Ezekiel 4:16-17
“Then he said to me, ‘Son of man, I’m going to cut off all food from Jerusalem. The people will live on starvation rations, worrying where the next meal’s coming from, scrounging for the next drink of water. Famine conditions. People will look at one another, see nothing but skin and bones, and shake their heads. This is what sin does.’”
“Then he told me, ‘Son of man, I will make food very scarce in Jerusalem. It will be weighted out with great care and eaten fearfully. The water will be rationed out drop by drop, and the people will drink it with dismay. Lacking food and water, people will look at one another in terror, and they will waste away under their punishment.’”
The first part of the chapter describes another visual lesson Ezekiel is to undertake at God’s direction. He must draw a picture of Jerusalem on a brick and build model siege works against it. He must lie alongside it, tied with ropes holding an iron skillet representing Israel and Judah’s sin. He is to lie there for 430 days, the same as the combined years of their sin. God gives the exact amount of grain he is to make into flatbread for rations and tells him to eat it on a schedule. He is to use human excrement for fuel.
God noted his people’s sin, 430 years of it. It was not an amorphous cloud floating at some distance. Rather, it was present in every particulate and known to God Almighty. God directs Ezekiel to make a specific mixture of grains and legumes into flatbread as sustenance. It is easy to think of God as infinitely big. Here we see he is infinitely small too. He knew exactly what Ezekiel’s body needed to survive this display and prescribed accordingly. God knows everything, large and small.
Today’s verses describe what famine will do to people’s bodies, becoming nothing but skin and bones. Their collective appearance will dismay and dishearten one another. I love the Message’s last sentence, “This is what sin does.” It emaciates physical bodies, and souls too. It is why God hates it so.
Lord, in this country we have no inkling of this kind of famine. But all around I see souls of skin and bones. Give me wisdom to pray and serve when I meet one of these in my coming and going. Give me your heart of love for them and may it radiate from my words and countenance. Make me a person of hope and light in this famine filled world.
Ezekiel 3:24-25
“Then the Spirit entered me and put me on my feet. He said, ‘Go home and shut the door behind you.’ And then something odd: ‘Son of man: They’ll tie you hand and foot with ropes so you can’t leave the house. I’ll make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so you won’t be able to talk and tell the people what they’re doing wrong, even though they are a bunch of rebels’.”
“Then the Spirit came into me and set me on my feet. He spoke to me and said, ‘Go to your house and shut yourself in. There, son of man, you will be tied with ropes so you cannot go out among the people. And I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you will be speechless and unable to rebuke them, for they are rebels.’”
In a preliterate society God sometimes called his prophets to act in ways the people would notice and pay attention. Here, he called Ezekiel to a severe discomfort. We don’t know who ties him up or tends to his physical needs for the duration. It seems God provided for this, as well as the message uttered when it was time for Ezekiel to talk. We may want to see the whole plan when stepping out for God, but like Ezekiel in a typing of ropes, he only shows us the next step. Most of the time we can be grateful our step is a lot easier than his.
Lord, make me ever ready for the next step and may I obey without question or explanation. You are my God, almighty in power and wisdom. You bought me at a dear price. Make I always be the servant your majesty demands.
Ezekiel 3:18-21
“‘If I say to the wicked, ‘You are going to die,’ and you don’t sound the alarm warning them that it’s a matter of life or death, they will die and it will be your fault. I’ll hold you responsible. But if you warn the wicked and they keep right on sinning anyway, they’ll most certainly die for their sin, but you won’t die. You’ll have saved your life.
‘And if the righteous turn back from living righteously and take up with evil when I step in and put them in a hard place, they’ll die. If you haven’t warned them, they’ll die because of their sins, and none of the right things they’ve done will count for anything—and I’ll hold you responsible. But if you warn these righteous people not to sin and they listen to you, they’ll live because they took the warning—and again, you’ll have saved your life.’”
“‘If I warn the wicked, saying, ‘You are under the penalty of death,’ but you fail to deliver the warning, they will die in their sins. And I will hold you responsible for their deaths. If you warn them and they refuse to repent and keep on sinning, they will die in their sins. But you will have saved yourself because your obeyed me.
‘If righteous people turn away from their righteous behavior and ignore the obstacles I put in their way, then they will die. And if you do not warn them, they will die in their sins. None of their righteous acts will be remembered, and I will hold you responsible for their deaths. But if you warn righteous people not to sin and they listen to you and do not sin, they will live, and you will have saved yourself, too.’”
