Read: Ezekiel 35-37
Finally some hope! I know Ezekiel must have been happy to be able to deliver more than one sentence of hope and thirty of doom. Today’s is just the opposite. We start seeing more of the end and it is good. We start out with a judgment against the people of Seir which were one of Israel’s enemies. They spoke curses against Israel and it is now time for them to pay. They were happy when Israel was down but now the tables are going to be turned on them. To Israel, God reminds them that He is for them. He is going to multiply them and build up their waste places. It will be better than in their beginning. God was going to bring people back to Israel and other nations were not going to harm them anymore. God promised to make his name holy and greatly esteemed once more. God was not going to do this because they deserved it but because he wanted to clear his name.
God gave them the illustration of what it would look like in the famous chapter of the dry bones. God took Ezekiel to a valley full of dry bones and step by step showed him what death from life looks like. First there was a shaking and the bones got outer covering. Then their spirit returned and they could breathe the spirit of life. Then they became a great army. God gave him two sticks which stood for Israel and Judah and he told him to make them one stick because there was coming a day when his people would no longer be divided.
We have seen the fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophecy when Israel became a nation in 1948. Even today, there is a prominent business man who is calling his Jewish brethren to move back to Israel. He was told by God to call His people home. God is not finished with his people. We, as Gentiles are spiritual Israel and God is calling us to become one people. Our covenant is through Jesus and he prayed that we all be one as He and the Father are one.
Lord, call us home to Your heart. Thank you that You are for us!
Monday, September 7, 2015
Sunday, September 6, 2015
Sun.’s Devo - The Feast of Leviathan and the Promise of the Shepherd
Read: Ezekiel 32-34
It was the 12th year, 12th month and the first day that God sent his word to the king of Egypt. Twelve is the number of government. God is sending his government to earth and God is judging Egypt. It is time for the feast of Leviathan where the beasts and the birds will eat the flesh of the wicked. (Revelations 19:17-21.) What happened to the king of Egypt was a type of what will happen in the end. All of these people went to the pit or hell.
Ezekiel 33 speaks to the prophet and warns him to do his job. His job is to warn the people of what is coming. It is not his job to make them respond in the right way. He is only responsible for sounding the alarm.
Ezekiel 34 was a rebuke to the pastors of the land. They weren’t feeding the flock with the words of life. They knew the truth but they weren’t giving it to the people and they would be judged for this. They weren’t protecting and guarding over the flock but were only tending to their own families. But God promised to search for his people and find them. He promised to feed them and place them in a place they could prosper and grow. He would bind up those that were broken and heal them and make them strong. God did this through the ministry of Jesus. This ministry continues till he comes back. We are promised showers of blessings, fruitfulness and safety.
Lord, thank you for being the Great Shepherd to your people. Thank you for binding up our wounds and healing us. Help us to go do the same.
It was the 12th year, 12th month and the first day that God sent his word to the king of Egypt. Twelve is the number of government. God is sending his government to earth and God is judging Egypt. It is time for the feast of Leviathan where the beasts and the birds will eat the flesh of the wicked. (Revelations 19:17-21.) What happened to the king of Egypt was a type of what will happen in the end. All of these people went to the pit or hell.
Ezekiel 33 speaks to the prophet and warns him to do his job. His job is to warn the people of what is coming. It is not his job to make them respond in the right way. He is only responsible for sounding the alarm.
Ezekiel 34 was a rebuke to the pastors of the land. They weren’t feeding the flock with the words of life. They knew the truth but they weren’t giving it to the people and they would be judged for this. They weren’t protecting and guarding over the flock but were only tending to their own families. But God promised to search for his people and find them. He promised to feed them and place them in a place they could prosper and grow. He would bind up those that were broken and heal them and make them strong. God did this through the ministry of Jesus. This ministry continues till he comes back. We are promised showers of blessings, fruitfulness and safety.
Lord, thank you for being the Great Shepherd to your people. Thank you for binding up our wounds and healing us. Help us to go do the same.
Saturday, September 5, 2015
Sat.’s Devo - Satan in the Garden
Read: Ezekiel 28-31
We talked about the prince of Tyre yesterday. His name was Ethbaal which means “with Baal”. He thought he was wiser than Daniel and had divine powers and authority. Ezekiel compares him to Satan. Satan was in the garden and was decked with every precious stone. He was the anointed cherub that was perfect until iniquity was found in him. His beauty caused him to have pride and his wisdom was corrupted because of it. He was cast to the ground. He will be destroyed by fire just as Tyre would.
Tyre was the center of commerce and especially known for its purple dye and its precious engraved stones. Their pride and opulence led to pride and idolatry. But one day they would no longer be a thorn in Israel’s side because the people of God that were scattered there would be sanctified and they would one day come back and build houses and be safe and life with confidence.
