Tues.’s Devo - The Riddle of the Eagles

Read: Ezekiel 16:42-17:24; Hebrews 8:1-13; Psalm 106:13-31; Proverbs 27:7-9 God’s anger would not last forever. Once they were fully repaid for their sins, God would calm his anger. Jerusalem’s was just like her older sister Samaria, the capital of Israel. God compared Samaria to Sodom whose sins were pride, gluttony, and laziness which were added to her lewd sins. But she did not do half of the sins Jerusalem did. But, apart from all that, in the future, God will restore the fortunes of Sodom and Samaria. They will become like Jerusalem’s sisters even though they are not part of God’s covenant. *** God gave Ezekiel a riddle about eagles to tell to the people of Israel then he gave them the meaning of the riddle. The first eagle was Nebuchadnezzar and the second eagle was Egypt. It was their story. The king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and took away all the leaders and the king and brought them to Babylon. The king of Babylon made Israel sign a treaty to keep alive. *** Zedekiah rebelled against the treaty and sent for Egypt’s help against Babylon. Pharaoh won’t come to Jerusalem’s aide when she is surrounded by the Babylonian army. God will punish Zedekiah for breaking the covenant with Babylon. God would place another man, Zerrubabel who will be a foreshadow of the Messiah. *** The Messiah’s kingdom will become a majestic cedar sending forth branches and producing seed. *** Hebrews explains the new covenant of the Lord. Jesus is the High Priest of the new covenant. The Temple where he ministers is in heaven. The priests of the earth were a picture of the priesthood in heaven. *** God’s new priesthood needed a new covenant. This new convent would be written on the hearts of God’s people. Everyone from the least to the greatest would know God and He would forgive our sins and remember them no more. *** Lord, thank you that we are a part of your new covenant and You have written your words on our hearts. May we follow Your Word and not sin against you or your people. We pray for the peace of Jerusalem and the United States. We pray for the peace of all your nations.

Mon.’s Devo - Our Faithful High Priest

Read: Ezekiel 14:12-16:41; Hebreews 7:18-28; Psalm 106:1-12; Prover s 27:4-6 God gave Ezekiel four scenarios: famine, wild animals, war, or disease. In every one of them there would only be a few survivors. God would still judge them even if faithful people like Moses, Daniel, or Job were among them. When they people get to Babylon, Ezekiel would see for himself how wicked the people had become. *** God likened the people to vines. Compared to trees, they were not worth anything but being burned in fire. The wood from trees could be used for many different things, but not vines. God was throwing these worthless vines into the fire of his judgment. *** God told Ezekiel to confront Israel with her sins. When God found them they were half-Canaanite/ half-Amorites and God took them and made them his people. He washed them, clothed them and lavished them with riches. Instead of being grateful and worshipping him, they worshiped everything but him. They took the gods of all the countries around them and even sacrificed their own children to their false gods. They built pagan shrines on every street corner and when they were handed over to the Philistines, even they were shocked by your lewd conduct. *** God said that since they did all these detestable things, he would turn them over to all the nations who were their lovers and they would destroy Israel. The would knock down their pagan shrines and altars to their idols. They would take their beautiful jewels, and leave them with nothing. They would burn down their homes and stop their prostitution. *** In Hebrews, God points out how the old priesthood didn’t work and the law didn’t make anyone perfect. But, through Jesus, we have a better hope. God promised that Jesus is our forever priest. He brought us a better covenant. The priests before, died and were not able to continue their service, but Jesus continues to live forever making intercession for us to God. *** Jesus is holy and blameless and has been given the highest place of honor in heaven. Unlike the priests of the Old Testament, Jesus doesn’t have to offer sacrifices every day. He did this once and for all when he offered himself on the cross. He is the perfect High Priest. *** Jesus, thank you for being our High Priest and offering prayers for us daily. Thank you that you know exactly what we need and the needs of our family. Thank you that your prayer is the perfect prayer to God and we can trust that you are faithful and just.

