Category Archives: Justice / Judgment

Discipline / Guidance From God, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Idols / False Gods, Justice / Judgment, Repenting from Sin

Restoring Faithfulness in Our Walk with God (Ezekiel 23)

Key Scripture: Ezekiel 23:35 (NIV) – “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Since you have forgotten me and turned your back on me, you must bear the consequences of your lewdness and prostitution.” (full scripture below)

Reconnect: In Ezekiel 23, the prophet conveys a powerful and stark message from God to the people of Jerusalem and Samaria. Using vivid and unsettling imagery, God describes their unfaithfulness and idolatry as acts of prostitution, emphasizing the severity of their spiritual adultery. This chapter reminds us of the consequences of turning away from God and embracing the ways of the world.

Reflection: God’s message in Ezekiel 23 is a call to examine our hearts and our faithfulness to Him. Just as Israel and Judah faced dire consequences for their spiritual infidelity, we too can find ourselves distanced from God’s blessings when we allow other things to take His place in our lives. It’s easy to get caught up in the allure of worldly pleasures and forget our first love, but God desires our complete devotion.

Think about the areas in your life where you might be turning away from God. Are there habits, relationships, or pursuits that are drawing you away from Him? Ezekiel 23 challenges us to confront these distractions and recommit ourselves to living faithfully before God. His call to return to Him is always accompanied by His willingness to forgive and restore.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we come before You with humble hearts, acknowledging that we have sometimes turned away from You. Forgive us for the times we have placed other things above our relationship with You. Help us to recognize the distractions and idols in our lives that pull us away from Your love. Renew our hearts and minds, and draw us closer to You. Thank You for Your mercy and grace, always ready to forgive and restore us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Action Step: This week, take time each day to identify and eliminate one distraction that has been pulling you away from God. Replace it with time spent in prayer, reading the Bible, or worshiping. Make a conscious effort to draw closer to God and renew your commitment to Him.

Full Scripture:

Ezekiel 23

Oholah and Oholibah’s Sin and Its Consequences

      1The word of the LORD came to me again, saying, 2“Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother; 3and they played the harlot in Egypt. They played the harlot in their youth; there their breasts were pressed and there their virgin bosom was handled. 4“Their names were Oholah the elder and Oholibah her sister. And they became Mine, and they bore sons and daughters. And as for their names, Samaria is Oholah and Jerusalem is Oholibah.

      5“Oholah played the harlot while she was Mine; and she lusted after her lovers, after the Assyrians, her neighbors, 6who were clothed in purple, governors and officials, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses. 7“She bestowed her harlotries on them, all of whom were the choicest men of Assyria; and with all whom she lusted after, with all their idols she defiled herself. 8“She did not forsake her harlotries from the time in Egypt; for in her youth men had lain with her, and they handled her virgin bosom and poured out their lust on her. 9“Therefore, I gave her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians, after whom she lusted. 10“They uncovered her nakedness; they took her sons and her daughters, but they slew her with the sword. Thus she became a byword among women, and they executed judgments on her.

      11“Now her sister Oholibah saw this, yet she was more corrupt in her lust than she, and her harlotries were more than the harlotries of her sister. 12“She lusted after the Assyrians, governors and officials, the ones near, magnificently dressed, horsemen riding on horses, all of them desirable young men. 13“I saw that she had defiled herself; they both took the same way. 14“So she increased her harlotries. And she saw men portrayed on the wall, images of the Chaldeans portrayed with vermilion, 15girded with belts on their loins, with flowing turbans on their heads, all of them looking like officers, like the Babylonians in Chaldea, the land of their birth. 16“When she saw them she lusted after them and sent messengers to them in Chaldea. 17“The Babylonians came to her to the bed of love and defiled her with their harlotry. And when she had been defiled by them, she became disgusted with them. 18“She uncovered her harlotries and uncovered her nakedness; then I became disgusted with her, as I had become disgusted with her sister. 19“Yet she multiplied her harlotries, remembering the days of her youth, when she played the harlot in the land of Egypt. 20“She lusted after their paramours, whose flesh is like the flesh of donkeys and whose issue is like the issue of horses. 21“Thus you longed for the lewdness of your youth, when the Egyptians handled your bosom because of the breasts of your youth.

      22“Therefore, O Oholibah, thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Behold I will arouse your lovers against you, from whom you were alienated, and I will bring them against you from every side: 23the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, Pekod and Shoa and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them; desirable young men, governors and officials all of them, officers and men of renown, all of them riding on horses. 24‘They will come against you with weapons, chariots and wagons, and with a company of peoples. They will set themselves against you on every side with buckler and shield and helmet; and I will commit the judgment to them, and they will judge you according to their customs. 25‘I will set My jealousy against you, that they may deal with you in wrath. They will remove your nose and your ears; and your survivors will fall by the sword. They will take your sons and your daughters; and your survivors will be consumed by the fire. 26‘They will also strip you of your clothes and take away your beautiful jewels. 27‘Thus I will make your lewdness and your harlotry brought from the land of Egypt to cease from you, so that you will not lift up your eyes to them or remember Egypt anymore.’ 28“For thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Behold, I will give you into the hand of those whom you hate, into the hand of those from whom you were alienated. 29‘They will deal with you in hatred, take all your property, and leave you naked and bare. And the nakedness of your harlotries will be uncovered, both your lewdness and your harlotries. 30‘These things will be done to you because you have played the harlot with the nations, because you have defiled yourself with their idols. 31‘You have walked in the way of your sister; therefore I will give her cup into your hand.’

32“Thus says the Lord GOD,
‘You will drink your sister’s cup,
Which is deep and wide.
You will be laughed at and held in derision;
It contains much.

      33‘You will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow,
The cup of horror and desolation,
The cup of your sister Samaria.

      34‘You will drink it and drain it.
Then you will gnaw its fragments
And tear your breasts;
for I have spoken,’ declares the Lord GOD.

35“Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Because you have forgotten Me and cast Me behind your back, bear now the punishment of your lewdness and your harlotries.’”

      36Moreover, the LORD said to me, “Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah? Then declare to them their abominations. 37“For they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands. Thus they have committed adultery with their idols and even caused their sons, whom they bore to Me, to pass through the fire to them as food. 38“Again, they have done this to Me: they have defiled My sanctuary on the same day and have profaned My sabbaths. 39“For when they had slaughtered their children for their idols, they entered My sanctuary on the same day to profane it; and lo, thus they did within My house.

      40“Furthermore, they have even sent for men who come from afar, to whom a messenger was sent; and lo, they came—for whom you bathed, painted your eyes and decorated yourselves with ornaments; 41and you sat on a splendid couch with a table arranged before it on which you had set My incense and My oil. 42“The sound of a carefree multitude was with her; and drunkards were brought from the wilderness with men of the common sort. And they put bracelets on the hands of the women and beautiful crowns on their heads.

