Message: Israel's continuous rebellion; God will restore Israel.
Time: 7th year, 5th month, 10th day. Elders came to Ezekiel to inquire of the Lord.
What the Lord is Saying: Why do you come? To inquire? Your fathers sinned. The Lord made a covenant with his people to save them, to rescue them from Egypt and give them riches. I gave them rules to live by. I gave them my Sabbaths.
But they rebelled. They rejected rules and ignored the Sabbath. I poured out wrath because my name was profaned. My statutes are to be honored, but I spared them and did not put a full end to them.
I asked their children to walk in their ways, but they rebelled as well. But he withheld his anger. The Lord gave them rules that when obeyed would not have good outcomes and nothing to save their life to remind them of who He is.
Idolatry is what reigned in these people's lives.
The Lord makes it known, "I will be king over you." I will bring you out from where you are to purge the evil from your midst. If you are going to do evil, then go ahead and do it. But don't call me Lord and then profane my name. I want people who will serve Me and Me alone. I want those who loathe their sin.
Promise: God does not want people who say one thing and do the other. He wants hot or cold. He wants people who give there all to Him.
Monday, October 7, 2013
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Ezekiel 19
Message: Something about the root and its offspring, perhaps training.
Time: A lamentation is given.
What the Lord is Saying: Your mother, a lioness is raising her cubs.
One cub became a lion, learning to catch prey. Nations heard and caught him in their pit, bringing him in hooks to Egypt.
The mother raises another cub to be a young lion. He catches prey as well, seizes widows, the land is appalled an seizes him. He is brought in a cage to the king of Babylon.
The mother is like a vine in vineyard. Its shoots are strong, but is cast away.
Problem: Training is significant in our lives.
Time: A lamentation is given.
What the Lord is Saying: Your mother, a lioness is raising her cubs.
One cub became a lion, learning to catch prey. Nations heard and caught him in their pit, bringing him in hooks to Egypt.
The mother raises another cub to be a young lion. He catches prey as well, seizes widows, the land is appalled an seizes him. He is brought in a cage to the king of Babylon.
The mother is like a vine in vineyard. Its shoots are strong, but is cast away.
Problem: Training is significant in our lives.
Ezekiel 18
Message: Each person is responsible for their own actions. They can not fall back to their parents or previous ancestors. Each person must make the decision to repent, to "go and sin no more."
Time: Another message comes to Ezekiel from the Lord. It is a story of a family and the actions of each in different generations.
What the Lord is Saying:
The Lord condones a proverb among His people. They are saying, "The parents have eaten sour grapes, but their children pucker at the taste." The Lord reminds them, "The person who sins is the one who dies." Each person is responsible.
Father - Righteous, does what is right, no idols, no adultery, no uncleanness, does not oppress others, restores debt to pledges, no stealing, helps needy, walks in statutes. He is righteous. He shall live.
Son - Violent, Adulterer, oppressor, robs, idolatry, lends at interest. He shall not live; he will die for his sin.
Grandson - Living like his grandfather.
If a wicked person turns from his sins and keeps His statutes, he shall live. His sins will not be remembered. He has righteousness.
God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked (verse 23).
If one that is seen as righteous sins, he will not be remembered.
God is just.
Key verse: Ezekiel 18:30, "Therefore, house of Israel, I will judge each one of you according to his ways. This is the declaration of the Lord God. "Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so they will not be a stumbling block that causes your punishment."
Promise: Turn from your sin and God will save you.
Time: Another message comes to Ezekiel from the Lord. It is a story of a family and the actions of each in different generations.
What the Lord is Saying:
The Lord condones a proverb among His people. They are saying, "The parents have eaten sour grapes, but their children pucker at the taste." The Lord reminds them, "The person who sins is the one who dies." Each person is responsible.
Father - Righteous, does what is right, no idols, no adultery, no uncleanness, does not oppress others, restores debt to pledges, no stealing, helps needy, walks in statutes. He is righteous. He shall live.
Son - Violent, Adulterer, oppressor, robs, idolatry, lends at interest. He shall not live; he will die for his sin.
Grandson - Living like his grandfather.
If a wicked person turns from his sins and keeps His statutes, he shall live. His sins will not be remembered. He has righteousness.
God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked (verse 23).
If one that is seen as righteous sins, he will not be remembered.
God is just.
