A Voice in the
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Walk-thru the Bible
-- series --
Ezekiel

Chapters - Topics:
  • 1-2 - The Word of Jehovah (1-2)
  • 002 - To a Rebellious House (ch2)
  • 2-3 - The Messenger (2-3)
  • 4-5 - Object Lesson: Siege and Affliction (4-5)
  • 6-7 - Slain Before Your Idols (6-7)
  • 811 - Israel's Abominations (8-11)
  • 012 - Object Lesson: Exile (ch12)
  • 013 - Whitewash (ch13)
  • 014 - The Lord's Answers thru Idols (14:3-4)
  • 14a - I Jehovah Will Answer by Myself (14:5~)
  • 016 - Naked & Bare (ch16)
  • 018 - Turning Away from... (ch18)
  • 020 - I Will Not be Inquired After (ch20)
  • 022 - Purity in Service (ch22)
  • 023 - Carefree Multitude (ch23)
  • 024 - Don't Cry (24:16)
  • 028 - King of Tyre (28:11-19)
  • 033 - God is Not Fair? (33:10-20)
  • 33a - Kill the Messenger (ch33)
  • 33b - Love Songs (33:30-32)
  • 034 - Shepherds (33-34)
  • 36a - Israel's Physical Restoration (ch36)
  • 36b - And They Shall Know that I am Jehovah (36:38)
  • 037 - Israel & Judah Rejoined (ch37)
  • 038 - Gog/Magog (38-39)
  • 043 - Requirements for God to dwell amongst (43-44)
  • 47a - Waters from the Sanctuary (47:1-12)
  • 47b - Israel's Kingdom Territory (47:13-23)


Re: The Word of Jehovah (Ezekiel 1-2) "..the Word of Jehovah came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest...and the hand of Jehovah was upon him there..." (1:3) While, to most people, the notable thing about this first chapter of Ezekiel is the vision, we are not going to address it, other than to realize that Ezekiel saw it. How can we propose to understand something which Ezekiel, himself, being the one who saw it, didn't fully comprehend. His description is full of comments like, "the likeness of", "this was their appearance", "their appearance was like", "the appearance...as it were..", etc. When Ezekiel's reaction to "the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Jehovah" (1:28) was to "fall on [his] face", we cannot presume to understand it from Ezekiel's mere words. But it seems that quite often, when God called some of His more notable prophets to ministry, He shows a vision of Himself. Moses began by being introduced to God from out of the burning bush. (Ex3) And as Israel was getting firmly entrenched into their rebellion, just after God has delivered them from Egypt, Moses asks God, "Please, show me Your glory" (Exe33:18), whereupon God covers over Moses in a "cleft of the rock" as He passes by and lets Moses see His "back". (vs22-23) As Isaiah is about to be commissioned for service to a people with dull hearts and "their ears heavy, and shut their eyes", before God calls, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" where Isaiah responds, "Here am I! Send me" (Is6:8-10); God shows Isaiah a vision of Heaven; whereupon he sees his own vileness, "Woe is me, for I am undone.." (vs5) So, Ezekiel reacts to God's glory by falling on his face. In his sinful state, all he can do is fall prostrate. If we were to do a study of any people to whom God revealed himself, we would see the same reaction; one of falling prostrate. Even the disciple "whom Jesus loved", who leaned against Jesus at the Last Supper (Jn13:25), in Revelation when John sees Jesus' glory, he also "fell at His feet as dead". (Rev1:17) But another thing we would see, if we did such a study, is that when God speaks with His own, He does not leave them prostrate. Jesus lays His hand on John and says "Do not be terrified; I am the First and the Last". God speaks to Ezekiel and says "stand on your feet." (2:1) But notice; apparently Ezekiel could not do so on his own strength. It says that when God spoke to him, "the Spirit entered" him and "set [him] on [his] feet". (vs2) Regarding the Holy Spirit, we come to understand that there is a difference between the O.T., and the N.T. for the Church. Ezekiel, in his natural state, while being a Jewish priest, nevertheless when he sees God's glory, falls prostrate, until the Holy Spirit enters him. Now, for the Church, one of its characteristics is that it is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. If a person is not indwelt, they are not a Christian. (Rom8:9) Thus, we "come boldly to the throne of grace" (Heb4:16) We "[have] boldness to enter the Holy of Holies by the blood of Jesus" (Heb10:19). Thus, when the Church meets Jesus, do we come prostrate, with our faces to the ground? Or when we see Him will we be standing "on our feet"? 'Just a little something I wonder about, when daydreaming, imagining what it will be like when we see Him. But notice a subtle little -word- choice in 1:3. Depending on which translation you read from it might say that the Word of Jehovah came "to" Ezekiel, or that it came "unto" him. I came to notice this matter recently while going through Ezekiel in the VW-Edition project. Of all the books in the Bible, Ezekiel has the greatest concentration of the expression, "..the Word of Jehovah came unto me, saying..." So what, if one says, "to"; and another says, "unto"? Indeed, if you look up "unto" in the dictionary, it's first definition is "to". It is a matter of understanding how God's Word comes upon His servants. There are many who claim to receive visions and 'words'. In ch13 God will condemn them for receiving "..vanity and lying divination" as they "hope that their word may be confirmed". (13:6) The typical expression of false prophets is something of the order, "It suddenly came to me". Something pops into their minds, and it comes "to" them. Does it come from a demon? Or merely out of their own imaginations? But when God gives a Word to His servants, it is as Isaiah describes it, "The BURDEN against..." (Is31:1, 51:1, 17:1, etc) Where Ezekiel speaks of the "Word of Jehovah UNTO" him, Isaiah speaks of the "BURDEN". Jeremiah speaks of God's Word as a "fire", which when he desired not to speak because his flesh was worn out from the abuse from the hearers, God's Word could not be contained. He was "weary of holding back, and could not" (Jer20:9) Those who penned the original manuscripts of the Scriptures were "propelled along by the Holy Spirit" (2Pt1:21) If we understand the etymology of the word "unto", we see two words, "on" and "to". God's Holy Spirit comes "upon" the servant. God lays His word "on" them, as for Isaiah it was the "burden" that had been laid "on" him. God's Word does not merely come "to" a person, so as to have the potential to be confused as being the person's 'own' word. But God lays it upon that person. Thus, when God brings a Word, it is -UN-to the person. So... The Word of Jehovah comes "unto" Ezekiel; and God shows Ezekiel some appearances and likenesses of Himself and His glory. Ezekiel has no doubt at all that this is Jehovah revealing Himself to him. God's Word comes UNTO Ezekiel repeatedly throughout the book. And as we progress, we will see Ezekiel being a rather unique prophet, of all the prophets of Israel, when we see what God requires of him. When Israel and the world see the fulfillment of the various prophecies, "they will know that I am Jehovah". And as they observe how Ezekiel presents God's Word, they will also "know that a prophet has been among them". (2:5b) [Top] - [Walk-thru Directory]
Re: To a Rebellious House (Ezekiel 2) "And He said to me: Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day. For they are impudent and hardhearted children. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, Thus says the Lord Jehovah. As for them, whether they hear or whether they forbear; for they are a rebellious house; yet they will know that a prophet has been among them." (vs3-5) Well, here we see two essential elements. 1) The audience, and 2) the message. And an incidental addendum, 3) the messenger. Ezekiel is being sent to "God's people". Israel. The nation that came from Abraham's loins through promise. The nation called the "pupil of His eye". (Zech2:8) The nation about which God said to Pharaoh through Moses, "Let My people go!" (Ex5:1) The nation God delivered with His "outstretched arm" and "great judgments". (Ex6:6) The nation of which God says, "I have loved you with an everlasting love" (Jer31:3) How does God describe them 'now'? They have "transgressed" against God. In other words, they have been disobedient to God's Law. They are "impudent". That means, they have "offensive boldness" before God. They are insolent and impertinent. Shameless. They are "hardhearted". In other words, when God tries to guide them, they refuse to hear. They are "rebellious". They know the right way, but are stubborn, and instead are going their own ways. Hmm! This sounds like an entity we see today, doesn't it. An entity which calls itself the "church". Pretty much what is described in the book of Judas ("Jude" in other translations). So, while Ezekiel was sent to the "rebellious" house of Israel, we will see a lot of parallels to today's "church". The same "Spirit" which entered Ezekiel to go to Israel is the same "Spirit" who "says to the churches" today. (Rev2:7,11,etc) And so, now that we know the audience... what is the message? When any man of God proclaims to those claiming to be God's people, what is the message? Gleanings from seminary notes, writings of famous authors, the prescribed outlines ordered from the Sunday school publishing company, summaries and quotes from commentaries, and ??? God says to Ezekiel, "I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, THUS SAYS THE LORD JEHOVAH." Remember in the previous lesson we observed that the "Word of Jehovah came unto Ezekiel". If Jehovah gives the Word as a burden, 'that' is the very Word the man-of-God proclaims. The man of God is like a telegraph operator. The operator does not give his own message; but the customer comes to the window, gives the message; and the operator merely relays the message 'as given' to him. Later in the book we will see God's judgment upon those acting as prophets, proclaiming their 'own' thoughts. God condemns them for this. And again, in this, we will see parallels to today. Most of those out there today are not proclaiming, "Thus says the Lord". And this is why I periodically exhort the readers of these writings to be sure to look up the Scripture references. Don't just be lulled to sleep by the fact that some references are included. Look them up. Understand God's Word. Read the contexts. And yes, if I am not proclaiming God's Word, tell me. But like I say at other times, if you want to challenge something, be sure you are "rightly dividing the Word of Truth". (2Tm2:15) There are some who write in, complaining about this or that, but in most cases never bother to look into the Scriptures. In some more rare cases a person may present Scripture, but they do so merely proof-texting their preconceptions, not understanding that which they preconceive. Do not rely on traditions, or the teachings of the great/famous men. Rely upon the Scriptures. And then, finally, the messenger. God says to Ezekiel, "..do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house. You shall speak My Words to them, whether they will hear or whether they will forbear, for they are most rebellious." (vs6-7) "..yet they will know that a prophet has been among them." (vs5b) [Top] - [Walk-thru Directory]
Re: The Messenger (Ezekiel 2-3) "..yet they will know that a prophet has been among them." (2:5b) Yes, they are MOST rebellious. But proclaim, anyway. Don't be timid. They may reject the Word. Proclaim it anyway. Some will hear, but others won't. It may seem like wasted effort and time. Proclaim it anyway. Don't "be rebellious like that rebellious house.." (2:8) If God gives a Word to the rebellious house, and the prophet withholds the Word, he is being disobedient. It is a thankless job. But the burden he carries is from the Lord. Remember, the Word of Jehovah comes ON-to him. If you have ever "thought about" the ministry, but "wondered" whether or not you should..? DON'T! Don't bother! If you are merely "wondering" about it, it is not from the Lord. When the Lord gives the burden, it burns like a fire and you cannot get rid of it. A true prophet of God lives, eats and sleeps the Word. Ezekiel was given a "scroll of a book" to eat. (2:9-10) You see, God's Word becomes a very part of God's messenger. There are no other "options" for such a person as to what he does. It is God-ordained. Oh, but you are so 'harsh and judgmental'! "..there was writing on the inside and on the outside, and written on it were lamentations and mourning and woe." (2:10) Oh, but, give us 'happy things' to think about. Give us things that are 'uplifting'. "Behold, I have made your face strong against their faces, and your forehead strong against their foreheads." (3:8) To Ezekiel God says, "..receive into your heart all My Words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears. And Go! ...speak to them and tell them, Thus says the Lord Jehovah, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear." (3:10-11) Ezekiel is sent to his own people. (3:6) Many of today's prophets are sent to the "church". We do not speak of strange things, of mysteries. It is not that there is a lack of understanding. It is like we often say, they are "NOT WILLING TO LISTEN to you" God says "because they are not willing to listen to Me; for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted." (3:7) Notice that word "all" in there. People often complain when we essentially catagorize "all" the "church" as being apostate. This is what Ezekiel was sent to. This is what today's prophets are sent to. Any of you who read this, who are also fellow-messengers of God, take courage in this. Be strong in God's Word. Ezekiel was made "like adamant stone, harder than flint" (3:9) in his presentation to Israel. Yes, we are condemned by the hearers for being "harsh". But to whom do we answer? Who called us to this ministry? What is the stark reality of our responsibility? Notice... "When I say to the wicked, You shall die the death, and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand." (3:18) If you read the passage, you see the responsibility. Warning the wicked to repent. Warning the righteous not to fall into sin. The "job" of the prophet is not to make people "feel good", but to "WARN THEM". If the prophet is faithful to his mission, then the blood of each hearer is upon themselves. If they repent, they are delivered from judgment. If they refuse, because "they are a rebellious house" (3:27), they reap their own consequences. But you have delivered yourself from retribution. What is God's judgment against an unfaithful prophet? What does God mete out when it says, "his blood I will require at your hand"? Dear prophet, do you really want to have to find out? Yes, if you are unfaithful, the wicked will still die in their own sin, because the "soul who sins shall die". (18:4) But I would not want to have to stand before God with that blood on my hands! Related Topic: "The Calling of a Prophet" (Jeremiah 1) [Top] - [Walk-thru Directory]
