Thurs.’s Devo - Zedekiah’s Pride

Read: Ezekiel 16:42-17:24; Hebrews 8:1-13; Psalm 106:13-31; Proverbs 27:7-9 At last, God is finished pouring out his fury. He explains how wicked Israel was but then Judah became even more corrupt. God states that Sodom’s sin was pride. She was full of abundance yet refused to help the poor and needy. Samaria, the capital of Israel didn’t commit half the sins Sodom did, but Jerusalem did more abominations than Sodom. Those in Jerusalem justified the sins of Israel. One day they will all return and will have to bear the shame of their sins. *** They broke their covenant with the Lord and worshipped other idols and did all sorts of abominations, but God would remember his convent and keep his part, making them very ashamed of their sins. *** Ezekiel gave them a parable of the great eagle, Nebuchadnezzar who came and took charge over Jerusalem. He allowed Zedekiah (the seedling) to rule them. Judah would prosper, but not be elevated. Zedekiah went to Egypt (another great eagle) for help to throw off Babylon’s power. When Babylon saw that Zekekiah was not grateful to Babylon for letting them live in moderate prosperity and that they had gone to Egypt to get help, they attacked and easily won. They uprooted Judah and took them to Babylon. It ended with, “It (Jerusalem) will die in the same good soil where it had grown so well.” That was Judah’s fate. *** Then Ezekiel explains the parable. Judah broke their treaty with Babylon just as they broke their treaty with God. In the end, they would know that God was the Supreme God over all. He would take a branch from the top of Israel’s highest mountain and it would become a majestic cedar with branches that give seed and shelter to all the birds. All the trees will know that the Lord has done this. He is referring to Jesus who will come from heaven and be the best leader of all. He wold bring life to things that were dead, exalt whoever he wills, and humbles who he wills. *** Hebrews explains the Tabernacle in heaven. Moses was told to build the tabernacle on earth just like the Tabernacle in heaven according to its pattern. The high priest was required to bring his own offering which is why Jesus brought himself as his offering. The earthly priests carried out the office that the heavenly priests did. Now Jesus is our High Priest and his office is much more important than the earthly priests was and he mediated for us a much better covenant than those in Moses’ day had. In the new covenant, God writes his laws upon our hearts and minds and we are God’s people. Everyone knows the Lord and God forgives our sins and does not bring them to remembrance again. The old covenant will soon disappear. *** Lord, thank you for forgiving our sins and giving us a new and better covenant through Jesus. Jesus, you are our perfect High Priest. Thank you for making intercession for us.