The reading for day 60 was Ezekiel 13:1-23:49.
Have I mentioned that the book of Ezekiel isn't the most fun book of the Bible. Well there ya go...I mentioned it.
Chapter 13 gives God's curse against false prophets. In verse 8 God says "Becaus you have spoken falsehood and seen a lie, therefore behold, I am against you." (NASB) That has to be a terrible thought for those who know what God can do! In verse 9 He says that they will no longer have any place among the people. They will be cut off because, as it says in verse 10 13:10 Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and [there was] no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered [morter]:
In the NASB it says "because they have misled my people..." Does that sound like the kind of thing that happens in most American churches today? It does to me. I think pastors today should take a warning from this and their motto should be sola scriptura so that they do not mislead people. If they teach anything other than scripture to be the source by which we learn from God, then I would have to question their leadership and their salvation.
In chapter 14 we see a warning to not come before God with a heart full of idolatry, pretending to want to hear from God while we break the first commandment. 14:8 And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD.
Could someone please explain to me verses 9 and 10 of chapter 14?
In the second half of chapter 14 God tells Ezekiel that even if the three righteous men Noah, Daniel, and Job, were to be in Jerusalem, only those three would be saved, but God always gives hope... 14:22 Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, [both] sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, [even] concerning all that I have brought upon it. Wow...even in the destruction of His people, God uses that same destruction to give comfort. Is that strang to our way of thinking or what? 14:23 And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings: and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord GOD.
Chapter 16 is about the idolatrous prostitution of the nation of Israel. God's indignation is plain. He is angered that all of the things that He gave to them, which were His, were given away in ungodliness.
16:21 That thou hast slain my children, and delivered them to cause them to pass through [the fire] for them? 16:38 And I will judge thee, as women that break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will give thee blood in fury and jealousy.
But God, in His graciousness, tell adulterous Israel that He will remember His covenant with her. 16:63 That thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord GOD.
The NASB says "when I have forgiven you for all that you have done."
In Ezekiel chapter 18 there is another if/then list. It is similar to the one found in Isaiah 58, but not quite. Read it. All of chapter 18. Thats right...all of it :)
Maybe, if the church were to get broken over her sin today (before judgment comes upon us) we might avoid such a serious judgement as what happened in Jerusalem. We should be like in verse 43 of chapter 20. We should loathe ourselves because of our sin. We should be utterly broken over it and be humbled before God that we can even call ourselves His. In chapter 22 verse 15 God says "I will scatter you among the nations and I disperse you through the lands, and I will consume your uncleanness from you." (NASB) Do you think it will take something like that to purify the church?
The main reason that God is judging His people is because of their idolatry. 23:49 And they shall recompense your lewdness upon you, and ye shall bear the sins of your idols: and ye shall know that I [am] the Lord GOD.
We need to examine ourselves so that we don't come before God while worshipping idols in our hearts. Create in me a clean heart O God! |
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