Welcome to the next chapter in our study on Ezekiel. This is where we can be without any doubt about God. I’m so glad you’ve come. Before we start though, let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, thank You for these words even though they are really difficult to read. Thank You for the reminders tucked in here and the hope that is coming beyond all this judgement. Lead us, Lord. In You Name, I pray. Amen.
Please read Ezekiel 6:1-4
Idolatrous Worship Denounced
1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,2 “Son of man, set your face against the mountains of Israel and prophesy against them, 3 and say, ‘You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God! Thus says the Lord God to the mountains and the hills, to the ravines and the valleys: “Behold, I Myself am going to bring a sword on you, and I will destroy your high places [of idolatrous worship], 4 and your altars will become deserted and your pillars for sun-worship will be smashed in pieces; and I will throw down your slain in front of your idols [that cannot bring them back to life].
Behold, I Myself… God is bringing the destruction and the punishment. This is happening because they have turned away from him and gone their own way. Wickedness and evil and lewdness instead of Glory and Safety and Hope. May we learn from this that remaining in Him is the better by far choice. And it is a choice. Free will. Use it wisely.
Please read Ezekiel 6:5-7
Without Any Doubt
5 I will also lay the dead bodies of the children of Israel in front of their [Canaanite] idols; and I will scatter your bones all around your altars. 6 Everywhere you live, the cities will become waste and the high places will become deserted, so that your altars may bear their guilt and become deserted, your idols may be broken and destroyed, your incense altars [for sun-worship] may be cut down, and your works may be blotted out. 7 The slain will fall among you, then you shall know [without any doubt] that I am the Lord.”
Everywhere you live… Yet some will survive, and shall know without any doubt that He is the Lord. You can know it now, before He brings this type of punishment upon you. Know Him, spend time with Him. Praise Him. Obey Him. Focus on Him.
Please read Ezekiel 6:8-10
A Remnant – Without Any Doubt
8 “Yet I will leave some of you alive [a remnant], for you will have some who escaped the sword among the nations when you are scattered throughout the countries. 9 Then those of you who escape will remember Me among the nations to which they will be exiled, how I have been broken by their lewdness and their adulterous hearts which have turned away from Me, and by their eyes which lust after their idols; and they will loathe themselves for the evils which they have committed, for all their repulsive acts. 10 Then they will know [without any doubt] that I am the Lord; I have not said in vain that I would bring this disaster [as punishment] on them.”’
Our God does not speak in vain. What He says will happen will happen. What He says He will do, He will do. Some will live. Remember Him. Live your life today in the Light of His Presence and focus your life on Him.
Please read Ezekiel 6:11-14
Act it Out
11 “Thus says the Lord God, ‘Strike with your fist, stamp with your foot and say, “Alas, because of all the evil atrocities of the house of Israel, which will fall by sword, by famine, and by virulent disease! 12 He who is far away will die of the virulent disease, and he who is near will fall by the sword, and he who remains and is besieged will die by the famine. Thus I will spend My wrath on them. 13 Then you will know [without any doubt] that I am the Lord, when their slain are among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, on all the tops of the mountains, under every leafy tree and under every oak with thick branches, the places where they offered sweet incense and a soothing aroma to all their idols. 14 And I will stretch out My hand against them and make the land a more desolate waste than the wilderness toward Diblah [the Moabite city], throughout all the places where they live; and they will know [without any doubt] that I am the Lord.”’”
Repetition. Maybe it’ll be heard it if He says it over and over. We need not have any doubt that God is real, God is with us, God is all powerful. And we, in Jesus, get to rest in the glory of His Presence. You can be certain you will be there, you will get this chance to rest in His presence if you will but believe and put your whole trust in Jesus.
For Your Glory, O God. Thank You, Jesus.