Key verse: Ezekiel 18:30, "Therefore, house of Israel, I will judge each one of you according to his ways. This is the declaration of the Lord God. "Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so they will not be a stumbling block that causes your punishment."
Promise: Turn from your sin and God will save you.
Ezekiel 17
Message: Another beautiful picture here ultimately of God at work among His people. He is the author of life and rescues people and establishes them no matter their appearance. He makes the short tall.
Time: A word from the Lord. This time a riddle.
What the Lord is Saying:
Two eagles are presented.
First one comes to Lebanon. It is large and colorful. When to the top of the tree and plucked off its highest branch. The eagle carried the branch to a city filled with merchants (sellers) and planted it there. He took a seed, planting it beside a river where it would grow. It took root and grew into low spreading vine. It produced strong branches and put out shoots (which help the tree regrow). Thus, a strong vine. But low.
The eagle appears to be the Lord, establishing his people, making them strong and multiply.
Second eagle. Similar in appearance to first. The vine and branches went toward the eagle. It was planted well. It flourished and grew into a splendid vine, producing rich and luscious fruit.
But the Lord speaks and asks if the vine will grow. No. He will put it up, it won't transplant well, despite it being in good soil.
Riddle explained by the Lord.
The king of Babylon came to Jerusalem. He took the leaders, the princes away (into exile) establishing a treaty, making these leaders loyal to him. Their survival centered then on the king. The treaty was made by the leaders. One man revolted, getting Egypt involved. Problem: A treaty cannot be broken.
The Lord wants people to keep their oaths that they make in His name.
The Lord reminds the people that He is in control. He plants. He produces growth. He produces safety for those near His branch. Don't look at the size of the tree, for it is the short tree that flourishes. He gives the dead tree new life.
Promise: God is in control.
Time: A word from the Lord. This time a riddle.
What the Lord is Saying:
Two eagles are presented.
First one comes to Lebanon. It is large and colorful. When to the top of the tree and plucked off its highest branch. The eagle carried the branch to a city filled with merchants (sellers) and planted it there. He took a seed, planting it beside a river where it would grow. It took root and grew into low spreading vine. It produced strong branches and put out shoots (which help the tree regrow). Thus, a strong vine. But low.
The eagle appears to be the Lord, establishing his people, making them strong and multiply.
Second eagle. Similar in appearance to first. The vine and branches went toward the eagle. It was planted well. It flourished and grew into a splendid vine, producing rich and luscious fruit.
But the Lord speaks and asks if the vine will grow. No. He will put it up, it won't transplant well, despite it being in good soil.
Riddle explained by the Lord.
The king of Babylon came to Jerusalem. He took the leaders, the princes away (into exile) establishing a treaty, making these leaders loyal to him. Their survival centered then on the king. The treaty was made by the leaders. One man revolted, getting Egypt involved. Problem: A treaty cannot be broken.
The Lord wants people to keep their oaths that they make in His name.
The Lord reminds the people that He is in control. He plants. He produces growth. He produces safety for those near His branch. Don't look at the size of the tree, for it is the short tree that flourishes. He gives the dead tree new life.
Promise: God is in control.
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Ezekiel 16
Message: A picture of salvation. God saves the ugly and unwanted and gives them life and then people ignore Him. But, God made a covenant with a people and no matter what He will keep it.
Time: A message to Ezekiel from the Lord.
What the Lord is Saying:
Parable of God's Adulterous Wife
Jerusalem came from poor origins. Father - Amorite. Mother - Hittite. At birth, umbilical cord was not cut. And you were not washed clean with water. Not rubbed with salt. Not wrapped in cloths. Despised. No one had compassion for you.
The Lord passed by you and said, "Live!" I made you thrive. You grew up and matured and became very beautiful. I covered your nakedness. I pledged Myself to you. I made a covenant with you. You became Mine. I washed you and I anointed you. I clothed you in good cloth and gave you leather sandals. And gave you jewelry. You were adorned with beauty. You ate fine flour, honey, and oil. You became royalty. And your fame spread among the nations.
But, the give of beauty I gave you became something that you focused on too much. Because of your fame, you became a prostitute, thinking you could sell yourself now to others. And you gave my gifts to anyone that passed by. You took the jewelry I gave you and turned it into an image to worship. And you set the food I had given you before others. You even took your offspring, my gift to you, and set them before these images, sacrificing them. Through all of this, you forgot where you had been, where you had come from, your birth, your beginnings.
