<\/p>\n
Jeremiah 37:11-38:28; Ezekiel 1:1-3:15<\/strong><\/span> We read about some very interesting dynamics in Jeremiah chapters 37 & 38 today\u2026 Jeremiah goes from dungeon to prison to cistern to prison to being the king\u2019s confidant. Being a prophet is quite a life!!<\/span><\/p>\n I continue to admire Jeremiah\u2019s boldness in speaking the truth in these chapters. 37:17 stood out: \u201cLater King Zedekiah secretly requested that Jeremiah come to the palace, where the king asked him, \u201cDo you have any messages from the Lord?\u201d \u201cYes, I do!\u201d said Jeremiah. \u201cYou will be defeated by the king of Babylon.\u201d<\/em> Jeremiah goes right to the truth\u2026 no beating around the bush! And then 3 verses later he asks Zedekiah \u2013 \u201cListen, my lord the king, I beg you. Don\u2019t send me back to the dungeon in the house of Jonathan the secretary, for I will die there.\u201d <\/em>He speaks a harsh truth to Zedekiah and then asks for a favor. I like that! Do we speak the truth in our lives? Even if we know we\u2019ll need to ask for a favor of someone later, will we still speak the truth?\u00a0 Or will we default to the un-truthful position of \u201chear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil\u2026.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Today we begin the book of the prophet Ezekiel!\u00a0 Ezekiel is a prophet whose name means \u201cGod strengthens\u201d \u2013 which is clearly a good thing for those in the prophet business. We\u2019ve recently wrapped up the book of Jeremiah and are well aware of the challenges facing a prophet. The interesting thing to note is that Jeremiah was prophesying in Judah, whereas Ezekiel was prophesying in Babylon to the exiles from Judah. These two were doing their work at about the same time, but in different geographies. Ezekiel gets his call to be a prophet in probably his 30th year of life \u2013 the age when most of the priestly line were called to be priests. Instead, Ezekiel was called to be a prophet \u2013 which, is probably a good thing because he is living in exile in Babylon \u2013 so wouldn\u2019t have been able to perform the priestly duties at the Temple in Jerusalem. Ezekiel\u2019s call comes in 593 B.C., which is 7 years prior to the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple. Ezekiel\u2019s ministry goes until 571 B.C., at the age of 52. (which is 2 years beyond what most priests would have served \u2013 from ages 30 to 50).\u00a0 Below is a portrait of Ezekiel by artist Guy Rowe: <\/span> ~ Ezekiel ~<\/strong> In today\u2019s readings, chapter 1 is an incredible vision and call that Ezekiel receives! Obviously the flying creatures with 4 faces and wings are a highlight of this vision. What is up with these you ask? Good question. They are called \u201ccherubim\u201d later in the book of Ezekiel (chapter 10) and are also thought to be the creatures in Isaiah called seraphs \u2013 and they show up again in the book of Revelation. If you get a vision, and you see these creatures, you know something big is going on\u2026 \ud83d\ude42 The interesting thing about these creatures is that their four faces representing a human, lion, ox and an eagle have many interpretations, which all basically relate to the nature of God. An interesting interpretation I read was that these 4 represent the 4 Gospels \u2013 Matthew being the lion, Mark being the ox, Luke being the human and John being the eagle. You\u2019ll have to pick up a commentary to read more on why these analogies have been made\u2026. (just trying to get everyone to dive into books beyond this blog\u2026 \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 Below is the artist Rafaelo\u2019s oil painting of \u201cThe Vision of Ezekiel\u201d from the year 1518 (Galleria Palatina (Palazzo Pitti), Florence)- <\/span> Ezekiel Chapter 2 is God\u2019s Call and Commission of Ezekiel. Don\u2019t we all wish that God could be this clear with us about the purpose of our lives sometimes? \ud83d\ude42 <\/span> Ezekiel Chapter 3 has the great narrative of Ezekiel eating the scroll of God. And it tasting like honey \u2013 even though it had words of doom upon it.\u00a0 In Ezekiel 3:3 we read: \u201cThen he said to me, \u201cSon of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.\u201d So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.\u201d<\/em> Can we eat of the Word of God?\u00a0 Does the Word nourish us?\u00a0 How does the Word nourish us?\u00a0 Is the Word nourishing you today?\u00a0 Is it as sweet as honey?\u00a0 Is the Word literally spiritual food?\u00a0 Will you eat of God\u2019s Holy Word, the Bible, today \u2013 and every day of your life?<\/span> Then, in Ezekiel 3 verse 15 ends with a very appropriate line I believe- \u201cI sat there among them for seven days, overwhelmed.\u201d <\/em>Think you\u2019d be overwhelmed if you experienced chapters 1 & 2?? Whew. I am looking forward to us starting the book of Ezekiel! Thanks for joining me on this journey!\u00a0 Below is one final image of Ezekiel from the artist Michelangelo.\u00a0 This one\u2019s in the Sistine Chapel in Rome:<\/span> Worship Video:\u00a0 <\/strong>Today\u2019s readings in Ezekiel reminds me of the wonderful Selah video and song \u201cYou Raise Me Up:\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \n
~ Click here to read today\u2019s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~<\/span><\/em>
~ Listen to today\u2019s Scripture with <\/em>The ESV Bible<\/em><\/span> ~<\/p>\n
Author<\/span>: Ezekiel
Date<\/span>: Sixth century B.C.
Content<\/span>: Ezekiel, who grew up as a priest, was carried off to Babylon with the Jewish exiles deported in 597 B.C., and there he became a prophet of God. His message was one of coming judgment for those remaining in Jerusalem, but his preaching was not well received by the Jews who were with him in captivity. When his dire predictions came true in 586 B.C. with the destruction of Jerusalem, the people listened then on with great earnestness. His message changed at this point from being one of unbending judgment to one of comfort and hope for the future. The worst had come; it was now time to make plans for beginning again. Ezekiel saw himself as a shepherd and watchman over Israel. As a shepherd, he was to protect the people, but as a watchman, he was to warn of danger ahead.
Theme<\/span>: The message of Ezekiel is based upon the unchangeable holiness of God. This is both a promise and a warning. It is a warning because God has promised to remain faithful to his people and this will not change. The book of Ezekiel shows God\u2019s unbreakable promise fulfilled in both respects: the city fell according to promise because of Judah\u2019s sin, and the city would be restored according to promise because of God\u2019s faithfulness. The lives of God\u2019s people determined how God would treat them. (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers <\/em>\u201cThe One Year Bible Companion\u201d<\/em> p. 14)\u00a0 <\/em>A wonderful commentary on the book of Ezekiel by Bob Deffinbaugh is<\/strong> <\/span>at this link<\/span>.\u00a0 Below is a sculpture of Ezekiel by German sculptor Johann Josef Christian (1706 \u2013 1777):<\/span>