Set Apart.

Ezekiel 42

Then he said to me, "The north and south rooms adjacent to the open area are holy rooms where the priests who come before GOD eat the holy offerings. There they place the holy offerings--grain offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings. These are set-apart rooms, holy space. After the priests have entered the Sanctuary, they must not return to the outside courtyard and mingle among the people until they change the sacred garments in which they minister and put on their regular clothes.” – Ezekiel 42:13-14 MSG

I find it really interesting that in the middle of all the detailed descriptions of the layout of the future Temple complex, Ezekiel's "guide" points to a set of rooms and describes them as "holy." Wouldn't the entire Temple be holy? The whole structure would be dedicated to the worship of God, so wouldn't the entire structure be holy? Well, in a sense, yes. But the use of the word "holy" in this context gives us another important aspect of its meaning. It simply means "set-apartness or separateness." These rooms were dedicated or set apart for a distinct purpose. "Here the priests who offer sacrifices to the Lord will eat the most holy offerings" (Ezekiel 42:13 NLT). These rooms would also be used to store the grain, sin, and guilt offerings. Even within the Temple complex, there was going to be a place "set apart" and made distinct. It would be dedicated for a specific purpose and was not to be used for anything else. When the priests were done ministering in the sanctuary, they had to leave the clothes they wore in this room and change into "street" clothes, because even the garments they wore were holy or set apart. Before they could enter the rest of the Temple or go into the more public or common areas, they had to remove their "holy" clothes, because those clothes had been dedicated to God.

All this makes me think about how we have been set apart by God for His use. We are His people. We have been made holy or set apart by the indwelling presence of the Spirit of God. We belong to God. "Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience" (Colossians 3:12 NLT). God set us apart for a purpose. We are now dedicated to Him and should be used only in the way that He sees fit. We no longer belong to ourselves. The priests could not use the holy garments any way they saw fit. They couldn't use the holy rooms for any purpose they came up with. Those things belonged to God. We belong to God. We are only to be used for His purposes, not our own. When God commands us, "You must be holy because I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16 NLT), He is telling us that we must be set apart, distinct and different, just as He is. We must reflect His holiness. We must remain dedicated to His use. To take what is holy and set apart and use it for some other purpose would be to profane it. When we use our bodies for purposes other than those for which God has set them apart, we profane them and fail to remain set apart for His use. "And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God" (1 Peter 2:5 NLT).

Father, You have set us apart for Your use. We belong to You. But we regularly profane ourselves by taking what You have dedicated and set apart and re-purposing it for our use. Forgive us and remind us daily the reason You have set us apart through the sacrificial death of Your Son Jesus Christ. Amen

The Holiness of God.

Ezekiel 41

All the walls were decorated with carvings of cherubim, each with two faces, and there was a carving of a palm tree between each of the cherubim. One face—that of a man—looked toward the palm tree on one side. The other face—that of a young lion—looked toward the palm tree on the other side. The figures were carved all along the inside of the Temple, from the floor to the top of the walls, including the outer wall of the sanctuary. – Ezekiel 41:18-20 NLT

Everything in God's future Temple will have a purpose and a reason for its existence. There will be nothing left to chance. Every detail has been worked out beforehand by God. Every measurement has a reason behind it, whether we can see it or not. Even the width of the doors leading from the outside into the vestibule, then into the Holy Place, and then into the the Holy of Holies are sized increasingly smaller for a reason. Like the divine designer He is, God is focusing the attention of the worshiper onto the most important room in the entire building – the Holy of Holies. Everything points to that place. Everything in the Temple reinforces the Holy of Holies and the One who will dwell there. The entire Temple is about the holiness, the set-apartness of God. The walls inside the Temple will be covered in wood paneling, carved with alternating cherubs and palm trees. Each cherub will have two faces, the face of a man and the face of a lion, one looking left and the other right. These creatures were there for a reason. We can see elsewhere in Scripture that cherubim were used by God to protect His holiness. In the book of Exodus, in the instructions given by God for the construction of the Tabernacle. we are told of the two golden cherubim that were to be placed on top of the Ark of the Covenant, their wings spread out over the Ark. "The cherubim will face each other and look down on the atonement cover. With their wings spread above it, they will protect it" (Exodus 25:20 NLT). In the Tabernacle, the curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies was to have cherubim embroidered on it. In this future Temple, the paneled walls will feature a repeated pattern of cherubim and palm trees. The cherubim represent protection and security. The palms represent life and prosperity. In God, both come together as one. Holiness, health, and happiness – all are realized in God. There is no real life or prosperity apart from Him. And it is His holiness or set-apartness that makes it all possible. Only God can provide true life and prosperity. And in the future kingdom that Ezekiel is getting a glimpse of, God will rule and reign through His Son Jesus Christ and His holiness will permeate everything. He will have protected His holiness all the way until that day, preserving His name and His integrity and insuring that His divine plan is fulfilled so that we might have life and prosperity in Him. The key to it all? His holiness. There is no other god, but Him. He alone is God.

