262nd Week, Ezekiel Chapters 20-24 (Click on Title for Video Introduction)

 Click on Title for Video Intro

Monday, Ezekiel Chapter 20

Ezekiel 20 

Verses 23-24

Bart Strayer

Verses 23-24: “I would disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries, because they had not obeyed my laws but had rejected my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths, and their eyes lusted after their fathers’ idols.”

THOUGHT

When we walk away from God, He lets us go through stuff with consequence. I know in my life, it is the consequence of the event that helps remind me that I have gotten too far from God and that I need Him even more in my life. Thank the Lord for that. 

For me, I have found that disgust is my most empowering emotion that brings about change. When I go lukewarm, I tend to not care enough to do anything about my problem. However, when I get disgusted, change happens. I would encourage you all to let the misfortunes of your life bring you to a sense of how you have failed and let disgust with your actions bring about a revelation in your life.

PRAYER

Lord, we thank You for getting us through another week. Help us as we go through the tough stuff of life to always turn to You. We thank You for the many times You have blessed us. In Jesus Name.  AMEN

Tuesday, Ezekiel

Ezekiel 21

Heather Proehl

THOUGHT

This chapter reveals three messages about the judgments that would come upon Jerusalem. According to this prophecy, the city of Jerusalem would be destroyed, because it was defiled. According to Jewish law, defiled objects were to be passed through fire in order to purify them. God’s judgment is designed to purify, and destruction is often a necessary part of that process. I find that such an interesting process of destroying something makes it better. I know that’s true with metals.  However, I don’t understand that, so I’ll give another example. 

For example, I’m trying to garden and do more landscaping at the new house. We had some bushes that we were told to cut back, and they would grow. Well, David did that. He took the shears to them and really cut them down. It looked like we didn’t have bushes. But they grew back and look gorgeous now. 

God needs to do the same to us at times.  In order to reconcile with Him, we need to be purified or refined.  This can be painful and often destructive, but it is necessary to draw close to Him again. It reminds me of a beautiful

Jennifer Knapp song.

REFINE ME by Jennifer Knapp

I come into this place, burning to receive Your peace.

I come with my own chains, for wars I fought for my own selfish gains

You’re my God and my Father, I’ve accepted Your Son

But my soul feels so empty now, what have I become?

Lord...Come with Your fire, burn my desires.  Refine me.

Lord... My will has deceived me, please come and free me.  Refine me.

My heart can’t see, when I only look at me.

My soul can’t hear, when I only think of my own fears.

And they are gone in a moment, you’re forever the same.

Why did I look away from You, how can I speak Your name?

Lord...Come with Your fire, burn my desires.  Refine me.               

Lord...my will has deceived me, please come and free me.                   

Come rescue this child, for I long to be reconciled to You.              

It’s all I can do, to give my heart and soul to You,                       

and pray...and pray...oh I will pray.                                   

Lord, come with Your fire, burn my desires. Refine Me.                 

Lord...my will has deceived me, please come and free me.                   

Come rescue this child, for I long to be reconciled to You...            

Refine Me...Refine me...Refine me...Refine me.

PRAYER                                                                  

Father God, we are sorry for disappointing You at times.  I know we let You down.  Refine us, Lord!!  Come with Your fire and burn our desires.  Refine us so we can be reconciled to You.  We may not understand completely what needs to be done to be reconciled, but we accept it and long for it.  We Love You. AMEN

Wednesday, Ezekiel Chapter 22

Ezekiel 22 

Verse 30

Heather Proehl

Verse 30:  “I looked for a man 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 none.”

THOUGHT

I’m not for certain, but I feel like this verse was a Promise Keeper’s verse at one time. I know they talk about Standing in the Gap. This is the verse that stood out to me. I was thinking about what that means to “stand in the gap”. It doesn’t sound that hard; it’s just a gap. But the thing is IT IS DIFFICULT. 

It may be a gap, but it can be a fairly large crevice at times. It doesn’t count to half-heartedly do it or go through religious rituals. It’s more than that. It’s more than just telling your friends you go to church. It’s not participating in gossip at work; it’s respecting your husband by honoring him and not putting him down.  It’s actually praying for someone instead of just telling them you’ll pray for them.  It’s loving that really difficult person in your life that you’d rather not be around. None of those are easy things to do, but boy oh boy, what an impact they can have. 

Just listen to the verse. If someone had actually done that, God wouldn’t have had to destroy them.  Life is short. We’re not given a lot of time on this earth. How will you make the most of your time? Are you ready to “Stand in the Gap” with me?  This reminds me of the song by Bebo Norman. 

Stand by Bebo Norman

I’m walking in an open field looking for some space to fill

I believe there’s something left to hold.

