Obedience Even In the Face of Difficulty.

Ezekiel 24-25

So I proclaimed this to the people the next morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did everything I had been told to do. – Ezekiel 24:18 NLT

This is by far the most difficult command God had given Ezekiel – at least from my perspective. God informs Ezekiel that his wife, his "dearest treasure," is going to die suddenly, and Ezekiel is not to mourn or weep for her publicly. He is not to eat any of the food brought to him by well-meaning friends, and meant to encourage him. In other words, Ezekiel is not to do any of the normal things you would do when you lose a loved one to death. It was all to be an illustration to the people of Judah living in captivity, because God was about to allow the Temple and the city of Jerusalem to be destroyed. The people loved the Temple. It was the source of their security and pride. "The place your hearts delight in" (Ezekiel 24:21b NLT). As long as they had the Temple, they had hope. But God was going to allow His house to be destroyed by the Babylonians, and the exiles living in Babylon, who had been taken captive years earlier, would mourn in silence. Ezekiel had every right to mourn his personal loss, but was not allowed to. The people of Judah had NO right to mourn their loss, because of their sin, so God refused to allow them to mourn as if their loss was undeserved or unfair.

But what do we do with the death of Ezekiel's wife? Did God cause her death? Did He kill this man's wife just to make a point? For me, I have to consider the complete character of God in order to understand what is going on here. There is no doubt that God was in control of this situation. He was sovereign over every event that happened, including the death of Ezekiel's wife. But whether God caused her death or allowed it is hard to know for sure. Based on what we know about God from the Scriptures, it seems to make the most sense that we interpret this event as God allowing Ezekiel's wife to die at this particular time – utilizing what He knew was already going to happen. Had she been sick? We don't know. Was her condition the result of disease or plague? The passage does not tell us. But we must interpret this event based on other revelations of God's character found in the Word. It is not whether or not God could have caused her death, but whether God would have killed an innocent woman just to illustrate a point. Would that be consistent with His character? In his Notes on Ezekiel, Dr. Thomas Constable says, "The text does not say that God put her to death as an object lesson. She could have been ill for some time before she died. Another similar situation involved God allowing the death of His innocent Son to occur at precisely the time God intended as another expression of His love and judgment."

In reading the Old Testamant, we have to be careful that we interpret what it seems to reveal about God's character by comparing what we read with other passages and revelations about God. Otherwise we can easily build a case that God is callous, hard, vindictive and heartless. But even in this very difficult book, we see that God is ultimately loving, kind, patient, and forgiving. While He punishes, He also restores. While He brings well-deserved judgment, He also brings undeserved mercy and grace. He is not one-dimensional, but multi-faceted and complex. And He is always righteous and just in all His actions.

Father, sometimes You are hard to understand. I can't take one passage or one story and build a case about You. You entire Word is a revelation of who You are and how You work. Help me to look at You holistically as You are revealed through the Scriptures. Give me a growing understanding of who You really are. Amen

WARNING: Contains Graphic Images.

Ezekiel 23

Furthermore, they have defiled my Temple and violated my Sabbath day! On the very day that they sacrificed their children to their idols, they boldly came into my Temple to worship! They came in and defiled my house. – Ezekiel 23:38-39 NLT

Sadly, we see the warning above on everything from DVD packages to video games. Even prime-time TV shows come with warnings about the graphic nature of their content. But it is surprising and a bit shocking to think of a chapter in the Bible that might need a graphic warning label. But chapter 23 of Ezekiel contains some of the most sexually explicit language in the Bible. To understand just how disturbing this message must have been for Ezekiel to deliver and for his audience to receive, imagine going to church one Sunday morning and hearing your pastor present a message that contained some of the same imagery and language that Ezekiel used. Just think how you would feel if he accused you of spiritual prostitution and used the same graphic details to describe your spiritual indiscretions. You would be shocked, appalled, and probably offended. So were the people of Judah. And that is exactly what God intended. He wanted to shock them. He wanted to offend them. And He wanted them to be appalled at the gravity of their guilt. So He used extremely graphic language to describe just how serious their sin was.

Sometimes we can become overly comfortable with our sin that we view it with a kind of casualness. We get so used to it that we forget just how detestable it is to God. That was Judah's problem. They had sinned for so long that it no longer bothered them. They had learned to live with it and excuse it. They had gotten used to justifying their behavior as normal. But God made it graphicly clear that this was anything but normal. Like two sisters who blatantly prostituted themselves with other men, Israel and Judah had pursued relationships with other nations and other gods. They had turned their back on God and sought satisfaction elsewhere. They looked to other nations for their security. They turned to other gods for hope and healing. And while we might consider those actions less-than-shocking, God makes it clear that He sees what they had done as nothing short of immoral and unthinkable. Like a woman who walks out on her loving husband and gives herself physically to every man she meets, Israel and Judah had prostituted themselves time and time again – right in front of the very God who had chosen them, rescued them, and blessed them with His Law, His Temple and His presence.

This chapter is meant to disturb us. It should shock us and make us understand just how serious spiritual adultery is to God. He doesn't take it lightly. He won't tolerate it among His people. He would not and could not turn a blind eye to their actions. One of the most disturbing verses in the whole chapter is His accusation that "on the very day that they sacrificed their children to their idols, they boldly came into my Temple to worship! They came in and defiled my house" (Ezekiel 23:39 NLT). In other words, on the very day that they had murdered their own children as a form of their worship of other gods, they would come into God's house and worship Him. They thought nothing of their actions or how they had offended God. But we do the same thing. We show up at church on Sunday having worshiped the gods of this world all week, then sing songs of praise and worship to God as if it doesn't matter and He doesn't care. We sacrifice our kids to the gods of entertainment, music, the Internet, and the culture, allowing them to watch what they want to watch on TV, listen to what they want to listen to, and absorb anything and everything from the world via the tube and the Web. Then we all show up on Sunday to worship God. We bring our unconfessed sins into His presence and act as if there is nothing wrong.

This chapter should disturb us and wake us up to the reality of the seriousness of sin. Spiritual unfaithfulness is an offense to a holy God. If it bothered them this much back in the day of Ezekiel, it must still bother Him today. He is calling us to remain faithful to Him. He is warning us to consider the seriousness of unfaithfulness in the life of the child of God.

Father, shock me into understanding just how much You hate when I am unfaithful to You. Don't allow me to take my spiritual indiscretions lightly. You certainly don't. Amen

Standing In The Gap.

Ezekiel 22

I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one. – Ezekiel 22:30 NLT

I can't read the verse above and not think of that famous war-time poster of Uncle Sam pointing his finger and saying, "I want you!" Here in Ezekiel 22, God is pointing His finger and saying that He looked for a few good men, but found none. There was no one who might help rebuild the spiritual walls of the nation of Judah. Not a single man could be found who was willing or able to stand in the gaps in that wall while it was being rebuilt, in order to protect the people and the integrity of God's name. God said, "I searched…but I found no one!" He could find plenty of murderers, unethical leaders, immoral husbands and wives, extortioners, swindlers, unrighteous priests and false prophets. But He couldn't a single, solitary man to "stand in the gap."

From God's perspective, the land was polluted. The people were like worthless slag, the leftovers of the refining process. The chosen people of God had become valueless because they were no longer holy and set apart. Rather than live their lives as God's special possession, set apart for His use and His glory, they had chosen to defile themselves and dishonor God by serving other gods. After all God had done for them, there was not a single individual who God could point His finger at and say, "I want you!" Yes, He had Ezekiel, Daniel, Jeremiah, Nehemiah and a handful of other prophets, but there was a glaring absence of faithful men and women who He could trust to help rebuild the spiritual legacy of the nation of Israel. Things were so bad that even God's faithful prophets would prove unsuccessful in stemming the tide of sin and rebellion. The moral condition of the nation had reached an all-time low.

