QT 8/25/2023 Ezek 32:9-11;15-16, Sin and rebellion are peaking, the days come to a close

Ezekiel 32:9-11;15-16 (ESV) —

9 “I will trouble the hearts of many peoples, when I bring your destruction among the nations, into the countries that you have not known. 10 I will make many peoples appalled at you, and the hair of their kings shall bristle with horror because of you, when I brandish my sword before them. They shall tremble every moment, every one for his own life, on the day of your downfall.

11 “For thus says the Lord God: The sword of the king of Babylon shall come upon you.

…

15 When I make the land of Egypt desolate,

and when the land is desolate of all that fills it,

when I strike down all who dwell in it,

then they will know that I am the Lord.

16 This is a lamentation that shall be chanted; the daughters of the nations shall chant it; over Egypt, and over all her multitude, shall they chant it, declares the Lord God.”

 

NOTE: God says very clearly that Babylon, a wicked and evil nation, was the sword of the Lord. The result will be (and was) that God is Lord and people will sing this funeral dirge of Egypt. Why now? Israel's continued rebellion is understood, but Egypt and all the other nations have worshipped animals and the sun for years longer than Israel. Egypt was cruel to Israel in its latter days, even though God had told Israel not to trust in Egypt. The whole area is judged for sin that had been going on for a long time. Egypt also saw the work of the Lord in rescuing Israel but was unmoved.

 

Today, the world stands similarly. We are at a threshold. The gospel has covered nearly all people groups. Nations have seen the effect of the gospel, and most have turned away. The two nations who have seen the most impact, more than any other nation, are Great Britain and the United States. They are essentially pagan nations with only a form of faith but lacking any real power. They are self-absorbed and proud of their sin. Israel is back in the land but is more godless (atheistic) than at any point in their history. What is left before the end times? War consumes the Ukraine, Russia, and Syria. Gog, Magog, Put, and Persia are fighting in these places. There remains an attack on Israel and a coming together of the world under one government, and a peace treaty with Israel to commence the tribulation years. The rapture theoretically should be even closer.

 

PONDER:

1. What are we doing differently knowing that the end days are rapidly approaching?
2. Is our witness any different?
3. Are our prayers any different?

 

PRAYER: Come Lord Jesus, come. Usher in the new kingdom and the new earth. I hope to see the rapture in my days. I pray to be faithful until the end. Forgive my hidden faults and my not-so-hidden faults. I want to show Jesus by my life.

QT 8/24/2023 Ezek 31:10-14, God hates the PROUD

Ezekiel 31:10–14 (ESV) —

10 “Therefore thus says the Lord God: Because it towered high and set its top among the clouds, and its heart was proud of its height, 11 I will give it into the hand of a mighty one of the nations. He shall surely deal with it as its wickedness deserves. I have cast it out. 12 Foreigners, the most ruthless of nations, have cut it down and left it. On the mountains and in all the valleys its branches have fallen, and its boughs have been broken in all the ravines of the land, and all the peoples of the earth have gone away from its shadow and left it. 13 On its fallen trunk dwell all the birds of the heavens, and on its branches are all the beasts of the field. 14 All this is in order that no trees by the waters may grow to towering height or set their tops among the clouds, and that no trees that drink water may reach up to them in height. For they are all given over to death, to the world below, among the children of man, with those who go down to the pit.

 

NOTE: God compares Egypt to Assyria. It is always pride that destroys a nation. We think America is the greatest nation on earth, but that is slowly becoming not true. We are arrogant. We tolerate corruption. We take pride in sin. We promote one group of people over another, no longer basing success on effort and effectiveness. We have created an unequal system, all under the lie of creating equality. We have embraced evil over good, lies over truth, hatred over love, and atheism over God. We are a proud nation whom God will judge soon. For those of us who know God and have a real relationship with Jesus Christ, may we be a witness to the gospel, not to a political philosophy. May people see Jesus in our life and through our works. May we have an impact on this proud nation of ours.

 

Proverbs 8:13 (ESV) —

13 The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.

Pride and arrogance and the way of evil

and perverted speech I hate.

 

Psalm 94:2 (ESV) —

2 Rise up, O judge of the earth;

repay to the proud what they deserve!

 

Proverbs 15:25 (ESV) —

25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud

but maintains the widow’s boundaries.

 

PONDER:

1. I live in a proud nation, but am I proud, arrogant person?

 

PRAYER: Lord, the scriptures are very clear, you hate the proud. Protect me from pride. I want to display humility, love, and concern for others. Have mercy I pray.

QT 8/23/2023 Ezek 30:17-19, Learn to be humble without being forced

Ezekiel 30:17–19 (ESV) —

17 The young men of On and of Pi-beseth shall fall by the sword,

and the women shall go into captivity.

