Bible Reading Reflection from Ezekiel 13-24

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (PTS), a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible] 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟙𝟛:𝟚

"Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy 𝔽𝕣𝕠𝕞 𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕚𝕣 𝕆𝕨𝕟 𝕀𝕟𝕤𝕡𝕚𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟, ‘Listen to the word of the LORD!’"

Let's preach the word of God. Let the Scriptures be the influence in choosing the text, not every circumstance going around.

May we think deeply to get the meaning of the text with humility in prayer. May we examine our understanding against the understanding of godly men gone before.

May we not preach just because it seems good to us.

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟙𝟜:𝟚𝟘

“‘Even though Noah, Daniel and Job were in its midst, as I live,’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘they could not deliver either their son or their daughter. They would deliver only themselves by their righteousness.’”

This verse is talking about the inevitability of judgment, however, the mention of these 3 saints of the Old Testament reminds us of the influence of a godly man upon his family and society.

If we love our family, society, and church member, let's love God all the more.

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟙𝟝:𝟞

"Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, ‘As the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so have I given up the inhabitants of Jerusalem’"

Wow! What an astonishing illustration. Of course, God is the master of communication! May we observe the creation of God delightfully and make use of them in communicating the truths of the Bible to people.

The book of James is full of an analogy of natural things. Jesus likewise did. Spurgeon was very brilliant as well! We don't need to illustrate from movies or books all the time.

Nature is plain, simple, understandable, and readily available to all of us!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟙𝟞:𝟙-𝟚

“Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘Son of man, make known to Jerusalem her abominations.’”

Wow! What a task a man of God has! It's to tell people they are bad and God has a wrathful plan for them if they will not change their ways.

This chapter has 63 verses, and Ezekiel began by telling how God had been good to them, how they had responded to God, and then the condemnation, and he ended with words of hope of sure salvation. A model for an evangelistic message.

We don't necessarily need the Gospel of Jesus to convict a sinner. We can use the law of Moses. We don't even need that, or the Bible to condemn a sinner.

Apostle Paul appealed to creation and nature, to condemn a man in Romans 1. Actually, it's because of that we need the Gospel of Jesus Christ which is not condemnation but salvation.

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟙𝟟:𝟚𝟜

"All the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD; I bring down the high tree, exalt the low tree, dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will perform it."

This has to be a metaphor as it was before. It proclaims how great is the Lord. Bringing down and Exalting comes from God. He whose eyes are fixed on God is blessed!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟙𝟠:𝟚

"What do you mean by using this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, 'The fathers eat the sour grapes, But the children's teeth are set on edge'?"

This year, I have been reading multiple books of the Bible in a day. And one of the strong impressions that I have found is God wants people to take Him seriously.

God hates to be misunderstood. He wants to be revered by people. He wants to be treated as unique. He doesn't want to be on the tongue of a simple, careless, and foolish person.

Even in this verse, God doesn't want people to ridicule Him. He would do the opposite thing they expect, say, or ask. God often does that!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟙𝟡:𝟙

"As for you, take up a lamentation for the princes of Israel."

This chapter begins and ends with a verse telling this chapter is a lamentation.

Instead of complaining, lament it.

Instead of accusing all the time, lament it.

Lamentation is an art, we've got to develop it, and make use of it. Great preachers are good at lamenting.

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟚𝟘:𝟡

"But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made Myself known to them by bringing them out of the land of Egypt."

Everyone wants to have a good reputation. God certainly wants. He does everything for the honor of His name. Even in anger, He doesn't profane. Sometimes in our wrath, we shout, "I don't care"

Not God. Honoring God is a must always. There's no exception!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟚𝟙:𝟟

"And when they say to you, 'Why do you groan?' you shall say, 'Because of the news that is coming; and every heart will melt, all hands will be feeble, every spirit will faint and all knees will be weak as water. Behold, it comes and it will happen,' declares the Lord GOD."

Every preacher, I suppose, wants to preach an encouraging sermon. Well, Ezekiel was told to preach a discouraging, fearful, weak, trembling sermon.

Today is Sunday. As we often hear, a sermon is a double-edged sword: to comfort the troubled soul, and to trouble the comfortable soul.

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟚𝟚:𝟚

"And you, son of man, will you judge, will you judge the bloody city? Then cause her to know all her abominations."

Indeed, it's good to know why we suffer. It's the goodness of God to tell them why they will suffer at least in three ways:

1. Suffering will be easier to endure knowing how why it happens

2. They can repent and be delivered

3. They can stop sinning and avoid the coming punishment.

It serves as strength to endure, a means to overcome, and a warning to avoid!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟚𝟛:𝟚𝟚

"Therefore, O Oholibah, thus says the Lord GOD, 'Behold I will arouse your lovers against you, from whom you were alienated, and I will bring them against you from every side"

God has an interesting way of teaching a lesson—in an ironic way! Lovers turning into enemies. And to those who put their trust in Him, to those who obey Him, the opposite—turning enemies into friends.