As Ezekiel continues to give us dates it is obvious that the number ten is used over and over. Ten is the number of testing and measuring. In Ezekiel 29, it is the Pharaoh of Egypt that is being measured and found ready to judge. He is called the dragon. Revelation 16:13 describes Satan as the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. Revelation 20:2-3 says, “And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years. Satan has three parts or personalities or beings just like God does.
Egypt would be judged and brought down never to rise above other nations. I have been to Egypt twice and can attest to the poverty and baseness of it.
As we continue to read we see how God compares the fall of Egypt to the fall of Satan in the garden. He compares Satan to a beautiful tree, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and how it was destroyed and sent to the pit.
Lord, how great you are and your mysteries. You have planned this whole world from the beginning. May we walk out our destiny on the earth.
We talked about the prince of Tyre yesterday. His name was Ethbaal which means “with Baal”. He thought he was wiser than Daniel and had divine powers and authority. Ezekiel compares him to Satan. Satan was in the garden and was decked with every precious stone. He was the anointed cherub that was perfect until iniquity was found in him. His beauty caused him to have pride and his wisdom was corrupted because of it. He was cast to the ground. He will be destroyed by fire just as Tyre would.
Tyre was the center of commerce and especially known for its purple dye and its precious engraved stones. Their pride and opulence led to pride and idolatry. But one day they would no longer be a thorn in Israel’s side because the people of God that were scattered there would be sanctified and they would one day come back and build houses and be safe and life with confidence.
As Ezekiel continues to give us dates it is obvious that the number ten is used over and over. Ten is the number of testing and measuring. In Ezekiel 29, it is the Pharaoh of Egypt that is being measured and found ready to judge. He is called the dragon. Revelation 16:13 describes Satan as the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. Revelation 20:2-3 says, “And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years. Satan has three parts or personalities or beings just like God does.
Egypt would be judged and brought down never to rise above other nations. I have been to Egypt twice and can attest to the poverty and baseness of it.
As we continue to read we see how God compares the fall of Egypt to the fall of Satan in the garden. He compares Satan to a beautiful tree, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and how it was destroyed and sent to the pit.
Lord, how great you are and your mysteries. You have planned this whole world from the beginning. May we walk out our destiny on the earth.
Friday, September 4, 2015
Fri.’s Devo - The Pot of Judgment
Read: Ezekiel 24-27
In Ezekiel’s writing he does this countdown of the years Jehoiachin is in captivity in the Chaldea’s. It was the tenth month and the tenth day which was also the date that Nebuchadnezzar began his siege of Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:1). God told him to get a pot which would represent Jerusalem. He was to put the best meat and water into the pot. These would represent the best men of Jerusalem. He was to let them simmer over the fire just as Jerusalem had to simmer over the fire of Nebuchadnezzar. Even that did not get rid of the scum or sin of the people. Then he was to set the uncooked meat on a rock and let the blood run out to show that the rock could not cover the blood of the meat. Christ is that rock and his blood was not covering their sins…they were responsible for their own actions.
Next, Ezekiel was told to take the meat and cook it till it was totally consumed and burned in the pot. This was to show the people that because they didn’t respond to God’s discipline, they would be totally consumed. God told them he was taking away the desire of their eyes in one stroke yet they were not to mourn or weep. To show the people what that would look like, Ezekiel’s wife died that night and in the morning Ezekiel had to address the people. He was not allowed to weep or mourn for her.
In Chapter 26, Ezekiel speaks against Tyre. The king of Tyre though himself to be equal to God. He thought he would be able to divinely protect his people because of who he was. He was so wrong and was going to be punished by the king of Babylon.
In Chapter 27 we see all the luxuries that Tyre had enjoyed that were now coming to an end.
Lord, may we read this and tremble. Your name is great and Your power is endless. We trust in Your judgments.
In Ezekiel’s writing he does this countdown of the years Jehoiachin is in captivity in the Chaldea’s. It was the tenth month and the tenth day which was also the date that Nebuchadnezzar began his siege of Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:1). God told him to get a pot which would represent Jerusalem. He was to put the best meat and water into the pot. These would represent the best men of Jerusalem. He was to let them simmer over the fire just as Jerusalem had to simmer over the fire of Nebuchadnezzar. Even that did not get rid of the scum or sin of the people. Then he was to set the uncooked meat on a rock and let the blood run out to show that the rock could not cover the blood of the meat. Christ is that rock and his blood was not covering their sins…they were responsible for their own actions.
