God Speaks
The LORD Pronounces Judgment Against False Prophets and Common People Using Sword, Famine, Wild Beasts and Plague
Verse of the Day: After the people of God have experienced the LORD’s judgment through violence, lack of food, ravaging beasts and wasting diseases, and repented, they will] “‘. . . no longer stray from me. nor will they defile themselves anymore with all their sins. They will be my people, and I will be their God, declares the Sovereign LORD.'” [Quotes in original.] (Ezekiel 14:11 NIV 2011)
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Watch TBR Day 242
We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Ezekiel 13-15:
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 13
1. God stands strongly opposed to people who claim to speak for Him but who are only “following their own imaginations [or agendas].”
2. False prophets do “nothing to repair the breaks in the walls around the nation” or to help “it to stand firm in the battle on the day of the LORD.”
Ezekiel 14
1. The LORD God will personally reject people who reject Him and His principles yet seek guidance and blessing through His prophets.
2. Even godly people like Noah, Daniel, and Job would not be able to succeed in interceding with God for the people of Jerusalem because their behavior is so wicked.
Ezekiel 15
1. God interacts with people based on their behavior. Are they faithful to Him?
2. Just as grapevines are of little or no use after the grapes are harvested, so too the people of Jerusalem had become useless to God because of their numerous sins.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Ezekiel 13-15?
O LORD God, You strongly oppose people who claim to speak for You, but who are only following their own imaginations or personal agendas. In the past, many of my fellow believers and I have done little or nothing to repair the breaks in the walls around our nation or to help it to stand firm in You, LORD, in this day of battle against evil. LORD God, help us to warn the people around us that You will reject whoever rejects You and Your principles. We can’t expect Your guidance and blessing if we reject You and Your ways. In that case, even godly people like Noah, Daniel, and Job won’t be successful in interceding with You, LORD, for such people. Their behavior is so wicked. You, LORD God, interact with people based on their behavior. Are they faithful to You? Specifically, are they consistently living out of faith in Jesus and all He has done for them? In general, because of our numerous sins, people around the world are as useless to You, LORD God, as grapevines after the grapes are harvested, Relying on Jesus and the Holy Spirit is the only way we can ever hope to 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 13-15? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will pray for, interact with, try to understand, and warn a person I know who is rejecting the LORD and His principles.
- I will do whatever I can to repair the breaks in the walls around my nation and/or help it to stand firm in the LORD in this day of battle against evil.
- I will study and seek to become more like Noah, Daniel, and Job, who remained faithful to God amid trying circumstances.
- I will ask the Holy Spirit to enable me to maintain and grow in faithfulness to the LORD.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.