The Sins Of Israel
BRD REFLECTIONS:
Ezekiel 22, 23 and Psalm 1 (NIV)
(Tay Bee Choo, SGM Core Team Member)
READ:
Ezekiel 22, 23 (NIV)
For this devotion, the verses that stood out to me are those focused on God’s judgement on the nation of Israel, its leaders, the priests and God’s sinful and rebellious children.
1. The Nation of Israel
“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.Those who are near and those who are far from you will mock you, you of ill repute, full of turmoil” (22:4-5)
“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 dross of silver’ (22:18)
2. The Nation’s leaders
“Behold the rulers of Israel, each according to his power, have been in you for the purpose of shedding blood…You have despised my holy things and profaned my Sabbaths. Slanderous men have been in you for the purpose of shedding blood… ” (22: 6-9)
3. The Priests
“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 unclean and the clean; and they hide their eyes from My sabbaths and I am profaned among them.” (22:26)
4. God’s children
“…’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. 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” (22:30-31) “Ohalah played the harlot while she was Mine; and she lusted after her lovers, after the Assyrians, her neighbours, who were clothed in purple, governors and officials, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses.” (23: 5-6)
OBSERVE:
As I read about the factors that led to the downfall of the nation of Israel, I also recall the type of people that God warned us about in 2 Timothy 3.
“But mark this, there will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful,. unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” (v1-5, NIV)
APPLY:
In an increasingly hostile world sullied by corruption of power, greed and self-interest, will I face a more intense battle to do my own will instead of God’s will? Will I be spiritually promiscuous as described in Ezekiel 23? Will I be a false prophet, i.e. trusting in myself more and leading others astray?
Alternately, will I be able to put myself aside and remain focused with my whole heart to serve God, talking and walking closely with Him?
DO:
I will trust in God’s promise that impossible things can be accomplished if I prayerfully seek His direction.
I will encourage all to have a personal relationship with God.
PRAY:
Lord, thank You for Your sacrifice and faithfulness to me. Thank You for the security and comfort knowing that You are sovereign. Help me not to despair but to trust that everything You plan will come to pass and that You have set up Your perfect and glorious kingdom which will last forever and ever. In Jesus’ most precious name I pray, Amen.
