Sonshine's Journal

Ezekiel continues on in his quest to censor the sin filled Israelites there in Babylon as they continue to ask why all of this has occurred. God in His loving kindness answers them: ‘I looked for a man from among them who would repair the wall and stand in the gap before me on behalf of the land, so that I would not destroy it, but I found no one.’ (Ch 22:23) If we were to go to God with all of our questions would this be His answer to us? Does He see any who are righteous that can carry His message to the lost? God’s heart is revealed. He loves His people, He loves this land but His heart is heavy. Did you notice what God said: I looked! God’s eyes are everywhere looking for those He can use to share His message of hope. Instead, this is what He sees: “Rom 3:18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” How tragic! 

Today, stop and think of these questions and His observations and then respond with the words of Isaiah “send me” Lord! Use me Lord! 

As the elders sat before Ezekiel to hear a word from the Lord they must have been amazed to hear that God will not be a puppet whom one can control. He is God and there is none like Him. He is holy and is to be treated as such, but the elders and the people clung to their abominable practices of idolatry. Listen to what God told Ezekiel to do: “Then confront them with the abominable practices of their fathers, “ God will not listen them or hearken to their requests to hear from the Lord. God told Ezekiel this principle: “If I had harbored sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” [Ps 66:18] The elders were responsible to God for the instruction of the people but neither they nor the people refused to listen. As it was then, it is today. Jesus cried over Jerusalem and today we cry over the sins of the world. 

You know Ezekiel had a hard job to confront their leaders and the people. How about us? Do we confront sin? Do we boldly speak against those who dishonor God? And if we do, are we strong enough to handle their responses? 

Today, be brave to confront. Be strong and courageous. Speak against sin in your community, your church, your family. 

The Israelites who were now in Babylon kept coming to Ezekiel for answers as to why they were now there. They considered God as a punisher and hateful for what their fathers did. “The idea was that the present generation was being unjustly punished for what their fathers did. One would think that if the fathers have eaten sour grapes, then the fathers would have the sour taste in their teeth. According to the proverb, the fathers didn’t have the sour taste and the children did.” [D. Guzik] So goes the argument: I have done all I could do and my righteousness comes from those who went before me as well as the counter argument: I can’t help it, I come by it because of what my grandfather or other family members did before me. But, God cleared the air by telling them this truth: God looks at the heart of each individual alone and does not condemn or praise them for their generational faults or righteousness. Each must stand before God for themselves alone! There is no grandfather clause in any case! 

Principle: Each is responsible for themselves alone! Today, take time to search your heart for anything that might keep you from being righteous. Stop blaming your parent’s unrighteousness for your own. Take responsibility for yourself for you will stand before God alone and the books will be opened to reveal you alone, not someone else’s sins or righteousness!  

Oh Sovereign Lord why did you choose Ezekiel to tell of the sin of your people in such graphic terms? Is this how you view our/my sin as well? You chose in eternity past to speak of your purity, your love and compassion but we, like the Israelites, have taken that and destroyed it with our sin. As Ezekiel wrote these words, did tears drip from his eyes as they do mine? Father, Sovereign Lord, forgive us, cleanse us and draw us back to your side. 

At times like this, repeat the Lord’s Prayer as a way of drawing us back to You and to your kingdom. Father, you look down from heaven, may we remember to hallow or keep holy your name. May your will be done here as it is in heaven. As Proverbs author wrote, give us only what we need lest we prove ourselves unworthy and unthankful. Wrap us in your Word so we are kept from the serpent’s fangs of death in the temptations he in his desire to seek,kill and destroy. 

As Samuel said, speak Lord for we are listening. Cleanse us and make us fit for your kingdom. Make us holy as You are holy. 

Have you spoken to someone about their need of salvation and heard these words: I have done all I need to do, I go to the same church as my parents, I offer my prayers as they have done. I am safe before the Lord. Listen you who feel safe; the Lord only hears the prayers of those seeking Him and only those who seek His righteousness. All your words, all your prayers, all your attendance at the house of worship are not negotiable in the eyes of the Lord. 

God reminded Ezekiel as spoke to the men of Israel in Babylon. They were expecting God to save them because they were of the house of Israel, they had gone to the Temple to offer their sacrifices, they had put their coins in the collection plate. God told Ezekiel to tell them that “if Noah, Daniel and Job were in its midst, by their ownrighteousness they could only deliver themselves,” He is saying you cannot expect to be saved just because of someone else’s salvation. Salvation is by faith and Jesus alone and is dependent on your heart alone! Another thing the Lord said was to look into your hearts. Have you set up idols in your heart? Cleanse your heart so God can hear your prayers.

