Don’t tell my seminary profs, but I usually speed through the first half of Ezekiel like a getaway car flying down the freeway. I try to slow down. But the graphic metaphors and startling imagery (human excrement, anyone?) become a blur as my eyes inevitably race past the uncomfortable readings about God’s discipline.
When I learned we’d be reading through Ezekiel during this season, I wanted my experience to be different this time around. I wondered what would happen if I slowed down and really sat with the readings. Became more present instead of just trying to get through it. Scripture’s end goal is not to make us uncomfortable, but to point us to God. So I wondered how Ezekiel’s hard-to-swallow passages could carry me toward God if I stopped pushing away from them.
Ezekiel’s audience of exiles were in denial, expecting to return to their own country soon. Jerusalem was Israel’s spiritual center, where the temple housed God’s presence. More than distance separated them from His presence. Through Ezekiel, God engages the people’s physical senses to awaken spiritual senses that had been dulled by years of sin. The dramatizations raise questions and induce shock and alarm; they’re meant to.
“Son of man, take a brick, set it in front of you, and draw the city of Jerusalem on it.”
—Ezekiel 4:1
Ezekiel’s symbolic actions call us to look at sin and its grave consequences from the vantage point of God Himself. It’s unsettling to read. With each message of judgment, holiness feels further away, and the line between humanity and the divine becomes even more pronounced. God even emphasizes this distinction, frequently addressing Ezekiel as “son of man” (Ezekiel 4:1,5:1).
Ezekiel’s dramatizations remind us that when we refuse to walk in God’s ways, He calls us back to Himself through discipline. We sit with the heaviness of Israel’s sins and confess our own. Seeing sin from God’s perspective highlights our deep need for His righteousness that comes only through Jesus.
This season is marked by lament, as we acknowledge the sin sickness that permeates humanity, including our own lives. But this season is also characterized by joy and hope as we look to the One whose suffering led to our healing. Because of Him, we can turn from sin and live for God. As God’s people, our hearts should desire to walk in His ways (Isaiah 26:8–9).
A slower, more intentional reading of Ezekiel is giving me a deeper appreciation for Jesus’s matchless sacrifice. I pray that as we keep reading this unique book, we will continue to lean in as God speaks to us from its pages.
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116 thoughts on "Ezekiel Dramatizes Jerusalem’s Fall"
I’m glad I’m not the only one who struggles with the graphic nature of this text. Its uncomfortable to read and I’m glad She Reads Truth can help pick it apart rather than me skimming over it.
Lord covering
It’s always a good but difficult reminder when we get a picture of just how deep our sin runs. And it makes me appreciate Jesus so much more.
Reading this is breaking my heart for Ekekial
Kimberly Vohs love this! Yes, people say how can a loving God do these things. But He is holy and just and we are a people who deserve these things. However, He does give us Jesus so that we don’t have to bear the worst, being separated from Him for eternity. I especially love how you say when we look at His holiness “How can a God of such holiness forbear with us so long?” I hope you don’t mind if I borrow that sometime.
So much revelation in these passages.
How great is His jealous love for us that he feels so strongly when we turn away.
So helpful to read her words following the scripture reading. I resonated so much with the uncomfortableness of today’s reading. She reminds me that it’s meant to be uncomfortable in order to bring us closer to God. ❤️
I love the humanity in Ezekiel’s response to the Lord- “not so, Sovereign Lord!” And I’m aware that perhaps if I don’t experience shock at what the Lord is asking me to do, then perhaps I’m not hearing Him or I’ve become apathetic. He will call us to big, uncomfortable, messy things. Yet, we are still to obey Him!
I love that God commissions art (visual art and a play) to communicate His message.
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Helpful! Thanks
Yes. It’s when I analyze my thoughts actions and behaviors that I need Jesus. I can be selfish at times. When I study Gods word my heart is able to soften recurve Gods grace and repent for forgiveness ❤️
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These passages would seem so hopeless without knowing we now have Jesus Christ as our Savior to fill the gap between humanity and the divine on our behalf. ♥️
Amen
I believe the reflection questions are only available through purchasing the books. I haven’t purchased a book yet (this is only my fourth study with She Reads Truth). The community on here is pretty fabulous with insights. On the podcast they recommended getting the book for this study as it is more challenging content. I recommend the podcast of you are struggling. Also some readers the other day mentioned watching the Bible Projects video on Ezekiel on YouTube and I found that helpful as well.
Yes Laura,
Thanks for the podcast reminder! I’ve been a little lost and feeling I’m “rote reading yesterday’s 4-headed being” texts and today’s “cooking with excrement” texts. I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’m feeling a bit lost and disconnected!
Yes Laura,
Are there any? I’m not seeing them either, Kenzie…
I too am finding these a bit of a struggle to read so I really appreciate the wrings after the verses. Helps me to make more sense out of what I just read!
I find myself thinking that yesterday and today’s readings each have Ezekiel eating something. Yesterday was the scroll that tasted like honey and today was bread cooked over poop. I found myself thinking “God I’m fine with the honey scroll, but I’ll pass on the dung bread”. What a reflection of my heart! Willing to receive the blessings and the good things of God but not the hard callings. Unfortunately, this is an accurate reflection of my life. I have always struggled with believing that full obedience to God will lead to Him calling me to places I don’t want to go and giving up things I like having (things like sleeping in a warm bed at night, clean hot water to shower in, a variety of food I can pick up a short drive away). But I don’t think God looks at obedience with a grading scale, I don’t get credit for being willing to be partially obedient. God let this confession be a step of repentance toward full obedience. Lord let the words in Ezekiel affect my heart and my fellow sisters and brothers as we read together.
Where can I find the devotional reflection questions?
I really resonated with this. In the chapter, Ezekiel really uses the senses to get everyone’s attention. How often do I need help in seeing my own sin. Can you imagine having to GATHER the “supplies”? The touch? The smell? Ugh I can only imagine.
I am really enjoying this study of Ezekiel and how God shows us his mercies. It’s a little gory, if I can use that word to show God’ wanting to give us like many chances to repent and turn to him.
I have been appreciating the time to contemplate on the season! Appreciate this lesson!
This is EXACTLY what I got from this! It is so humbling. I wrote in my notes how blessed I am to be on “this” side of Jesus. ✝️❤️
Amen!!!
SHANEN
You purchase the prayer cards separately
So glad you are here and seeking God with us .
Ugh Maria I feel this. I’m in the “breaking down” process of this and I feel my flesh fighting tooth and nail. I’m ready to preserve and let God be the sole ruler of my life ❤️
Fed rcpt ccxxxxddd dc C-section.
Amen!
Yes! So humbling to know we have a God that cares about every detail of our lives! A God that wants such deep connection with His people ❤️ My prayer is that we all can have a faith like Ezekiel to walk in obedience even when we do not understand the bigger picture and the task in front of us seems strange. ALLISON BIERLY ❤️
Yes! So humbling to know we have a God that cares about every detail of our lives! A God that wants such deep connection with His people ❤️ My prayer is that we all can have a faith like Ezekiel to walk
Yes! I amazes me
I felt the same way.
I feel the same. This is a hard one for me to understand.
Wow…I may have sped through this before also because I sure said, “what the heck” a couple of times! Ugh…our sins are so horrific there are no words. Thank you Lord for your mercy and grace!!!!
I have been listening to the Stephen Armstrong podcasts on Ezekiel. He has a nice speaking voice and has a sermon on each chapter. He is very humble and said God’s word mystifies us and our understanding is limited. He also encounters experiences where he doesn’t understand the details and is learning. He offers lots of history and reasons behind how the culture did things. If someone here also recommended a few days ago – thank you so much! I couldn’t remember but searched podcasts and found this.
I am so grateful for Jesus’s matchless sacrifice ❤️
Yes Mitzi! Right there with you! —Show me Lord.
What struck me after reading the devotional for today is that we are just as sinful as the Israelites, and the only reason we don’t pay for our sins is because of Jesus. ❤️
I am so grateful for this study. Even though I have been a Christ follower for many years I find myself yearning to know Him more. To live more for Him and less for myself. I’m grateful for this time of reflection and repentance
Laura Spurlin— oh that’s a great idea. Thanks for the recommendation
God puts their sin back on them and makes the punishment fit the crime.
• they were oppressing the poor in order to get rich -> all the money they’ve accumulated will now be worthless
God makes the punishment fit the crime.
Something that helped me yesterday was to take my study a step further and listen to the podcast, Bible Recap.
I’m nearly speechless – and very uncomfortable when I realize just what my sin looks like to God and the tremendous price Jesus paid for my sin. I am truly redeemed – bought at a very high price. May I live with a constant view of my redemption through the blood of Jesus.
Hello ladies, I’m new to this study and super excited. I had a quick question on the monthly subscription I received the book box I just had one question do you purchase the prayer cards individually or do they come with the subscription
I was just praying last night asking God to help me understand. Of all the things – I DON’T want to be confused by God’s Word.