But this chapter reminds us that God is always looking for men and women who will rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. Today, we face similar conditions to that of Ezekiel's day. Immorality, unethical leadership, graft, greed, corruption and a growing sense of spiritual apathy. And God is looking for a few good men and women who would be willing to stand in the gap so that the spiritual walls might be rebuilt. Those men and women are there, but the sad thing is that they are seemingly few and far between. The righteous seem to be overwhelmed by the unrighteous and the spiritually indifferent. But God has always worked with a remnant. He is looking for the faithful few through whom He can work in the midst of all the darkness. "I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall." Has He found you?

Father, may I be that person You are looking for. I want to stand in the gap. I want to help rebuild the spiritual walls around Your people. Use me to accomplish Your will in this nation and around the world, so that You might receive the glory. Amen

I've God Bad News and Good News.

Ezekiel 21

Destruction! Destruction! I will surely destroy the kingdom. And it will not be restored until the one appears who has the right to judge it. Then I will hand it over to him. – Ezekiel 21:27 NLT

It is hard to argue that the book of Ezekiel is filled with a lot of bad news. Over and over again the prophet delivers messages from God regarding the sins of the people and the coming destruction. But occasionally God gives a glimpse of future hope. He let's them in on the secret that there is good news ahead. There is a brighter future on the horizon. He will not remain angry forever. He will not destroy completely. He will keep His covenant promise. In verse 27 we get a glimmer of light in the midst of all the darkness and gloom. Yes, destruction is coming. God is going to destroy the kingdom of Judah. And it will remain in a state of destruction and devastation for many years. But there is a day coming when He will restore the nation of Judah and the people of God. With the death of Zedekiah, the reign of the kings of Judah comes to an end. There would be no more kings sitting on the throne of David. Even now, there is no king in Israel. But God is not done. His plan is not complete. God tells Ezekiel that there is a day coming when He will turn over the kingdom to one "who has the right to judge it" (Ezekiel 21:27b NLT).

We are told of this coming king in Isaiah 9:6-7. "For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor,d Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!" The prophet Jeremiah was told about this coming king as well. "'For the time is coming,' says the Lord, 'when I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line. He will be a King who rules with wisdom. He will do what is just and right throughout the land. And this will be his name: "The Lord Is Our Righteousness." In that day Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety.'" (Jeremiah 23:5-6 NLT).

The bad news came with some very good news. God has a plan for His people. He is not done with Israel – even now. They are a nation, but they do not have a king. They have no Temple. They have no sacrificial system. They have no priesthood. But there is a day coming when God will provide for them a ruler who will serve as their priest and king. He will rule and reign in righteousness. He will reestablish the throne of David and rule in Jerusalem with total power and in complete righteousness. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, the Messiah, Jesus the Son of God.

Father, You are far from done. Your work is not yet complete. Your plan is not finished. Keep us focused on the good news of Your sovereign plan. It is easy to look at all that is going wrong in the world and lose hope. But You are in total control and Your plan is unstoppable and totally reliable. Amen

For the Honor Of His Name.

Ezekiel 20

…for I acted to protect the honor of my name. I would not allow any shame to be brought on my name among the surrounding nations who saw me reveal myself by bringing the Israelites out of Egypt. – Ezekiel 20:9 NLT

What's in a name? In regards to God, everything. His name represents who He is. It encompasses His character and nature. His name isn't just a label or designation to help differentiate Him from something or someone similar. It is His essence. And as the chosen children of God, the people of Israel were to help set apart His name by living lives that were distinctly different from that nations around them. But in this chapter, God instructs Ezekiel to remind the people of their repeated rejection of Him over the years since He delivered them from Egypt. Over and over again, God says, "But they rebelled…" God had made a solemn oath to deliver them from captivity and give them the Promised Land. In return, He had asked them to get rid of their idols and worship Him alone. But they couldn't do it. They repeatedly rebelled and refused to obey His law – all throughout their years in the wilderness and even after they arrived in the Promised Land. So God was forced to punish them for their rebellion. He would have been absolutely just in wiping them out completely, but instead, He showed them grace and mercy – all to protect the integrity of His name. He was going to do what He said He would do. He was going to keep His covenant promise to them. He had promised them the land and He was going to give it to them – in spite their unfaithfulness and rebellion. God's name and His character was at stake. If He would have failed to bring the people of Israel into the Promised Land, the nations would have questioned His integrity. They would have doubted His power. They would have never have seen His holiness or set-apartness – those characteristics about Him that made Him distinct from any other god.

Over the years, the people of God had brought shame on His name. They had been set apart by God as distinct and holy. They were His possession and were to live like it. That is why He gave them the Law. That is why He provided the sacrificial system. Unlike all the other nations, the Israelites were to worship Him and Him alone. But they had failed to do so, and as a result, they had defiled His name. And while God would have been completely justified in destroying them, He had to keep His promises because His name was at stake. He is the covenant-keeping God. If He failed to keep His promise, He would prove Himself either untrustworthy or incapable of doing what He had promised. So when the people failed to honor God's name, He did it Himself. He protected the integrity of His name. He punished justly, spared them graciously, and continually extended mercy – refusing the wipe them out completely, all because of His name.

Over in Romans 2:4, Paul reminds us, "Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?" God's interactions with Israel were always based on His character, not theirs. And the same is true in our day. God continues to shower us with mercy and grace, because that is His character. He is a holy God who must punish sin, and He did, by sacrificing His own Son on the cross in our place. He can only allow those who are righteous into His presence, so He exchanged our unrighteousness with the righteousness of Christ. Christ took on our sin and we took on His righteousness. So we stand before God as holy. Everything God has done and will do reflects His character and His name. "You will know that I am the Lord, O people of Israel, when I have honored my name by treating you mercifully in spite of your wickedness. I, the sovereign Lord, have spoken!" (Ezekiel 20:44 NLT).

Father, Your name is great and while I tend to ignore it, demean it, and take it in vain by the way I live my life, You are constantly living up to Your name. It is Your reputation and character. It is who You are. And I am grateful that You live up to Your standards. You never change. You never fail to be who You are. You never step out of character. And because You honor Your name, I can stand before You and honor You as well. Amen

Sad Song, Sung Blue.

Ezekiel 19

But the vine was uprooted in fury and thrown down to the ground. The desert wind dried up its fruit and tore off its strong branches, so that it withered and was destroyed by fire. – Ezekiel 19:31-12 NLT

The people of Judah still held out hope that things would change. Even as they lived in forced exile in the land of Babylon, they kept dreaming that someone from the line of David would step up and deliver them from their oppression and restore the glory of Judah. In spite of all the warnings and prophecies of Ezekiel and others, they kept believing that things were going to turn around any minute. But God wants them to know that their destruction is unavoidable and their restoration impossible – without His help. So he has Ezekiel write a funeral dirge – a song of lament describing the final days of the once great nation of Judah. From God's perspective, Judah is dead. Their is no life left. There is no king waiting in the wings, ready to step up and deliver the nation from the hands of the Babylonians. Her kings had all been killed or taken captive. The once fruitful and powerful nation was relegated to obscurity in a foreign land. The city of Jerusalem was destroyed and the Temple desecrated. There is no one left to deliver the people.

But there is always God. When all else looks bleak and hopeless, there is always God. He knew their state well. He was fully aware of their weak and helpless condition. He knew that there was no one king left in the line of David to deliver them. So God would do what men could not do. He would restore them to the land from which He had banished them. He would return a remnant to the land in order to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Ezra and Nehemiah would help lead a small group of captives to the land where they would labor to restore the nation of Judah. God would be the one to make it all possible. In spite of all their sin and rebellion, God would show them mercy and grace, returning them to the land and restoring them as a nation. And while their would be no king to rule when they returned, God still has a king in waiting – His very own Son – who sits at His right hand in heaven and will one day return to the earth to set up His kingdom in Jerusalem where He will reign in righteousness. This song has a happy ending because God is faithful. All the sadness will be turned to joy. The darkness will be replaced by light. The hopelessness will be replaced with hope. The song of sadness will be replaced with shouts of joy.

"Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him. For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods." – Psalm 95:1-3 NLT

Father, only You can turn our sadness into joy. You can take what appears to be hopeless and replace it with hope. You deliver when no one else can. You restore what appears to be gone for good. Never let me lose sight of the fact that nothing is beyond Your reach. Nothing is impossible for You to do. With You, there is always hope. And one day, we will sing for joy when we see what You have done. Amen

Our Righteous God.

Ezekiel 18

Therefore, I will judge each of you, O people of Israel, according to your actions, says the Sovereign Lord. Repent, and turn from your sins. Don’t let them destroy you! Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel? I don’t want you to die, says the Sovereign Lord. Turn back and live! – Ezekiel 18:31-33 NLT

There was a common proverb among the Israelites in Ezekiel's day that said, "The parents have eaten sour grapes, but their children's mouths pucker at the taste." It was a subtle form of the blame game. Rather than accept responsibility for their sins and the subsequent consequences, they preferred to blame their problems on their ancestors. In the case of the Israelites, there was no doubt about the sinful behavior of their forefathers. God had made it clear that previous generations had failed to live their lives in faithful obedience to Him. But He was not going to allow the present generation to blame their current condition on others. They were just as guilty and just as deserving of punishment as their grandparents and parents had been. God was clearing up a common misunderstanding in their day and letting them know that each and every individual was responsible for their own behavior. "What?’ you ask. ‘Doesn’t the child pay for the parent’s sins?’ No! For if the child does what is just and right and keeps my decrees, that child will surely live. The person who sins is the one who will die. The child will not be punished for the parent’s sins, and the parent will not be punished for the child’s sins. Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behavior, and wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness" (Ezekiel 18:19-20 NLT).

Then God shares something that is highly confusing and disturbing for us as believers to read. "However, if righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things and act like other sinners, should they be allowed to live? No, of course not! All their righteous acts will be forgotten, and they will die for their sins" (Ezekiel 18:24 NLT). Wow! If I read that passage correctly, it sounds like if I suddenly fail to live righteously, everything I have done that was righteous up until that point will become null and void, and I will end up dying for my sins. At first glance, it appears as if this passage is saying I can lose my salvation just for sinning. I am responsible for living a righteous life – continually and consistently. As long as I do, I am safe. But if I fail to do so, I am condemned. But we have to remember that this passage was written before the cross. It is stating the condition of things prior to the Good News of Jesus Christ. And what makes the Good News good news is that when God sent His Son into the world, He was providing a way for men to get right with Him and stay right with Him that was not going to be based on SELF-righteousness. No longer would the requirement be that I somehow live a righteous life in my own strength. I would no longer be expected to live up to God's righteous standard on my own. And let's face it, God's standard of righteousness was demanding. He expected obedience, faithfulness, adherence to His Law and unflinching worship of Him and Him alone. And no man was able to meet that standard. Which is why He sent His Son. Because God is righteous and holy, He could not lower His standard to accommodate man's weakness, so He sent His own Son to earth as a man to live a purely righteous life and die a sinless death on our behalf. Jesus Christ did what no man before Him had ever or could ever have done. He met God's righteous standard and paid the high price for man's sinfulness with His own death on the cross. And God was satisfied. So in return, those who place their faith in His Son receive His righteousness. He took my sin upon Himself on the cross and exchanged it with His righteousness. So that now, when God looks at me, He sees me as righteous because of the blood of Jesus Christ. When I read the Old Testament, I am reminded of just how great the gift is that I have received. There was a time when men were expected to earn and keep God's favor on their own. They were required to meet the exacting standards of God's righteousness or reap the consequences. But because of what Christ has done, my righteousness is no longer based on what I do. Now that does not free me to live my life in sin, expecting God's grace to overlook my guilt and excuse it with a dismissive boys-will-be-boys attitude. "Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?" (Romans 6:1-2 NLT). Because of Christ's sacrificial, substitionary death on the cross, I have been given a new capacity to NOT sin. I don't have to sin. I am no longer a slave to sin. I can obey the Spirit of God who lives within me. I have a new heart and a new power to live righteously. Paul tells us, "For everyone has sinned; we fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood" (Romans 3:23-25 NLT). I was once a sinner, responsible and culpable for own sinful behavior. I was guilty and deserving of death. But God sent His Son to pay the penalty for my sin and die the death that I deserved. God showered me with His grace and gave me something I didn't deserve – salvation. He extended mercy, and didn't give me what I DID deserve – death. "God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus" (Romans 3:26 NLT).

Father, You are a righteous, holy God and Your standards are perfect. When man could not live up to your standards, You sent Your Son to do what we could not do. He lived the life we couldn't live and paid the price for our sin we deserved to pay. Now we enjoy a right standing with You – all because of Him. Thank You. Amen

On Eagle's Wings.

Ezekiel 17

And all the trees will know that it is I, the Lord, who cuts the tall tree down and makes the short tree grow tall. It is I who makes the green tree wither and gives the dead tree new life. I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do what I said! – Ezekiel 17:24 NLT

I'm not particularly fond of riddles. I don't like puzzles and guessing games drive me crazy. No, I tend to like answers, not questions. I prefer clarity over confusion. So when God speaks in riddles and parables, I find myself getting a bit uncomfortable. I want answers and I don't want to have to search too hard to find them. So when this chapter started off with a riddle, I was less than excited. But fortunately, this is one of those cases where God doesn't leave us guessing what the riddle means. He graciously provides an explanation so there's absolutely no confusion as to what He is trying to say.

A giant eagle swoops down and plucks off the top of a cedar tree, carrying it off to a city far away. The eagle also took a seedling and planted it by a river where it grew into a vine with deep roots and strong branches. This healthy, growing vine, while prosperous, turned its attention to another eagle, in search for water, even though it was doing just fine right where it was. It had plenty of good soil and water, but was not satisfied. So God says that He will uproot this vine, cut off its fruit and leave it to whither and die right in the soil where it had been prospering. What in the world is going on here? Well, God tells us. The first eagle represents Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. He "swooped" down with his troops, invaded Jerusalem and took Jehoiachin, king of Judah as his prisoner back to Babylon. He then set up another puppet king named Zedekiah (the seedling) on the throne of Jerusalem. Zedekiah made a covenant with Nebuchadnezzar – an oath of loyalty. As lone as he kept that oath, the nation prospered. But Zedekiah decided to rebel and turned to Egypt (the second eagle) for assistance. He broke his covenant with Nebuchadnezzar. As a result, Jerusalem was invaded again, the city was leveled, the Temple destroyed and Zedekiah was taken captive to Babylon, where he had his eyes gouged out. 

But God is not finished with the explanation. There is another "eagle" revealed, and it's Him. He says that a day is coming when He will take another branch from the top of a cedar tree and plant it on Israel's highest mountain. This branch is Jesus, the Messiah. We are told about this branch in the book of Jeremiah. "'For the time is coming,' says the Lord, 'when I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line. He will be a King who rules with wisdom. He will do what is just and right throughout the land. And this will be his name: "The Lord Is Our Righteousness." In that day Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety'" (Jeremiah 23:5-6 NLT). There is a day coming when Jesus will return to the earth and set up His kingdom in Jerusalem, where He will reign for 1,000 years. Babylon, Egypt, the United States, Russian, China, Great Britain, and all the other nations of the earth are no match for the plan of God. Babylon was a tool in the hands of God to accomplish His divine will. He has a greater plan in place. He is out to accomplish His will in His way and on His time table. When God completes His plan all people will know that He has been in control all along, cutting down the tall tree and making the short tree grow, withering the green tree and giving new life to the dead one. God is sovereign and in complete control. That is the way He starts out this whole chapter. "Son of man, give this riddle, and tell this story to the people of Israel. Give them this message from the Sovereign Lord" (Ezekiel 17:2 NLT).