      43“Then I said concerning her who was worn out by adulteries, ‘Will they now commit adultery with her when she is thus?’ 44“But they went in to her as they would go in to a harlot. Thus they went in to Oholah and to Oholibah, the lewd women. 45“But they, righteous men, will judge them with the judgment of adulteresses and with the judgment of women who shed blood, because they are adulteresses and blood is on their hands.

      46“For thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Bring up a company against them and give them over to terror and plunder. 47‘The company will stone them with stones and cut them down with their swords; they will slay their sons and their daughters and burn their houses with fire. 48‘Thus I will make lewdness cease from the land, that all women may be admonished and not commit lewdness as you have done. 49‘Your lewdness will be requited upon you, and you will bear the penalty of worshiping your idols; thus you will know that I am the Lord GOD.’”

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Knowing, Justice / Judgment, Merciful, Repenting from Sin

Exposing Injustice and God’s Call to Repentance (Ezekiel 22)

Have you ever felt a sense of outrage at injustice? Maybe you’ve witnessed or experienced unfairness that stirred something deep within your soul.

Ezekiel 22 exposes the stark reality of societal corruption and the call for repentance that echoes through generations.

Background Context: Ezekiel 22 vividly portrays the moral decay and rampant injustice in Jerusalem. The prophet Ezekiel, guided by God, reveals the sins of the city’s leaders, priests, and people—ranging from idolatry and oppression to dishonesty and violence. The city, meant to be a beacon of God’s righteousness, had become a cesspool of wickedness.

(Summarized and continued after scripture)

Ezekiel 22

The Sins of Israel

      1Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“And you, son of man, will you judge, will you judge the bloody city? Then cause her to know all her abominations. 3“You shall say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “A city shedding blood in her midst, so that her time will come, and that makes idols, contrary to her interest, for defilement! 4“You have become guilty by the blood which you have shed, and defiled by your idols which you have made. Thus you have brought your day near and have come to your years; therefore I have made you a reproach to the nations and a mocking to all the lands. 5“Those who are near and those who are far from you will mock you, you of ill repute, full of turmoil.

      6“Behold, the rulers of Israel, each according to his power, have been in you for the purpose of shedding blood. 7“They have treated father and mother lightly within you. The alien they have oppressed in your midst; the fatherless and the widow they have wronged in you. 8“You have despised My holy things and profaned My sabbaths. 9“Slanderous men have been in you for the purpose of shedding blood, and in you they have eaten at the mountain shrines. In your midst they have committed acts of lewdness. 10“In you they have uncovered their fathers’ nakedness; in you they have humbled her who was unclean in her menstrual impurity. 11“One has committed abomination with his neighbor’s wife and another has lewdly defiled his daughter-in-law. And another in you has humbled his sister, his father’s daughter. 12“In you they have taken bribes to shed blood; you have taken interest and profits, and you have injured your neighbors for gain by oppression, and you have forgotten Me,” declares the Lord GOD.

      13“Behold, then, I smite My hand at your dishonest gain which you have acquired and at the bloodshed which is among you. 14“Can your heart endure, or can your hands be strong in the days that I will deal with you? I, the LORD, have spoken and will act. 15“I will scatter you among the nations and I will disperse you through the lands, and I will consume your uncleanness from you. 16“You will profane yourself in the sight of the nations, and you will know that I am the LORD.”’”

      17And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 18“Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to Me; all of them are bronze and tin and iron and lead in the furnace; they are the dross of silver. 19“Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Because all of you have become dross, therefore, behold, I am going to gather you into the midst of Jerusalem. 20‘As they gather silver and bronze and iron and lead and tin into the furnace to blow fire on it in order to melt it, so I will gather you in My anger and in My wrath and I will lay you there and melt you. 21‘I will gather you and blow on you with the fire of My wrath, and you will be melted in the midst of it. 22‘As silver is melted in the furnace, so you will be melted in the midst of it; and you will know that I, the LORD, have poured out My wrath on you.’”

      23And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 24“Son of man, say to her, ‘You are a land that is not cleansed or rained on in the day of indignation.’ 25“There is a conspiracy of her prophets in her midst like a roaring lion tearing the prey. They have devoured lives; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in the midst of her. 26“Her priests have done violence to My law and have profaned My holy things; they have made no distinction between the holy and the profane, and they have not taught the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they hide their eyes from My sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. 27“Her princes within her are like wolves tearing the prey, by shedding blood and destroying lives in order to get dishonest gain. 28“Her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ when the LORD has not spoken. 29“The people of the land have practiced oppression and committed robbery, and they have wronged the poor and needy and have oppressed the sojourner without justice. 30“I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one. 31“Thus I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; their way I have brought upon their heads,” declares the Lord GOD.

Message: In the midst of condemning Jerusalem’s sins, God’s heart for justice shines through. He calls out the leaders who exploit the vulnerable, the priests who profane His sanctuary, and the people who engage in violence and corruption. Through Ezekiel, God issues a powerful call to repentance, urging the people to turn away from their wickedness and return to Him.

Summary Key Points:

  • Injustice Exposed: Ezekiel exposes the deep-seated corruption within Jerusalem, highlighting the grievous sins that have provoked God’s righteous anger.
  • Call to Repentance: Despite the severity of their sins, God offers a pathway to restoration through repentance. He desires sincere hearts turned back to Him.
  • Divine Judgment and Mercy: God’s judgment is tempered with mercy. Even in His righteous anger, He provides an opportunity for transformation and forgiveness.

Call to Action:

  • Seek Justice: Reflect on areas of your life where injustice may exist—whether in your community, workplace, or personal relationships. Take proactive steps to advocate for righteousness and fairness.
  • Repent and Turn to God: Examine your heart for any sinful attitudes or actions. Humbly repent before God, seeking His forgiveness and committing to live according to His righteous standards.

Applying in Our Lives: As we contemplate the profound message of Ezekiel 22, let us not only recognize the sins exposed but also consider how we can apply God’s call to justice and repentance in our daily lives. Let us be agents of change, standing against injustice and embracing the transformative power of repentance through God’s grace.

Closing Prayer: Heavenly Father, we come before You humbled by Your righteousness and mercy. We confess the injustices in our world and in our hearts. Grant us the courage to stand for justice and the humility to repent of our sins. May Your Spirit guide us in living lives that honor You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Discipline / Guidance From God, Justice / Judgment, Repenting from Sin

The Sword of Judgment and Call for Repentance (Ezekiel 21)

Have you ever faced a moment where the consequences of your actions or choices felt imminent, like a sword hanging over your head?

Ezekiel’s vision in chapter 21 speaks to the sobering reality of divine judgment and the need for repentance.