Phew—- today’s devotional really spoke to me. I was that rebel daughter to God. Right after I accepted Jesus in my life, everything started going wrong. Looking back, I recognize I was a rookie about spiritual warfare and that the enemy was attacking me in every front. I became REBELLIOUS with capital letters. And so God had to discipline me. I am not dramatizing when I say that God had to break me down to put me back together. I was fully aware I was stubborn and rebelling against him— blaming him for all that was going wrong. I’m so grateful he loves us so much. But I’m even more grateful that I was struck with a spiritual 2×4, to help me wake up. I needed it badly. And it was the beginning of a journey that hasn’t been perfect, but it’s been full of his love.
❤️ outward expression of our internal journey
Hard reading today. It makes you so appreciative for Jesus sacrifice. Appreciative seems like such a simple word, but I’m having brain fog today.
I don’t understand how God could ask Ezekiel to endure this? Help me understand. What’s literal here?
Great devotional today. As soon as I got to the part about sons and fathers eating each other my mind went “nope!” And tried to disconnect. It reminds me of how I felt reading Hosea. My prayer is that I don’t shut down from this but come closer to God. I am grateful for the verse from Peter at the end of todays selection. Thank you all for your continued prayers, the baby has dropped over the past 2 days and hopefully I will find out later today if he is still head up or not :). God is amazing!
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Wow, well I’m caught. I rushed through this reading because it was so heavy. I even read it in a different version today to make it easier to understand and have a quicker read.
But I know God’s discipline and warnings are His love. We are deserving of this wrath… But PRAISE YOU LORD, we are set free and our shame is gone! Thank you, Lord.
God’s response to Ezekiel’s request caught my attention too! I’m in a season of learning true obedience to God but this was helpful to remind me that God cares about my heart and concerns even when directing me in life.
After todays reading my prayer is Lord, “awaken my spiritual senses that have been dulled by sin.” Show me the sin that I’m not aware due to my hardness of heart. It’s become a part of my life. Forgive me, Lord. Amen.
Praying for Heidi’s niece, Charlotte’s weariness in ministry, Sandi Nieto’s exhaustion in long term caregiving, Victoria E.’s beautiful miracle baby boy’s imminent arrival and for Dorothy’s request concerning Finley’s upcoming and future surgeries.
You explained it so well, and drew out the connection to lent so clearly. Because to be honest I did not fully see or understand how the ezekiel readings of to day, connected to us in this day and age, and lent. And I could not really find anything else on that. So thank you!
I had the same reaction – spending over a year laying on his sides?!? Love your point about God hearing Ezekiel’s concern and having a dialogue. Reminds me of when Abraham begs God to have mercy on Sodom and they go back and forth negotiating. I think God wants to hear our heartfelt thoughts knowing he is all powerful and the ultimate authority.
When we see judgement in our land, may we learn righteousness.
Yes!
This passage really jumped off the page for me too!
Good point!
Scriptures end goal is not to make us uncomfortable but point us to God. Heavy reading today. I feel the need to read the scripture selections again. Oh how we need the redemptive covering of Jesus.
Just yesterday finished a book called Holier than Thou by Jackie Hill Perry. Such a timely read to go alongside this reading in Ezekiel. She discussed God’s great forbearance with man, and how it surprises us sometimes when God acts in wrath or judgment. We respond with “How can a loving God do that?” BUT when you focus on the holiness of God, how his wrath and Judgment are attached to His holiness, the question looks different. “How can a God of such holiness forbear with us so long?” This type of reading brings about a mourning over my own sin and the sins of others, and a gratefulness for our amazingly patient God. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted…” Matthew 5:4
Just a reminder Ezekiel was supposed to be “entering priesthood” and now he is eating unclean bread and suffering for the Israelites. A very different outcome from the one Ezekiel had planned YET he STILL obeyed!!!! Why? Because he saw Gods glory? He was afraid? Furthermore what am I doing to prepare and be obedient to God? Love the parallels between Christ and Ezekiel and I can’t wait to see what this season brings!!!
“My soul yearns for you in the night;
my spirit within me earnestly seeks you.
