Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Tues.’s Devo - God’s High Priest

Read: Ezekiel 12:1-14:11; Hebrews 7:1-17; Psalm 105:37-45; Proverbs 27:3
Ezekiel was to be a sign and a wonder to the people. He acted out, like Jeremiah, what was about to happen. God told him to pack what he owned in a bag like he was going into exile. He was to carry it around the city then dig through the wall and take his bag on his shoulder through the hole. He was to cover his face so he couldn’t see where he was going.
He did this at dusk and the next day, God let him answer the questions of the people. He told them that the prince would do just as he did. He would be caught and carried to Babylon but he would not see the land. That is exactly what happened to Zedekiah (Jeremiah 39:4-7). He tried to escape by the gate in his garden and was pursued by the army of Nebuchadnezzar. They put out Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him in chains and carried him to Babylon.
The people had a proverbs that said: “The days go by and every vision comes to nothing”. God told Ezekiel to tell them that none of the visions of their false prophets would come to fruition but they were about to see all His words come to pass. God was delaying no longer. God was going to hold the false prophets responsible for telling the people lies. They had prophesied that peace was coming and they would be safe. They had lied to God’s people which killed those who should not have died and spared those who should not live. They had held the people captive with their incantations and spells, but God was going to release the people and save them.
The elders came to sit before Ezekiel to ask for a word from God. God told him that the only word he had for them was to turn from their idols. Once they removed the idols, they could see God and what he had to say to them.
In Hebrews, we read about Melchizedek who had no beginning or end and whose name means “king of righteousness” and also “king of Salem”. This is God’s High Priest in heaven. He met Abraham who was the Father of the Nations and Abraham paid him a tenth of his spoils from the battle of the kings. The kings on both sides of that battle were evil yet Abraham walked away with the spoils. He offered up a tenth to God through Melchizedek. Jesus was made a priest after his order just like all the priests on the earth were priests after Aaron’s order. Melchizedek was eternal and forever a priest, where Aaron was earthly and died. Jesus came from the tribe of Judah, the kingly tribe, yet he was made a priest after Melchizedek’s order making him both priest and king.
Lord, everything you say you will do, you do! Thank you for your promises and your faithfulness.

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