Background Context: Ezekiel 21 is a prophecy concerning the judgment of Jerusalem, delivered by Ezekiel during the Babylonian siege of the city. It portrays God’s righteous anger against Israel’s disobedience and idolatry, symbolized by the drawn sword of judgment. This vision serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of persistent sin and the necessity of turning back to God.

(Summarized and continued after scripture)

Ezekiel 21

Parable of the Sword of the LORD

      1And the word of the LORD came to me saying, 2“Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem, and speak against the sanctuaries and prophesy against the land of Israel; 3and say to the land of Israel, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Behold, I am against you; and I will draw My sword out of its sheath and cut off from you the righteous and the wicked. 4“Because I will cut off from you the righteous and the wicked, therefore My sword will go forth from its sheath against all flesh from south to north. 5“Thus all flesh will know that I, the LORD, have drawn My sword out of its sheath. It will not return to its sheath again.”’ 6“As for you, son of man, groan with breaking heart and bitter grief, groan in their sight. 7“And when they say to you, ‘Why do you groan?’ you shall say, ‘Because of the news that is coming; and every heart will melt, all hands will be feeble, every spirit will faint and all knees will be weak as water. Behold, it comes and it will happen,’ declares the Lord GOD.”

      8Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

9“Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the LORD.’ Say,
‘A sword, a sword sharpened
And also polished!

      10‘Sharpened to make a slaughter,
Polished to flash like lightning!’
Or shall we rejoice, the rod of My son despising every tree?

11“It is given to be polished, that it may be handled; the sword is sharpened and polished, to give it into the hand of the slayer. 12“Cry out and wail, son of man; for it is against My people, it is against all the officials of Israel. They are delivered over to the sword with My people, therefore strike your thigh. 13“For there is a testing; and what if even the rod which despises will be no more?” declares the Lord GOD.

      14“You therefore, son of man, prophesy and clap your hands together; and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword for the slain. It is the sword for the great one slain, which surrounds them, 15that their hearts may melt, and many fall at all their gates. I have given the glittering sword. Ah! It is made for striking like lightning, it is wrapped up in readiness for slaughter. 16“Show yourself sharp, go to the right; set yourself; go to the left, wherever your edge is appointed. 17“I will also clap My hands together, and I will appease My wrath; I, the LORD, have spoken.”

The Instrument of God’s Judgment

      18The word of the LORD came to me saying, 19“As for you, son of man, make two ways for the sword of the king of Babylon to come; both of them will go out of one land. And make a signpost; make it at the head of the way to the city. 20“You shall mark a way for the sword to come to Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, and to Judah into fortified Jerusalem. 21“For the king of Babylon stands at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination; he shakes the arrows, he consults the household idols, he looks at the liver. 22“Into his right hand came the divination, ‘Jerusalem,’ to set battering rams, to open the mouth for slaughter, to lift up the voice with a battle cry, to set battering rams against the gates, to cast up ramps, to build a siege wall. 23“And it will be to them like a false divination in their eyes; they have sworn solemn oaths. But he brings iniquity to remembrance, that they may be seized.

      24“Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Because you have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are uncovered, so that in all your deeds your sins appear—because you have come to remembrance, you will be seized with the hand. 25‘And you, O slain, wicked one, the prince of Israel, whose day has come, in the time of the punishment of the end,’ 26thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Remove the turban and take off the crown; this will no longer be the same. Exalt that which is low and abase that which is high. 27‘A ruin, a ruin, a ruin, I will make it. This also will be no more until He comes whose right it is, and I will give it to Him.’

      28“And you, son of man, prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD concerning the sons of Ammon and concerning their reproach,’ and say: ‘A sword, a sword is drawn, polished for the slaughter, to cause it to consume, that it may be like lightning— 29while they see for you false visions, while they divine lies for you—to place you on the necks of the wicked who are slain, whose day has come, in the time of the punishment of the end. 30‘Return it to its sheath. In the place where you were created, in the land of your origin, I will judge you. 31‘I will pour out My indignation on you; I will blow on you with the fire of My wrath, and I will give you into the hand of brutal men, skilled in destruction. 32‘You will be fuel for the fire; your blood will be in the midst of the land. You will not be remembered, for I, the LORD, have spoken.’”

Summary Key Points:

  • Divine Judgment: God’s judgment is imminent and just, responding to persistent disobedience.
  • Call to Repentance: Ezekiel’s prophecy calls for repentance and turning back to God before judgment falls.
  • Symbolism of the Sword: The sword symbolizes the severity of God’s discipline and the consequences of unrepentant sin.

Call to Action:

  • Seek Repentance: Reflect on areas in your life where you may need to repent and turn back to God.
  • Embrace God’s Mercy: Receive God’s forgiveness and grace, knowing that He is merciful to those who humbly seek Him.

Closing: As we consider Ezekiel’s prophecy, let’s heed the call to repentance and align our lives with God’s will. May we recognize the seriousness of sin and embrace the mercy offered through Christ.

Closing Prayer: Heavenly Father, we humbly come before You, acknowledging our need for Your forgiveness and mercy. Help us to repent sincerely and turn back to You. Grant us the strength to live according to Your Word, that we may honor You in all we do. In Jesus’ name, amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Interceding for Others, Intgegrity / Honesty, Justice / Judgment, Wise

Reflections on Leadership and Responsibility (Ezekiel 19)

In Ezekiel 19, we delve into a poignant reflection on leadership and its profound responsibilities. This chapter offers insights that resonate beyond ancient times, speaking to us today about the qualities of effective leadership and the impact of our choices.

Background Context: Ezekiel 19 paints a vivid picture using allegorical language, describing two lion cubs and their mother. The first lion cub symbolizes Judah’s rulers, who failed in their responsibilities and led their nation astray. The second lion cub represents a subsequent ruler, raised and later exiled due to failed leadership.

Ezekiel 19

Lament for the Princes of Israel

      1“As for you, take up a lamentation for the princes of Israel

2and say,
‘What was your mother?
A lioness among lions!
She lay down among young lions,
She reared her cubs.

      3‘When she brought up one of her cubs,
He became a lion,
And he learned to tear his prey;
He devoured men.

      4‘Then nations heard about him;
He was captured in their pit,
And they brought him with hooks
To the land of Egypt.

      5‘When she saw, as she waited,
That her hope was lost,
She took another of her cubs
And made him a young lion.

      6‘And he walked about among the lions;
He became a young lion,
He learned to tear his prey;
He devoured men.

      7‘He destroyed their fortified towers
And laid waste their cities;
And the land and its fullness were appalled
Because of the sound of his roaring.

      8‘Then nations set against him
On every side from their provinces,
And they spread their net over him;
He was captured in their pit.

      9‘They put him in a cage with hooks
And brought him to the king of Babylon;
They brought him in hunting nets
So that his voice would be heard no more
On the mountains of Israel.

