Thur.’s Devo - God’s New Order

Read: Ezekiel 21:1-22:31; Hebrews 10:1-17; Psalm 108:1-13; Provers 27:12 God told Ezekiel to stand and face Jerusalem and prophesy. God was about to unsheath his sword and destroy Jerusalem’s people, the righteous and the wicked. God would do this three times. The first time would be when he took Zedekiah to Babylon, the second time was when Jerusalem was taken, and the third was when those who remained were removed under Gedaliah. God had Ezekiel make a map and trace out two routes for Babylon’s king to follow. He was to place a sign on the road at the place where it forked. One road went to Ammon, and its capital, Rabah, and the other went to Judah and Jerusalem. He would cast lots and Jerusalem would fall in his right hand. He would choose to go with battering rams against the gates of Jerusalem. Jerusalem’s day of reckoning was here. The old order was about to change and the lowly would be exalted and the mighty brought down. It would not be restored until the righteous judge, Jesus appeared. The other road led to Ammon and God had something to say to them. They would be judged also. They would be utterly wiped out and their memory lost to history. Chapter 22 turned back to Jerusalem, “that city of murderers”. They were being condemned not only for murder, but also idolatry. Their leaders treated fathers and mothers with contempt, charged foreigners for protection, wronged and oppressed the orphans and widows, despised God’s holy things and violated his Sabbath days of rest. The people falsely accused others, sending them to their death and sexually abused women. They extorted money from the and there was no justice. The priests defiled God’s holy things and had no discernment about good and evil. The leaders destroyed people’s lives for money and the prophets covered up for them with lying predictions. Even the common people oppressed the poor, robbed the needy and deprived foreigners of justice. (Sounds like America.) God had looked for someone to stand in the gap for the nation but could find no one so they would receive the full penalty for their sins. Ezekiel prophesied a change in the old order and Hebrews did too. The old order of sacrificing over and over again while not cleansing the people of their sin was over. It would be replaced with an order that would take away their sins once and for all. God cancelled the old order to put in the new when Jesus offered his body as a sacrifice. Christ has taken the place of honor at God’s right hand where he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet. Now his laws are written on our hearts and our minds. God chooses to forget our sins. How wonderful is that?!!! Lord, thank you for the new covenant that is so much better than the old. As we watch the old guard taken down in our nation and in our churches, may righteous government and holy worship be restored. May we be a nation who honors you in heart, word, and deed.