This summer I started a bible study on the book of Ezekiel.
Background…Ezekiel is a prophet from the 6th century BC. I decided to take this book on because of a class I had just taken on Revelation. I got to the 5th chapter and then lulled out of devotions for a few months. I think that this blog is a great opportunity to share the heart of my devotions with others. I read until I find a passage that hits me. Then I write about it.
I’m going to jump through this a little so bear with me.
Ezekiel 1 is trippy. It shares much of the same imagery that we are familiar with in the book of Revelation. Ezekiel’s description of said events is somewhat different though. Each of the four creatures looks different for both John and Ezekiel. To me this speak volumes about the different ways that each of us looks at God. We view Him as a father, a lover, and a lord. I know that my view of God has changed from the first time I perceived him. This also speaks multitudes about the differentiation of perception that each of us is given. My guess is that John and Ezekiel were looking at almost the exact same thing. The only difference is the way that each of them perceived it. I know that when I read the gospels, what stands out to me is the political and social actions of Jesus ministry. Others have told me that they are drawn in by the message of freedom. I can tell you that we both read the same texts, we just take away different emphasis of the book.
Ezekiel 2: What really stands out to me in this is the emphasis that God places on telling Ezekiel to not be afraid. When God calls him into service. He is very comforting and reassuring about the calling. God promises protection for Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 5: 7 and 8, “Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: You have been more unruly than the nations around you and have not followed my decrees or kept my laws. You have not even [a] conformed to the standards of the nations around you. Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself am against you, Jerusalem, and I will inflict punishment on you in the sight of the nations.”
It’s interesting to me that God compares his own nation to the other nations, his child to all of the other children. Why don’t you act like them? I’m thinking about a class session with Brent Cline right now. Freshman year in world literature he asked us to put a list of good secular characteristics on the white board. I was blown away by this. The secular world, in all of is corruption, is yearning for the same sort of restoration that all of us desire. What can we learn from the secular world about how to live our lives?
Forensic Heart 