Father, You truly are the Sovereign Lord. You have always been in control, even back during the days of Ezekiel. And You are just as much in control today. Never let us lose sight of the fact that You are sovereign and Lord over ALL things, including kings, presidents, countries, continents, time, space, past, present and future. We can trust You. Amen

Our Faithful and Forgiving God.

Ezekiel 16

And I will reaffirm my covenant with you, and you will know that I am the Lord. You will remember your sins and cover your mouth in silent shame when I forgive you of all that you have done. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken! – Ezekiel 16:62-63 NLT

Judah was guilty. In fact, the southern kingdom was so guilty that God compared their sins to the northern kingdom and the city of Sodom and said, "You have done more detestable things than your sisters ever did. They seem righteous compared to you. Shame on you! Your sins are so terrible that you make your sisters seems righteous, even virtuous" (Ezekiel 16:51-52 NLT). Judah was so sinful and wicked that they made the city of Sodom look tame, even righteous in comparison. Now, that's bad. And God pulls no punches in pointing out the various ways in which Judah had taken home the world record in sinful activity. What makes their story so shocking is that God had taken them from nothing and made them something. He had poured out His love, grace and mercy on them at a time when they were totally undeserving. He compares them to a newborn baby, unwanted and abandoned in a field to die. God rescued them, gave them life, and raised them up as His own. He made a covenant with them. He blessed them, cared for them, and allowed them to prosper and thrive. He took what was unwanted and undeserving and made it His special possession. And how did they treat their rescuer and redeemer? With contempt, callousness, and a degree if ingratitude that is hard to imagine. Instead of returning God's affection, they rejected Him. They used the gifts God had graciously given them to buy the affections of other "lovers." They acted like a prostitute who paid others for sexual favors. They gained nothing from their sinful encounters. "Prostitutes charge for their services – but not you! You give gifts to your lovers, bribing them to come and have sex with you. So you are the opposite of other prostitutes. You pay for your lovers instead of their paying you! (Ezekiel 16:33-34 NLT). Their unfaithfulness would prove to be unprofitable and extremely costly.

But amazingly, while God was forced to punish them for their sin, He was also faithful to forgive them. He reminded them, "I will give you what you deserve, for you have taken your solemn vows lightly by breaking your covenant. Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you when you were young, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you" (Ezekiel 16:59-60 NLT). God would not overlook their sin. He would have to punish them for their indiscretions, but He would not forget the covenant He had made with them. In spite of their unfaithfulness, He would remain faithful. And there is a day coming when God will forgive all the sins of Judah. He will reestablish them as His own. He will return them to His favor and pour out His love, grace and mercy once again. He will set up His throne in Jerusalem where His Son will reign in righteousness. They will feel shame for all they have done to sin against God, but that shame will be short-lived. He will replace it with joy as they take in the magnitude of His undeserved grace and mercy. All of this should be a reminder to us that this is the God we serve. That He could forgive the sins of Judah should give us hope and assurance that He will forgive our sins. That He could love Judah in spite of their unfaithfulness should remind us just how much God loves us – even when we prove unfaithful. What an amazing, forgiving, gracious, loving God we serve.

Father, I am blown away by Your love and forgiveness. I have a hard time understanding Your faithfulness. That You could remain faithful to Judah after all they had done to sin against You is difficult to comprehend. My faith is so fickle. I give up on others so easy. But You don't. Help me to grow in my understanding of just how great and gracious You really are. Amen

The Folly of Fruitlessness.

Ezekiel 15

And this is what the Sovereign Lord says: "The people of Jerusalem are like grapevines growing among the trees of the forest. Since they are useless, I have thrown them on the fire to be burned.” – Ezekiel 15:6 NLT

Where was the fruit? God had planted Israel as His choice vine. He had placed them in a prominent place right in the middle of all the nations of the world. He had blessed them and made them His own. He had great plans for them. He wanted them to prosper and be fruitful, so that they and the nations around them might know that Yahweh is Lord. But Israel proved fruitless and unfaithful. "But I was the one who planted you, choosing a vine of the purest stock — the very best. How did you grow into this corrupt wild vine" (Jeremiah 2:21 NLT). "The nation of Israel is the vineyard of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. The people of Judah are his pleasant garden. He expected a crop of justice, but instead he found oppression. He expected to find righteousness, but instead he heard cries of violence." – Isaiah 5:7 NLT

Israel had a singular purpose: To produce fruit. They were to be a conduit through which God would work, producing the fruit of righteousness in a land that desperately needed it. God makes it clear to Ezekiel that the wood of a vine is worthless for anything but the production of grapes. If it is not producing fruit, it is worthless. If Israel was not going to do what God had chosen it to do, it was of no use to Him. God had no need for Israel to become a great nation if it was not going to be dedicated to Him alone and committed to the job of fruit-bearing. It had one purpose and one purpose only. And God drives that point home. "Is vine wood ever used to make anything? Is it used to make pegs to hang things from?" (Ezekiel 15:3 MSG).

But Israel wanted to be great. It wanted to be significant. It desired to be a major player in terms of both military might and political power. Fruitfulness was not high on its list of priorities. And while it had become a great nation, wealthy and highly influential; in God's eyes, Israel had become expendable. They were no longer doing what they had been created to do. From the day God had called Abram out of Ur, He had a clear plan for His chosen people. "The Lord had said to Abram, 'Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you'” (Genesis 12:1-3 NLT). Ultimately, the blessing God was talking about would come through Jesus Christ, the Savior. But even before the coming of Christ, Israel was to be a beacon of light in the midst of the darkness. They were to reveal to the world the one true God as they lived in faithful obedience and dependence upon Him. He was to be their God and they were to be His people. God was their vinekeeper. He had planted them, nourished them, cared for and protected them. But when all was said and done, something was missing: Fruit. "What more could I have done for my vineyard that I have not already done? When I expected sweet grapes, why did my vineyard give me bitter grapes?" (Isaiah 5:4 NLT). God was looking for fruit – the byproduct of a relationship with Him. And He is looking for the same thing in our lives today. God wants to see fruit in our lives. "But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23 NLT). Producing fruit is the purpose for why we exist. We have been chosen by God for that purpose and that purpose alone. Like grapevines that no longer produce grapes, Christians who are not bearing fruit in their lives are missing their calling. May we come to realize that we are here for one reason alone – to allow God to produce His fruit through our lives so that we might be a blessing to those among whom we live.

Father, I want to be a fruit-bearer for You. Forgive me for the many times I get off task and decide to give my life another purpose other than the one for which You have chosen me. May I learn to be satisfied with my role as a fruit-bearer for You. Amen

False Prophets Providing False Hope.

Ezekiel 13-14

They have done nothing to repair the breaks in the walls around the nation. They have not helped it to stand firm in battle on the day of the Lord. Instead, they have told lies and made false predictions. They say, "This message is from the Lord," even though the Lord never sent them. And yet they expect him to fulfill their prophecies! – Ezekiel 13:5-6 NLT

While the prophets of God were busy telling the people the truth of God – there were plenty of false prophets happy to provide the people with reassuring words and comforting, yet contradictory messages of hope. Rather than tell the people God's message of warning, they chose to tell them what they wanted to hear. "They were lying prophets who claimed peace would come to Jerusalem when there was no peace" (Ezekiel 13:16 NLT). They were deceiving the people by promoting a false sense of calm and assurance when calamity was right around the corner. They were putting words in God's mouth, acting as if they were speaking on His behalf, when they hadn't heard from God at all. And His warning against them was severe. Rather than calling the people to repentance, they were causing the people to reject the call of God to reject their sinful lifestyles and return to Him. But false prophets are not just a thing of the past. They are alive and well today, spreading their man-made messages of hope that fly in the face of God's Word. There is the popular pastor of a mega-church who has written a book with the reassuring title, Love Wins. In it, he questions the reality of hell and the belief that God would ever send anyone there. He questions everything, leaving his readers with the false assumption that a loving God would never create a place like hell or send anyone there. His version of God is all loving and always provides a way so that every man eventually turns to Him. His book is a confusing, contradiction-filled treatise that paints a rosy and much more attractive image of God than the one we find in Scripture. He plays fast and lose with the Word of God to create his own version of the truth, that is in the end, anything but the truth. He deceives and deludes, crying peace when there is no peace. He gives his readers a false sense of assurance when he should be driving them to God in repentance.