Re; Object Lesson: Siege and Affliction (Ezekiel 4-5) "You also, son of man, take a clay tablet and lay it before you, and engrave on it a city, Jerusalem. And lay siege against it, build a siege wall against it, and heap up a mound against it; set camps against it also, and place battering rams against it all around...lie also on your left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it..three hundred and ninety days...and when you have completed them, lie again on your right side..forty days [for the sins of Judah]...and surely I will put bands on you so that you cannot turn from one side to another till you have completed the days of your siege." (4:1-8) And lest we end up quoting the entire passage, let me urge you to get your Bible out and look up these two chapters and read them to get the entire picture. Ezekiel is to lie on his two sides, bound there by God, having his food and water sitting by him. God originally says that his cooking fuel should be "human excrement" (vs12), and when he complains, God relents and says to use cow manure. (vs15) If Jeremiah is called the 'weeping prophet' because he continually says, "Streams of water run down my eyes for the destruction of the daughter of my people" (Lam3:48), Ezekiel is the 'object lesson' prophet. He, Ezekiel himself, -is- continually the object lesson. My, my! I wonder how many of us could be the kind of servant to God that Ezekiel was. And actually, unless God had been forcing Ezekiel, he might not have been doing what he did, either. Something we did not address previously, when Ezekiel is sent to the Israeli captives, God physically lifts him up and carries him away. And it says that Ezekiel went, essentially in today's vernacular, kicking and screaming, "So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of Jehovah was strong upon me." (3:14) And furthermore, Ezekiel is sent as a prophet to God's people, but God makes him a mute. God says he will be confined, but his mouth will be closed so he cannot rebuke those who take him. (3:25-26) But then, when it is time for him to proclaim "Thus says the Lord Jehovah" (3:27), that God will loose his tongue so he can speak. And throughout the book we will see his mouth being close and/or opened by God. In other words, Ezekiel, while being God's prophet, does not have a will of his own. When God wants him to speak, God opens his mouth. When he is done, his tongue is tied. Somewhat as though God might have been reaching down and turning him "on" and "off" like a water faucet. In other words, whenever Ezekiel was to speak, all he was permitted to speak was "Thus says Jehovah". And so here, Ezekiel is tied down to the ground for over a year. He ate his food "by weight" and drank his water "by measure" (4:10-11) Stuck in one spot, not able to move. One wonders if he got "bed sores"? Perhaps his joints all stiffened up from lack of movement? Beating sun, shivering cold and rain... there was Ezekiel in front of his G.I.Joe battle field, day and night. Cooking his food with cow manure. Can you just imagine his own personal hygiene! (Use your imaginations) And since he is being an object lesson, we can also assume he is "wasting away" from malnutrition, in view of the people. (4:17), because his eating "by weight" isn't really quite enough to fill him. All for what purpose? The "iniquity of the house of Israel" (4:5) and the "iniquity of the house of Judah" (4:6) All of this as "a -SIGN- to the house of Israel" (4:3b) Furthermore, when he gets done with this, he -really- "loses it"! He is told to shave all his hair off, and start whacking at it all over with a sword, and burning some in the fire. (5:2,4) Again, why? When God called Israel out of Egypt, He set her "in the midst of the nations and the lands all around her" (5:5) On other occasions we have observed about Israel, that were all the continents to be pulled back together into one giant land-mass as they were at one time, that the location where Israel sits would be the geographical center of the world. God set Israel there to be a witness to the world of Himself. As a "light to the nations" (Is42:6, 49:6, 60:3, Ac13:46-47, 1Pt2:9) But what did Israel do? "And she has rebelled against My judgments by doing wickedness.." (5:6) And notice... not only did Israel sin against God, what was the nature of that sin? "..wickedness MORE THAN THE NATIONS,..because you have multiplied disobedience more than the nations that are all around you" (5:6-7) Israel was like the typical preacher's kids. It is said that preacher's kids are either -real- "good", or -real- "bad". And when they are bad, they often behave worse than the unsaved/unchurched. And so, what is God's verdict? "Behold I, even I, am against you and will execute judgments in your midst in the sight of the nations" (5:8) Israel was set in the midst of the nations to shine God's Light to them; but instead, they rebelled. Therefore, God is going to make an "example" out of them before those very nations to whom they were supposed to give God's Light. Do you ever wonder why "the Jew" always seems to be hounded and persecuted more than any other ethnicity? It is God's judgment against her. "..because of all [her] abominations" (5:9) Just as Ezekiel was to have originally cooked using his own excrement (that which issued from himself) as fuel, "therefore fathers shall eat their sons in your midst" (due to the famine). Just as Ezekiel went wild chopping up his own hair with a sword, God says, "I will scatter [them] to all the winds". God was bringing upon Israel every imaginable famine, pestilence, sword, exile. Not only were they beaten, raped, killed, and tortured in other ways, and killed by wild animals...when those left alive were taken exile, it is said that some nations would chain the prisoners together; but not with mere shackles. They would put hooks through the flesh/muscle above the shoulder, and chain them together in that fashion. (2Ch33:11, Am4:2) And you can be sure there were no pain-killers. And God says to them, "My eye will not spare, nor will I have any pity. Thus shall My anger be spent, and I will cause My fury to rest upon them..." (5:11,13) "..and they shall know that I, Jehovah, have spoken in My zeal, when I have spent My fury upon them." (5:13) And Ezekiel is the object lesson of what is 'going to' happen to them. They will taunt him..."Oh, that crazy ol' coot over there, have you seen the latest with that crazy prophet? Haw, haw, haw!" Now... what is the whole point of considering these things about Israel, when we are predominantly Gentiles, and many of you who read this have a label as being part of Christ's "Church"? Israel called themselves as being of Jehovah. But they rebelled. Ezekiel was sent in the manner that he was, because they were "a rebellious house". (2:5) Today the Gentile entity calling itself "Church" boasts in its own self-righteousness. And Paul warns, "Do not be highminded, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either." (Rom11:20-21) Remember these things! Are you listening? To whom is it that Jesus promises the verdict of, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who work out lawlessness!" (Mt7:23) ?? Those continually saying, "Lord, Lord" (vs21-22), and doing what appear to be great miracles of God. Yes, an entity that calls itself, "Church". Forget about grace, grace, graaeeesss! If you are a pretender, a changeling, a wolf in sheep's attire; intoning "Lord, Lord"... hear this warning... "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Heb10:31) What we read about Israel is an "example" to us. (1Cor10:6) Israel, called by God's name, turned away from God and was judged as the "rebellious house". All their rebellion and judgment is recorded for us for what purpose? "Now these things became examples for us, so that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. Neither become idolaters as [were] some of them. As it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them prostituted, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us test Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor murmur, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come..." And now take heed to this next verse... "Therefore let him who thinks he is [firmly] established take heed that he not fall." (1Cor10:6-12) Yes, yes, I know. When some of us proclaim this strongly, continually, there are some of you for whom we just 'tick-you-off'. But I don't know of any modern-day prophet (proclaimer/for-TH-teller) who has been called upon to be subjected to what Ezekiel demonstrated to Israel. If you remain hard-of-heart, no greater object lessons in excremental graphic detail will melt you. As Abraham said to the "rich man", that his relatives would not believe even if someone were to rise from the dead back to warn them of the horrors of Hell (Lk16); it was proven out, as Lazarus -was- raised; and rather than repenting and believing, the rulers instead sought to kill Lazarus, too. (Jn12:10-11) But the true man of God continues faithfully anyway, "whether they will hear or whether they will forbear, for they are most rebellious" (2:7) But you know what? If you are of the rebellious sort and scoff at what God is trying to reach through to you with, there will come a day when you will "know that a prophet has been among" you. (2:5) Understand that all the judgments God promises are sure; they are certain. "Anyone who rejected Moses' Law dies without mercy before two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled on the Son of God, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of Grace?" (Heb10:28-29) "I, Jehovah, have spoken." (5:17) Amen! [Top] - [Walk-thru Directory]
Re: Slain Before Your Idols (Ezekiel 6-7) "O mountains of Israel, hear the Word of the Lord Jehovah! Behold I, even I, will bring a sword against you, and I will destroy your high places... I will cast down your slain before your idols. And I will lay the corpses of the children of Israel before their idols, and I will scatter your bones all around your altars." (~6:3-5) What were some of Israel's idols? The one that gets mentioned most is Baal. The famous account of Elijah praying down fire upon the water-drenched sacrifice was a "contest" between the Most High and Baal. Remember who "won"? And Elijah had all of Baal's prophets killed. (1Kg18) Is Baal worshiped today? The evil Queen Jezabel was the one whose little finger wicked King Ahab was wrapped around. They were Israel's patrons of Baal. Thyatira is condemned for allowing "Jezebel to teach". (Rev2:20) She calls herself a "prophetess". Isn't today's "church" busy enthroning their Jezebel prophetesses? In considering the "Seven Churches" we have seen her "host" offered on the altar, eaten as the so-called "body of Christ". She is condemned for leading astray "My servants to prostitute themselves to sexual immorality". Just the other day one of my customers was one of these 'Jezebels', a leader of some sort of "ministry", with "paint on the eyes" (2Kg9:30, Jer4:30), all busting-out, with the demeanor and appearance of one who was "after men", more than one serving the Most High. There was Molech, part of their Baal worship. Throughout Leviticus Israel was warned against letting their "seed pass through the fire to Molech". (Lev18:21) And what was one of Solomon's faults? He "built a high place..for Molech the abomination of the people of Ammon" (1Kg11:7) What did this mean, to "pass their seed through the fire"? The image of Molech was hollow. A fire was built inside to where the image would become red-hot. While the drums were beating loudly, the parents would carry their as-yet-live babies and place them into the red-hot 'hands' of Molech, where the babies would scream and thrash about until dead. Is anything like this done today in "christian" America? We are not so "barbaric" as to "burn" our babies. Oh, no! Instead, we hire professionals to rip them, limb from limb, suck their brains out while they are still kicking and screaming! We wail and mourn the barbaric radicals who brought down our WTC towers, killing thousands. But the same number who died on 9-11 are murdered -DAILY- in the womb! Offered to the gods of convenience, life-style and immorality. In ancient times they beat drums loudly to muffle the screams. Today, the screams are muffled within the womb! Jezebel's followers have made their own bodies into altars of sacrifice! And those who would seek to rescue these babies are not hailed as "heroes", like NYC's firefighters. No! They are hunted down to be imprisoned and prosecuted! Solomon also worshiped the Queen of heaven. Even after most of Israel had been taken captive, the remnants still rebelled, on their way to Egypt, insisting that they -would- worship her. (Jer44:17) Do we see her adulation today? How many so-called "christians" pray to the one they call "Mary"? You know, when Israel insisted on worshiping her, they said, "But since we stopped burning incense to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything, and have been consumed by the sword and by famine.." (Jer44:18) In other words, things were good when we were in idolatry. As I sat down to begin this study, to consider where the Lord might take this series next, I first read a few e-mails that had come in. Amongst them was a forward, and in it was expressed the current Bush/Powell doctrines regarding Israel and a "Palestinian State". Speaking of Israel as being "occupiers" of Palestinian territory. Of Israelis who have built and settled in territories Israel won when Arab countries attacked her in the past, as being "settlers". That the current US administration is developing a policy of 'thought' that, had the US been more involved in forcing Israel to give up some of its God-given land to the Palestinians, that the attack on the WTC would not have happened. Thus, one way to forestall further terrorist attacks is to force a plan to legitimize the PLO terrorist organization into a "viable" national entity. Well, Mr. Bush, it is PRECISELY -BECAUSE- the US has been continually against Israel (not to mention our other abominations!) that the WTC attack happened. Notice how God responded to Israel's reasonings as to why they worshipped the queen of heaven: "The incense that you burned [all over the place]; did not Jehovah remember them, and did it not come into His mind? Yes, so that Jehovah could no longer hold back because of the evil of your doings, because of the abominations which you have committed! Because you have burned incense, and because you have sinned against Jehovah, nor walked in His Law, nor in His statutes, nor did you walk in His testimonies, therefore this evil has happened to you, as it is this day." (~Jer44:21-23) Well, notice God's judgment against Israel. (America, with similar sins, are you paying attention??) Where their altars were, there they would be slain. And notice God's attitude in the judgment: "My eye will not spare you, nor will I have pity; but I will repay your ways, and your abominations will be in your midst..." (7:4) Oh-but! God is a God of luuuuuv! God accepts you "just as you are". That is God's graeeeessss! Ahh, but! Those who have been proclaiming these things are false prophets. God did not send them. "The prophets prophesy lies in My name; I did not send them, nor have I commanded them, nor did I speak to them. They prophesy to you a false vision and a worthless divination, and a thing of no value, and the deceit of their heart." (Jer14:14) Yes, God is love (1Jn4:8), but He is also a God of "fury". "Now upon you I will soon pour out My fury, and spend My anger upon you; I will judge you ACCORDING TO YOUR WAYS, and I will REPAY YOU for all your abominations." (7:8) "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord." (Rom12:19, Heb10:30) Then... "..then you shall know that I am Jehovah!" (7:4) Oh, No, No, No! You have this all wrong! That's not how you get people to make "commitments". Don't you know? "God luuuuvs you, and has a wonderful plan for your life." (The "1st law" of the "Four") After all, doesn't God say, "For I know the thoughts which I am planning for you, says Jehovah; thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jer29:11) This verse was part of the promotional literature of the above-mentioned 'Jezebel' who came in to my store. A ministry of "positive" things. Thing is, they have taken that verse out of its proper context; after Israel has been punished for her sins, and when God is then 'restoring' them, bringing them back from Babylon. But how is Israel going to "know" their God? He must punish them with no sparing and no pity. Only after they have been thusly punished, it says, "And you shall know that I am Jehovah who strikes". (7:9) Now, we have looked at some parallels between Israel and the apostasy that is called, "church". We have also seen parallels for a nation that many call "christian". If all this came upon Israel, how much worse will be the coming judgment upon America and the false-church! But let's focus back on Israel. Many of the so-called "church" boast that Israel is done for. They don't care that our "christian" president will go about to give Israel's God-given territory away to terrorists, because in their minds, "Israel doesn't matter" because God's eye is now on "the church"....and, oh yes...America! "God bless America"! [I'm becoming increasingly nauseated by that mantra! I wonder how many times I've been muttering "Oh, shut up!" of late?] Notice that, even though "the slain shall fall in your midst" (6:7), that God gives a promise. An enduring hope. "Yet I will leave a remnant, so that you may have some who escape the sword among the nations, when you are scattered throughout the earth." (6:8) What will characterize this remnant? "..those of you who escape will remember Me.." (6:9a) And how will they view themselves? "..they will loathe themselves for the evils which they committed in all their abominations" (6:9b) OH...QUICK! CALL THE COUNSELLORS! These people need counseling to reinstate their 'self-esteem'. No! What kind of heart gains God's favorable attention? "But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word." (Is66:2) Amen! [Top] - [Walk-thru Directory]
Re: Israel's Abominations (Ezekiel 8-11) "So I lifted up my eyes toward the north, and behold, toward the north at the gate of the altar, was this image of jealousy at the entrance... Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel commits here, to make Me go far away from My sanctuary? Now turn again, you will see greater abominations" (8:5-6) When Manasseh became king at age 12, he brought some most horrendous things into God's temple. He set up images in the court, sacrifices his own offspring to Molech, and also set up an image inside the temple, along with all his witchcraft and astrology which he practiced. All the good his father, Hezekiah, had done in eradicating idolatry, Manasseh reestablished, and added even more abominations. He was likely the worst king before God. (2Kg21) So, when God speaks of "image of jealousy" here, remember that when the Ten Commandments were given, that when He commands not to bow to other gods, nor make images to them, the explanation which accompanies the command is, "I, Jehovah your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me" (Ex20:5) This is the state of affairs as Ezekiel has this vision. And notice a comment which God speaks to Jeremiah a lot, "..this house which is called by My name.." (Jer7:10, etc) Perhaps the reader will understand our continual comments about the state of things today when we speak of SO-CALLED "christians", or the "PRETEND church". It is -called- the "church". They -label- themselves as "christians". But they are not. Just as God's house had become defiled with pagan idols, such that God speaks of what used to be (notice He is not saying "My house" as He did when Solomon built it -1Chr28:6; or "My house..of prayer" -Is56:7) His house as that "which is called..." It has the label. But it no longer represents the real Presence of Jehovah, because Israel has rejected God, in favor of their heathen idols. Does today's "church" have images of jealousy? We have spoken of them in the past in the "10 Commandments" studies and not long ago in addressing Mythology. All the images of the cross, pictures of "Jesus", symbols to paganism. At Xmass they bring in the pagan tree. We won't re-address all this now. Ezekiel is then shown their carvings of "creeping things, abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, carved all around on the wall", along with the 70 elders worshiping with their incense. (8:10-11) Israel's idolatry was not something that "the people" were doing, and the leaders merely "couldn't stop them". But rather, this idolatry started from the leadership-on-down. The women were "weeping for Tammuz". (8:14) Tammuz was a sun god, the "husband" of Ishtar (queen of heaven, middle-eastern mutation of Egypt's Isis). And the worship had the women weeping, bewailing his funeral. He was honored at the summer solstice. "Have you seen this, O son of man?" and so he is brought to "the inner court of the house of Jehovah" where he sees "25 men with their backs toward the temple of Jehovah and their faces toward the east, and they were worshiping the sun toward the east" (8:15-16) Well, we know this is being done in today's "church". Recently we spoke of the Easter sunrise service. You see, we have the whole -god- "family". Worshiping Ishtar (easter) the "wife", and Tammuz (sun) the "husband". Early on "easter" the [c]hurch worships Ishtar-Tammuz. Same thing Israel was doing. Related topic: "Anti-Semitism, Catholicism and Passover?" So God asks, "Have you seen this, O son of man? Is it a trivial thing to the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they commit here? ...therefore I also will act in fury. My eye will not spare nor will I have pity; and though they cry in My ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them." (8:17-18) Notice a couple of things here. If you notice in this passage (Please be sure to get your Bibles out and read it to see the entire context. These studies are not be-all, end-all unto themselves. They are intended to point out a few highlights from these passages, but God's Word comes from the Scriptures.), God is continually asking Ezekiel, "have you seen this?" Why? Remember God's commission of Ezekiel as a prophet? He was called to the "rebellious house", to go and proclaim, "Thus says Jehovah". He was given a book to eat. (ch1-3) God's Word was made a very part of his essence. He has God's Word within him, and he is proclaiming God's judgments. But he needs one more element. He also needs to see Israel's wickedness the same way God sees it. How can he be an effective messenger and proclaim the message with all the necessary 'force', unless in his very being he also sees the corruption to the point of detesting it the same way God does. Thus, God shows Ezekiel all Israel's sin. Thus, as he proclaims God's judgment, he 'understands' in his own mind that what he proclaims is "just". That God is "recompensing their deeds upon their own head". (9:10) What they are getting, they fully deserve. So, how is God's judgment going to be meted out? Is He going to utterly wipe out the whole lot? In the vision, those in charge come along with their "destroying weapon" (9:1) But before God sets them loose, He "marks" the righteous ones. (9:4) What is the basis of their being marked? Are they the ones who are continually gathering and "praising the Lord"? They are faithfully "worshiping"? They are "happy" and with smiling faces are "dancing around"? They are having experiences of being "spirit-filled"? "..put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done.." (vs4) Remember the close to the preceeding lesson. If you have forgotten, it is found in Isaiah 66:2 As for the rest, "Go..through the city and kill; do not let your eye spare, nor have pity. Utterly slay [everyone who doesn't have the mark] and BEGIN AT MY SANCTUARY.." (9:6) You see, there is a parallel today. God's ways are NOT to pour out His wrath upon His Believers. "He did not appoint us to wrath" (1Th5:9) Today's pretend [c]hurch does not believe that Jesus is coming to catch away His Believers. They think they are going through what they call, "the tribulation". The thing they don't understand is that the time that is coming is not merely "affliction" (Jn16:33), but it is God's wrath. A time when He is judging the world. And since they are of those who worship idols, turning their back upon God, facing east and worshiping all sorts of pagan deities, they will, indeed, remain on earth, and will receive God's judgment "without pity". And notice another picture God gives Ezekiel. After Ezekiel has been shown all the abominations in the house "called by God's name", then "the glory of Jehovah departed from the threshold of the house.." (10:18) Ezekiel was shown that, although the physical temple might have existed, due to Israel's idolatry and rebellion, God was no longer there. Thing is, just like Samson, most of Israel didn't know "that Jehovah had departed from him" (Jud16:20) They religiously sing their "worship songs", but they haven't a clue to the fact that God is not in their midst. They have turned the back to God's Word and doctrine, preferring instead to be "spirit-filled" and -feel- "blessed". This is why we continually exhort Believers to "come out of her My people" (Rev18:4, Jer51:45) God is not in those so-called "churches"! He left a long time ago when they turned their backs on Him and His Word and started worshiping the gods of experiences, self-esteem, and every other abomination that exists today. And also, these who worship the abominations, "devise wickedness and give evil advice.." (11:2) are also the ones who proclaim, "the time is not near; let us build houses. This city is the kettle, and we are the meat." (11:3) Convert that to today: There won't be a Rapture. God is sending revival. Be healthy and wealthy and thus partake of God's "blessing". Instead of "purifying" themselves (1Jn3:3), they are busy building earthly kingdoms, and engaging in such abominations as prayer warfare. When Israel's leaders said such things, if you continue in the chapter, you will see God's judgment against them. If God's judged His own elect in this manner, what do you suppose is in store for the "wild olive branches" that were grafted in! "Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled on the Son of God, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of Grace?" (Heb10:29) But, back to Israel... Again, God's promised restoration. Even though God judged Israel, He does not utterly cast them away. "Although I have cast them far off among the nations, and although I have scattered them throughout the earth, yet I shall be a little sanctuary for them in the lands where they have gone." (11:16) And then, "I will gather you from the peoples, assemble you from the lands where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel. And they will come there, and they will take away all its detestable things and all its abominations from there." (vs17-18) And how will this happen? God promises Israel, "And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God" (vs19-20) But notice that for those whose hearts insist on their abominations: "I will recompense their deeds upon their own heads, says the Lord Jehovah" (11:21) Amen! [Top] - [Walk-thru Directory]
Re: Object Lesson: Exile (Ezekiel 12) "Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see and see not. They have ears to hear and hear not, for they are a rebellious house. Therefore, son of man, prepare for yourself vessels for exile, and go into exile by day before their eyes. And you shall be exiled from your place to another place before their eyes. It may be they will consider, though they are a rebellious house." (vs2-3) A couple of things we can see here. First of all, how "negative" is this message! How full of "personal attacks"! I mean... doesn't God know better? Doesn't He know how to "win friends and influence people"? Over and over and over God calls them "rebellious". It's as though He seems to think there is nothing 'good' in Israel. Aren't we supposed to "look for the good in everybody", and "if you can't say something good about a person, don't say anything at all"?? We are supposed to 'luuuv' people into the kingdom. If God were posting this message to any message board, the monitors would remove it for being so venomous and being such "hate speech". The other thing is the repetition of the phrase "before their eyes". Early on in his ministry Ezekiel was required to be "locked" into place, lying first on one side, and then the other, as he "laid siege" to a portrayal of Jerusalem. (ch4) 430 days he was lying on the ground with God's "bands" laid on him so he could not move. (vs8) Now, he is pretending again. Going through the motions, "acting out" being taken into exile. What Ezekiel was illustrating was a portrayal of what God was telling Israel was about to befall them for their rebellion. It was one thing for God to send prophets to Israel, imploring them to repent, "rising early and sending". (2Ch36;15) But they would not listen. They would say, "we WILL DO" what we want. We WILL NOT obey God, but we WILL DO our own devices. (Jer44:16-17) So, God tries something else. God already knew that 'visual' aids are more effective than -mere- 'words', even before modern teaching theories 'discovered' it. It's one thing to hear the words of warning, but to 'see' what captivity might look like... that should grab 'em where they tremble. Ezekiel, do these things "before their eyes". Why? "..IT MAY BE they will consider.." (vs3) Ezekiel, we have been talking to them till we're "blue in the face", but they are so rebellious. Let's try another method...see if we can get their attention. See if even ANYTHING AT ALL will sink in, even though they are so rebellious, let's give this a try. Maybe...Sigh...just MAY-BE.. Well, history has shown the outcome. Israel continued to be rebellious, and were taken captive. But notice God's faithful servant. Poor Ezekiel had to go through so much abuse throughout his 'career' in the ministry. We are not told what his attitude was about doing this particular object lesson, but we know that he drug his feet to even -be- a prophet originally. God had to forcibly "lift [him] up" (3:14) to take him where He wanted him. And Ezekiel went "in bitterness, in the heat of [his] spirit". But God labels Ezekiel, "I have set you as a sign to the house of Israel". (12:6) What is the purpose of a sign? To either point the way, or give instruction. Dear fellow-Believer... do you sometimes wonder "why" certain things happen in your life? When there was no sin in your life, the Lord gave you illness. When you were being faithful, the Lord gave you financial hard times. Perhaps you have been placed in the middle of a bunch of scorpions (2:6) who snap at you, and you find yourself continually in confrontation, standing on God's Word, and the scorpions attack you with their deceitful venom. Anyone who is a Believer, and lives on this earth, is a "witness" of Christ to the world. (Lk24:48) We are "lights". (Mt5:14) Perhaps you don't much like the attention? You'd just as rather live a peaceful life, "minding your own business"?? Well, lights are not designed to be hidden. (Mt5:15) The various situations the Lord puts us in are for the purpose of showing forth His glory. If we are in illness, His strength is shown through (in spite of) our weakness. (2Cor12:9) If we are attacked, God's wisdom is shown through our ignorance. (Mk13:11) So that they might see that we are "with Jesus". (Acts4:13) That they see "not I, but the grace of God with me." (1Cor15:10) What is the outcome of the faithfulness of God's servant? "He who hears, let him hear; and he who stops his ears, let him stop; for they are a rebellious house." (Eze3:27) You see, that person you are witnessing/ministering to and praying for may likely never come to the Lord in repentance. But "they shall know that I am Jehovah". (12:15) Amen! [Top] - [Walk-thru Directory]
Re: Whitewash (Ezekiel 13) Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy out of their own heart, Hear the Word of Jehovah! Thus says the Lord Jehovah: Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing! (13:2-3) Jeremiah says similar things, "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture! says Jehovah" (Jer23:1) While we might combine these two chapters into one study, I think Ezekiel gives us -quite- plenty to chew on for this lesson. But you might wish to read Jeremiah ch23 to get a fuller picture. Remember a couple studies ago (ch8-11) we observed that it was Israel's -leaders- who were guilty of abominations. When God's destruction went out to kill, He commands, "and begin at My sanctuary" (9:6) Now, God addresses those who proclaim to the leaders. Yes, the priests and Levites served before the people unto God in the temple in all the worship rituals. But the prophets were a "notch above". The priests performed the prescribed rituals as written down in the Law. But the prophets would receive special messages from Jehovah to proclaim to the priests, kings and people. Certainly, the people were condemned for their rebellion and idolatry. But some of their error might be 'understandable', because it might be considered that they are merely -following- what the priests said. And while the priests and scribes should have known better because they had the actual scrolls of God's written Law to read, which the common people did not... the prophets were the ones God anointed with His Spirit with God's Word directly to the people. It was -prophets- who actually 'wrote' (or dictated to scribes -Jer36:4) the words of those scrolls. Notice the condemnation: they "follow their -own- spirit" when, in fact, they had seen nothing. They see "vanity and lying divination" (vs6) "Divination" is an occult practice of fortunetelling or conjuring. It works in the spirit realm. They claim to receive their messages from "the divine", thus, "divination". But if God is saying that "Jehovah has not sent them", what is the source of their visions? If it is not God, there is only one other source. Satan and/or his demons. Notice regarding their conjuring, "..they -HOPE- that their word may be confirmed". (vs6b) Whereas, God's Word is the "-SURE- Word of Prophecy" (2Pt1:19) When Daniel stood before Nebuchadnezzar, he proclaims confidently, "..the dream is certain, and the interpretation of it is sure" (Dan2:45) The best today's "christian" conjurers can boast is 70%. So, when they make their boastful proclamations, there is always that 30% doubt that what they proclaim will come to pass. They can only "hope" their word at that particular moment will fit into that 70%. Thus, God calls what they do, "lying divination". (vs7) It is -NOT- of Jehovah! God's judgment to those of Israel was "they shall not be in the assembly of My people, nor be written in the record of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter into the land of Israel" (vs9) Translate the same judgment to the "[c]hurch"... They will not be part of the Rapture to "meet the Lord in the air" (1Th4:17), They will not be found in the "Book of Life" (Phil4:3, Rev13:8, 17:8,etc), and they will not be allowed entrance into Heaven, but Jesus will say, "I never knew you". (Mt7:23, Lk13:25) What are prophets supposed to be doing? They are to "close up the wall and stand in the gap" (22:30), they are to "build walls" (13:5). What was the purpose of the city walls? To keep the enemy out. To keep plunderers and robbers out. To keep the residents safe from harm. When a prophet is doing God's counsel, he causes God's "people to hear My Words, then they would have turned them from their evil way and from the evil of their doings." (Jer23:22) But the false prophets certainly do "build walls". They have an appearance of being "holy" and a pretense of being "great men of God". But when they build these walls, how do they build? When they proclaim "Peace! when there is no peace" it is like building with stones, but instead of using mortar to hold the stones/bricks together with strength; they merely pile the rocks up, and then slap some "whitewash" over the top. (vs11) It looks pretty, and people "feel" safe because they have the appearance of righteousness, but as Jesus said to the religious leaders of His day that they were like "whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness." (Mt23:27) Spiritual walls are ones which keep out evil and error. In Ezekiel's day the prophets were building walls with whitewash. Today, the prophets are even worse than those of Ezekiel's day, or when Jesus chided the scribes and pharisees. Today, they do not -build- walls, but they TEAR THEM DOWN! They sing, "Walls come down, walls come down". The wall of Godly doctrine which protects a Believer against the errors of the evil one, they DELIBERATELY knock them down, and invite the enemy into the city, and send the citizens out amongst the wolves...and these days, satan's hosts are having a feeding frenzy, because the sheep are not being protected. Dear Reader, if you sometimes think this ministry is rather "harsh" in its words, it is because of all those things you see out there that LOOK LIKE "walls", but we know from God's Word that they are merely a whitewash. And in many quarters we see the walls crumbling down and the wolves are coming in droves in packs and devouring. How does one protect sheep and chase the wolves away? By drastic means, and LOUD SHOUTS. LOOK OUT! WATCH OUT! DON'T BE DECEIVED! To the wolves, SHOO, SCRAM! GET OUTTA HERE! No, we DON'T invite them in to our fellowships! All they are there for is to, "steal, kill and destroy" (Jn10:10) They have NO INTENTION of being saved! Do not be "seduced" (vs10) by them! And if you read the section vs17-23, you will see similar warnings about the women with their occult and "amulet" (vs20) trinkets. Remember God's warning against making "any likeness". (Ex20:4) Even people like Mariah Carey and various paganist, New Age movie stars wear crosses on their necklaces. But that certainly does NOT make them "Christian". So... notice God's judgment upon Israel's false prophets. What we see, understand that similar things await today's false prophets. God is sending a "flooding rain", "great hailstones" and a "stormy wind" to knock the whitewash down. And when the wall is found to be fraudulent, the question, "Where is the mortar with which you plastered it?" (vs12) Where is the substance to all your boasts? Where is the Truth? When it is thrown down, "so that its foundation will be uncovered" (vs14), the Truth will be bared. The false prophets will be "consumed". God will do this in Fury, Anger, and Wrath. The wall and its whitewashers will be "no more". (vs15) And lest there be any confusion as to -who- God is talking about... "..that is, the prophets of Israel who prophesy..who see visions of peace...when there is no peace, declares the Lord Jehovah" (vs16) But notice also. When these false prophets have been consumed in God's wrath, they will suddenly know the Truth. Nobody in Hell will be an unbeliever. Remember that satan and his demons also "believe and shudder". (Jacob2:19) So much for "Sola Fide"... "Only Believe"!! You see, He says to them as they are going into destruction... "And you shall know that I am Jehovah." (vs14b) Amen! [Top] - [Walk-thru Directory]
Re: The Lord's answers through idols (Ezekiel 14:3-4) "Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put the stumbling-block of their iniquity before their face. Should I at all be inquired of by them? Therefore speak to them, and say to them, So says the Lord Jehovah: Every man of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, and puts the stumbling-block of his iniquity before his face, and comes to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him in it by the host of his idols;" (Ez14:3-4) What another fascinating passage! If we look at Israel's history, if we were to summarize in one word, the reason for their dispersion throughout the world over the centuries, that word would be "idolatry" When God gave the Law, the very first of the "Ten Commandments" is "You shall have no other gods before Me." (Ex20:3) And yet, their -primary- sin was idolatry. Breaking of that very first commandment! They began their rebellion even while Moses was in God's presence, receiving all the laws, with their golden calf. (Ex32) But here, God is saying through Ezekiel, 'I will answer him via idols.' You see, God has given man a conscience. (Rom2:14-15) No matter what man may do, God is continually 'striving' to reach man through the Holy Spirit. (Gen6:3,Jn16:8) With Israel He was "rising early" and sending His "messengers" (2Ch36:15) because He has pity on His own. But man is continually running away from God, "like sheep" (Is53:6) going his own way. And God is always pleading "Turn, turn from your evil ways, for why will you die?" (Ez33:11) So, if man is stubbornly engrossed in idolatry, how is God going to reach him? Well... as this passage says... through his idols. But the idols' prophets proclaim falsehood! How can a person come to God through falsehood? Ever hear the expression as a child? Maybe you said it to yours, when they were getting older and should 'know better'? "If you're gonna act like a child, I'm gonna treat you like one." Well, that's a little bit what God does. According to the manner in which the person behaves towards God, that's the way God responds. Notice: "With the merciful, You will show Yourself merciful; with an upright man You will show yourself upright; with the pure You will show Yourself pure; and with the crooked You will show Yourself perverse." (2Sm22:26-27,Ps18:25-26) Is God limited when false prophets speak? If they use anything at all of His Word, remember that His Word does not go out "void" without accomplishing what God intends. (Is55:11) Even if that "Word" is a Westcott/Hort perVersion. Can a person find salvation while sitting in a Catholic church? Well, from the Pope on down, they distort the Scriptures. But they -do- speak of Jesus dying "for the sins of the world." God is not limited by the rest of what they teach, when it comes to the individual's heart, at the level of the conscience. The person can hear that Jesus "died for the sins of the world" and then his conscience -knows- his own sin. Salvation is not related to transubstantiation, pergatory, crucifixes. It -is- related to Jesus having died on the cross for sin. (Rom5:8,1Cor15:3) Jesus said that the one coming to Him does so at the drawing of the Father. (Jn6:44) And this happens as the Holy Spirit 'strives' with that person's spirit and soul... at the -individual- level. This is but one such example. If a person does not hear correct doctrine, because nobody tells him, and he dies in his sin; he dies in his sin. (Ez33:9) But he does not do so in -total- ignorance. God is "not willing that any should perish." (2Pt3:9) The "Sower" (Mt13:3) scatters the seed on -all- kinds of ground. God sees to it that everybody is "without excuse".(Rom1:20) If the person has heard of God, directly, the message will come in that way. If all he knows is idolatry, God will speak even through the idols. "For the earth is the Lord's and the fullness of it." (1Cor10:26) "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the expanse proclaims His handiwork... And the heavens shall declare His righteousness; for God Himself is judge... The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the people see His glory." (Ps19:1,50:6,97:6) Amen! [Top] - [Walk-thru Directory]
Re: I Jehovah Will Answer by Myself (Ezekiel 14:5~) "I, Jehovah, will answer him who comes, according to the multitude of his idols, that I may catch the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from Me through their idols... I, Jehovah, will answer Him by Myself. I will set My face against that man and make him desolate as a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of My people. And you shall know that I am Jehovah... And they shall bear their iniquity..." (Ezek14:4-10) In the preceding lesson we observed how God is not limited in terms of people being able to learn of Him, even when they are in idolatry. A person -can- learn of salvation even while sitting in a Catholic or Mormon church, insofar as Scripture is presented and read. That, of course, is for a heart that is in such a place in 'innocence', not knowning any better, being there "in ignorance" but where their heart is tender and ready to obey God who promises to "overlook" the "times of ignorance" and "commands all men everywhere to repent". (Acts17:30) But to have a true picture of this passage, we must continue; in order to see how God responds to Israel. Israel had a knowledge of the Most High, and yet, they had "set up [their] idols IN [THEIR] HEART" (vs4) Their history, as a nation, was one of God's mighty "outstretched arm" of deliverance from Egypt, and of "signs and wonders". (Deut26:8) As God argues with Israel, as though an attorney arguing a case in court, "Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled. Who among them can declare this and cause us to hear former things? Let them bring out their witnesses, that they may be justified; or let them hear, and say, It is true." (Is43:9) He presents the evidence: "I, even I, am Jehovah; and there is no one to save besides Me. I have declared and have saved, and I have shown, when there was no strange god among you; therefore you are My witnesses, says Jehovah, that I am God. Yea, before the day was, I am He; and no one can deliver out of My hand; I work, and who will reverse it?" (vs11-13) "..when there was no strange god among you.." You see, when God did all His works with Israel, they did not have other gods. It wasn't any of those strange gods (that they 'now' worshipped) that brought them forth to become a nation. God did it all... ALONE, by Himself! But after many centuries have passed, as they are going into captivity for their idolatry, they whine to Jeremiah, that when they were offering their offerings to the Queen of Heaven... "..then we had plenty of food, and were well-off, and saw no evil." But when they stopped, things got bad for them. (Jer44:17-18) So Jeremiah goes on to say that God's patience withheld as long as He could, until He had had -enough-. (vs20-23) Notice the path that leads to destruction. The rebellious ones come to the prophets they want to hear from. So, God says, "I Jehovah will answer him by Myself" (vs7) Notice that the things the false prophets speak also have God's authority, "..if that prophet is induced to speak anything, I Jehovah have induced that prophet, and I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from the midst of My people.." Do we have any specific examples of such a scenario? At the request of Jehoshaphat, Ahab calls for Micaiah. All the other (false) prophets are telling them to go up to battle and "be victorious". But when Micaiah is called, being a true prophet of Jehovah, and the discussion rises as to why his prophecy is so much different from the others, because he is prophesying Ahab's death, he explains how God was 'discussing' in Heaven, how to persuade Ahab to go into battle and be killed. After many ideas were presented, a spirit steps forward and says, "I will persuade him". And God asks, "How?" "I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets" And God replies, "You shall persuade him, and also prevail. Go out and do so." (1Kg22:20-22) You see, the false prophets are, indeed, FALSE. They are induced by "deceiving spirits". (1Tm4:1) But do you see -who- sends them on their way? God, the Most High, sitting on His throne. And -why- does He do so? Because they have set up their idols "in [their] heart". (vs4) When the time of the "man of sin" is revealed, -why- does He "..send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie.."? "..for this reason.." "because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved." (2Th2:10-11) You see, with God, who knows the heart (Heb4:12), He draws a 'line' with everyone. He says, "..for the time is at hand. He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still. And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to what his work shall be.." (Rev22:10-12) So, Israel -purposely- rebelled against God, and set up their idols. God spoke to them -through- their idols, to mete out judgment upon them, and to reveal Himself to them. We cannot look at Israel without seeing the very real parallel to today's "church". No, the "church" is not Israel. When Israel rebelled, God set up a new entity of "servants by another name". (Is65:15) Since Israel continued to rebel obstinately, God could not allow His own name to be "defiled". (Is48:11) But Israel's case is recorded in history as an "example" to us. (1Cor10:6,11) Today's Church-of-Babylon (christendom) is based on IDOLATRY and FALSE PROPHETS. Its prophets see dreams and visions. These false visions are not from God, He "did not send them". (Jer14:14) But He commissioned the "lying spirits" who indwell them...IN ORDER THAT today's Babylon, full of what we continually call "pretend-christians", may receive the full reward of their lust-filled hearts. You who truly know the Lord, don't wring your hands too terribly at the apostasy. Yes, the people all seem 'gullible' don't they, as they swallow all the false doctrine, hook-line-and-sinker. But you see, that is what they 'want', and God knows it. Thus, He is allowing them to have it. But also understand that, when God's judgment comes, they will then, at long last, know God for who He really is... although, by then, it will be too late, as when they boast of their spirit-fillings, He will say, "Depart from Me, you who work lawlessness!" (Mt7:23) As they are ushered into "everlasting fire", the "place prepared for the devil and his angels" (Mt25:41) They "shall bear their iniquity.." (vs10) And God says to His True Believers, "..come out of her, My people.." (Rev18:4) Oh, but... I'm still going to X, Y or Z "church" because I want to be a witness to them. Perhaps I can "make a difference" and be a "positive influence" there? Being "salt" in amongst them...? Your presence will make NO DIFFERENCE to the rebels!! And furthermore, in being there, you are being disobedient regarding the "unequal yoke" with unbelievers, and God's command to "come out from among them and be separate.." (2Cor6:17) Whatever you think your presence might benefit the rebels, notice: "..although these three men, Noah, Daniel and Job, were in it, they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness, declares the Lord Jehovah" (vs14) Do you think you are of the calibre of these three who have received noteworthy space in the written Scriptures? Do you find your name in the Scriptures for your greatness before God? Of Daniel it was said, "For you are greatly beloved" (Dan9:23) Well, these three would deliver "neither sons nor daughters" (vs16) They would not stave off famine and pestilence. (vs19) They would "deliver only themselves by their righteousness" (vs20) Today's apostasy will NOT go away, before God's judgment comes. Those who forecast "revival", are lying. That is not what Scripture prophesies. "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, being devoted to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared.." (1Tm4:1-2) Notice that this is what God's [Holy] Spirit says... not what the "spirit-filled" false prophets proclaim. Both today's prophets and their followers, together, will "bear their iniquity" (vs10) Dear Believer: do you feel like a "remnant" in the big ocean of apostacy? Well, notice: "Yet behold, there shall be left in it a remnant who will be brought out..." (vs22) Again, let us not be confused. Most specifically, this speaks of Israel; coupled with the rest of prophecy, we know God's restoration of Israel, His elect seed. But as Israel is an "example" to us, we see the parallel. While "christendom" is going down the "broad way to destruction" (Mt7:13), there is a "remnant" who "have not bowed the knee to Baal" (1Kg19:18) And for Israel, after judgment has been fulfilled, after Israel has been 'punished' (vs10), and God has given them a "new heart" (36:26), God will work a work "..that the house of Israel may no longer stray from Me, nor be defiled anymore with all their transgressions, but that they may be My people and I may be their God, says the Lord Jehovah" (vs11) Amen. [Top] - [Walk-thru Directory]
Re: Naked and Bare (Ezekiel 16) "Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations..." (vs2) My! How un-SELF-fulfilling that is! Why should Israel continually be reminded of her inadequacies? Why must God continually 'put-her-down'? Could He not have had more positive and uplifting things to say, to help build up her self-esteem? What God wants to show is Israel's utter nothingness, where she originated. And if they think they are anything now...? It is God who made them what they are. As Paul would say a few centuries later, "For I am the least of the apostles, who am not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than every one of them, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." (1Cor15:9-10) JUST a NOTE of WARNING before we proceed: for you with younger children in your family, depending on how you read these studies; you who are adults may wish to read the entirety of this study first, to see if it is appropriate for your children. God uses some rather explicitly colorful imagery in this passage, and we are going to, also. God reminds Israel of their cultural lineage. And then paints a colorful image of Israel's birth and betrothal to Himself. I've not seen a human birth other than on film/video, but have of cattle. If a cow gave birth, and then did not take care of the calf, the sight is not a pretty one. The calf lies there, all covered in slime and puddled around, with afterbirth also hanging out the back of the cow. Recently on Public TV they showed a special on tigers. Some tiger cubs that had been born in captivity, which the mother did not take care of and nurse. The people went into the den to retrieve them, and they were barely alive. One, actually, didn't make it. This is the picture God paints of Israel's origin. "..your navel cord was not cut, nor were you washed in water...you were not..wrapped in swaddling cloths. No eye pitied you...but you were thrown out...for you yourself were loathed on the day you were born." (~vs4-5) Translate that into today: you were born and tossed into a dumpster, because you were an 'unwanted' pregnancy. When God calls a person unto Himself, is it because the person is so wonderful? This is the "gospel" being proclaimed by many today, that is termed "graaaeeesss". God saw all that "value" and "worth" in you; that's why He saved you. Mmmm?? "..when I passed by you and saw you squirming in your blood, I said to you in your blood, LIVE! Yes, I said to you in your blood, LIVE!" (vs6) God is called elsewhere, the "Potter". And we are the clay. (Jer18:6, Rom9:21) Before the potter starts forming the clay, of what value is the clay? It is just a variation of "dirt". Something that, when it gets wet, gets all mucky all over everything, despised, to be washed off. If somebody didn't come along to rescue the calf and nurture it, it would get eaten by wolves. If somebody didn't happen-by the dumpster, that baby would die of exposure. Well, God came along, and saw us in our less-than-nothingness, and shouts out, "LIVE!" with the same authority that Jesus yelled out for Lazarus to be raised, "Lazarus! Out Here! Now!" (Jn11:43) Now, this baby is washed up, and grows and matures. God comes by again and sees that a young woman is coming to the age of betrothal and marriage. God speaks of His betrothal of Israel to Himself. (Jer2:2, Hos2:19-20) Of Himself as being Israel's "husband". (Is54:5) She is developing physically to be desireable to a man, and is naked. Nobody is taking her in, and caring for her. When God brought Eve to Adam, "they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed" (Gen2:25) Now, Hollywood promotes what they promote with scenes of a freshly showered/bathed woman dropping her towel in order to be taken by the man. Well, here, Israel has freshly been "washed" and "anointed with oil" (vs9) God "spread the edge of [His] garment over [her]" to cover her nakedness, swore an oath to her and she "became Mine" declares the Lord Jehovah. (vs8) When Naomi sent Ruth to Boaz to present her case of being available for marriage, it says that she "uncovered his feet and lay down" (Ru3:7), and makes her case by saying, "Take your maidservant under your wing" (vs9). This covering of the edge of the garment. A place of shelter and protection. If the woman is naked, to be covered; and the husband is opening his garment to receive and cover her; they are both together within his garment. The "two shall become one flesh". (Mt19:5) Now, notice how God is with Israel. Clothes her with designer clothes, matching shoes, jewelry and other coordinated fine accessories. (vs10-13) I don't know why it is, but it is so. Women are always made up to be beautiful. Men get themselves up with your basic suit or tux. But women are bedecked with all sorts of finery and are called "beautiful". And since God uses this kind of imagery, obviously, it is not sinful, is it. There are some pharisaical types who preach a doctrine that their women should get themselves up as 'plain-janes'. Well, this passage, being merely one of several like it various places in Scripture, should put such notions to rest. So, with all this blessing, pampering and world-renown for all her beauty (vs14) what does Israel do? She "trusted in your own beauty, committed adultery because of your fame, and poured out your harlotry on everyone passing by who would have it." (vs15) Why do some men not like their women to be all dolled up? Because other men will look at them and lust for them. And, let's face it... many women who are beautiful also flaunt their beauty and flirt. God took Israel into His own cloak, nurtured her, made her beautiful to show her off to the world and she 'turned heads'. But instead of remaining within His "cloak" in her heart, being "only His", she started sleeping around. You can read on into the chapter and see the description of Israel's idolatry. But rather than remembering her origins of being "naked and bare" (vs22) and how God had taken her into His own bosom, she became an "adulterous wife" (vs32), thinking that her beauty was her own. Forgetting that, unless God had come along and taken her, she would have been abandoned in her own afterbirth. Forgetting God's grace and mercy. Today's "church" teaches that one's faithfulness to God after salvation doesn't matter, that God's graaeeess "accepts you JUST AS YOU ARE." What they mean is, "just as you -WERE-". Observe carefully the example of Israel! So, what is God's verdict upon her? "Because your filthiness was poured out and your nakedness uncovered in your harlotry..." God was going to collect all her lovers with whom she had pleasure and "..will uncover your nakedness to them, that they may see all your nakedness...they shall also strip you of your clothes, take your beautiful jewelry, and leave you naked and bare." (vs37,39) And you can continue reading the full extent of all this in the passage. In those days, when a nation was taken captive by another, invariably, the captives were stripped naked and chained together. Indeed, when Isaiah prophesies against Egypt, as we have already noted how Ezekiel often had to be an object lesson of God's prophesies, Isaiah was required to go around naked for a couple years, to illustrate from his prophecies to Egypt how they would be taken captive, "naked and barefoot, even with buttocks stripped bare, to the [indecent] exposure of Egypt. (Is20:2-4) If the Lord hasn't returned by then, we may have a study series in Isaiah at some time in the future. If we do, we will see how the "virgin of Babylon", the "Queen of Kingdoms", when God's judgment brings her down, the one who is often presented voluptuously and sensuously, is told, "Uncover your veil, strip off the skirt, bare the thigh, pass through the rivers. Your nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, your shame shall be seen; I will take vengeance and I will not meet you as a man." (Is47:2-3) As we read this about Israel, if a person has ever seen documentary films of the Nazi holocaust against the Jews, the images never leave the memory! Shriveled up, emaciated naked bodies lying around, piled up on carts, being hauled to the huge pits; the now-defeated German officers physically taking up the bodies and tossing them over into the pits, and watching them hurling head-long on top of the other bodies. God took Israel, at the "time of love" (vs8) and with a most beautiful picture, draws her into His cloak. He bedecks her and makes her beautiful, to be admired by the world. But when she rebelled, she literally ended up "naked", being tossed into pits. While the Communist Russian, Chinese, Cambodian situations resulted in multiplied times 'more' deaths than the Jews who were killed during WW2, the world remembers the images if dead -Jewish- 'naked' bodies being tossed into pits. Why? Because that is what God prophesied would happen. Why? Because of her adulteries, in her idolatries. You see, all humanity is "naked and bare" before God. He knows us down to the very core of our "soul and spirit". (Heb4:12-13) He knows the thoughts and intents of our hearts. And when we "must give answer" before Him, this is how He sees us. There is nothing covering over and hiding us. You see, there's several different kinds of nakedness. Let us consider two types. When there is love between a husband and wife, and they belong to each other without reservations, having "forsaken all others", the nakedness that is between them is a most beautiful thing. However, if judgment is due, remember back to childhood? If you got spankings, remember that there were two kinds. The one kind you just bent over for. But the ones to be dreaded were the ones where the "pants came down", too! If our hearts are pure before God, we can sing, "Nothing between my soul and the Savior.." We can be comfortable being wrapped next to Him in His cloak of love. But if we rebel, the 'pants' must 'come down'! Now, this series is also to remind those who think that Israel is "done for", that God's promises remain. Yes, God has given Israel a good whoopin' on their bare bottoms. But... "Nevertheless I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you." (vs60) God's covenant has nothing to do with Israel's goodness. They have obviously proven themselves to be less-than worthy. Notice -who- is establishing the covenant. "And I will establish My covenant with you." (vs62) Even the original covenants, begining with Abraham, it says, "For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself" (Heb6:13) Israel today is trying to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps. They are yet in unbelief. Israel's future blessing will be because, and -ONLY- because -GOD- keeps His promises. If you recall from the series "Covenants & Dispensations", we have observed that man was never able to keep any covenants with God. God always initiated the covenants, and God is the One who always kept them. Man continually breaks the covenant. As Israel has done. All that Israel has to their credit is the memories of their "shame". (vs61,63) They will have "paid for [their] licentiousness and abominations" from all God's judgments against them (vs58) When God remembers and fulfills His covenants with Israel, restoring them out of their shame... Then "..you shall know that I am Jehovah" (vs62) Amen! Q/A -Israel "displaying" God? [Top] - [Walk-thru Directory]
Re: Turning Away from... (Ezekiel 18) "Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine; the soul who sins shall die." (vs4) "Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall the children be put to death for their fathers; a person shall be put to death for his own sin." (Deut24:16) While we know that there is such a thing as a "generational curse", as illustrated by God's Word, "..visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation" (Ex20:5, 34:7), and we have seen the results of this in Israel's various captivities and dispersions; when an -individual- stands before the Holy God, God does not look in the Book of Life for the names of the individual's father, wife, children, etc. It says that they are judged "-each- one, according to their works". (Rev20:13) When Jesus calls -individuals- to follow Him, they do not do so under the "family plan" because of "family values". He calls the person to forsake, "houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name.." (Mt19:29) We know that salvation is by "grace through faith...not of works" (Eph2:8-9) in "repentance toward God" (Acts20:21). But we also know that once a person is saved, the natural outgrowth of the new nature is "works befitting repentance". (Acts26:20) Otherwise, how does anyone know they are truly saved? (Jac2:14-26) Dogs bark, chickens cluck, ducks swim, sinners sin, and Believers do righteous works. (Eph2:10) With that as introduction: "..if a man is righteous.." (vs5a); he is a Believer; he is saved; the one who is "just" who "lives by faith" (Hab2:4, Rom1:17); remember that Hebrews ch11 is the great "faith" chapter, but it reminisces all the giants of 'faith' by their -deeds-. The deeds did not save them. The deeds -manifested- the fact that they had faith, and the nature of that faith. This righteous man "does what is just and right". (vs5b) It goes on to list various things: keeping away from idolatry, does not defile his neighbor's wife, has been just and fair in dealing with people in business, has been charitable to the poor, has not been dishonest, and has followed all of God's ordinances faithfully... "he is righteous. He shall live life, says the Lord Jehovah" (vs9) This righteous man has a son, who does not believe. He manifests his unbelief by living a life of debauchery and dishonesty... "He shall not live! ..he shall die the death; his blood shall be upon him." (vs13) Now, this unrighteous man, in turn, has a son, who observes all his father's wickedness, and determines to be pleasing to God. His faith is manifested in a righteous life; "he shall not die for the iniquity of his father; he shall live life!" (vs17) "The soul who sins shall die.. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself." (vs20) OK, now... This wicked man, who has been sleeping around, defrauding people, lying, cheating, stealing, worshiping idols... "turns from all his sins...keeps all God's statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall live life; he shall not die. None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live." (vs21-22) You see, this is God's mercy. This is God's grace. When Christians speak of God's wrath being poured out upon the ungodly, the ungodly world scoffs and retaliates against what they view as being merely a "concept" of such a kind of God. They like to think in terms of a "God of luuuuvv" who would never "torture" anybody endlessly. If you are similarly-inclined in your mind, consider: "Do I delight with pleasure in the death of the wicked? says the Lord Jehovah..?" (vs23a) God addresses this question head-on. No, it is not His desire or purpose that "anyone should perish..." (2Pt3:9a) God doesn't desire the death of anyone. But "sin" comes between sinful man and the Holy God. (Is59:2) The solution is very simple, really. If a person doesn't want God's wrath hanging over their head, all they need to do is to "..turn back from his ways and live" (vs23b) "..come to repentance." (2Pet3:9b) Yes, if a person desires to -live-, he must TURN AWAY FROM his sin. If he does so, and turns to God, "..he shall live." It doesn't matter how horrendous a sinner one was previously, Jesus says, "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out." (Jn6:37) And if a person has truly TURNED AWAY FROM his sin, God takes that sin and removes it from us, "as far as east is from the west.." (Ps103:12) Oh yes, in the words of the poet, "..east is east, and west is west, and never the twain shall meet.." God promises, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." (Heb10:17) However... "..when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live?" (vs24a) This is one of the primary doctrines of today's "church". After the person has supposedly become a "christian" by "some other way" (Jn10:1), they are told, "It doesn't matter to God. God accepts you JUST AS YOU ARE.." filth and all! You see... a changed heart results in a changed life. A -true- "conversion" creates a "new creation..in Christ". (2Cor5:17) It is a new nature, "from above" (Jn3:3) If a person continues living as they used to, in the world's corruption, their so-called "conversion" is a lie! No, the works do not -save- a person. But if, after the so-called "salvation", there are no good works or a changed life, it is proof positive that a "birth from above" (Jn3:3) did NOT HAPPEN! Since everybody is used to science fiction, let's create an example to illustrate this point. Suppose a person claimed to have a device that would take a duck and convert it into a motorcycle. Preposterous? Well, like I say...we're talking science fiction here. After all, Star Trek DS9 had their 'changelings' who could take on the form and behavior of anything, animate or inanimate. Ok; so the person takes the duck, and runs it through his boasted 'process' to change it. Out the other side, the creature comes out, waddling, quacking, and diving into the water to swim around; you -know-, proof positive, that his "change" device is a fraud. It went in a duck, it came out a duck. Motorcycles do not quack, waddle or swim. If the change had truly taken place, one would expect a device which a person could straddle, start up, and "ride". Well, today's "church" is filled with quacking "ducks"; not "motorcycles"! So then, back to the passage... we have a person who is truly a "righteous man". (vs24a) This righteous man now "TURNS AWAY FROM his righteousness and commits iniquity.." We are not talking about the person who retains his righteous -nature-, but merely, while in this sinful world, 'stumbles', requiring a confession and Christ's advocacy (1Jn1:9-2:2), even though he is otherwise clean, requiring only that his feet be washed. (Jn13:10) This is not the "prodigal son" who, did not forsake his family, but took his inheritance with him, and when he came to his senses still had his family name in his mind and heart and was able to be restored to fellowship. (Lk15:12~) No... he TURNS AWAY FROM his righteousness. He didn't "oops, I stumbled", but rather says, "I have no pleasure in..." the ways of his "Creator" (Ec12:1) I want nothing more to do with the Most High. "..shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the treachery of his unfaithfulness, and the sin which he has sinned, in them he shall die." (vs24b) Today's "theology" which proclaims, 'you don't have to change, because God accepts you JUST AS YOU ARE' also proclaims "Sola Fide". Faith only. No need for "repentance". The same generation that devised these doctrines originally, also is responsible for the doctrine called, "Once Saved, Always Saved", which many of them erroneously support with God's Scriptures on "Eternal Security". (Rom8:33-39) In other words, if you follow their doctrine carefully, a person can get saved by not really being saved through a new nature; And their new-found non-salvation, they cannot lose, no matter what they do. In their minds and hearts they "bind" God to a phony contract (Salvation) which is not real, and put all the responsibility for safekeeping this non-existent covenant upon God. Such a doctrine frees them up to live any-ol-way-they-like, because "I'm saved, and can't lose it, and I'm on my way to Heaven...tra la la!" Well, due to their lack of "loving the Truth" God allows them to "believe [their] lie", in order that their lustful hearts will ultimately receive His condemnation. (2Th2:10-12) But God's truth is found in this passage. A change of one's state before God requires a TURNING AWAY FROM some thing or other. Since one is born and "conceived" in sin (Ps51:5), if one desires God's presence, he must TURN AWAY FROM -SIN-. Thus, a "righteous man" is established. (We are not covering the matters of Christ's blood and all such things. Please understand this lesson in the context it is presented. For Israel, in Ezkiel's day, Christ had not yet died on the cross. This study, ultimately, is addressing the individual's 'heart' before God.) Now if this righteous man (the term "righteous" means he is truly Saved. His standing before God is "righteous") then TURNS AWAY FROM God and His righteousness, deliberately, God calls such a turning "treachery". (vs24) The verdict upon treason is "death". And notice Jesus' words about such a person: "and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be unto this wicked generation." (Mt12:45) If you ever decide to make such a decision to TURN AWAY FROM God when you have once been saved, understand very clearly that that is your last change. There is no further Salvation after you turn away from God. (Heb6:4-6) Do not be fooled by the vehemence of those who proclaim their false doctrines that purport to "guarantee" your salvation, "Do not be led astray, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap." (Gal6:7) God knows your heart. (Heb4:12-13) But what does God plead with Israel? Same thing He pleads with each of you who does not know Him. "Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity shall not be a stumbling block to you. Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and prepare for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit; for why will you die, O house of Israel?" (vs30-31) You see, this is the same thing Paul says about Israel. A true Jew is one who is so from the "heart". (Rom2:28-29) Just because a person has the label "Jew" or "Israel" does not guarantee entrance into God's Holy Heaven. As Paul states, "..for not all those of Israel are Israel." (Rom9:6) In the same way today, just because a person has the label "christian", or belongs to a "church", does not guarantee that they are a "Christian" (Acts11:26), nor that they are part of Christ's "Church". (Eph1:22, 5:23, Col1:18,24) If you came along by the above-mentioned doctrines of non-Salvation, do not worry about having committed an unpardonable sin. You have never yet been saved. You've never yet ever TURNED FROM your sin. You are not doomed by the inability to be RE-Saved. (Heb6:4-6) You were never saved to begin with. You are in that state to which you were born, "in sin". But if you ever want to make it into God's Heaven, and escape an eternity in Hell, you need to TURN AWAY FROM the sin nature into which you were born. Right now, you stand condemned under God's wrath. But this is not God's desire for you... "For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies, declares the Lord Jehovah. Therefore turn and live!" (vs32) Amen! [Top] - [Walk-thru Directory]
Re: I will not be inquired after (Ezekiel 20) "..men came from the elders of Israel to inquire of Jehovah, and sat before me [Ezekiel]. And the word of Jehovah was to me, saying, Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, So says the Lord Jehovah: Have you come to inquire of Me? As I live, declares the Lord Jehovah, I will not be inquired of by you." (Ezek20:1-3) Dear reader... do you feel like God doesn't hear you? When you read how Jesus promised "where two or three are gathered together in My name there I am in their midst" (Mt18:20), do you feel like He is "out there" someplace..? Out of reach? When you pray, your prayers don't seem to be answered, even though Jesus also promised, "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." (Jn14:14) This 'Portion' and the next three will be some rather hard medicine to take for some. But God has recorded "examples" (1Cor10:6) for us from Israel's experience for our learning and exhortation. First of all, let us understand very clearly that there are times when God REFUSES TO HEAR. God is never in a place where He is incapable of rescuing, or unable to hear. (Is59:1) But there are times that our persistent rebellion ("iniquities") comes "between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, from hearing." (vs2) In this case the NKJV/KJV are more descriptive... "..He WILL NOT hear.." In other words... He turns a deaf ear and 'refuses' to hear. God spells out the "abominations of their fathers". (vs4) He pleads with them, "Let each man cast away the filthy idols of his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am Jehovah your God." (vs7) But they rebelled and would not listen to God. (vs8) We see this today with the "church". As a recent example, we studied from God's Commandments that we are not to have any "image..or any likeness". (Ex20:4) While there were some e-mails of agreement; next to the topic of charismania that we address frequently, I think the "application" of the matter of "any likeness" stirred up as many negative sentiments as anything we ever address. When it comes down to the nitty gritty, where the rubber meets the road, and we are faced with exactly -WHAT- constitutes a "likeness", people love their idols. Joshua had ended his life with Israel by exhorting them to "..put away the strange gods among you, and incline your heart to Jehovah God of Israel." (Josh24:23) And this was after years of successful conquest of the promised land; they were -supposedly- "following" God. And yet, they still had their idols. Today that which pretends to be part of the "Church" also rebels, just as Israel did. If someone has "tears" over some artist's rendition of Jesus being nailed to the cross, such emotions are supposedly a "good thing"...and they rail against God's messenger who says otherwise, when God -specifically- said, "..or any likeness". Notice that God calls idols "filthy". And embracing them is a "defilement". (vs7) Israel did not heed God. They "..would not listen". (vs8) So God's "fury" was poured on them. Even though God had shown His power in delivering them from Egypt, Israel clung to the gods of Egypt. Therefore, for witness to Egypt, whose gods had been defeated, God could not allow Israel to go unpunished. To do so would "profane" God's "name...in the eyes of the nations" who saw God's work in Egypt. (vs9) In the wilderness Israel rebelled continually. God's fury consumed them in the wilderness. (vs13) Now, as Ezekiel is speaking to Israel several generations later, they are still doing as their fathers did. They are offering their children as live-burnt offerings. Apparently they must have thought that Jehovah would answer them when they offered offerings according to the heathen. But He responds, "As I live, declares the Lord Jehovah, I will not be inquired of by you." (vs31) So, what makes today's "church" think that God will respond to them, when they engage in idolatry and pagan practices of the world? We're not talking about Catholics or Mormons here. We are talking about those who consider themselves to be "evangelical, fundamental, Bible-preaching" churches. When they hang their "likenesses" all over the place, and "go up by steps" to their 'altars' (Ex20:26), and have pagan inscriptions on their objects of worship, what makes them think their prayer meetings have any power? What makes them think that there is a "sweet, sweet spirit in this place"? Just as God would not hear Israel back then, He also DOES NOT HEAR today's "christians". Today's "church". What is more important? That we build a nice building? That we have large attendances? Or, that God's Name is not profaned? Dear Reader: "Are you being defiled in the way of your fathers? And do you go whoring after their filthy idols?" (vs30) If you engage in heathen practices and have their idols hanging from your walls, necks and ears, and on your shelves... "I will not be inquired of by you, O [church] As I live, declares the Lord Jehovah, I will not be inquired of by you." (vs31) [Top] - [Walk-thru Directory]
Re: Purity in Service (Ezekiel 22) "A plot by her prophets is in her midst...they have devoured souls and they have taken the riches and gems...her priests have violated My Law and have profaned My holy things. They have not divided between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and clean they have not taught." (Ezek22:25-26) In this passage, is God -praising- Israel because they were practicing "tolerance" and "inclusion"? No! They were 'dialoguing' with the heathen around them. The unclean were allowed into the temple. They offered abominations as sacrifices. The holy and unclean were mingled together. This is what the "church" is doing today. Just like the matter of idolatry we addressed last week, this matter comes in a 'close second' in terms of people objecting to the preaching about such "separation" from the world. Not only does the church have the world's idols in its worship, it also invites the unsaved to join in its times of worship. They bring their offerings, and the preachers get rich off of them. Now, to be sure, the excuse given is that they want the world to come in and "get saved". But again... do we do things "our way" or God's way? What is more important, to have 'numbers', or to obey God? Is it more important that the choir be fully staffed with professional-sounding musicians, so the music will "attract more" people to come as they are entertained; or to perhaps only have solos and duets (or NO special music), but be in obedience to the Lord by not profaning the platform with the unsaved? What about the unsaved hired janitor or nursery babysitters? Not to mention SS and VBS teachers, and ushers!! Hear God's Word: "Enough to you, of all your abominations, O [church], when you brought in the sons of aliens, uncircumcised of heart and uncircumcised of flesh, to be in My sanctuary, to profane it, even My house, when you [bring your offerings and worship]...and you have not kept the charge of My holy things, but you have set them as keepers of My charge in My sanctuary, for themselves. So says the Lord Jehovah: No son of an alien, uncircumcised of heart and uncircumcised of flesh [in other words, an "unBeliever"], shall enter into My sanctuary, or any son of an alien who is among the sons of Israel." (Ezek44:6-9) In practical terms, let's think of one example scenario, and see how we read this passage and obey it. Some unsaved friends or relatives have come from a distance and are staying with you for a few days. The week-end comes, and you normally go "to church" on Sunday; or perhaps you are meeting in a small house assembly. Do you take your friends along? Remember, they are "unsaved". What does this passage say? To do so is a... what? "Abomination". [Editor: like we said last week, some "hard medicine"!] Perhaps you think this is a bit "harsh"? Notice through Isaiah, "Turn! Turn! Go out from there! Touch not the unclean! Go out of her midst, purify yourselves, bearers of the vessels of Jehovah." (Is52:11) Let us not forget Jesus' zeal when He made a whip of cords and overturned the tables, and chased the unclean out of the temple, as He said that the temple was a "house of prayer". (Mt21:13, Is56:7) No, that [prayer] does not mean, a place where people come to put little pieces of paper in the cracks of the wall, recite ritual words, bow their heads, fold their hands, and end their recitations with "in Jesus' name, Amen"! Prayer is communion with God. God is Holy. If we are in communion, there is no sin. It is a place where the unbeliever does not belong, because God's holiness and His awesome name cannot tolerate sin. The thing that characterizes the unbeliever is "sin". Thus, we might see the above words in today's vernacular, perhaps, as "Go on! Get outta here! Shoo! Scram! Don't show your faces around here again!" Oh, but that was "OLD Testament"! The Law! Jesus did away with the Law. Right? "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership does righteousness have with lawlessness? And what fellowship does light have with darkness? What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what part does a believer have with an unbeliever? What agreement does a temple of God have with idols? For you are a temple of the living God [you represent God's presence], even as God said, 'I will dwell in them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.' Because of this..." ...work cooperatively with all your area churches, have neighborhood campaigns to invite people to join you for special services, have 'contests' in your church to see who can bring the most visitors next Sunday... ??? !!-NO-!! Let's resume the quote from God's Word, "..come out from among them and be separated, says the Lord, and do not touch the unclean thing, and I will receive you." (2Cor6:14-17) Remember last week we observed God saying, "I will not be inquired after by you" because of idolatry, sin and mixing with paganism. Now, when it says, "come out from among them", it is obviously written to people who have been mixed up with the world. Today, we can observe this as the 'status quo' by which the "church" functions. Many of these things we [-me-, too] did in ignorance. (Ac3:17, 17:30) But when we see our fault through God's Word, we can choose two options. We can do as Israel did, and suffer God's judgment. Or we can obey, and "come out" from it. Perhaps we lead a local assembly, and have been disobedient. Perhaps we have unbelievers in the assembly. Perhaps some of them are serving and "ministering". How do we "fix" it? Well, nobody said it would be easy. Yes, some people are going to get upset, and call you all sorts of names. Some may even make threats, or do worse. Some may take you to court. Some may threaten your physical safety. But there is an example in the O.T. where some of Israel actually went about to make things right. Many of the exiles of Babylon who returned to the land of promise had married pagan wives, and there were also children from these wives. In Ezra ch10 is the account of how they put away these wives, along with their children. Drastic? Indeed! Notice how it is said: "And now let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the women, and such as have been born of them, according to the counsel of the Lord, and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God...Be of good courage and act." (Ezra10:3-4) Now, as they were covenanting with God in this matter, they were congregated, standing out in the rain on a dreary day (vs13), realizing that it was not something that would be done with a quick word, making a pledge and now go home..."la dee dah". There was a lot of work to do to resettle all these people they were putting away...as they said, "we who have sinned in this thing are many.." (vs13) But they covenanted with God, "As you have said, so we MUST do." (vs12) You can imagine there were a lot of tears, and anger. But they did it. And the chapter ends with a 'list of names' of all those who made things right before God. As we asked last week, do you sense a distance between you and God? Well, are you engaged in idolatry and are you fellowshiping with the unsaved? You need to make a break from these things. You need to put away your "heathen wives and children" and "burn the books" (Acts19:19) of your past. "Cleanse your hands and purify your hearts, double-minded ones." (Jas4:8) Yes, it will be hard. But if you "draw near to God" in this manner, and "mourn and weep" and come to Him in "humility", "He will lift you up". (Jas4:9-10) Q/A -Purity in Service vs Go into all the World? [Top] - [Walk-thru Directory]
Re: Carefree multitude (Ezekial 23) "The sound of a carefree multitude was with her..." (23:42 nkjv) Before I got this far with the VW-Edition, this word "carefree" popped out at me from the nkjv. Let's see this verse again... "..the sound of a multitude at ease was with her, and drunkards were brought from the wilderness with men of the common sort, who put bracelets on their wrists and beautiful crowns on their heads.." Before we discuss this phrase, let us see the context of this chapter. It is recommended that you read it all. Scripture uses some terminology here that is not quite 'proper' in 'polite' company; in some ways, more fitting for the likes of a Jay Leno monologue, what with explicit terminology of body parts and what people do with them in whoredom. But this is how far Israel and Judah have sunk. The psalmist says, "..with the crooked You will show Yourself twisted." (Ps18:26) God addresses them as the prostitutes that they are, spelling out their apostasy from Him as adulterous women who sleep around with any man who will have them. Spelling out in graphic detail what they've been up to: how they lusted after other gods (as handsome men to be seduced and spend some time with in bed); and God's judgments upon them, how, since they have exposed themselves, God will allow their judges to expose them naked, and: "You will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, the cup of horror and desolation... you shall drink and drain it, you shall break its shards, and tear off your own breasts; for I have spoken, declares the Lord Jehovah."