      10‘Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard,
Planted by the waters;
It was fruitful and full of branches
Because of abundant waters.

      11‘And it had strong branches fit for scepters of rulers,
And its height was raised above the clouds
So that it was seen in its height with the mass of its branches.

      12‘But it was plucked up in fury;
It was cast down to the ground;
And the east wind dried up its fruit.
Its strong branch was torn off
So that it withered;
The fire consumed it.

      13‘And now it is planted in the wilderness,
In a dry and thirsty land.

      14‘And fire has gone out from its branch;
It has consumed its shoots and fruit,
So that there is not in it a strong branch,
A scepter to rule.’”
This is a lamentation, and has become a lamentation.

Summary Key Points:

  • Leadership Accountability: Ezekiel emphasizes the critical role of leadership in shaping the destiny of a nation. Leaders are entrusted with the welfare of their people and are accountable for their actions.
  • Consequences of Leadership Failures: The chapter underscores how poor leadership can lead to the downfall of a nation. It highlights the importance of wisdom, integrity, and a heart for the people in those who lead.
  • God’s Judgment and Justice: Ezekiel’s prophecy reminds us of God’s sovereignty and justice. He holds leaders accountable for their decisions and actions, but He also extends mercy and the opportunity for repentance.

Call to Action:

  • Bold Leadership: Let us strive to embody bold and principled leadership in our spheres of influence, whether in our families, workplaces, or communities.
  • Integrity and Wisdom: Seek to lead with integrity and wisdom, ensuring that decisions align with God’s principles and contribute positively to those around us.
  • Prayerful Leadership: Commit to praying for leaders at all levels, that they may lead with Godly wisdom and compassion.

Closing: As we reflect on Ezekiel 19, may we learn from its teachings on leadership and responsibility. Let us be vigilant in our roles, mindful of the impact of our choices on others and dedicated to honoring God in all we do.

Closing Prayer: Father, we thank you for the lessons of Ezekiel 19. Help us to lead with humility, wisdom, and compassion, always seeking your guidance. Grant our leaders the discernment to govern justly and the courage to uphold righteousness. May our lives reflect your love and grace to those around us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Discipline / Guidance From God, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Grace / Forgiveness, Hope, Idols / False Gods, Justice / Judgment, Merciful, Unteachable / Foolish

Remembering God’s Faithfulness: Reflections on Ezekiel 20

Have you ever felt the weight of mistakes and the need for God’s mercy and grace? Moments where you recognize falling short of His standards?

Ezekiel 20 delves into Israel’s history of rebellion and God’s unwavering faithfulness, offering profound insights into the enduring nature of God’s love despite human failings.

Reconnect: Prior to Ezekiel 20, the prophet Ezekiel delivers messages of judgment and restoration to the exiled Israelites. This chapter recounts Israel’s repeated disobedience from their time in Egypt to their current state in Babylonian captivity.

Despite their faithlessness, God’s compassion prevails as He refrains from utterly destroying them for the sake of His name. Instead, He pledges to bring them out of the nations and gather them back to their land.

(Summarized and continued after scripture)

Ezekiel 20

God’s Dealings with Israel Rehearsed

      1Now in the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth of the month, certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and sat before me. 2And the word of the LORD came to me saying, 3“Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Do you come to inquire of Me? As I live,” declares the Lord GOD, “I will not be inquired of by you.”’ 4“Will you judge them, will you judge them, son of man? Make them know the abominations of their fathers; 5and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “On the day when I chose Israel and swore to the descendants of the house of Jacob and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I swore to them, saying, I am the LORD your God, 6on that day I swore to them, to bring them out from the land of Egypt into a land that I had selected for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands. 7“I said to them, ‘Cast away, each of you, the detestable things of his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the LORD your God.’ 8“But they rebelled against Me and were not willing to listen to Me; they did not cast away the detestable things of their eyes, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt.
Then I resolved to pour out My wrath on them, to accomplish My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. 9“But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made Myself known to them by bringing them out of the land of Egypt. 10“So I took them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. 11“I gave them My statutes and informed them of My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live. 12“Also I gave them My sabbaths to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them. 13“But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness. They did not walk in My statutes and they rejected My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live; and My sabbaths they greatly profaned. Then I resolved to pour out My wrath on them in the wilderness, to annihilate them. 14“But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, before whose sight I had brought them out. 15“Also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands, 16because they rejected My ordinances, and as for My statutes, they did not walk in them; they even profaned My sabbaths, for their heart continually went after their idols. 17“Yet My eye spared them rather than destroying them, and I did not cause their annihilation in the wilderness.

      18“I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers or keep their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols. 19‘I am the LORD your God; walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and observe them. 20‘Sanctify My sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.’ 21“But the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, nor were they careful to observe My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live; they profaned My sabbaths. So I resolved to pour out My wrath on them, to accomplish My anger against them in the wilderness. 22“But I withdrew My hand and acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. 23“Also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them among the lands, 24because they had not observed My ordinances, but had rejected My statutes and had profaned My sabbaths, and their eyes were on the idols of their fathers. 25“I also gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances by which they could not live; 26and I pronounced them unclean because of their gifts, in that they caused all their firstborn to pass through the fire so that I might make them desolate, in order that they might know that I am the LORD.”’

      27“Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed Me by acting treacherously against Me. 28“When I had brought them into the land which I swore to give to them, then they saw every high hill and every leafy tree, and they offered there their sacrifices and there they presented the provocation of their offering. There also they made their soothing aroma and there they poured out their drink offerings. 29“Then I said to them, ‘What is the high place to which you go?’ So its name is called Bamah to this day.”’ 30“Therefore, say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Will you defile yourselves after the manner of your fathers and play the harlot after their detestable things? 31“When you offer your gifts, when you cause your sons to pass through the fire, you are defiling yourselves with all your idols to this day. And shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live,” declares the Lord GOD, “I will not be inquired of by you. 32“What comes into your mind will not come about, when you say: ‘We will be like the nations, like the tribes of the lands, serving wood and stone.’

God Will Restore Israel to Her Land

      33“As I live,” declares the Lord GOD, “surely with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out, I shall be king over you. 34“I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you are scattered, with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out; 35and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face. 36“As I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you,” declares the Lord GOD. 37“I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant; 38and I will purge from you the rebels and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Thus you will know that I am the LORD.

