Bible Reading Reflection from Ezekiel 33-39

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

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟛𝟛:𝟙𝟟

"Yet your fellow citizens say, 'The way of the Lord is not right,' when it is their own way that is not right."

Context: Ezekiel was one of the most eccentric, ludicrous prophets of God. Certainly, I would not wish to live like him. God told him to walk naked for 3 years. And God told him to sleep only on his left side for more than a year and another 40 days only on the right side.

Ezekiel was to be an object lesson for the people of his times. He was a living lesson for them, an example, demonstration, prediction. In chapter 3, he was made a watchman, to warn people. And now, in chapter 33, he was reminded of his task: watchman! Well, the majority of the people would not listen to him. Those few who listened to him shall live. And people complained; they were like us.

One of the most common sayings in our life is "that's not fair" maybe, to parents, teachers, friends, everyone. And we dared to think like that of God too. And some people even said, God is not great and that He is not fair. That He is a malevolent bully.

Well, this v17 reminds us that it's we who are not fair. Whatever God does is fair, right, good, actually the best! Nobody can suggest or improve God's ways! Let's remind ourselves every day that "God is God, and I am not God."

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟛𝟜:𝟚𝟘

"Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD to them, ‘Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep.’"

First, Shepherd and Sheep. God has 3 main indictments against the shepherds:

1. They did not feed them.

2. They didn't strengthen the sick, the diseased, the broken.

3. They did not look out for the lost sheep.

What are those? They have to be Discipleship, Counseling, and Evangelism. That's pastoral ministry! Rather, they eat them, were indifferent, and dominate over them. Unfaithful pastors want money and popularity. They are abusive, immoral, greedy, and indifferent to the state of the soul.

Second, Ezekiel went on to pronounce judgment upon the false sheep and true sheep. They looked like sheep but actually not. Wolves in sheep's clothing. They were starving the true sheep to suffer, to be scattered, and to die.

Third, between the true sheep: the fat ones and the lean ones. The fat ones are selfish and arrogant.

Ezekiel 34 has direct teaching for all of us.

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟛𝟝:𝟙𝟝

"As you rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of Israel because it was desolate, so I will do to you. You will be a desolation, O Mount Seir, and all Edom, all of it. Then they will know that I am the LORD."

One of the recurring themes, repeated phrases in the book of Ezekiel is "then they will know that I am the LORD." God, indeed, wants to be known. And one day everyone will confess Jesus is Lord. God is going to accomplish this either by the glory of salvation or by the terror of judgment.

Blessed is the one who knows God in His love, not in His wrath!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟛𝟞:𝟛𝟙-𝟛𝟚

“‘Then you 𝕨𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝕣𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣 your evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you w𝕚𝕝𝕝 l𝕠𝕒𝕥𝕙𝕖 yourselves in your own sight for your ɪɴɪǫᴜɪᴛɪᴇs and your ᴀʙᴏᴍɪɴᴀᴛɪᴏɴs. I am not doing this for your sake,’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘let it be known to you. 𝔹𝕖 𝕒𝕤𝕙𝕒𝕞𝕖𝕕  and c𝕠𝕟𝕗𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕕 for your ways, O house of Israel!’”

This is what repentant people do. This is what a true believer does. Those who do not loathe their sins cannot possibly be true converts. And since we sin every day, we must come to God every day in contrite spirit.

True joy thrives in godly sorrow over sin!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟛𝟟:𝟛

“He said to me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’ And I answered, ‘O Lord GOD, You know.’”

Also, read v11-14.

Almost every time I set out to preach, I ask this question, "Can the dried bones live?" I am no man of great faith, but I want to believe dried bones can live by the preaching of God's word. I've got to preach to myself so that I believe in the efficacy of preaching.

Every great preacher believes dry bones can live. Every preacher must ask "Can these dry bones live?" when he sets his face towards his hearers.

Yes, my bones were dried, yet he made me alive. Everyone who is alive in Christ now was once a dried bone. So, definitely, these dried bones can live.

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟛𝟠:𝟚𝟛

"I will magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and make Myself known in the sight of many nations; and they will know that I am the LORD."

Magnify, Sanctify, Verify.

Let the business of God be our business. To verify among people that our God is God. To sanctify Him that He is not like other gods or like man, that He is distinct. To magnify Him that God is the absolute ruler of all. He is the Potentate, Despot, Lord!