18 At Tehaphnehes the day shall be dark,

when I break there the yoke bars of Egypt,

and her proud might shall come to an end in her;

she shall be covered by a cloud,

and her daughters shall go into captivity.

19 Thus I will execute judgments on Egypt.

Then they will know that I am the Lord.”

 

NOTE: The story is repeated for each of the countries that God brings judgment. There is not much to say. Egypt shall fall by the power of Babylon too. In the earlier chapter we learned that she shall be scattered for a season (40 years) and shall never again be the power she once was. In this continued lament, I highlighted verse 18, "…and her proud might shall come to an end in her; …." I think this is a principle of pride, it always brings about a fall. And the corollary principle of humility is that God will raise up the humble at some point. So, from a human point of view, it is better to be humble than to be proud. But humility is always a better look -- it just is. But it is hard because we want people to think better of us (which is pride), but humility actually gives the better look. I need to work on humility. I am terrible about leaving those things to the Lord. But that is my goal in retirement, to change how I reflect on my life to others.

 

PONDER:

1. Do we listen to others or are we too interested in telling our story or similar experience? Why?

 

PRAYER: Father, help me to see myself in those moments when I want to brag or tell my story. Give my grace to live in a manner worthy of you. Let me boast in Jesus and his work on the cross.

QT 8/22/2023 Ezek 29:6-9, Seeking his will, not confirming my will

Ezekiel 29:6–9 (ESV) —

6 Then all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the Lord.

“Because you have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel, 7 when they grasped you with the hand, you broke and tore all their shoulders; and when they leaned on you, you broke and made all their loins to shake. 8 Therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will bring a sword upon you, and will cut off from you man and beast, 9 and the land of Egypt shall be a desolation and a waste. Then they will know that I am the Lord.

“Because you said, ‘The Nile is mine, and I made it,’

 

NOTE: On more than one occasion, Israel trusted in Egypt for help. And on many more occasions, Egypt was a major enemy against Israel. In one battle, Egypt failed to show up, thereby leaving Israel alone to face Babylon. Later Egypt supported Tyre and helped to move much of its wealth before it surrendered to Babylon. But Egypt fell to Babylon in 568-567BC. Forty years after that fall, the Persians allowed Egypt to return to their land, but Egypt, a super nation during ancient times never regained its glory. Today, it is a minor player in world affairs, long surpassed by other much larger nations.

 

Certainly Egypt was a poor ally, and much more an enemy than a friend, even when they had a common enemy such as Babylon. But Israel was wrong to trust in Egypt rather than to trust in God. I'm not sure why the godly king Josiah allied with Egypt to defeat Babylon. I'm sure there was godly advice against it. But he allowed his heart to be swayed by what he wanted to believe rather than what he was told. Although, that goes both ways. We can trust in something and then doubt, even when it is God's will. We truly need to bring our major decisions to God and ask him for his direction.

 

PONDER:

1. What am I believing because I want to believe it rather than it is God's will?

 

PRAYER: Father, protect me from confirmation bias, looking at events that support my decisions rather than truly seeking your will. I want to do your will, not what I want your will to be for my life. Keep my opens to your leading.

QT 8/21/2023 Ezek 28:20-26, Pain should cause us to repent of our rebellion from God

Ezekiel 28:20–26 (ESV) —

20 The word of the Lord came to me: 21 “Son of man, set your face toward Sidon, and prophesy against her 22 and say, Thus says the Lord God:

“Behold, I am against you, O Sidon,

and I will manifest my glory in your midst.

And they shall know that I am the Lord

when I execute judgments in her

and manifest my holiness in her;

23 for I will send pestilence into her,

and blood into her streets;

and the slain shall fall in her midst,

by the sword that is against her on every side.

Then they will know that I am the Lord.

24 “And for the house of Israel there shall be no more a brier to prick or a thorn to hurt them among all their neighbors who have treated them with contempt. Then they will know that I am the Lord God.

25 “Thus says the Lord God: When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and manifest my holiness in them in the sight of the nations, then they shall dwell in their own land that I gave to my servant Jacob. 26 And they shall dwell securely in it, and they shall build houses and plant vineyards. They shall dwell securely, when I execute judgments upon all their neighbors who have treated them with contempt. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.”

 

NOTE: Four times in God's judgment against Sidon (a sister Phoenician city to Tyre), God emphasizes one of the purposes of his harsh judgment -- "… they will know that I am the Lord …." Far from indicating God's lack of knowledge (omniscience) or his lack of power to change (omnipotent) or his justice, pain is to bring us back to God. People say they cannot believe in God because of the pain and suffering in the world, but if God made everything wonderful, even less would believe in him. Our sinful nature does not turn to God when all things are well. We forget God and we live for ourselves due to our sinful nature. But pain and judgment opens our eyes that we need God and we need him to rule. Our rebellion from him that started in the garden so that we could be our own gods has only brought misery upon us.