      39“As for you, O house of Israel,” thus says the Lord GOD, “Go, serve everyone his idols; but later you will surely listen to Me, and My holy name you will profane no longer with your gifts and with your idols. 40“For on My holy mountain, on the high mountain of Israel,” declares the Lord GOD, “there the whole house of Israel, all of them, will serve Me in the land; there I will accept them and there I will seek your contributions and the choicest of your gifts, with all your holy things. 41“As a soothing aroma I will accept you when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you are scattered; and I will prove Myself holy among you in the sight of the nations. 42“And you will know that I am the LORD, when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the land which I swore to give to your forefathers. 43“There you will remember your ways and all your deeds with which you have defiled yourselves; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for all the evil things that you have done. 44“Then you will know that I am the LORD when I have dealt with you for My name’s sake, not according to your evil ways or according to your corrupt deeds, O house of Israel,” declares the Lord GOD.’”

      45Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 46“Son of man, set your face toward Teman, and speak out against the south and prophesy against the forest land of the Negev, 47and say to the forest of the Negev, ‘Hear the word of the LORD: thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am about to kindle a fire in you, and it will consume every green tree in you, as well as every dry tree; the blazing flame will not be quenched and the whole surface from south to north will be burned by it. 48“All flesh will see that I, the LORD, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.”’” 49Then I said, “Ah Lord GOD! They are saying of me, ‘Is he not just speaking parables?’”

Key Summary Points:

  • Israel’s Rebellion: The chapter highlights Israel’s history of disobedience, from their idolatry in Egypt to their refusal to abandon pagan practices.
  • God’s Patience and Mercy: Despite Israel’s faithlessness, God repeatedly withholds judgment out of His enduring patience and mercy.
  • Promise of Restoration: God promises to gather His people from exile, purifying them and renewing His covenant with them.

Call to Action:

  • Seek God’s Forgiveness: Reflect on areas of rebellion or idolatry in your life. Turn to God in repentance and seek His forgiveness and cleansing.
  • Remember God’s Faithfulness: Meditate on God’s steadfast love and faithfulness throughout history and in your personal journey.
  • Live in Obedience: Commit to living in obedience to God’s Word, trusting in His promises of restoration and renewal.

Closing: As we reflect on Ezekiel 20, let us remember that God’s faithfulness endures forever. Despite our failures, He is patient and merciful, always ready to forgive and restore us.

Closing Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your enduring love and faithfulness. Forgive us for our disobedience and idolatry. Help us to live in obedience to Your Word, trusting in Your promises of restoration and renewal. May Your name be glorified in our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Grace / Forgiveness, Justice / Judgment, Merciful, Repenting from Sin, Seeking God

Choosing Righteousness: The Message of Ezekiel 18

Ever grappled with the weight of personal responsibility?

Ezekiel 18 delves into the profound concept of individual accountability before God.

Reconnect: In the preceding chapters of Ezekiel, we witnessed the prophet’s visions and messages, often illustrating Israel’s collective guilt and impending judgment. However, Ezekiel 18 shifts focus to the individual’s moral responsibility and the possibility of personal redemption.

(Summarized and continued after scripture)

Ezekiel 18

God Deals Justly with Individuals

      1Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

2“What do you mean by using this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying,
‘The fathers eat the sour grapes,
But the children’s teeth are set on edge’?

3“As I live,” declares the Lord GOD, “you are surely not going to use this proverb in Israel anymore. 4“Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die.

      5“But if a man is righteous and practices justice and righteousness, 6and does not eat at the mountain shrines or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman during her menstrual period— 7if a man does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing, 8if he does not lend money on interest or take increase, if he keeps his hand from iniquity and executes true justice between man and man, 9if he walks in My statutes and My ordinances so as to deal faithfully—he is righteous and will surely live,” declares the Lord GOD.

      10“Then he may have a violent son who sheds blood and who does any of these things to a brother 11(though he himself did not do any of these things), that is, he even eats at the mountain shrines, and defiles his neighbor’s wife, 12oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore a pledge, but lifts up his eyes to the idols and commits abomination, 13he lends money on interest and takes increase; will he live? He will not live! He has committed all these abominations, he will surely be put to death; his blood will be on his own head.

      14“Now behold, he has a son who has observed all his father’s sins which he committed, and observing does not do likewise. 15“He does not eat at the mountain shrines or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or defile his neighbor’s wife, 16or oppress anyone, or retain a pledge, or commit robbery, but he gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing, 17he keeps his hand from the poor, does not take interest or increase, but executes My ordinances, and walks in My statutes; he will not die for his father’s iniquity, he will surely live. 18“As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother and did what was not good among his people, behold, he will die for his iniquity.

      19“Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity?’ When the son has practiced justice and righteousness and has observed all My statutes and done them, he shall surely live. 20“The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.

      21“But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 22“All his transgressions which he has committed will not be remembered against him; because of his righteousness which he has practiced, he will live. 23“Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord GOD, “rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?

      24“But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and does according to all the abominations that a wicked man does, will he live? All his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered for his treachery which he has committed and his sin which he has committed; for them he will die. 25“Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not right.’ Hear now, O house of Israel! Is My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right? 26“When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and dies because of it, for his iniquity which he has committed he will die. 27“Again, when a wicked man turns away from his wickedness which he has committed and practices justice and righteousness, he will save his life. 28“Because he considered and turned away from all his transgressions which he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 29“But the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not right.’ Are My ways not right, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are not right?

      30“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each according to his conduct,” declares the Lord GOD. “Repent and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you. 31“Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why will you die, O house of Israel? 32“For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord GOD. “Therefore, repent and live.”

Summary Key Points:

  • God’s Justice and Fairness: The chapter begins with a proverbial saying among the Israelites that questions the justice of God’s ways. God responds by emphasizing His fairness, stating that each individual is accountable for their own actions.
  • Personal Accountability: Ezekiel emphasizes that individuals will be judged according to their own deeds, not the actions of their ancestors or descendants. This highlights the importance of personal responsibility in one’s relationship with God.
  • Repentance and Life: Despite past transgressions, God offers the opportunity for repentance and a renewed life. The chapter outlines the steps toward righteousness, including turning away from sin, practicing justice and righteousness, and restoring what was unjustly gained.
  • God’s Mercy and Forgiveness: The message of Ezekiel 18 underscores God’s willingness to forgive those who genuinely repent. No matter how sinful one’s past may be, sincere repentance leads to reconciliation with God.
  • The Call to Choose Righteousness: Ezekiel concludes by urging the people to turn away from their sinful ways and choose life by walking in God’s statutes. The chapter emphasizes the importance of personal choice in determining one’s destiny.

Call to Action:

  • Choose Life: Make the conscious decision to turn away from sin and embrace righteousness in your daily life.
  • Take Personal Responsibility: Recognize that you are accountable for your own actions and strive to align them with God’s will.
  • Seek Repentance: If you have strayed from God’s path, seek His forgiveness through genuine repentance and turn back to Him.

Closing: In a world often rife with blame-shifting and excuses, Ezekiel 18 reminds us of the profound truth of personal accountability before God. Let us heed its message and embrace the path of righteousness.

