2Then the word of the Lord came to me:

3"Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all?

- P48

Therefore speak to them and tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When any of the Israelites set up idols in their hearts and put a wicked stumbling block before their faces and then go to a prophet, I the Lord will answer them myself in keeping with their great idolatry.

5I will do this to recapture the hearts of the people of Israel, who have all deserted me for their idols.’
- P48

6"Therefore say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices! - P49

9"‘And if the prophet is enticed to utter a prophecy, I the Lord have enticed that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand against him and destroy him from among my people Israel.

10They will bear their guilt—the prophet will be as guilty as the one who consults him.

11Then the people of Israel will no longer stray from me, nor will they defile themselves anymore with all their sins. They will be my people, and I will be their God, declares the

- P49

Some of the elders come to Ezekiel, and the Lord declares that those whoset up idols in their hearts and consult with a prophet will face His judgmentin keeping with their idolatry. The Lord warns that such idolaters and theprophet who is enticed to utter a prophecy will be destroyed, so that Israelwill no longer stray from the Lord. - P49

Some of the elders visit Ezekiel, hoping to hear a word from the Lord. However, God knows that these men have set up idols in their hearts. These idols are wicked stumbling blocks that affect their relationship with Him. When we allow idols to rule our hearts, these stumbling blocks can make it difficult to hear God clearly in our prayers. This does not mean that we should be discouraged from approaching God. - P50

When we humbly repent, acknowledging our sins and idolatry, and turn our hearts back to Him, our loving Father offers us the grace of forgiveness. And we will begin to have more clarity in our prayers as we are renewed and restored in our relationship with Him.
- P50

Although the Israelites have strayed from God and set up idols in theirhearts, they think that they can continue to go to a prophet for guidanceand assurance. But God declares that the Israelites and any prophet whooffers a false prophecy will bear the consequences of their sins.  - P50

We cannotcontinue to do things that we know are wrongour relationship with God. Rather than struggling with sin on our ownand expect to maintainor trying to hide it, God wants us to come to Him, confess our sins, andallow Him to help us overcome our sins through the strength He provides.
- P50

When we finally learn not to stray from Him, we demonstrate that we areHis people and that He is our God.
Wh - P50

"Praying and sinning will never live together in the same heart. Prayer will consumesin, or sin will choke prayer." -J. C. Ryle - P50

Father, thank you for the grace to come to You and receive Your forgiveness. I confess that I am sometimes tempted to set up idols in my heart. By Your strength, help me not to stray from You. In Your Son’s name I pray, amen. - P51


댓글(0) 먼댓글(0) 좋아요(0)
좋아요
공유하기 북마크하기찜하기 thankstoThanksTo
 
 
 

The Lord tells Ezekiel to speak against the women who prophesy from theirown imagination and deceive the people. They make magic charms andveils, ensnaring people for profit. The Lord condemns their lies and promisesto tear off their veils and save His people from their hands so that they willknow that He is the Lord. - P45

Dear God, thank you that, when I feel unsure about life, You are faithful to offersecurity and strength. May I no longer fall prey to lies but recognize the truth andremain grounded in You. In Jesus‘ name, amen. - P47


댓글(0) 먼댓글(0) 좋아요(0)
좋아요
공유하기 북마크하기찜하기 thankstoThanksTo
 
 
 

The Lord commands Ezekiel to prophesy against false prophets who followtheir own spirits. They speak peace when there is no peace and spread lies.
The Lord declares that He will bring wind, hailstones, and torrential rains toકરવાને વનછે મમ(એ)*destroy their walls. The false prophets will face judgment: They will not beincluded in Israel‘s assembly, nor will they enter the land. - P41

Dear Lord, You are the truth and the life. Help me to discern the truth and not beswayed by those who are not led by Your Spirit. May I be unafraid to speak the truth inlove, especially to those who are straying from Your path. In Your name I pray, amen. - P43


댓글(0) 먼댓글(0) 좋아요(0)
좋아요
공유하기 북마크하기찜하기 thankstoThanksTo
 
 
 

19Say to the people of the land: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says about those living in Jerusalem and in the land of Israel: They will eat their food in anxiety and drink their water in despair, for their land will be stripped of everything in it because of the violence of all who live there.

20The inhabited towns will be laid waste and the land will be desolate. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’"
- P36

21The word of the Lord came to me:

22"Son of man, what is this proverb you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days go by and every vision comes to nothing’?

23Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am going to put an end to this proverb, and they will no longer quote it in Israel.’ Say to them, ‘The days are near when every vision will be fulfilled.

- P37

25But I the Lord will speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled without delay. For in your days, you rebellious people, I will fulfill whatever I say, declares the Sovereign Lord.’" - P37

28"Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign Lord.’" - P37

The Lord instructs Ezekiel to eat and drink with fear to depict the anxietyand desolation coming to Jerusalem soon. The Lord rebukes a false proverbby declaring that every vision will soon be fulfilled.  - P37

The Israelites think thatEzekiel‘s vision is for the distant future, but God warns them that His wordswill not be delayed any longer. - P37

God tells Ezekiel to tremble and shudder as he eats and drinks to represent prophetically what the Israelites will experience. All of the people will eat their food and drink their water with anxiety and despair because violence is coming, and the land will be stripped of everything in it. - P38

With this judgment, the Israelites will finally recognize that God is truly Lord over all. Sometimes we may forget that God is the Lord of all creation. - P38

Many of us are blessed with enough to eat and drink, and we experience the grace of salvation because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. May we never take any of this for granted but have an even greater appreciation of it all, offering praise to our all-knowing and all-powerful God, who loves us and provides for us. - P68

Heavenly Father, I praise You, for You are Lord over all of creation. I am grateful for Your provision and the grace of salvation. May I never take these for granted but remain humble and thankful to You. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen. - P39

Some in Israel claim to have visions or practice divinations but these arenot from God. Instead of declaring the truth, they spout flattery and false-hood. With the fulfillment of the prophetic declaration from Ezekiel, therebellious people will realize the sovereignty of God.  - P38

Some assume that itwill be a long time before the prophecy will be fulfilled, but the Lord speaksthrough Ezekiel, declaring that His judgment will no longer be delayed.
The people will soon experience the vision that Ezekiel proclaimed, andthey will be exiled from the land. This passage encourages us to exercisediscernment. If the message we hear carries flattery and arrogance ratherthan words that align with Scripture, then such a message does not reflectGod‘s truth. - P38


댓글(0) 먼댓글(0) 좋아요(0)
좋아요
공유하기 북마크하기찜하기 thankstoThanksTo
 
 
 

2"Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.

3"Therefore, son of man, pack your belongings for exile and in the daytime, as they watch, set out and go from where you are to another place. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious people.

- P32

6Put them on your shoulder as they are watching and carry them out at dusk. Cover your face so that you cannot see the land, for I have made you a sign to the Israelites." - P32

9"Son of man, did not the Israelites, that rebellious people, ask you, ‘What are you doing?’

10"Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: This prophecy concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the Israelites who are there.’

11Say to them, ‘I am a sign to you.’ "As I have done, so it will be done to them. They will go into exile as captives.

12"The prince among them will put his things on his shoulder at dusk and leave, and a hole will be dug in the wall for him to go through. He will cover his face so that he cannot see the land.

- P33

13I will spread my net for him, and he will be caught in my snare; I will bring him to Babylonia, the land of the Chaldeans, but he will not see it, and there he will die.

14I will scatter to the winds all those around him—his staff and all his troops—and I will pursue them with drawn sword.

15"They will know that I am the Lord, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries.

16But I will spare a few of them from the sword, famine and plague, so that in the nations where they go they may acknowledge all their detestable practices. Then they will know that I am the Lord."

- P33

Ezekiel is again commanded to act out the contents of God‘s prophecy. Byday, he brings out an exile‘s baggage and by night he digs a hole through awall as one who tries to escape quietly. What is surprising about all of this isthat, before commanding Ezekiel to stage this performance, God declaresconcerning Israel that they are a rebellious people that do not see or hear.
So why such theatrics on behalf of people who refuse to see?  - P34

Though Israelhas been rebellious, God gives them yet another sign in hopes that somemay turn to Him. We are told in the New Testament not to mistake theLord‘s patience for slowness in fulfilling His promise (2 Pet. 3:9). Rather,
delayed judgment is always God‘s grace in hopes that some may turn andreceive His forgiveness. - P34

Dear Jesus, thank You for saving us, though we are no different from therebellious Israelites. Help our family live as a sign of Your good news, and useour lives to point others to You. In Your name, amen. - P35


댓글(0) 먼댓글(0) 좋아요(0)
좋아요
공유하기 북마크하기찜하기 thankstoThanksTo