God Speaks
The LORD Reveals to Ezekiel the Steps of His Judgment Against Jerusalem
Verse of the Day: [The LORD was had enough of His nation’s rebellion and disrespect.] The end is now upon you, and I will release my anger against you. I will judge you according to your conduct and repay you for all your detestable practices. I will not look upon you with pity; I will not spare you. I will surely repay you for your conduct and for the detestable practices among you. (Ezekiel 7:3-4 NIV 2011)
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We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Ezekiel 5-8:
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 5
1. God pledges to punish His people for their rebellion and idolatry until His anger is spent and His justice is satisfied.
2. Even God’s beloved people have refused to obey the regulations and decrees He gave them for their own good.
Ezekiel 6
1. All of God’s actions (war, famine, and disease) are meant to show that YHWH alone is the LORD–no other “god,” object, person, or concept.
2. After people have experienced punishment, hopefully, they will recognize the hurt they have caused by their unfaithfulness, lust, and other detestable sins, and return to the LORD.
Ezekiel 7
1. God declares when He has had enough and will act and call people to account for all their detestable sins.
2. “For what God has said applies to everyone–it will not be changed! Not one person whose life is twisted by sin will ever recover.” (Ezekiel 7:13 NLT)
Ezekiel 8
1. The Holy Spirit reveals the utter sinfulness of mankind as well as the glory (and fierceness) of God to His faithful servants like the prophet Ezekiel.
2. Leaders and ordinary people commit detestable sins, promote violence, and thumb their noses at the LORD in the name of religion, thus provoking Him to anger.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Ezekiel 5-8?
O Loving God and Heavenly Father, You are patient and kind, but You will not tolerate willful sin and rebellion. You pledge to punish Your people for our rebellion and idolatry until Your anger is spent and Your justice is satisfied. Even though we are Your beloved people, we have refused to obey the regulations and decrees You gave us in the scriptures for our own good. All Your actions (war, famine, and disease), O God, are meant to show that You (YHWH) alone are the LORD–no other “god,” object, person, or concept. Hopefully, after we, Your people, have experienced punishment, we will recognize the hurt we have caused You and other people by our unfaithfulness, lust, prideful arrogance and other detestable sins, and return to You, LORD. I believe that You, LORD God, are in the process of declaring that You have had enough and are acting and calling people to account for all our detestable sins. For what You have said applies to everyone–it will not be changed! Not one person whose life is twisted by sin will ever recover. It is only by the blood of Jesus and the love and mercy of the Father that we can ever be restored. Holy Spirit, reveal the utter sinfulness of corrupted mankind and Your great glory (and fierceness) to those who turn in faith to You, the only triune God. Those of us who are leaders and/or ordinary people have committed detestable sins, promoted violence, and thumbed our noses at You, LORD, even in the name of religion. Thus, we have provoked You to anger. Please extend Your mercy and grace and forgive us on the basis of all that Jesus accomplished in His cross and resurrection. Then, forevermore, we will bring You glory, 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 5-8? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will examine my attitudes and actions to see where I am letting anything other than the LORD God–Father, Son, and Spirit–control my life.
- I will research and apply God’s plan and pattern for holding His children accountable for their attitudes and actions.
- I will seek to model for others what it means to live with God alone as my Lord and Master.
- I will lovingly and gently but firmly confront someone who is committing detestable sins, promoting violence, or thumbing their nose at the LORD, even in the name of religion.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.