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟚𝟜:𝟙𝟞, 𝟚𝟙

"Son of man, behold, I am about to take from you the desire of your eyes with a blow; but you shall not mourn and you shall not weep, and your tears shall not come."

"Speak to the house of Israel, "Thus says the Lord GOD, 'Behold, I am about to profane My sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes and the delight of your soul; and your sons and your daughters whom you have left behind will fall by the sword.’”"

God killed Ezekiel's wife. People believe that we, pastors, Christian leaders are favoured by God that we are somehow immune to troubles, sufferings, and misunderstanding. Sometimes, even we, ourselves, believe it.

And if God allowed His house to be profaned, let's not be sinfully angry when people persecute us and our church. When an unthinkable situation happens to us, we may do very well to submit to God's will in trust and much prayer than ask "Why?" and be grumbling against God.

That's what the latest episode of the MacArthur Centre for Expository Preaching podcast is also saying [Season 1]. I commend that podcast heartily btw!👍

Bible Reading Reflection from Ezekiel 6-12

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (PTS), a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible] 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟞:𝟟

"The slain will fall among you, and you will know that I am the LORD."

It's God who gives life and takes life. Atheists don't care about God. Some Christians would like to believe that it's God who gives life, but they don't want to believe it's God who takes life as well. When people die, we ought to remember God. We ought to remember the consequence of sin. We ought to remember the Gospel. And we ought to rejoice that death is not the end. Death will die.

Covid death, cancer death, flood death, war death, murder, every death is of God. Everyone is immortal until God decides to take us away.

Death actually testifies to the glory of God that He punishes sins. Hell, the second death is for God's glory. Ezekiel testified that when desolation visits the people; mountains and hills; ravines and valleys, they will know that there's really a God in heaven!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟟:𝟡

"And my eye will not spare, nor will I have pity. I will punish you according to your ways, while your abominations are in your midst. Then you will know that I am the LORD, who strikes."

This is repeated 3 times as a refrain in this chapter, v4, 9, 27. God really wants to be known by all means. He created heavens and earth, declaring His Glory. He sent Jesus Christ that He may be known. Prophets and Apostles wrote the Scriptures that God may be known.

And God would use even violence to let Himself be known. It's not difficult to understand that because even we would like to be known. We want to be popular, famous recognized. We want from others praise, applause, adoration, glory. If we, wicked people want glory for ourselves, is it not appropriate that glory is given to a righteous God?

And if God would do to that negative extent to let Him be known, shouldn't we be zealous to declare Him positively, the Gospel? We are commissioned to do that!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟠:𝟜

"And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the vision that I saw in the valley."

The Israelites were putting up idols when actually the glory of God was shining. This passage reminds me of an episode in The Pilgrim's Progress, where Christiana saw a man with a muck-rake who could only look downward, ignoring the celestial crown for muckraking.

Perhaps, John Bunyan learned from Ezekiel 8

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟡:𝟠

"As they were striking the people and I alone was left, I fell on my face and cried out saying, "Alas, Lord GOD! Are You destroying the whole remnant of Israel by pouring out Your wrath on Jerusalem?"

"I alone was left" Hmmm! Elijah, too, felt like that. Actually, God always has many faithful people. However, we really need to strive to live as the holiest man, the most righteous, faithful, diligent man on the face of the earth. Jonathan Edwards strove to be such a man.

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟙𝟘:𝟙𝟠

"Then the glory of the LORD departed from the threshold of the temple and stood over the cherubim."

The phrase that impresses upon my heart from this chapter this morning is "the glory of the LORD." It is repeated again and again. It's that important. And when it is departed, it is indeed a tragedy!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟙𝟙:𝟠

“‘You have feared a sword; so I will bring a sword upon you,’ the Lord GOD declares.”

God has a habit of doing an ironic thing! Be instructed, be wise!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟙𝟚:𝟞

"Load the baggage on your shoulder in their sight and carry it out in the dark. You shall cover your face so that you cannot see the land, for I have set you as a sign to the house of Israel."

If Ezekiel lives in our time, I would find it hard to believe him because of his lifestyle. Maybe, the police will put him in a mental hospital!

But Ezekiel lived in a time and place where people believed in prophets and prophecies. God required Ezekiel to live like that, yea even if it seems to us (even to the original audience) like a lunatic.

We all want to be somebody. We all want to make a difference. We all want to have an influence. We all want to be an example. We all want to be a model for others. Ezekiel's life is a sign, example, model, and object lesson for the people.

Like David, the psalmist, we like to be an example of the prosperity that others will bless the name of God. However, sometimes, it may be Ezekiel is in us.

In a way of reflection, God may be using you to teach some people a lesson positively or negatively. And Ezekiel submitted to God, whether he liked it or not. Indeed, we live for God's pleasure, not as however we please ourselves!