God's Word can be difficult to understand and even harder to obey. It is not always easy to comprehend how a loving God can come across as so demanding and judgmental. We struggle dealing with the stories in the Old Testament that seem to reveal a God who is quick to anger and not afraid to destroy those who don't measure up to His high standards. Concepts like hell and judgment seem uncharacteristically unloving and therefore, unacceptable to us. So we try to come up with ways to reject or replace them. We create our own versions of God's message. We dumb it down, soften it up, make it more palatable, and in the end, spread a false message that is easy on the ears, but deadly. Yes, God is love. But His love does not diminish His holiness. He cannot overlook sin and leave it unpunished. That is why He sent His Son to provide a payment for sin. But if men ignore God's call to righteousness and the reality of His coming judgment on all mankind, they will reject His offer of salvation through faith in Christ. Men who see no need of salvation because their is no judgment, will see no need of a savior. And there are plenty of false prophets today who are happy to proclaim "God is love" or as they did in the day of Ezekiel, "All is peaceful." May we never stop speaking the truth of God so that others might receive the grace of God through the free gift of salvation provided by the Son of God.

Father, Your Word is sometimes hard to share and even harder for others to accept. But don't let us water it down or cover it up. Give us the strength to speak boldly and truthfully Your words and not our own. Amen

All Talk, No Action. All Bark, No Bite.

Ezekiel 11-12

Son of man, the people of Israel are saying, "He’s talking about the distant future. His visions won’t come true for a long, long time." Therefore, tell them, This is what the Sovereign Lord says: "No more delay! I will now do everything I have threatened. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!” – Ezekiel 12:27-28 NLT

We all know Aesop's fable about the boy who cried wolf. It seems that this young was bored with his job as a shepherd, so to add a little excitement to his day, he would suddenly cry out, "Wolf! Wolf! The Wolf is chasing the sheep!" The townspeople would run to his aid, only to find a grinning shepherd boy and no wolf. "Don't cry 'wolf', shepherd boy," said the villagers, "when there's no wolf!" They went grumbling back down the hill. But the shepherd boy continued his little game, crying out "Wolf! Wolf! The wolf is chasing the sheep!" To his delight, he watched the villagers run up the hill to help him drive the wolf away. Then one day, the unexpected happened. A real wolf showed up. But the villagers thought he was trying to fool them again, and so they didn't come. The next morning they found the shepherd boy weeping in the fields where his flocks once grazed. When they asked him what happened, he said, "There really was a wolf here! The flock has scattered! I cried out, "Wolf!" Why didn't you come?"

I can't help but think of this story when I read these two chapters in Ezekiel. We have to remember that God had been warning His people about coming judgment for some time now. The prophets of God had consistently and persistently warned them about what God was going to do. But from their perspective, not much had happened. They had interpreted God's delay as inaction. To them, the prophets had become like the boy who cried wolf. And their response? "Don't cry 'wolf', shepherd boy, when there's no wolf!" They even had a proverb in Israel that said, "The days grow long, and every vision comes to nothing" (Ezekiel 12:22 NLT). As each day passed without judgment taking place, the people became increasingly complacent and callous to the message of the prophets. God was not going to act. Nothing was going to happen. These guys were all bark and no bite. Or were they? God commands Ezekiel to tell them, "I will put an end to this proverb, and you will soon stop quoting it. Now give them this new proverb to replace the old one: 'The time has come for every prophecy to be fulfilled!’" (Ezekiel 12:23 NLT).

How many times do we discount the warnings of God because they don't ever seem to come true? How often have we read these stories about the wrath of God and His hatred for sin, but simply discount them and assume that they're just Old Testament stories about a God who was short-tempered and lacking in love. We prefer the God of the New Testament. The God of grace, mercy, forgiveness and love. But we fail to recognize that God is unchanging. He still hates sin. He still warns His people about the dangers of unfaithfulness and idolatry. He constantly reminds us that there are consequences for our sins. But when we see nothing happen, when we appear to get away with our indiscretions and infidelity, we stop listening. Like the villagers in Aesop's fable, we think God is just crying wolf. He isn't going to do anything. He's all talk, no action. He all bark, no bite. And that is a very dangerous assumption to make.

Father, You've given us these stories as a warning and a reminder. You have not changed. You still hate sin. You still plan to punish evil and deal with those who love injustice. Help us to see that You will do what You have said You will do. You will act. You are not just talking to hear Your own voice. Your words have meaning and significance. Your warnings carry weight. You deserve our undivided attention. Amen

Elvis Has Left the Building.

Ezekiel 9-10

Then the Glory of GOD left the Temple entrance and hovered over the cherubim. And as I watched, the cherubim flew with their wheels to the east gate of the Lord’s Temple. And the glory of the God of Israel hovered above them. – Ezekiel 10:18-19 MSG

Ezekiel continues to see a vision given to him by God. He has been transported to the city of Jerusalem where he was witnessed the sins of the people of Judah committed against God. They have erected idols in the Temple. They are clandestinely worshiping false gods in hidden rooms within the Temple grounds. Their spiritual adultery and unfaithfulness has reached a whole new love – even for the people of Israel. And now Ezekiel has to witnessa scene that was devastating for him as a prophet of God. He was about to witness the glory of God departing the very Temple designed as His dwelling place. All the way back on the day when Solomon had dedicated the Temple upon its completion, God had given this unique structure His Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval by filling it with His glory. "When the priests came out of the Holy Place, a thick cloud filled the Temple of the Lord. The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple" (1 Kings 8:10-11 NLT). God had taken up occupancy of the Temple. He had filled it with His glory. Now, hundreds of years later, God was about to leave the premises. He was making a not-so-subtle exit.

The glory of God made a methodical and obvious move from the courtyard to the main entrance. From there it moved to the east gate of the Temple grounds. God was no longer able to dwell in the house built for Him because it had been defiled by other gods and was not longer set aside for Him alone. The Temple of God was no longer the Temple of God. It had lost its distinctiveness and so God removed His presence. His glory departed. What a sad statement. What a chilling reality. The God of the universe was removing Himself from their midst. He was no longer willing to tolerate their rebellion and open rejection of His authority over their lives. This was a sad day for Israel. But it was not the first time the glory of God had left them. Back during the days before there were kings over Israel, the prophet Samuel witnessed another dark day in the life of the people of God. They were at war with the Philistines and things were not going well. So they decided to bring the Ark of God from where it was kept in the Tabernacle in Shiloh. They saw it as some kind of a magic talisman that could bring them victory over their enemies. They knew that God was enthroned above the cherubim that decorated the top of the Ark. So they reasoned that if they could bring the Ark to the battle, God would come along with it. They could somehow force God to do their will, their way. They didn't ask God for permission or seek His advice about the war with the Philistines. They simply decided that they needed a quick fix for their problem. But it didn't turn out well. The Ark was captured by the Philistines and more than 30,000 Jews were killed. The rest ran for their lives. Not only that, Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, the priest, were killed in the battle. When Eli received news that the battle had been lost, his sons were dead and the Ark was captured, he keeled over dead. When Phinehas' pregnant wife got word that her husband was dead, she went into early labor and died. She stayed alive long enough to give birth to a son and she named him Ichabod, which means "the glory has departed." Before she died, she described the sad state of affairs in Israel. "The glory has departed from Israel, for the Ark of God has been captured" (1 Samuel 4:22 NLT).

