“For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: How much worse will it be when I send against Jerusalem my four dreadful judgments—sword and famine and wild beasts and plague—to kill its men and their animals! Yet there will be some survivors—sons and daughters who will be brought out of it. They will come to you, and when you see their conduct and their actions, you will be consoled regarding the disaster I have brought on Jerusalem—every disaster I have brought on it. You will be consoled when you see their conduct and their actions, for you will know that I have done nothing in it without cause, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

 Ezekiel 12-14

“For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: How much worse will it be when I send against Jerusalem my four dreadful judgments—sword and famine and wild beasts and plague—to kill its men and their animals! Yet there will be some survivors—sons and daughters who will be brought out of it. They will come to you, and when you see their conduct and their actions, you will be consoled regarding the disaster I have brought on Jerusalem—every disaster I have brought on it. You will be consoled when you see their conduct and their actions, for you will know that I have done nothing in it without cause, declares the Sovereign Lord.” Ezekiel 14:21-23

Day 227 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with my study of Ezekiel.  After Ezekiel's vision from God (see yesterday), God directs Ezekiel to portray via enactment both the exile to Babylonia and the anxiety stemming from the destruction of Judah and the resulting desolation and famine (Ezekiel 12:1-20).  God then directs Ezekiel to communicate the certainty and immediacy of the prophecy (Ezekiel 12:21-28). Ezekiel then admonishes false prophets (Ezekiel 13) who proclaim peace and that Judah's exile will be over quickly. Even elders of Israel fall prey to idolatry and Ezekiel admonishes this group as well (Ezekiel 14:1-11). 

Near the end of this morning's reading, my commentary poses a question: "[h]ow many righteous people does it take to save a nation? It has been 1500 years since Abraham asked that same question concerning Sodom and Gomorrah. Surely at this time there are righteous believers among both the captives and their Jerusalem kinsmen who are asking this same question themselves. God’s answer to Ezekiel is that there comes a time when a nation’s sins so completely condemn it that not even a remnant of righteous citizens can stop the destruction inherent in evil. God uses as his illustration of a righteous remnant a trio of faithful believers: Noah, who saw all of mankind (except his own family) destroyed by the great flood; Job, the patient patriarch; and Daniel (possibly the Daniel who is one of the chosen captives serving in Nebuchadnezzar’s palace, who will distinguish himself among God’s exiles even more than he already has)."

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

Today's reading regarding God's harsh judgement of Judah recalls to mind John Piper's post Why Was God So Harsh in the Old Testament but More Forgiving in the New? In the post, Piper describes the current times as a window of mercy where we should take advantage of God's mercy before God's judgement and wrath unfolds during the End Times.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God full of love and mercy for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your grace - Your amazing grace.  I sin...daily, failing to love You and others as You love me.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply YOur message for me today and every day. 

[Ahaziah] followed the ways of the house of Ahab and did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as the house of Ahab had done, for he was related by marriage to Ahab’s family.

2 Kings 8-10, 2 Chronicles 21-22 

[Ahaziah] followed the ways of the house of Ahab and did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as the house of Ahab had done, for he was related by marriage to Ahab’s family. 2 Kings 8:27

 

Day 161 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with a study of the violent deaths among the houses of both King Ahab (Joram, Jehu, and royal family) of Israel and King Ahaziah (including royal family members) of Judah.

The Bible is filled with stories of how evil and wicked people meet their end.  Believers are not immune to violence and tragedy (see John 16:33, the stories of Stephen, and other martyrs).  We must also understand that tragedy is part of life since The Fall when God promised difficulties for Adam and his descendants.

John Piper provides this very useful post to share his view on why God is "so harsh in the Old Testament but more forgiving in the New".  Piper writes:

"So I think there is an intention that the Old Testament look bleak, sin look horrible, God look just, and that there be much less mercy, proportionate to what you see in the three years of the ministry of Jesus. And that's intentional. This is what God's heart is to the world right now. Come!

And then the New Testament closes with another Old Testament. The Book of Revelation is horrific! So we're in a window right now.

So if people are watching this right now, they should feel, 'I'm in a window of mercy, and I should embrace it so that I can escape the wrath when it comes again'".

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and You have never left me or forsaken me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your love.  I sin...daily.  Please forgive me for my worry and other sins.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.

Ezekiel 33

Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice. v32

God continues to reinforce Ezekiel's role as watchman - to deliver God's message to the people to repent...so that we may have life.

In the New Testament, the role of prophets and the high priest changes as we have a direct line to Jesus and all of us can have a personal relationship with Jesus vs intercession through the prophet or high priest (Old Testament).  James warns us of reading or hearing the Word of God and not putting it into practice.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. James 1:22-24

 

See also posts on action and being in action.

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love. I worry...and far too much!  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind, and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.