Bible Reading Reflection from Ezekiel 1-5

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (PTS), a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible] 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟙:𝟚𝟠

"As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking."

Which verse anyone would choose to reflect upon for a WhatsApp post than v28 in this chapter? 🙂 The line "I fell on my face" is not hard to understand. It's the obvious thing. I can't even look at the sun, I have to cover my eyes. When I am ashamed, I can't look up, my face is downward. When I see someone much smarter and better than me, I praise him like anything. I admired him. That's why we even have the words idol, model, and hero-worship.

And when Ezekiel saw the glory of God, why won't he? In fact, he should be dropped dead, not just fainted, but God protected him. And now, there are some people who claimed to have deep experience with God but didn't exhibit such obvious expression. They have to be liars.

And BTW, whoever has seen the glory of God changes drastically. Some see the greater glory of God than others such as Ezekiel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Peter, John, James, Paul, etc.

I have seen the glory of God in the Scripture and in Jesus Christ, and it's that glory (revealed by God, not achieved by my efforts) that has fixed my attention on Him for my present and eternal life. Or else, I would never be even typing these things!

Like Moses, we need to see the greater glory of God.

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟚:𝟝-𝟞

"As for them, whether they listen or not--for they are a rebellious ℍ𝕠𝕦𝕤𝕖--𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕪 𝕎𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝕂𝕟𝕠𝕨 𝕋𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝔸 ℙ𝕣𝕠𝕡𝕙𝕖𝕥 ℍ𝕒𝕤 𝔹𝕖𝕖𝕟 𝔸𝕞𝕠𝕟𝕘 𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕞. And you, son of man, neither fear them nor fear their words, though thistles and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions; neither fear their words nor be 𝔻𝕚𝕤𝕞𝕒𝕪𝕖𝕕 at their presence, for they are a rebellious house."

Ezekiel was commissioned a task that no normal man in his right mind would want. But God wants His people to be different, not normal.

If the people would remain disobedient and rebellious, what's the hope of the ministry? The answer is himself, Ezekiel.

He must be different from them (commanded in v8). He must work in his sanctification. His ministry was thus his life itself. And people will know that he had been different, that there had been at least one godly man when all others were compromising. After all, you can choose to be different even in the worst scenario. After all, even dried bones can live.

So, Ezekiel was commanded to be not dismayed by the sins of people. Jeremiah, too was given that commandment btw. How tempting to get discouraged looking at the sins of others! How tempting to think, "Everyone, even the mature Christian leaders seem to be doing it and there's no retribution, maybe there's no point of persevering, maybe I can do like them"

Be different. Be not dismayed. They will know a godly man lived among them. Will they be saved by this knowledge? This chapter didn't answer that so far.

Fellow pastors, maybe, your greatest ministry is yourself not your flock.

Evangelist, maybe your greatest ministry is yourself, not those heathens. In fact, you cannot bring a soul to the kingdom, only God can. But you can work on your sanctification because the Spirit already lives in you.

So, God's ministers can actually live in peace even if there are no fruits on the vines, the fig trees do not blossom, and there be no herd in the stall, we can take joy in the Salvation of our Master!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟛:𝟟

"Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me."

We pastors are watchmen. We watch over the souls of the flock to give an account to God. Pastors must not be intimidated. We must speak up.

Pastors must be listened to. Christian, listen to us! Or go join the herd of goats outside the camp where there is gnashing of teeth!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟜:𝟝

"For I assign to you a number of days, 390 days, equal to the number of the years of their punishment. So long shall you bear the punishment of the house of Israel."

We assign the difficult job to those we trust, or else, careless people will just create more trouble. God asks difficult things from those He loves. Look at Ezekiel! What life is this? He told Jeremiah to not get married. He asked Jesus to dwell among sinners and die for them. He took away the children and wife of William Carey. He took away the children of Jonathan Edwards. On and on.

If you are suffering when you have set your heart to follow after God, be not discouraged. God asks His men to set a lesson, an example for others.

Jesus was, Ezekiel was. Peter was, Paul was. Paul even asked Timothy to join him in death! Carey and Edward were. We remember them these people till today!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟝:𝟙

"As for you, son of man, take a sharp sword; take and use it as a barber's razor on your head and beard. Then take scales for weighing and divide the hair."

Ezekiel is a mad man. A crazy prophet. Perhaps the most eccentric prophet of the Bible. But God told him to do so. Perhaps God too is a crazy God. Well, His people made Him crazy, angry, grievous.

Ezekiel is a life lesson to Israelites. If he is crazy, at least it's only his action; the crazy ones are actually the people who think he is crazy because Ezekiel is demonstrating what is happening and is about to happen to them.

In fact, all sinners are crazy. "Sinners didn't think straight," said a pastor from Pune (Chris Williams). Sinners are wayward, missing the mark, always crazy people.

Ezekiel was acting crazy, but when we disobey, we are crazy for real, not just acting.