Ezekiel 40 & 41 “Descriptive Vision”

“Declare all that you see to the house of Israel.” (v.4)

In this final section of the book of Ezekiel the prophet is given some very descriptive visions by God, 14 years after the city of Jerusalem was taken and the temple destroyed. Ezekiel’s vision of a new temple seems to be a future building project, for no temple matching the measurements given in chapters 40 and following, has yet been built. Because Ezekiel had never had the privilege of serving in the original temple, this must have been a thrilling vision for him.

While a prophet and in exile, he remained a priest. Even in the vision though, he was not allowed into the Most Holy Place (41:3–4). But, to receive and share from God a picture of this new temple to the house of Israel, must have been deeply fulfilling in comparison to other messages he delivered.

Prophets could not pick and choose which messages they would deliver. They were called to be God's mouthpiece to His people. They were given the responsibility of speaking for God as a result of divine inspiration, visions, dreams, and other visitations. Therefore, they could not change His message, or color it up to make the people feel better. Speaking His words, His truth, boldly and truthfully no matter what the consequences to themselves, took tremendous faith, strength, and courage.

Today nothing has changed in God's expectations of His ministers, pastors, teachers, and clergy. Speaking His truth, His Word, His Gospel, with no additions or subtractions is the divine expectation of all, including us. The Apostle Paul said of his preaching, "Unlike so many, we (disciples) do not peddle the word of God. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God" (2 Corinthians 2:17).

The apostle John records Jesus's strong word's concerning the end time prophecy in the book of Revelation with this warning, "If anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and the Holy City, which is described in this scroll" (Rev. 22:19). Therefore, John wisely recorded only the words of Jesus in his book of Revelation, no more no less. The message is clear, speak truth and do not add or subtract from God's Word when speaking for Him.

The Truth: "When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His Commandments, because this is the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13)


Chris 

Ezekiel 39 "Defeated Gog (Russia) Plundered by Israel.

“Yes, it is coming, and it will surely happen, declares the Lord GOD. This is the day of which I have spoken. Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and bucklers, the bows and arrows, the javelins and spears; and they will make fires with them for seven years. They will not take wood from the field nor cut down any from the forests, because they will make fires with the weapons; and they will plunder those who plundered them, and pillage those who pillaged them,” says the Lord GOD. (vv.8-10)

Here the LORD declares there will come a day when those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and set on fire and burn the weapons of her future invaders from the north, Russia and her allies. Protected by Yahweh, Israel will no longer need the weapons for themselves. Usually weapons left by a defeated enemy would be added to the victor’s cache of arms. After all, there would be other battles to fight, correct? Not so in this case.

For this prophetic war against Gog (Russia) will be no ordinary war, it will be the final battle, whose conclusion will make armaments obsolete. As for the vast amount of military equipment brought by Gog and her allies and left behind on the field of battle, there will be so much that Israel will use their weapons to fuel their fires, for seven years.

The evil Gog and her allies will intend for Israel to fall, and they will fully expect to gather her spoils, and to burn through the nation, but the prophecy explains that, "The plunderers will be plundered and the robbers will be robbed. What the enemy intends for Israel, will be visited upon themselves." (Ezekiel 38:12)

The Truth: "He makes wars to cease throughout the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the shields in the fire." (Psalm 46:9) 

Ezekiel 38 “God’s Judgment Against Gog (Russia)”

“I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains,” says the Lord GOD. “Every man’s sword will be against his brother. And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.”’ (vv.21-23)

Here we have the LORD speaking (through His prophet Ezekiel) concerning an appointed time when He will bring judgment upon Gog (Russia) and those allied with her, who would make war against Israel. Because Gog was arrogant enough to invade God’s own land (My mountains) He would come against Gog and his allies with military power. One way it would come would be as they (the allied nations) began to attack one another (every man’s sword will be against his brother).

