Scripture

“You will be fully repaid for all your prostitution – for your worship of idols. Yes, you will suffer the full penalty. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.”

Observation

The Lord gives Ezekiel a parable of two sisters, daughters of the same mother. They became prostitutes in Egypt, even as young girls. Oholah, the older girl, represents Samaria, while her younger sister, Oholibah represents the southern kingdom of Judah. Both these girls lusted after officers and charioteers of Assyria, rather than being faithful to the Lord.

The Lord handed Oholah over to the men that she desired, and they stripped her of all that she had, and took her children to be slaves.

Oholibah saw all that had happened to her sister, but took her prostitution even further, as she lusted after Babylonian officers. The Lord is disgusted with her, and has rejected her.

Both of the sisters are guilty of adultery and murder; adultery for being unfaithful to the Lord, and murder for the sacrifice of children to the idols.

The lord will repay both nations in full for all their sin. The Lord will alow the neighbouring nations to terrorise them in order that they will recognise that He is the Sovereign Lord.

Application

It is hard to imagine how people could sacrifice their babies to idols in a fiery altar. But people did this because it became normal and expected. The Lord had specifically forbidden this but when the foreign deities gained a foothold, what had been forbidden became normal.

The Lord condemns his people for prostitution and for murder. The prostitution was about worshipping other gods. Murder was about sacrificing the children to these gods.

Today our culture has abandoned God to serve the God of Self. Millions of children are sacrificed to this god in abortions. God is calling His people to turn to him to repent and to receive his mercy.

Listen

Lord, is this really the place where we are today??.

Keith. Western culture really has idolised the Self in a way unknown in any previous age. Individuals and whole nations are being destroyed by this unrestrained lust for gratification.

Your role is to pray. Pray for the people in your town and the leaders of the state and the nation. They must turn back from the edge of the cliff.

The only solution is for people to turn to me.

Scripture

“I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap on the wall so that I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one.”

Observation

The Lord asks Ezekiel if he is ready to speak judgment against Jerusalem. It is a city of murderers and adulterers. Every leader who lives within its walls is bent on murder. Now the Lord will scatter the people among the nations.

The people of Israel are like the worthless slag that remains when silver is smelted. The Lord is going to pour out the fire of his wrath on them.

The leaders of Israel disregard the Sabbath. They do not teach the people what is clean and what is unclean. The prophets cover over the leaders’ sins instead of exposing them.

The Lord looked for someone to stand in the gap in the wall of righteousness but he could find no one. So he will pour out the full force of his fury on them,

Application

Just one person who was willing to stand in the gap and intercede for Israel would have saved them. Moses pleaded with the Lord not to destroy the people, and He relented. Abraham bargained with the Lord to save Sodom and Gomorrah if just 10 righteous people were there.

The Lord is looking for faithful intercessors who will change the course of a nation, a city, a state. If you ever receive that call from the Lord – an urge, a thought, a feeling that you need to pray – then obey it. You might be the person who God uses to change the destiny of many people.

Reese Howell was a Welsh man who was called by the Lord to a unique ministry of intercession. During the Second World War the battle of Britain was a turning point. Howell was credited by many as winning the victory for the RAF by virtue of his prayer ministry. Witnesses described planes flying after their pilots were dead and angels in the cockpit of other planes.

One man or woman who stands in the gap changes everything.

Listen

Lord, what would you say about the calling to stand in the gap.

Keith, I am constantly looking for those who will pray or act on my behalf to establish righteousness in their land. