Ezekiel 13-18

Ezekiel 13-18 is not a pleasant, upbeat passage of Scripture. On the contrary, hearing God issue thunderous denunciations of His people is downright frightening. "'Because you did not remember the days of your youth but enraged me with all these things, I will surely bring down on your head what you have done, declares the Sovereign LORD'" (Ezekiel 16:43). This is disturbing imagery, to be sure, but it hits at a fundamental truth: Human beings are sinners.

From Genesis 3 onward, mankind has been plagued by sin. Sin separated us from God in the Garden and it continues to interfere with our relationship with Him even now. A holy and just God cannot simply overlook sin and allow us--the most wretched of creatures--back into His presence as if nothing had happened.

Fortunately, God's justice and wrath is matched by His mercy and His great love for us (John 3:16). While God cannot simply ignore sin, He is fully satisfied to accept Jesus' death as its all-encompassing, everlasting propitiation (1 John 2:2). If you truly desire the forgiveness and eternal life that we are promised in Jesus' blood, you can have it (John 3:16, Romans 10:13, 1 John 2: 3-6). And Ezekiel foreshadows this truth as well. "Why will you die, people of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live" (Ezekiel 18:31)!

It is difficult--impossible, even--to appreciate our restoration to God without first fully acknowledging the totality of our separation from Him. Ezekiel can help us do this just as he tried to help the people of Judah so many years ago. What dark night, what bright new day.

Guard your heart - Proverbs 4

[23] Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. - Pro 4:23 ESV


Thoughts from Charles Spurgeon from a sermon he preached in 1858.

You can read the entire sermon here.

Inasmuch as the heart is the most important part of man—for out of it are the issues of life—it would be natural to expect that Satan, when he intended to do mischief to manhood, would be sure to make his strongest and most perpetual attacks upon the heart. What we might have guessed in wisdom is certainly true in experience; for although Satan will tempt and try us in every way, though every gate of the town of Mansoul may be battered, though against every part of the walls thereof he will be sure to bring out his great guns—the place against which he levels his deadliest malice and his most furious strength is the heart. Into the heart, already of itself evil enough, he thrusts the seeds of every evil thing and does his utmost to make it a den of unclean birds, a garden of poisonous trees, a river flowing with destructive water! Hence, again, arises the second necessity that we should be doubly cautious in keeping the heart with all diligence. For if, on the one hand, it is the most important and, on the other hand, Satan, knowing this, makes his most furious and de- termined attacks against it, then with double force the exhortation comes, “Keep your heart with all diligence.” And the promise also becomes doubly sweet from the very fact of the double danger—the promise which says, “The peace of God shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Charles Spurgeon

Songs in the night - Psalms 69-71

In the crucible of affliction David desires to worship God through music. It is through this medium that his heart is revived. Song is a gift from God that has the power to uplift, strengthen, and revive in the midst of the deepest trials.

David chooses to sing because it magnifies God. Despite circumstance and ill treatment David's mouth rejoices in his God. This has a ripple affect on others as well as they hear it and are glad.

[30] I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. [31] This will please the LORD more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs. [32] When the humble see it they will be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive. - Psa 69:30-32 ESV


[22] I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praises to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. [23] My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed. - Psa 71:22-23 ESV

I am thankful that the songs we sing at Valley uplift, strengthen, and revive our hearts as they point us directly toward our marvelous God.

Wisdom thwarted - I Kings 10-13

[4] For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. - 1Ki 11:4 ESV

What happened to Solomon? Look at the words of Moses from the mouth of God.


[14] "When you come to the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, 'I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,' [15] you may indeed set a king over you whom the LORD your God will choose. One from among your brothers you shall set as king over you. You may not put a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. [16] Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the LORD has said to you, 'You shall never return that way again.' [17] And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold. - Deu 17:14-17 ESV

He neglected to obey God's commands. All of the wisdom in the world did not keep his heart from turning away from God. What a lesson. Our natural inclinations go against God no matter how wise we might be.

What a lesson. More than the wisdom of man, we need the wisdom of God.

Yielded Completely - Ezekiel 1-2

In these first two chapters we have the vision and calling of God upon the soon to be prophet, Ezekiel.

It is fascinating as we read the descriptive details of the angelic beings with four faces who moved like flashes of lightening forward and backward. The brilliant wheels, legs, feet etc. make for an awesome sight!

As awesome as this is, what struck me as I read is the recording of these three verses -



[12] And each went straight forward. Wherever the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went. ... [20] Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, and the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. [21] When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those rose from the earth, the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. - Eze 1:12, 20-21 ESV

These unbelievable creatures are from God. They were created by Him and they were made to do His bidding. The spirit in these verses comes from God and I couldn't help but notice the continuity of the creature and the spirit. It is almost as if they are one.

Certainly, Ezekiel noticed this. Not only did he notice it once, but throughout the vision it must have been very evident as he recorded it several times. The lesson is clear - He was to be yielded to the spirit of God. 

