Ezekiel 29-32
Yesterday’s tough words were primarily for all the proud idolatrous nations surrounding Israel: Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, and Tyre. Some of them had whooped for joy at Jerusalem’s demise.
Today’s chapters continue this theme...for just one more nation: EGYPT!
Because Egypt has been a weak stick for Israel to lean on, and because of their pride in the Nile, they will become a desolate waste (29:10). The allies of Egypt will fall (30:6), and the arms of the Pharaoh will be broken (30:22). In chapter 31, Ezekiel compares Egypt to a towering tall cedar of Lebanon that is about to come crashing to the ground. God will use the same instrument to humble Egypt, as he used to humble the other nations: Babylon and her ruthless leader, Nebuchadnezzar.
Though Ezekiel’s words for Egypt are as tough as his words for the other nations, there is a bit of hope. Read Ezekiel 29:13-16; these verses describe two faint flickers of this hope: First, exiled Egyptians will be returned to Egypt after forty years. Secondly, they will know that the God of Israel is the Sovereign Lord!
Tomorrow, we finally begin to read some hopeful words for Israel!
Your fellow pilgrim through the Prophets,
Pastor Gary
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Friday, August 22, 2014
AUGUST 22 EZEKIEL
Ezekiel 24-28
The tough words keep rolling like water over a falls.
Ezekiel 24 contains a double whammy! Whammy One: Jerusalem, with its temple and palaces, is besieged by Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians. Ezekiel compares it to a cooking pot or boiling pot. It is about to implode under the stress. There will be cannibalism and bloodshed in the streets. Whammy Two: at the same time, Ezekiel’s wife dies. Just as God has taken away the delight of Ezekiel’s eye’s, so has God taken away Jerusalem, the delight of the eyes of God’s people.
The only respite from these tough words comes when, in chapters 25-28, the wrath of the Lord turns against the proud idolatrous nations surrounding Israel: Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, and Tyre. Many of these nations whooped for joy over the demise of Jerusalem. In each instance, God warns them of their own downfall.
Chapters 26-28 are exclusively directed toward Tyre, the pride of the Mediterranean. All through these hard words, God reiterates the truth: pride goes before the fall!
Where is the hope? It’s coming!
Your fellow pilgrim through the Prophets,
Pastor Gary
The tough words keep rolling like water over a falls.
Ezekiel 24 contains a double whammy! Whammy One: Jerusalem, with its temple and palaces, is besieged by Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians. Ezekiel compares it to a cooking pot or boiling pot. It is about to implode under the stress. There will be cannibalism and bloodshed in the streets. Whammy Two: at the same time, Ezekiel’s wife dies. Just as God has taken away the delight of Ezekiel’s eye’s, so has God taken away Jerusalem, the delight of the eyes of God’s people.
The only respite from these tough words comes when, in chapters 25-28, the wrath of the Lord turns against the proud idolatrous nations surrounding Israel: Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, and Tyre. Many of these nations whooped for joy over the demise of Jerusalem. In each instance, God warns them of their own downfall.
Chapters 26-28 are exclusively directed toward Tyre, the pride of the Mediterranean. All through these hard words, God reiterates the truth: pride goes before the fall!
Where is the hope? It’s coming!
Your fellow pilgrim through the Prophets,
Pastor Gary
Thursday, August 21, 2014
AUGUST 21 EZEKIEL 20-23
Ezekiel 20-23
So far, we have found Ezekiel to be a tough prophet with an even tougher message. After all, God had promised to make him as “hard and unyielding” as Israel in their sin (3:8). Yet I cannot imagine four tougher chapters than these.
Ezekiel 20 outlines Israel’s history of rebellion in Egypt, in the wilderness, and even in the land of promise! “Go and serve your idols,” Ezekiel says sarcastically (20:39), that may be the only way you’ll get desperate enough to change.
In Ezekiel 21, Ezekiel joins his voice with Jeremiah’s in declaring that Babylon is God’s chosen instrument of judgment against Israel.
Read Ezekiel 22 carefully; it’s a catalog of Israel’s sins. How many of these sins have found a home in our nation and out time? I find Ezekiel 22:30 one of the most chilling verses in the Bible, “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so that I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.” What about us? Were God to look among us, would He find anyone to “stand the gap” for America?
