Judgment mixed with hope

Ezekiel   Chapter 11

Then the Spirit lifted Ezekiel and brought him to the east gateway of the Temple where he saw 25 prominent men of the city. The Spirit told Ezekiel that these leaders were responsible for the wicked counsel being given to the city. Ezkiel was asked to prophecy against them. To tell them how they gave wrong advice and had murdered endlessly and filled the streets with dead.

Therefore the Lord said that the city was full of victims and all people would soon be dragged from the city and they would be exposed to the war and driven out of Jerusalem and handed over to foreigners who would carry out his judments against them.

While Ezekiel spoke, Petatiah, son of Benaiah suddenly died. So Ezekiel fell face down in the dust and cried out for the Lord. Then a message came from the Lord saying that the people still left in Jerusalem were talking about their relatives in exile and saying that perhaps the Lord gave their land to the Israelites that survived. And the Lord responded by saying that he would gather them back from where they had been scattered and he would give them the land again.

The Lord told Ezekiel to let the people know that if they returned to their homeland, they must remove every trace of their detestable idol worship. And the Lord would give them a new spirit in them and take away their hearts of stone and give them tender hearts. But those who long for idols would be repaid fully for their sins.

Then the cherumbim lifted their wings and rose in the air with their wheels beside them and the glory of God hovered above them. Then the glory of the Lord went up from the city and stopped above the mountains to the east. And the Spirit of God carried Ezekiel back to Babylon to the Judeans in exile. And the vision ended his visit and he told the exiles all that he had seen.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: God's glory left Jerusalem and stopped above a mountain on the east side of the city. Probably the Mount of Olives and Ezekiel implies that God will return the same way he left when he comes back to set up his perfect Kingdom.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? This is a chapter that drips with vivid imagery. Imagine Ezekiel seeing the cherubim and the way they traveled and picked him up and carted him away in the air. This chapter also gives much hope, even though it deals with destroying the last of the sinners of Jerusalem. God promised the exiles that he would be with them and he would restore them to their homeland. He makes the same promise to you and to me. He waits with open arms to receive us if we are faithful and repent of our sins.

It was ironic that the Jews in captivity were the faithful ones and the ones in Jerusalem were the sinful. This was not how people perceived each other. So appearances can be deceiving and God is teaching us another lesson: to not judge others by outward appearance.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:


HEALTH:

Pray for my grandson, new baby Gunar who was born with kidney problems.

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

Pray for Gary 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.