Bible Reading: Esther 6-10
Esther 6:6 So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?
Haman had several problems. One of them was hate.
Esther 3:6 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
It reminds me of some in our day who hate and want entire groups of people to be destroyed. To write off an entire group of people is demonic.
Haman also thought too much of himself. He was so self absorbed that when the king asked what should be done to someone the king wanted to honor, his immediate thought in his heart was of himself.
The Bible teaches us:
Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
God's Word also tells us:
Proverbs 28:26He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
It is an incredible sense of irony that Haman had to honor Mordecai seeing that his presence at the palace that day was to ask the king's permission to have Mordecai killed! All his boasting and bragging before his family brought an incredible sense of shame as he paraded Mordecai through the streets!
The Bible says:
Proverbs 11:2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
Haman's pride brought him incredible shame as he led the king's horse honoring Mordecai. His hatred turned back upon him too as he was hanged on the gallows he had built. Run from pride! Run from hatred! Don't think too highly of yourself. Humble yourself before God and he will lift you up.
In Christ,
Rody
Monday, September 24, 2012
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Consider your ways
Bible Reading: Haggai 1-2
Haggai 1:3-7 Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses,
and this house lie waste? 5 Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. 6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. 7 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.
The reason Cyrus allow many of the Jews to return to Israel was so they could rebuild the temple. They began to build but they ran into difficulty. The work stopped and soon the people were in danger of forgetting their purpose.
Any kind of building will bring difficulties. However, God says that he was allowing loss in their lives to get them to consider their ways. They were not bringing in the kind of harvest they expected. They were not satisfied. They were not warm. Their wages went into a bag with holes. God did this to get their attention.
As I read this, I cannot help but think of the church of Jesus Christ. Many times the church lies in waste and the Christians live in their 'cieled houses'. I do not mean the building. Many times the building is in good repair but there is no evangelism. There is no discipleship. Many times the church is merely a social club. The house of God lies waste because the Word of God is not preached.
I believe God is saying to us today, "Consider your ways." There are disciples to make. The Word of God must be preached. The gospel must be spread. Just as Haggai was used of God to stir the spirit of Joshua and Zerubbabel, he is stirring our spirits today to rise up and build the house of God.
1 Corinthians 3:9-11 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
There is work to do. We must rise up and build!
In Christ,
Rody
Haggai 1:3-7 Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses,
and this house lie waste? 5 Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. 6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. 7 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.
The reason Cyrus allow many of the Jews to return to Israel was so they could rebuild the temple. They began to build but they ran into difficulty. The work stopped and soon the people were in danger of forgetting their purpose.
Any kind of building will bring difficulties. However, God says that he was allowing loss in their lives to get them to consider their ways. They were not bringing in the kind of harvest they expected. They were not satisfied. They were not warm. Their wages went into a bag with holes. God did this to get their attention.
As I read this, I cannot help but think of the church of Jesus Christ. Many times the church lies in waste and the Christians live in their 'cieled houses'. I do not mean the building. Many times the building is in good repair but there is no evangelism. There is no discipleship. Many times the church is merely a social club. The house of God lies waste because the Word of God is not preached.
I believe God is saying to us today, "Consider your ways." There are disciples to make. The Word of God must be preached. The gospel must be spread. Just as Haggai was used of God to stir the spirit of Joshua and Zerubbabel, he is stirring our spirits today to rise up and build the house of God.
1 Corinthians 3:9-11 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
There is work to do. We must rise up and build!
In Christ,
Rody
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Because he is good
Bible Reading: Ezra 1-3
Ezra 3:11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.
After seventy years of captivity, God raised up Cyrus the Persian to permit the Jews to return to Israel and build the temple that the Babylonians had torn down. God had promised them through the prophet Jeremiah that he would not forget them, but after their time of chastening, he would return them to their land that he had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Jeremiah 29:11-14 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14 And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
God promised them that he would gather them and now he was doing just that! When they had laid the foundation of the house of God, they sang praise to the Lord. They praised him for his goodness and his mercy. God always keeps his promises.
Have you had an experience like this lately? Have you seen God's faithfulness and mercy and been overwhelmed with a sense of praise for his goodness? I hope so. As I write this morning, it is raining outside. Praise Jesus for answering prayers! Maybe he has provided for you financially. Maybe he has reconciled a relationship. Maybe he has touched your body and brought healing. Maybe had has opened someone's heart that you know to receive his Word. There are so many things that Jesus is doing in this world. Let's praise him because he is good and his mercy endures forever! His grace is amazing and his love is overwhelming!
In Christ,
Rody
Ezra 3:11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.