Ezekiel 23 tells another allegory of rebellion. Two sisters become prostitutes, first one, Oholah (Samaria was destroyed around 722 BC!), rebels, and the second, Oholibah (Jerusalem), does not learn from her sisters downfall. She will drink the same cup her sister drank from (23:32) in 586 BC.
We'll have to wait a few days before we read prophesies of hope!
Your fellow pilgrim through the Prophets,
Pastor Gary
So far, we have found Ezekiel to be a tough prophet with an even tougher message. After all, God had promised to make him as “hard and unyielding” as Israel in their sin (3:8). Yet I cannot imagine four tougher chapters than these.
Ezekiel 20 outlines Israel’s history of rebellion in Egypt, in the wilderness, and even in the land of promise! “Go and serve your idols,” Ezekiel says sarcastically (20:39), that may be the only way you’ll get desperate enough to change.
In Ezekiel 21, Ezekiel joins his voice with Jeremiah’s in declaring that Babylon is God’s chosen instrument of judgment against Israel.
Read Ezekiel 22 carefully; it’s a catalog of Israel’s sins. How many of these sins have found a home in our nation and out time? I find Ezekiel 22:30 one of the most chilling verses in the Bible, “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so that I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.” What about us? Were God to look among us, would He find anyone to “stand the gap” for America?
Ezekiel 23 tells another allegory of rebellion. Two sisters become prostitutes, first one, Oholah (Samaria was destroyed around 722 BC!), rebels, and the second, Oholibah (Jerusalem), does not learn from her sisters downfall. She will drink the same cup her sister drank from (23:32) in 586 BC.
We'll have to wait a few days before we read prophesies of hope!
Your fellow pilgrim through the Prophets,
Pastor Gary
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
AUGUST 20 EZEKIEL 16-19
Ezekiel 16-19
These chapters contain one of the foundational concepts of God’s Word: “The Principle of Responsibility.”
In chapter 16, the Lord assigns responsibility for all that is to come upon “unfaithful Jerusalem” to the people themselves. The allegory Ezekiel creates, comparing Jerusalem to a much-loved and wonderfully redeemed child, who grows up to become a prostitute, is graphic and uncomfortable reading. Trouble is coming “because you...exposed your nakedness in your promiscuity with your lovers, and because of all your detestable idols...” Ezekiel declares. The responsibility is theirs. Yet, even so, Ezekiel prophesies a restoration!
Chapter 17 contains another story of two great eagles and a vine: two superpowers, Babylon and Egypt, and lowly little Israel. If you remember, God had warned Israel’s leaders through Jeremiah to submit to Babylon (God’s chosen agent) and not look to Egypt for help. When Zedekiah disobeyed this directive (v. 7), he, Ezekiel prophesied, would be carted away to Babylon anyway! The responsibility was his!
Chapter 18 states the Principle of Responsibility clearly: “The soul who sins is the one who will die.” (v. 20) Parents don’t die for their kids’ sins; children don’t die because of the parents’ sins. People, all people, are responsible for their own sin. And any sinner who repents finds life and forgiveness from the Lord! “Why will you die, O house of Israel,” Ezekiel cries, “God takes no pleasure in the death of anyone!” (vv. 31-32)
Despite “The Principle of Responsibility”, chapter 19 is a poetic lament for the fate of the leaders of Israel. We’re not to take delight when people are forced to take responsibility for their own sin.
Your fellow pilgrim through the Prophets,
Pastor Gary
These chapters contain one of the foundational concepts of God’s Word: “The Principle of Responsibility.”
In chapter 16, the Lord assigns responsibility for all that is to come upon “unfaithful Jerusalem” to the people themselves. The allegory Ezekiel creates, comparing Jerusalem to a much-loved and wonderfully redeemed child, who grows up to become a prostitute, is graphic and uncomfortable reading. Trouble is coming “because you...exposed your nakedness in your promiscuity with your lovers, and because of all your detestable idols...” Ezekiel declares. The responsibility is theirs. Yet, even so, Ezekiel prophesies a restoration!
Chapter 17 contains another story of two great eagles and a vine: two superpowers, Babylon and Egypt, and lowly little Israel. If you remember, God had warned Israel’s leaders through Jeremiah to submit to Babylon (God’s chosen agent) and not look to Egypt for help. When Zedekiah disobeyed this directive (v. 7), he, Ezekiel prophesied, would be carted away to Babylon anyway! The responsibility was his!
