Ezekiel 20 – continued disobedience in the face of forgiveness

I want to begin by pointing out to the few of you that follow my blog that although I have not written in a while, it does not mean that I have ceased reading as was the case before.  I either wanted to internalize what I read or wasn’t in a place fit for writing, but either way, I was still reading!  I encourage you to go back through chapters 16-19 to see what’s going on (especially 16 – that one got me good!)…

In Ezekiel 20, elders of Israel come to Ezekiel for a word from the Lord and get a history lesson.  God points out to them how time after time He would show them the way to live, they would turn the other way, and He would forgive.  God has had enough.  He tells Israel how to find forgiveness, but He also tells of coming judgment.  Israel is in trouble.

Ezekiel ends by saying, “Ah, Sovereign LORD! They are saying of me, `Isn't he just telling parables?'”  In other words, the Israelite elders aren’t buying what Ezekiel’s telling them!  Not only have they been foolish in not following God, but they are now being foolish in not believing His words!

I am SO guilty of this!  I’ll be in the depths of my sin and instead of listening to God to find a way out, I’ll continue ignoring Him and decide that I still know what’s best.  FOOLISH!  God, help me be wise!  Help me see my foolishness before it’s too late!

Ezekiel 12 – a second chance for the few…

God asks Ezekiel to act out a symbolic sketch of what is to come.  He wants Israel to see what is going to happen to them – that they are going to be sent into exile.  He also wants them to know that most will die – only a few will be spared.

“They will know that I am the LORD, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries.  But 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.” (vv. 15-16)

I am one of the few.  I am in a sort of exile, and I am finally acknowledging my detestable practices.

As you can see from the date of my last entry and the date of this one, I haven’t been in God’s Word.  I have been doing the very things I warned against in past posts.

“I know that I will be blessed if I’m obedient… I need to be.”

“Too often I’m quick to shower myself with God’s grace.  When I sin, I tell myself that it’s ok and that God will forgive me.”

“I shouldn’t take my sin so lightly.”

“How much will it take for you to really understand God?  Do you know how serious He is about sin?  Do you know He wants your whole life?  Or are you just playing the game because you know how to act ‘Christian?’”

“How repentant am I over sin?  Do I grieve over my mistakes, or do I simply let them slide?”

“DO NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF GOD’S GRACE!”

Through a friend, I’ve been brought back to the place I need to be – repentant and in His Word.  I am thankful that I am one of the spared, and I am praying that I will remain in God’s Word where I so desperately need to be.  I’m a pastor.  An example.  I need to be leading others to Jesus.  How can I do that if I myself am not in tune with Him?

God, forgive me.  I repent.  Continue to bring my repentant heart to You.  Amen.

Ezekiel 9 – to mark or not to mark?

God is still showing Ezekiel around “Christmas Carol” style, and this time, Ezekiel sees the death of what seems like most of Israel.  God has a guy go out and put a mark on everyone who is grieving over their sin.  God also has six other guys follow the marking guy.  These six are told to kill everyone that doesn’t get a mark.

As Ezekiel sees the massive bloodshed, he weeps over the dead, wondering if any will be spared.  God simply replies, “…I will not look on them with pity or spare them, but will bring down on their own heads what they have done” (v. 10).

This is one more reminder of how serious God is about sin, but this time there is a new side of God we see.  God honors and protects the repentant heart.  He sees those who truly mourn over their sin and has compassion on them.

This ties in exactly to what we’re going to be talking about on Sunday!  We’re talking about the Last Supper when Jesus foretells   the sins of Peter and Judas.  One of the big differences in these stories is the aftermath of their sin.  Peter realizes his mistake, repents, and becomes a cornerstone of the church.  Judas realizes his mistake and thinks so little of himself that he commits suicide.

How repentant am I over sin?  Do I grieve over my mistakes, or do I simply let them slide?  God, break my heart over my sin.  Give me a heart that grieves and aches.  Amen.