For when your judgments are in the earth,
the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. “- Isaiah 26:9
This is the first time I’ve read Ezekiel. When I read today’s passages I didn’t understand the message except to think wow, God was really angry! But then reading your notes, and writing my own, I began to see other things. So many sides to this. God was so angry. Yes, but he had to be sad also and yet still loving enough not to wipe out the entire Israeli nation. Ezekiel, wow, there’s a person with super strong belief in God. Only argues about the human excrement!! I’m thinking I’d be more like Job and say, oh no I must be hearing you wrong. You didn’t just tell me that! And then the Israelites themselves. Thuggery don’t even know what is going to hut them. They are so much like me some days, I have a schedule and sometimes I don’t have time or put aside the time to be with God. It’s like our society, it’s all about me! But because I know the ending to this story that God loves us no matter what, I’m excited to read what happens next.
“By His wounds you have been healed…”
undeserved yet unreserved grace. may we remember this always.
“By His wounds you have been healed…”
Reading this Bible study reminds me of how humans sometimes have a very sneaky way of blaming others for their own actions, and never owning up to their own. I think Ezekiel should inspire us all to grow up, be mature in our own actions, and to own up to what we did wrong, and to accept correction from God. He’s not just correcting us to see us be in pain or misery, God loves us so much that he wants to correct us so we can be better, of course, FOR Him! Remember, our actions always have a consequence, whether they be positive or negative. We must think about our own actions before we do them.
I’m reminded not to skip through these realities – sin SHOULD feel heavy, the consequences an enormous weight. I so value Tameshia’s reminder to slow down and sit in it, to look for God as I read.
Indeed, it turns me towards our Gracious God.
Reading this story gives me more of an urgency to share the love of God with family and friends. So often we just want to look at the merciful side of God, but he does have a jealous/righteous anger side as well! Thank you Lord for your mercy in the form of you son Jesus Christ! Give me more strength to share this love and mercy with others.
As I read these passages I can’t help but think of the state of the world. Ukraine/Russia and all the innocent people. America complacent about God and our sin. So much fear still lingering from COVID. The amount of trafficking that we seem to not care about. It all breaks my heart. Isaiah 26:9 says for when your judgements are in the land the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. I pray that’s where we are today. Seeking righteousness, turning away from violence and sin and to see God’s grace and mercy in our live.
I wonder if Ezekiel bread has the same ingredients as the bread he ate. Also I feel bad for ezeka.
Am I the only one that is feeling horrified by the punishments? It has me on my knees in thanksgiving that I am lucky enough to know Jesus and have His grace and forgiveness, but feeling a heaviness for our world. Going to need some praise music on my way to work.
“I am the Lord; I have spoken “ is one of the things that stood out to me. What God says will come to pass.
We are very broken people who desperately need Jesus.
This was a lot! It reminded me of how important Jesus’s death is. I know I deserve the type of discipline these people got, but Jesus bore all of that. I don’t think I could ever thank Him enough.
Thank God for sending Jesus to suffer God’s wrath in our place! We cannot stand in God’s wrath and discipline, we will die!!! I cannot imagine how Ezekiel obeyed, especially with the bread, and how he had cords so that he couldn’t turn to the other side! His obedience and submission is like Jesus’. There’s no way we can do that if not for the Spirit that enables!
I definitely agree! I felt a little uncomfortable but Gods truth is meant to draw us closer to him rather than be uncomfortable. I am a sinner and am constantly forgiven!
God is my guide when my human desires try to consume me.
I praise you Lord for your sacrifice !
I definitely agree! I felt a little uncomfortable but Gods truth is meant to draw us closer to him rather than be uncomfortable. I am a sinner and am constantly forgiven!
God is my guide when my human desires try to consume me/
I definitely agree! I felt a little uncomfortable but Gods truth is meant to draw us closer to him rather than be uncomfortable. I am a sinner and am constantly forgiven!
What a reminder of the seriousness of sin. The last verse from Peter sent me right in to praise realizing (yet again) that Jesus paid that for me. The death, destruction and pain was absorbed and dealt with on the cross. May I (we) not forget the severity of sin and glory of my redeemer from it.
