Category: Ezekiel-BibleTrekToday
Confronting sin!
Scripture reading for August 23rd: Ezekiel 20-23
Confronting sin was the job of the prophet and preacher. We who minister the word of the Lord must faithfully declare what God has said and speak plainly to those whose souls are in danger of God’s eternal wrath. Sin brings the wrath of God. His wrath is happening continually and it is also an eternal thing that will happen to all who die in their sins on the day of judgment. (Romans 1:18-19) (Romans 2:5) God loves each person enough to confront him before He judges him.
In today’s reading, Ezekiel was told to confront the people of Jerusalem with all of their detestable practices. (Ezekiel 22:1) God declared that the sin of sacrificing their children in the fire to the false idols was wrong! Ezekiel pointed out mistreatment of fathers and mothers by children and mistreatment of the alien and orphan as reasons for the coming destruction. The people had despised the holy things and desecrated the Sabbath as a day of worship and rest. (Ezekiel 22:7-8) Adultery, incest, and lewd sexual conduct were hastening the day of wrath! Excessive interest was being charged and people were extorting money from the weak and powerless with mafia-like tactics.
God also confronted the priests as well. They were twisting God’s law to call evil good and then to call good, evil. They did not help people to discern between the holy or profane. They whitewashed their evil deeds by giving the people false visions and lying divinations. They claimed the the Lord had spoken when He had said nothing of the sort! (Ezekiel 22:26-28) When the ministers of God are under sin and deception, the people are led further astray by their false teaching and example. God looked for one man to stand in the gap on behalf of the land so He would not have to destroy it, but found none! (Ezekiel 22:30-31)
When God confronts sin, He gives his people opportunity to repent and be delivered. His love brings the confrontation to those who will humbly receive it. Take time today and allow the Lord to speak to your heart. Listen and repent so that the wrath may be turned away! Stand in the gap for someone who is lost and in need of His grace! The rewards are eternal!
Ezekiel’s graphic warning!
Scripture reading for August 22nd: Ezekiel 16-19
In this chapter God explained how He saw the nation of Israel and how they were given life by Him. They had been born in sin and were covered with iniquity but God had mercy on them. God Himself had given the command “Live” and they received life! (Ezekiel 16:6-7) They grew up to become His beautiful bride and He clothed them in fine linen clothes and gave them fine jewelry. They were given ear rings and nose rings and even a crown for their head. They were to be a bride of royalty! (Ezekiel 16:10-14) In fact they became His queen and their fame spread among the nations!
Then a strange thing happened. God’s Queen decided to become a prostitute. She had become proud and trusted in her beauty and fame! She went up to the high places and spread her beautiful garments and offering sexual favors to all who passed by. She took some of her expensive jewelry and made cheap idols and engaged in prostitution with them! (Ezekiel 16:15-18) She even offered her sons and daughters to the idols by sacrificing them in the fires! What a strange and twisted mind this beautiful woman had!
On top of all that, instead of being paid by her lovers, she paid them to come to her! (Ezekiel 16:32-34) She had paid for favors from the Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians and even the Philistines! All of this behavior would bring wrath upon His people! (Ezekiel 16:37-40) She would reap the fruit of her illicit activities by being handed over to her lovers. Those lovers would strip her and leave her naked and bring destruction on the land. God’s hope was to turn His Queen back to Him again.
As we think about this story, we must heed its warning! Many in the church today are compromising their devotion to Christ and His Holy word. They are justifying their sexual idolatry and still claim to belong to Christ. They throw their children into the fire by using abortion to free themselves from the responsibility of raising godly offspring. They claim God’s favor and blessing when they are really under His wrath because they have never truly repented. (Romans 1:18-20) Maybe it’s time for another reading of this graphic prophetic warning!
False prophets with whitewash!
Scripture reading for August 21st: Ezekiel 12-15
“Because they have led My people astray, saying “Peace,” when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash, therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall. . . .I will tear down the wall you have covered with whitewash and will level it to the ground so that its foundation will be laid bare. When it falls, you will be destroyed in it; and you will know that I am the Lord.” Ezekiel 13:10-11a, 14.
God hated lies and promised to judge false prophets! God gave Ezekiel a message for the prophets of Israel who were leading the people astray with the peace, safety, and prosperity lie. These prophets were telling the people what they wanted to hear. This allowed the people to go on in idolatry and would surely bring God’s wrath upon the nation.
