Tag: Ezekiel

Devotional

God’s Glory

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Ezekiel 38

In scripture we read a lot about the glory of God, and yet, if asked to describe it, sometimes we find ourselves without words. Whether we can bring honour and glory to His holy name, or not, God will do so Himself. He told Moses that He would gain glory for Himself through Pharaoh. Who would have supposed such an unlikely thing, yet God is the God of the impossible.

Here’s the plan Moses – God would harden Pharoah’s heart so that he would not let the Israelites go. Then when finally Pharaoh caved, the army and all his people would recognize the power of the God of Israel! Exodus 14:4.

Hundreds of years later God’s purpose hasn’t changed. Ezekiel writes that in the last days God will gain the victory over Gog. “Then they will know that I am the Lord” (38:23). For years God had prophesied through his prophets details of the nations gathering together against the tiny nation of Israel; why is still a mystery. Someone has described Israel as “the navel of the earth”. Surely its location isn’t what makes it such a target for the nations.

No – it is the eternal battle of evil against good, Satan against God in his final attempt to be like God. Jesus spoke about the coming battle, recorded in the gospels – Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, Revelation 16:16. This is interesting since Ezekiel, hundreds of years before, prophesied clearly about that final battle.

Having been patient with mankind through millennia of time, God described His zeal and fiery wrath through His prophet. There will be a great earthquake; mountains will crumble, every man’s sword will be against his brother. God’s judgment will bring plague and bloodshed, hailstones and burning sulphur upon the troops of the nations gathered against Israel.

The promise is consistent with His character: “I will show My greatness and My holiness”. There is no other god to compare with the terrible glory of God’s wrath. Have we a correct picture of the God we worship? Have we forgotten the miracles which Jesus Christ performed when He was here on earth?…raising the dead, Himself raised from the dead!

Reflection:

We sing “Our God is an awesome God, He reigns in heav’n supreme” but does He reign in our hearts supreme over every earthly temptation? Each day God wants to show the world His glory through the lives we live, as we follow the Lord Jesus. Imagine the joy of being His image-bearers! “Then they will know that I am the Lord (Ezekiel 38:23) All glory goes to our God!

Devotional

Zealous for My Honor

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Number 20:12, 25:10-13 Revelation 5:13

As we bow in worship, would we consider ourselves to be zealous for the honour of our God? Indeed, why do we pray? Is it to see the pain of others relieved? Is it for guidance in decision-making? Is it with faithless hearts as we despair over our world? Do we praise God from whom all blessings flow?

Moses had a moment of faithlessness. In a life-time of amazing service, Moses had a hiccough, a crisis in believing. The Israelites were desperate – they had no water. Water was a religious issue as well as a physical necessity. They needed water for ceremonial washing, a ritual which prefigured the cleansing of the blood of Christ (Hebrews 9:13-14, 1 John 1:7-9). They needed drinking water for themselves and their flocks.

Moses and Aaron went before the Lord. In fact they “fell face down, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them” (Numbers 20:6). How thrilling is that? Have you ever known the glory of the Lord to surround you as you prayed? God gave them specific instructions. They were to gather the people for a demonstration of God’s power. Then they were to “speak to the rock”. There would be enough water for all the people as well as their livestock, pouring out of the rock as a result. WOW!

When Moses began to speak, he accused the people of being rebels. In his rising anger he then struck the rock twice with his staff. Now, God had instructed him to bring his staff (:7), but He did not give instructions for its use. Perhaps this was as much a test of Moses’ faith as it was a miracle to provide water for His people.

Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron: “Because you did not trust in Me enough to honour Me as holy in the sight of the Israelites you will not bring this community to the land I give them” (20:12). What a blow! After so much talk of the ‘promised land’, they would not enter into it? Imagine their disappointment. To us this might seem a very heavy punishment for a small slip-up, but in the mind of God, Moses was His representative among a people who found it easy to try short-cuts or even direct rejection, of the word of the Lord. Surely speaking to a rock wouldn’t be nearly as masterful as whacking it with one’s staff.

So what would it take to earn God’s approval? The Lord appointed Phinehas, grandson of Aaron as a replacement for Aaron “for he was as zealous as I am for My honour among them [the Israelites]” (Numbers 25:11). “Therefore…I am making My covenant of peace with him.” He earned “a covenant of a lasting priesthood, because he was zealous for the honour of his God” (25:13).

Reflection:

First: As I knelt to pray this morning, I had to confess my own failure to honour my God at all times. If the fate of Canadians depended on the way I carry out God’s instructions to believers, written clearly in His Holy Word, Canada would be in trouble, very thirsty indeed! But here’s the thing – Canada is spiritually thirsty. Our whole world is dying for lack of the water of life. What are we going to do about it? Will God hold us accountable? Read Ezekiel 33:1-16

Secondly, if my entrance into the ‘promised land’ depends on the way I honour my God, then I need to seriously consider my ways.

