He is glory. He declares. He is in charge. He restores. He gives us new hearts. He is our God. He is Lord. He has power and control. What He says will be done. He doesn’t delay. He is rest. His words are active. He sympathizes. He was tempted. He is mercy.
Rest is already a reality in God. The rest he calls us to enter isn’t our rest but HIS rest that he invites us to share in. I also love the picture of us, tired and down from living in this world, approaching the “throne of GRACE with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” I love calling it a throne of grace!
12For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
25For I am the Lord; I will speak the word that I will speak, and it will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, but in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it, declares the Lord God.”
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Ezekiel has done a lot of ‘role play’ so far as an example to the Israelites of what is coming:
*Shutting himself inside his home, bound with ropes, unable to speak due to dry mouth (signifying captivity, bondage & dehydration)
*Symbolizing the siege of Jerusalem by drawing the city on a tablet or brick, using things to symbolize battering rams and iron walls, laying on one side for 390 days to bear Israel’s sin, then switching to lay on his right side for 40 days, all while this model siege is taking place (I’m thinking little green army men might’ve been involved had they been invented?).
*He shaves His head & beard to symbolize the burning of different groups (yet he tucks away a ‘remnant’ in his garment).
*Packing his belongings as if he was leaving for exile
Repeatedly, and in different ways, the Lord is trying to get through to a stubborn, rebellious people. “Perhaps they will listen, turn, and repent.” We know what happened—they didn’t.
Let us examine our own hearts—with scripture, which penetrates soul and spirit, joints and marrow. Where am I️ not listening or obeying today? What is the Lord trying to repeatedly show me that I️ am ignoring? We have Jesus, a High Priest who can help us if we come boldly to His throne of mercy.
That’s great, Ellen! I️ just pray for understanding and then look for things/themes that are common in a book or passage to make sense or apply them to my life. I’m glad they’re helpful! I️ also watch the videos on the YouVersion app—they really help explain the context & purpose of each book.
This is a great summary of the images Ezekiel is portraying. You can really sense how God is trying to warn the people of Israel in various ways. His compassion and mercy to do so.
”So they will know I am the LORD” is a repeated phrase in this passage. God is not content to let nominal Christians live as they please. The Lord will take action, so we understand we are not in control and life is not about our own goals and desires. Thankful for a God who forgave our sin and makes a way for us to come to him!
12 and you shall know that I am the Lord. For you have not walked in my statutes, nor obeyed my rules, but have acted according to the rules of the nations that are around you.”
As the time on our nation’s (world’s) clock continues to turn, so does the dying ease of living in His truths. With every day of the week, it becomes harder and harder to not get caught up in the new “accommodations” made for our faith. The political reform of the truths we know are making Christianity out of the norm. The Lord says we will face tribulations as followers of Him, but we must hold tight to His truths for those truths- through He only- will deliver us to our forever home. Lord, hold our hands in our walk with you; let us not be lead astray by the evils of this world that are not of You. Lead us Lord, as your children, so that we may be lights for You and for the generations to come that they may know Your words truths rather than the truths of this world. Amen
12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Wow! I think I forget sometimes just how powerful the word of God is!
So true. Verse 12 comes even more alive when you add verse 13: “And there is no creature hidden from His sight but all are naked and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account”. The word is Him, Jesus! Love it!
18 “They will return to it and remove all its vile images and detestable idols. 19 I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. 20 Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.
I am praying this for someone very special to me(and for myself!) and begging for God’s merciful gift of repentance before it’s too late!!
Hebrews 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Lord have mercy on me. I am a sinner and I need your mercy and grace to heal me. Reveal to me your will
He is glory. He declares. He is in charge. He restores. He gives us new hearts. He is our God. He is Lord. He has power and control. What He says will be done. He doesn’t delay. He is rest. His words are active. He sympathizes. He was tempted. He is mercy.
