God Speaks
The LORD Uses Two Analogies to Describe His Relationship with Israel: the Life of aWoman and Two Eagles
Verse of the Day: [After illustrating the extent of His people’s sins against Him, the LORD said,] “‘. . . So I will establish my covennant with you, and you will know that I am the LORD. Then, when I make atonement [through Jesus’ blood and death on the cross] for you and for all you have done, you will remember and be ashamed and never again open your mouth because of your humiliation, declares the Sovereign LORD.'” [Quotes in the original.] (Ezekiel 16: 62-63 NIV 2011)
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We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Ezekiel 16-17:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
Ezekiel 16
1. God treats His special people (the physical and/or spiritual descendants of Abraham) as a child of His enemies whom He found, cared for, adopted, and later married but who turned away from and dishonored Him as either father or husband.
2. Our inherent sin nature causes people to be fickle, rebellious, ungrateful, and blatantly disrespectful of the LORD God and His ways no matter how kind, loving, and protective they are.
Ezekiel 17
1. God uses parables to explain His plans for the future of His people (in this case the fate of the king of Judah and his nobles in Babylon).
2. People frequently think that we know better than God what is best or just want to do things our way apart from the LORD God (in this case breaking a treaty with Babylon and appealing to Egypt for help).
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Ezekiel 16-17?
O LORD God, You are such a kind and loving father and/or husband. You loved us human beings so much that You, Lord Jesus, willingly came to earth, lived in complete obedience to the Father, died a horrible death on the cross, and rose from the dead just so that we could be with You for all eternity. Jesus, You paid the penalty that our unfaithfulness, rebellion, ingratitude, and blatant disrespect deserved. More than that, Father God, You imparted to us, through Your Holy Spirit, all qualities of the Spirit Jesus possessed–love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness gentleness, and self-denial. You adopted all who will actively believe and made each and all a part of the bride of Christ, the physical and/or spiritual descendants of Abraham. LORD God, You used parables like this one in Ezekiel 17 in the Old Testament and Jesus’ many parables in the New Testament to explain Your plans for the future of Your people. We willful people frequently think that we know better than You, God. We assume that we know what is best, or we just want to do things our way apart from You. Holy Spirit, please do whatever You know is best to turn individuals and nations around so that we will instead bring glory to Your name, LORD. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Ezekiel 16-17? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will use songs like CeCe Winan’s Goodness of God to express my gratitude for all that God has done for me, especially Jesus’ death and resurrection.
- I will confess to the LORD (and to at least one other person I trust) how I have been ungrateful and disrespectful to Him and ask for forgiveness and restoration.
- I will study this and other parables throughout scripture to learn how they apply to my life today. (Parables Study Guide by John MacArthur is a recommended resource.)
- I will ask myself on whom I am relying: other people, my own strength and ingenuity, or the LORD God and His loving provision.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.