For the first time I feel like I’m actually walking in freedom and healing from the sins of my past. However, as much as I desperately want to find my person and be married, I feel like my current season of singleness may be a period of discipline. That’s hard to think of, but I remind myself that God disciplines those He loves. I am also thankful for the sacrifice of Jesus that while this season of discipline is necessary for my sanctification that God doesn’t see me and the sin of my past, He sees Jesus and HIS righteousness. Praying I will lean into however long this season lasts knowing it will be worthwhile, knowing it will deepen my dependence and trust in God
My heart feels a mix of lamentation and joy. And, a little grossed out by the excrement passages. Definitely helped me start day 2 of fasting! There is this foundation of joy always with me now, sustained by God as I ask Him to be my daily bread. We are so blessed to be living now, in this modern time. Even with all of the hard things we face, hey- we don’t have to use dung for fuel to cook! Reading about God removing mercy from His people makes my heart sad. Judgement and wrath is hard to swallow- And I am reminded that I am not being asked to swallow the wrath of God, but rather the whole truth in His Word. And the truth is that God keeps coming for us. But He doesn’t force us to love Him, that just wouldn’t be love. Just as I want to be chosen and loved for who I am, He created us in His image and desires our love in the same way. Praise God for washing me clean of the dung on me, the grossness of my sins are washed in the blood of Jesus! What a Savior we have. He is altogether beautiful. I lift up each of the hearts reading, praying the comfort of Him who holds the whole earth and us in it would be felt in a powerful way. May we respond to God’s calling to stand with courage and strength as we admit our sins and filth to a loving and merciful Father who is ready to forgive. May our shame and guilt be broken off, let the pieces fall to the ground at His feet. He will make a beautiful kaleidoscope of our lives if we let Him. Let the dung stay where it stays, let the joy fill us with the fragrance of HOPE.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. Ezekiel’s suffering points to Jesus & His sacrifice. During this Lenten season may we see Jesus in a new way & experience His victory over sin & death.
The sacrifice and foreshadowing of what Christ will do and the fact that Ezekiel was obedient and even to the point of suffering because of his desire to be more for God than the world is amazing. Amazing because I think I have that strength but some days I still get discouraged about things easily. I’m reading a previous study, “One Another” and it repeatedly states that we have to love one another like Christ did and Ezekiel was doing these things before Christ in preparation. I hope I can honor God with a life of more sacrifice to be more for God
I am healed!!
I’m so glad that we are reading Ezekiel through Lent because I have rushed through my reading of that book in the past but I like how this study is organized in that the passages are perfect amount to meditate on.
Wow! So much to take in my brain is spinning. 390 days on his left side?! Then 40 on his right?! That is well over a year!!!!!! But a detail that jumped out at me was that Ezekiel was upset he would have to eat unclean bread baked over excrement so he went to God with his concern and God heard him and responded. God had a conversation with Ezekiel! He didn’t just talk at him. God did not take away the task but he did allow Ezekiel to use animal excrement rather than human excrement. A strange detail but I appreciate that God heard Ezekiel and cared about his concerns enough to work with him. I am grateful to be reading though Ezekiel with this community, it has not been an easy task for me so far. Praying over your requests today SHEs ❤️
When I read the passage above from Isaiah, I was reminded of a something I heard or read. I can’t remember the exact words, but the message was that we want a God of justice and wrath. This message talked about people in other countries that are oppressed. There is no justice for acts committed against them or family members. (Not to say that this doesn’t happen here too sometimes.) There hope is that like in the Isaiah passage that one day there will be justice. Yes, Lord, we wait for you
in the path of your judgments.
Our desire is for your name and renown.e
9 I long for you in the night;f
yes, my spirit within me diligently seeks you,
for when your judgments are in the land,
the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
I’m paraphrasing the message I heard, but it did make an impression!
Also, I agree! We can’t fathom what Jesus endured and I definitely am not worthy!
Slowing down and really absorbing this breaks my heart in a whole new way to see how much our sin breaks the heart of God who just wants to love us.
So much more thankful for Jesus is this season to know that He bore all of my sin so that I may live a righteous walk with God.
Slowing down and really absorbing this breaks my heart in a whole new way to see how much our sin breaks the heart of God who just wants to love us.
Thank You Jesus for making a way out of my sin.
So often I feel trapped in my shame over sin, and this season I am really trying to redirect that energy to praise for God and gratitude to Jesus for His work on the cross that we don’t deserve. Reading about God’s wrath over Israel’s sins makes me so incredibly humbled and awed that He has the love for us and the mercy to send Jesus to save us. Praise Him, all day, every day… He is truly awesome.
Praying for us today to worship God in all that we do and to give him thanksgiving for all that is good!
Don’t make light of sin…
In line with what was preached last night at Ash Wednesday service: sit in your grief.
I appreciate reading all of the comments that tell of your perspective of Ezekiel. I’ve entered into a hard season of life, with lots of big changes happening at once and wondering what God is doing in my life. So many people have pointed out discipline. And that hits home. It would be so easy during this time for me to fall away and be upset with God on all the things He keeps putting in my path to make me climb even harder, but He knows what He is doing, and I need to trust in that and obey. Lord help me not to be like Israel, turning to the “easy” way and dismissing what You would have me do. Thank you for these dear sisters who take the time to post their reflections and encourage others, it is indeed a blessing. May we turn to You in obedience, trusting that Your way is good and right.
“Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, than to trust and obey.”
I’ve always avoided reading Ezekiel because of how abrupt it is but taking the time these past few days has made me appreciate this book more and more!
This passage was a hard one to read, but made me realize this is what my sin and shame punishment should look like. Thank God for Jesus and His grace!
The next time I start to whine because of my tiredness, the time commitment, inconvenience, or simply lack-of-pleasantness about the call God lays before me, I need to remember Ezekiel, his submission and reverence to God. Help me Lord to honor You with full obedience. Literally possible only in Your power and strength. Wow.
I was reflecting in the same way this morning. I am so ever grateful for Jesus’ redemptive work and what he took off of me.
Lord, help me slow down to see all that You want me to see in this study. This is my first time reading through the book of Ezekiel and I don’t want to miss anything. It is difficult and strange, but there is so much beauty there as well. Thank you for these ladies and their extra insights that I miss a lot of the time. Walk before us Lord and guide our steps. And thank You for the study and those following along in the study. In Jesus Name, Amen.
JILLIANNE MATTOX – Who better than you to talk with them. You understand both the situation and the freedom in our saving God. You will be genuine, not judgmental. You can say, I have been there and Jesus is the only answer that brings hope, healing, and help. He is worth it. Don’t let the enemy rob you of the opportunity to use what he wanted for evil for the absolute greatness of directing lost souls to the kingdom. Bring those bound in the chains of sin to Jesus and watch Him break their chains and free their souls. None of us, not one is worthy to present the message of Christ, and yet all of us are called, moving forward in His strength alone and the power of the redemption of His blood that covers us.
Discipline. “Ezekiel’s dramatizations remind us that when we refuse to walk in God’s ways, He calls us back to Himself with discipline.” To me, the beauty lies in the different sides of discipline. There is the punishment for disobedience side of discipline that captures God’s wrath and anger and makes me uncomfortable, but there is also the freedom that comes by practicing discipline—by training myself to obey God’s rules. In a world where I so often don’t know what to do, being able to discipline (train) my physical, emotional, mental body—to obey God’s commands—“simplifies”things. Help me ask the age-old question, Lord: What would Jesus do? And then discipline myself to do the same!
Thank you Tameshia! So loved “Seeing sin from God’s perspective highlights our deep need for His righteousness that comes only through Jesus.”
We cannot even begin to understand the wrath that Jesus bore on our behalf on the cross.
HEIDI – praying for your niece and the Lord will use your relationship with her to draw her to freedom in Christ
TRUTH SEEKER – thank you for sharing your story ❤
Amen
In the past I’ve read Ezekiel as just a warning about the coming siege of Jerusalem. An historical fact that happened then but this is now. When I started reading it from God’s perspective of sin and His righteous anger I was humbled. I still am today. Reading Ezekiel is hard but necessary. Not only does it give me pause to reflect, confess and repent of my sin but it also leads me to a deeper appreciation of Calvary. Ezekiel points me to Jesus because this is now and I’m the sinner … saved by grace. Thank God!
With signs, Ezekiel needs to show the people the severity of their sin and its consequences. He makes a drawing of the siege of Jerusalem. Many of the people in exile believed that soon they would return back to Jerusalem, back to their old lives. But Ezekiel has to show them that soon Jerusalem will fall and they will stay in exile for years. He has to put a iron plate between him and the drawing of the city. A sign of the barrier that existed between Israel and God. He wouldn’t come to rescue them. They had to bear the consequences of their iniquity. The people would experience hunger, lack of water, many would be killed or send in exile. God isn’t just a loving and good God. He is but we can’t limit His character to that. He is also holy and righteous. His wrath over sin is real. So real that rather than leaving sin unpunished, He gave His only Son over to die.
Heidi – Praying for your niece
I’m feeling the same way, Adrienne!!!
I am already so thankful that because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, bearing my sin and shame, that I will not be on the receiving end of God’s wrath and anger. Instead I receive His mercy and grace and forgiveness… and am unworthy of it all.
Reading this passage was hard! But it also made me realise that man! Jesus death is an absolute gift and so worthy of praise – here we have Ezekiel suffering and being a living example of what Sin has done and like myself the people of Israel are going along in life not counting the cost of disobedience – I am greatful for God’s revelation and mercy to give us a second chance