The Old Testament makes sure we understand God’s intolerance of sin and evil. In these verses we see both the wicked and the righteous are polluted; degree matters not. When we know how fickle our good intentions, our utter sinfulness, we know our desperate need for a savior. At the cross God paid the price we could not and in doing so displays his essential nature, love.
Ezekiel’s life was saved by heeding God’s call and acting upon it. He was not saved by his actions but by his obedience. The New Testament shows trust in the cross’ redemptive power is the ultimate act of obedience to which all others point. The cross of Christ allows us to shift from doing to being the beloved of God.
Lord, thank you for paying the penalty for my sins on your cross. How can you love me so? You set me free to live unfettered by should, would and ought. I can simply ‘be’. May my obedience testify of my gratitude for your unmeasurable love.
Ezekiel 3:14-17
“The Spirit lifted me and took me away. I went bitterly and angrily. I didn’t want to go. But GOD had me in his grip. I arrived among the exiles who lived near the Kebar River at Tel Aviv. I came to where they were living and sat there for seven days, appalled. At the end of the days, I received this Message from GOD: ’Son of man, I’ve made you a watchman for the family of Israel. Whenever you hear me say something, warn them for me.”
“The Spirit lifted me up and took me away. I went in bitterness and turmoil, but the Lord’s hold on me was strong. Then I came to the colony of Judean exiles in Tel-abib, beside the Kebar River. I was overwhelmed and sat among them for seven days. After seven days the Lord gave me a message. He said, ‘Son of man, I have appointed you as a watchman for Israel. Whenever you receive a message from me, warn people immediately.”
Glimpsing the throne of God (Chapter 1:25-28) would overwhelm anyone. Ezekiel had to leave the glory of God Almighty and return to the nitty gritty. Now he bore the heavy weight of exercising God’s call. God graciously allowed Ezekiel seven days to adjust before getting to work, watching on Israel’s behalf. Mystical experience nourishes us, but its over-riding purpose is to glorify God.
Lord, please keep my head on straight, ever properly oriented towards you and you purpose. May your call upon my days and hours reign supreme. I want to always be about your eternal business.
Ezekiel 3:10-11
“Then he said, ‘Son of man, get all these words that I’m giving you inside you. Listen to them obediently. Make them your own. And now go. Go to the exiles, your people, and speak. Tell them, ‘This is the Message of GOD, the Master.’ Speak your piece, whether they listen or not.’”
“Then he added, ‘Son of man, let all my words sink deep into your own heart first. Liten to them carefully for yourself. Then go to your people in exile and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says!’ Do this whether they listen to your or not.’”
In verses 2-3 of this chapter God tells Ezekiel to eat the book he gave him, make a full meal of it. It tasted good and sweet as honey. The command is repeated here in verses 10-11 where, additionally, Ezekiel is to digest the book and make it his own. We also must eat and digest God’s written Word so it becomes a part of every cell and oozes from every pore. God does not say to wear the book like a magic garment. He says to absorb it, so it may transform us from the inside out. Then we have credibility to speak our piece by work and deed into the people of our lives.
Lord, may I always be faithful to set aside myself, so you have full reign inside me. Give me words and deeds to tell the world about you and the good news you gave us through Jesus. Take and use me for your good purpose.
Ezekiel 2:3, 9-10
“He said, ‘Son of man, I’m sending you to the family of Israel, a rebellious nation if there ever was one.… When I looked he had his hand stretched out to me, and in the hand a book, a scroll. He unrolled the scroll. On both sides, front and back, were written lamentations and mourning and doom.”
“‘Son of man,’ he said, ‘I am sending you to the nation of Israel, a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me.… Then I looked and saw a hand reaching out to me. It held a scroll, which he unrolled. And I saw that both sides were covered with funeral songs, words of sorrow, and pronouncements of doom.”
Chapter 2 tells us Ezekiel was living amongst exiles from Israel, the northern kingdom earlier conquered by Assyria. Their sister kingdom, Judah, and its temple, was still intact. These Israelites lived through the destruction of their homeland by Assyria but hadn’t yet absorbed the connection between their sin and judgement. Perhaps they thought they would return to Judah and rebuild their lives. God called Ezekiel to break their hardened heart shells, warning him he will need a sledgehammer. Ezekiel was to show them their God still at work amongst them, even in catastrophe, and ready to embrace repentant hearts.
Lord, it is hard to read of judgement. My own culture seems ripe for it. It will surely continue its decay as our grandchildren grow up. I shudder to think of the world they will face. Help them to grow strong character. Grant them enduring faith. May their memories of me always include my faith and trust in you.