The glory had departed! God had left the building. All hope was lost. But wait. While these two stories are sad and leave us with a sense of impending doom, we can't forget the fact that God has placed His Spirit within each of us who have placed our faith in the saving work of His Son Jesus Christ. Our bodies are now the temples of the Holy Spirit. We have been indwelt with His presence. We have been set apart for His use. We have been given His power. He has chosen to reside within us, and He has promised to never leave us. His glory will never depart from us. But you and I can quench the Spirit. We can determine to live our lives outside of His control and refuse to listen to His voice. We can live our lives in such a way that we obscure the glory of God that is present in our lives. So the apostle Paul exhorts us, "Therefore, dear brothers and sisters,e you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God" (Romans 8:12-14 NLT).

We have the glory of God within us. But like the people of Israel, we must decide to allow our lives to be directed by God. It is not enough to have His indwelling presence. I must choose to obey His word and follow His will. I can't treat the Holy Spirit of God as some magic talisman that I tap into when I need a quick spiritual fix and a fast solution to a problem. He is God and He is to be feared and obeyed as God. While He will never leave me, He can choose to leave me to myself, allowing me to walk in the flesh and suffer the consequences. He will continue speak to me and attempt to convict and direct me. But I must choose to listen and obey. To not do so is to run the risk of missing out on the glory of God in my life. I could fail to see His power lived out in the daily affairs of my life. And the sad truth is, many of us as believers live as if the glory of God has departed. Our story of our lives could be named "Ichabod," when they should be called "Immanuel" – God with us.

Father, I know You want to reveal Your glory in and through My life, but I stifle it by my attitudes and actions. I want the story of my life to be named "Immanuel" and not "Ichabod." Because Your glory is in me and with me every second of every day. Amen

Detestable Sins.

Ezekiel 7-8

“Son of man,” he said, “do you see what they are doing? Do you see the detestable sins the people of Israel are committing to drive me from my Temple? But come, and you will see even more detestable sins than these!” – Ezekiel 8:6 NLT

When God finally gave Ezekiel permission to speak, He didn't exactly give him an easy message to deliver. Like Jeremiah, Ezekiel was told to share some fairly disturbing news to the people of God. What Ezekiel had to say was not going to help him win friends and influence enemies. God was telling them, "Soon I will pour out my fury on you and unleash my anger against you. I will call you to account for all your detestable sins" (Ezekiel 7:8 NLT). God was fed up. He had had enough. He saw that His chosen people had become proud, wealthy, self-sufficient and over-confident. They didn't need God. They had their money and they had used their wealth to make their own gods. They no longer knew God or feared Him. And to prove to Ezekiel just how bad things were back home in Jerusalem, God gave him special "birds-eye" tour of the holy city that sounds like something straight out of Scrooge. In a vision from God, an angel picks up Ezekiel by his hair and transports him to Jerusalem. His first stop? The north gate of the inner courtyard of the Temple. And what does he see? A huge idol sitting smack-dab in the middle of the courtyard. We're not told which god this was, but it could have been a statue of Asherah, the Canaanite godess of fertility, whose worship encouraged sexual immorality and self-gratification. Ezekiel had to be shocked by what he saw, but God assures them that this magical mystery tour of Judah's sins was just getting started. Next the angel took him to the door of the Temple courtyard. Ezekiel is told to dig through the wall and he discovers a hidden door. When he goes through the door he discovers 70 leaders of Israel worshiping a variety of idols in secret. And their excuse for their actions? "The Lord doesn't see us, he has deserted our land!" (Ezekiel 8:12b NLT). They blamed God. He had left them, so they were forced to worship other gods in hope of finding a solution to their problem. But they were the problem. Ezekiel had to be appalled. But there was more. The angel brought Ezekiel to the north gate of the Temple where he saw women weeping for the god Tammuz – the Babylonian god of spring. These women were mourning his death because he died at the beginning of every summer, only to return again in the spring. Finally, Ezekiel was taken by the angel to the inner courtyard of the Lord's Temple. At the entrance to the sanctuary, Ezekiel saw 25 men standing with their backs to the sanctuary of God, facing east, worshiping the sun! They had turned their backs on God and were worshiping a false god – right in the Temple that was built to honor God.

They had replaced God. They had turned their backs on Him and were placing their hopes elsewhere. Rather than trust God for their future and return to Him in repentance over their sins, they were searching high and low for a solution to their problem. They didn't want to admit their own culpability. They didn't want to own their sins. Rather than repent, they looked for another way to resolve their issues. They searched for another savior. They prayed for another deliverer. As we look around the world today and see all that is going on, where do we turn. When we experience the physical and spiritual drought taking place in our country, do we turn to God in repentance, or do we look elsewhere for solutions? Do we put our hope in politicians? Do we turn to science? Do we rely on our own wealth and distract ourselves with entertainment and affluence? God is the solution to ALL of our problems and the answer to ALL of our needs. But are we guilty of looking elsewhere? Are we placing our hopes in something other than Him? If we are, God finds our behavior detestable and unacceptable. He will not tolerate rivals.

Father, You are so patient with us. When You look down from Your throne and see us worshiping the various gods we have made, it must anger You just like it did in Ezekiel's day. You know that our hearts stray from You regularly, but rather than destroy us, You patiently call us back to You. Open our eyes and let us see that we are just as guilty as the people of Judah were. We are just as unfaithful and prone to wander. Call us back to You so that we might truly know You – intimately and personally. Amen

Knowing God.

Ezekiel 5-6

They will know that I alone am the Lord and that I was serious when I said I would bring this calamity on them. ­– Ezekiel 6:10 NLT

It's as if God is saying, "We can do this the hard way or we can do this the easy way." God is a relational God. He chose the people of Israel to have a relationship with Him and to get to know Him – intimately and personally. He chose to dwell among them. He gave them His law to follow. He led them, directed them, protected them, and even spoke to them. He revealed Himself to them through miracles and divine intervention. He won battles for them. He rescued and rewarded them. All so that they might know Him. But the people of Israel decided to reject this personal God for a litany of impersonal, impotent, man-made gods. Instead of recognizing and appreciating the power and presence of Yahweh, they turned their attention and affections elsewhere. So God decided to reveal Himself to them in a slightly different way. They were going to get to know Him the hard way. They were going to get to experience the power of God in a whole new way. They were going to witness the hand hand of God moving in their midst – bringing destruction, not blessing. He was going to smash their pagan shrines, demolish their altars, and destroy the places of worship where they pursued other gods. A third of them would die from disease and famine in the city. A third would die by the sword, killed by their enemies. And a third would end up in exile. And God says, "Then at last my anger will be spent, and I will be satisfied. And when my fury against them has subsided, all Israel will know that I, the Lord, have spoken to them in my jealous anger" (Ezekiel 5:13 NLT). When all the dust had settled, they were going to know that God had been in their midst. They were going to know that God had spoken and what He says, He does. They were going to know that God was powerful and dead serious about His people living lives that were set apart and distinctive from those of the other nations. "You people have behaved worse than your neighbors and have refused to obey my decrees and regulations. You have not even lived up to the standards of the nations around you" (Ezekiel 5:7 NLT).

Over and over again, God says, "They will know that I am the Lord." One way or the other, the people of God were going to get to know their God. But they were choosing the hard way. They were making it difficult on themselves. God had wanted to reveal Himself through blessing and abundance. He had wanted to have an intimate relationship with them that was characterized by care and compassion. In His grace and mercy, He had chosen them from among all the nations, not because they were different or deserved it, but because He wanted to reveal Himself in a special way to a specific people. He was going to use them as a showcase of His love. They were going to be His living illustration to the world. But they refused to accept His love and obey His commands. He pursued them, but they rejected Him. Just like Gomer rejected Hosea. So now they were going to get to know God the hard way. Why do we make it so hard on ourselves so often? Why do we force God to reveal Himself to us through discipline and prove Himself to us by rebuking us? God has given us His Son. He has chosen us for a personal, intimate relationship with Him. He wants us to know Him closely and deeply, and we can choose the easy way or we can choose the hard way.