 

PONDER:

1. Does pain cause me to blame God or to turn to God?

 

PRAYER: Father, I do not want to learn through pain. I want to seek you at all times. I don't want to live for self such that I need to be awaken. Have mercy on me. Thank you for all that you have given to me. May I use those resources for the kingdom.

QT 8/17/2023 Ezek 28:12-19, The enemy only appears to be winning

Ezekiel 28:12–19 (ESV) —

12 “Son of man, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord God:

“You were the signet of perfection,

full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.

13 You were in Eden, the garden of God;

every precious stone was your covering,

sardius, topaz, and diamond,

beryl, onyx, and jasper,

sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle;

and crafted in gold were your settings

and your engravings.

On the day that you were created

they were prepared.

14 You were an anointed guardian cherub.

I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God;

in the midst of the stones of fire you walked.

15 You were blameless in your ways

from the day you were created,

till unrighteousness was found in you.

16 In the abundance of your trade

you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned;

so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God,

and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub,

from the midst of the stones of fire.

17 Your heart was proud because of your beauty;

you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor.

I cast you to the ground;

I exposed you before kings,

to feast their eyes on you.

18 By the multitude of your iniquities,

in the unrighteousness of your trade

you profaned your sanctuaries;

so I brought fire out from your midst;

it consumed you,

and I turned you to ashes on the earth

in the sight of all who saw you.

19 All who know you among the peoples

are appalled at you;

you have come to a dreadful end

and shall be no more forever.”

 

NOTE: The prophet appears to change his subject. Although a better interpretation is that this is the power behind the King, the true ruler of Tyre, and not the human ruler. This is not a man who thought he was a god, but something much different. He was a cherub and walked on the holy mountain of God. The passage is very similar to another description of Satan found in Isaiah.

 

Isaiah 14:12–17 (ESV) —

12 “How you are fallen from heaven,

O Day Star, son of Dawn!

How you are cut down to the ground,

you who laid the nations low!

13 You said in your heart,

‘I will ascend to heaven;

above the stars of God

I will set my throne on high;

I will sit on the mount of assembly

in the far reaches of the north;

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;

I will make myself like the Most High.’

15 But you are brought down to Sheol,

to the far reaches of the pit.

16 Those who see you will stare at you

and ponder over you:

‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble,

who shook kingdoms,

17 who made the world like a desert

and overthrew its cities,

who did not let his prisoners go home?’

 

Unlike human trade, this trade was his interactions with the other angels, ultimately leading one-third of the angels to follow him in rebellion.

 

The Ezekiel passage relates the end of Satan with the end of Tyre. But for Satan, this prophecy is still to come. He has not been exposed yet to the world, although many of the rich and elite are aware of him.

 

The enemy is clearly attacking all the foundations of truth that are revealed in the first few chapters of Genesis. He attacks creation, marriage, sexual relationships within marriage, sexual identity, sin, guilt, shame, sexual roles, authority structures, work, and rebellion from God's rule. If I was an outsider looking down upon earth, the enemy has succeeded in making the land and the worldview the opposite of all that God created.

 

And yet, God is still King of kings, and Lord of lords. The creator is not finished yet and has promised more. He will bring his will to accomplishment. My job is to play my part (my mission and ministry), pray, and wait upon him.

 

PONDER:

1. It does seem bleak, but do I have faith to believe in God and not in the world's ways and schemes?

 

PRAYER: Father, I believe in you. I believe that Jesus died for my sins. I believe I have a future and a hope. I believe in my new home. I believe in the millennial kingdom that is coming. I believe I will be raptured before your wrath falls. I believe that I am your son. And I praise you, for I am unworthy of all you have promised me.

QT 8/16/2023 Ezek 28:1-10, The danger of pride in our wealth and accomplishments

Ezekiel 28:1–10 (ESV) —

1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord God:

“Because your heart is proud,

and you have said, ‘I am a god,

I sit in the seat of the gods,

in the heart of the seas,’

yet you are but a man, and no god,

though you make your heart like the heart of a god—

3 you are indeed wiser than Daniel;

no secret is hidden from you;

4 by your wisdom and your understanding

you have made wealth for yourself,

and have gathered gold and silver

into your treasuries;

5 by your great wisdom in your trade

you have increased your wealth,

and your heart has become proud in your wealth—

6 therefore thus says the Lord God:

Because you make your heart

like the heart of a god,

7 therefore, behold, I will bring foreigners upon you,

the most ruthless of the nations;

and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom

and defile your splendor.

8 They shall thrust you down into the pit,

and you shall die the death of the slain

in the heart of the seas.

