Sonshine's Journal

One of the last words spoken by Jesus were: go, tell, make disciples in every nation. Ezekiel was transported to Jerusalem and the bronze man told him a similar thought: “Son of man, watch closely, listen carefully, and pay attention to everything I show you, for you have been brought here so that I can show it to you. Tell the house of Israel everything you see.” [Ezek 40:3]

Notice what the bronze man said: watch, listen, pay action, tell. It is much like the words of Jesus to the disciples. Today we are to do the same so that the world may know the truth of the gospel message and its purpose is the same. Go and tell. 

Are you watching? Are you listening? Are you paying attention? Are you telling? One day we will stand before God and He will show us the fruit of those instructions He gave. What will you hear from Him? Will we hear thou good and faithful servant, enter in to the joy of the Lord or will we hear go, depart from me for I never knew you?

One of the enemies of Israel had been the land of Gog, even though today we are not sure where that is. The important fact is that they sought to destroy Israel but God pronounces judgment against them. “In future days I will bring you against my land so that the nations may acknowledge me, when before their eyes I magnify myself through you, O Gog”  God is saying He will reveal Himself and His magnificent power so they are without excuse. They will see and hear God and know that He is the sovereign God who rules all. 

It is interesting to read all of this and look at today. We hear and read of God’s work in real life and in our nation, yet men are in denial and continue to be lost spiritually. If you ask them if they know God they hastily will answer that they do, but actions speak louder than words. They know of Him but they do not know Him. 

Today listen to your neighbors, the people that stock your groceries, the mail man, the one who works at the gas station. Stop and ask if they know God personally or just about Him? Pray for them, use each interaction as a time to witness for Him. 

There was a TV show for a good many years called “As the world turns.” These chapters could be titled the same for God has been ever so patient with not only His people but the peoples of the lands surrounding them. He spews forth his anger in poetic form because of their sin. If ever we thought as the world thinks; God is love and He will never send anyone to hell should read this chapter! God is angry and He ends his soliquay with this: then they will know I am the Lord. They may know but their knowledge is fleeting and erupts into anger. They are like the description of the fool in Proverbs. 

In the midst of this diatribe we read the word of the Lord to the deniers: “I will magnify my great name that has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned among them. The nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I magnify myself among you in their sight.”

God is patient but there will come a time when His patience has run out. Beware those who squander His grace and love. He is preparing to share His justice so you may know He has spoken. Yield yourself to Him so you may be saved. Remember this, 2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. Turn to him now while He is waiting. 

Today there are many who consider themselves a watchman but in reality they are just looking for and pointing out apostasy and errors of judgment. Many use this to put a guilt trip on believers. Is this what the Lord was calling Ezekiel and you and I to do? Ezekiel was to remind them of God’s judgment for not obeying His Word using His Word. He was to allow God to do the judging using His Holy Word. We are to do the same and we do it by speaking the Word of God to those who on the path of destruction. 

Speak and teach the Word of God for it is His instrument because

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; [2 Tim 3:16] 

Sometimes when we read such graphic details in this chapter, all we can think of is this word: dramaville. God is such a poet, a God who shares with us His view of those who are filled with pride. It is this that Ezekiel is penning for his people. He uses that to grab their attention to the destructiveness of pride so he begins with the description of a ruler. This ruler is rich beyond measure but his heart is filled with pride. Just like in the case of Nebuchadnezzar, he thinks he is god and he is in control of his kingdom but God shatters that view by telling him that he is not a god but a mere man. Another prophet, Isaiah, captured that truth: “Isa 46:9 Remember what I accomplished in antiquity. Truly I am God, I have no peer; I am God, and there is none like me,” 

Even today there are some men who think like these earthly kings. Listen to what they say: I have built, I am god. Nebuchadnezzar walked about the walls of Babylon just as this king of Tyre and said to himself, look at what I built. 

Beware of taking on the glory of God to yourself  as you may experience the fate of these two kings. Today if pride erupts, squash it quickly. Remain humble and thankful for what God has built and you are only His servant. 

Throughout history we read about nations that rise and then they fall. Of all of them, Tyre is the most glaring demise of them all, so say the historians. The world clamored and came to Tyre to do business for many years.Their city was a picture of health, wealth and prosperity in its businesses as well as its people. The half brother of Jesus, the man James speaks to the problem of these who are wealthy and prosperous. They prejudicially honored the rich but the poor were slaughtered in the warehouse of human trafficking and slavery.  God in His mercy allowed them to exist for a time, but then God sent a wave of His indignation to destroy them and the reason was their pride. And the result? Tyre is but a blip in the history books. 

If there is one sin that God hates more than any other it is pride. Pro 16:18 Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. This is the story of a city that considered itself impenetrable and God allowed them to exist for a time and then He ordered their destruction. They are nothing but a memory.

Oh beloved reader, check your heart. Is there pride in it? Destroy it before God does. Repent and be healed of this sin. 

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.