Read: Jeremiah 32-33; Ezekiel 26
Zedekiah had thrown Zedekiah into prison because he kept prophesying that Babylon would prevail against them. The siege had been going on for years and the king wanted to hear good news. Ezekiel told Zedikiah that if he fought against Babylon he would be fighting against the Lord. He also told Ezekiel that his cousin would come and offer family land for him to buy. He was to buy it to show that God would one day bring his people back to this land and restore their inheritance back to them.
Since it was getting closer to Jerusalem’s destruction and the people refused to repent, God started giving them a promise of restoration. One day, their posterity would return to their land and be fruitful once again. From this people would come the Messiah who would bring righteousness and salvation.
The siege had become so bad, the people had torn down their homes to build up the wall. Even materials from the king’s palace had been used. He told the people that the people in this city were as good as dead because God’s anger was blazing against the sin of the people.
I put a star on Jeremiah 33:20. It says that God has a covenant with the day and the night so that one follows the other. We have never seen this covenant broken so we can look at this example and know that God’s promises in his Word are just as sure as his covenant with day and night. His promise for us is restoration and mercy. We always think that we have to do something to right our wrong, but God is a god of restoration and mercy. Our good deeds will never cover our sins but the blood of Jesus can. Our part is to believe.
Lord, help us to come out of condemnation into mercy and grace. We fall on the altar of the cross and walk in confident righteousness.
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Monday, August 22, 2016
Mon.’s Devo - No Remorse
Read: Ezekiel 24:15-end of chapter 25; Jeremiah 34, 21, Ezekiel 29-31
Ezekiel was told that his wife would die and he was not to mourn openly for her. He could mourn quietly, but no one could see his sadness. The people asked him why he was doing this and he told them it was a picture of how God felt about them. They would see their loved ones destroyed and their beloved Temple and land die and not be able to mourn.
Then God pronounced his judgment on the enemies of Israel. Ammon had cheered when they saw the Temple defiled and mocked Israel when she was desolate. They laughed when Judah went into exile. This is a picture of the people of the world that love to see our leaders fall into moral sin or a church split. God said that he would make them a plunder to many nations. Today, this would mean that they would be destroyed and it will make others glad.
Moab had said that Judah was just like all the other nations. This would be like saying our God was just like all the other gods: Allah, Mohammed, etc….that he was just a higher power. God told them that he would wipe out their glorious frontier towns and they would be taken over by nomads. This would be like losing the prominent fortresses they had built only to have them taken over by someone who dismantles them and sells them off.
The next nation God condemned was the Edomites. They had brought vengeance against God’s people. God would repay them with vengeance. These are the people who hate the church and are out to destroy everything we hold sacred. God promised to personally pour out his vengeance on them.
The last nation was Philistia. They were a lot like the Edomites. They wanted bitter revenge and had long-standing contempt against God’s people. We see that group as we get closer and closer to election day. God said he would raise his fist against them and they would know that He is Lord.
To the King, Zedekiah, God said the Babylonians would take the city of Jerusalem and burn it to the ground. He promised the king that he would not die by the sword, but he would die peacefully and be mourned in his death.
God changed his word to Zedekiah when he was not merciful to his own people by setting them free during Jubilee. Now King Zedekiah would die if they stayed in Jerusalem. Only the ones who surrendered to the Babylonians would live.
Lord, thank you for reminding us that you always have the final word. You will punish our enemies and bring justice.
Ezekiel was told that his wife would die and he was not to mourn openly for her. He could mourn quietly, but no one could see his sadness. The people asked him why he was doing this and he told them it was a picture of how God felt about them. They would see their loved ones destroyed and their beloved Temple and land die and not be able to mourn.
Then God pronounced his judgment on the enemies of Israel. Ammon had cheered when they saw the Temple defiled and mocked Israel when she was desolate. They laughed when Judah went into exile. This is a picture of the people of the world that love to see our leaders fall into moral sin or a church split. God said that he would make them a plunder to many nations. Today, this would mean that they would be destroyed and it will make others glad.
Moab had said that Judah was just like all the other nations. This would be like saying our God was just like all the other gods: Allah, Mohammed, etc….that he was just a higher power. God told them that he would wipe out their glorious frontier towns and they would be taken over by nomads. This would be like losing the prominent fortresses they had built only to have them taken over by someone who dismantles them and sells them off.