9 Will you still say, ‘I am a god,’

in the presence of those who kill you,

though you are but a man, and no god,

in the hands of those who slay you?

10 You shall die the death of the uncircumcised

by the hand of foreigners;

for I have spoken, declares the Lord God.”

 

NOTE: In the garden of Eden, we chose to be like God, to replace God and be our own gods. The result has not been pretty. The Greek tragedies of gods fighting and scheming is really a story of us and our behavior toward one another. The King of Tyre was indeed wise but there were wiser men -- Daniel who lived in the heart of Babylon for one (lesson one is that Daniel who was truly wise, is used as an example because he lived a life of humility). The King of Tyre was wise in making money, making trades, storing gold, protecting gold, and investing gold. And his wealth made him proud. Lesson two is that when we forget where wealth truly comes, and when we forget thankfulness, pride is right around the corner, and it will destroy us. God, at least twice in this passage, reminds the King that he is no god but a man. He is no different from any other man. And men from a ruthless nation with no skill in making money will kill him. At that time, the King's pride will finally leave him. Lesson three, repent now of your pride before the walls you built fall upon you.

 

PONDER:

1. Where have I allowed pride to creep in and make me think that I am something special?

 

PRAYER: Father, you have given me much and I admit that I am undeserving of all that you have provided. Thank you for who I am and what you have made of me. Thank you for the wisdom I have. Thank you for my ability to speak. Thank you for all that you have given.

QT 8/15/2023 Ezek 27:28-31, Remembering our real mission

Ezekiel 27:28–31 (ESV) —

28 At the sound of the cry of your pilots

the countryside shakes,

29 and down from their ships

come all who handle the oar.

The mariners and all the pilots of the sea

stand on the land

30 and shout aloud over you

and cry out bitterly.

They cast dust on their heads

and wallow in ashes;

31 they make themselves bald for you

and put sackcloth on their waist,

and they weep over you in bitterness of soul,

with bitter mourning.

 

NOTE: It is hard to see your home, your place of work, possibly your place of fun, all come to destruction. Recently I had my home inspected for foundation damage. In some places, the second floor doors had shifted even more than the first floor, meaning the roof was doing likewise. I began to be worried that my whole house might fall down on us. The problem is arrested and by next month should be solved, but it is a worrisome feeling. Likewise, realizing you might lose your job or have no work. I was never without a job, but I do remember being worried that my company would not find work one year. That was one reason I decided to look for another job.

 

I doubt most people cared about Tyre, but they did care about their livelihood, their home, and their expected earnings. I'm sure they cried bitterly, but more for themselves than for Tyre.

 

My country seems to be on the verge of imploding. And yes I worry. But it is probably more for my family, my home, my savings, and the basic necessities of life. If anarchy broke out, how would we survive?

 

And that is where faith comes in because faith is believing that God cares and is aware of my situation no matter how bad it gets. It is hard to give our worries to the Lord, because it is so hard to truly let go of them in a real and not fake sense.

 

PONDER:

1. In these last days, what am I doing to get the gospel to as many people as possible?

 

PRAYER: Father, I need to be about the mission. These first six weeks of retirement have been good but busy. I feel like I am still in preparation mode for my next job. Help me to use these days wisely as I ramp up into more and more ministry.

QT 8/14/2023 Ezek 27:1-25, Riches have blinded us like Tyre

Ezekiel 27:1–4 (ESV) —

1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Now you, son of man, raise a lamentation over Tyre, 3 and say to Tyre, who dwells at the entrances to the sea, merchant of the peoples to many coastlands, thus says the Lord God:

“O Tyre, you have said,

‘I am perfect in beauty.’

4 Your borders are in the heart of the seas;

your builders made perfect your beauty.

 

NOTE: I'm not sure I ever knew how big Tyre became during 5th century BC. They were rich and traded with every country of the European, Western Asia, Middle East, and Northern Africa region. They made their money as the middleman. Even some of their cargo ships were commissioned from Tarshish. Babylon was the most incredible city of its time, but it made its riches from conquering other nations. Babylon was godless. But Tyre, they built their commercial empire without conquering anyone, all the trades were willingly made. But the downfall of riches is pride. And the downfall of war and godlessness is ultimately a bigger bully. As Cooper wrote, "Babylon is a byword for godless government, and Tyre is a byword for pride and self-sufficiency."

 

We are approaching a merger of Babylon and Tyre. We have both a godless government and a fat, prideful, and rich nation (who has no need for anyone else except to conquer, and make money for our weapon industries). All things come to an end. God was very angry with Israel because

 

Ezekiel 9:9–10 (ESV) — 9 Then he said to me, “The guilt of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. The land is full of blood, and the city full of injustice. For they say, ‘The Lord has forsaken the land, and the Lord does not see.’ 10 As for me, my eye will not spare, nor will I have pity; I will bring their deeds upon their heads.”