(vs33-34) Now God tells Ezekiel to "..declare to them their abominations.." (vs36) They have "blood" on their hands; they have committed adultery against God with their idols; they have sacrificed their babies "passing them through the fire". (vs37) We've described this before... live babies placed on the altar screaming and kicking, until burnt to death! (In many ways, not at all that dissimilar to abortion! ...from the baby's perspective!) They have "defiled My sanctuary on the same day and profaned My Sabbaths". They would go offer their babies to Molech, and the very same day come into God's temple to 'worship' (vs38-39) How many in today's "churches" also belong to secret orders/societies; including some rather famous "christian" leaders, ones who conduct crusades and have access to world leaders! Saturday night worship before the altars of the Knights Templar, and the next morning stand in God's pulpit! Rather than trusting in God, Judah was trusting in Egypt, and making alliances with other strong neighbors. (Exactly what Israel is doing today!) Israel, being a theocracy, their politics was essentially one and the same with their worship. The figurative language God uses of a woman freshening up, making sure her hair is 'just so', primping up in front of the mirror with the make-up, putting on that slinky barely-there dress with parts missing in just the right places, putting on jewelry, and then draping herself on her couch-of-seduction to entice others (not-her-Husband, God) into her bed. (vs40-41) 'You think such writing is too "suggestive"? Again, please read this chapter. It is the language God is using. Now, her lovers have arrived. She doesn't have just 'one' lover, oh no! She has many! She has a veritable orgy! The wine is flowing (today's 'church' loves to be "drunk in the spirit"), they are bringing their gifts, and they are having quite a time of 'love-making'! (vs43-44) Like a play-girl mansion! It is in -this- context that our 'theme' phrase appears. The "sound of a multitude at ease/carefree.." Folks (I just 'must' insert this here!): the Gospel of Jesus Christ is NOT 'seductive'! It is an 'offense'. It is the "offense of the cross"! (Gal5:11) It involves blood, death, repentance, self-abhorrence. Rather than the slinky dress, it involves a filthy "menstruation cloth". (Is64:6) Salvation only comes to a person who sees their own sin and pleads for God's mercy upon them. The so-called "good news" today's [c]hurch proclaims is sending people down the "broad" way to "destruction". (Mt7:13) OK, back to our lesson: In the previous lesson we observed the call to keep the abominations out of worship. Israel was not only offering their babies to idols, but once Manasseh became king, they even brought this practice into God's temple! (2Ki21) Oh... our church is so small. We need to "grow" our church. How can we do this? How can we get more of 'Egypt' in to help contribute more into the offering plates, because we 'need' to build some buildings. How can we get the adults in? Let's entice their children. How do we get their children in? Let's entertain them. Give them something they can feel "carefree" about. Something that doesn't suggest holiness or standards of righteousness. They worship the rock stars. So, let's bring in rock (satan's) music... that will draw them in. Let's not impose any standards of conduct while they are in the sanctuary, so let's let them romp around and rough-house and throw paper airplanes and spit wads at each other, trampling over the pews and around the pulpit in God's sanctuary... after all, we don't want to speak 'cross' words to them, and get them angry, such that they won't come back. As they grow up and become adults, how do we 'keep' them coming? With rock music... what else! And of course, our church must be advertised as a "FRIENDLY" church. "Friendly" means, coming into the sanctuary with 'high-fives', slaps on the back 'how-ya-doin'?', and a general state of hubbub. "CAREFREE" Don't dress up, just come casual as-you-are, and we've got the espresso concession so you can be "AT EASE" (you don't need to fast, if even figuratively) in worship. In one church I was involved in years ago, one man told of one of the ushers. This man was doing as I would do before a service, while the prelude music was playing... he would sit in the pew in prayer, preparing his heart for worship and exhortation from God's Word. Well, this church had one particular usher who was the slap-the-back high-five type 'roudy' person, who would romp up and down the aisles to lead people to their seats. He apparently came by this person, sitting next to the aisle, in an attitude of prayer, and bumps him in the shoulder with, "Are you sleeping?? Wake up! Har-dee-har-har!!" Well, when 'churches' feel the need to bring the world/unsaved into the assembly, they must needs do things the world's way. Advertising campaigns, slogans, cheer-leading, bubbliness, and... COMPROMISE! Using the devil's music, and pagan rituals and symbols as they adorn themselves with "bracelets on their wrists and beautiful crowns on their heads" (23:42) You see, not only does bringing the unsaved into the assembly disobey God's commands about keeping the unclean out (Ezek44:6-9)(We've said enough about this at other times), it jeopardizes the 'spirit' by which Believers can worship. When the world is "at ease/carefree" in God's sanctuary, the Believer cannot worship "in the spirit of holiness" (Rom1:4) Yes, the Psalms are full of Joyful Shouts, Singing, Thanksgiving, and making 'loud' sounds on instruments; but worship is also a time of "silence". "..Jehovah is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him." (Hab2:20) "Silence is praise to You, O God, in Zion; and unto You is a vow performed." (Ps65:1) Everybody loves to sing loudly, "Lord I lift Your name on high, Lord I love to sing your praises"... but then, the one son also said, "I go, sir...but he did not go". (Mt21:30) It's one thing to blab all over town how much one is worshipping God, but what God wants to see is the one who had been rebellious, but then repents, "..afterward he regretted it and went." (Mt21:29) "Which of the two did the will of his father? They said to Him, The first. Jesus said to them, Truly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward repent and believe him." (Mt21:31-32) Today's "church" is infested with the -carefree- "mixed multitude" of Egypt. (Ex12:38) It was the "mixed multitude" that "yielded to intense craving" and lusts (Num11:4) and led Israel away from God. Folks, remember this: If you invite the world into your assembly, you will NOT 'win' them for Christ, but they -WILL- drag you down away from God's holiness. This is a 99.999% certainty! Israel is our "example" of this. (1Cor10:5-6) Today's "church" needs to be like those of Nehemiah's day: "So it was, when they had heard the Law, that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel." (Neh13:3) To be sure, they were left with a 'small' group! "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice (worship), and to heed than the fat of rams." (1Sam15:22) Amen! [Top] - [Walk-thru Directory]
Re: Don't Cry (Ezekiel 24:16) "Son of man, behold I take away from you the desire of your eyes with a stroke. Yet neither shall you mourn nor weep, nor shall your tears run down." (Eze24:16) Oh, what a life Ezekiel had! First of all, God tells him his mission. Go to a "rebellious" people with "My" message. (Eze2) In ch3 God tells him that Israel is more rebellious than other peoples would be. That if he was being sent to foreigners, THEY would listen. But God's own people (dare we say for our day...the "church"?) would not listen. Ezekiel isn't too sure about his mission...and so God forcibly "lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong on me." (3:14) Ezekiel is "spittin' mad" at his assignment, so God drags him off, "kicking and screaming" (so-to-speak). Not only does God forcibly move him to his mission field. When he gets there he is struck "dumb" so that he cannot speak. (3:15) And God further clarifies the mission. He will be dumb until God wants him to speak, and then his tongue will be loosed. (vs26-27) ...and reiterates, "He who hears, let him hear, and he who stops his ears, let him stop; for they are a rebellious house." (vs27) Along the way, there's another requirement. He must "lay seige" to this depiction of Jerusalem on a piece of tile. (4:1) He is to lie on one side for 390 days, and on the other for 40. And God "lay bands" (vs8) on him so he could not stir from these positions. This is in testimony, a visual object lesson to the people of Israel. Can you imagine being in such a position? Eating, sleeping and doing all the other bodily functions, for over a year, outside, in all the annual climates and weather conditions. Let alone the likely taunts and abuse of passers-by. But nothing like, having his beloved wife taken away in sudden death; and he is not even allowed to mourn for her. God says "Groan but be silent; make no mourning for the dead" (24:17) Feel the pain inside, but don't let anybody else know your pain. He is forewarned, so when it happened, "I did in the morning as I was commanded." (vs18) This, too, was an "object lesson" for the message of Jehovah to Israel. (vs19-24) And when Israel found themselves doing what Ezekiel had done, they would "know that I am the Lord Jehovah." (vs24) I expect none of us has been called to the extremes Ezekiel was. And yet, we are called to some hardships. Maybe your wife was discovered to have a lump. Your child has some rare form of disease with no cure. You have been politicked out of job or ministry position. And as "humans" we hurt, don't we! When these things happen, what do we do? Well, first of all, we can rejoice, in that... we are in good company. There has never been the likes of the apostle Paul who "despaired even of life" (2Cor1:8) because of the hardships he endured.(11:23-33) And yet, what was his conclusion of the matter? Oh, poor me, poor us! Would you please pray for us that these hardships will go away!..?? No! "We had the sentence of death in ourselves, SO THAT we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead." (1:9) As he was a "living testimony" to the Corinthians (vs12) His desire was, "..lest anyone should think of me as being beyond what he sees me, or hears of me." (2Cor12:6) How can a Christian exhort another "how to" deal with adversity, if he has not been through some, himself? So, if God brings some your way, or allows satan to buffet you... REJOICE! He cares enough about you, and sees "potential" in your development, that he is bringing training. Sometimes "chastening." (Heb12:5,7,11) Sometimes, just "endurance." (2Cor1:6) Ultimately we learn that... "..we should not trust in ourselves, but in God..." (2Cor1:9) Amen! [Top] - [Walk-thru Directory]
Re: King of Tyre (Ezekiel 28:11-19) "Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre..." (vs12) Throughout many of these intervening chapters the reader would see God's judgments pronounced against various nations; for their rebellion against God, their mistreatment of Israel, or their rejoicing over Israel's calamities when some other nation was mistreating them, and for not coming to Israel's aid. Remember the sheep/goat judgment is not necessarily about -doing- evil to Israel, but a nation's attitude towards Israel in coming to their aid, or not; and if they saw Israel in need, and did nothing, they receive judgment. (Mt25:31-46) But when we come to the "king of Tyre", we have a different situation. Notice that vs2 addresses the "prince" of Tyre; but vs12, the "king". Vs2 could say, equally, "prince" or "ruler"; someone who has authority and governs. But a typical ruler is often 'under' another, who is of even higher rank. In vs12 "king" indicates an 'ultimate' authority. An authority that is 'higher' than the prince/ruler. Typically, in any domain, nobody is higher in rank, than the king. When Joseph ruled in Egypt, he was a prince/ruler, but pharaoh was king. When Mordecai ruled in Babylon, he was a ruler, but Ahasuerus was king. Thing is, these earthly kings, while being "kings", are only merely princes/rulers. Many kings in eastern cultures made themselves out to be little 'gods'. That was the case with the pharaohs. This persisted through to at least WW2, when Japan's 'god', their emperor, was defeated. But notice that Tyre's self-assumed 'god' is condemned, "and yet you are a man, and not a God, though you set your heart as the heart of God". (vs2) This ruler of Tyre has set himself up as a self-assume 'ultimate' ruler... but who was over him, making him be as he was? The "king" of Tyre. And who was this king? Someone who "seals the measure" (vs12); someone of 'ultimate' wisdom and beauty. When somebody dismisses to you satan's ability to have wisdom, don't you believe it! It says here, that he is "full of wisdom". After all, it takes more than a nincompoop to rule "all the kingdoms of the world". (Lk4:5-6) He is full of schemes and purposes by which he tries to "take advantage of us". (2Cor2:11) It takes a lot more intellect to lie, and keep track of them all, than to tell the truth; and who is the "father" of lies? (Jn8:44) When he comes to us, he does so with "beautiful" things. He, himself, was the most dazzling creature of all God's creation. He not only looked dazzling, he also was a musician. He is called the "angel of light" (2Cor11:14), the "shining one". (Is14:12) We know this is not speaking of Tyre's -human- 'prince', because this one was in "Eden, the garden of God". The "serpent" (Gen3:1), the "..dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan.." (Rev20:2) Notice where his place of origin was: "..the anointed cherub that covers...in the holy monutain of God.." (vs14) Just as the "king" of all animal creatures, Leviathan, was associated with fire in the very core of his being (Job41:18-21), this "king", also, had a place "in the midst of fiery stones.." (vs14b) But being the covering cherub, that indicates a special place in the very presence in fellowship and worship of the Most High; as the Jewish "mercy seat", representing God's presence, was overshadowed with the wings of the cherubim. (Ex25:20) Let us summarize this king's modern most successful form of "taking advantage". It is based upon his own characteristics. Did you ever see 'ugly' people leading worship? No, they are always "beautiful". In many cases they grow up through the ranks because they are "attractive". Many of those who 'entertain'in worship, do so with the razzle dazzle of lights and sequins; things that sparkle and give a sense of radiance. The "ministers of righteousness" being like the "angel of light". (2Cor11:15) It is done with music. And it is called "worship". Yes, folks: due to his origins in God's presence, he is qualified as the -ultimate- "worship leader". And since this 'king' is so full of "wisdom", his cleverness has used his own specialties, trained his followers in them, and has cleverly gotten all these people worshiping him...even though they think they are worshiping Jesus. No! Don't ever underestimate him, leaving yourself unguarded, because you think he is "stupid"..!! That, too, is satan's deception. What we see in his followers is what it is, because that is what he is. Most musicians and worship leaders are a very 'proud' folk. [Ed: for anybody who wants to object to that statement, please remember, I used to be there, and worked amongst them. While my heart might have been different from theirs, I learned their arguments well. I know whereof I speak! If you decide to send me arguments, please don't waste your time. I've heard them all before. I even used to use some of them, myself!] And to be sure, this pride often manifests itself in a false-humility. They are always "humbled" to be up there; so-they-say. No they are not! They are proud as all get-out, just bursting inside! And this pride became satan's downfall. He saw his own beauty, and forgot that it had been given to him by the Most High. He got this idea that he could "be like the Most High". (Is14:14) Being his own god. Pride is a dangerous thing. In order that Paul not be "exalted above measure" due to the greatness of the ministry God had entrusted to him, he was given a "thorn in the flesh". (2Cor12:7) Many who are in ministry have little "thorns" of various sorts, as each person's need requires. Notice God says, "You have defiled your sanctuaries by the multitude of your iniquities..." (vs18) Yes, his followers also defile the sanctuaries with their "worship". And as a result notice this king's conclusion: "..therefore I bring fire from your midst; it has devoured you, and I consign you to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all who see you." (vs18) Isaiah speaks of this one as the "-king- of Babylon". (Is14) Yes, he has dominion over the world, given to him temporarily by God. The king of the "rulers, authorit