The next nation God condemned was the Edomites. They had brought vengeance against God’s people. God would repay them with vengeance. These are the people who hate the church and are out to destroy everything we hold sacred. God promised to personally pour out his vengeance on them.
The last nation was Philistia. They were a lot like the Edomites. They wanted bitter revenge and had long-standing contempt against God’s people. We see that group as we get closer and closer to election day. God said he would raise his fist against them and they would know that He is Lord.
To the King, Zedekiah, God said the Babylonians would take the city of Jerusalem and burn it to the ground. He promised the king that he would not die by the sword, but he would die peacefully and be mourned in his death.
God changed his word to Zedekiah when he was not merciful to his own people by setting them free during Jubilee. Now King Zedekiah would die if they stayed in Jerusalem. Only the ones who surrendered to the Babylonians would live.
Lord, thank you for reminding us that you always have the final word. You will punish our enemies and bring justice.
Saturday, August 20, 2016
Sat.’s Devo - Repentance
Read: Ezekiel 20-22:16
The leaders of Israel came to ask Ezekiel what the Lord was saying. God told Ezekiel to remind them of the covenant He had made with their ancestors and how badly they had broken it. He told them to get rid of the vile images they were so obsessed with. They had fallen in love with the idols of Egypt. God had threatened to punish them while they were in Egypt, but since God didn’t want to defile his name by punishing them in front of their enemies, he waited, hoping they would repent. They didn’t repent. Like their parents before them, they chose to follow after their idolatry. God was so tired of their idolatry he told them to go ahead and practice their evil because one day they would turn and stop bringing shame on God’s name. One day they would be ashamed of their past and receive God’s mercy. Until then, God would send fire to burn everything. It will be fire that could not be put out.
Ezekiel complained to the Lord that everyone accused him of speaking in riddles and didn’t think God was being literal in his judgment. God told him to tell them he meant everything he said. He was going to destroy the evil along with the good people. God was going to lead the army of Babylon to Jerusalem to besiege it. The people of Jerusalem would be utterly wiped out.
This is such a sad reading. History repeats itself and this will be the picture of the end. The world will be destroyed by fire and no one will be left. Those who love the Lord will live eternally with him.
Lord, expand our vision to see the big picture of your ways. You are faithful to judge and faithful to save.
The leaders of Israel came to ask Ezekiel what the Lord was saying. God told Ezekiel to remind them of the covenant He had made with their ancestors and how badly they had broken it. He told them to get rid of the vile images they were so obsessed with. They had fallen in love with the idols of Egypt. God had threatened to punish them while they were in Egypt, but since God didn’t want to defile his name by punishing them in front of their enemies, he waited, hoping they would repent. They didn’t repent. Like their parents before them, they chose to follow after their idolatry. God was so tired of their idolatry he told them to go ahead and practice their evil because one day they would turn and stop bringing shame on God’s name. One day they would be ashamed of their past and receive God’s mercy. Until then, God would send fire to burn everything. It will be fire that could not be put out.
Ezekiel complained to the Lord that everyone accused him of speaking in riddles and didn’t think God was being literal in his judgment. God told him to tell them he meant everything he said. He was going to destroy the evil along with the good people. God was going to lead the army of Babylon to Jerusalem to besiege it. The people of Jerusalem would be utterly wiped out.
This is such a sad reading. History repeats itself and this will be the picture of the end. The world will be destroyed by fire and no one will be left. Those who love the Lord will live eternally with him.
Lord, expand our vision to see the big picture of your ways. You are faithful to judge and faithful to save.
Friday, August 19, 2016
Fri.’s Devo - Parables of Israel
Read: Ezekiel 17-19
God gives Ezekiel a parable of two great eagles. The first one came and seized the top of a cedar tree in Lebanon. The Israelites referred to Jerusalem as Lebanon since so much of it was made from the cedars of Lebanon. This parable is explaining how Babylon came into Jerusalem and took off the cream of the crop of people and treasures from Jerusalem. When Babylon took over it had placed Zedikiah as the leader but the Israelites killed him and put Jehoiachin in his place. God was going to punish him for usurping the throne. He would be taken to Babylon and stand trial for his treason. Then God would take a new branch, the Messiah and plant him in the land. He will be fruitful and cause everyone who comes under his branches safe.
