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!