Closing Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to understand the importance of personal accountability in our relationship with You. Grant us the courage to take responsibility for our actions and the humility to seek repentance when we fall short. Guide us in the path of righteousness and lead us to a life that honors You. Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Discipline / Guidance From God, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Hope, Justice / Judgment, Protector / Deliverer, Repenting from Sin, Seeking God

Rebellion, Redemption, and Restoration: Insights from Ezekiel 17

Have you ever felt like life’s twists and turns have led you down a path of rebellion, only to find hope for redemption and restoration?

In Ezekiel 17, we encounter two powerful allegorical stories that delve deep into the themes of human choice, divine judgment, and the unyielding love of God.

Reconnect: In the preceding chapters of Ezekiel, we’ve witnessed a vivid portrayal of Israel’s rebellion against God and the impending consequences. Ezekiel’s visions and prophecies serve as a stern warning to the people of Israel, urging them to turn from their wicked ways and return to the Lord before it’s too late.

(Summarized and continued after scripture)

Ezekiel 17

Parable of Two Eagles and a Vine

      1Now the word of the LORD came to me saying, 2“Son of man, propound a riddle and speak a parable to the house of Israel, 3saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “A great eagle with great wings, long pinions and a full plumage of many colors came to Lebanon and took away the top of the cedar. 4“He plucked off the topmost of its young twigs and brought it to a land of merchants; he set it in a city of traders. 5“He also took some of the seed of the land and planted it in fertile soil. He placed it beside abundant waters; he set it like a willow. 6“Then it sprouted and became a low, spreading vine with its branches turned toward him, but its roots remained under it. So it became a vine and yielded shoots and sent out branches.

      7“But there was another great eagle with great wings and much plumage; and behold, this vine bent its roots toward him and sent out its branches toward him from the beds where it was planted, that he might water it. 8“It was planted in good soil beside abundant waters, that it might yield branches and bear fruit and become a splendid vine.”’ 9“Say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Will it thrive? Will he not pull up its roots and cut off its fruit, so that it withers—so that all its sprouting leaves wither? And neither by great strength nor by many people can it be raised from its roots again. 10“Behold, though it is planted, will it thrive? Will it not completely wither as soon as the east wind strikes it—wither on the beds where it grew?”’”

Zedekiah’s Rebellion

      11Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 12“Say now to the rebellious house, ‘Do you not know what these things mean?’ Say, ‘Behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, took its king and princes and brought them to him in Babylon. 13‘He took one of the royal family and made a covenant with him, putting him under oath. He also took away the mighty of the land, 14that the kingdom might be in subjection, not exalting itself, but keeping his covenant that it might continue. 15‘But he rebelled against him by sending his envoys to Egypt that they might give him horses and many troops. Will he succeed? Will he who does such things escape? Can he indeed break the covenant and escape? 16‘As I live,’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘Surely in the country of the king who put him on the throne, whose oath he despised and whose covenant he broke, in Babylon he shall die. 17‘Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company will not help him in the war, when they cast up ramps and build siege walls to cut off many lives. 18‘Now he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, and behold, he pledged his allegiance, yet did all these things; he shall not escape.’” 19Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, “As I live, surely My oath which he despised and My covenant which he broke, I will inflict on his head. 20“I will spread My net over him, and he will be caught in My snare. Then I will bring him to Babylon and enter into judgment with him there regarding the unfaithful act which he has committed against Me. 21“All the choice men in all his troops will fall by the sword, and the survivors will be scattered to every wind; and you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken.”

      22Thus says the Lord GOD, “I will also take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and set it out; I will pluck from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. 23“On the high mountain of Israel I will plant it, that it may bring forth boughs and bear fruit and become a stately cedar. And birds of every kind will nest under it; they will nest in the shade of its branches. 24“All the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD; I bring down the high tree, exalt the low tree, dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will perform it.”

Summary Key Points:

  • The Allegory of the Eagles and the Vine: In the first part of Ezekiel 17, we encounter a compelling allegory depicting the rise and fall of Israel’s kings. A great eagle swoops down and plucks the topmost twig of a cedar tree, symbolizing the Babylonian king’s capture of Israel’s royal lineage. Despite being planted as a lowly vine, Israel rebels against God’s covenant by seeking alliances with foreign powers, leading to divine judgment and exile.
  • The Parable of the Two Eagles and the Vine Replanted: Ezekiel proceeds to share another allegory, this time portraying God’s promise of restoration for Israel. In a remarkable display of grace, God vows to take a tender shoot from the highest branch of the cedar and plant it on a high mountain, signifying the restoration of the Davidic monarchy under a righteous king. This act of divine intervention demonstrates God’s unwavering commitment to His covenant people, despite their repeated failures and rebellion.

Call to Action:

  • Reflect on Your Choices: Take a moment to reflect on the choices you’ve made in your own life. Are there areas where you’ve strayed from God’s will, seeking fulfillment in worldly alliances or pursuits? Consider the consequences of disobedience and the importance of aligning your life with God’s purposes.
  • Embrace God’s Promise of Restoration: Just as God promised restoration for Israel, He offers the same hope to each of us today. No matter how far we’ve strayed or how broken we may feel, God stands ready to redeem and restore us. Surrender your heart to Him, and trust in His unfailing love and faithfulness.

Closing: In the turbulent landscape of human history, Ezekiel’s prophetic words remind us of the enduring faithfulness of God amidst the ebb and flow of human rebellion. May we heed the warnings of Scripture and embrace the promise of restoration found in God alone.

Closing Prayer: Heavenly Father, we humbly come before You, acknowledging our need for Your grace and mercy. Thank You for the timeless truths revealed in Ezekiel 17, reminding us of Your unwavering love and commitment to Your people. Grant us the wisdom to align our lives with Your will and the courage to trust in Your promise of restoration. In Jesus’ name, amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Discipline / Guidance From God, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Doubt / Lacking Faith, Faith / Trusting God, Grace / Forgiveness, Justice / Judgment, Obeying God, Repenting from Sin

The Unfaithful Bride: Lessons from Ezekiel 16

Have you ever heard a story so captivating, yet so tragic, that it left you pondering its meaning for days?

In Ezekiel’s vision, we encounter such a tale—a narrative of love, betrayal, and redemption, painting a vivid picture of God’s relationship with His people.

Reconnect: Continuing his prophetic ministry, Ezekiel unveils a profound allegory in Chapter 16, using the imagery of a faithless wife to illustrate Israel’s unfaithfulness to God throughout history.

(Summarized and continued after scripture)

Ezekiel 16

God’s Grace to Unfaithful Jerusalem

      1Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, make known to Jerusalem her abominations 3and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD to Jerusalem, “Your origin and your birth are from the land of the Canaanite, your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. 4“As for your birth, on the day you were born your navel cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water for cleansing; you were not rubbed with salt or even wrapped in cloths. 5“No eye looked with pity on you to do any of these things for you, to have compassion on you. Rather you were thrown out into the open field, for you were abhorred on the day you were born.

