Category: Ezekiel

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

The Apostle John reveals that this figure in verse 2 is Jesus. (Revelation 1:13-15) Notice John calls Jesus Son of Man, just as this figure calls Ezekiel. Jesus is truly and totally human. Idolatry brings a historic reward – see 2 Kings 10.

SJA Notes

* Dear God, please write Your word on our hearts today.

“The guilt of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. The land is full of blood, and the city full of injustice.”

It is good to be reminded that the Lord does not grow angry without cause, in a vacuum.

Our sin is a rotten stink!

The Lord’s fury is white-hot.

“Your eye shall not spare, and you shall show no pity.”

We are reminded of the words in Revelation 19 that tell of Jesus’ return,

“He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.”

How then can we escape?

Paul tells us in Romans 5,

“Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.”

Jesus is our saviour, our defender, our hiding place!

* Lord God,

Surely we are sinners, saved only by Your grace.

Please fix within us a holy fear of You.

Show us Jesus, the Rider on the white horse, our King and Lord and Saviour.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

The end has come! Ezekiel and Jeremiah were unique – their words of doom did come to pass. Notice the closing sentences in chapters 6 & 7: Then they will know that I am the Lord! The exiles were enslaved but safe. When the doom fell, these exiles did remember and believe. From them came the people who inhabited Israel in Jesus’ day.

SJA Notes

* Gracious God, thank You for giving us Your word today.

“They seek a vision from the prophet, while the law perishes from the priest and counsel from the elders.”

What is the leadership of church to be about?

Deeper, what are _we_ to be about?

THE LAW. COUNSEL.

GOD’S WORD – GOD’S WISDOM.

Are we people who grow our understanding of God’s word?

Are we people who seek out God’s wisdom so that our counsel is right?

Let us be convicted to write God’s law upon our hearts, seek after His wisdom – So that we might be beneficial in our counsel.

* Holy God,

Your word is before us. Please write it on our hearts with Your permanent ink.

Your wisdom is before us. Please may we choose it.

Help us Lord, for we are without ability to walk the narrow way except for from You.

Thank You for Jesus – That in Him we see Your wisdom made manifest.

Thank You that our counsel can be educated and reformed by Your wisdom.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Ezekiel had to do some strange things – he was a living visual aide for his prophetic message. God left no stone unturned in seeking to elicit repentance in His people.

SJA Notes

* Mighty God, thank You for Your word today.

“And the slain shall fall in your midst, and you shall know that I am the LORD.”

In Ezekiel’s time God was furious with His people.

Fury.

They had turned away from our Creator God time and time again. Even the best of them was broken and frail.

God’s fury and wrath were going to pour out on them so that only a remnant were left.

How do we read this today? What impact should these words have on us?

It is laughable that some consider the world different today. That we are somehow more superior.

We know from God’s word that this is not true. Sin is sin. Our hearts now are just as deceitful and inky black as Israel’s were back then.

And Jesus came for sinners. Sinners such as we are. Such as Ezekiel was. Such as Israel were.

We need Jesus, who bore God’s fury and wrath in the place of His bride the church.

Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

* God above,

You poured out Your wrath on Yourself, You in the person of God the Son come to earth as a man, for us Your people.

Who are we to deserve such a work of mercy?

You have saved us from death into eternal life.

What are we to You that You would give us such a gift?

You have written our names in Your book of life from before the foundation of the world.

How can we even respond to this?

Please mark us as humble and obedient before You today Lord.

Amen.