Father, You are always revealing Yourself to me. But sometimes I just don't listen. Sometimes I hear, but refuse to obey. And sometimes I choose other relationships over You. But You keep revealing Yourself. Help me to choose the easy way over the hard way. But either way, thank You for not giving up on me. Amen

Do What?!

Ezekiel 4

Prepare and eat this food as you would barley cakes. While all the people are watching, bake it over a fire using dried human dung as fuel and then eat the bread. ­– Ezekiel 4:12 NLT

Has God ever asked you to do something that seemed difficult or even impossible to do? Have you ever questioned His will for your life? Sometimes God asks His people to do things that appear ridiculous from a human perspective. It just doesn't make sense. But God is not asking us to obey once we understand or it all finally makes sense to us. He just wants us to obey – no questions asked. He is sovereign, all-knowing and in complete control. He knows what is best and His instructions to us are to be obeyed, not because they make sense, but because He gave them. Ezekiel is a prophet who was given some very strange duties to perform by God. Remember, God had struck him dumb. He couldn't speak unless God gave him a message to share and loosened his tongue so he could present it to the people. But while Ezekiel was unable to speak, he was able to act – literally. In fact, God gave Ezekiel some very strange visual lessons to act out in front of the people. God commanded him to take a common clay brick and draw on it an image of the city of Jerusalem. He was to set up the brick outside his house, in full view of the people, then build siege walls, ramps and an enemy camp around it. Like a little boy playing with toy soldiers, Ezekiel was to make this model of the siege of Jerusalem. But that's not all. It gets worse. God commanded Ezekiel to erect an iron plate, the to lie down on his left side for a period of 390 days, with the iron plate between himself and the "city" of Jerusalem. When the 390 days was up, he was to turn over and lie on his right side for another 40 days. All the while he was doing this, his daily meals were to consist of grain cakes baked over a fire made with human feces. Of all the strange things God had asked him to do, it was the last part that got Ezekiel's attention. Not wanting to defile himself by using human feces, he appealed to God, who allowed him to use cow dung instead. Amazingly, that was the only part of God's plan at which Ezekiel balked. He was willing to do everything God had commanded him to do – without question – even though it all appeared strange, made no sense, and would probably result in his own humiliation in the eyes of the people.

The amazing thing about this story is not the mysterious symbolism of the brick, the number of days, or the content of Ezekiel's diet. It is the faithful obedience of Ezekiel in the face of a very strange request from God. None of this made sense. Ezekiel was being asked to do the ridiculous. He was being asked to make a fool of himself. And he knew that nothing he did or said was going to make any impact on the people. God had already told him that they would not listen or repent. But Ezekiel obeyed anyway. He did what God asked him to do. Over and over again in this book, we'll see Ezekiel respond obediently to the commands of God. He does what he is told to do, regardless of its difficulty or credibility. He just obeys. What about us? How do we respond to the Word of God in our lives? Do we obey or do we rationalize, argue, debate or simply disobey? Does it all have to make sense before we will do what God is asking us to do? If it requires us to humble ourselves or get out of our comfort zone, do we balk and bail? God is looking for men and women who will faithfully obey and do what He is calling them to do – no questions asked. It may not make sense, but it will make a difference, because God is behind it all. He has a plan. He knows what is best. There is always a method to His seeming madness. We just need to trust and obey.

Father, thanks for the reminder that You do not always explain Yourself or give us the reasons behind Your requests. You simply tell us what to do and expect us to obey. Help me to learn from the life of Ezekiel so that I might obey first and ask questions later. Amen

Well, Shut My Mouth!

Ezekiel 3

I'll make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so you won't be able to talk and tell the people what they're doing wrong, even though they are a bunch of rebels. But then when the time is ripe, I'll free your tongue and you'll say, "This is what GOD, the Master, says: ...'From then on it's up to them. They can listen or not listen, whichever they like. They are a bunch of rebels!'” ­– Ezekiel 3:26-27 MSG

Ezekiel was God's spokesman, His prophet. That means he had the distinct privilege and responsibility of delivering God's message to His people. And Ezekiel had been warned that the message God had to give him was far from good news, and the reception he was going to get from the people was going to be far from enthusiastic. But he had a job to do. Ezekiel went from meeting with God and seeing His glory back to the people of Judah living in exile by the River Kebar. He was thrust back into the reality of their rebellion. He was reminded of the difficulty of his job. And then God did an interesting thing. He told Ezekiel to go home and close the door behind him. He was commanded to lock himself away. The text even says that he was going to bound with ropes in his own home. It isn't clear whether God was going to bind him, the people would bind him in an attempt to shut him up, or if God is speaking metaphorically. In other words, God could have been saying that Ezekiel is going to be "bound up" in his own home as if he was tied up with ropes, until… God gave him something to say. Regardless of whether we are dealing with real or metaphorical ropes here, Ezekiel was going to be under house arrest by God, unable to speak and prevented from doing his job until God had something for him to say.

I think this was a protection for Ezekiel. We're told in verse 14, that when Ezekiel was forced to leave the presence of God and return to his people, he went "in bitterness and turmoil." He say among the people for seven days, overwhelmed by what he saw and the message he had to give. Ezekiel was angry about the sins of the people. He shared God's anger over their sin. And if God had not prevented him from speaking, Ezekiel would probably have had plenty to say to them and about them, without any help from God. He would have been more than happy to give the people a piece of his mind, read them the riot act, and chew them out for their sinful lifestyles and rebellion against God. After all, he was God's spokesman. But God was not going to allow Ezekiel to say anything at all until He had something for Ezekiel to say. Ezekiel was going to have to shut up until God spoke up. Any words that came out of his mouth were going to have to be God's and not his own. What if we approached our relationships with others the same way? What if we decided to keep our mouths shut until we knew we had heard from God? Too often, we decide that we have something that others need to hear and the content of our message isn't from God, it's from us. We attribute it to God, but we never heard it from Him. We give God credit for a message that we came up with. But God wants us to speak at His command, not on His behalf. In other words, as His messengers, we don't get to make up the message, we simply get to carry it. But too often, we end up giving our version of His message. We give it our slant. We put our words in God's mouth. God knew Ezekiel was going to be prone to the same problem, so He did him a favor and made him mute – until God had something for him to say. For some of us, that might be the best thing that ever happened to us. But in the meantime, let's see if we can't learn to speak less and listen more. So that when we do speak, we are confident that what we say is from Him and not us.

Father, most of us don't struggle with having anything to say, but too often what we have to say is not from You. Help us to learn how to listen for a word from You. May we learn to shut up and open up our ears to hear what You have to say to us and those around us. There are far too many voices speaking on Your behalf who haven't heard from You. Don't let us me be one of them. Amen

Called To Fail.

Ezekiel 2

You must give them my messages whether they listen or not. But they won't listen, for they are completely rebellious! ­– Ezekiel 2:7 NLT

What would you do if God called you to a task that He knew you were going to fail at? What if He even told you your efforts would be fruitless and non-productive? Most of us would bail. We would give up long before we got going. Because we're wired with one thing in mind – success – and failure is not an acceptable alternative. But when Ezekiel got his marching orders from God, he was also given the not-so-great news that his ministry would be unsuccessful because his audience was going to be unresponsive.  God told him, "I am sending you to the nation of Israel, a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me" (Ezekiel 2:3 NLT). But not only were they rebellious, they were stubborn and hard-hearted. God even told Ezekiel to expect threats and animosity. This was going to be one difficult job assignment. God was guaranteeing failure, but demanding obedience. Ezekiel's success would not be measured by the number of callous, carnal Israelites he converted. His success would be based on his willingness to carry out God's assignment faithfully, even in the face of rejection, ridicule and no results.