      6“When I passed by you and saw you squirming in your blood, I said to you while you were in your blood, ‘Live!’ Yes, I said to you while you were in your blood, ‘Live!’ 7“I made you numerous like plants of the field. Then you grew up, became tall and reached the age for fine ornaments; your breasts were formed and your hair had grown. Yet you were naked and bare.

      8“Then I passed by you and saw you, and behold, you were at the time for love; so I spread My skirt over you and covered your nakedness. I also swore to you and entered into a covenant with you so that you became Mine,” declares the Lord GOD. 9“Then I bathed you with water, washed off your blood from you and anointed you with oil. 10“I also clothed you with embroidered cloth and put sandals of porpoise skin on your feet; and I wrapped you with fine linen and covered you with silk. 11“I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on your hands and a necklace around your neck. 12“I also put a ring in your nostril, earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. 13“Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your dress was of fine linen, silk and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour, honey and oil; so you were exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty. 14“Then your fame went forth among the nations on account of your beauty, for it was perfect because of My splendor which I bestowed on you,” declares the Lord GOD.

      15“But you trusted in your beauty and played the harlot because of your fame, and you poured out your harlotries on every passer-by who might be willing. 16“You took some of your clothes, made for yourself high places of various colors and played the harlot on them, which should never come about nor happen. 17“You also took your beautiful jewels made of My gold and of My silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself male images that you might play the harlot with them. 18“Then you took your embroidered cloth and covered them, and offered My oil and My incense before them. 19“Also My bread which I gave you, fine flour, oil and honey with which I fed you, you would offer before them for a soothing aroma; so it happened,” declares the Lord GOD. 20“Moreover, you took your sons and daughters whom you had borne to Me and sacrificed them to idols to be devoured. Were your harlotries so small a matter? 21“You slaughtered My children and offered them up to idols by causing them to pass through the fire. 22“Besides all your abominations and harlotries you did not remember the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare and squirming in your blood.

      23“Then it came about after all your wickedness (‘Woe, woe to you!’ declares the Lord GOD), 24that you built yourself a shrine and made yourself a high place in every square. 25“You built yourself a high place at the top of every street and made your beauty abominable, and you spread your legs to every passer-by to multiply your harlotry. 26“You also played the harlot with the Egyptians, your lustful neighbors, and multiplied your harlotry to make Me angry. 27“Behold now, I have stretched out My hand against you and diminished your rations. And I delivered you up to the desire of those who hate you, the daughters of the Philistines, who are ashamed of your lewd conduct. 28“Moreover, you played the harlot with the Assyrians because you were not satisfied; you played the harlot with them and still were not satisfied. 29“You also multiplied your harlotry with the land of merchants, Chaldea, yet even with this you were not satisfied.”’”

      30“How languishing is your heart,” declares the Lord GOD, “while you do all these things, the actions of a bold-faced harlot. 31“When you built your shrine at the beginning of every street and made your high place in every square, in disdaining money, you were not like a harlot. 32“You adulteress wife, who takes strangers instead of her husband! 33“Men give gifts to all harlots, but you give your gifts to all your lovers to bribe them to come to you from every direction for your harlotries. 34“Thus you are different from those women in your harlotries, in that no one plays the harlot as you do, because you give money and no money is given you; thus you are different.”

      35Therefore, O harlot, hear the word of the LORD. 36Thus says the Lord GOD, “Because your lewdness was poured out and your nakedness uncovered through your harlotries with your lovers and with all your detestable idols, and because of the blood of your sons which you gave to idols, 37therefore, behold, I will gather all your lovers with whom you took pleasure, even all those whom you loved and all those whom you hated. So I will gather them against you from every direction and expose your nakedness to them that they may see all your nakedness. 38“Thus I will judge you like women who commit adultery or shed blood are judged; and I will bring on you the blood of wrath and jealousy. 39“I will also give you into the hands of your lovers, and they will tear down your shrines, demolish your high places, strip you of your clothing, take away your jewels, and will leave you naked and bare. 40“They will incite a crowd against you and they will stone you and cut you to pieces with their swords. 41“They will burn your houses with fire and execute judgments on you in the sight of many women. Then I will stop you from playing the harlot, and you will also no longer pay your lovers. 42“So I will calm My fury against you and My jealousy will depart from you, and I will be pacified and angry no more. 43“Because you have not remembered the days of your youth but have enraged Me by all these things, behold, I in turn will bring your conduct down on your own head,” declares the Lord GOD, “so that you will not commit this lewdness on top of all your other abominations.

      44“Behold, everyone who quotes proverbs will quote this proverb concerning you, saying, ‘Like mother, like daughter.’ 45“You are the daughter of your mother, who loathed her husband and children. You are also the sister of your sisters, who loathed their husbands and children. Your mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite. 46“Now your older sister is Samaria, who lives north of you with her daughters; and your younger sister, who lives south of you, is Sodom with her daughters. 47“Yet you have not merely walked in their ways or done according to their abominations; but, as if that were too little, you acted more corruptly in all your conduct than they. 48“As I live,” declares the Lord GOD, “Sodom, your sister and her daughters have not done as you and your daughters have done. 49“Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy. 50“Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me. Therefore I removed them when I saw it. 51“Furthermore, Samaria did not commit half of your sins, for you have multiplied your abominations more than they. Thus you have made your sisters appear righteous by all your abominations which you have committed. 52“Also bear your disgrace in that you have made judgment favorable for your sisters. Because of your sins in which you acted more abominably than they, they are more in the right than you. Yes, be also ashamed and bear your disgrace, in that you made your sisters appear righteous.

      53“Nevertheless, I will restore their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, and along with them your own captivity, 54in order that you may bear your humiliation and feel ashamed for all that you have done when you become a consolation to them. 55“Your sisters, Sodom with her daughters and Samaria with her daughters, will return to their former state, and you with your daughters will also return to your former state. 56“As the name of your sister Sodom was not heard from your lips in your day of pride, 57before your wickedness was uncovered, so now you have become the reproach of the daughters of Edom and of all who are around her, of the daughters of the Philistines—those surrounding you who despise you. 58“You have borne the penalty of your lewdness and abominations,” the LORD declares. 59For thus says the Lord GOD, “I will also do with you as you have done, you who have despised the oath by breaking the covenant.

The Covenant Remembered

      60“Nevertheless, I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you. 61“Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you receive your sisters, both your older and your younger; and I will give them to you as daughters, but not because of your covenant. 62“Thus I will establish My covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the LORD, 63so that you may remember and be ashamed and never open your mouth anymore because of your humiliation, when I have forgiven you for all that you have done,” the Lord GOD declares.