Ezekiel 2:4-7
“They’re a hard case, these people to whom I’m sending you—hardened in their sin. Tell them, ‘This is the Message of GOD, the Master.’ They are a defiant bunch. Whether or not they listen, at least they’ll know that a prophet’s been here. But don’t be afraid of them, son of man, and don’t be afraid of anything they say. Don’t be afraid when living among them is like stepping on thorns or finding scorpions in your bed. Don’t be afraid of their mean words or their hard looks. They’re a bunch of rebels. Your job is to speak to them. Whether they listen is not your concern. They’re hardened rebels.”
“‘They are a stubborn and hard-hearted people. But I am sending you to say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says!’ And whether they listen or refuse to listen- for remember, they are rebels- at least they will know they have had a prophet among them. Son of man, do not fear them or their words. Don’t be afraid even though their threats surround you like nettles and briers and stinging scorpions. Do not be dismayed by their dark scowls, even though they are rebels. You must give them my messages whether they listen or not. But they won’t listen, for they are completely rebellious!’”
God warns Ezekiel this task he is giving is difficult and it bookends these verses for emphasis. Ezekiel’s job is to witness fearlessly to Israel, caring not whether his labor is fruitful. We today are filled by the same Spirit as Ezekiel. It gives us power to share the good news that our sins are forgiven in Jesus. Like Ezekiel, our job is to speak this truth, regardless the hostility of our audience. This is really hard! I am especially aware of non-verbal communication, so I really notice mean words and hard looks. Nevertheless, God calls me to join Ezekiel in this task.
Lord, I am so weak at this. Forgive me. Teach me how to witness more effectively. Show me how to work through the gifts you have bestowed upon me. May speaking the truth of the gospel become a lifestyle. Please help me.
Ezekiel 1:25-27
“And then, as they stood with folded wings, there was a voice from above the dome over their heads. Above the dome there was something that looked like a throne, sky-blue like a sapphire, with a humanlike figure towering above the throne. From what I could see, from the waist up he looked like burnished bronze and from the waist down like a blazing fire. Brightness everywhere!”
“As they stood with wings lowered, a voice spoke from beyond the crystal surface above them. Above this surface was something that looked like a throne made of blue lapis lazuli. And on this throne high above was a figure whose appearance resembled a man. From what appeared to be his waist up, he looked like gleaming amber, flickering like a fire. And from his waist down, he looked like a burning flame, shining with splendor.”
In this chapter the prophet Ezekiel describes God’s call to him. It occured while living with Judean exiles on the banks of the Kebar river in Babylon. Earlier, Ezekiel described four fantastical beasts and now, the person of God himself. Ezekiel has never seen anything like this and has no vocabulary to describe it. He could only say what these things were ‘like.’ This is who God is, a being completely other than our experience. We have no words that can accurately portray him. He overwhelms us. He shields us from what we cannot bear to look upon and reaches out to reveal himself in ways we can understand, through Abraham, Israel, and finally Jesus.
Lord Jesus, thank you for coming! You are the best teacher, introducing me to God Almighty in little bits I can understand. You are the gentle gardener who gradually introduces me as a seedlings to the sun until I can stand its burning brightness. I worship you.
I Samuel 30:22-26
“But all the mean-spirited men who had marched with David, the rabble element, objected: ‘They didn’t help in the rescue, they don’t get any of the plunder we recovered. Each man can have his wife and children, but that’s it. Take them and go!’ ‘Families don’t do this sort of thing! Oh no, my brothers!’ said David as he broke up the argument. ‘You can’t act this way with what GOD gave us! God kept us safe. He handed over the raiders who attacked us. Who would ever listen to this kind of talk? The share of the one who stays with the gear is the share of the one who fights—equal shares. Share and share alike!’ From that day on, David made that the rule in Israel—and it still is. On returning to Ziklag, David sent portions of the plunder to the elders of Judah, his neighbors, with a note saying, ‘A gift from the plunder of GOD’s enemies!’”
“But some evil troublemakers among David’s men said, ‘They didn’t go with us, so they can’t have any of the plunder we recovered. Give them their wives and children, and tell them to be gone.’ But David said, ‘No, my brothers! Don’t be selfish with what the LORD has given us. He has kept us safe and helped us defeat the band of raiders that attacked us. Who will listen when you talk like this? We share and share alike—those who go to battle and those who guard the equipment.’ From then on David made this a decree and regulation for Israel, and it is still followed today. When he arrived at Ziklag, David sent part of the plunder to the elders of Judah, who were his friends. ‘Here is a present for you, taken from the LORD’s enemies.’”
