God Speaks
The Sword of Judgment and Listing of the Sins to Be Judged
Verse of the Day: “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one. So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign LORD.” [Quotes in the original.] (Ezekiel 22:30-31 NIV 2011)
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Watch TBR Day 245
We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Ezekiel 21-22:
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 21
1. God has decided to use the brutal sword of war to punish His people for their corruption.
2. Wicked people like the Ammonites will face a final day of reckoning.
Ezekiel 22
1. God is continually searching for people who will rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. He is looking for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so that He won’t have to destroy the land.
2. The leaders of God’s people pollute the land with their sins: plotting against their own people, defrauding innocent people, seizing people’s money or property, practicing extortion, defiling holy places, reversing what is good and what is evil, lying, and perverting justice.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Ezekiel 21-22?
O LORD God, You are sovereign over all the affairs of mankind. At strategic times, You do use wars and other crises to either discipline or strengthen the faith of Your people. I declare that You are always with us for our ultimate good and Your glory. You do root out sin and corruption. Please quickly cause all those who hate You, Your ways, and/or Your people (and those who refuse to repent) to face a final day of reckoning. LORD God, even Your special people (including me) have polluted the land with our sins: plotting against our own people, defrauding innocent people, seizing people’s money or property, practicing extortion, defiling holy places, reversing what is good and what is evil, lying, and perverting justice to name just a few of our many sins. I am defiled by sin and not worthy of the task, but Holy Spirit, please wash and strengthen me by the blood of Christ. Only then will I be able to join with others to build up the wall and stand in the gap before You on behalf of the land (Israel, USA, or any other nation) so that You do not have to destroy it. It is only by Your great mercy and grace that anyone can stand before You and 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 21-22? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will join with other believers to seek God asking how He wants us to rebuild the wall of righteousness around our families, communities, regions, and nations.
- I will stand in the gap in prayer on behalf of Israel in its war against Hamas and other evils.
- I will send financial support to ministries in Israel and the rest of the Middle East.
- I will ask the Holy Spirit to work in people’s hearts and minds (including my own) to forgive and root out sins (especially those mentioned in Ezekiel 22).
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.