you have feared the sword

Posted on September 20, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_1724Ezekiel 10-11:13

In the process of watching a vision depicting the ever-increasing judgment on Jerusalem, Ezekiel sees 25 of the princes of the people.  They had been influential and had given wicked council.  One of them, Pelatiah ben Benaiah, soon died.  Ezekiel was overcome, and asked the LORD whether he was going to make a full end of the remnant.  These leaders had succumbed to fear of man, and preached compromise for the purpose of survival.  Jesus teaches that we should not fear those around us, because the most they can do is kill us.  We should fear God, who has the ability to both kill and destroy soul and body in hell (Matt. 10:28).  Leadership goes wrong when it passes on fear of man instead of faith (and fear) of God.

LORD, may we be wise enough to lead by passing on trust and respect for you.

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mark us

Posted on September 19, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_1723Ezekiel 9

The LORD sends seven angels into the temple. Six are to commence the slaughtering of idolaters.  One is to mark the foreheads of those who will be spared.  Just as in the Passover, the mark preserves those who will be rescued by grace.  The judgment angels are told to spare no one who does not have the mark.  The first to go were the elders, those community leaders who thought it expedient to forsake their responsibility to protect their people from idolatry, since everybody else was doing it.

LORD, mark us by your saving grace.  For those of us in leadership, help us to lead our people away from your judgment, not toward it.

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it will get worse

Posted on September 18, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_1721Ezekiel 8

Ezekiel sees several visions of what is going on among the people of Israel, and they disgust him.  But the LORD keeps telling him that he will see still greater abominations than these.  It is not comforting to know that things are bad and they are going to get worse.  But sometimes it is the truth.  These were God’s people, and yet they had turned their back on him, and were engaging in the lewd and violent worship of pagan deities.  The LORD promises to act in wrath, his eye not sparing, his ears not listening to their cries. 

LORD, forgive us, and heal our land.  Help us to reject the unfaithfulness of our generation, and turn back to you, before you strike in wrath.

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treasures to trash

Posted on September 17, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_1704Ezekiel 7

Ezekiel condemns the people for taking pride in things, and says that when the wrath of God hits them, those things will be revealed to be worthless to save them.  Those not immediately killed by the sword will waste away with disease and hunger in a siege, and their silver and gold they will throw away as garbage.  Their greed and pride allowed objects to become the stumbling block of their iniquity.  Riches can be a blessing from God, or they can be seen as taking his place.  The end of those who trust in riches is depicted here.

LORD, you are our treasure.  We value our relationship with you.

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hills scattered with bodies

Posted on September 16, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_1695Ezekiel 6

The pagan high places that sported altars to foreign gods were supposed to be good luck, bring fertile fields and flocks.  The LORD promised to defile them with the dead bodies of the apostate.  Those who survived the sword would be scattered through the countries, and would remember this prophet’s ranting.  They would know that they brought the judgment upon themselves.  It was to be just like judgment day, when the dead stand before Christ.  All rebellious souls will see their own choices, and will know that God is right in bringing his wrath upon them.

LORD, forgive us for whoring after our idols.  Restore our relationship with you.

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center of the nations

Posted on September 15, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_1614Ezekiel 5:5-17

The LORD had set Jerusalem in the center of the nations for his purposes, but they had rebelled.  He wanted his people to draw all the nations to him by their obedience and holiness.  instead, they sinned more than anyone else.  So, like Ezekiel’s hair, they would be scattered to the four winds.  God still has a plan for his people, but it would focus on his Son, who would die in Jerusalem for the sins of the world.

LORD, you have called us to the nations.  May we not rebel against that call.

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reassignment

Posted on September 14, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_1693Ezekiel 4-5:4

Recently, I was reading a local health magazine.  One of the articles was about healthy breads and cereals.  It featured a brand of bread called Ezekiel 4:9.  It actually does appeal to me more than the normal stuff, because I like foods with lots of ingredients mixed in.  But the point of Ezekiel’s prophecy is that things are going to be so bad in Jerusalem that people are going to eat whatever they can get.  Ezekiel himself was repulsed at the idea of cooking his food over human dung, an impure and shameful thing to him.  The LORD assigned him cow’s dung instead. 

Thank you, LORD, for being sensitive to the feelings and wishes of your messengers.  You are a kind and compassionate God. 

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to deliver your soul

Posted on September 13, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_1676Ezekiel 2-3

In Ezekiel’s time, there were not many being saved.  God’s house was a rebellious house, and most had no regard for his words.  But the LORD persistently sought his people.  He made it so that Ezekiel could say nothing else but his words, and charged him to speak them.  To someone with God’s sweet truth, proclaiming it has to be done.  Failure to do so is like failing to save a drowning child.  Ezekiel had to prophesy to deliver his own soul.

LORD, fill us with your words, and send us to speak them, no matter who listens.

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the glory

Posted on September 12, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_1672Ezekiel 1

Ezekiel’s vision is elaborate and detailed, but do not get lost in the details.  Remember that he sums it up by saying “such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD” (28).  The four creatures represent the glory of the other living creatures, which is magnificent within their realms.  But God’s glory is above them all, and they all live and move and have their being because of him.

LORD, forgive us for losing perspective.  We are in awe of the brightness of your glory.

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go your way

Posted on September 11, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_1666Daniel 12

Much of the language of this chapter prefigures NT prophecies, but it is important to realize the context of its message.  Daniel still wants to know what is going to happen to his people.  He basically learns that things are going to get worse before they start getting better.  There will be a sort of resurrection – a spiritual revival, but it will produce both good and bad souls.  The temple will be made desolate, then restored.  Daniel will see none of these things.  He will die, but someday he will be literally resurrected, and stand in his allotted place at the end of the days.  He is told to go his way.

LORD, some of our future is hidden from us, and most of it we cannot change.  We choose to trust you, and go our way.  Our hope is in you, not in our ability to understand or do anything.

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