God likened these lying prophets to painters who whitewashed flimsy walls that were poorly constructed. The walls looked clean and white, but they were unstable. God was going to expose the poor foundation by sending a storm upon the nation that would topple the white-washed walls and bring them down on those who painted them. The crashing walls would destroy those who did such shoddy work or put on a show.
Preachers today can put on a show too. They ‘whitewash’ people’s walls just to get a crowd. They tell them that God wants them rich and if they give some money to the preacher and they will get a hundred times more back. They tell people that God is love and won’t send anyone to hell. Others whitewash the truth about the need for repentance from sin and faith in the blood of Jesus Christ. They offer alternatives that don’t require faith or talking about the cross and the blood! They try to make them feel good and get them in and out without any arousal of conviction. Whitewash is being spread around today on the walls of people who have not repented! These walls are going to crash down when judgment falls! The day of Christ’s return will reveal the foundations and strip off the whitewash!
Glory departure!
Scripture reading for August 20th: Ezekiel 7-11
“In the sixth year, in the sixth month on the fifth day, while I was sitting in my house and the elders of Judah were sitting before me, the hand of the Sovereign Lord came upon me there. I looked, and I saw a figure like that of a man. From what appeared to be his waist down he was like fire, and from there up his appearance was as bright as glowing metal. He stretched out what looked like a hand and took me by the hair of my head. The Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven in visions of God he took me to Jerusalem. . .” Ezekiel 8:1-3
Ezekiel had a “hair-raising” experience and was taken about 800 miles away to the north entrance of the temple. He was instructed by the “angel” to dig into the wall of the temple. As he dug through the wall he saw a doorway and was told to go in and look. There he saw many “wicked and detestable” idols that had provoked God to jealousy and wrath and the seventy elders worshiping them!
Ezekiel was told that the elders did not believe that God saw them and that he had forsaken Israel. He saw a group of women worshiping Tammuz, a fertility goddess and men worshiping the sun. God had enough of their unfaithfulness and the time of judgment had come. As the elders had believed, so they received. The glory of God departed from above the cherubim where it had been and moved to the threshold of the temple. (Ezekiel 9:3) The Lord instructed the angel with a writing kit to go through the city and mark all who grieved over the sins of the temple and city. All others were to be killed without pity!
Ezekiel saw the Lord order an angel to take burning coals from between the wheels beneath the cherubim and scatter them over the city. Then the glory of the Lord departed from the threshold of the temple and moved to the east gate of the Temple, stopping there. (Ezekiel 10:18-19) Finally the cherubim escorted the glory of God to the Mt. of Olives on the East of the city. God slowly withdrew His glory from His idolatrous people who would not listen or repent!
The likeness of the Glory!
Scripture reading for August 19th: Ezekiel 1-6
Ezekiel had just turned 30 years of age and he was a priest. He was taken into captivity in Babylon with a group of exiles which included Daniel and his friends. As they met by the Kebar River to have their Sabbath observances, God opened the heavens and gave Ezekiel a vision that changed his life! He was called by God to go to his people and give them God’s word. He was warned by the Lord that God’s people would be rebellious, obstinate and stubborn. (Ezekiel 2:1-4)
The vision that Ezekiel saw of the throne of God was spectacular. It began with a windstorm coming from the north with a towering thundercloud and flashing lightning and fire in the center. Ezekiel could see four living creatures. (Ezekiel 1:4-9) These creatures had the form of a man but they had four faces and feet like a calf and four wings with hands underneath. They glowed like bronze and the faces were that of an eagle, ox, lion and man. Below on the ground, there was a wheel that sparkled and another intersecting wheel.
As Ezekiel looked he noticed a glowing throne of sapphire above the creatures and on the throne was a figure like that of a man. He was glowing with fire and brilliant light surrounded Him. This light looked like a rainbow and glowed with radiance! (Ezekiel 1:26-28) This figure had the “likeness of the Glory of God”! When Ezekiel saw it he fell to the ground in awe!
God has sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to show mankind the Glory of God. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) The gift of the Holy Spirit enables us to have the Glory of God revealed in us by the Spirit. (2nd Corinthians 3:18) When the last trumpet blows and Jesus Christ appears we will be instantly transformed into a glorious body, like His glorious body! (1st Thessalonians 4:16-18) We now carry the “likeness of the Glory of God” because the Spirit of the Son of God lives in us!
A river to swim in!