 

We have filled our land with the blood of our children sacrificed on the altar of abortion to give us financial freedom. We have filled the land with corruption where our legal system is based not on the crime or the law, but on the racial aspects or political views of the accused. God will not spare us or have pity. Soon our deeds will be upon our heads. Ezekiel cried out concerning his nation,

 

Ezek 9:8 And while they were striking, and I was left alone, I fell upon my face, and cried, “Ah, Lord God! Will you destroy all the remnant of Israel in the outpouring of your wrath on Jerusalem?”

 

Will you destroy all of America? Is there any hope? Is there still time to repent?

 

PONDER:

1. Are we burdened for our nation?
2. Do we pray for spiritual repentance and spiritual revival? Or have we taken a worldly view and look to political change as the answer? Hearts must be changed, not parties.

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray for my nation. Open our eyes to your truth. Help us to see the rot and destruction that is overcoming us. Wake us up. May we all repent of our sin and seek you again. And help me to be a witness to this generation.

QT 8/11/2023 Ezek 26:7-14, The world is in great danger

Ezekiel 26:7–14 (ESV) —

7 “For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will bring against Tyre from the north Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses and chariots, and with horsemen and a host of many soldiers. 8 He will kill with the sword your daughters on the mainland. He will set up a siege wall against you and throw up a mound against you, and raise a roof of shields against you. 9 He will direct the shock of his battering rams against your walls, and with his axes he will break down your towers. 10 His horses will be so many that their dust will cover you. Your walls will shake at the noise of the horsemen and wagons and chariots, when he enters your gates as men enter a city that has been breached. 11 With the hoofs of his horses he will trample all your streets. He will kill your people with the sword, and your mighty pillars will fall to the ground. 12 They will plunder your riches and loot your merchandise. They will break down your walls and destroy your pleasant houses. Your stones and timber and soil they will cast into the midst of the waters. 13 And I will stop the music of your songs, and the sound of your lyres shall be heard no more. 14 I will make you a bare rock. You shall be a place for the spreading of nets. You shall never be rebuilt, for I am the Lord; I have spoken, declares the Lord God.

 

NOTE: God's prophecy here starts with him sending Nebuchadnezzar to destroy Tyre, and in verses 13-14, God finishes the destruction (using Alexander). The land portion of the city was destroyed early, but the island remained until Alexander built a causeway out to the city. The city was destroyed and for a long time it remained a bare rock and a place for the spreading of nets. All the walls were toppled. Its strategic location and difficulty in conquering had made this immensely rich city very proud. Cooper writes "Babylon is a byword for godless government, and Tyre is a byword for pride and self-sufficiency." Alexander's causeway now has grown so large it is really just part of the coast now. Jamieson writes "Not that there was to be no more a Tyre, but she was no more to be the Tyre that once was: her glory and name were to be no more. As the Old Tyre, the prophecy was literally fulfilled, not a vestige of it being left.” The ruins are still there, but there is a city built on the causeway and parts of the old island. Its glory is long-gone.

 

I see our nation heading in the direction of these two former cities, Babylon characterized by godless government, and Tyre characterized by pride and self-sufficiency due to its great wealth. All nations can fall and all nations have in the past. Our time is coming. Our abandonment of truth and the apostasy from God will destroy us. The evil one is a hard task master. He promises much but he hides the cost. We are spending innocent lives in the pursuit of his lies. We need to repent.

 

PONDER:

1. In my personal life, is God in charge?
2. In my personal life, am I prideful because of my riches?

 

PRAYER: Father, forgive me for trusting in things and not you. Lead me and guide me in these days so that you are honored in all things.

QT 8/10/2023 Ezek 25:15-17, Let go of the pain

Ezekiel 25:15–17 (ESV) —

15 “Thus says the Lord God: Because the Philistines acted revengefully and took vengeance with malice of soul to destroy in never-ending enmity, 16 therefore thus says the Lord God, Behold, I will stretch out my hand against the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethites and destroy the rest of the seacoast. 17 I will execute great vengeance on them with wrathful rebukes. Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I lay my vengeance upon them.”

 

NOTE: Technically, the Philistines no longer exist, but the cities still do, and the people who live in those cities represent the continued Philistine threat. The Philistines are Israel's thorn in the side. While they don't exist as a nation, they still exist as the people group, Palestinians on the Gaza strip.

 

I think the lesson here is the need to let go. The passages says that they "… acted revengefully and took vengeance with malice of soul to destroy in never-ending enmity, …." Wow, that is some serious bitterness. Bitterness does not just destroy others, it destroys oneself. It is a very dangerous emotion. It is hard to let go when another has hurt us or cheated us. It is easy to have pity parties. It is easy to blame our struggles on others. What is the solution?