Yahweh will also send disease and death against attacking armies. This would be a demonstration of His justice. He will also use the instruments of previous judgment against them; flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. This overwhelming and obviously divine defeat of Gog and her allies will testify to the whole world of God’s character and power.

The Truth: “And I saw them as they went up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded God’s people and the beloved city. But fire from heaven came down on the attacking armies and consumed them.” (Revelation 20:9 –NLT)

Ezekiel 37 “The Valley of Dry Bones”

Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the awhole house of Israel; behold, they say, ‘Our bbones are dried up and our hope has perished. We are completely ccut off.’ (v.11)

Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones is probably the most famous chapter in the book. The bones symbolized Israel’s hopeless condition (vv.11-14) They weren’t just losing big or hoping for a miracle comeback, they were dead as dead can be!

But God brought life to this desolate scene. Before Ezekiel’s eyes, the bones began to rattle, tendons and flesh and skin appeared to bind everything together, the breath of life was breathed into them, and they stood up on their own two feet (vv.1-10). Israel had lost everything—the promised land, their capital city, and their beloved temple. Yet God would bring the nation back from the dead, so to speak, and restore the people to a covenant relationship with Him.

Unbelievers are in the same hopeless condition as Israel (Eph. 2:1–5) They are spiritually dead as dead can be! But just as the dry bones came to life through God’s mighty power, so too can the spiritually dead become alive through Christ’s resurrection power.

If you would like to bring life to your dead soul see the prayer to the right on this page “Connect With God.”  God Bless.

The Truth: “God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in he heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:4-7)

Ezekiel 36 “Prophecy Against Edom”

Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir, and prophesy against it and say to it, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am against you, Mount Seir, and I will stretch out My hand against you and make you a desolation and a waste.’ (vv.1-3)

Today’s reading begins with a prophecy against the nation of Edom. Mt. Seir, mentioned in our text, was their stronghold and is located just a few miles north east of Elat. The enmity between Edom and Israel extended all the way back to Jacob and Esau. When the Edomites looted Jerusalem after the Babylonian conquest (Obad. 1:11–14), in which they angered the Lord and incurred His judgment.

In Ezekiel’s day the Edomites rejoiced in the calamities of both Israel and Judah, and intended to capitalize on their enemy’s defeat and seize the Israelite’s land for themselves (vv.10-13). These plans showed disrespect for God, because He had given the land to Jacob as an inheritance. Therefore, the prophecy against Edom here is not only warranted, but an appropriate introduction to God’s promise in chapter 36, to restore Israel to her land, and that one day they would return from exile—homes would be built, crops would be grown, the people would live in peace again (Ezek 36:8–12).

This showed God’s people that no discipline lasts forever (36:15). God’s justice aims not to take vengeance on sinners, but to restore them to fellowship with Him. The same is true today for us: God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness and thus, learn from it.

The Truth: “All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” (Hebrews 12:11)

Ezekiel 34 “Prophecy Against the Shepherds of Israel”

Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to those shepherds, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Woe, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock?” (vv.1-2)

This chapter is built around a contrast between God and the false shepherds, who were the political and religious leaders of Israel. These leaders had failed to care for the flock, instead they looked to profit at its expense (vv.1-6). God opposed such “shepherds” and would hold them accountable as “sheep” who had gotten fat while others starved (vv.7-10, 17–24). As the divine Shepherd, He would rescue His people from this horrible situation by shepherding the flock with justice (vv.11-16).

Verse 24 of our reading indicates that the Shepherd will be a descendant of David and God Himself. This messianic riddle is solved in Jesus Christ. He is our Good Shepherd and we are His sheep (John 10:1–16). We follow His voice as He leads us to green pastures and quiet waters. Whereas a hired hand runs away when a wolf comes, Jesus proved He is the true Shepherd by laying down His life for us. Those who follow Him can “have life, and have it more abundantly.”

If you would like to join His flock just pray the prayer on the right hand side of this page "Connect with God." God bless you as you follow where He leads.

