November 21, 2014
God revealed His purpose for describing a future temple to Ezekiel (referred to here as “Son of man”). Ezekiel’s temple has never been built. Solomon built the first, which was destroyed by the Babylonians, as Ezekiel’s prophecy predicted. Zerubbabel built the second, which was enlarged by Herod the Great, but destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. Ezekiel’s temple is sometimes called the “Third Temple,” or the “Millennial Temple.” Depending on one’s eschatology, some would see it as describing a spiritual temple fulfilled by the church. Others would see a literal fulfillment in the last days or during the Millennial kingdom. Regardless, Ezekiel was to describe it, so that the people of Israel would be “ashamed of all their sins.” Shame is an appropriate response to sin. Yet, there is a hardening of the heart which reduces shame to a dull tickling and then a complete denial. Ezekiel was to describe God’s future temple and returning glory, so that their hearts would feel shame, turning to God in repentance for forgiveness and salvation.
November 14, 2014
Ezekiel, like many of God’s prophets, was not respected by his contemporaries. He was tasked with making known God’s future plans for men and nations that would soon come to pass. Yet, no generation wants its comfort disturbed. They would rather risk the warnings of an approaching hurricane than leave their beach vacation early. Today, Ezekiel is respected. His prophecies have been borne out. But people have not changed. God’s Word is still warning us to get ready, while much of humanity continues in its deafness to His voice. This does not excuse us from being like Ezekiel and warning them anyway. We do this for God’s approval, not theirs.
November 13, 2014
What started as a prophecy against the king of Tyre, ended up being a description of Satan’s origin and fall. Perhaps the connection is that the pride of beauty, power and wisdom tempted both of them to sin. Some would say that pride is the root of sin. Saying, “I will,” rather than “If God wills” is the attitude that leads to disobedience. Thus, the proverb, “Pride goeth before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).
November 5, 2014
There is a type of idol that is unseen, but is just as surely built and worshiped in the human heart. This idol of the heart comes between us and God. Those elevated to leadership must recognize their particular vulnerability to this type of idolatry. These idols are not made with wood nor stone, but with a prideful lust for power and position. It causes a kind of religious self-delusion and makes us susceptible to sin. It makes our prayer life ineffective. Remove the thing that has stolen your heart and taken first place ahead of loving God. Repent and make the Lord your first love, so that you might know God’s forgiveness and experience fellowship with Him in prayer!
November 1, 2014
When God gave a word to Ezekiel, he was instructed to apply it to his “own heart first,” before sharing it with other people. This is still the best instruction for those that would answer the call to be preachers and teachers of God’s Word. They should always first apply it to their own hearts and lives before delivering it to others. The preacher or teacher who does this will find their hearts set afire for the task. And will remove much of the risk of seeming hypocritical in application. Let the word “sink deep” in you before telling others!
November 18, 2013
Usually when we see bones, we assume life is long past being possible. But Ezekiel had been following God long enough to at least hesitate in giving a human answer. He had learned something about God. Nothing is ever too dead for God to give it life. “Prophesy over those bones Zeke!” “Yes, Lord.”
November 16, 2013
When a people lose their fear of the Lord and begin to lift their own judgments above His, that nation will not long survive. When the prophet Ezekiel preached, warning the people of Israel, they responded by accusing God of injustice rather than repenting themselves. Today, we often hear a biblically illiterate people accusing God of injustice, either as a way of questioning His existence or in response to the warnings of His preachers. Watch out, lest history repeat itself.
November 10, 2013
After listing the instances of injustice and evil in Israel (among them the mistreatment of the orphan, widow and sojourner), the Lord comes to this conclusion: He could find no man to stand in the breach. The physical walls of Jerusalem were still standing, but the spiritual walls were already breached. It would only be a matter of time before the former fell too. I wonder, will the Lord find a man to stand in the breach for our time?
November 8, 2013
After warning Israel that each individual would be judged for their sin and that death would be the result, God revealed His heart. He found no pleasure in having to carry out judgment. He warned them, so that they would turn and live. He did not want to them to suffer death. This was the message he gave the prophet Ezekiel to preach, yet Israel would not hear.
November 5, 2013
Rising up in the morning, Ezekiel is filled with the Word. No internet, no morning news, no ESPN updates, or emails, no empty personal plans… the Word. The Word came to him and there was no room for anything else. How’s your morning so far?