Notice Ezekiel's struggle with this -


[14] The Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness in the heat of my spirit, the hand of the LORD being strong upon me. - Eze 3:14 ESV

We can relate can we not? Are we yielded to the Holy Spirit of God today?

Sealed with the Holy Spirit - Ephesians 1

The Scriptures teach that our relationship with God is through the Person and Work of Jesus Christ. This is the wonderful plan of God unfolded for us in His Word.

What then is the sealing of the Holy Spirit? It is certainly an important doctrine for us as believers in regards to our eternal security.

John MacArthur shares some teaching on this topic from Ephesians 1 here.

All the right answers - Luke 9-10

[28] And he said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live." - Luk 10:28 ESV

The lawyer stood up to ask Jesus a question in order to test him. The phrasing "put him to the test" is one word in the Greek and is the same word Jesus used in speaking to the Devil who was "tempting" Him in Matthew 4:7.

Jesus answers the lawyer with a question to which the lawyer promptly regurgitates the perfectly accurate answer he had memorized. Jesus accepts the truth of the answer, but then probes the motive of heart when He basically says, Now go do your answer! Apply your words to your life! Do what you say!

The lawyer not to be outdone asks a question to sidestep this heart probe, "Who is my neighbor?" In His typical style of teaching, Jesus tells a story.

He brings the lawyer into the story, exposes his heart, and ends with a question that has only one obvious answer. The lawyer finds himself in a position he is not used to. Trapped. His heart has been exposed and there is no way to cover it. Jesus led this educated man to focus on matters of the heart.

The popular phrase, "knowledge is power" is really only true if you are all knowing. :) God knows our heart. He knows our motive. He knows.

We don't know what happened, but if the lawyer had tried to follow the advice of Jesus he would have quickly found that he couldn't love his neighbor without experiencing the love and forgiveness of God personally first. The love of God in us is the catalyst for loving our neighbor.

She took no thought of her future - Lamentations

Lamentations is a book of sorrow regarding the nation of Israel and within its pages are many lessons for us.

My heart was directed towards this verse specifically the underlined phrase - [9] Her uncleanness was in her skirts; she took no thought of her future; therefore her fall is terrible; she has no comforter. "O LORD, behold my affliction, for the enemy has triumphed!" - Lam 1:9 ESV

She took no thought for her future.

These questions provoke one to view the present in light of the impending future. Israel took no thought for her future. She didn't consider the certain consequences of her choices. She lived for herself. She lived for the present. She lived for the now.

Jesus is not commending selfish living when He says in the gospels, [34] "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. - Mat 6:34 ESV His teaching is actually directed toward those who are laying up treasure on earth rather than in heaven. In the context of the passage, He is saying it is foolish to focus time and energy on things that are not eternal (Matt 6:19-20).

This focus on the perishable is the trend of society and apart from yielding to the Holy Spirit is also the trend of those who know God. An exercise that will help all of us is to put thought into the future before making decisions for today.

We have a responsibility - Proverbs 2-3

[1] My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, [2] making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; [3] yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, [4] if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, - Pro 2:1-4 ESV

Within these four verses we have human responsibility. In order to have the wisdom and understanding God promises there are some choices we must make.

Receive it. Listen to it. Lean toward it. Pray for it. Seek it.

Within the sovereignty of God we have the responsibility to choose. By God's grace wisdom is ours for the choosing.

Are you choosing wisdom in your decisions today?

A Father to the fatherless and a Protector of widows - Psalm 66-68

[5] Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. - Psa 68:5 ESV

In the midst of David's description of the greatness of God he describes God as the Father of the orphan and the protector of widows. Help for the hurting and oppressed is a heartbeat of God. As James describes it, it is pure and undefiled religion.

[27] Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. - Jam 1:27 ESV

In our culture it is very easy to stay insulated from the pain of others - specifically the oppressed. We must remember that we in our still blessed country are the minority in the world. Oppressed orphans and widows are common in many countries around the globe and God's heart beats for them.

I don't want to pretend to know what God might have you do for these precious people. But, what would God have you do? Perhaps, it would be to educate yourself on the topic? Diana and I have a number of good books that would help you do just that. Maybe it would be to take a trip to one of these countries and familiarize yourself with the plight of orphans and widows? I don't know. I do know that they are close to the heart of God and that what He loves we should also love. I also know that love is an action word.

He is Father to the fatherless and the Protector of widows.

The Pinnacle of Solomon's Reign - I Kings 5-9

[65] So Solomon held the feast at that time, and all Israel with him, a great assembly, from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of Egypt, before the LORD our God, seven days. [66] On the eighth day he sent the people away, and they blessed the king and went to their homes joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the LORD had shown to David his servant and to Israel his people. - 1Ki 8:65-66 ESV

These five chapters are jaw dropping passages in the Scriptures. The construction of the temple of God and then building of Solomon's house were an unbelievable undertaking.