Third, can I look forward to hearing voices lifted up from heaven and earth in praise, singing: “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, be praise and honour and glory and power forever and ever!”? (Revelation 5:13)

Devotional

Desolation

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Joel 1

From chapter 1, in the book of Joel, we learn something about desolation. One commentator describes it in three different ways – the character of desolation, the reaction to desolation and the picture of coming desolation. Let us review: Locust swarms have devastated the land; famine ensues. Even the bark of the fig trees has been eaten, laying bare the branches (1:4, 7). Their destruction leaves nothing untouched; the loss of grain, wine, oil, fruit, is unprecedented. We are left to wonder which would be worse, the physical hunger or the spiritual wasteland. There is nothing left to sacrifice to God, resulting in spiritual barrenness.

Joel, led by God, recommends official mourning with sackcloth and fasting. He knows their only hope is in God. “Cry out to the Lord” (1:13, 14). The nation is called to repent as they gather before their Holy God! This is the reaction God desires when anyone falls away from Him. His heart is full of mercy and grace! He remains faithful to His covenant of love, in spite of momentary punishment. Joel went on to describe how future apostacy would remove all joy (1:16) just as fires ravage the land (1:19-20). The day of the Lord has come! This “Day of the Lord” is the theme of Joel’s prophecy. He explains it in three ways.

1.Chapter one links historically, with prophecies from Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel:

“Wail for the day of the Lord is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty. Because of this, all

hands will go limp, every man’s heart will melt. Terror will seize them….”(Isaiah 13:6-8a).

“But that day belongs to the Lord, the Lord Almighty – a day of vengeance….the sword will devour ‘til it is satisfied” (Jeremiah 46:10).

“Alas for that day! For the day is near, the day of the Lord is near – a day of clouds, a time of doom for

the nations” (Ezekiel 30:2b-3).

We must note that the Day of the Lord will bring much fear and desolation! (Joel 2:11b). Jesus also warned about the Day of the Lord. Luke records His prophecy – wars, earthquakes, famine and pestilence will precede His return (Luke 21).

2.Joel also uses this historic plague as an illustration of the gravity of the ‘day of the Lord’ (Joel 2:1). Isaiah goes on to detail the day of the Lord as “a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger – to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it” (Isaiah 13:9). He goes on to say that God will punish the world for its evil, putting an end to man’s arrogance. Through it all there will be cosmic disturbances as God gives vent to His “burning anger” (Isaiah 13:10-13). It is not a pretty sight! This illustrates the partial fulfillment of prophecy of things yet to come.

3. There is an eschatological “day” coming when the great tribulation will take place followed by the Millennial reign. “In that day the Branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel” (Isaiah 4:2). Joel has been sent to warn God’s people “Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill…for the day of the Lord is coming” (Joel 2:1). Ezekiel warned the nation of Israel to become watchmen (Ezekiel :33). This is the holy responsibility of all children of God.

Reflection:

We must realize we have not been chosen by God simply for us to go to heaven, but rather to be used to accomplish God’s purposes here on earth! Lest we get too caught up in watching for the “Day of the Lord“ let us remember Jesus’ words warning that the fields are ripe unto harvest, but the workers are few (John 4:35, Matthew 9:31). Spiritual desolation is all around us! Let us, like Him, be about our Father’s business (Luke 2:49).

by Marilyn Daniels (MarilynDaniels.net)

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Impossible Peacemaking

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Ezekiel 13

 

People! Does any man or woman have the capability of becoming a peacemaker? The job is assigned by governments to achieve international peace. What a glorious possibility!

 

Why then do both Jeremiah and Ezekiel prophecy a time when the word ‘peace’ will be really meaningless? (Jeremiah 6:14, Ezekiel 13:10) Ezekiel goes on to describe the frailty of what only looks good. “When a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash, therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall” (:10-11). In our present world, this could apply to efforts at International peace. Why?

 

In Ezekiel chapter 13 we read “Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing” (:3). Through the desire begun in the Garden of Eden, to be like God, Satan still attempts to deceive mankind today. We see through a glass darkly the Apostle Paul tells us (1 Corinthians 13:12 KJV). God, however, sees the end from the beginning, since He is the Alpha and the Omega (Revelation 1:8). How could a created being possible aspire to such knowledge? There is only one way we could possibly see things from God’s perspective and that is by getting to know Him. Ezekiel repeats four times the desire of God’s heart – “Then you will know that I am the Lord” (:14, 21, 23) “the Sovereign Lord” (:9)

 

In scripture we see the Prince of Peace prophesied (Isaiah 9:6), then revealed (Luke 2:14). Jesus blessed His disciples with that special peace which only comes from knowing God (John 14:27). He promised that “…in Me you may have peace” (John 16:33). With this possibility in mind Jesus challenges us to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9). Leaving us the mandate to make disciples, Jesus’ plan is for us who know Him to attract those who long for peace, by our peaceable way of life.