He does everything for Himself and the creatures find their happiness in fulfilling the business of God. If you have complaints, watch Tom Hank's movie series Toy Story, where Sheriff Woody expressed that their purpose, happiness, and fulfillment lie in making Andy happy.

Even Hollywood seems to be more logical than Arminians and Wesleyans. 😎

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟛𝟡:𝟚𝟜

"According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions I dealt with them, and I hid My face from them."

Sometimes, God seems to be silent, hiding from us. Actually, most probably He is, because He did hide before, and warned to hide again because of sins.

But there's good news for the penitent heart. God will show His face again v29.

Sermon Tips from the text of 1 Peter 4:7-11

 Sermon Tips for Expository Preachers, Listeners, and Students

Bible Reading Reflection from Ezekiel 25-32

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

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟚𝟝:𝟙𝟟

"I will execute great vengeance on them with wrathful rebukes; and they will know that I am the LORD when I lay My vengeance on them."

Maybe one day I should preach through Ezekiel reading all the verses that say, "that they will know that I am the LORD"

That will take over 30 minutes, and the remaining 10 minutes explaining its meaning, and through a few other scripture references. I think that will really make an impression on those who have ears to hear!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟚𝟞:𝟚𝟙

"‘I will bring terrors on you and you will be no more; though you will be sought, you will never be found again,’ declares the Lord GOD."

Another chapter of judgment. It reminds me how disobedient, arrogant, ignorant, foolish human beings are. And how resolute God is. He does not back down. If everyone is unfaithful also, He will still not change His standard!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟚𝟟:𝟛𝟞

"The merchants among the peoples hiss at you; You have become terrified And you will cease to be forever."

God has the habit of doing the very opposite things ungodly people don't like.

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟚𝟠:𝟚

“Son of man, say to the leader of Tyre, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, "Because your heart is lifted up And you have said, 'I am a god, I sit in the seat of gods In the heart of the seas'; Yet you are a man and not God, Although you make your heart like the heart of God—"’”

God doesn't want competitors. God doesn't want people to act like Him. God wants man to be a man. That doesn't mean we shouldn't imitate His holiness, righteousness, and goodness. It just means in simple words, Humility. Be humble. Practice Humility or you shall be humiliated!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟚𝟡:𝟙𝟜-𝟙𝟞

"I will turn the fortunes of Egypt and make them return to the land of Pathros, to the land of their origin, and there they will be a lowly kingdom.  It will be the lowest of the kingdoms, and it will never again lift itself up above the nations. And I will make them so small that they will not rule over the nations. And it will never again be the confidence of the house of Israel, bringing to mind the iniquity of their having turned to Egypt. Then they will know that I am the Lord GOD."

Is it a wonder that Egypt is not a powerful country anymore? One of the theological reasons why God planned to do so is because of His people Israel. Indeed, everything is working together for the good of believers.

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟛𝟘:𝟙𝟙

"He and his people with him, The most ruthless of the nations, Will be brought in to destroy the land; And they will draw their swords against Egypt And fill the land with the slain."

Interesting is how God rules the world. He enthroned and dethroned kings. "The most ruthless of the nations" was raised up, chosen to punish others. And if that doesn't stupefy us, its king, Nebuchadnezzar was humbled by God again!

Manasseh the most wicked king of Israel, reigning for very very long years was also given repentance. If such great sinners, like Saul of Tarsus, Manasseh, and Nebuchadnezzar were humbled, and used by God, we all can be used by God.

As Spurgeon said, indeed there are only two types of people: those who are humbled, and those who are about to be humbled!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟛𝟙:𝟚-𝟛

"Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his hordes, ‘Whom are you like in your greatness? Behold, Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon With beautiful branches and forest shade, And very high, And its top was among the clouds.’"

History must be consulted for a wise living. Old Testament narratives are written for us to be an example. Even in the days of Ezekiel, the nations must learn a lesson from other former kingdoms and empires.

It was said, like Assyria, Egypt shall fall!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟛𝟚:𝟛

"Thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Now I will spread My net over you With a company of many peoples, And they shall lift you up in My net.’"

The metaphor of Inescapability from God for good or bad, and this time for bad—they will be judged by God.

We may think we can run away, but God will catch us by surprise like a fish caught up in a net!

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!👍