Scripture

“Your impurity is your lewdness and the corruption of your idolatry. I tried to cleanse you, but you refused. So now you will remain in your filth until my fury against you has been satisfied.”

Observation

Ezekiel enacts another prophecy from the Lord. He puts fine meat into a cooking pot and cooks it over a fire. The meat is to come out randomly. as no piece is better than any other.

He is to empty the pot onto rocks to symbolise the shedding of the blood of the people of Jerusalem. He then puts the empty pot onto the fire and heats it red hot, but the dirt and corruption is still there,

Ezekiel’s wife dies, and Ezekiel is told not to grieve publicly. The Lord will destroy the Temple, every bit a treasure to the people as Ezekiel’s wife is to him. They will not mourn, its loss publicly, but they will waste away because of their sin.

Application

The Lord cannot cleanse an individual, a church, or a nation, unless they are willing to be changed. For an organisation or a culture, this starts either with the leadership saying, “We have to change,” or with a massive change of heart among the people – a revival or awakening.

It is no good to ask the Lord to set us free from some bondage or addiction, unless we really want to be free. Sometimes we enjoy our sins too much to really want freedom.

Unless we freely repent of our sins and turn away from all evil, the Lord will take us through a fiery purification process,

He will not tolerate gross impurity among his followers.

Listen

Lord, what would you say to me about this cleansing process?

Keith, I want a holy people, totally dedicated to me. Nobody can serve two masters, but so many people try,

People do not welcome my discipline. Many do not even want my direction.

Discipline seems hard at the time, but those who experience it see how they gain through it.

Rest in my peace. Receive my love. Listen to my Spirit and let me direct all your steps.