Scripture reading for August 29st: Ezekiel 44-48
A commentary note in my Daily Walk Bible stated that the rabbis that wrote the Talmud, the primary Jewish commentary on the Old Testament Scriptures, stated that Elijah would have to come back and interpret Ezekiel’s writings to give understanding. Some of the visions and measurements as well as descriptions of offerings are difficult but we should continue to pray for deeper understanding through the Holy Spirit.
Ezekiel was taken by the man with the measuring line to the entrance of the temple facing east. There he saw a stream of water coming down from the south side from south of the altar. He then took Ezekiel out the north gate to the outside of the east gate and measured off a thousand cubits (450 meters or 1500 feet). Ezekiel found the waters there were ankle-deep. Another thousand cubits and the waters were knee-deep and another thousand the waters were waist-deep. A final thousand cubits and the waters were so deep that he had to swim. Along the banks of the river, a great number of trees were growing. (Ezekiel 47:3-7)
Ezekiel was told by the man that the water entered the Dead Sea and there those waters became fresh. The waters were full of swarms of living creatures and large numbers of fish. Fishermen stood on the banks and cast their nets harvesting the fish. Fruit trees grew along the banks yielding food and the leaves of these trees would bring healing.(Ezekiel 47:8-12)
This vision points us to the Apostle John’s vision in the book of Revelation. John saw an angel with a measuring rod of gold who was measuring the city, it’s gates, and walls. (Revelation 21:15-21) The walls were made of precious stones and the gates were made of single pearls. The street of the city was pure gold! God’s presence filled the city with light and there was no need of sun or moon! There was a river flowing from the throne of God down the middle of the street with trees bearing fruit each month. (Revelation 22:1-5) The leaves of these trees were for the healing of the nations! Best of all, God Himself and the Lamb would be with His people and they would behold His face! His glory would light their lives and world for ever and ever! These visions make us long for the River of God in the heavenly city!
The Glory returns!
Scripture reading for August 28th: Ezekiel 40-43
“Then the man brought me to the gate facing east, and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with His glory. The vision I saw was like the vision I had seen when he came to destroy the city and like the visions I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell face down. The glory of the Lord entered the temple through the gate facing east. The the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.” Ezekiel 43:1-5
During this trip to Jerusalem in the Spirit, Ezekiel found a heavenly being with an appearance that glowed like bronze. This man had a linen cord and measuring rod in his hand and told Ezekiel to pay attention and tell the house of Israel everything he saw. This ‘man’ proceeded to measure everything in the temple and surrounding area, showing Ezekiel that the temple had been precisely rebuilt and all places of cleansing and sacrifice had been restored.
He saw the cloud of glowing glory coming from the east, illuminating the land! The Lord spoke and the sound was like roaring waters! He saw the glory of the Lord enter the temple where it had departed, through the East gate! Suddenly, Ezekiel found himself inside the temple and it was filled with the glory of the Lord! (Ezekiel 43:3-5)
From inside the temple, a voice spoke to him, giving him wisdom and insight. “Son of Man, this is the place of My throne and the place for My feet. This is where I will live among the Israelites forever.” (Ezekiel 43:7) Ezekiel was told that he was to describe the temple to the Israelites. If they were ashamed of all their sins, God would reveal the design of the temple to them! (Ezekiel 43:10-11)
This beautiful restored temple is currently composed of living stones. God’s glory fills each stone as they trust in Jesus Christ, who baptizes them in His Holy Spirit! They now know Him and His laws are written on their hearts and God has forgiven them their sins and remembers them no more. (Ezekiel 36:24-27) (Jeremiah 31:31-34) We will behold His glory from within the heavenly city and temple forever and ever!
Speak to those Bones!
Scripture reading for August 27th: Ezekiel 37-39
God used His word to create the world out of nothing. He tells us that our words have the power of life or death! In today’s reading, God showed Ezekiel a valley full of very dry human bones. God asked Ezekiel if he thought the scattered and dry human bones could live again. Ezekiel cautiously answered: “O Sovereign Lord, you alone know.” (Ezekiel 37:3) With God, all things are possible and Ezekiel made room for every possibility.
The Lord then spoke to Ezekiel: “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin. I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.'” (Ezekiel 37:4-6) When Ezekiel spoke, there was a noise and rattling sound as the bones came together. Then the tendons and flesh appeared and finally the skin covered them. He spoke next to the four winds to come and enter the slain. These newly formed bodies came to life and stood up on their feet, a mighty army.