Next, Ezekiel was told to take the meat and cook it till it was totally consumed and burned in the pot. This was to show the people that because they didn’t respond to God’s discipline, they would be totally consumed. God told them he was taking away the desire of their eyes in one stroke yet they were not to mourn or weep. To show the people what that would look like, Ezekiel’s wife died that night and in the morning Ezekiel had to address the people. He was not allowed to weep or mourn for her.
In Chapter 26, Ezekiel speaks against Tyre. The king of Tyre though himself to be equal to God. He thought he would be able to divinely protect his people because of who he was. He was so wrong and was going to be punished by the king of Babylon.
In Chapter 27 we see all the luxuries that Tyre had enjoyed that were now coming to an end.
Lord, may we read this and tremble. Your name is great and Your power is endless. We trust in Your judgments.
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Thurs.’s Devo - Aholah and Aholibah
Read: Ezekiel 22-23
Ezekiel 22 is God’s judgment on Jerusalem. He calls her the “bloody city” because of all the murders and children sacrificed to Molech. This once “set apart” nation had become so lewd and evil that other nations found them detestable. Their sins had reached heaven and it was now time for God to bring his fire and burn out the evil. The whole chapter is a list of all the horrible sins they committed and their disregard for justice and the rights of others.
Chapter 23 is an allegory about two women that represent the capitals of Israel and Judah. Samaria, Israel’s capital, was named Aholah which means “idolatrous sanctuary”. She had made the Assyrians her lover and adopted their idols and hideous forms of worship. Judah’s capital, Jerusalem was named Aholibah which means “my tent is in her”. God’s temple was in Jerusalem but they profaned it and sinned worse than Israel. She was drawn away by the lust of her eyes into the idolatrous worship of the Assyrians. She lusted after their brightly dressed soldiers and all their pomp. Because of these sins and more, God was going to strip all this from them and send them to a land they hated…Egypt.
This is so sobering because America could be called a bloody nation because of all the murder and abortion. As Christians our hope is prayer and repentance. We can repent for those who don’t know any better and God will bring them down. There is still hope for our nation because we are in it. God’s tent is in us and we can stand righteous in an unrighteous nation and turn away God’s wrath.
Lord, may we as your people repent for our nation of its innocent blood shed and its moral decline. Show us the things in our lives that are wrong and may we be quick to repent. Spare our nation and make it Yours again.
Ezekiel 22 is God’s judgment on Jerusalem. He calls her the “bloody city” because of all the murders and children sacrificed to Molech. This once “set apart” nation had become so lewd and evil that other nations found them detestable. Their sins had reached heaven and it was now time for God to bring his fire and burn out the evil. The whole chapter is a list of all the horrible sins they committed and their disregard for justice and the rights of others.
Chapter 23 is an allegory about two women that represent the capitals of Israel and Judah. Samaria, Israel’s capital, was named Aholah which means “idolatrous sanctuary”. She had made the Assyrians her lover and adopted their idols and hideous forms of worship. Judah’s capital, Jerusalem was named Aholibah which means “my tent is in her”. God’s temple was in Jerusalem but they profaned it and sinned worse than Israel. She was drawn away by the lust of her eyes into the idolatrous worship of the Assyrians. She lusted after their brightly dressed soldiers and all their pomp. Because of these sins and more, God was going to strip all this from them and send them to a land they hated…Egypt.
This is so sobering because America could be called a bloody nation because of all the murder and abortion. As Christians our hope is prayer and repentance. We can repent for those who don’t know any better and God will bring them down. There is still hope for our nation because we are in it. God’s tent is in us and we can stand righteous in an unrighteous nation and turn away God’s wrath.
Lord, may we as your people repent for our nation of its innocent blood shed and its moral decline. Show us the things in our lives that are wrong and may we be quick to repent. Spare our nation and make it Yours again.
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Wed.’s Devo - Choose Your God
Read: Exekiel 20-21
In the seventh year of their exile, some of the Israelite leaders came and sat before Ezekiel and asked him what the Lord was saying. God wanted to know why they were now interested in knowing what he said. He told them that if they wanted to lead the people then they needed to explain to them their sins. Ezekiel walked them through God’s plan for Israel and how he had sought out the best land in the earth to give them. He delivered them from Egypt and its idolatry but Israel brought the sins and idolatry of Egypt with them. God brought them out to the wilderness to get them away from the land of bondage and abominations. He gave them his laws and showed them how to worship Him but they chose to return to the evil practices of other gods even making their sons die in the fire. Since they chose to worship other gods, God had to rule them with fury. He is determined to make them his people.
When we rebel against the Lord he has to put us under his rod of correction to bring us into his covenant. Our trials are sent to purge us of our sins. He told the elders to go and serve their idols but to leave him out of it. He didn’t want them serving Him and their idols. They needed to choose who they were going to serve.