And you kept going. You made a mound and elevated your position above everyone else. And your prostitution, the giving of my gifts to others, increased. My anger was provoked. So, I reduced your provisions. I gave you over to the desire of your heart, to those that hate you. And suddenly you were engaged in rampant prostitution with as many as you could find. From nation to nation. You loved lust. But, unlike a prostitute, you did this all for free. You didn't want anything return. This is how much you enjoyed your sin.
The Lord will gather all those you loved and together your nakedness will be exposed. You will be judged. I will hand you over to them. You will be naked before all. Your houses will burn and I will then stop you from being a prostitute. My wrath will be satisfied. My jealousy will turn away. You walked in the detestable ways of your ancestry (Hittite, Amorite), but you took it a step further and lived more detestable lives than they did. Your sins are so great that your detestable sisters seem righteous. Bear your disgrace. Be ashamed.
You must bear the consequence of your detestable practices. The Lord will deal with you according to what you have done.
But....
The Lord will remember the covenant He made with you. He will establish an everlasting covenant with you. Not because of the covenant you made with me, but because of the covenant I made with you (verse 61, 62). And you will know that I am Yahweh. I will make atonement. You will remember. Your mouth will be closed.
Promise: God is just and His justice will be served. What matters is His covenant with us. He is Lord. Always.
Time: A message to Ezekiel from the Lord.
What the Lord is Saying:
Parable of God's Adulterous Wife
Jerusalem came from poor origins. Father - Amorite. Mother - Hittite. At birth, umbilical cord was not cut. And you were not washed clean with water. Not rubbed with salt. Not wrapped in cloths. Despised. No one had compassion for you.
The Lord passed by you and said, "Live!" I made you thrive. You grew up and matured and became very beautiful. I covered your nakedness. I pledged Myself to you. I made a covenant with you. You became Mine. I washed you and I anointed you. I clothed you in good cloth and gave you leather sandals. And gave you jewelry. You were adorned with beauty. You ate fine flour, honey, and oil. You became royalty. And your fame spread among the nations.
But, the give of beauty I gave you became something that you focused on too much. Because of your fame, you became a prostitute, thinking you could sell yourself now to others. And you gave my gifts to anyone that passed by. You took the jewelry I gave you and turned it into an image to worship. And you set the food I had given you before others. You even took your offspring, my gift to you, and set them before these images, sacrificing them. Through all of this, you forgot where you had been, where you had come from, your birth, your beginnings.
And you kept going. You made a mound and elevated your position above everyone else. And your prostitution, the giving of my gifts to others, increased. My anger was provoked. So, I reduced your provisions. I gave you over to the desire of your heart, to those that hate you. And suddenly you were engaged in rampant prostitution with as many as you could find. From nation to nation. You loved lust. But, unlike a prostitute, you did this all for free. You didn't want anything return. This is how much you enjoyed your sin.
The Lord will gather all those you loved and together your nakedness will be exposed. You will be judged. I will hand you over to them. You will be naked before all. Your houses will burn and I will then stop you from being a prostitute. My wrath will be satisfied. My jealousy will turn away. You walked in the detestable ways of your ancestry (Hittite, Amorite), but you took it a step further and lived more detestable lives than they did. Your sins are so great that your detestable sisters seem righteous. Bear your disgrace. Be ashamed.
You must bear the consequence of your detestable practices. The Lord will deal with you according to what you have done.
But....
The Lord will remember the covenant He made with you. He will establish an everlasting covenant with you. Not because of the covenant you made with me, but because of the covenant I made with you (verse 61, 62). And you will know that I am Yahweh. I will make atonement. You will remember. Your mouth will be closed.
Promise: God is just and His justice will be served. What matters is His covenant with us. He is Lord. Always.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Ezekiel 15
Message: The Wood of the Vine.
Time: Ezekiel receives a parable from the Lord.
What the Lord is Saying:
Small chapter, but as is customary with parables, there is lots of information here.
Branch among branches compare (verse 2). This is interesting. Is Israel, the wood of the vine, shown here to be distinct from the other vines, the other wood. Can different wood be useful? Can this wood be useful? The wood of the vine was not useful. The purpose of the vine was to produce grapes. But, the wood. It is only good for producing a fire.
Into the fire (verse 4). The wood here has a purpose. Fuel for the fire. The wood has a purpose.
Could not be made useful whole or after being devoured (verse 5). On its own, it isn't useful. It needs something or someone to ignite it.