Father, some day the Temple we see described here to Ezekiel will be built. And when that day comes, it will mean that Your plan has been fulfilled. Your program will have been completed. And Your holiness will fill the world. There will be no more gods, no more unfaithfulness, and no more sin. I look forward to that day. In the meantime, help me remember just how holy You are and that it is Your holiness that makes life and prosperity possible, even now. Amen

Order. Symmetry. Balance.

Ezekiel 40

He said to me, "Son of man, watch and listen. Pay close attention to everything I show you. You have been brought here so I can show you many things. Then you will return to the people of Israel and tell them everything you have seen.” – Ezekiel 40:4 NLT

The book of Ezekiel began in chapter one with a vision of God's glory. Then we read the sad account of the departure of God's glory in chapters 8-111. Now as we close the end of the book, God is going to give Ezekiel one last glimpse of His glory. He transports Ezekiel from Babylon back to Israel via a vision in order to give him a look at future events. God has already promised to restore His people to the land and to a right relationship with Him. He is going to rebuild the city and the Temple, and now He is showing Ezekiel what it all will look like. These last nine chapters are designed to provide hope to the people of Judah, even as they live in the less-than-ideal conditions of their captivity. God has a plan and that plan is highly specific. The amount of detail that God gives Ezekiel regarding the layout and measurements of the Temple seem designed to provide confidence in the concrete nature of this vision. It is not a dream, but a reality that is yet to come. And central to that reality is the rebuilt Temple, the center-piece of God's future kingdom. It is the place where God's glory departed (Ezekiel 8-11). With the completion of this new Temple, God's presence will once more dwell among His people. But this vision has yet to be fulfilled. It is a future event waiting for God to bring it about. The Temple built by Nehemiah and Ezra did not meet these descriptions. The Temple built by Herod failed to live up to these plans. And at present, there is no Temple. So what Ezekiel sees has yet to be built. And it will not be built until Jesus establishes His kingdom here on earth. When He returns He will reign in Jerusalem and a new Temple will be built according to the exacting plans and specifications God provides in these passages.

This new Temple will be glorious. It will be a showcase of symmetry, balance and order. It will reflect the perfection of the very God whose dwelling place it is. There is nothing left to chance. No detail is left to the imagination of man. This future Temple will be a glorious structure, beautifully appointed and featuring a perfect blend of balance and symmetry. The detailed measurements and descriptions are designed to give Ezekiel and the people living in exile hope for the future. They will never live to see this construction project started or completed. But they can rest in the knowledge that their God has a plan for the future restoration of their nation. He is not done with them yet. Ezekiel was to play close attention to what he saw and share it with those with whom he lived and to whom he had been delivering God's message of doom and destruction. Punishment was coming, but so was restoration. The Temple had been destroyed, but the day was coming when it would be rebuilt. Just as God had given Moses detailed plans for the Tabernacle in the wilderness, God was giving Ezekiel a detailed description of the Temple grounds that were yet to come. God's plan is not yet complete. He is not done yet. But He will bring it about – down to the last detail.

Father, when I read this chapter, I can get lost in all the details and measurements. They don't see to serve any point and tend to become just a blur of numbers, measurements, and descriptions. But they are there for a reason. Every room, wall, brick, board, and ornament will have a purpose. The order, balance, and symmetry described in these chapters are a reflection of the God this building is to represent. You are perfect and balanced in every way. You are complete in every detail. You are going to fully accomplish what You have started. Right down to the last detail. Amen

You Are For Me.

