God addresses the leaders

Ezekiel Chapter 19  &20

This is a funeral song for Israel's king written by Ezekiel. It is full of symbolism and uses a lioness and her cubs to raise the curiosity of his listeners. The lioness symbolizes Judah and the cubs represent two kings: possibly King Jehoahaz and King Johoiachin or King Zedekiah. It shows that not even Judah's kings could save the nation.

EZEKIEL CHAPTER 20

As some of the leaders of Israel came to sit before Ezekiel to request a message from the Lord, the Lord sent a message that he would tell them nothing.He asked that Ezekiel make them realize their ancestor's actions were loathsome. He urged them to get rid of their idols, but they rebelled.

The Lord told of the disobedience of the people and how God held back in order to protect the honor of his name. That way the nations who saw the Lord lead his people out of Egypt wouldn't be able to claim he destroyed them because he couldn't care for them. He watched them worship idols and violate the Sabbath, but he held back from destroying them while they were in the wilderness.

He warned their children not to follow in their footsteps, but they too rebelled against God. So God vowed to scatter them among all nations.And as they degraded themselves, he let the people pollute themselves so he might devastate them and show them that he alone was the Lord.

Now God said to the leaders before Ezekiel, that he wanted to know they would no longer worship idols and burn their children as sacrifices. So he judged them and held them to the covenant and he would purge them of all who rebel and sin against him.

Then God told the people to look toward the south and speak against it and prophesy against the fields of the Negev.Give the southern wilderness the message that God will set it on fire and every tree will burn and the fire will scorch and the fires will not be quenched. And as Ezekiel told all this to the leaders, he told the Lord that the leaders all thought he spoke in riddles.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? It teaches us to not give service to the church while still holding on to our idols such as power, money or pleasure.God wants us to not miss out on the benefits from God. He wants all of our devotion and tells us to beware of trying to please God while pursuing the pleasures of sin.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:


HEALTH:

Pray for my grandson Hunter who is lost and afraid and far away from home.

Pray for Garry and Steve my insurance men who have prostate cancer.

Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.

Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer and who recently underwent major surgery.

Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with a form of MS.

Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.

Pray for Gary Summers, my friend from church, who has cancer.

Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who has been undergoing chemo. Pray also for Charly who longs to be 100 percent again and walk without an aid.

Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.

SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary

RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John

LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian

SUPPORT: Pray for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom. Pray for our farmers and those who raise livestock during this terrible drought. Pray for us consumers who will face higher grocery prices and the poor who won’t be able to adjust what little budget they have.