Prophecy

Are my Ways Unjust?

Dan

It was my observation that at some point there is a three-way conversation going in between God and Ezekiel and the Hebrews. In some cases, God is talking to Ezekiel about feelings concerning the mutterings of the Hebrews. God is not surprised; he knew how this would play out before creation. But still, he converses with Ezekiel to make his point.

In this passage we are about to read, something interesting happens. God turns the tables. He is clear, he knows the ordinances the Hebrews have put into place to represent their idols. He knows they have failed to follow their own rules. They are guilty in accordance with both sets of ordinances, not just the ordinances put into place by God. God tells them to pay attention to their own ordinances and repent, for they are failing by the numbers on all fronts. Goodness, what a mess. One thing is for sure, God’s action is justified, they will fall from their own words. In their arrogance they have buried themselves.

Ezekiel 18: 29-32 says — Yet the Israelites say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Are my ways unjust, people of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust? “Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die people of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live! [NIV]

The Hebrews have decided God’s way is unjust. The Hebrews say God is not being fair. Goodness, this is nothing but blasphemy. How can they not see the issue. Rather than owning their rebellion, they say they are walking the straight and narrow (as defined by them). They are the righteous ones. God is at fault not them. Oh my! If God is the definition of moral truth, then how can God be wrong. There is no court higher in this universe or any other universe they can take their case to. He is the Court!

We are not without precedent for this type of thinking today. How many times have you listen to somebody rail against the unfairness of God’s plan, how his ancient wisdom is no longer valid for homosexuality, open marriages, war, free will, absolute truth, honoring parents, lust, and self-control to name a few.  Is this not the same thing the Hebrews were doing?

Consider God turning the tables on us and judging us by our new and improved morality. Does not the current ‘anti morality crowd’ have the same problem? They have no court to bring their case to. There is nothing in this universe that will cause God to bend his knee. Selah.

I think that God’s reasoning is gracious. He takes the time to explain his position and then offers an wide range of rules to abide by. Rules they created on their own. And still, they are guilty of not following their own ‘homemade’ rules.

And so, we have the conclusion of this matter. We can hear God saying — ‘I have done you no wrong. Rather, you have wronged yourself by your own behavior and your own rules’. A fair trial has been accomplished. The verdict has landed on God’s side. The judgement shall be rendered. One would think that God would launch a thunderbolt and send them to the pits of Hell. But instead, one last time, he offers mercy. He shows the hand of graciousness, of kindness, and a full pardon to the Hebrews if only they would repent. It is hard to not feel the sadness of the moment as the Hebrews raise their fist in defiance one last time. They wallow in pride and choose death. I choose Jesus.

There is none besides me.

Dan

It has been my observation while reading Isaiah 45 that Cyrus was given incredible understanding of his role in God’s Plan for the emancipation of the Hebrews held captive in Babylon. God pushes his agenda forward as the sole and sovereign overseer for Israel. God then asserts his plan to use Cyrus to crush the Babylonian’s and free the Hebrews. As I review Isaiah 45, I can see Elohim’s sovereignty defined by two statements: (1) I am the Lord and there is no other; (2) I the Lord, have done these things.

Isaiah 45:5-10 says — I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things. You, heavens above, rain down my righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness flourish with it; I, the Lord, have created it. Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker, those who are nothing but potsherds among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘The potter has no hands’? Woe to the one who says to a father, what have you begotten? or to a mother, what have you brought to birth? [NIV].

There are several fundamental truths present in this passage. The repetition of ‘I am the Lord’ drives home the point. We can do nothing else but engage in a firm belief built upon immutable truth.

I think if any person reads and embraces the purity of this message, they will not be able to form any conclusion except to abandon idolatry and self-worship immediately. I get the feeling that God was not pleased, he speaks with commanding authority, the air of majesty infuses the words, power, dominance, and sheer animosity displayed for all pretenders. This message thunders power to the world. How much stronger can it be — I am the Lord, there is no other, there is no God besides me, there is no other self-existent, self-sufficient, infinite, and eternal God. Selah.

Sometimes I drive downtown Tucson and wander through the shops on Fourth Street. Over and over, I see defiance of the one true living God. Some of the shops sell trinkets and tools that mislead and entice our people away from the things they might have learned as children. God thunders out – There is none besides me. None! The enemy smiles and continues to sell things (tools of necromancy) that appear to be innocent but compete with the one true living God, these things are counterfeits; they are mere distractions. These resellers are like a potter who makes and sells idols. They sell chaff to distract the mind and prevent the truth of God from hitting the mark. Who gave the earthly potter permission to use clay from God’s earth to build their distractions. Who gave the earthly potter permission to use things from earth to discern the future? Lucifer’s day of reckoning is coming. Selah.

