God Speaks
The Word of the LORD Will Not Be Delayed Any Longer
Verse of the Day: I [the LORD] will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God. (Ezekiel 11:19-21 NIV 2011)
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Watch TBR Day 241
We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Ezekiel 9-12:
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 9
1. God marks out “all who weep and sigh because of the detestable sins being committed in their city.” (9:4 NLT)
2. “‘The sins of the people of Israel and Judah are very, very great. The entire land is full of murder; the city is filled with injustice. . . [They say,] ‘The LORD has abandoned the land!’” (9:9 NLT)
Ezekiel 10
1. God allowed Ezekiel to see the Temple filled with the cloud of the glory of the LORD, glowing brightly.
2. Ezekiel was the only human being mentioned in this chapter, but the cherubim were awesome, mysterious, and completely obedient to the LORD God.
Ezekiel 11
1. God has not given up on His people. When they return to their land and to Him, He promises to “take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender responsive heart.” (11:19 NLT)
2. “They [the antisemites and the anti-Zionists] are saying, ‘Those people are far away from the LORD, so now He has given their land to us!’” (11:15 NLT)
Ezekiel 12
1. The LORD God declares a new proverb, “‘The time has come for every prophecy to be fulfilled…. No more delay! I will now do everything I have threatened. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!” ” (12:23, 28 NLT)
2. “. . . their land will be stripped bare because of their violence. The cities will be destroyed, and the farmland desolate. Then [they] will know that I am the LORD.” (12:20 NLT)
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Ezekiel 9-12?
O LORD God, You do take special note of all who weep and sigh because of the detestable sins being committed in their city. Holy Spirit, please help me to be one of them. The sins of the people of my community and nation are very, very great. The entire land is full of murder; the city and nation are filled with injustice. Some people say, “The LORD has abandoned the land of Israel and the Jews.” This is not true. You say elsewhere in Your Word that the plans You have for Israel and the Jews is to give them a future and a hope. That hope is in the coming (or coming back) of their Messiah. LORD God, You allowed Ezekiel to see the Temple filled with the cloud of Your glory, glowing brightly. Please allow me a small portion of that same privilege. The cherubim and the “whirling wheels” must be an awesome sight, so mysterious and completely obedient to You, LORD God. You have not given up on Your people (both Jewish and Gentile believers) however maligned and oppressed they may truly be. When You return them to their land and to a right relationship with You, You promise to take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender responsive heart. Antisemites, anti-Zionists, and Anti-Christians are saying, “Those people are far away from the LORD, so now He has given their land to us! Let’s wipe them off of the face of the earth and take it for ourselves.” But You, LORD God, declare, “The time has come for every prophecy to be fulfilled…. No more delay! I will now do everything I have threatened. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!” The land of the enemies of Your people will be stripped bare because of their violence. Their cities will be destroyed, and their farmland desolate. Then these enemies and all beings will know that the great I AM is the LORD. Even so, come Lord Jesus, collect Your people, set up Your Kingdom, and bring glory to the Father, forever. 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 9-12? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will weep and sigh over the great sins, violence, and evil rampant in my community, region, and nation.
- I will ask the LORD to show me at least one way (however small or large). He wants me to fight against it, then to grant me the strength, courage, and ability to carry out that assignment.
- I will spend concentrated time with God in prayer, in Bible reading and study, and in praise and worship so that I might be in a position to get a glimpse of His glory.
- I will speak up and confront antisemitism, anti-Zionism, and anti-Christ ideology whenever I encounter it.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.