Ezekiel 39

I will end the captivity of my people; I will have mercy on all Israel, for I jealously guard my holy reputation! – Ezekiel 39:25 NLT

As I read the words of the prophet Ezekiel to the people of Judah, I can't help but hear God speak to my heart. He was telling His people that He was for them. He was on their side – that in spite of their disobedience and unfaithfulness, He was going to redeem and restore them. He said, "Everything will happen just as I have declared it" (Ezekiel 39:8 NLT). God was going to destroy all their enemies – those who ultimately stood against Him. He was going to renew and restore their relationship to Him. God was going to great things that would prove once and for all to Jew and Gentile alike just how great and majestic He really was. "I will make known my holy name among my people of Israel. I will not let anyone bring shame on it. And the nations, too, will know that I am the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. That day of judgment will come, says the Sovereign Lord. Everything will happen just as I have declared it" (Ezekiel 39:7-8 NLT).

The faithfulness of God is not some ethereal concept that has no reality in everyday life. God is constantly faithful. There is never a time when He is not faithful. It would be outside of His character – His very nature – to be anything but faithful. We can learn so much about our God as we read about Him in the Old Testament. We can glean so much about His character as we watch how He interacts with the people of Israel. He is holy and just. He is patient and forgiving. He can be both wrathful and merciful – at the same time. His wrath always has a purpose. His anger is always justified. God punishes justly and restores graciously. He is on our side. He is for me, not against me. He cares enough for me to discipline me. He loves me enough to send His Son to die for me in order that He might forgive me and restore me. What He plans to do for the people of Israel, He has already done for me.  "Then my people will know that I am the Lord their God, because I sent them away to exile and brought them home again. I will leave none of my people behind. And I will never again turn my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit upon the people of Israel. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!" (Ezekiel 39:28-29 NLT).

All of this reminds me of a song I heard recently. It was sung at my niece's wedding by the young lady who wrote and recorded it. The song is called You Are For Me and the words reflect the character of our God. He is for us, not against us. He is faithful, constant, loving and true. He is powerful in all He does. And He is constantly trying to reveal to us just how incredibly unique He is. The amazing thing is that this transcendent, all-powerful, unknowable God has chosen to make Himself known to us. How well do you really know Him today?

So faithful. So constant. So loving and so true. So powerful in all You do.

You fill me. You see me. You know my every move and You love for me to sing to You.

I know that You are for me. I know that You are for me. I know that You will never, forsake me in my weaknesses

I know that You have come now, even if to write upon my heart. To remind me who You are.

So patient, So gracious, So merciful and true… So wonderful in all You do. You know me. You see me. You know my every move. You love for me to sing to You

Lord, I know that You are for me. I know that You are for me. I know that You will never, forsake me in my weaknesses. I know that You have come now, even if to write upon my heart.

To remind me that I know that You are for me. I know that You are for me. I know that You will never, forsake me in my weaknesses. I know that You have come now, even if to write upon my heart. To remind me who You are.

I know that You are for me. I know that You are for me. I know that You will never, forsake me in my weaknesses. I know that You will come now, even if to write upon my heart. To remind me of who You are.

Father, I want to know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you are for me. I want to know, from daily experience, just how much You love me. I want your love, constancy, power, love, mercy, grace, and abiding presence to be real in my life through the ups and down of life. I want to know and believe that You really are for me. You will never forsake me – even in my weaknesses. Amen

God Versus Gog.

Ezekiel 38

But this is what the Sovereign Lord says: "When Gog invades the land of Israel, my fury will boil over! In my jealousy and blazing anger, I promise a mighty shaking in the land of Israel on that day." – Ezekiel 38:18-19 NLT

Too often we read the Old Testament as if it was simply ancient history. We tend to look at books like Ezekiel as prophetic only in the sense that they contain detailed descriptions of what God was going to do against Israel and her enemies, and that He has already done. They are past-tense, filled with old news that has little impact on us today, except for any insights they may provide regarding God's character. But in Ezekiel 38 we are given a prophecy that has yet to fulfilled. We have described in this passage a situation in which Israel finds itself back in the Land of Promise, experiencing God's rich blessing, and prospering in an atmosphere of peace and abundance. God says that in that day, which has yet to happen, a mighty nation will rise up with thoughts of plunder and plans take advantage of seemingly defenseless people of God. "On that day when my people Israel are living securely, you will take notice and come from your place, from the remote parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a vast army. You will advanceagainst my people Israel like a cloud covering the earth" (Ezekiel 38:14-16 NET).

They will rise up against Israel, but totally unaware that God is about to use them as a visual lesson of His holiness and wrath. God then describes a scene filled with earthquakes, plagues, bloodshed, hailstones and burning sulfur. It is a vivid description of God's final judgment on all those who oppose Him and His people here on this earth. "In this way, I will show my greatness and holiness, and I will make myself known to all the nations of the world. Then they will know that I am the Lord" (Ezekiel 38:23 NLT). But when will all this take place? When will this event finally be fulfilled? We are given a clear answer in the book of Revelation.