So even when the sun goes down, and there’s no one around,

I’m standing in the freedom of my soul.

And the truth of the matter is still the same.

It’s that you and I, we will not be here forever.

The truth of the matter is still the same.

I’m ready to stand.

I can see the earth from here; I can see it shake in fear.

I can see it falling to its knees.

But you know I’m not the same, my burden is a burning flame.

I hold it up for all the world to see.

I’m walking in an open field, looking for some space to fill.

I believe there’s something left to hold.

And I can see the earth from here; I can see it shake in fear.

I’m standing in the freedom of my soul.

PRAYER

Father God, I’m sorry that so often there are large ‘Gaps’ that You are looking for people to stand in. I’m sure you are thinking, “Where are you my children”? We’re sorry for letting You down. We want to stand in the Gap for You and show who You are and what You stand for in this world. Give us the courage to do this! Help us to start with baby steps by watching our words and our actions. Prepare us to stand in the Gap for You. We love You!  AMEN

Thursday, Ezekiel Chapter 23

Ezekiel 23 

Heather Proehl

THOUGHT

Wow. I think I would rate this chapter “R”. I know he’s talking in analogies, but still, WOW. He’s comparing the northern and southern kingdoms to two sister prostitutes. I got the point. So in verse 21, my Bible refers to “lewdness”, which here means promiscuity. Not sure if you have ever thought of ourselves as being spiritually promiscuous, but we could call it that when we spend more time seeking advice from things of this world (magazines, TV, non-Christian experts) than reading God’s Word. That’s a pretty tough comparison, but I get it. 

We often see God use our relationship with Him as a comparison to marriage. So, if we think in those terms, then we can imagine spiritual promiscuity. Ouch. I don’t know about you, but that hurts. That really paints a picture I can understand and definitely don’t like. I know I’m guilty of this with God. There’s been times when I’ve had a decision to make, and I’ve turned everywhere first and then to God. I’m not sure why.

We can’t praise God and willfully sin at the same time. That would be like celebrating one’s wedding anniversary and then going to bed with a neighbor. Awful. It makes me think of my childhood. Some Sunday mornings I would get upset and mad and fight with my family. Then I’d show up at church and worship God. How can you go from yelling and sinning and then walk into church and worship Him? Seems awfully a lot like a “lukewarm” attitude to me which is not what God wants, nor deserves.

I’m not saying we are perfect. We are humans, and we sin. But WAKE up! When you realize what you did, fess up and ask for forgiveness.  You need to try to make a change in your life to be 100% faithful to our God. Just think, no matter what we do or how many times we cheat on our God, He’s never been unfaithful to you and will never be unfaithful to you. Is that amazing or what?

PRAYER                                                                                                                                                    Father God, You continue to amaze me every day!!  You are so ever faithful to each and every one of us.  No matter what we do, or how many times we turn away from You, You remain faithful to us.  Lord, we’re sorry for the times when we’ve been spiritually promiscuous.  We may not even realize we are doing it.  Help us to open our eyes to our behavior.  Keep this analogy in our minds as a reminder so that we would treat You like You deserve.  Thank You for being faithful to us!!  AMEN

Friday, Ezekiel Chapter 24

Ezekiel 24 

Verse 18

Heather Proehl

Verse 18:  “So I spoke unto the people in the morning; and at evening my wife died; and I did in the morning as I was commanded.”

THOUGHT

I just don’t understand this section at all. Really God?? Poor Ezekiel. These are some really sad verses. First of all, can you imagine how lonely Ezekiel’s life must have been? Virtually nobody seemed to like him ... except for Mrs. Ezekiel.  He’d go out in the mornings to warn the people of the exile and about their corruption and things in Jerusalem, but they didn’t listen to him. They hated Ezekiel — hated the truth.

It must have been a great comfort to come home each day to a wife who cared for him. But one day he gets this word from God: “As a sign, I’m taking your wife from you.” Talk about “Why Lord?!?!?” Ezekiel is commanded by God to handle this great, great loss without the customary acts of mourning as an example to the exiles for when they realize that their sacred temple in Jerusalem along with their relatives have been lost in the siege on Jerusalem. So, the sad verse is 18, “So I spoke unto the people in the morning; and at evening my wife died; and I did in the morning as I was commanded.” Now. .that’s commitment.

I can’t imagine having that level of commitment. What in your life are you THAT committed to? Does the Lord come in as #1 on that list? I know this is a good reminder to me that I need to boost my commitment level to God.

PRAYER

Lord, sometimes I don’t fully understand the things You do. Help us to trust in You and obey Your commands even if we don’t fully understand. I pray that each of us will remain 100% committed to You at all times. We love You!  AMEN