The Truth: “I am the good shepherd, and b know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.” (John 10:14-15)

Ezekiel 33 “Don’t Just Hear it – Live it!”

“They come to you as people come, and sit before you as My people and hear your words, but they do not do them, for they do the lustful desires expressed by their mouth, and their heart goes after their gain. “Behold, you are to them like a sensual song by one who has a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument; for they hear your words but they do not practice them. “So when it comes to pass—as surely it will—then they will know that a prophet has been in their midst.” (vv.31-33)

The prophet Ezekiel spoke to an audience who loved to listen but refused to act. The Lord said to Ezekiel: “Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them” (33:32).

Many so called Christians do the same. O they will come to church, listen to the teaching, even say “Amen,” but when it comes to putting that teaching into practice in there lives, they do not. They simply continue in the ways of their own heart.

Jesus said: “Whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house. And great was its fall.” (Matthew 7:24-26).

May we be doers and not hearers only. God bless.

The Truth: “For it is not the hearers of the Law who are righteous before God, but it is the doers of the Law who will be declared righteous.” (Romans 2:13)

Ezekiel 32 (Pt.2) “The Seventh Oracle Against Egypt”

It came to pass also in the twelfth year, on the fifteenth day of the month, that the word of the LORD came to me, saying: “Son of man, wail over the multitude of Egypt,
 and cast them down to the depths of the earth,
 her and the daughters of the famous nations, 
with those who go down to the Pit:
 ‘Whom do you surpass in beauty?
 Go down, be placed with the uncircumcised.’
“They shall fall in the midst of those slain by the sword;
 she is delivered to the sword,
 drawing her and all her multitudes.
The strong among the mighty 
shall speak to him out of the midst of hell 
with those who help him:
‘They have gone down,
 they lie with the uncircumcised, slain by the sword.’ (vv.17-21)

This last of the seven prophecies against Egypt also happened in the twelfth year, the year after the fall of Jerusalem. Most agree that since no month is specifically mentioned, this happened the same month as the previous oracle (Ezekiel 32:1). This would be about two weeks later. As in Ezekiel 31:14-17, Egypt’s destiny was to go to sheol, to the pit, the depths of the earth. Though Egypt surpassed many in beauty, their destiny would be agony and disgrace, placed with the uncircumcised.

“The oracle affirms that Yahweh is the Lord not only of individuals but also of history. The rise and fall of nations may appear attributable to charismatic and gifted leaders, but behind all international movements one must acknowledge the supreme hand of Yahweh, who alone fixes the times and seasons of their lives, sets the limits to their conduct, determines the nature of their downfall, appoints the agents of judgment, and in the process accomplishes his goal: the universal recognition of his power and his person.” (Block)

God closed His words of judgment to Egypt through Ezekiel with another solemn warning of the judgment, the terror that He would surely bring, “For I have caused My terror in the land of the living” (v.32).

The Truth: “In that day the Egyptians will become like women, and they will tremble and be in dread because of the waving of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which He is going to wave over them.” (Isaiah 19:16)

Ezekiel 32 "The Sixth Oracle Against Egypt"

Ezekiel 32 “The Sixth Oracle Against Egypt”

“For thus says the Lord GOD: ‘The sword of the king of Babylon shall come upon you. By the swords of the mighty warriors, all of them the most terrible of the nations, I will cause your multitude to fall. ‘They shall plunder the pomp of Egypt, and all its multitude shall be destroyed.
Also I will destroy all its animals
From beside its great waters;
The foot of man shall muddy them no more,
Nor shall the hooves of animals muddy them.
Then I will make their waters clear,
And make their rivers run like oil,’
Says the Lord GOD. ‘When I make the land of Egypt desolate,
And the country is destitute of all that once filled it,
When I strike all who dwell in it,
Then they shall know that I am the LORD. ‘This is the lamentation
With which they shall lament her; the daughters of the nations shall lament her; they shall lament for her, for Egypt, and for all her multitude,’
Says the Lord GOD.”” (vv.11-16)