 

God has called us to live in peace, to be of one mind. Only by yielding to the leading of the Holy Spirit can the mind of any man or woman be at peace with God, with self, and with others. It is impossible for anyone to have peace or to be a true peacemaker without the power of God first of all destroying our tendency to be little gods within ourselves – controlling, manipulating, deceiving. All glory goes to God for making possible the impossibility of my being His instrument of peace!

 

Reflection:

“Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called ‘sons’ of God” (Matthew 5:9)

Are you obviously a ‘son/daughter’ of God?

Have you burned any bridges or does God give you the power to make peace among the enemy?

How does your peacemaking bring glory to God?

 

Devotional · Uncategorized

Life-Source

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Ezekiel 37:1-14

The moon shining on new-fallen snow has an unearthly beauty; poets rave! When the snow has gone tiny flowers emerge, responding to the warming of Mother Earth. Cycles of nature! Designed by Creator God, tribes around the world honour Him for His genius.

Life! That is what God is all about. In the natural realm tides pulsate against the shores, teeming with life both plant and animal. Super novae explode causing humans to try to explore the infinitude of space. Microbes divide and multiply….and the list goes on and on. The world, created by God, is a living organism created for movement and multiplication.

Our God Himself is living, actively involved in all that He has created. The crowning glory of His creation is mankind, created in His image. Engaging with His pride and joy, God sustains everything around us here on earth to demonstrate the essence of His being, which is “Life”.

In our scripture reading today, God showed Ezekiel that He had the power to give life to dry bones. It is an allegory, describing what happens spiritually to those who are dead in sin when Christ comes to live in them. How does this happen? It is really an act of God, restoring a relationship that died in the Garden of Eden. Three times God emphasises the power of His will to make alive something that was dead. The purpose? “Then you will know that I am the LORD” (Ezekiel 37:5-6)

Jesus, visible form of the Trinity, declared Himself to be “The Life” (John 14:6) Only through His life flowing through us can we know the Father intimately “No one comes to the Father but by Me”. In Him is life, John writes, a life that is abundant (John 10:10 KJ). He gives us living water, making us conduits of that living water to others (John 7:37-38).

The Samaritan woman begged Jesus to give her the water He promised would quench her thirst forever (John 4:15). He was referring to spiritual thirst. He told His disciples ”Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6). I’ve watched desperate people in Kenya digging into a dry riverbed hoping to source water from parched ground. Has our thirst driven us to the right source?

Reflection:

What makes us seek water?

Which spiritual resources do you draw upon to have a healthy spiritual life?

Do you believe God can make dry bones live?

by Marilyn Daniels. http://www.marilyndaniels.net

Devotional · Uncategorized

Our Covenant God

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Ezekiel 16

What is a covenant?

Ecclesiastical: A solemn agreement between the members of a church to act together in harmony with the precepts of the gospel. There are national as well as legal covenants which bind people groups together for a stated purpose.

In the Bible it is an agreement between God and His people, upon whom He places covenantal blessings, conditioned by their obedience to His laws. A covenant binds two or more parties together….for example God made a covenant between the nation of Israel and Himself.

Chapter 16 of Ezekiel’s prophecy depicts Israel as an unfaithful wife. God reviews the nation’s sin (:3-34) and describes her punishment (:35-52)….not without hope. Verses 53-63 describe the restoration of His chosen people. True to God’s character of faithful love, He honours His everlasting covenant (:60) in the end. What is the purpose of God’s covenant with Israel? That “you will know that I am the LORD” (:62), declares the Sovereign LORD (:63).

God’s Sovereignty is a cardinal doctrine of the Christian faith. In spite of things seeming to be out of control, both in Ezekiel’s day as well as our own, God is in control. It is curious to reflect on the amazing way He brings about His purposes for our world as prophecies continue to be fulfilled. It would sometimes seem that Satan is winning the battle, but we must remember he cannot win the war. We must remind ourselves of the picture painted in Job 1 & 2, where Satan comes to God for permission to test His blameless servant Job. Who is in charge? God!

God’s thoughts are not like our thoughts. They are motivated by His purity. His ways are not like our ways…they are purposeful for the ultimate good of others. (Isaiah 55:8-9) Even in the midst of His disappointment and pain, God looks beyond our fault and sees our need.

Dotty Rambo wrote a beautiful song about His outlook on each individual. It is for this reason God sent His Son to save the world from sin…in that while we were yet sinners, Christ dies for us (Romans 5:8). True to His promise God’s covenant blessing of atonement has come to us in the twenty-first century, through Jesus Christ our LORD. (Ezekiel 16:63).

Reflection:

Let us examine our reactionary style of living. What is our response when we have been hurt or disappointed?

Are we emulating God’s mercy and grace when we are angry or sad with others who let us down?

What do we learn from our covenant-keeping God?

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