Israel had a saying about Israel, that if their forefathers sinned then the children would reap the consequences. But God was changing that saying to say if you sin you will reap your own consequences. They thought God was being unjust in this which just shows us how wrong their thinking was. God told them that he was not the one doing wrong…they were. He bold them to put their rebellion behind them and find a new heart and a new spirit so they could live and not die.
The choice is always ours to choose. We can have life or death.
Lord, we choose life and your way.
God gives Ezekiel a parable of two great eagles. The first one came and seized the top of a cedar tree in Lebanon. The Israelites referred to Jerusalem as Lebanon since so much of it was made from the cedars of Lebanon. This parable is explaining how Babylon came into Jerusalem and took off the cream of the crop of people and treasures from Jerusalem. When Babylon took over it had placed Zedikiah as the leader but the Israelites killed him and put Jehoiachin in his place. God was going to punish him for usurping the throne. He would be taken to Babylon and stand trial for his treason. Then God would take a new branch, the Messiah and plant him in the land. He will be fruitful and cause everyone who comes under his branches safe.
Israel had a saying about Israel, that if their forefathers sinned then the children would reap the consequences. But God was changing that saying to say if you sin you will reap your own consequences. They thought God was being unjust in this which just shows us how wrong their thinking was. God told them that he was not the one doing wrong…they were. He bold them to put their rebellion behind them and find a new heart and a new spirit so they could live and not die.
The choice is always ours to choose. We can have life or death.
Lord, we choose life and your way.
Thursday, August 18, 2016
Thurs.’s Devo - Noah, Daniel, and Job
Read: Ezekiel 14-16
The leaders of Israel came to Ezekiel to hear what God had to say about their nation. God rebuked them for having idols in their hearts yet wanting to hear from the Lord. They must have prided themselves in their righteous living yet forgot that God looks at the heart. Their hearts were far from the Lord. God referred to three men in the past and said if they were there, even they wouldn’t be able to save their nation from the destruction planned it. These three men were Noah, Daniel and Job. All three of these men lived during a time of great national sin and judgment. They were wealthy, exalted and of great reputation yet the chose to lay all of that down to stand for the Lord. They chose to be outcasts in the name of righteousness rather than play with the pleasures of sin. They were rewarded in the end.
Noah saw the judgment of the Lord on the whole earth and he and his family were the only ones to survive. Job saw the destruction of his whole family and he and his wife were the only ones to survive. Daniel saw the destruction of his nation and he and his friends were the only ones to survive. These men survived very hard and sad times but came through victoriously.
God described Jerusalem as an unfaithful wife. Even Noah, Daniel, or Job would be able to save her. She would get what she deserved until she repented, then the Lord would forgive her.
Lord, thank you for your long-suffering, faithful love towards us. You never give up on your people.
The leaders of Israel came to Ezekiel to hear what God had to say about their nation. God rebuked them for having idols in their hearts yet wanting to hear from the Lord. They must have prided themselves in their righteous living yet forgot that God looks at the heart. Their hearts were far from the Lord. God referred to three men in the past and said if they were there, even they wouldn’t be able to save their nation from the destruction planned it. These three men were Noah, Daniel and Job. All three of these men lived during a time of great national sin and judgment. They were wealthy, exalted and of great reputation yet the chose to lay all of that down to stand for the Lord. They chose to be outcasts in the name of righteousness rather than play with the pleasures of sin. They were rewarded in the end.
Noah saw the judgment of the Lord on the whole earth and he and his family were the only ones to survive. Job saw the destruction of his whole family and he and his wife were the only ones to survive. Daniel saw the destruction of his nation and he and his friends were the only ones to survive. These men survived very hard and sad times but came through victoriously.
God described Jerusalem as an unfaithful wife. Even Noah, Daniel, or Job would be able to save her. She would get what she deserved until she repented, then the Lord would forgive her.
Lord, thank you for your long-suffering, faithful love towards us. You never give up on your people.