Chapter 18 states the Principle of Responsibility clearly: “The soul who sins is the one who will die.” (v. 20) Parents don’t die for their kids’ sins; children don’t die because of the parents’ sins. People, all people, are responsible for their own sin. And any sinner who repents finds life and forgiveness from the Lord! “Why will you die, O house of Israel,” Ezekiel cries, “God takes no pleasure in the death of anyone!” (vv. 31-32)
Despite “The Principle of Responsibility”, chapter 19 is a poetic lament for the fate of the leaders of Israel. We’re not to take delight when people are forced to take responsibility for their own sin.
Your fellow pilgrim through the Prophets,
Pastor Gary
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
AUGUST 19 EZEKIEL 12-15
Ezekiel 12-15
In case you missed the departure of the glory of the Lord from the Temple in yesterday’s reading, note these verses: Ezekiel 8:4f; 9:3f; 10:4f; 10:18f; and 11:23. Without the glory, the presence of the Lord, Israel’s fate is sealed. Ichabod!
In Ezekiel 12, he prophesies that the exile is coming. Perhaps then, God’s people will know that the Lord is God (12:15).
In Ezekiel 13, he prophesies against the prophets of Israel, who speak even when the Lord has not spoken to them, who see false visions and speak false words, who cry, “Peace!” when there is no peace (13:10).
In Ezekiel 14, we learn that because of these false prophets and Israel’s idolatry, the four judgments of God are inescapable: sword, famine, beasts and plague. The number four is the number of completeness. This will be complete judgment! But there will be survivors! (14:22)
In Ezekiel 15, Jerusalem is compared with a useless, burned up vine.
No doubt; these are not happy chapters. But don’t forget the glimmer of hope at the end of Ezekiel 14!
Your fellow pilgrim through the Prophets,
Pastor Gary
Monday, August 18, 2014
AUGUST 18 EZEKIEL 7-11
Ezekiel 7-11
Ever wonder why so few people name their baby boys “Ichabod?”
If you said, “It’s because of Ichabod Crane in Washington Irving tale, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, you’d only be partially right.
Actually, the name Ichabod dates back to the time of Samuel in in the Old Testament. Samuel’s mentor, the priest Eli, had a grandson. The day the boy was born, the Ark of the Covenant (the very presence of the Lord) was captured in battle. When Eli heard he fell dead. The mother of the boy said, “His name is Ichabod, because the glory as departed from Israel.” Ichabod means “no glory.” So, understandably, folks are careful about using the name.
Sadly, that was not the first or the worst instance of the glory departing from Israel. Ezekiel prophesies a far more serious instance, when the temple itself is destroyed, the holy furniture is destroyed or carted away, and many of the rest of the people are taken into exile. Remember, Ezekiel went with the first wave of 10,000, but there would be thousands more.
When reading these chapters, take special note of each reference to the “glory of the Lord.” Be patient, and you’ll see the glory depart. Then, all that’s left is Ichabod.
Your fellow pilgrim through the Prophets,
Pastor Gary
Ever wonder why so few people name their baby boys “Ichabod?”
If you said, “It’s because of Ichabod Crane in Washington Irving tale, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, you’d only be partially right.
Actually, the name Ichabod dates back to the time of Samuel in in the Old Testament. Samuel’s mentor, the priest Eli, had a grandson. The day the boy was born, the Ark of the Covenant (the very presence of the Lord) was captured in battle. When Eli heard he fell dead. The mother of the boy said, “His name is Ichabod, because the glory as departed from Israel.” Ichabod means “no glory.” So, understandably, folks are careful about using the name.
Sadly, that was not the first or the worst instance of the glory departing from Israel. Ezekiel prophesies a far more serious instance, when the temple itself is destroyed, the holy furniture is destroyed or carted away, and many of the rest of the people are taken into exile. Remember, Ezekiel went with the first wave of 10,000, but there would be thousands more.
When reading these chapters, take special note of each reference to the “glory of the Lord.” Be patient, and you’ll see the glory depart. Then, all that’s left is Ichabod.
Your fellow pilgrim through the Prophets,
Pastor Gary
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