Sun.’s Devo - God’s Signs

Read: Ezekiel 12:1-14:11; Hebrews 7:1-17; Psalm 105:37-45; Proverbs 27:3 The people were not listening to the words of the Lord through Ezekiel, but God didn’t want them to have an excuse and say that they didn’t know. So, God sent another warning - another picture. *** God told Ezekiel to pack a bag with only a few things like a person leaving in exile. He was to bring his bags out in the day so they could see it and leave in the evening while they were watching. He was to leave carrying the bag over his shoulder as a sign for the people. *** The next morning he explained that all his actions were a sign to show them what was going to shortly happen to them. Zedekiah would leave through a hole in the wall and take only what he could carry with him. His face was to be covered and he would not be able to see the land he was leaving. He would be captured in God’s net and taken to Babylon but he would never see it. He would die there and his servants and army would be scattered all over the world. A few would be spared so they could be a witness of what happened to them in Babylon. *** Ezekiel was told to tremble when he ate his food and shake with fear as he drank his water. This was a picture of what they would be doing soon. *** God gave Ezekiel another message that there would be no more delays in his words. They had stopped listening because nothing was happening, but that was about to change. He told the false prophets that claimed they got their messages from God that they were liars and since God hadn’t said what they said, their predictions won’t come true either. They prophesied peace when it was not time for peace. *** God had Ezekiel speak out against the women and their magic charms that they wore on their wrists and the magic veils they wore on their faces. God would rescue the people from their spells. *** The leaders of Israel came and visited Ezekiel and while they were there, God gave them a message. They had set up idols in their hearts which led them into sin. His message to them was to repent and turn away from their idols and stop all their detestable sins. If they didn’t repent, they would be punished along with their false prophets and false advisors. *** In Hebrews, Chapter Seven is all about Melchizedek who was the king of Salem and also the priest of God. He was both the King of peace and the king of justice. He was eternal like the Son of God. *** Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek which meant that all of his descendants were affected by his gift. *** The question is asked: if man could have achieved perfection through the law, why did God need to establish a different priesthood with a priest after the order of Melchizedek instead of the order of Levi and Aaron. The answer is that the law could not make man perfect. So there has to be a different law since the priesthood has changed. *** Lord, thank you for changing the law for us and giving us the law of love and grace. May we walk in your justice and truth from the heart and not out of obligation.

Sat.’s Devo - The Spirit Leaves the Temple

Read: Ezekiel 10:1-11:25; Hebrews 6:1-20; Psalm 105:26-36; Proverbs 27:1-2 Ezekiel was in Babylon with the first exiles, but God would come and transport him back to Jerusalem to find out what was going on there so he could report it back to the exiles in Babylon. *** The four living creatures appeared at the south end of the Temple in their chariots of wheels. The man in linen appeared with them. He took and stood beside on the the creatures and took live coals from the fire burning between their wheels. *** The glory moved from the entrance of the Temple and hovered above the cherubim. They flew with the glory to the east gate of the Lord’s Temple. *** The Spirit took Ezekiel to the east gateway of the Lord’s Temple and showed him the 24 prominent men of the city which included Jaazaniah, and Pelatiah. They were planning the evil council they would give the people. They told the people that it was a good time to build houses because the city of Jerusalem was safe like an iron pot. But God told Ezekiel to say that God knew about the people they had murdered in the city; the streets were full of them. This city was an iron pot alright, but the pieces of meat were the victims of their injustice. They would be dragged from this pot and the war they so greatly feared would come upon them and drive them out of Jerusalem and hand them over to foreigners. Judgment would be carried out on them. *** While Ezekiel was saying this, Pelatiah fell dead. Ezekiel cried out to the Lord and asked if he was going to kill everyone. *** God told Ezekiel what the people left were saying. They were saying that he and his relatives and all the people who were in exile were far away from the Lord and now He had given them the land. God told Ezekiel to tell them that it was the Lord who scattered them and He would be a sanctuary for them during their time in exile. God would gather them back from the nation they had been scattered and give them the land of Israel once again. *** When they return, they will remove every trace of their detestable false idols. God would give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. He would take away their stoney, stubborn hearts and give them a tender responsive heart. They would obey God’s decrees and regulations. *** Then the glory of the Lord left the city and stopped above the mountain to the east. God carried Ezekiel back to Babylon where he told the exiles everything he had experienced in Jerusalem. *** Hebrews tells us that if a person experiences new birth in Christ and then turns away from him and rejects him as their Lord, they can not be reborn again. That would be like nailing Christ to the cross again and he died once for our salvation. Once a field bears thorns and thistles, the only thing you can do with it is to burn the field with fire. *** But the teacher doesn’t think that is what will happen to his listeners. He is confident that they/we are meant for better things - the things that come with salvation. God will not forget how hard we worked for him and how we have loved other believers and still do. As long as we have hope, we will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead we will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of our faith and endurance. *** We will inherit God’s promises because of our faith and endurance. God promised Abraham that he would bless them and multiply them beyond number and Abraham waited until he received what God promised. God bound himself with this oath and his promise and it is impossible for God to lie. *** This hope we have leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Jesus went there ahead of us and is our High Priest. *** Lord, thank you that your promise still stands for Israel. It will soon be a city full of your people, not people who call themselves Jews but are not. It will be filled with your glory and you will give them a new heart. Thank you that what you do for Israel, you do for America. We pray a new heart to be given America to love and obey your commands.