In Ezekiel 21, God spoke to Jerusalem and the land of Israel. He gave them the exact way the enemy from Babylon was going to come and destroy them. He even showed how the king of Babylon would come to a fork in his road and use his divination to decide which way to go and God would cause his evil compasses to go the way He wanted them to go. Whatever the enemy decided to do, it would be the Lord’s plan that would be done. If God wanted to spare them and take them to another land, he would and if he wanted to have them die by the sword, it would be done.
Lord, you are so long suffering but it is your call in the end. You control all the leaders of the land so we put our trust in You.
In the seventh year of their exile, some of the Israelite leaders came and sat before Ezekiel and asked him what the Lord was saying. God wanted to know why they were now interested in knowing what he said. He told them that if they wanted to lead the people then they needed to explain to them their sins. Ezekiel walked them through God’s plan for Israel and how he had sought out the best land in the earth to give them. He delivered them from Egypt and its idolatry but Israel brought the sins and idolatry of Egypt with them. God brought them out to the wilderness to get them away from the land of bondage and abominations. He gave them his laws and showed them how to worship Him but they chose to return to the evil practices of other gods even making their sons die in the fire. Since they chose to worship other gods, God had to rule them with fury. He is determined to make them his people.
When we rebel against the Lord he has to put us under his rod of correction to bring us into his covenant. Our trials are sent to purge us of our sins. He told the elders to go and serve their idols but to leave him out of it. He didn’t want them serving Him and their idols. They needed to choose who they were going to serve.
In Ezekiel 21, God spoke to Jerusalem and the land of Israel. He gave them the exact way the enemy from Babylon was going to come and destroy them. He even showed how the king of Babylon would come to a fork in his road and use his divination to decide which way to go and God would cause his evil compasses to go the way He wanted them to go. Whatever the enemy decided to do, it would be the Lord’s plan that would be done. If God wanted to spare them and take them to another land, he would and if he wanted to have them die by the sword, it would be done.
Lord, you are so long suffering but it is your call in the end. You control all the leaders of the land so we put our trust in You.
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Tues.’s Devo - No Excuses!
Read: Ezekiel 18-19
There had been a saying in the land that if the fathers eat sour grapes then the children’s teeth were set on edge. They were blaming Manasseh for their calamity instead of searching their own hearts and seeing their own sin. God was not punishing them for something done in the past but for their continuance of that sin. Every man is judged for his own sin, not the sin of their father or mother. Everyone has a chance to choose for themselves which path they will choose. God was not allowing them to use this excuse anymore.
The answer to getting back into God’s favor was simple. They just had to turn from their life of sin and follow God’s laws. Then God would give them a new heart and a new spirit. It is still the same today.
In Chapter 19 the mother was the mother of Jehoiachin who stood for the progenator of David’s line. Her “whelp” was Jehoiachin or Jehoahaz (his given name) who was taken captive to Egypt. The next “whelp” was Jehoiakim, brother of Jehoahaz, who was placed on the throne by Pharaoh (2Ki 23:34). He was eventually taken to Babylon.
Both of these leaders were wicked and taught the people wickedness. In verse 10 it goes back to the infancy of Israel, the vine, and her life was pictured as a vine who was once fruitful but had dried up. She has now been planted in the wilderness where she has lost her influence and power in the world.
Lord, let us not be like this vine. Let us be fruitful in the land you have planted us in. May we take responsibility for our own sins.
There had been a saying in the land that if the fathers eat sour grapes then the children’s teeth were set on edge. They were blaming Manasseh for their calamity instead of searching their own hearts and seeing their own sin. God was not punishing them for something done in the past but for their continuance of that sin. Every man is judged for his own sin, not the sin of their father or mother. Everyone has a chance to choose for themselves which path they will choose. God was not allowing them to use this excuse anymore.
The answer to getting back into God’s favor was simple. They just had to turn from their life of sin and follow God’s laws. Then God would give them a new heart and a new spirit. It is still the same today.
In Chapter 19 the mother was the mother of Jehoiachin who stood for the progenator of David’s line. Her “whelp” was Jehoiachin or Jehoahaz (his given name) who was taken captive to Egypt. The next “whelp” was Jehoiakim, brother of Jehoahaz, who was placed on the throne by Pharaoh (2Ki 23:34). He was eventually taken to Babylon.
Both of these leaders were wicked and taught the people wickedness. In verse 10 it goes back to the infancy of Israel, the vine, and her life was pictured as a vine who was once fruitful but had dried up. She has now been planted in the wilderness where she has lost her influence and power in the world.
Lord, let us not be like this vine. Let us be fruitful in the land you have planted us in. May we take responsibility for our own sins.
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