Since the image of the sword usually stands for war, this was one more statement making it clear that God would bring judgment upon Egypt through war brought upon them by the king of Babylon. The Babylonians would plunder the pomp of Egypt and destroy a multitude. War would also ravage the livestock of Egypt, the land and riverbanks would become desolate from either the foot of man or the hooves of animals. Both a surviving remnant and those observing from other nations would lament in sorrow for the severe judgment brought upon Egypt.

“This lamentation for the kingdom of Egypt tells us what was their ancient glory, and what is now their miserable reproach and loss.” (Poole) And the seventh prophecy against Egypt is yet to come in verses 17-21.

The Truth: “The world and its desires will pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” (1 John 2:15)

Ezekiel 31 “The Fifth Oracle Against Egypt”

“To which among the trees of Eden are you (Egypt) thus equal in glory and greatness? Yet you will be brought down with the trees of Eden to the earth beneath; you will lie in the midst of the uncircumcised, with those who were slain by the sword. So is Pharaoh and all his hordes!” ’ declares the Lord God.” (v.18)

This fifth oracle against Egypt features a splendid, impressive cedar tree representing Assyria (31:1–18). Assyria had been a superpower, but God used Babylon to bring her down. That downfall should be a lesson to Egypt (and all nations): Military power and political supremacy guarantee nothing.

In our reading today, Pharaoh and his multitude are portrayed as a tree towering over the tops of the other trees, so that fowls and beasts took refuge in its branches, and beneath its boughs. This tree is brought down, and the nations depart from under its shadow. The proud king is then described as passing into Sheol (the underworld of the dead), which causes a commotion of the other fallen ones, who find satisfaction that he too is brought low.

The point of this oracle is that God is in control of history. It is He that raises up kingdoms and brings them down as His justice decrees. We have seen it throughout history and we shall continue to see it, until the last tyrant, the Man of Sin himself, will be destroyed by the brightness of the coming of the Lord.

The Truth: “And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.” (2 Thessalonians 2:8)

Ezekiel 30 “Egypt’s Punishment Divine Decree”

‘Thus says the Lord God, “I will also make the hordes of Egypt cease by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.” (v.10)

The punishment inflicted by the king of Babylon on Egypt was directly from God; it was His sword in the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. Ezekiel correctly saw that Babylon was the executor of a Divine decree.

Back in chapter 29, God had promised to punish Egypt (29:8-9) and said through the prophet Ezekiel, "I will give Egypt to king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, along with all of her wealth." So we see God using a pagan nation to destroy another, and accomplishing His prophetic word through an unlikely source.

And just as that day of judgment came for Egypt, so it comes for all men. Nothing has changed, the Day of the Lord is still on schedule, we just don’t know when He will arrive. For those with hardened hearts, who are absent of faith, who continue to live in a life of sin, bear false witness, worships a false God, a terrible fate awaits them, a final judgement.  On that day, they will know there is only one God for, "every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess, Jesus Christ is LORD."

 The Truth: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." (John 14:6)

Ezekiel 29 “Prophesy Against Pharaoh”

“In the tenth year, in the tenth month, on the twelfth of the month, the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.” (vv.1-2)

Pharaoh, king of Egypt, claimed to be the Nile’s owner and originator. He and all Egypt boasted, “My River is my own; I have made it for myself” (vv.3,9). Romans 11:36 says, “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever.” He is the One who also endows humanity with the ability to manufacture and invent man-made resources. 

Only God can provide a river in a desert as a life sustaining resource. It is arrogance and prideful to presume a nation, or its leader, or a hyper spirit of nationalism, could take credit for what He has created. To God should have been the glory, not man. As a result, God promised to punish the nation (vv.8-9), and gave Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who would carry off all its wealth” (v.19).