Fri.’s Devo - God’s Cleansing Judgment

Read: Ezekiel 7:1-9:11; Hebrews 5:1-14; Psalm 105:1-15; Proverbs 26:28 The Lord said that the time was up to repent; it was time for judgment. Disaster upon disaster was coming. It was not business as usual; everything was about to change. *** The people living outside the walls would die of the sword and those inside would die of famine and disease. The day of God’s judgment had arrived. Nothing they did will help them now. Their money would be worthless and their wealth would become disgusting to them. It would be plunder to the enemy. *** They would look for answers but the priests and the prophets would have nothing for them. The evil they did to others would fall on them by an even more ruthless people. *** During the days of repentance before the fall feasts, the leaders were in the home of Ezekiel. God sent an angel to take Ezekiel in the Spirit and transported him to Jerusalem. He showed him the idol that stood beside the entrance to the north gate. Then he took him through a secret passageway where there were engravings on the wall of all kinds of crawling animals and detestable creatures. Seventy of Israel’s leaders were in a room with incense burners worshipping something other than God. *** The angel took him to the north gate of the Lord’s Temple where women were sitting and weeping for the god Tammuz. Next, he was brought into the inner courtyard of the Lord’s Temple between the entry room and the bronze altar where about twenty-five men sat with their backs to the sanctuary. They were facing east and bowing low to the ground worshipping the sun. All of this was why God was judging the land. *** God then shouted for his men that were to punish the city. Six of God’s men appeared from the upper gate that faces the north. Each was carrying a deadly weapon in his hand. A man dressed with linen appeared carrying a writer’s case at his side. They all went into the Temple courtyard and stood beside the bronze altar. *** The glory of God rose up from the angels on the Ark of the Covenant and moved to the entrance elf the Temple. God told the one dressed in linen to walk through the streets of Jerusalem and put a mark on the forehead of all who wept at the sins being committed in their city. *** He took the other six with him through the city and told them to kill everyone who didn’t have the mark. They began with the seventy elders. Their dead bodies would defile the Temple. *** As Ezekiel watched this vision, he cried out to the Lord asking if God would kill everyone. God responded that their sins were so very very great. The land was full of murder and injustice. They thought God didn’t see it, but he didn’t miss a thing. *** The man in the linen returned and said he had done what he was suppose to do. *** Hebrews explains the office of the High Priest. He is a man who has been chosen to represent the people to God. He presents their gifts to God and offers sacrifices for the sins of all the people, He understands people’s weaknesses because he himself fights the same battles against sin. He has to be a man that God called to be a priest just like Aaron was and just like Jesus is. *** When Jesus was on earth, Jesus interceded for man with tears and anguish. He had to learn to obey through the things he suffered just like we do. He was appointed our High Priest by God in the order of Melchizedek, God’s High Priest in heaven. *** Paul wanted to teach them deeper but they had let themselves become dull and had stopped growing. They could only drink the milk of the Word. Solid food was reserved for those who had learned to recognize the difference between right and wrong. *** Lord, we thank you for being our faithful High Priest who intercedes for us day and night. Help us to grow in discernment and love for you.

Thurs.’s Devo - God’s Warnings

Read: Ezekiel 3:16-6:14; Hebrews 4:1-16; Psalm 104:24-35; Proverbs 26:27 God gave Ezekiel a stern warning. When God gives him a word of warning to the people,, he must give it. If he didn’t, then the consequences of what God meant for them would fall on him. If a righteous person turned away from the Lord and followed the path of unrighteousness, they would die in their sins if Ezekiel didn’t warn them. But if they are warned and turn away from their sins, then Ezekiel not only saved them but he saved himself. As a priest, he stood as a representation of the people. *** God told Ezekiel to go to the valley and he saw the same vision he had seen by the Kebar River. He fell to the ground again and the Spirit had to come and stand him up. He told him to go home and shut the door. He would be tied with ropes and so he couldn’t go out among the people. He would also be made unable to talk until God loosens his tongue. He was to tell the people that this is what God says, “Those who choose to listen will listen, but those who refuse will refuse, for they are rebels.” *** Then he was told to take a large clay brick and draw a map of the city of Jerusalem on it. He was to build a wall around it and set up the enemy camp around the city with siege ramps and battering rams. He was to depict the siege that would happen against Jerusalem. It would be a visual for the people. *** Ezekiel was then to lie on his left did and place the sins of Israel on himself. He would bear their sins for 390 days - one day for every year of Israel’s sins then on his right side 40 days - one day for every year of Judah’s sins. Also, God would tie him with ropes so he wouldn’t be able to turn until the time was complete. *** Before he did all of this, he was to make great out of God’s ingredients and ration them out for the days he would be lying tied up. He was to bake his bread with the dung of humans. Ezekiel asked God to please let not use defiling human dung so he let him use cow dung instead. He was also to measure out water to drink drop by drop. This was to be a picture to the people for what was coming to make them want to repent. *** After all this he was to shave his head and beard and divide the hair into equal parts. After playing out the siege, he was to put a third of the hair in the center of his map of Jerusalem and burn it. He was to scatter the next third across his map and chop it with a sword then he was to scatter the last third to the wind. They represented what would happen to the people. *** God had placed Jerusalem at the center of the nations but she had rebelled and become more wicked than the other nations, refusing to obey his regulations and decrees. This is what would happen to them because they sinned. God would become their enemy. He would punish them with wild animals, disease, war and famine. *** Ezekiel was told to go to the mountains and proclaim to the mountains, hills, ravines, and valleys that war was coming that would bring down all their pagan shrines. He begged them to cry out to the Lord because of their sins,. God’s fury was coning and when it was over they would know that there is a god in heaven. Hebrews reminds us that there is a rest remaining for us to experience. God’s people had refused to enter into it because they had no faith. It takes faith to enter into this rest. The time God set is the seventh day which we have just entered. In this rest, we stop laboring and rest in the Lord. That takes much faith to stop trying to make things happen. God’s word is alive and still working and will bring about God’s plan in his timing. *** Jesus, thank you for being our High Priest. Thank you that you understands all our weaknesses and pray and intercede on our behalf. Help us to faithfully enter into your rest and remain in your peace.