Nowwhen the thousand years are finished, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceivethe nations at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog,to bring them together for the battle. They are as numerous as the grains of sand in the sea.Theywent upon the broad plain of the earthand encircledthe campof the saints and the beloved city, butfire came down from heaven and devoured them completely.And the devil who deceivedthem was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur,where the beast and the false prophet aretoo, and they will be tormented there day and night forever and ever. – Revelation 20:7-10 NET

Christ will have returned as the conquering King and set up His kingdom in Jerusalem, sitting on the throne of David. He will have fulfilled God's promise to give David a descendant who would sit on his throne and rule in righteousness forever – for a period of 1,000 years. At the end of that time, Satan, who will have been imprisoned for all those years, will be released and wage one last war against God. He will deceive the nations and cause them to rise up against God in an attempt to remove Christ from the throne. This vast army will attack Israel, but fail miserably. God will defeat them once and for all, making Himself known to all the nations of the world through His infinite, unmatchable power. Then everyone will know that He alone is God. Case closed.

The book of Ezekiel is not ancient history. It is a glimpse into the eternal plan of the Sovereign God of the universe. His plan is not yet complete. His work is not yet done. But that day is coming because His Son is returning. Which assures us that the victory is certain.

Father, thanks for reminding me that You are not done yet. Help me keep my eyes on the future. You are far from ancient history. You are alive and well, and active in our day today. You are working Your plan and one day it will be fulfilled completely and successfully. Amen

One Nation Under God.

Ezekiel 37

I will unify them into one nation on the mountains of Israel. One king will rule them all; no longer will they be divided into two nations or into two kingdoms. They will never again pollute themselves with their idols and vile images and rebellion, for I will save them from their sinful backsliding. I will cleanse them. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God. – Ezekiel 37:22-23 NLT

Ever since the end of Solomon's reign, the kingdom of Israel had been split in two, Israel to the north and Judah to the south – the result of a God-ordained rebellion brought on by Solomon's worship of other gods. "The Lord was very angry with Solomon, for his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. He had warned Solomon specifically about worshiping other gods, but Solomon did not listen to the Lord’s command. So now the Lord said to him, 'Since you have not kept my covenant and have disobeyed my decrees, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your servants' (1 Kings 11:9-11 NLT). And that's exactly what God did. Jeroboam rose up and rebelled against Solomon taking ten of the tribes of Israel with him and creating the northern kingdom of Israel. Solomon's successor, Rehoboam became king of the southern kingdom of Judah.

But for years the two kingdoms remained divided, with Israel creating their own gods and places of worship. Eventually, God would punish them by sending them into captivity in Assyria. Not long after that the southern kingdom would follow their example by worshiping false gods, and they too would find themselves taken into exile by the Babylonians. The land of promise would be decimated and the Temple of God destroyed. But even as Ezekiel prophesies to the exiles in Babylon, God is giving Him a word of good news. He is telling them that their condition is not permanent. They will one day be restored to the land of promise and to a right relationship with God. The two nations will be reunited. They will once again have one King and one God. In spite of Israel's failure to remain faithful to God, He would remain faithful to them. And He will one day restore them and fulfill all His promises to them. That day has not yet happened. Israel is back in the land, but they do not have a king, a Temple and they do not have a restored relationship with God. But God says that day is coming. There is a future day in which they will be completely restored to the land and to fellowship with God, and they will have His Son, the Messiah as their King. God will restore, renew, and rejoin the nation of Israel. He will breathe new life into them through His Spirit. He will be their God and they will once again be His people. The magnitude of their sin will not stand in the way of the mercy and grace of God. Now that's a God worth worshiping!

Father, You are truly amazing. What You intend to do to and for Israel should be a constant reminder of the grace and mercy You extend to me on a daily basis. It should remind me of the free gift of grace You made available to me through the death of Your own Son. Like Israel, I was dead in my sins, unable to change, and held captive by my enemy. But You reached down and released me from by captivity, giving me new life and restoring me to a new relationship with You. You are truly an amazing God! Amen

The Sovereign Lord.

