God Speaks
The LORD Illustrates His Dealings with Israel and Judah Using Two Prostitutes and the Death of Ezekiel’s Wife
Verse of the Day: “‘I the LORD have spoken. The time has come for me to act. I will not hold back; I will not have pity, nor will I relent. You will be judged according to your conduct and your actions, declares the Sovereign LORD.'” [Quotes as in the original.] (Ezekiel 24:14 NIV 2011)
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Watch TBR Day 246
We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Ezekiel 23-24:
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 23
1. God uses the strong analogy of prostitution to describe the behavior of the leaders and the entire peoples of both the northern kingdom (Israel) and the southern kingdom (Judah). Therefore, He will treat them as wayward wives.
2. These people have been behaving like prostitutes by turning away from the LORD God, His word, and His ways. Since they have rejected Him, He will let them have their way just to show them what the consequences are for such actions.
Ezekiel 24
1. God commanded Ezekiel not to mourn for his beloved wife according to the customs of his times as an example of what was coming.
2. There will come a time when people will not be allowed to mourn for their dead according to their customs. [This was true in many places during the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020.]
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Ezekiel 23-24?
O LORD God, this description of the nations of Israel and Judah behaving like prostitutes, using the blessings You had given them and then being brutally murdered and carried off into captivity by cruel and inhumane terrorists, wasn’t just for them. It is a warning for all people who claim to belong to You to stay close to and obey You. It was acted out on October 7, 2023 (and September 11, 2001?). O LORD, You have every right to use terrorists to call Your people out for their unfaithfulness and other sins, however, elsewhere in Your Word You declare, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” Help Israel’s IDF to strike the right balance between cooperating with You in carrying out Your justice and leaving room for Your righteous anger to be expressed against Your enemies and ours. O LORD God, please send such an outpouring of Your Spirit of love, grace, and forgiveness (on both sides) that the sons of Abraham–the descendants of Ishmael and Isaac–will both put down their weapons, embrace each other, comfort each other, and peacefully attend the funerals of each other’s loved ones. This is not a far-fetched pipedream. But it is only possible through Your mighty work in people’s hearts and minds. It would shock the world and bring You great 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 23-24? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will examine the list of the lewd sins in chapter 23 and compare them with articles and advertisements in five major newspapers for this week.
- I will confess the current behaviors above and ask the LORD’s forgiveness based on Christ’s crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, and constant intercession.
- I will attend a funeral service and speak respectfully with another attendee of the comfort God makes available to us in Christ.
- I will gather the materials and encouragements I want shared at my own funeral (whenever that may be).
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.