David is a type of Christ. His character and life point forward to that of Jesus. Here we see David as judge, holding to a standard of righteousness. Earlier we saw David as administrator and warrior. The Messiah, when he comes again, will be all of these too, but perfectly so. Imagine the peace and joy of living under a perfect King, everything always put right. I can’t wait!
Lord Jesus, please come quickly. We are spiraling down up to our own destruction. You are our only hope.
I Samuel 30:6-7
“David strengthened himself with trust in his GOD. He ordered Abiathar the priest, son of Ahimelech, ‘Bring me the Ephod so I can consult God.’ Abiathar brought it to David.”
“But David found strength in the Lord his God. Then he said to Abiathar the priest, ‘Bring me the ephod!’ So Abiathar brought it.”
David is the best kind of leader, one who knows his limits and the One who meets him there. The outlaw’s home had been razed to the ground and all wives and children taken as slaves. The riffraff among the men were turning mutinous. David knew he faced a problem only God could solve. In I Samuel 22:20-21 the lone priest, Abiathar, escaped Saul’s murderous rampage at Nob. Abiathar brought with him the sacred items used to discern God’s will. They allowed David to call upon God for guidance and he needed it now. God spoke and enabled exhausted men to mount an exhausting rescue. When, like David, we reach the end of ourselves we find God waiting, delighting to provide and direct, because he loves us so.
Lord, the things I do in my own effort are temporal. Instead, may eternity ever be my reference point. Let me always seek you, responding to your guidance. There is no safer, or restful, place to be. I praise you, my rescuer, my love.
I Samuel 29:6-7
“So Achish had to send for David and tell him, ‘As GOD lives, you’ve been a trusty ally—excellent in all the ways you have worked with me, beyond reproach in the ways you have conducted yourself. But the warlords don’t see it that way. So it’s best that you leave peacefully, now. It’s not worth it, displeasing the Philistine warlords.’”
“So Achish finally summoned David and said to him, ‘I swear by the Lord that you have been a trustworthy ally. I think you should go with me into battle, for I’ve never found a single flaw in you from the day you arrived until today. But the other Philistine rulers won’t hear of it. Please don’t upset them, but go back quietly.’”
God’s deliverance of David is worthy of a screen play. He turned David’s weakness (07.13.23. Post) into a powerful witness of himself and prevented David from going to war against his own people. In Gath of Philistia David resolved to honor God while in a land on many gods. This testimony led its ruler, Achish, to know Israel’s God as one to be sworn by when it counted.
Stress mounted by the moment as David and his men saw where their allegiance with Gath was leading them. Only the strongest in faith believed God could deliver them now. He did, at the last moment, as usual. God drives each lesson home for maximum impact when we walk by faith. He built David and his men into a force that would shape an empire. Our faithful God uses our weakness to build his strength within us. When I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10)
Lord, this is so comforting. I am no longer haunted by my failures. Not only do you forgive them, you use them for my benefit. You parent me perfectly and therein is rest. Thank you for your great love for me, and the world.
I Samuel 28:11-12
“Finally, the woman said, ‘Well, whose spirit do you want me to call up?’ ‘Call up Samuel,’ Saul replied. When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed, ‘You’ve deceived me! You are Saul’”
“The woman said, ‘So whom do you want me to bring up?’ ‘Samuel. Bring me Samuel.’ When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out loudly to Saul, ‘Why did you lie to me? You’re Saul!’”
There are a couple of hard things about these verses. Saul began with such promise. It is heartbreaking to see him come down to this in his last days; spiritually adrift, paralyzed with fear and failure, and consulting a witch.
Then we wonder that God’s prophet Samuel responded to the call of such a woman. Perhaps understanding comes with noting the apparent Samuel accepts Saul’s worship, something the real Samuel never would have done. (I Samuel 28:14 and Deuteronomy 5:7) This was a spirit impersonating Samuel but how did it know the future? Maybe it didn’t but spoke out of Satan’s intention to destroy all God has wrought and only seemed to provide an accurate prediction. Scripture repeatedly confronts us with the choice to trust God or sit in judgement of him. If I understood everything, how would he be God? So, I choose to trust that our good God always acts in accordance with his character and leave the perplexing parts of scripture in his hands.
Lord, I am grateful to rest in your authority and wisdom. You know what you are about, and I don’t have to know everything.