jealous God – Be Still…

Ezekiel 24:1-14 – That’s Intense!

Read Ezekiel 24:1-14

What a turning point! Everything that Ezekiel has been sharing in his prophetic ministry will now come to pass. God’s announcement alerts Ezekiel that the siege on Jerusalem is beginning. No more wishful thinking that God will change his mind. Ezekiel lived hundreds of miles away, but God gave him the news firsthand.

If he hadn’t been taken into exile already, Ezekiel could be one of those being destroyed. Talk about putting things into perspective! Can you imagine how surreal it would be to get such news? It’s possible Ezekiel had family left behind in Jerusalem. Soon they, along with friends and acquaintances, would soon be no more. How do you wrestle with news like this? Continue reading “Ezekiel 24:1-14 – That’s Intense!”

Zephaniah 1:14-18 – This Day

Read Zephaniah 1:14-18

Zephaniah’s oracle now shifts focus to “all” people, not just rebellious Judah. Churches today have coupled this passage with New Testament passages speaking of the final judgment. You may even recognize some of these images have become the lyrics in hymns and worship songs.

This day will be a day of bitter tears, men crying out, all while the Lord’s anger is poured out on all people. It’s not a pleasant picture at all. Yet, it is destruction we can anticipate will happen when the Lord’s Day finally arrives. Will we see it in our lifetime? Only God knows.

Nahum 1:1-11 – The Sides of God

Read Nahum 1:1-11

The book of Nahum is only three chapters long, and it’s one of the minor prophets that doesn’t get a lot of attention by church leadership when planning worship services! While we may encounter some harsh language, we need to keep in mind that Nahum was prophesying to a stubborn group of people who were refusing to repent.

Historically, Nahum’s focus is on Nineveh, and we’ll see the prediction and celebration of Nineveh’s demise. Nineveh was the center of the Assyrian empire, and the Assyrians had been used by God to bring Israel to its knees for their own rebellion and sinfulness. We encountered Nineveh before in the book of Jonah.