Ezekiel 35-36

"But remember," says the Sovereign Lord, "I am not doing this because you deserve it. O my people of Israel, you should be utterly ashamed of all you have done!" – Ezekiel 36:32 NLT

Over and over again in this book, God refers to Himself as "the Sovereign Lord." And it is usually in reference to something He is about to do. He begins each declaration of intent with the phrase, "The Sovereign Lord says…" It is a statement of certainty based on the authority and power of God. He is the ruler of all things and everything is under His control. His words are always true. His predictions as good as done. All because He is sovereign. Associated with His claim to be the Sovereign Lord are His repeated promises that begin with the words, "I will…" In the case of Judah and her enemies, He says, "I will…" To Edom God says, "I will raise my fist against you to destroy you completely" (Ezekiel 35:3 NLT). "I will demolish your cities and make you desolate" (Ezekiel 35:4 NLT). To the land of Israel He says, "I will greatly increase the population of Israel" (Ezekiel 36:10 NLT). "I will bring people to live on you once again" (Ezekiel 36:11 NLT). "I will make you even more prosperous than you were before" (Ezekiel 36:11 NLT).

To the people of Israel He says, "I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations" (Ezekiel 36:25-27 NLT). God repeatedly says that He will do these things and that they will happen. All because He is the Sovereign Lord. He is in control. What He says, will happen. And it will happen in spite of all that Israel has done to offend Him. He will do all these things in order to protect the holiness of His name, not because of anything Israel has done to deserve it. God is not only the Sovereign Lord, He is the Holy One. His name has value and worth. It is an extension of His character and He will protect the integrity of His name. He says, "I will show how holy my great name is—the name on which you brought shame among the nations. And when I reveal my holiness through you before their very eyes, says the Sovereign Lord, then the nations will know that I am the Lord" (Ezekiel 36:23 NLT). He tells the people of Israel, "I am bringing you back, but not because you deserve it. I am doing it to protect my holy name, on which you brought shame while you were scattered among the nations" (Ezekiel 36:22 NLT). God will do what He has promised, not because anyone deserves it, but because His holy name requires it. He must be true to His name, to His character. He is a faithful, promise-keeping God. He had chosen the people of Israel and set them apart as His own. He had made promises to them that He is bound to keep. But when He does, He wants it to be known that He is doing so because of His name, not because of any worth or merit on the part of Israel. He will because He is – holy, just, righteous, faithful, and true. He will because He is – sovereign, powerful, mighty, and Lord of all.

God is the Sovereign Lord. He is in control. He will show us mercy. He will extend to us His grace. Not because we deserve it, but because He is holy, righteous, just, loving, merciful, kind and ultimately, fully capable to do what He has promised to do.

Father, never let me forget that You are the Sovereign Lord – as much today as You were during the time of Ezekiel. You are powerful and capable of doing all that You have promised to do – for Israel and for me. When You say, "I will," You will. Because You can. Amen

The Good Shepherd.

Ezekiel 34

You are my flock, the sheep of my pasture. You are my people, and I am your God. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken! – Ezekiel 34:31 NLT

Sheep are not the brightest of animals. They have a herd mentality, rarely thinking for themselves. They tend to wander, are virtually defenseless, susceptible to disease, easily frightened, injury-prone, and without proper care, can become filthy, matted, and insect-infested. That's why they need a shepherd. And throughout the Old Testament, God refers to His people as sheep and their leaders as shepherds. God appoints leaders to shepherd His flock. He expects them care for and protect His people. But instead, they tended to fend for themselves and take advantage of the people, leading them into sin and causing them to stumble spiritually. Their lousy leadership was devastating to the nation. We saw it over and over again in the history of the kings. Godless men leading the people astray, causing them to seek sustenance and safety from false gods. Even the spiritual leaders proved to be more harmful than helpful to the well-being of the people. And God was going to hold them all accountable. Ezekiel 34 is God's indictment against the shepherds of Israel who had failed to do their jobs. He tells them, "You have not taken care of the weak. You have not tended the sick or bound up the injured. You have not gone looking for those who have wandered away and are lost. Instead, you have ruled them with harshness and cruelty" (Ezekiel 34:4 NLT). He goes on, "you abandoned my flock and left them to be attacked by every wild animal. And though you were my shepherds, you didn’t search for my sheep when they were lost. You took care of yourselves and left the sheep to starve" (Ezekiel 34:8 NLT). They had failed to do their job. They had left the sheep defenseless and helpless. So God said He would step in and do what the shepherds had failed to do. Over and over again He says, "I will…" He will search, rescue, feed, care for, tend, bandage, rescue, judge, and set over them a true shepherd who will care for them properly. "And I will set over them one shepherd, my servant David. He will feed them and be a shepherd to them. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David will be a prince among my people. I, the Lord, have spoken!" (Ezekiel 34:23-24 NLT). God sent His Son to be the Good Shepherd. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep" (John 10:11 NLT). But not only did Christ come to die on our behalf, one day He is coming again to set up His kingdom and reestablish the kingdom of Israel on earth. He will bring back the flock of Israel, which has been scattered all over the face of the earth, and resettle them in the land of promise. He will fulfill His covenant promise to them. "They will no longer be prey for the other nations, and wild animals will no longer devour them. They will live in safety, and no one will frighten them" (Ezekiel 34:28 NLT). The Good Shepherd will do what the shepherds of Israel all failed to do. He will fulfill the desire of His Father and bring the people of Israel back into the fold of God, safe, secure, and whole