Ultimately, like the wood, God will give up the wood, His people, to burn. The people of Jerusalem had become this wood. The leftover part of the vine. No matter what, they will be consumed.
Grape-producing vines were among the most important crops of ancient Israel and therefore key to the old covenant community and its economy. To own a prosperous vineyard was to have a means of supporting oneself and one's family, and an abundant vineyard came to symbolize prosperity.
Promise: God does things for a reason. There is always a reason. We may not comprehend it, but there is a reason. Here the reason is unfaithfulness.
Time: Ezekiel receives a parable from the Lord.
What the Lord is Saying:
Small chapter, but as is customary with parables, there is lots of information here.
Branch among branches compare (verse 2). This is interesting. Is Israel, the wood of the vine, shown here to be distinct from the other vines, the other wood. Can different wood be useful? Can this wood be useful? The wood of the vine was not useful. The purpose of the vine was to produce grapes. But, the wood. It is only good for producing a fire.
Into the fire (verse 4). The wood here has a purpose. Fuel for the fire. The wood has a purpose.
Could not be made useful whole or after being devoured (verse 5). On its own, it isn't useful. It needs something or someone to ignite it.
Ultimately, like the wood, God will give up the wood, His people, to burn. The people of Jerusalem had become this wood. The leftover part of the vine. No matter what, they will be consumed.
Grape-producing vines were among the most important crops of ancient Israel and therefore key to the old covenant community and its economy. To own a prosperous vineyard was to have a means of supporting oneself and one's family, and an abundant vineyard came to symbolize prosperity.
Promise: God does things for a reason. There is always a reason. We may not comprehend it, but there is a reason. Here the reason is unfaithfulness.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Ezekiel 14
Message: People willingly turn from the Lord and when they do judgment awaits. Only being righteous saves us and this righteousness comes from God. God's justice is being seen right now, today.
Time: Ezekiel receives a visit from some of the leaders of Israel and when visiting, he receives a message from the Lord.
What the Lord is Saying:
The leaders have idols in their hearts. They embrace things that will lead them to sin. They petition me. Why should I listen? Instead, what they will receive is a deceived message. They will learn, eventually, not to have other gods.
Another scenario comes up, people sin and receive judgment. People die. Who escapes this? Several times the text states that the ones that escape are the ones that have been declared righteous. Righteousness saves people, individuals, not groups or nations.
It is interesting to realize that God's laws of justice are active even in today's time. We often wonder when God is going to judge and not allow the sin to continue, like it is? What makes us think that God isn't already judging us? Right now, we see the fraying of the fabric of our society. God's name is blasphemed on a regular occurrence now. Marriage is being redefined. Idolatry is common place (gambling, alcoholism, debauchery, gluttony). It is somewhat inconsistent to look at these things and think that God's justice is NOT currently occurring. Many of us are groaning because of what is occurring, though many think everything is fine. We are currently, right now, in a state of receiving the curse of God. I must remember Romans 1 and the fact that God gives people over to their sin when they continue to ignore the commandments of the Lord.
We are too quick to think that the destruction and calamities we are privy to today are not due to God's judgment.
Problem: God's judgment is here, right now.
Time: Ezekiel receives a visit from some of the leaders of Israel and when visiting, he receives a message from the Lord.
What the Lord is Saying:
The leaders have idols in their hearts. They embrace things that will lead them to sin. They petition me. Why should I listen? Instead, what they will receive is a deceived message. They will learn, eventually, not to have other gods.
Another scenario comes up, people sin and receive judgment. People die. Who escapes this? Several times the text states that the ones that escape are the ones that have been declared righteous. Righteousness saves people, individuals, not groups or nations.
It is interesting to realize that God's laws of justice are active even in today's time. We often wonder when God is going to judge and not allow the sin to continue, like it is? What makes us think that God isn't already judging us? Right now, we see the fraying of the fabric of our society. God's name is blasphemed on a regular occurrence now. Marriage is being redefined. Idolatry is common place (gambling, alcoholism, debauchery, gluttony). It is somewhat inconsistent to look at these things and think that God's justice is NOT currently occurring. Many of us are groaning because of what is occurring, though many think everything is fine. We are currently, right now, in a state of receiving the curse of God. I must remember Romans 1 and the fact that God gives people over to their sin when they continue to ignore the commandments of the Lord.
We are too quick to think that the destruction and calamities we are privy to today are not due to God's judgment.
Problem: God's judgment is here, right now.
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