After seventy years of captivity, God raised up Cyrus the Persian to permit the Jews to return to Israel and build the temple that the Babylonians had torn down. God had promised them through the prophet Jeremiah that he would not forget them, but after their time of chastening, he would return them to their land that he had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Jeremiah 29:11-14 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14 And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
God promised them that he would gather them and now he was doing just that! When they had laid the foundation of the house of God, they sang praise to the Lord. They praised him for his goodness and his mercy. God always keeps his promises.
Have you had an experience like this lately? Have you seen God's faithfulness and mercy and been overwhelmed with a sense of praise for his goodness? I hope so. As I write this morning, it is raining outside. Praise Jesus for answering prayers! Maybe he has provided for you financially. Maybe he has reconciled a relationship. Maybe he has touched your body and brought healing. Maybe had has opened someone's heart that you know to receive his Word. There are so many things that Jesus is doing in this world. Let's praise him because he is good and his mercy endures forever! His grace is amazing and his love is overwhelming!
In Christ,
Rody
Monday, September 10, 2012
Let them measure the pattern
Bible Reading: Ezekiel 42-43
Ezekiel 43:10-11 Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern. 11 And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them.
Israel had not been faithful to the covenant and they were being chastised for their disobedience. Ezekiel was given the pattern for a new temple. A bigger and more glorious temple than they had ever seen. He was told to tell the people of Judah all about this temple so they would be ashamed of their iniquities.
Why would seeing the pattern of the new temple make the people ashamed? Because they had lost their temple because of their idolatry. The Babylonians destroyed it and God permitted it. The Israelites had placed idols in the temple and had worshipped false gods there. Now they were captives in a strange land. Because they polluted the temple God allowed it to be destroyed.
God said in hearing of the majesty of the new temple, they would be ashamed of their sin which caused the destruction of the former one.
Have you ever done something you weren't supposed to do and then saw what a mess you made of things and were ashamed? That is what God was showing them here. Even though they made a mess of true worship, God was going to establish something even more glorious.
When I think of Israel, I always want to learn the lessons they didn't learn. We need to learn from their mistakes. We need to learn to live for Christ each day and have no regrets. Living in Babylon, brought regret to Judah. Let's not have those. Let's live for Jesus now!
Israel was given the pattern of the temple. We are given the pattern of the perfect man, Jesus Christ. He is our measure.
Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
If you are going to look at the pattern of what a person should be, always look to Jesus.
In Christ,
Rody
Ezekiel 43:10-11 Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern. 11 And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them.
Israel had not been faithful to the covenant and they were being chastised for their disobedience. Ezekiel was given the pattern for a new temple. A bigger and more glorious temple than they had ever seen. He was told to tell the people of Judah all about this temple so they would be ashamed of their iniquities.
Why would seeing the pattern of the new temple make the people ashamed? Because they had lost their temple because of their idolatry. The Babylonians destroyed it and God permitted it. The Israelites had placed idols in the temple and had worshipped false gods there. Now they were captives in a strange land. Because they polluted the temple God allowed it to be destroyed.
God said in hearing of the majesty of the new temple, they would be ashamed of their sin which caused the destruction of the former one.
Have you ever done something you weren't supposed to do and then saw what a mess you made of things and were ashamed? That is what God was showing them here. Even though they made a mess of true worship, God was going to establish something even more glorious.
When I think of Israel, I always want to learn the lessons they didn't learn. We need to learn from their mistakes. We need to learn to live for Christ each day and have no regrets. Living in Babylon, brought regret to Judah. Let's not have those. Let's live for Jesus now!
Israel was given the pattern of the temple. We are given the pattern of the perfect man, Jesus Christ. He is our measure.
Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
If you are going to look at the pattern of what a person should be, always look to Jesus.
In Christ,
Rody
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Should not the shepherds feed the flocks
Bible Reading: Ezekiel 32-34
Ezekiel 34:2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
A shepherd is supposed to look after the sheep that he is entrusted with. They are to care for them and make sure they are in a place where they can thrive. The shepherd is to move them to good pasture and make sure they have adequate water. At night the shepherd pens them up to keep them safe from predators. When the sheep are sick, the shepherd cares for them. An isolated sheep is in jeopardy of it's life and so the shepherd makes sure they do not get scattered.
The image is one that is very vivid. This is the object lesson that God uses many times in Scripture. Leaders of people are called shepherds in Scripture. In Israel, the priests, prophets and kings were to shepherd the people. In the New Testament, elders are called shepherds or pastors (same word).
The shepherds of Israel were not doing their job. They were not feeding the sheep. They were allowing the sheep to scatter and they were feeding on the sheep rather than feeding them. It happened in Ezekiel's day and it can happen today. The shepherds must feed the sheep and care for them.
Jesus told Simon Peter:
John 21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
Paul told the Ephesian elders:
Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Peter wrote in his epistle:
1 Peter 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
If you have a pastor that feeds the church of God the Word of God, rejoice! Pray for him and encourage him. It is a blessing to be a part of a church that is regularly fed the Word of God.
