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]

Lamentations 3

The prophet’s lament is balanced by one of Scripture’s greatest promises … “Great is Thy faithfulness!”

As we read chapter 3 we wonder is living for God is worth it. Then, the Lord breaks in upon our pain with insight into His eternally merciful nature. His compassions NEVER FAIL. They are new every morning.

In the dark hour of the soul, it is 3 o’clock in the morning!

Lamentations 1, 2

Keen insight is given in this book about intercessory prayer for your children. The prophet instructs:

“Let your tears flow like a river
    day and night;
give yourself no relief,
    your eyes no rest. Arise, cry out in the night,
    as the watches of the night begin;
pour out your heart like water
    in the presence of the Lord.
Lift up your hands to him
    for the lives of your children.” [Lam. 2:18b, 19a]

God hears and honors sincere, heartfelt prayer for others. When our hearts are broken at what breaks His heart, we are making eternal progress.

Jeremiah 53

The last chapter in the book of Jeremiah describes the devastation Babylon inflicted upon Jerusalem. Wholesale execution of leaders and priests and their descendants was a gory and ruthless gesture by the conquerors, all prophesied accurately by Jeremiah.

People are content to glide along happily in their sin and rejection of God until His judgements “wake” them up. Sadly, they choose to disregard His principles until they discover the devastation their rebellion has produced.

Thank God for Jesus. He called out to the devastated and offered redemption when He said, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” [Matt. 11:28]

Jeremiah 51

God has given to man a free will. He supplies everything needed for life, and then watches what we do with it. Some of us cut down the middle path of life, holding a “Live and let live” mantra. Others take and take and take … at the expense of everyone else. Others choose a life of integrity and good will. God must judge our lives and dole out appropriate rewards and punishments according to our lifestyle to perpetuate His principles. Hence, Babylon accrued an impossible due bill of punishment for her many sins. She was destroyed, never to regain life and identity.

Gratefully, God’s grace provided the ultimate antidote for men’s sins – the Blood of Jesus. Through Christ’s sacrifice, the murdered can receive forgiveness. Often, the penalties of sin must be endured ie. prisoners serve out their sentence, but for eternity they qualify for God’s best … Heaven.

Jeremiah 49, 50

The invincible city and its army fell because of its sin and debauchery. When their army would conquer a foe, they employed the most horrific and unspeakable techniques of torture upon their enemies. Their arrogance irritated God so much that He caused their enemies to eventually conquer them. They were NEVER to regain their strength and were to remain a desolate, wasted city.

Nations that blatantly revile the Lord have written their own death warrant. Those that honor Him and employ His principles of life (Judeo-Christian laws and values) will mercifully receive His blessing.

Its never wrong to pray for your nation, that it will turn to God and honor Him.