prophet Ezekiel – Page 5

Ezekiel 34:1-10 – Not Really Shepherds

Read Ezekiel 34:1-10

I don’t think I’ve ever met a shepherd, or one who herds sheep, in person. I’ve commonly seen goat herders and cow wranglers here in Mexico, but never a shepherd. They would have been a lot more common in Ezekiel’s day. The Bible uses the shepherd metaphor in other places as well. The 23^rd Psalm begins, “The LORD is my shepherd, I have all that I need.”

Shepherds were some of the first people to meet Jesus face to face. That tells me that God thinks highly of shepherds, perhaps because of their devotion to their flocks. God’s expectations for a shepherd’s behavior is clearly set out here. Feeding the sheep, tending to the weak, caring for the sick, and certainly searching after any sheep that get lost. Continue reading “Ezekiel 34:1-10 – Not Really Shepherds”

Ezekiel 33:21-33 – Remaining Faithful

Read Ezekiel 33:21-33

It’s an interesting experience reading through Ezekiel realizing that his time stamped prophecies are not in chronological order. If your brain works craves “order” like mine, I’ve put a post over in the “Devotions on the Go!” Facebook group that sets out the order one should read these dated texts.

The good news is that we’re now in the final section of Ezekiel’s writings which are more filled with hope. As Israel’s watchman, Ezekiel will now focus more on the restoration of God’s people. Will they at last respond favorably to God? Continue reading “Ezekiel 33:21-33 – Remaining Faithful”

Ezekiel 33:1-20 – What a Responsibility!

Read Ezekiel 33:1-20

Have you ever been given great responsibility for something? Perhaps it was as a parent caring for a newborn human. Maybe it was teaching a rowdy group of middle schoolers about Jesus. Maybe it was making it through each day with a smile on your face. Ezekiel’s responsibility was huge in this passage.

So many lives will depend on Ezekiel being responsible and not running the other way out of fear or a feeling of incompetence. Those are the fears that can grip us. Especially when we’re faced with hard decisions to keep us in line with Biblical values. Continue reading “Ezekiel 33:1-20 – What a Responsibility!”

Ezekiel 32:17-32 – The Pit of Hell

Read Ezekiel 32:17-32

In case you weren’t counting, this is the seventh prophecy set aside for Egypt. It’s that important to God to get this message out. In this final reading, we’re taken into the depths. “For I will send them down to the world below in company with those who descend to the pit.” We get a glimpse at the pit of hell.

How did it make you feel to read about the place of the dead you never want to see in person? Did it surprise you to see a reference like this in the Bible? What are some of the themes revealed? Do you think this is where Jesus went between his crucifixion and resurrection? Continue reading “Ezekiel 32:17-32 – The Pit of Hell”

Ezekiel 31:1-18 – Like a Tree

Read Ezekiel 31:1-18

Given just a few months after the last reading, God sheds light on what will happen to Egypt. At first, the message likens Egypt to what the mighty power of Assyria once was. The Pharaoh would know the Assyrian Empire had fallen years before to the Babylonians. That is the LORD’s first hint of Egypt’s downfall.

Next, the LORD’s message speaks of a great tree. Using tree metaphors is not new in Scripture. Trees can symbolize life, sustenance, and protection. Genesis 2:9 says this about the Garden of Eden: “The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” We all know what happened when Eve took fruit from the wrong tree! Continue reading “Ezekiel 31:1-18 – Like a Tree”