Here is the deeper truth – Jehovah Shammah is the first cause of all things we can see, hear, feel, smell, taste and know. Lightening surrounds his voice when he speaks. None can stand in his presence. He says — I am the Lord, the origin of all beings, the source of all power and wisdom. He who formed the natural light (Genesis 1:3) forms the spiritual light in our hearts.

He who at first made our peace with the principles of nature has also offered peace in the affairs of men. He who allowed the absence of light, created natural light. He who brings grace to all, is slow to judgment. He who stands against evil, offers a hand of peace to avert our afflictions. Our God, in all his wisdom, brings order to chaos. I choose Jesus.

Declared from the Distant Past

Dan

It was my observation that when Cyrus was sending the Israelis back to the promised land that God had a thing or two to say with regards to the Babylonians. God called the people of Babylon ignorant for carrying idols of wood, Isaiah made it clear there is no God but Elohim, Isaiah then tells the Babylonians clearly – sooner or later all will worship the one true living God, every knee shall bend, every tongue will swear allegiance, all who rage against Elohim will be put to shame.

Isaiah wrote — Gather together and come; assemble, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood, who pray to gods that cannot save. Declare what is to be, present it — let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the Lord? And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me. Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. They will say of me, ‘In the Lord alone are deliverance and strength. All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame. But all the descendants of Israel will find deliverance in the Lord and will make their boast in him (Isaiah 45:20-25).

For 70 years the nation of Israel was banished to Babylon as punishment for not allowing their agricultural lands to rest every 7 years. Now that the banishment is complete, the Israelites are being gathered and returned to the promised land, God is being clear with the people of Babylon – the idols must be left behind, they are hollow and worthless.  I wonder what ‘important things’ we worship — cars, trucks, music, houses, degrees, job titles, we have a litany of things that we carry about like a wooden idol and look to them for comfort and strength. Yet the ‘important things’ cannot help us, they do not hear our mutterings, they have nothing we can cling to – they are an idol with no power. Nada.

After Isaiah completes the idolatry message, he starts comparing the one true living God with the Idols. First, the obvious statement appears; There is (and never has been) another God like Elohim. Let us take a deeper dive into this idea.  When considering our ‘important things’ such as our job title, does that job title make us a ruler? Are we trained to rule? By what authority to we operate; some ‘man given’ authorization to act? Does this authorization have boundaries? Are we limited? Well, you know job titles are limited.  And you know — only God can help in every situation. Does our job title give us the ability to help anyone in all cases? I think not, our Job title authority is limited. Who has more power, your Job Title or God?  When you weigh the value of ‘important things’ vs God I think we should note — Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand (Proverbs 19:21)

This I know for sure — Elohim will be exalted. We read in Hebrews – when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So, when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 6:13-20)

I choose Jesus.

What was Cyrus thinking?

Dan

It has been my observation that we can know for sure Cyrus was called by God to move against Babylon. Consider how thick the walls were (you could ride six chariots side by side on top of the wall). Consider how long the Babylonians ruled (centuries). Yet our God says – there is no God beside me, I have prepared you to attack and subdue Babylon. Then we hear the message of God that tells Cyrus — it is not your idols that made this happen. They did not prepare you; they did not give you authority to attack, and they did not give you the ability to succeed. I, the Lord God did this.

Over and over, we are told that God can use anyone for anything. The allegiance of the person does not matter, only the will of God matters. The idols of Cyrus are inert — made by ordinary men. God knows Cyrus. God empowers Cyrus.

Isaiah 44:9-11 says — All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame. Who shapes a god and casts an idol, which can profit nothing? People who do that will be put to shame; such craftsmen are only human beings. Let them all come together and take their stand; they will be brought down to terror and shame (NIV).

I wonder what Cyrus thought about this. More than likely, he took it in stride, pleased it was happening, but I bet he struggled to wrap his mind around this stuff. Isaiah was talking to any city that would have him. He put the message out. The known world became aware by God’s providence, and by the testimony of the suffering Jews in Babylon. Every person, from the east and from the west, sunrise, and sunset, was hearing the message — Our Lord is God and there is none else. The wonderful deliverance that authenticated the message proclaimed to all who would listen — there is none like the God of Jeshurun, that rides on the heavens for their help.