Father, thank You that You do what no man could ever have done. You provide a way for men to have fellowship with You and it is always through the work of Your Son Jesus Christ. One day I was like a lost sheep wandering on my own, but You sent Your Son to find me and rescue me. He restored me to fellowship with You. And You are going to do the same thing with Your people Israel. You are always faithful, just and true. Amen

The Watchman On the Wall.

Ezekiel 32-33

Now, son of man, I am making you a watchman for the people of Israel. Therefore, listen to what I say and warn them for me. – Ezekiel 33:7 NLT

In ancient days, most of the significant cities were surrounded by walls to protect them. On those wall were posted sentries or watchmen, whose responsibility it was to look out and watch for potential threats. Day and night, as long as they were on duty, they had to keep an eye out for possible enemy attack. When they saw trouble on the horizon, they were to issue a warning to the people. They were to sound the alarm to let the people inside the walls know that danger was imminent, and appropriate action was needed. In God's eyes, Ezekiel was just such a watchman. While he wasn't standing high on the wall of a city, he was prominently placed in the middle of the exiles living in Babylon and given the role of being God's spokesman. He had a unique vantage point that allowed him to see the future and warn the people of God what was going to happen. His warnings were not idle threats, but God-given predictions of coming disaster. And his job came with obvious dangers. The most prominent one being that if he failed to sound the alarm and warn the people, he would be held responsible for their subsequent captivity. But God makes it clear that if Ezekiel does his job and warns the people of coming destruction, but the people fail or refuse to listen, then he is absolved of any responsibility. He would have done his job.

Today, as in Ezekiel's day, God is issuing warnings regarding the apathetic, almost flippant way in which many of God's people are approaching their lives in this world. He is speaking through men today warning His people of their need to wake up and wise up to the dangers around them. But as believers we sometimes take the wonder of God's grace so far that we seem to view it as some kind of immunity giving elixer that protects us from all harm. We seem to believe that because we are saved, we are immune to any kind of danger or ramifications for our sinful behavior. God has called us to live holy lives, set-apart and distinctively different from the rest of the world around us. We are to pursue Christ-likeness with a passion. We are to live under the influence and control of the Holy Spirit. We are to put to death the deeds of the flesh and put on Christ daily. We are to die to self and take up our crosses each and every day. We are warned regularly to take our spiritual health seriously and to refuse to fall in love with this world and all that it offers. Granted, some of the watchmen today are failing to do their jobs. Things are not much different than they were back when Paul penned these words to Timothy:

"I solemnly warn you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths." – 2 Timothy 4:1-4 NLT

God even warned Ezekiel that there were people in his day who would come to hear what he had to say, pretending to be interested, but having no intention of doing what he said. "You are very entertaining to them, like someone who sings love songs with a beautiful voice or plays fine music on an instrument. They hear what you say, but they don't act on it! (Ezekiel 33:32 NLT). But Ezekiel was still required to warn. He had to keep sharing the message of God. Paul told Timothy the same thing. "Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching" (2 Timothy 4:2 NLT). And we must continue to do the same thing today. Faithful watchmen are still needed today, to warn the people of God by speaking the truth of God, faithfully and unapologetically.

Father, I want to be a faithful watchman. Give me boldness to speak Your Word in season and out of season. Don't let me alter it to make it more palatable or acceptable. Don't ever let me be an ear-tickler or an entertainer. The times we live in are dangerous and the truth of Your Word is more needed now than ever. Amen

The Peril of Pride.

Ezekiel 30-31

Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: "Because Egypt became proud and arrogant, and because it set itself so high above the others, with its top reaching to the clouds, I will hand it over to a mighty nation that will destroy it as its wickedness deserves. I have already discarded it." – Ezekiel 31:10-11 NLT

God hates pride in all its forms. And His hatred of pride is expressed throughout the Scriptures.

"Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall" – Proverbs 16:18 NLT

"Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom"  – Proverbs 11: 2 NLT

"But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'" – James 4:6 NIV

All throughout the Old Testament, God speaks of Israel's arrogance and pride. He blasts them for their extreme self-importance and attitude ofinsufferable self-worth. God hates pride in His people, but He hates in the nations. Pride is what caused Satan's fall. Just before God cast him out of heaven, Satan's attitude reflected his unparalleled pride and arrogance. "For you said to yourself, ‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north. I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High'" (Isaiah 14:13-14 NLT). He wanted to be like God. It was the same thing he tempted Adam and Eve with in the garden. "The serpent said to the woman, 'You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil'" (Genesis 3:4-5 NASB).

At the root of pride is self-reliance and independence. We begin to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to. We begin to believe our own press and think that we are something special. Our seeming successes only act to feed our insatiable thirst for recognition, credit, and self-sufficiency. We even begin to take credit for what God has done or what He has made possible for us to do. You see this reflected in the words of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, as he stood gazing over his royal capital from his palace balcony. "Look at this great city of Babylon! By my own mighty power, I have built this beautiful city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendor" (Daniel 4:30 NLT). That very moment, God took away not only Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom, but also his sanity. And it wasn't until he looked up and acknowledged the rule and reign of God, that his sanity returned.

In today's reading, we see God's anger expressed toward Egypt for her pride and arrogance. Even nations can be guilty of having an inflated self-worth and a bloated ego. In Egypt's case, they really were great. God compares them to a majestic tree with beautiful, shade-giving branches that provided safety and shelter to others. It had deep roots, providing stability and sustenance in times of drought. It was just like Assyrian HAD been. Assyria had once been beautiful, strong, self-reliant and the envy of the nations. But Assyrian had fallen. And so would Egypt. Both failed to recognize that their beauty and greatness were God's doing, not their own. God had given them their lofty position, and He could remove them from it. God would use another great nation, Babylon, to knock the props our from under Egypt - just like He did Assyria. Why? "Because Egypt became proud and arrogant" (Ezekiel 31:10b).

Humility is a rare commodity these days. Even among believers. We tend to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to. We tend to take credit for things that are the work of God, not us. We tend to compare and contrast ourselves with others, looking for those with whom we compare positively. We want to come out on the winning side, so we look for those with more flaws and weaknesses than we have. We celebrate their failures and revel in our own successes. But Paul warns us, "Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us" (Romans 12:3 NLT).

Egypt's pride was going to be its downfall. Its arrogance would bring about its demise. Because God hates pride. But He loves to extend His grace to the humble. When we refuse to life ourselves up, and instead, give Him the credit, we receive His grace. He exalts us at the proper time and in the proper way. Peter put it this way: "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time" (1 Peter 5:6 NIV). It is far better to humble ourselves than to be humbled by God. It is far healthier to let God exalt us when He and how He sees fit, than to attempt to exalt ourselves. Because God hates pride.

Father, continue Your patient work of removing pride in me. It is an ongoing project that is at times painful, but always beneficial. I never want my pride to rob me of the benefit of Your amazing grace. Amen

The Holiness of God Revealed.

Ezekiel 28-29

Give the people of Sidon this message from the Sovereign Lord: “I am your enemy, O Sidon, and I will reveal my glory by what I do to you. When I bring judgment against you and reveal my holiness among you, everyone watching will know that I am the Lord." – Ezekiel 28:22 NLT