However, no matter what the earthly shepherds do, always remember that you do have the Chief Shepherd taking care of you.
John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
It is good news to know that the good shepherd loves his sheep and laid down his life for us. He does not exploit the sheep. He loves and cares for the sheep. You can trust him.
In Christ,
Rody
Ezekiel 34:2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
A shepherd is supposed to look after the sheep that he is entrusted with. They are to care for them and make sure they are in a place where they can thrive. The shepherd is to move them to good pasture and make sure they have adequate water. At night the shepherd pens them up to keep them safe from predators. When the sheep are sick, the shepherd cares for them. An isolated sheep is in jeopardy of it's life and so the shepherd makes sure they do not get scattered.
The image is one that is very vivid. This is the object lesson that God uses many times in Scripture. Leaders of people are called shepherds in Scripture. In Israel, the priests, prophets and kings were to shepherd the people. In the New Testament, elders are called shepherds or pastors (same word).
The shepherds of Israel were not doing their job. They were not feeding the sheep. They were allowing the sheep to scatter and they were feeding on the sheep rather than feeding them. It happened in Ezekiel's day and it can happen today. The shepherds must feed the sheep and care for them.
Jesus told Simon Peter:
John 21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
Paul told the Ephesian elders:
Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Peter wrote in his epistle:
1 Peter 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
If you have a pastor that feeds the church of God the Word of God, rejoice! Pray for him and encourage him. It is a blessing to be a part of a church that is regularly fed the Word of God.
However, no matter what the earthly shepherds do, always remember that you do have the Chief Shepherd taking care of you.
John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
It is good news to know that the good shepherd loves his sheep and laid down his life for us. He does not exploit the sheep. He loves and cares for the sheep. You can trust him.
In Christ,
Rody
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God
Bible Reading: Ezekiel 28-31
Ezekiel 28:6-7 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God; 7 Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness.
The kings of Tyre and Egypt were inspired by Satan. The Bible tells us that the king of Tyre claimed to be a god.
Ezekiel 28:2 Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord God; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:
However, God used this king to describe the fall of Satan.
Ezekiel 28:16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
The Pharaoh of Egypt also saw himself as a god. God once again used the language of Satan to describe him.
Ezekiel 29:3 Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself.
We know that in the Bible, Satan is described as the dragon.
Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Why would God use the language of Satan to describe earthly kings? Because they saw themselves as gods. They bought the lie of Satan and would not acknowledge the reality of their Creator. They had no need for a redeemer. They wanted to be god.
This is a great offense to God. We must bow the knee to Jesus and acknowledge that he alone is God and the one true King!
In Christ,
Rody
Ezekiel 28:6-7 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God; 7 Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness.
The kings of Tyre and Egypt were inspired by Satan. The Bible tells us that the king of Tyre claimed to be a god.
Ezekiel 28:2 Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord God; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:
However, God used this king to describe the fall of Satan.
Ezekiel 28:16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
The Pharaoh of Egypt also saw himself as a god. God once again used the language of Satan to describe him.
Ezekiel 29:3 Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself.
We know that in the Bible, Satan is described as the dragon.
Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Why would God use the language of Satan to describe earthly kings? Because they saw themselves as gods. They bought the lie of Satan and would not acknowledge the reality of their Creator. They had no need for a redeemer. They wanted to be god.
This is a great offense to God. We must bow the knee to Jesus and acknowledge that he alone is God and the one true King!
In Christ,
Rody
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Ezekiel is unto you a sign
Bible Reading: Ezekiel 24-27
Ezekiel 24:24 Thus Ezekiel is unto you a sign: according to all that he hath done shall ye do: and when this cometh, ye shall know that I am the Lord God.
The prophets not only spoke the Word of the Lord to the people, but many times, they were called upon for their lives to be a living parable so the people could see what was happening in their life and relate it to God's people. Hosea was called to marry a "wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms" to show God's great love for Israel and their great sin of following after idols and forsaking him. Isaiah was called upon to prophesy naked and barefoot for three years as a sign to Egypt and Ethiopia that they would be led in that manner by the Assyrians. Ezekiel had to do many things that were signs, but the hardest was the way he was to handle the death of his wife.
Ezekiel 24:16-17 Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke: yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down. 17 Forbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead, bind the tire of thine head upon thee, and put on thy shoes upon thy feet, and cover not thy lips, and eat not the bread of men.
God told him his wife would die and he was not to mourn for her.
Ezekiel 24:18 So I spake unto the people in the morning: and at even my wife died; and I did in the morning as I was commanded.
