Read: Ezekiel 3:16-6:14; Hebrews 4:1-16; Psalm 104:24-35; Proverbs 26:27
After Ezekiel saw the vision of God’s four living creatures, he had not been able to talk for 7 days. At the end of the 7 days, God’s word came to him and told him he was to be a watchman for the house of Israel. He was to say what God told him to say and if he didn’t, their blood would be on his hands. But if he warns the people and they don’t listen, he will live and not be held responsible because he warned them.
God sent Ezekiel back to the valley where he saw the glory of the Lord and God appeared to him again. He told him to shut himself inside his house and God would bind him with cords. He would not be able to speak until the Lord spoke through him.
God told Ezekiel to take a brick and label it “Jerusalem.” He was to build siege works against it with a wall and battering rams against it. Then he was also to lie on his left side and place the punishment of Israel upon it. He should lie 390 days which equalled the number of years of their punishment. Then he was to lie on his right side for forty days to stand for the forty years Judah would bear their punishment. God would bind him so he could’t turn from side to side.
Next, he was to take wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet and emmer and make bread to eat each day while he lay on his left side. He was to measure out what he would need each day. And he was to measure out the water he would need each day. This was to show the people that the day was coming when they would have little food and water.
Ezekiel was to cut off his hair and his beard with a sharp sword and divide it into three piles. He was to burn one pile in the midst of the city of the model of the siege he had built. He was to take the next third and strike it with the sword all around his brick which stood for Jerusalem. With the last third, he was to scatter to the wind. But before he did this, he was to take a few strands from this last group and bind them in the skirts of his robe. Some of these he was to cast into the fire in the midst of the city. This was to show what was about to happen to them because they rebelled against the Lord.
To add to this, Ezekiel told them that because of their abominations, the fathers would eat their sons and the sons would eat their fathers. Those that survived would be scattered to all the winds, He would have no pity for them. All the nations would see their reproach and taunt them.
God told Ezekiel to prophesy to the mountains of Israel. God would bring the sword against their high places and altars they built for their idols. Their bones would be spread before their gods and the altars would be destroyed.
A remnant would survive and escape to other nations. They would repent of their sins and return to the Lord.
In Hebrews, God still offers us the privilege of entering into his rest. It is for those who will believe in the Lord. The writer reminds us that God rested on the seventh day which we are entering the seventh day. We have been on the earth over 6,000 years. He makes it clear that if we don’t have faith, we could miss our rest also. All we have to do is hear his voice and have a soft heart.
The children of Israel entered the promised land yet they didn’t enter into God’s rest. There is still a rest, a Sabbath, we are waiting to enter into. The Word of God is alive and still active so we still have our promised rest ahead of us.
Jesus became our High Priest who understands our temptations and weaknesses. He gives us confidence to draw near the throne of grace.
Lord, we do draw near your throne of grace and need your mercy and help. We trust in you as our High Priest to pray for us and help us. May we strive to enter into your rest.
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