However, I am most struck by Solomon's prayer in chapter eight. It is a prayer filled with the plea for forgiveness. Solomon, in his God-given wisdom knew that forgiveness is what mankind needs most. Solomon prays for not only Israel, but that all nations would be the recipient of the forgiveness of God.

The feast was grand as the people rejoiced at all that God had done. As they go home they are joyful and glad of heart because of the goodness of God.

It is sobering that within a few short years it will all change. Solomon will choose to go against the counsel and wisdom of God and will amass horses and women. His heart will turn from the One true God and he will no longer be whole-hearted. As a result, the kingdom will be divided and will eventually fall along with the buildings he had built.

In the Shadow of God - Exodus 37-40

[1] Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood. Two cubits and a half was its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. - Exd 37:1 ESV

In the Shadow of God. That's what his name means. The man who made the Ark of the Covenant. Can you imagine having Moses come to you and ask if you could build it?

Moses: Is this the tent of Bezalel? Moses and Aaron here. Would you be willing to make a box where the presence of God will dwell?

Bezalel: Ummmmmm. 

Moses: I have the blue prints here. If you can take a look, I'd be grateful.

Bezalel: Ummmmmm.

Moses: You are a craftsman in wood and metal and such, correct?

Bezalel: Ummmmmm, yes sir. 

We smile thinking about what that conversation might have been like. :)

What a wonderful name. The word "shadow" implies protection.

[1] He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. - Psa 91:1 ESV

This is a promise for all who dwell with God. Jesus invites us to the shelter of God through his substitutionary sacrifice.

Free to Serve - Galatians 4-6

As believers we are no longer "under the law". We are not held responsible for obeying all of the ceremonial and dietary laws that Old Testament Israelites were required to keep. We are also no longer under the penalty of the moral law of God because of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as long as our faith is in Him as the only suitable Substitute for us.

Some have taken this freedom in Christ to extremes. They have decided that they are then able to live their lives anyway they please as they are "under grace". They sometimes forget they have been bought with a price and are to glorify God, not only in their spirit, but with their bodies as well (I Cor. 6:12).

[13] For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. - Gal 5:13 ESV

I believe this verse encapsulates grace living. We have the wonderful freedom to stop serving the me-master and begin serving others. In order that we may serve others we have the Holy Spirit Who enables us to limit our liberties which in turn really will expand our ministries.

The Disciples didn't get it - Luke 7 - 9

These three chapters are saturated with Jesus. His dealings with death, with demons, with disease, with hungry people, not to mention the centurion, the pharisee, the woman described as a sinner, just too name a few.

Yet, I am always intrigued with Jesus' patience regarding the twelve. They simply didn't get it, did they? Here are a few verses demonstrating this fact:


[46] An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. ... [49] John answered, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us." ... [54] And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" [55] But he turned and rebuked them. - Luk 9:46, 49, 54-55 ESV

When you read the context of these verses you really see it. They were simply self-absorbed human beings. I dare-say this is reality for all of us. These passages would be almost comical if they weren't so sobering. The sobering reality is that we were created in the image of God and yet our first parents choice to sin and our subsequent sinful nature continues to chip away at that image.

Jesus is a sharp contrast to the disciples self-absorbtion. It is wonderful to note that as you follow the disciples through the gospels and on into the book of Acts and the Epistles you see a result of salvation,  the beauty of sanctification - growth into the image of Jesus.

One of my favorite verses in all of Scripture is this -


[6] And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. - Phl 1:6 ESV

There is Always Hope - Jeremiah 47-52

We are at the end of the book of Jeremiah. We have read the words of the prophet of God called to proclaim truth to a nation that would not yield. A nation who rejected the unique privilege and responsibility to showcase God to other nations. It is difficult to read, to comprehend.

We are also brought face to face with many nation's depravity, rebellion, covert behavior, pride, and denial of the reality of God. We see that the conclusion of depravity is destruction and death. There is no other option for a just God than to crush rebellion against Him.

We cannot help but think of our own nation, the foundations of which are corroding. [3] if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" - Psa 11:3 ESV

And yet even within these pages filled with despair we read of hope. We read of restoration. (48:47, 49:6; 49:39; 50:19-20)

The truth? The God of eternity is a God of restoration. From the beginning and through the ages He has shown Himself just, yet merciful. He has provided a sacrifice on our behalf.

Thanks be to God.

Proverbs 1 Prayer

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

This is one of those passages where it's easy to be self righteous. "It's so sad that people of the world despise wisdom and instruction and go their own way."  The chapter closes out with a clear message that God will eventually give a scoffer what he wants, only it in the end it won't be what they really wanted. (vss. 30-32) On this it's easy just to shake your head and move on with your day.

However, I see two important reminders in this passage. 1) If it weren't for God's act of grace to redeem me, I would be headed to the exact same place the lost scoffer is going to end up. 2) Are there any specific subdivided areas of my life that I am refusing to turn over?

Let's pray with a thankful and open heart to God today.