God’s message of hope and restoration was given to the people who were scattered in foreign lands because of their sins and the judgment of God. God was showing His ability and plan to restore them. It would be according to God’s powerful Word and the power of the Holy Spirit that it would be accomplished.
We can also see the fulfillment of God’s promise as it took place in history past. God restored his people to the land and the temple was rebuilt. Jesus Christ, the Messiah, came to that temple and offered Himself as a sacrifice for sin to totally restore all of humanity. He sent the Holy Spirit as a wind from heaven to bring new spiritual life to His dead people. One day we will have a resurrection body when Christ returns! Life and death are in the power of our tongue! When we confess the Lordship of Jesus Christ with our mouth and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, we are saved! (Romans 10:9-10) What an awesome God we serve!
Prophetic entertainment!
Scripture reading for August 25th: Ezekiel 33-36
God had made Ezekiel a watchman on the wall of a nation to warn them of coming judgment and disaster because of sin. Ezekiel must warn the people clearly or he would be responsible for their blood. (Ezekiel 33:7-9) After he warned them, they would be responsible. You might say that Ezekiel was a prophet of individual responsibility. Each person was to become responsible for the word from God that was delivered to them. What they did with it determined their destiny. God did not want any man to perish so He sent Ezekiel to warn them that they might be saved! (Ezekiel 33:11)
Ezekiel warned them faithfully but the people complained that God was unjust in his dealing with them. (Ezekiel 33:17) Often I have found this to be true in counseling others. What they accuse others of, they are often guilty of themselves. They were blinded to the truth and blamed God to avoid responsibility.
God told Ezekiel that the people were talking about him in their houses. They told each other to come and hear the message of the prophet. They seemed to desire the word, but did not want to put any of his message into practice! Their hearts were greedy for gain and they were selfish and unchanged after hearing. They viewed his messages as entertainment, such as a beautiful love song or a concert. (Ezekiel 33:30-32)
How are you receiving the word of God today? Do you read your Bible for entertainment? Do you expect the preacher to entertain you each Sunday and get angry if he or she doesn’t quite make you feel good? Ezekiel was received the same way but he knew he could not quit or he would be guilty of their blood!
“If you warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself.” (Ezekiel 33:9)
“And if I say to the wicked man, ‘you will surely die’; but he then turns away from his sin and does what is just and right–if he gives back what he took in pledge for a loan, returns what he has stolen, follows the decrees that give life, and does no evil, he will surely live; he will not die.” (Ezekiel 33:14-15)
The day of the Lord is near!
Scripture reading for August 24th: Ezekiel 29-32
One of the bad habits that Israel had developed was a dependence on Egypt for help. After Moses led them out of Egypt by God’s powerful hand, they talked of stoning him and choosing a new leader who would take them back. They easily forgot that Egypt was a land of slavery and God had called them out of there. Even after Babylon had conquered the nation of Israel, a remnant left there in Israel chose to go down to Egypt for protection against the advice of Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 42:19-22) (Jeremiah 43:7) In Ezekiel 29 God gave Ezekiel a prophetic word concerning Egypt and Pharaoh. God warned that their pride would bring judgment and defeat. God was bringing a sword against them that would leave the land of Egypt desolate for forty years. (Ezekiel 29:8-12) After forty years, God would bring a remnant of Egyptians back and they would be a lowly kingdom. Israel was to learn not to rely on Egypt ever again and that the Lord was sovereign over nations. (Ezekiel 29:16)
The prophet Ezekiel announced that the day of the Lord was near. That day would be a day of clouds and darkness. It would be a day of doom for the nations that Ezekiel had spoken about. A sword would arise from Babylon that would bring destruction on Egypt and her surrounding friends. (Ezekiel 30:1-4) This “day of the Lord” came to these people during the lifetime of Ezekiel. Egypt went into captivity; Israel, Cush, and Tyre were destroyed as well.
When we hear the message about the “day of the Lord” and “the end”, we tend to think they are a long way off. We believe that they apply to a distant time, possibly be thousands of years away and surely not in our lifetime. However, we should be living as if today was the day! We are told to live in readiness for Christ’s return. (Matthew 22:42-44) We are told that no one will know the day or hour, but that we should be watchful and prepared. (Matthew 24:36) For those who are ready by faith in Jesus Christ, it will be a day of joy and gladness. For those who experience this day outside of God’s mercy, it will be darkness, trouble and doom. The ‘Day of the Lord’ is nearer today than yesterday! Are you ready?