Week 35 August 24 - September 2

Ezekiel 

Day 1


Ezekiel was one of the exiles in Babylon.  The Lord spoke to him and showed him visions.  He was to tell the people what the Lord showed him.  He saw a vision in the appearance of the Likeness of the glory of the Lord.  When he saw it he fell on his face.  Was told to not fear the people but tell them the words from the Lord. 

Day 2

Ezekiel would prophecy and act out the prophecy for the people to see.  The people were about to go through terrible suffering and famine   He shaved his head which was very significant because priests didn't shave.  Then he took the hair and burned 1/3, cut 1/3 with the sword and scattered 1/3, which is what was going to happen to the people. The Lord was against them because of their abominations and they would be judged.  They would be an object of reproach. 

Day 3

Told of the day of the wrath of the Lord.  Punishment is coming, and they will KNOW that He is the Lord. They each did what they wanted according to their own ways.  There would be terror, horror, feebleness  and shame.  Their riches wouldn't help them in any way. The Lord will put an end to the pride of the strong and take away the high places.  There was vile abominations and every vision Ezekiel saw had greater abominations than the one before.    There would be a mark on the forehead of the men who sighed and groaned over the abominations that were committed.   All those without the mark would be struck.  

Day 4

He saw the wicked counselors and saw that they will fall by the sword and be judged.  His heart was broken over the people of Israel.  Of those the Lord scattered He will bring back and will give them a new heart and rid the land of detestable things.  God told them that His word would happen sooner than they thought and He won't delay.  The false prophets kept telling the people to not worry everything would be fine.  

Day 5

The false prophets needed to repent and turn away from their idols and turn their faces from all their abominations.  They were telling the people things that God did not say.  
God took in His people, nurtured them, loved them, clothed them but they trusted in their beauty and played the whore.  They forgot who helped them and loved them.  Their hearts were sick. 

Day 6

Through all the things the Lord will do they will KNOW that He is Lord.   The people would die for their own sins and not the sins of fathers or sons.  Each one is individually responsible for their own sin.  If a person was wicked but turned away from sin they would be saved and live.  If they were righteous but went into wickedness they will not be remembered for their righteousness but will die.  Cast away all sin lest it be your ruin.  
When God brought the people out of Egypt He told them to cast away the detestable things and do not defile yourselves with idols of Egypt.  But the people rebelled and weren't willing to listen.  

Day 7

Ezekiel was told to groan with a breaking heart and bitter grief before their eyes.  When they ask why, tell them that every heart will melt, their hands will be feeble, their spirit will be faint and their knees will be weak as water. 
God doesn't take anything lightly.  He doesn't ever want to destroy His people.  He has warned them again and again.  However His warning is over and He is now taking action.  Even up until the very last minute He gives them a change to repent and fall humbly before Him.  He is such a loving Father that wants us to return to him if we have turned away.  If we do it with a humble heart and turn from wickedness He will forgive.  

-Happy Reading Jeannie