Take today to search your heart. Are you expecting to be saved just because of someone else’s salvation. Salvation is individual and you alone must atone for your sin. 

God spoke to Ezekiel of the coming destruction of Jerusalem and its inhabitants. He is overcome, as we would be, of what God commanded to be accomplished. God’s message is this from the word given to Paul for the Galatians. God will not be mocked, what you sow, you shall reap.The inhabitants of Jerusalem had sown the seeds of dishonor and disobedience to His commands and now they will reap their sin in death, famine and plague.

If this message was given to us, how would we respond? Ezekiel is a model of grief. He pours out his heart to God.He weeps over the sins of the people. He reveals what God reveals and that is a lesson for us. 

Today our country is in an upheaval with the sins of our people.God has shown us the consequences of our sin through His Word. Are we responding like Ezekiel? Today, pour out your heart to God for His mercy. Pray for deliverance from the sins that are many. Speak to those you meet with words of warning and remind them to repent. 

Have you ever felt the Lord saying to you;speak to this or that person? You could be in a crowded mall, in a neighborhood chat or even in your family? How do you respond? Ezekiel had that experience with a warning. God said, speak to them whether they listen or not. God would hold him responsible for them because if he did not speak they would suffer the consequences of their sin. 

Today we have avenues whereby we can speak for God. We have TV where preachers tell of God and His ways. We have the internet and along with that the new Ai. What is keeping us from speaking? Perhaps that warning that God gave Ezekiel might be our clue. Speak whether they listen or not. Your job is  speak. Watch for those divine appointments God sends your way. God told Ezekiel to not fear and we should not fear as well. 

Pray for His divine opportunities that He will send your way today and every day.

Some time ago when newspapers were the staple of every household, there was a one comic character called Dennis the Menace. No matter what Dennis did, he was found complaining to his parents about their choice of punishment. Maybe you can relate when you might be caught with your hand in the cooky jar. That seems to the case for the residents of Jerusalem and Jeremiah reminds them: “Why should any living person complain when punished for his sins?” [Jer 3:39] 

Jeremiah has hit the people with the very thing they were doing about their sin against God. He has repeatedly reminded them to obey Him and to listen to His Word. Yet, like Dennis the Menace, they just complained instead of turning from their sin. How like us! 

Think back to a time when God spoke clearly to you about your sin. How did you respond?  Did you do as the Israelites did? Think now what can you do instead of complaining. Could you choose another way of handling God’s rebuke? Could you choose to accept the course God has planned for you to return to Him? The answer is yes to all of those questions. Today choose to pray for forgiveness. Choose to obey in all our ways. 

Some time ago when newspapers were the staple of every household, there was a one comic character called Dennis the Menace. No matter what Dennis did, he was found complaining to his parents about their choice of punishment. Maybe you can relate when you might be caught with your hand in the cooky jar. That seems to the case for the residents of Jerusalem and Jeremiah reminds them: “Why should any living person complain when punished for his sins?” [Jer 3:39] 

Jeremiah has hit the people with the very thing they were doing about their sin against God. He has repeatedly reminded them to obey Him and to listen to His Word. Yet, like Dennis the Menace, they just complained instead of turning from their sin. How like us! 

Think back to a time when God spoke clearly to you about your sin. How did you respond?  Did you do as the Israelites did? Think now what can you do instead of complaining. Could you choose another way of handling God’s rebuke? Could you choose to accept the course God has planned for you to return to Him? The answer is yes to all of those questions. Today choose to pray for forgiveness. Choose to obey in all our ways. 

As we have been walking through the OT prophets we now come to the personal book of Jeremiah (presupposed to be the author). He predicted the fall of Jerusalem, but when it really happens then it is overwhelming grief. This is where we find the author as he pours out his heart in the midst of national suffering recognizing that all the warnings from God have been disregarded. How often does God remind us of His authority and His desire for His people to repent, but pride overrules and now sin’s consequences have fallen. 

With each book we look for lessons to glean for our personal lives, our nations and our religious institutions. Lamentations falls into all those categories. How do you handle overwhelming grief when you realize that it was because of your sin this has occurred? Tears? Mourning cries? Tearing of clothes? What do you do?

The author reminds us that in the times of deep grief we must return to the Lord for His compassion and seek His forgiveness and healing of our heart knowing this is eternally true. “The Lord’s loyal kindness never ceases; his compassions never end, They are fresh every morning; your faithfulness is abundant! “ [Lam 3:22-23]