing the "glory of the Lord".. standing right in front of him and being filled a second time with the Spirit of the Lord.  He was fed on the Word of the Lord.. and exhorted to tell the stubborn, hard-hearted people of Israel.. whatever the Lord told him to say. 

"But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth, and you will say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God' He who hears let him hear; and he who refuses, let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house." 

Father in heaven, what a privilege we have.. this Word recorded for us.. words of life and salvation.  Help us to be faithful in speaking this word to a rebellious people of our own nation.  Let some have "ears to hear.. " and to come to repentance.. turning from their wickedness and rebellion.  Fill us Spirit of God.. that  Your glory would be made known in Your people.. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.