Sun.’s Devo - God’s Riddle

Read: Ezekiel 16:42-17:24; Hebrews 8:1-13; Psalm 106:13-31; Proverbs 27:7-9 There would come a time when God’s judgment on Judah would be over but not before God punished them for the sins of their past. They had done just like their forefathers as far as their sin went. They had outdone the sins of Samaria who had golden calves, fake priests and false prophets. They had outdone the sins of Sodom who were filled with pride, gluttony and laziness and did detestable sins. Judah’s sins made them look righteous in comparison. But, one day, God would restore the fortunes of Sodom, Samaria and Jerusalem. God would reaffirm his covenant with them. God gave Ezekiel a riddle to give the people about an eagle and then explained it to them. It is the story of what just happened to them. Babylon came and took their leaders away to Babylon. The acting king of Judah broke his covenant with Babylon and made one with Egypt against Babylon. God would not let them get away with this. This king, Zedekiah would be captured and brought to Babylon and his best warriors killed in battle. The survivors would be scattered to the four winds. Then God would take a branch and draw many to it. Many would find shelter in its shade. During their time, this person would be Zerubbabel. After the 70 years in captivity, in the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, Zerubbabel led the first band of Jews, numbering 42,360 (Ezra 2 Ezra 2:64), who returned from captivity. In the second year after the Return, he erected an altar and laid the foundation of the temple on the ruins of that which had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. He was a descendant of the royal line of David and a type of Christ who would be the ultimate Branch to lead us out of bondage into freedom. Jesus ministers in heaven as our High Priest. His ministry is far superior to the priests here on earth. The new covenant is a much better covenant than the old. Now, God’s laws are written on our hearts and we know what it right and what is wrong and what pleases the Lord. Lord, thank you for writing your Word on our hearts. Help us to live by them and choose them.