Summary Key Points:

  • God compares Jerusalem to an abandoned infant, destined for destruction, yet He rescues and nurtures her into a beautiful woman.
  • Despite God’s lavish love and blessings, Jerusalem forsakes Him, prostituting herself with idols and foreign nations.
  • The consequences of Jerusalem’s unfaithfulness are severe, resulting in judgment and exile.
  • Despite Israel’s faithlessness, God promises to remember His covenant and restore her, demonstrating His unending love and faithfulness.

Call to Action:

  • Examine Your Allegiance: Reflect on your own relationship with God. Are there areas where you’ve been unfaithful or allowed idols to take His place in your life?
  • Repent and Return: If you’ve strayed from God’s path, humbly repent and turn back to Him. His arms are always open to receive the repentant

Closing: In the turbulent narrative of Ezekiel 16, we witness the depth of God’s love and the pain of His people’s betrayal. Yet, woven within this tale of unfaithfulness lies a thread of hope—a promise of restoration and redemption for those who return to Him in repentance.

May we heed the warnings and embrace the mercy offered by our faithful God, knowing that His love surpasses our waywardness and His grace extends beyond our failings.

Closing Prayer: Heavenly Father, as we reflect on the sobering message of Ezekiel 16, we are humbled by Your unfailing love amidst our unfaithfulness. Forgive us for the times we’ve strayed from Your path and sought fulfillment in fleeting idols. Grant us the grace to repent and return to You wholeheartedly, knowing that You are ever ready to restore and redeem. May Your faithfulness inspire us to walk in obedience and devotion all the days of our lives. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Discipline / Guidance From God, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Justice / Judgment, Purposeful / Intentional, Unteachable / Foolish, Wickedness / Evil

The Unfruitful Vine: Lessons from Ezekiel 15

Ever encountered something seemingly valuable that turned out to be utterly unproductive? In Ezekiel’s vision, he portrays Jerusalem as a vine, but not just any vine—a vine devoid of fruitfulness. What lessons can we glean from this imagery?

Reconnect: In the preceding chapters, Ezekiel has been conveying profound messages through symbolic acts and visions, warning about the impending judgment upon Jerusalem due to its persistent rebellion against God.

(Summarized and continued after scripture)

Ezekiel 15

Jerusalem like a Useless Vine

      1Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, how is the wood of the vine better than any wood of a branch which is among the trees of the forest? 3“Can wood be taken from it to make anything, or can men take a peg from it on which to hang any vessel? 4“If it has been put into the fire for fuel, and the fire has consumed both of its ends and its middle part has been charred, is it then useful for anything? 5“Behold, while it is intact, it is not made into anything. How much less, when the fire has consumed it and it is charred, can it still be made into anything! 6“Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, ‘As the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so have I given up the inhabitants of Jerusalem; 7and I set My face against them. Though they have come out of the fire, yet the fire will consume them. Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I set My face against them. 8‘Thus I will make the land desolate, because they have acted unfaithfully,’” declares the Lord GOD.

Summary Key Points:

  • God likens Jerusalem to a vine in a vineyard, a metaphor for the people of Israel.
  • Unlike other trees that have practical uses even after being cut down, the vine has no utility other than bearing fruit.
  • The primary purpose of a vine is to bear fruit, and if it fails in this, it’s essentially useless.
  • The unfruitful vine is compared to the people of Jerusalem, who, despite being chosen by God, have failed to produce the fruits of righteousness.
  • Due to their unfaithfulness, God decrees judgment upon Jerusalem. What good is the vine that fails to fulfill its primary purpose… to bear fruit?

Call to Action:

  • Reflect on Fruitfulness: Take time to assess your own life. Are you bearing the fruits of righteousness and obedience to God’s commands?
  • Prune Away Negativity: Just as a vine needs pruning to bear better fruit, identify and cut off anything hindering your spiritual growth.
  • Cultivate a Heart for God: Invest in nurturing a heart that seeks to glorify God through obedience and bearing spiritual fruit.

Closing: Let Ezekiel’s imagery of the unfruitful vine serve as a sobering reminder of the consequences of spiritual barrenness. May we strive to be fruitful branches, deeply rooted in God’s Word and bearing abundant fruit for His glory.

Closing Prayer: Heavenly Father, we humbly come before You, acknowledging our need for Your grace and guidance. Help us, Lord, to be fruitful in our walk with You, bearing the fruits of righteousness and obedience. Prune away anything in our lives that hinders our growth and lead us in the paths of righteousness for Your name’s sake. In Jesus’ name, amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Compassion, Discipline / Correction, Help / Serve Others, Justice / Judgment, Psalms

Divine Justice: Upholding the Cause of the Vulnerable (Psalm 82)

Ever wrestled with the apparent injustice in the world? Wondered why the wicked seem to prosper while the righteous suffer?

Psalm 82 delves into this age-old question, offering profound insights into the nature of divine justice.

Reconnect:

In the preceding chapters of Psalms, we’ve encountered a range of emotions and themes—from lament and petition to praise and exultation. Each psalm reveals facets of humanity’s relationship with God, providing a rich tapestry of spiritual expression.

Psalm 82

Unjust Judgments Rebuked.

A Psalm of Asaph.

1God takes His stand in His own congregation;
He judges in the midst of the rulers.

      2How long will you judge unjustly
And show partiality to the wicked?

Selah.

      3Vindicate the weak and fatherless;
Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.

      4Rescue the weak and needy;
Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.

      5They do not know nor do they understand;
They walk about in darkness;
All the foundations of the earth are shaken.

      6I said, “You are gods,
And all of you are sons of the Most High.

      7“Nevertheless you will die like men
And fall like any one of the princes.”

      8Arise, O God, judge the earth!
For it is You who possesses all the nations.

Summary Key Points:

  • God, as the ultimate judge, holds rulers and authorities accountable for their actions.
  • The psalmist challenges those in positions of power to uphold justice, particularly for the vulnerable and marginalized.
  • Despite their exalted status, earthly rulers are mortal and subject to divine judgment.
  • The psalm concludes with a call for God to intervene and establish justice on earth.

Call to Action:

  • Prioritize Justice: Let us advocate for the oppressed and marginalized in our communities, following God’s example of defending the weak and upholding the cause of the poor.
  • Seek Divine Guidance: In the face of injustice, let us turn to God for wisdom and discernment, trusting in His sovereignty and righteous judgment.

In a world marred by injustice, may we echo the psalmist’s plea for God to rise up and judge the earth. As we strive to embody His justice and compassion, may we be instruments of His peace in a broken world.

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we cry out to You, the ultimate source of justice and righteousness. Grant us the courage to defend the cause of the weak and the oppressed, and the wisdom to discern Your will in a world plagued by injustice. May Your kingdom come, and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.