QT 6/27/2023 Ezek 12:8-13;17-19, Enjoying the simple things

Ezekiel 12:8–13 (ESV) —

8 In the morning the word of the Lord came to me: 9 “Son of man, has not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said to you, ‘What are you doing?’ 10 Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: This oracle concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel who are in it.’ 11 Say, ‘I am a sign for you: as I have done, so shall it be done to them. They shall go into exile, into captivity.’ 12 And the prince who is among them shall lift his baggage upon his shoulder at dusk, and shall go out. They shall dig through the wall to bring him out through it. He shall cover his face, that he may not see the land with his eyes. 13 And I will spread my net over him, and he shall be taken in my snare. And I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, yet he shall not see it, and he shall die there.

 

Ezekiel 12:17–19 (ESV) —

17 And the word of the Lord came to me: 18 “Son of man, eat your bread with quaking, and drink water with trembling and with anxiety. 19 And say to the people of the land, Thus says the Lord God concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the land of Israel: They shall eat their bread with anxiety, and drink water in dismay. In this way her land will be stripped of all it contains, on account of the violence of all those who dwell in it.

 

NOTE: For most of six years, Ezekiel is mute. He can only speak when God gives him a message--here is one of those cases. In this first passage, Zedekiah, the prince appointed by Nebuchadnezzar as King, was captured in his escape attempt. He was taken to the land but never saw it, because he was blinded after watching his two sons executed before him. The captivity and destruction was prophesied by Ezekiel, and maybe those in exile were not impressed, but the specificity of Zedekiah's capture and subsequent treatment is hard to ignore. And the story adds weight to the message, "Israel is a rebellious house."

 

In the second passage, I'm not sure we always appreciate the value of a meal with our families. For many, the family meal is a dying art. Yet, it is a chance for everyone to sit around the table in peace, to eat and drink in peace, and to share their day in peace. When we are anxious, really anxious, the stomach turns, and food does not seem enjoyable. For those in Jerusalem, hungry and starving, even this simple part of life will take on a dread. Is this the last meal? Will the walls fall tonight? How much longer can we go on?

 

I think we need to remember the joy of eating as a family and appreciate the fact that we can enjoy our meals in peace (although they don't always feel that way). We should not take those simple joys for granted because one never knows when they will end.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I appreciate the simple joys of life such as a meal shared?
2. Does life always have to revolve around big things and big events, or can I be content with simple joys?

 

PRAYER: Father, help to see and appreciate the simple joys of life. At any point they can end, and then I will long for what I once took for granted. May I be thankful in all things.