God is in control, not us, and we must never lose sight of that. He owns everything: as the psalmist David wrote, “The earth is the LORD’s and all that is in it,” not man's. Therefore glorify God, the One who holds this entire world together.

The Truth: “To God be the glory, great things He has done.” Fanny Crosby - 1875

Ezekiel 28 “Rebellion”

"Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; O cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, that they might gaze at you." (v.17)

In his classic work, Paradise Lost, poet John Milton depicts the rebellion of Satan and a great war lasting three days. On the first two days, Satan and his followers wage war against the unfallen angels under the leadership of the archangel Michael. But on the third day, God the Father sends the Son in glorious power to do single-handed combat with the enemy. The Son rides out in His Father's chariot, and the fallen angels flee heaven in terror. With the omnipotent One at work, there was really no battle at all. Although the Bible does not detail the fall of Satan, Milton's account tells the truth about the power of God. His heavenly throne was never in danger.

Ezekiel 28 reminds us of something we tend to forget: spiritual warfare began in heaven, not on earth. When Satan exalted himself in pride, and challenged God for the rulership of the heavens, and was thrown down (v. 17), he landed on earth as the furious enemy of God and of anyone who bears the name of His Son.

Likewise, the king of Tyre was so proud, he thought he was a god and trusted completely in his own wisdom and wealth. But God would judge him by stripping away his pride and taking away his riches, and would die a shameful and violent death.

Yes Satan is a dangerous enemy and he (and his henchmen) is working overtime in this world today doing whatever they can to commandeer the lives of human beings and create rebellion against God. But Jesus sealed his ultimate fate when He rose from the dead, and has given us everything we need to withstand the devil’s attacks.

The Truth: “Greater is He that is in you than he who is in this world.” (1 John 4:4)

Ezekiel 27 “A Lament For Tyre”

“You enriched the kings of the earth with your many luxury goods and your merchandise. But, you are broken by the seas in the depths of the waters; your merchandise and the entire company will fall in the midst.” (vv.33-34)

Our reading today is a prophetic lament, a poem of serious reflection for Tyre's destruction.  Metaphorically speaking, Tyre was a ship loaded with riches that God promised to sink to the bottom of the ocean because they rejoiced in the downfall of Jerusalem and even planned to profit from it.

The first part of the poem builds a picture of the greatness of Tyre and celebrates her wealth, beauty, and economic and military power (vv.1-11). The second part expands the picture even further to show a thriving city with which the entire world was eager to trade (vv.12-25). And the third and final section shows that the bigger they are, the harder they fall (vv. 26-36), as Tyre was besieged and humbled by several invading armies, and eventually destroyed by Alexander in 332 B.C. The world would see and tremble at the spectacle of God’s judgment on this proud city.

Tyre trusted in her riches, as symbolized by a trading ship in this poem, but that object of faith ended up on the bottom of the sea because of her pride.  Pride is the enemy of God and focuses on self to such an extent that one’s thoughts do not even have room for God (Ps. 10:4). Only the Lord is worthy of human trust, He is the Rock on which we should stand! – not our wealth.

The Truth: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)

Ezekiel 26 “Tyre Destroyed”

Tyre was the capital city of Phoenicia (located in modern Lebanon), north of Israel. In part an island city, Tyre was very active in business and trade. But like the nations in yesterday’s reading, they rejoiced in the downfall of Jerusalem and even planned to profit from it (v.2).

Ezekiel’s prophecy here in chapter 26 exposed their pride—they believed they could not be conquered. They made their business plans and threw noisy parties and thought the good times would never end (v.13). But God said otherwise. Destruction was coming. Tyre was besieged and humbled by several invading armies, and eventually destroyed by Alexander in 332 B.C. The world would see and tremble at the spectacle of God’s judgment on this proud city.