God told the people that Ezekiel was a sign to them. As he had lost 'the desire of his eyes', his wife, they would loose loved ones. As he had not mourned, neither would they be allowed that luxury. The Babylonian invasion and captivity would be horrible and they would loose many loved ones.
How incredibly difficult it was for Ezekiel to be obedient to God. Yet, he did as he was commanded. He loved God and took his calling seriously. God's warnings are incredibly serious. We should heed God's Word and listen with fear and trembling. The love of Jesus is incredible, and the fires are hell are real. Something must be terrible to warrant the death of God's only begotten Son. Let's listen to God's Word!
In Christ,
Rody
Ezekiel 24:24 Thus Ezekiel is unto you a sign: according to all that he hath done shall ye do: and when this cometh, ye shall know that I am the Lord God.
The prophets not only spoke the Word of the Lord to the people, but many times, they were called upon for their lives to be a living parable so the people could see what was happening in their life and relate it to God's people. Hosea was called to marry a "wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms" to show God's great love for Israel and their great sin of following after idols and forsaking him. Isaiah was called upon to prophesy naked and barefoot for three years as a sign to Egypt and Ethiopia that they would be led in that manner by the Assyrians. Ezekiel had to do many things that were signs, but the hardest was the way he was to handle the death of his wife.
Ezekiel 24:16-17 Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke: yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down. 17 Forbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead, bind the tire of thine head upon thee, and put on thy shoes upon thy feet, and cover not thy lips, and eat not the bread of men.
God told him his wife would die and he was not to mourn for her.
Ezekiel 24:18 So I spake unto the people in the morning: and at even my wife died; and I did in the morning as I was commanded.
God told the people that Ezekiel was a sign to them. As he had lost 'the desire of his eyes', his wife, they would loose loved ones. As he had not mourned, neither would they be allowed that luxury. The Babylonian invasion and captivity would be horrible and they would loose many loved ones.
How incredibly difficult it was for Ezekiel to be obedient to God. Yet, he did as he was commanded. He loved God and took his calling seriously. God's warnings are incredibly serious. We should heed God's Word and listen with fear and trembling. The love of Jesus is incredible, and the fires are hell are real. Something must be terrible to warrant the death of God's only begotten Son. Let's listen to God's Word!
In Christ,
Rody
Monday, September 3, 2012
With their idols have they committed adultery
Bible Reading: Ezekiel 22-23
Ezekiel 23:37 That they have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands, and with their idols have they committed adultery, and have also caused their sons, whom they bare unto me, to pass for them through the fire, to devour them.
Ezekiel was God's prophet to tell the people of Judah that he was going to bring chastisement upon them. He told them the reason for the exile was their sin and the fact that they had broken his covenant. As he brought the indictment against them, he said that God sees idolatry as adultery.
Think of a man who has been betrayed by his wife. Think of a woman whose husband has cheated on her. They were in a covenant relationship with each other and the other person was unfaithful. That is adultery. It is excruciatingly painful to the other person. It involves lying and stealing. It usually leads to divorce.
God here paints a picture for us of what idolatry is like. With their idols, Judah was cheating on God and being an unfaithful wife. Not only that, but the children that God had given to them, they had sacrificed to these false gods they worshipped. Imagine a wife who committed adultery and then killed the children she and her husband had together! It is utterly unthinkable.
Jesus says that the church is a bride and he is the bridegroom. He loves the church and gave himself for her. He wants her to submit to him and love him. He will not share her with another. He is worthy of our faithful, loving devotion. Let the love of the bridegroom overwhelm you so that your heart fully belongs to him.
1 John 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
In Christ,
Rody
Ezekiel 23:37 That they have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands, and with their idols have they committed adultery, and have also caused their sons, whom they bare unto me, to pass for them through the fire, to devour them.
Ezekiel was God's prophet to tell the people of Judah that he was going to bring chastisement upon them. He told them the reason for the exile was their sin and the fact that they had broken his covenant. As he brought the indictment against them, he said that God sees idolatry as adultery.
Think of a man who has been betrayed by his wife. Think of a woman whose husband has cheated on her. They were in a covenant relationship with each other and the other person was unfaithful. That is adultery. It is excruciatingly painful to the other person. It involves lying and stealing. It usually leads to divorce.
God here paints a picture for us of what idolatry is like. With their idols, Judah was cheating on God and being an unfaithful wife. Not only that, but the children that God had given to them, they had sacrificed to these false gods they worshipped. Imagine a wife who committed adultery and then killed the children she and her husband had together! It is utterly unthinkable.
Jesus says that the church is a bride and he is the bridegroom. He loves the church and gave himself for her. He wants her to submit to him and love him. He will not share her with another. He is worthy of our faithful, loving devotion. Let the love of the bridegroom overwhelm you so that your heart fully belongs to him.
1 John 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
In Christ,
Rody
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