Even the message God gave Ezekiel to share was anything but good news. In his vision, Ezekiel was given a scroll that was covered with writing front and back, from edge to edge. It's content? "Funeral songs, words of sorrows, and pronouncements of doom" (Ezekiel 2:9b NLT). It was a veritable compendium of bad news. So not only did Ezekiel have a non-responsive audience, he had an unattractive message. But God said, "Do not fear them or their words. Don't be afraid even though their threats surround you like nettles and briars and stinging scorpions. Do not be dismayed by their dark scowls, even though they are rebels" (Ezekiel 2:6 NLT). God was telling Ezekiel, "don't be frightened or made fearful by the things they to you, about you, or in reaction to you. Don't let the looks they give you cause you to doubt and fear. You're going to get some angry reactions and threatening looks. Don't let them get to you. Don't scare you into shutting up or giving up." God warned Ezekiel to not follow their example and fall into the trap of rebelling just like them by disobeying God's command and call on his life. Instead, he was to listen, obey and leave the results up to God. Which is what every one of us as Christ-followers have been called to do. We have a calling and it is not an easy one. We are called to live lives that are set apart and distinctive from the world around us. We have been given a message that we are commanded to share with those who are in rebellion against God. And while our message is the Good News of Jesus Christ, not everyone wants to hear it. Most will reject it. We will hear threats, endure ridicule and experience hostility. But we are called to remain faithful and leave the results up to God.

Father, we are called. It is not an easy assignment. In many ways we face potential failure and a non-responsive audience. Help us to be faithful to Your calling, regardless of the results or the response. Amen

A Vision of God.

Ezekiel 1

The Lord gave this message to Ezekiel son of Buzi, a priest, beside the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians, and he felt the hand of the Lord take hold of him. ­– Ezekiel 1:3 NLT

In 605 BC, King Nebuchadnezzar began the first of three deportations of captives from Judah to Babylon. Daniel would have been in this first group. In 598 BC, Nebuchadnezzar invaded Judah again, and this time he took King Jeoiachin, along with other leaders from Judah, as well as young Ezekiel, to Babylon. Then in 586 BC, the final deportation took place. Nebuchadnezzar put King Zedekiah on the throne as his puppet king. But Zedekiah would rebel against the Babylonians, forcing them to lay siege to the city, eventually destroying it two years later. Zedekiah would be taken to Babylon, the Temple would be ransacked and destroyed, and the city of Jerusalem left in a shambles. Ezekiel would find himself living in a refugee camp along with the other exiles from Judahon the banks of the Kebar River in Babylon.

Yet, there in that most desperate of conditions, God came to meet with Ezekiel. While He had brought destruction on the people of Judah for their sin and rebellion, He had not abandoned them. He would not leave them completely isolated and alone. God would call on Ezekiel to be His spokesperson there among the exiles in Babylon. There on the banks of the Kebar River, God appeared to Ezekiel. This young prophet received a remarkable vision of God in the midst of the doom and gloom of Babylonian captivity. When things seemed to be at their worst, God showed up. He revealed Himself to Ezekiel and gave him a message for the people of Judah. And the vision, while somewhat fantastical and hard to understand, seemed to illustrate the power and majestic presence of God. It accentuated His holiness and stressed His otherness. The vision that Ezekiel saw left no doubt just how great and powerful God was. He got a glimpse of God in the midst of his darkest moments. And when Ezekiel saw Him, he fell down and worshiped. "Above this surface was something that looked like a throne made of blue lapis lazuli. And on this throne high above was a figure whose appearance resembled a man. From what appeared to be his waist up, he looked like gleaming amber, flickering like a fire. And from his waist down, he looked like a burning flame, shining with splendor. All around him was a glowing halo, like a rainbow shining in the clouds on a rainy day. This is what the glory of the Lord looked like to me. When I saw it, I fell face down on the ground, and I heard someone’s voice speaking to me" (Ezekiel 1:26-28 NLT).

Even in our darkest days, God is there. Regardless of what is going on around us, He never ceases to be God. He does not change. His status does not diminish. His power does not decrease or wain. He remains holy, powerful, distinct, and worthy of our worship. God wants to reveal Himself to us. He wants us to see Him for who He is. He wants us to get our focus off of our circumstances and back on to Him. He is our help and hope. He wants to remind us of His presence and power. There on the banks of the Kebar River living with the dejected and devastated exiles from Judah, Ezekiel needed a vision of God. He needed a reminder that His God was great and was still on His throne, reigning in power. He had not forgotten Ezekiel or the people of Judah. Could you use a vision of God today? Look for Him in His Word. You'll find Him.

Father, no matter how bad things get, You are there and You never change. You are on Your throne and You are in complete control. Give me a vision of You today. Let me see Your power. Let me sense Your presence. Help me get my eyes off my circumstances and back on to You. Amen

When You Find Yourself In the Pits.

Lamentations 3:37-5:22

But I called on your name, Lord, from deep within the pit. You heard me when I cried, "Listen to my pleading! Hear my cry for help!" Yes, you came when I called; you told me, "Do not fear.” ­– Lamentations 3:55-57 NLT

What do you do when everything seems to be going wrong? Where do you turn when life seems to be falling apart? Some of us complain. Others of us get angry. Or maybe we become immobilized with fear and depression. And then there are those of us who just get busy, attempting to get themselves out of whatever situation they find themselves in. But what do you do when nothing seems to work and you find yourself in a deep pit of despair? For Jeremiah, the answer was simple: Call out to God. He had learned this lesson from experience. There was a time when he found himself in a pit – literally. He had been thrown there by those who were tired of hearing his message of God's pending judgment. They tossed him in a pit and left him there to die. Jeremiah describes the scene: "My enemies, whom I have never harmed, hunted me down like a bird. They threw me into a pit and dropped stones on me. The water rose over my head, and I cried out, 'This is the end!'” (Lamentations 3:52-54 NLT). But those were not the only words that Jeremiah cried out. He called out to God as well. He pleaded with God. He cried out for God's help. From the bottom of a pit. And God heard his cries. Not only that, God answered his pleas for help and provided him with rescue. It came in the form of an Ethiopian named Ebed-Melech, who happened to be on the court of King Zedekiah. When he heard about Jeremiah's plight, he appealed to the king and got permission to rescue him from the pit. God heard Jeremiah's cries and sent a savior. Jeremiah was redeemed from the pit. He was rescued from his life-threatening circumstances.

So when Jeremiah found himself living in the midst of the sin and sorrow of Judah, surrounded by scenes of starvation, devastation, and hopelessness, he called out to God once again. He had learned that there was only source of hope and help in times of trouble. Jeremiah's heart was broken over the spiritual and physical condition of Judah. He cried, "My tears flow endlessly; they will not stop until the Lord looks down from heaven and sees" (Lamentations 3:49-50 NLT). He knew that God was the only one who could help them, so he cried out to Him. Just as he did that day in the bottom of the pit, Jeremiah cried out to God, "Restore us, O Lord, and bring us back to you again! Give us back the joys we once had! (Lamentations 5:21 NLT). Jeremiah knew that the nation of Judah needed more than just rescue, they needed restoration. Restoration to a right relationship with God Almighty. Then there joy would be restored. To be rescued, but not experience true restoration would never result in joy. To see their problems solved, but without their relationship with God restored, would only end up in a short-lived sense of peace. So Jeremiah cried out, called out, and held out for salvation and restoration from the hands of God. So where do you turn when life is in the pits?

Father, we need restoration, not just rescue. We need You more than we need a solution to our problems. We need You more than we need an answer to our prayers. Help us to understand that a right relationship with You means more than rescue from trouble. We need to learn to cry out to You because we long for You more than we long for Your rescue. Amen