 

First step, repent of the bitterness. Emotions left unchecked can destroy churches, families, and friends. Second, let go of the issue. Life is hard. Things happened which are not good. A good saying, "it is what it is." We have to realize that life on earth is deeply marred by the rebellion that started in the garden. Third, takes steps to fix things rather than wait for others to fix things. What can I do to correct it? This is taking responsibility for the results. Fourth, let go again. It may cost time and money and a lot of things to remedy the problem and the temptation is to hold onto the wrong. Just let it go. A good application is to pray for the good of the individuals who wronged you. Pray for their salvation.

 

PONDER:

1. Are their things I have not let go?
2. Are their people who have hurt me?

 

PRAYER: Father, life throws lots of curve balls, and I feel like I keep striking out. But, the reality of this game I play (live) is that the score at the end is already known -- we win. Help me to rest and trust in your hand. Give me your peace that passes all understanding.

QT 8/9/2023 Ezek 25:12-14, Letting go of hurts

Ezekiel 25:12–14 (ESV) —

12 “Thus says the Lord God: Because Edom acted revengefully against the house of Judah and has grievously offended in taking vengeance on them, 13 therefore thus says the Lord God, I will stretch out my hand against Edom and cut off from it man and beast. And I will make it desolate; from Teman even to Dedan they shall fall by the sword. 14 And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel, and they shall do in Edom according to my anger and according to my wrath, and they shall know my vengeance, declares the Lord God.

 

NOTE: The people of Edom are the descendants of Esau. And while, Isaac and Esau reconciled, it appears from multiple passages, that the people held a grudge against Israel for stealing the birthright and blessings. Obadiah, especially, deals with how Edom has treated the Jews. Ps 137:7 declares their joy when Jerusalem was destroyed. Wiersbe writes that the book of Obadiah declares that Edom's hatred and lust for revenge finally lead to their ruin.

 

What do we learn from this? We need to let go or our hatreds, anger, and bitterness toward people who we feel have wrongly hurt us (whether it is a true statement or not). It does our spirit no good and leads to many other pains in our body. It is hard, but it makes a difference on our entire lives.

 

PONDER:

1. Who do I hold a grudge against?
2. Who has hurt me (truthfully or just my opinion), that I need to forgive?

 

PRAYER: Father, help me to know the people that I am still holding a grudge against. Who are they? Where am I still angry? What do I need to let go? Give me a joyful and peaceful spirit.

QT 8/8/2023 Ezek 25:8-11, We need to change where we put our trust

Ezekiel 25:8–11 (ESV) —

8 “Thus says the Lord God: Because Moab and Seir said, ‘Behold, the house of Judah is like all the other nations,’ 9 therefore I will lay open the flank of Moab from the cities, from its cities on its frontier, the glory of the country, Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim. 10 I will give it along with the Ammonites to the people of the East as a possession, that the Ammonites may be remembered no more among the nations, 11 and I will execute judgments upon Moab. Then they will know that I am the Lord.

 

NOTE: Ammon and Moab are descended from Lot's daughters and the result of immoral unions. While the daughters were wrong, so was Lot in his decisions. Instead of choosing left or right, he went in a different direction. And instead of initially going to a city as the angels told him, he went to the mountains, only later to go to the city. Lot is an example of a stubborn person always determined to do his own thing. It reminds me of a very sad slogan I saw last week on a person's car "my life, my rules." In a nutshell, that is our culture today. But it is not our life, we are created by God for his glory. And it has never been our rules -- that was the cause of the expulsion from the garden of Eden when we decided that we did not want to obey God but wanted to be like God in making the rules. We are bringing upon ourselves the same judgment that Judah and all the nations around her experienced. We desperately need to repent, at a minimum individually and hopefully as a nation too.

 

PONDER:

1. Where have I bought into the demonic philosophy of "my life, my rules?"

 

PRAYER: Father, help me to see my own sin and repent of it. Give me grace and mercy. The world, its things and actions are stealing my joy. Restore my peace and trust in you.

QT 8/7/2023 Ezek 25:1-7, Judgment is coming for all peoples

Ezekiel 25:1–7 (ESV) —

1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, set your face toward the Ammonites and prophesy against them. 3 Say to the Ammonites, Hear the word of the Lord God: Thus says the Lord God, Because you said, ‘Aha!’ over my sanctuary when it was profaned, and over the land of Israel when it was made desolate, and over the house of Judah when they went into exile, 4 therefore behold, I am handing you over to the people of the East for a possession, and they shall set their encampments among you and make their dwellings in your midst. They shall eat your fruit, and they shall drink your milk. 5 I will make Rabbah a pasture for camels and Ammon a fold for flocks. Then you will know that I am the Lord. 6 For thus says the Lord God: Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet and rejoiced with all the malice within your soul against the land of Israel, 7 therefore, behold, I have stretched out my hand against you, and will hand you over as plunder to the nations. And I will cut you off from the peoples and will make you perish out of the countries; I will destroy you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

 

NOTE: So begins the prophecies against Israel's neighbors. The first is against Ammon. All the nations were guilty of much of the same sins as Israel, since Israel was copying the culture of the time. The difference is that Israel had the truth and should have known better. I think these passages are a reminder to the world that we too will be judged for our sins. And while the church is not Israel, we too know better. We must evaluate the cultural norms against scripture. There is no wiggle room in most areas, especially sexual and marital. God's word is very clear where it needs to be. My job is to communicate truth in a gentle and respectful manner. I must not shrink back on truth. The goal is NOT that people change their views, although that would be nice, but that people hear the truth. My job is to scatter seed and to prepare the ground (to a degree) -- it is God who causes the seed to germinate through the work of the Holy Spirit.

 

PONDER:

1. What am I doing to scatter truth, to share the word?

 

PRAYER: Lord, I know my new job (retirement) and it is taking a while to settle in. There are so many new routines. I feel very busy but not overwhelmed. For my application, I want to set up a day to volunteer at the shelter. I need to be about your business.

QT 8/4/2023 Exek 24:15-18, Trusting in God's promise of the future

Ezekiel 24:15–18 (ESV) —

15 The word of the Lord came to me: 16 “Son of man, behold, I am about to take the delight of your eyes away from you at a stroke; yet you shall not mourn or weep, nor shall your tears run down. 17 Sigh, but not aloud; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban, and put your shoes on your feet; do not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.” 18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died. And on the next morning I did as I was commanded.

 

NOTE: What a horribly difficult position that God put Ezekiel. We don't know all the circumstances, we don't know his wife's condition. We really don't know anything except that God uses (causes) his wife's death to prophesize a message to Israel. Let's assume the worst case, that God caused his otherwise healthy wife to die a sudden death. Is that wrong or unjust? Let's start with "wrong," technically God created us, therefor by right he can destroy his creation, no matter how complicated the creation is. We could build a house and then burn it down, and as long as we did not take out a loan, and we have done nothing wrong. Of course, a house is not sentient, but that only means God's creations are more complex. Additionally, who is without sin? Does anyone have a right to stand for even one second before God? No, God is not wrong. But God himself says in Lamentations that he has no desire to see people die. We die because mankind originally rebelled against God's rule. Well, we say, God may not be wrong, but he certainly is unjust. The problem with the conclusion is that we have made the assumption that life on earth is better than anything else God may have for us. Since God originally designed us to live on earth, and to eat from the tree of life and live forever, this was "heaven." But when we rebelled from his rule, the earth and this life has been in decay. Weeds grow up and people now die. If this life is our reward then it is most certainly unjust for someone to die for story imagery. The reality is that God has planned something even greater for us. Our reward is still to come.

 

PONDER:

1. Is there an issue where I feel God is unjust and I can't let it go?
2. Do I believe God's word or do I primarily believe what I see?

 

PRAYER: Father, protect from my poor vision. Now I see in a mirror dimly, someday I will be amazed by the unseen world and the new creation.

QT 8/3/2023 Exo 24:13-14, The importance of cleansing

Ezekiel 24:13–14 (ESV) —

13 On account of your unclean lewdness, because I would have cleansed you and you were not cleansed from your uncleanness, you shall not be cleansed anymore till I have satisfied my fury upon you. 14 I am the Lord. I have spoken; it shall come to pass; I will do it. I will not go back; I will not spare; I will not relent; according to your ways and your deeds you will be judged, declares the Lord God.”

 

NOTE: God said he would have cleansed Israel, but they did not want to be cleansed. So, now the pot will be REALLY cleansed. It won't just be washed, it will be completely burnt and melted. And God is very emphatic, "I … I … I will … I will … I will … I will …" God's revealed his nature to Moses:

 

Exodus 34:5–7 (ESV) — 5 The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. 6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, … "

 

God's response seems so out of his character, but that is because I left off the "but" in Exo 34:7. God's justice, holiness, and wrath is just as much a part of his character as his steadfast love, faithfulness, and mercy.

 

What is the lesson for us? We need to be serious about cleansing ourselves from sin. It is wrong; it affects our witness; it slows the process of sanctification. And we miss the promised rest (of Hebrews) that one can experience on earth.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I remember to confess my sins, not matter often I fall?

 

PRAYER: Father, search me and reveal to me the hidden sins in my life. Help me to see them and repent of them. Lead me in the right path for your name's sake.