Isaiah 44: 24-28 says — I am the Lord, Maker of all things, who stretches out the heavens, who spreads out the earth by myself, who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who overthrows the learning of the wise and turns it into nonsense, who carries out the words of his servants and fulfills the predictions of his messengers, who says of Jerusalem, It shall be inhabited, of the towns of Judah, They shall be rebuilt, and of their ruins, I will restore them, who says to the watery deep, Be dry, and I will dry up your streams, who says of Cyrus, He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please; he will say of Jerusalem, Let it be rebuilt, and of the temple, Let its foundations be laid (NIV)

I think about wandering about the city in the university area. There are musicians playing songs about every subject under the sun. Occasionally there is a street preacher or a Harikrishna group on the corner speaking out for all to listen. In a previous life I was one of those street musicians making a little music for pocket change, talking with listeners, watching little kids dance to the sounds I was making. Then I grew into festivals and concerts. Still the same message. People listened, transported someplace else for a bit of a rest; and so, it was with Isaiah. He went out, found an audience, and started talking. People were curious, they listened. Things started happening. They listened a little closer. People found the answers. They knew that Cyrus was coming to emancipate them from Babylon. It was true.

Fast forward three thousand years and it is Billy Graham, delivering the same message Isaiah delivered to the curious and the downtrodden. People want answers. The message we responded to is the answer given by Isaiah – God’s grace and redemption. Make haste, the time is close. Yield, God is calling.

I choose Jesus.

The Words you cannot Understand

Dan

It was my observation that the end of Ezekiel chapter 2 included a scroll that was not tasty and now we find at the top of chapter 3 a scroll that tastes like honey. Clearly these preliminary events are preparing Ezekiel for his work, he is being filled up with the message from God.

Ezekiel 3:1-6 says — And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel.” So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.  Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So, I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.  He then said to me: “Son of man, go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them. [NIV]

What is Ezekiel to do? He is to take in the twin messages (scrolls) and admit the messages to his heart, to apply it to his mind, to embrace the nature of the message, and ruminate and chew upon the thoughts of God in the entirety, overcome any difficulties and then discover God’s plan as to how to deliver the message. 

We know that Jeremiah encountered a similar situation, he was told to find the words from God and eat them (see Jeremiah 15:16). Imagine finding a stack of Naam Bread with God’s word printed on them.  Then consider the request from God to eat that Naam bread. This is the situation Ezekiel was in. He was told to receive the message into his heart, meditate on the message, and give himself to the message (see 1 Timothy 4:15).

I think that Ezekiel had reason to fear that the consumption would not be pleasant if he had any inkling as to the nature of the message. God can say eat this much faster than he can actually chew and swallow the message. His angst was clear, but his obedience was greeted with a good tasting morsal. This suggests if we are willing to obey, we will find comfort in the event outcome that overcomes any hardship we might encounter. If we are willing to receive the word of God into our heart, enable Jesus to write it upon our heart with his blood, then we can anticipate a rich indwelling of the message and the Spirit of God.

When Ezekiel opens the scroll, as a spirit of revelation, the message spreads before him, opening his understanding to the deeper things of God, as the Spirit of wisdom provides knowledge of things and causes us to embrace the unfamiliar. We know that gracious people can receive the truth of God with great delight, even as those who are aware of the message but reject the content find extreme discomfort. John the revelator talked about such things. John indicated that a book was removed from the angel’s hand and was consumed. At first the book was sweet as honey, but then the message produced a tummy ache (see Revelation 10:9-10).

He knew he was required to find the Israelis and talk. Why? Because it was for their benefit to hear the message from God, and to hear the Judgements soon to come if their behavior was not tamped down.  This message is not for the conquer in Babylon, it is for the conquered, Israel. Strangers are not used to correct the child, good parenting requires the parents engage in proper conduct, bringing the nation to repentance. Their response? Not so good. But for me… I choose Jesus.

Rebellion is their Name

Dan

It was my observation after reading Ezekiel chapter 1 and then progressing to chapter 2 that we are given a detailed image of the throne. Why did God show this to Ezekiel? Consider the message that Paul heard on the Damascus Road. Paul was clearly chosen by God, things happened around hi to be sure he got the message. There was no question in his mind what had happened. Now in the case of Ezekiel we see something similar.  His nickname appears in this chapter – Son of Man.  I suspect God applied this phrase to Ezekiel as an affectionate nickname; as a term of endearment. The Hebrew term for Son of Man is Ben-Adam. We see something similar in Daniel 7:17, we find the term Son of Adam, Son of the earth. I think this means he was called to be a representative of God on earth.

In the passage we are about to read, Ezekiel is told — Get up. Get off the ground, I want to talk to you.  I think that God did not want to talk to the back of Ezekiel’s head. He stood Ezekiel up so Ezekiel was looking at the glory before him – this reveals the affection God has for people who walk with God.  As much as we could imagine, within the confines of extreme holiness and the translucent shroud that protected us, they were looking at each other.  Ezekiel’s instinct is to get prostrate, God says to him, not today.  I am affirming your commission.  Right here, right now. Face to Face.