Wed.’s Devo - The Overwhelming Presence of the Lord

Read: Ezekiel 1:1-3:15; Hebrews 3:1-19; Psalm 104:1-23; Proverbs 26:24-26 Ezekiel means “Whom God will strengthen” and “God will Prevail”. His father was a priest which means he was a priest also, giving him a certain amount of clout with the people. God called him to prophesy in the fifth year from the date of his being carried to Babylon with King Jehoiachin (599 B.C.) The best of the people of Judah had listened to the prophets and surrendered to Babylon. They had been told by the prophets that this was the only way they would be safe. The ones who stayed were the ones who were attacked by the Chaldeans and most of them died as despised people. *** God appeared to Ezekiel by the river Chebar which flows into the Euphrates River. He lived close by in Tel-Abib were the elders would come to inquire of him God’s messages to him. They were eager to return to Jerusalem, but he taught them that they must return to the Lord first. *** In his first vision the Lord showed him a huge storm cloud that flashed with lightning and shone with brilliant light. Inside the cloud was fire and in the middle of the fire was something like gleaming amber. From this center came the four living creatures. Each had four faces, four wings and legs with feet like calf hooves. The creatures shone like bronze. They had human hands under their wings. *** The faces were human in the front, a lion on the right side, an ox on the left and an eagle at the back. One set of wings touched the wings of the one beside it and the other pair of wings covered its body. They went in the direction that the spirit chose them to go. *** As he watched them, four wheels appeared below them. The wheels went with them and there was a wheel within a wheel. In the wheel was the spirit that moved them up or down or sideways. Above them was a crystal canopy and when they moved their wings it sounded like waves crashing, or the voice of the Almighty or like the shouting of a mighty army. When they stopped and put their wings down, a voice spoke from the crystal canopy above them. *** When Ezekiel looked up on the crystal ceiling there was a throne made of blue lapis lazuli. On the throne sat a figure who looked like a man. He shown like fire in his splendor. He had a halo like a rainbow. When Ezekiel saw it, he fell to his face to the ground. *** The Lord spoke to him and told him to stand. The spirit helped him stand and he listened. The Lord said that he was sending him to the nation of Israel which was a people who had continually been a rebellious, stubborn, hard-hearted nation. Whether they listen to his words or not, at least they would know that a prophet was among them. God told him not to fear them even though they would threaten him and scoff at his messages. They wouldn’t listen because they were totally rebellious but he was to speak to them any way. He then gave Ezekiel a scroll filled with funeral songs, words of sorrow, and pronouncements of doom. He was to eat the scroll. It tasted like honey in his mouth. *** He was to take these messages back and give them to the stubborn Israelites who would not listen. He was not to be afraid of them but continue to speak what God had given him. *** The spirit took Ezekiel back to the exiles in Tel-abib and sat overwhelmed for seven days before he was able to speak. *** In Hebrews, Jesus was compared to Moses in that they were both building God’s house. Moses was the shadow of Jesus. Jesus Christ is in charge of Moses’ house and Jesus’ house as God’s son (the Old Testament and the New Testament house). Jesus is also our Apostle and High Priest. *** The writer of Hebrews warns them not to have a heart of unbelief that the children of Israel had under Moses. They were so rebellious that God had to kill them in the wilderness and didn’t allow them to enter into the rest he had prepared for them. We cannot be that people now. We must enter into God’s rest and trust him to take care of all that is going on around us. *** Lord, we put our future in your hands. We put the future of our nation and our children and grand children in your hands. We choose to rest in your presence.