Ezekiel 17, 18

On my flight to Ohio I sat next to a lady who said, “As long as your good outweighs the bad, I think you’ll go to heaven.” Once when I was a young man, I allowed a man to say that without correcting him. He passed shortly. I hope someone more courageous than me got to him. Anyway, I quoted her some appropriate verses about Christ being the ONLY way to God. She got quiet.

Each person is responsible for their sin. They can either accept Christ and be forgiven,or perish because of it to eternal damnation. That is a chilling thought. We can’t let unbelievers living in erroneous theological misconception continue that way if we can do something about it.

Ez. 15, 16

The prophet declares the painful penalty of unfaithfulness upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem likening her to a prostitute who is horribly abused. Her natural beauty was used for immoral purposes and she suffers greatly at the hands of lustful lovers.

So much of God’s relationship with man is represented by the holy love of a man with a woman. Christ and the Bride, the Church, are prime actors in this portrayal.

Marriage is to be a holy, earthly example of God’s love for His People.

My mom and dad have exemplified a true love relationship their entire lives, especially now that they are in their nineties. You should see them.

Ezekiel 12-14

Here is a word we don’t use often. The prophet encouraged the renouncing of evil and sinful practices. When you renounce something, you make a formal declaration that you are abandoning something or somebody.

You are making your intentions clear to God and all onlookers.

Ezekiel 11

The prophet challenged the leaders of Jerusalem to abide in His Laws in the city and land God gave them. They were judged when they failed, although God was patient and long-suffering with them.

God has blessed us with SO MUCH. From homes to cars to golf clubs etc. He has been TOO GOOD to us. The least we can do is take good care of it.

How about our nation? Are we taking good care of it? I’m not talking about “Green” this and “Green” that … I’m talking about following His ways and being grateful for His blessings.

Ezekiel 8-10

God’s Spirit carried the prophet to see the detestable things being done by the people and priests in Jerusalem. God sent His ambassador to mark those who were lamenting the sin of the city. God seemed to commend their concern and anguish over the spiritual decay around them. They were spared the grief of judgment.

The message for us is: carry a spiritual burden and concern for the condition of your surroundings. The moral decadence, the lustful appetites, the outright contempt for the things of God … these are a few of the detestable conditions of the world we live in. It should break our heart and stir up a longing for revival in our land.

Love what God loves and hate what He hates.

Exekiel 6, 7

It is painful to read of God’s wrath and punishment upon His people for their sin and backsliding. Ezekiel and the other prophets whose writings made it into the canon of Scripture reveal the power of God’s anger and retribution upon those who ignore and disdain His Laws.

Thank God for Christ Jesus, Who in His sacrifice upon the Cross, took away our reproach, our sin, and our penalty. No wonder song writers have been extoliing the Grace and Mercy of God embodied by Christ Jesus, Our Savior for centuries. May we never stop praising Him Who paid the awesome price for our redemption.

Ezekiel 4, 5

Dramatically, God used Ezekiel to act out His displeasure with His people. God wanted to speak to them through the dramatic stunts He asked Ezekiel to perform.

One theme portrayed was that God’s people would waste away because of their sin.

A sad commentary is the life of Tommy Morrison, the young blond boxer who appeared in Rocky V. He went from being one of the most feared heavyweight fighters in the world to a shriveled up ghost of a man. His years of immorality, drug abuse, and riotous living caught up with him. Was it worth it???

Ezekiel 3

Two important topics in this chapter of Ezekiel:

1. EAT THE WORD!. God instructed Ezekiel to eat the scroll, the Word. This is a prerequisite for speaking for God … you MUST know the Book.
2. The Warning. As an educator, I believed so firmly in using the warning with children. It is a vital step in forming behavior. It clarifies the offense. It gives time and space for God to change behavior. It reinforces good behavior. Use it!

Ezekiel 1, 2

Exekiel can be perplexing to the reader or the student of scripture. He was an eccentric man, but most true prophets are. His book was included in the Canon of Scripture and deemed “God-breathed” by theologians. He provides a description of his calling in the first two chapters of his book. It is a primer of sorts for those who hear from God.

To me, the descriptions of the beasts he saw seem like how an ancient would react to seeing and hearing jet fighters or war tanks. As you “listen” to the book (pull up audio Bibles on Biblegateway.com and select NIV Dramatized) your mind’s eye can visualize modern war devices.

To hear God speak should be the goal of every Christian. As was King David, we each are called to be a prophet-priest-king to the Lord.

Listen to the Lord: He IS speaking to us. Is. 50:4

Lamentations 4, 5

The prophet noted that joy was gone from the hearts of the people who were victims of Jerusalem’s downfall. Dancing became mourning and their appearance was crest-fallen. They were a sad sight.

Sin will do this to you. Deep, abiding joy can only be found in a heart that knows the Lord and has been cleansed by the blood of Jesus.

Mary, Christ’s mother uttered these words as she considered her Son, our Redeemer: “My soul ^[i]magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.” [Luke 1:46,47]