The law can reflect, but not perfect. It is like a mirror that reveals sin, but it has no power over the flesh to remove it. Instead of bringing us closer to God, the law shows how vast is our separation. It was never given to save, but to point to our need for a Savior. Those who hope in the law will die. Yet, there is a “better hope” found in Christ alone. For those who have put their hope in Christ are able to “draw near” to God with “a true heart in full assurance of faith” (Heb. 10:22).
During the prophet Ezekiel’s day, Israel had received many warnings from God through His prophets, yet they did not see or hear. They could have repented and the Lord’s judgment would have been turned away. But they did not repent. They continued in their rebellion. For rebellion against God blinds the eye and deafens the ear to spiritual things. Even when the Lord Jesus Christ Himself came to them centuries later, they still were spiritually dull. For didn’t He quote the prophet Isaiah to them saying, “This people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them” (Matt. 13:14-15, Isa. 6:9-10).
As Jesus often said, “He that has ears to hear, let him hear.” If you hear the Word of God speaking to you today, listen, repent and receive the healing that He alone offers. And if you know someone who is hurting and far from God, pray that their eyes and ears would be opened that they might receive the same.
Stop only discussing the doctrines of Christ and start following them. Grow up in the knowledge of Jesus. As Paul wrote, “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up” (1 Cor. 8:1). So, move on from head knowledge to heart knowledge, which is a change of character that leads to a change of conduct. Better to know one thing of Christ and do it, than to know one hundred and practice none of them. Keep growing in knowledge, not that you might keep “laying again” the foundations of your faith, but that you would grow up into the Head, which is Christ. For He is the “Perfection,” that God wills for you.
Ezekiel was among the second group of exiles taken into Babylonian captivity along with their Judean king, Jehoachin in the year 597 BC. He wrote this record “in the sixth year” of their exile. This was six years before the complete destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar in the year 586 BC. As the exiled elders sat with Ezekiel, they must have been heartsick for their home. They must have felt forsaken of God. Yet, the “Lord God fell upon” Ezekiel in their midst and carried him in a vision to Jerusalem to see that they were actually the ones that God had preserved. For Jerusalem would soon be destroyed because of its violence and idolatry.
Jerusalem had the prophet Jeremiah warning them to repent and submit to Nebuchadnezzar in order to live. While the exiles in Babylon had the prophet Ezekiel revealing to them the reason for God’s judgment. The elders in Jerusalem thought their Temple protected them, that God would never allow it to fall, but they were wrong. His eye was actually on the exiles as the remnant that He would preserve. He would call them 70 years later to return and rebuild the Temple in preparation for the Messiah’s arrival.
The psalmist made a determined promise to himself that he would always sing praises to the Lord. As long has he had breath, he had decided in advance that he would worship God.
When I would visit my grandmother in the nursing home, she no longer remembered my name. Old age had stolen much of her mind. Yet, when my mother and I would begin to sing a hymn, her face would immediately light up, and she would join in, remembering every word. She and my mother had been in a gospel quartet for many years, so she automatically took the alto part, while my mother took the soprano and me the bass. She didn’t remember her daughter or grandson, but she still knew her Lord. And she sang His praises as long as she lived.
I desire to follow her example.
The Lord gave the prophet Ezekiel a three-part calling: 1) Eat the scroll containing His Word, 2) go to Israel, and 3) preach the Word to Israel. When Ezekiel ate the scroll, it tasted like “honey.” But as he prepared to go to Israel to preach, the Lord warned him that the people would not listen. Yet, the Lord still expected him to preach whether they heard or refused to hear. He was to focus on internalizing the Word and preaching the Word. The results were up to God.
This is still the preacher’s task. Study, preach and leave the results up to God.
David attempted to describe the size of God’s mercy by comparing it to the heavens and earth. He imagined the height of God’s mercy as rising as high as the heavens, and the breadth of His mercy being as wide as the “east is from the west.” Yet, in Jesus Christ, such comparisons are no longer needed. For in Him we have God’s mercy on display. What is the height of God’s loving mercy? Isn’t it the height of the cross on Calvary’s hill where Jesus was hung between heaven and earth? What is the breadth of God’s forgiving mercy? Isn’t it seen in Christ’s outstretched arms on the cross with His hands nailed to its cruel beam. The height and breadth of God’s mercy is most clearly revealed in the cross of Christ. Look at the cross. That’s how much God loves us. That’s how far He has gone to forgive us.
Do you know a “talebearer?” They always know the latest gossip and rumor. They speak with a wink and a whisper. Their words never elevate your estimation of others, but always tend towards disunity and strife. Yet, their news seems irresistible to the ears, like the “tasty” morsels of Turkish Delight were to Edmund’s stomach. Their words “go down” sweet, but sour your heart towards others. If you know a talebearer, rebuke them. And if they continue, avoid them.
Paul wrote a personal letter to Philemon on behalf of his runaway slave, Onesimus, who may have also stolen from his master (v.18). Under Roman law, a slave was property and could be executed for such. Yet, Paul, who wrote from a Roman prison, had led Onesimus to faith in Christ and now called him a “son.” He sent the letter to let Philemon know of this and also that he was sending Onesimus home to him. Paul pled with Philemon, who he had also led to faith (v.19), to accept Onesimus back, not as a slave, but as a “beloved brother” (v.16). This is the new way of Christ on exhibit, that master and slave would become as brothers. This is the grace of Christ that brings forgiveness and reconciliation to every relationship. Surely, Onesimus would have been fearful of returning to Philemon, but Paul knew it was the only way that he could be truly free.
Jeremiah gave a scroll to Seraiah, a staff officer to the king of Judah, before he went into Babylonian captivity. In the scroll were the words the Lord had given to Jeremiah concerning the future judgment on Babylon. He instructed Seraiah to read all the words of judgment in the scroll aloud when he arrived in Babylon. When he was finished reading, he was to “tie it to a stone and throw it into the Euphrates River” (v.63). The words would be a warning, and the scroll thrown into the Euphrates would be a sign, to make the Babylonians “weary” of the coming judgment. God had allowed Babylon to conquer Judah, but He did not hold them innocent. They too would be judged. For the Lord “rules over the nations” (Psa. 22:28) His purposes to unfold.
Today, the land where Babylon once stood is desolate. Its ruins lie in the desert of modern day Iraq. It fell to King Cyrus of Persia in 539 B.C. It sank and has not risen again in the 2500 years since.