I don’t know about you, but I’m not fond of being reminded of my shortcomings, especially throughout a forty day period like Lent. No doubt the elders sitting at Ezekiel’s feet squirmed as he launched into a history lecture that pretty much skewered Judah at every turn. Malfeasances, dull hearts, disobedience—it was all there. This dressing down in Ezekiel 20 follows chapter after chapter of accusation and judgment. Enough already! How about some encouraging tidbits?
Nevertheless, the Lord had every reason to say “enough already” to Judah, and He has every reason to say it to us. He blesses us; we turn around and complain. He rescues us from our stunning missteps; we forget those merciful deliverances. Idols, idols, idols—they are lodged insidiously in our wayward hearts.
It ought not surprise us that Israel was in trouble yet again. God’s memory first reached back to Egypt. As He brought them out of that living prison and gave them rest from the constant brutal grind, He did require them to get rid of all the trappings of the surrounding culture. Drop the idols of Egypt, the vile images that seized their attention and demanded allegiance. Imagine that; they were to be counter-cultural to the point where people living around them knew whose they were! They had trouble with that. So do we. We’d like to stay under the radar, be like everyone else, and maintain an acceptable cultural presence—whatever that means.
In the wilderness, the Lord gave Israel precious gifts—instructions designed for their flourishing; food and water to stay alive, guidance and protection, and that wonderful provision of Sabbath rest. The last was a holy sign that they were the Lord’s people. How perverse that they rejected the joy of the Sabbath that was intended to be restorative! Both generations, however, faltered seriously in the wilderness, succumbing to the tyranny of bondage to their own desires.
They forgot—we forget—that this is about the radiant pure glory and majesty of God’s Name. Once we get that—even if only fleetingly—we will guard our every choice of word and action, encouraging each other daily, and seeking to bring glory to the name that is above all other names.
I’m on my lunch break Victoria and just this. I am praying for you sweet girl.
As many of you have stated previously, the reading of Ezekiel is challenging. Sometimes after I read it, I sit and just try and figure out what the Lord may be saying to me through it. What stick out to me today was, that like a parent, God knows what is good and not good for us. When he gives us direction and guidance, he is doing so from a heart of love and not control. If he really wanted to control us, he wouldn’t have given us free will.
Victoria E: praying for you and your baby on this big day. All the best on the next exciting adventure. May your days be more colorful and filled with much joy and happiness!
Martha Hix: praying for your brother, SIL during this time, and their son, may God deliver him out of the situation with His rich mercy. May God deliver your SIL of the Alzheimer report- by his stripes may your SIL be healed. May God bless you with a safe drive to Texas tomorrow, and a wonderful time with your grand kids. Thank you for sharing your prayer requests that we can pray with you.
Sarah D. : praying for your first mission trip in DC area, may God’s glory shine brightly through you. You’re amazing for doing this!
Angie: praying for your husband and recovery.
Taylor: may God provide for your car.
Heidi: praying for your strength, and the drive to the rehab, for your niece and her friend to know Jesus. May God be gloried through your sacrifice and faithfulness. May His grace, goodness, protection, favors, rewards be poured out to you.
I want to start with prayer request for Finley and family: apparently it’s worse than we thought, they are going to have to go back in to the same area today and check to make sure she isn’t leaking spinal fluid. Also, they are starting her on a different antibiotic and running lots of blood spinal fluid tests. She will be in the hospital for 7-10 days. I need prayers also, because — even though I do have some means of support for while she is in the hospital — I was not expecting this; I need to make wise decisions about my spending, and picking up work from the nursing agency I work for.
Elaine just spoke to me with the last paragraph especially; how many times have I/we not gone to the Lord with even the smallest of problems or praised Him for even allowing us another day to live on this wonderful planet He made for us?!!!
Sisters be blessed and remember God is with us even in the smallest of problems and praises.
I am reading Leviticus with another group. I looked up some of the commentaries on Chapter 15. This Chapter is about bodily discharges. One lady was questioning about these ways set before the people when some things were natural and not sinful. They commentaries explained it this way: They were also taught their duty, which was to preserve the honour of their purity, and to keep themselves from all sinful pollutions. It was easy for them to argue that if those pollutions which were natural, unavoidable, involuntary, their affliction and not their sin, rendered them for the time so odious that they were not fit for communion either with God or man, much more abominable and filthy were they if they sinned against the light and law of nature, by drunkenness, adultery, fraud, and the like sins, which defile the very mind and conscience. And, if these ceremonial pollutions could not be done away but by sacrifice and offering, something greater and much more valuable must be expected and depended upon for the purifying of the soul from the uncleanness of sin.
Yes, this said the word odious.
In my basic way of seeing this is that none of could approach Holy God without Jesus! Thankfully, we can repent and be forgiven and He can help us change our desires. As the writer above shared today: They forgot—we forget—that this is about the radiant pure glory and majesty of God’s Name. Once we get that—even if only fleetingly—we will guard our every choice of word and action, encouraging each other daily, and seeking to bring glory to the name that is above all other names. May God help me. I know this can’t happen without Him.(Hope this makes sense! I cut a lot out. Sorry if this is confusing or seems unconnected. I’m just thinking how Holy He is , and how unworthy I am.)
Prayers for you all today! I’m so excited for Victoria E. I wish we could see a picture!
Praying for you and baby boy @Victoria E ❤️
I am usually a quiet observer to this community, but I love everyone’s responses and comments and the community here.
Victoria E: I’m super excited about your delivery today! I pray all goes well, and you enjoy the little bundle of joy. :)
The repeated reference to the Sabbath being so important in God’s eyes has me rethinking my weekend.
I am usually a quiet observer to this community, but I love everyone’s responses and comments and the community here. Victoria E: I’m super excited about your delivery today! I pray all goes well, and you enjoy the little bundle of joy. :)