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Wed.’s Devo - No More Delay!
Read: Ezekiel 10-13
Ezekiel is taken into the Temple of the Lord. God sends a man in linen clothing to go in and take the burning ember off the altar and take it away. It was as if he was demonstrating God taking the last glowing ember of the presence of God away from Jerusalem. The spirit went to the eastern gate where Ezekiel was taken and shown the hypocrisy of the spiritual leaders. They were telling the people they were safe in God’s hands which was just the opposite that God and Ezekiel were saying. They were telling the people that the things Ezekiel was saying were going to happen in the far future, but God was saying it was time for them to happen now. No more delay!
One day, God will say that, but he is not saying that yet. Much change is happening infall the nations. Powers are shifting but, there are many things that must take place before the end. A harvest of souls is coming in and we are invited to be a part of it if we want to.
The last group God addressed were the false prophetesses. Women are very sensitive to the spirits and very manipulative. it is important that we be discerning and stay grounded in the Word.
Lord, use us for your glory in the days we are here on the earth.
Ezekiel is taken into the Temple of the Lord. God sends a man in linen clothing to go in and take the burning ember off the altar and take it away. It was as if he was demonstrating God taking the last glowing ember of the presence of God away from Jerusalem. The spirit went to the eastern gate where Ezekiel was taken and shown the hypocrisy of the spiritual leaders. They were telling the people they were safe in God’s hands which was just the opposite that God and Ezekiel were saying. They were telling the people that the things Ezekiel was saying were going to happen in the far future, but God was saying it was time for them to happen now. No more delay!
One day, God will say that, but he is not saying that yet. Much change is happening infall the nations. Powers are shifting but, there are many things that must take place before the end. A harvest of souls is coming in and we are invited to be a part of it if we want to.
The last group God addressed were the false prophetesses. Women are very sensitive to the spirits and very manipulative. it is important that we be discerning and stay grounded in the Word.
Lord, use us for your glory in the days we are here on the earth.
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Tues.’s Devo - The Mark of the Lord
Read: Ezekiel 5-9
Through a word picture, God showed Ezekiel that a third of the people would be destroyed, a third would be scattered, and a third would be saved as the remnant. First, Ezekiel was to warn them of what was to come. That is the job of the prophet. The time of repenting was over and the end was here. The remnant would be those that looked at the sin the rest were enjoying, and were destained by it. No amount of money could buy them out of the words that were proclaimed against Jerusalem.
In the season of the feast of Tabernacles, which represents the end, God transported Ezekiel to Jerusalem and showed him the sin that was going on in the Temple. God was judging the religious leaders and what was going on in His temple. Instead of worshipping him in spirit and truth, they had brought in all types of other religions and false doctrines.
God does not expect the ungodly to worship him, he expects the ones called by his name to worship him. God told the angel to put a mark on the heads of all the people that didn’t participate in the deceptive teachings of the false teachers and prophets of the day. Our false prophets look like the phychics and New-Agers but they can also be those in our own churches. We don’t have to worry about exposing them because God will in his timing. We just need to have discernment to know what to listen to.
Lord, thank you for marking us for your purposes.
Through a word picture, God showed Ezekiel that a third of the people would be destroyed, a third would be scattered, and a third would be saved as the remnant. First, Ezekiel was to warn them of what was to come. That is the job of the prophet. The time of repenting was over and the end was here. The remnant would be those that looked at the sin the rest were enjoying, and were destained by it. No amount of money could buy them out of the words that were proclaimed against Jerusalem.
In the season of the feast of Tabernacles, which represents the end, God transported Ezekiel to Jerusalem and showed him the sin that was going on in the Temple. God was judging the religious leaders and what was going on in His temple. Instead of worshipping him in spirit and truth, they had brought in all types of other religions and false doctrines.
God does not expect the ungodly to worship him, he expects the ones called by his name to worship him. God told the angel to put a mark on the heads of all the people that didn’t participate in the deceptive teachings of the false teachers and prophets of the day. Our false prophets look like the phychics and New-Agers but they can also be those in our own churches. We don’t have to worry about exposing them because God will in his timing. We just need to have discernment to know what to listen to.
Lord, thank you for marking us for your purposes.
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