❤️
16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. – Hebrews 4:16
✝️
I love the illustration of god inviting us into HIS rest❤️
Rest is already a reality in God. The rest he calls us to enter isn’t our rest but HIS rest that he invites us to share in. I also love the picture of us, tired and down from living in this world, approaching the “throne of GRACE with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” I love calling it a throne of grace!
12For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
16Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
25For I am the Lord; I will speak the word that I will speak, and it will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, but in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it, declares the Lord God.”
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Ezekiel has done a lot of ‘role play’ so far as an example to the Israelites of what is coming:
*Shutting himself inside his home, bound with ropes, unable to speak due to dry mouth (signifying captivity, bondage & dehydration)
*Symbolizing the siege of Jerusalem by drawing the city on a tablet or brick, using things to symbolize battering rams and iron walls, laying on one side for 390 days to bear Israel’s sin, then switching to lay on his right side for 40 days, all while this model siege is taking place (I’m thinking little green army men might’ve been involved had they been invented?).
*He shaves His head & beard to symbolize the burning of different groups (yet he tucks away a ‘remnant’ in his garment).
*Packing his belongings as if he was leaving for exile
Repeatedly, and in different ways, the Lord is trying to get through to a stubborn, rebellious people. “Perhaps they will listen, turn, and repent.” We know what happened—they didn’t.
Let us examine our own hearts—with scripture, which penetrates soul and spirit, joints and marrow. Where am I️ not listening or obeying today? What is the Lord trying to repeatedly show me that I️ am ignoring? We have Jesus, a High Priest who can help us if we come boldly to His throne of mercy.
Amen. I join you in that prayer!
Thank you for this explanation, Sarah May. I get a little overwhelmed with Ezekiel, and I’m not at all sure I understand what’s going on!
That’s great, Ellen! I️ just pray for understanding and then look for things/themes that are common in a book or passage to make sense or apply them to my life. I’m glad they’re helpful! I️ also watch the videos on the YouVersion app—they really help explain the context & purpose of each book.
This is a great summary of the images Ezekiel is portraying. You can really sense how God is trying to warn the people of Israel in various ways. His compassion and mercy to do so.
”So they will know I am the LORD” is a repeated phrase in this passage. God is not content to let nominal Christians live as they please. The Lord will take action, so we understand we are not in control and life is not about our own goals and desires. Thankful for a God who forgave our sin and makes a way for us to come to him!
16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
This verse is exactly what the world needs today. May He be with those who are suffering.
A good reminder of the sabbath for tomorrow happy Saturday friends!
I love the reminder that Jesus KNOWS what being human is like. He empathizes with us and always interceded
12 and you shall know that I am the Lord. For you have not walked in my statutes, nor obeyed my rules, but have acted according to the rules of the nations that are around you.”
As the time on our nation’s (world’s) clock continues to turn, so does the dying ease of living in His truths. With every day of the week, it becomes harder and harder to not get caught up in the new “accommodations” made for our faith. The political reform of the truths we know are making Christianity out of the norm. The Lord says we will face tribulations as followers of Him, but we must hold tight to His truths for those truths- through He only- will deliver us to our forever home. Lord, hold our hands in our walk with you; let us not be lead astray by the evils of this world that are not of You. Lead us Lord, as your children, so that we may be lights for You and for the generations to come that they may know Your words truths rather than the truths of this world. Amen
Amen.
So true Katie..thank you for sharing. This really blessed me. :-)
12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Wow! I think I forget sometimes just how powerful the word of God is!
So true. Verse 12 comes even more alive when you add verse 13: “And there is no creature hidden from His sight but all are naked and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account”. The word is Him, Jesus! Love it!
18 “They will return to it and remove all its vile images and detestable idols. 19 I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. 20 Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.
I am praying this for someone very special to me(and for myself!) and begging for God’s merciful gift of repentance before it’s too late!!
I never thought to make this a prayer! I needed this today! ❤️
Hebrews 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Lord have mercy on me. I am a sinner and I need your mercy and grace to heal me. Reveal to me your will