“Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4 ESV). God spoke to the prophet Ezekiel, rebuking the people of Israel for accusing Him of injustice and reminding them that He was both owner and judge
“I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and will set it out… And all the trees of the field shall know that I am the Lord; I bring low the high tree, and make high the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish.
“Who can utter the mighty deeds of the Lord, or declare all his praise?” (Psalm 106:2 ESV). The Psalmist’s questions beg the answer, “No one.” How can we number the glorious actions of our God? He is omnipotent and eternal. Who knows all that He has done, is doing, or will do? A list of
“For I am the LORD; I will speak the word that I will speak, and it will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, but in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it, declares the Lord GOD” (Ezekiel 12:25 ESV). The people of Judah would not listen to
“Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips” (Proverbs 27:2 ESV). In this modern era of social media and self-promotion, this proverb seems out of place. Yet self aggrandizement is still unwise. For if you praise yourself, others will not only remain silent, they will think you
‘And he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writing case at his waist. And the Lord said to him, “Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.”’ (Ezekiel 9:3-4 ESV).
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12 ESV). The Bible is no ordinary book. It is living and active. It is like a
“And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them” (Ezekiel 2:5 ESV). Ezekiel was thirty years old when God called him to be a prophet. God cautioned him not to base his sense of success on how the people responded,
“The joy of our hearts has ceased; our dancing has been turned to mourning… Restore us to yourself, O LORD, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old” (Lamentations 5:15, 21 ESV). Jeremiah lamented over the fall of Jerusalem and the dire condition of his people. He described their hunger and homelessness,
“It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth” (Lamentations 3:27 ESV). There is a worldly saying that describes a way of life that has destroyed many a young person which says, “Sow your wild oats before settling down.” But the Bible says the opposite. The prophet Jeremiah must have