Ezekiel 2:1-5 says — He said to me, Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you. As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. He said: Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day. The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, This is what the Sovereign Lord says. And whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are a rebellious people, they will know that a prophet has been among them. [NIV]

The short version of this passage is simple – Get up.  You are my prophet to Isreal.  They will not like you, but they will know one thing for sure – A prophet has been called to walk among them.  They will know that I am the Lord their God and I am not Silent.  This tells us something about how God thinks.  He is immensely pleased to work with us.  He delights in our willingness to serve.  When we show a tiny bit of interest, he is all over it.  He brings power and strength. He fills us with himself and then works from within us to accomplish his tasks.  If you ponder this for a bit, you will realize how truly amazing this situation is.  The one true living God choosing to work through us, training us in his way.  He does not need help, but he has decided to partner with us to implement his plan.  Goodness.  We are loved.


Matthew Henry said — Thus, in a similar case, Daniel was strengthened by a divine touch (Daniel 10:18) and John was raised by the right hand of Christ laid upon him (Revelation 1:17). The Spirit set him upon his feet, made him willing and forward to do as he was bidden, and then he heard him that spoke to him. He heard the voice before, but now he heard it more distinctly and clearly, heard it and submitted to it. The Spirit sets us upon our feet by inclining our will to our duty, and thereby disposes the understanding to receive the knowledge of it.

We find the conclusion of this passage, Ezekiel is being called, prepared, strengthened and sent to deliver a message to a rabble. A rebellious group of people who have been pushed off the island, the land of the promise to the land of Babylon.  Ezekiel knew what this was all about.  He knew it would not be an easy life.  But he had a calling and purpose.  His people were in captivity for rebellion against Gods law.  He hoped God would be gracious, but his resolve to serve was clear.  We do the same. I choose Jesus.bellion is their Name

Rebellion Is Their Name

Dan

It was my observation after reading Ezekiel chapter 1 and then progressing to chapter 2 that we are given a detailed image of the throne. Why did God show this to Ezekiel? Consider the message that Paul heard on the Damascus Road. Paul was clearly chosen by God, things happened around hi to be sure he got the message. There was no question in his mind what had happened. Now in the case of Ezekiel we see something similar.  His nickname appears in this chapter – Son of Man.  I suspect God applied this phrase to Ezekiel as an affectionate nickname; as a term of endearment. The Hebrew term for Son of Man is Ben-Adam. We see something similar in Daniel 7:17, we find the term Son of Adam, Son of the earth. I think this means he was called to be a representative of God on earth.

In the passage we are about to read, Ezekiel is told — Get up. Get off the ground, I want to talk to you.  I think that God did not want to talk to the back of Ezekiel’s head. He stood Ezekiel up so Ezekiel was looking at the glory before him – this reveals the affection God has for people who walk with God.  As much as we could imagine, within the confines of extreme holiness and the translucent shroud that protected us, they were looking at each other.  Ezekiel’s instinct is to get prostrate, God says to him, not today.  I am affirming your commission.  Right here, right now. Face to Face.

Ezekiel 2:1-5 says — He said to me, Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you. As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. He said: Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day. The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, This is what the Sovereign Lord says. And whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are a rebellious people, they will know that a prophet has been among them. [NIV]

The short version of this passage is simple – Get up.  You are my prophet to Isreal.  They will not like you, but they will know one thing for sure – A prophet has been called to walk among them.  They will know that I am the Lord their God and I am not Silent.  This tells us something about how God thinks.  He is immensely pleased to work with us.  He delights in our willingness to serve.  When we show a tiny bit of interest, he is all over it.  He brings power and strength. He fills us with himself and then works from within us to accomplish his tasks.  If you ponder this for a bit, you will realize how truly amazing this situation is.  The one true living God choosing to work through us, training us in his way.  He does not need help, but he has decided to partner with us to implement his plan.  Goodness.  We are loved.


Matthew Henry said — Thus, in a similar case, Daniel was strengthened by a divine touch (Daniel 10:18) and John was raised by the right hand of Christ laid upon him (Revelation 1:17). The Spirit set him upon his feet, made him willing and forward to do as he was bidden, and then he heard him that spoke to him. He heard the voice before, but now he heard it more distinctly and clearly, heard it and submitted to it. The Spirit sets us upon our feet by inclining our will to our duty, and thereby disposes the understanding to receive the knowledge of it.

We find the conclusion of this passage, Ezekiel is being called, prepared, strengthened and sent to deliver a message to a rabble. A rebellious group of people who have been pushed off the island, the land of the promise to the land of Babylon.  Ezekiel knew what this was all about.  He knew it would not be an easy life.  But he had a calling and purpose.  His people were in captivity for rebellion against Gods law.  He hoped God would be gracious, but his resolve to serve was clear.  We do the same. I choose Jesus.