QT 8/2/2023 Ezek 23:35-49, Changing the narrative

Ezekiel 23:35–49 (ESV) —

35 Therefore thus says the Lord God: Because you have forgotten me and cast me behind your back, you yourself must bear the consequences of your lewdness and whoring.”

36 The Lord said to me: “Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah? Declare to them their abominations. 37 For they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands. With their idols they have committed adultery, and they have even offered up to them for food the children whom they had borne to me. 38 Moreover, this they have done to me: they have defiled my sanctuary on the same day and profaned my Sabbaths. 39 For when they had slaughtered their children in sacrifice to their idols, on the same day they came into my sanctuary to profane it. And behold, this is what they did in my house.

. . .

46 For thus says the Lord God: “Bring up a vast host against them, and make them an object of terror and a plunder. 47 And the host shall stone them and cut them down with their swords. They shall kill their sons and their daughters, and burn up their houses. 48 Thus will I put an end to lewdness in the land, that all women may take warning and not commit lewdness as you have done. 49 And they shall return your lewdness upon you, and you shall bear the penalty for your sinful idolatry, and you shall know that I am the Lord God.”

 

NOTE: The phrase "you shall know that I am the Lord God" occurs 41 times in Ezekiel and only 54 times in the entire bible. "I am the Lord God" occurs 274 times in the book Ezekiel. God ended most of the judgement passages with the phrase, "you shall know that I am the Lord God." That was the redemptive part of the judgment, that is, the good that came out of the bad. And It was very important for his people to know and learn this fact. What Israel had done was essentially to trade trust in God and worship of God, to trust in politics (treaties for protection) and worshipping the cultural practices of the times (the idols). Israel would sacrifice their children to the gods of the harvest in order to have a better harvest. In essence, it was greed -- a desire for a better life that led them to such despicable practices. And we today, in our greed, do the same thing. Most abortions are for the financial stability of the mother. We could present a laundry list of the cultural idols of our day which the church has accepted -- we are no different.

 

But how do we respond? As a friend challenged me the other day -- do we join the complaining or is there something we can say that is better than complaining? Maybe this is a good response:

 

"In Ezekiel's day, Israel had destroyed its' God's fearing culture and was going to experience judgment, and after each prophecy, God would end with "then they shall know that I am the Lord God. Sin and pain will ultimately highlight the holiness and worthiness of God."

 

I probably need to shorten it, like, " … as it worsens, the end will be that people will know that God is the Lord. At least, that is how it went in Ezekiel."

 

PONDER:

1. What are we doing to change the narrative?
2. What good is complaining about evil?

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray for sensitivity to my role in conversations. How can you use me for good in the life of the person I am conversing? Give me ideas and boldness to share truth in a respectful and gentle manner.

QT 8/1/2023 Ezek 23:22-27, How do we trust God?

Ezekiel 23:22–27 (ESV) —

22 Therefore, O Oholibah, thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I will stir up against you your lovers from whom you turned in disgust, and I will bring them against you from every side: 23 the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, Pekod and Shoa and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them, desirable young men, governors and commanders all of them, officers and men of renown, all of them riding on horses. 24 And they shall come against you from the north with chariots and wagons and a host of peoples. They shall set themselves against you on every side with buckler, shield, and helmet; and I will commit the judgment to them, and they shall judge you according to their judgments. 25 And I will direct my jealousy against you, that they may deal with you in fury. They shall cut off your nose and your ears, and your survivors shall fall by the sword. They shall seize your sons and your daughters, and your survivors shall be devoured by fire. 26 They shall also strip you of your clothes and take away your beautiful jewels. 27 Thus I will put an end to your lewdness and your whoring begun in the land of Egypt, so that you shall not lift up your eyes to them or remember Egypt anymore.

 

NOTE: The very graphic description of sexual perversion is a vivid picture of Israel developing political attachments to other nations in order to be able to protect their nation and their lifestyle. Instead of trusting in God for their protection, Israel put their trust in other nations. Israel worshipped their gods and their lifestyle, forgoing their own relationship with God. How does this apply to us individually?

 

I think like Job, it is easy to put your trust in money (riches) or your abilities (intellect for example). But God wants us to put our trust in him. How does a rich person do that? I think prayer has to be part of the equation. A regular and consistent prayer life both reinforces thankfulness and need. I think in all matters, God must be first. The disciplines (QT, reading, prayer) and service must be above fleshy desires or financial gain.

 

PONDER:

1. How am I doing in the spiritual disciplines?
2. As I plan out projects, how am I fitting service opportunities?

 

PRAYER: Father, I enjoy my times with you. But there are things that I let slip, such as extended prayer and service opportunities. Help me to do a better job planning those things. As I work on my planning notebook, I need to add those items in for the year.