Eze 20 The phrase “the person who does them will live by them” is repeated multiple times. Another way to say this: “obeying God brings life”.
An interesting note from the HCSB on the child sacrifices shows this was done for selfish motives: “According to pagan perception, sacrifices made to a god put that god in your debt, such that he or she was bound to act favorably toward you.”
Eze 20:31 Serving other gods cuts you of from hearing from YHVH! Consider this if you are not hearing from Him.
Eze 20:49 The people thought Ezekiel’s prophecy was posing riddles. Do we ignore prophets of today? Do we even know who His true prophets are today?
Eze 21 Why does God cut off the righteous with the wicked? There must be a point where their sins are too great? We should not think God will spare our country for the righteous sake!
It seems God directed the Babylonian king through his divination. God can influence or direct anyone whether or not they acknowledge Him in any way He chooses.
Eze 24:15 God takes out Ezekiel’s wife for a parallel lesson for Israel. Although this seems a cruel and harsh punishment for the man of God, It may have been a merciful way to go, for only a few verses before in the same chapter Nebuchadnezzar just laid siege to the nation and terrible times were at the door.
Eze 25 Because other nations rejoiced at Israel’s demise they were severely punished. We are not to take pleasure in other’s struggles.
Eze 28 Why is the king of Tyre given similitude to Satan?
God gave Ezekiel many prophesies of doom for the surrounding nations, some of which he just spoke in the general direction, ending with "so they will know that I am Yahweh". Were these prophecies widely dispersed among the people of these nations? How would they know that their destruction would prove who Yahweh was, especially for those killed in the process? Perhaps the “they” also refers to future Bible readers?
Eze 33:11 Again we are reminded after several chapters of doom that God does not take pleasure in the destruction of the wicked, but that He would rather they repent. May we also have this same heart for those that persecute us.
Eze 36 In God’s mercy He restores Israel for His name sake, giving them a heart to obey Him.
Eze 27 This chapter is hard to know what is real and what is figurative. Will people literally be pulled from graves and brought back to Israel? Will David literally be resurrected and put over the Nation of Israel once again? Are the people who have been in exile and following their own ways equivalent to dead men and is the mention of David referring to a descendant or one like him or perhaps Yeshua? One might think this is during the 1000 year reign, but it uses the word forever here which adds to the confusion.
Next Reading: Week 37 Ezekiel 38:1 to Daniel 7:1
Wisdom for the week
Why is it easier and faster to tear down than to build up, both physically and spiritually? It is easy to get discouraged when things are in ruin around us. Just as we generally appreciate and value more things that take more effort and energy to accomplish and maintain in the physical, we should likewise appreciate and work harder for things that are of value in the spiritual and to not grow weary in well doing. (Galatians 6:9)
Here is my choice post from Dale Cresap from this past week.
Even if you follow my teaching to be generous to those in need, you have a limited amount of money and are surrounded by a seemingly unlimited amount of need. So you have to make some choices. Do you draw a strong distinction between those who are deserving and those who are not? If you do then what you intended as an act of charity becomes an act of judgment. What alternative approach is available? My word declares that those who are led by the Spirit are sons of God. I may want you to give to those who seem the least deserving, but if you follow my lead you will have enough to meet the needs I show you.
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