Pride is the enemy of God. Pride focuses on self to such an extent that one’s thoughts do not even have room for God (Ps. 10:4). Pride seeks glory for self rather than glory for God. That’s why “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18). Pride has the potential to creep into every area of our lives—some people are even proud of being humble! What’s the cure? Humility through Christ Jesus.

The Truth: “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’ (Philippians 2:5-11)

Ezekiel 25 “Know When Not To Rejoice”

‘For thus says the Lord God, “Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet and rejoiced with all the scorn of your soul against the land of Israel, (and the destruction of her temple) therefore, behold, I have stretched out My hand against you and I will give you for spoil to the nations. And I will cut you off from the peoples and make you perish from the lands; I will destroy you. Thus you will know that I am the Lord.” (vv.6-7)

Proverbs warns us: “Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice” (24:17). Instead, Jesus tells us that we show His love in action when we “love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us” (Matt. 5:44). By doing so, we imitate the perfect love of our Lord (5:48).

Today it is becoming a common reaction by some, who perceive a social injustice, to destroy property, defy authority, to riot, loot, and rejoice at the destruction and insurrection they have perpetrated on innocent people. These actions solve nothing and only serve to stir up more of the same.

Better to show the love of Christ (as some are doing) by helping to rebuild, not tearing down; by protecting those in need, not ignoring their cries for help; by standing for righteousness, and not partaking in unrighteousness.

Rejoice in that, celebrate that, and you will save yourself, your neighbor, and your city.

The Truth: “Dear friends, this how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:9-11)

Ezekiel 24 "Ezekiel Obeys God's Will"

And the word of the Lord came to me saying, “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.” (vv.15-16)

People from different cultures mourn the death of a loved one in various ways. In some places, it is customary to hire people to wail in sorrow at the wake. In others, the death of a family member leads to elaborate rituals of mourning. In no culture, however, is it natural to do what God asked Ezekiel to do when his wife died. The Lord told him that his wife, the “desire of his eyes,” would succumb to a sudden death (24:16). Yet Ezekiel was not to mourn openly, but he was to remain silent (v.17).

Why did God ask Ezekiel to do something that seems so unfair, difficult, and unnatural? He wanted to illustrate to the people of Jerusalem that just as the prophet’s delight was taken from him, so also their delight—the temple—would be taken from them. Ezekiel pronounced God’s judgment on Israel, stating that they would lose their temple to the Babylonians. And like Ezekiel, they were told that they would not mourn in the normal way (v.23).

The destruction of the temple would be so horrifying, and their guilt and grief so overwhelming, that normal expressions of sorrow would be inadequate. Certainly not an easy road for the prophet (or the people) to walk, yet Ezekiel was faithful and obeyed God. And through his personal loss, Ezekiel put God's will above his own.

O if only man would seek to do the will of God and not his own. If he would love his neighbor as himself, this world would be much better off.

The Truth:  “'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

Ezekiel 23 "Parable of Two Sisters"

Here in chapter 23 we see a parable of two sisters who were prostitutes (23:1–21). These sisters stand for Israel and Judah in the days of the divided kingdom. Idolatry and political alliances with pagan nations constituted unfaithfulness to the Lord. The people should have been relying on God alone and worshiping Him. Instead, their disobedience is seen in the sisters’ lustful, indiscriminate lewdness.

Throughout the many prophecies of impending judgment, God through Ezekiel continuously urged the Israelites to confess their sins and return to Him, and walk again in His light. But sadly, they continued in the evil ways ignoring His love and mercy toward their future, and suffered unnecessarily His righteous judgment.

As Christians, we also have this privilege of forgiveness through confession of sin. If we think we’re walking without sin, we’re kidding ourselves. God’s work of sanctification in our lives is not yet complete; therefore, confession needs to be a regular spiritual discipline in our lives to keep us in fellowship with Him. When we confess and repent, we enjoy God’s forgiveness and walk again in His light.

The Truth: "This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.  If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word is not in us." (1 John 1:5–10)