We tend to struggle with a lot of the imagery and words used in a book like Ezekiel. In it, we get a glimpse of God that tends to make us a little bit uncomfortable. He appears angry, vindictive, violent, using His power like a neighborhood bully. After a steady diet of the more attractive version of God we seem to get in the New Testament, this image of God can come across as a bit overwhelming and difficult to reconcile with the loving, forgiving, merciful and grace-giving God we have come to know and love. But in the book of Ezekiel we are given a complete and holistic view of God. Yes, He is at time angry and wrathful. Yet He is patient and forgiving. He punishes, but He also protects. He destroys, but He also restores. And in each and every case, all that He does is so that the world might know that He alone is God. Every action God takes is aimed at revealing who He is. He is constantly displaying His power. But He is also revealing His holiness. He makes this clear in His message to the Sidonians: "Give the people of Sidon this message from the Sovereign Lord: “I am your enemy, O Sidon, and I will reveal my glory by what I do to you. When I bring judgment against you and reveal my holiness among you, everyone watching will know that I am the Lord" (Ezekiel 28:22 NLT). God's judgment of the people of Sidon and His destruction of them would reveal His holiness. How? In its simplest form, God's holiness refers to His set-apartness, His uniqueness. He alone is God. There is no one or nothing else like Him. He is distinct and unmatched in all His attributes. He is not a God among gods. He is the ONLY God. And when God acts against evil and punishes sin, He is revealing His distinctive nature. He is proving His holiness. Yet God also reveals His holiness through His kindness. In the same chapter, God says, "This is what the Sovereign Lord says: The people of Israel will again live in their own land, the land I gave my servant Jacob. For I will gather them from the distant lands where I have scattered them. I will reveal to the nations of the world my holiness among my people" (Ezekiel 28:25 NLT). God was going to reveal His holiness, distinctiveness and set-apartness, by restoring His people to their land and to a right relationship with Him. He is a promise-keeping God. He would not abandon His people. Yes, He was going to punish them for their sins, but He was also going to forgive and restore them. "They will live safely in Israel and build homes and plant vineyards. And when I punish the neighboring nations that treated them with contempt, they will know that I am the Lord their God" (Ezekiel 28:26 NLT). God reveals His holiness, His unmatched, unparalleled, distinctiveness in all that He does. His wrath and restoration both reveal His holiness. There is no other god like Him. There is no other god BUT Him.

Father, You are holy and unique in all Your actions. Whether You are punishing sin or restoring the wayward, You are holy. All that You do proves just how unique and distinctive You are. Forgive me for trying to make You into a one-dimensional God who I can be comfortable with. Thanks for reminding me that You are holy in all that You do. Amen

When Affluence No Longer Has Any Influence.

Ezekiel 26-27

Everything is lost— your riches and wares, your sailors and pilots, your ship builders, merchants, and warriors. On the day of your ruin, everyone on board sinks into the depths of the sea. – Ezekiel 27:27 NLT

In this section of the book, Ezekiel gives oracles or judgments against seven nations that surround Israel and Judah. In them he states what God is going to do to these nations for the roles they have played in Judah's destruction or for having tried to prosper from their situation. In these two chapters, he concentrates his attention on Tyre, a wealthy and powerful seacoast nation that stood to benefit greatly from Judah's fall. Over and over again Ezekiel seems to highlight two indistiputable facts: Tyre's extreme wealth and God's sovereignty. Tyre was a highly prosperous nation that benefited from diverse trade relationships with a variety of nations. They had taken advantage of their ideal location along the coast and had become a focal point along the trade routes of that day. They traded in everything from slaves to silver, wine to white wool, ivory to iron, and cloth to carpets. Their warehouses were filled to the brim and their ships were loaded with goods from all over the known world at that time. They were rich, prosperous, and as a result, powerful. Their army was large and made up of mercenaries from around the world. And now, because Judah was suffering under the hand of God, the nation of Tyre was salivating at the chance to take over their trading relationships and prosper because of their demise.

But Tyre's wealth was no match for God's sovereignty. In fact, each of these nations were going to be destroyed by God as a reminder of God's covenant with the people of Israel. God may be punishing Israel at this moment, but He had still promised to restore them to the land. God was not about to let these foreign nations profit from Israel's situation. He would keep the land for them and protect it in order that they might return when He deemed it appropriate. These seven oracles would have been words of hope to the exiled Israelites. In spite of their unfaithfulness, God would remain faithful to them, keeping the land safe for their eventual return. Tyre was wealthy and stood to profit from the fall of Jerusalem, but God was not going to let that happen. In fact, God was going to bring destruction on the nation of Tyre, allowing the Babylonians to conquer and destroy them. Over and over again, Ezekiel writes, "Yes, the Sovereign Lord has spoken!" None of these nations were any match for the power of Almighty God. No nation can stand against God. They may do so for a time, but the day is coming when God will bring judgment on all the nations. China, Iraq, Iran, Russia, Cuba, South Korea, and yes, even America. God's will is going to be done. And no nation will be able to stand against it. He is going to accomplish what He has promised and there is no power in the world that can prevent it. Our God is great, and He is in complete control of ALL things.

Father, You are sovereign and Lord over all, including all the nations of the world. I can rest in the fact that there is no power like Yours. No nation can compete with You or prevent You from accomplishing Your divine will. Thanks for that reminder today. Amen

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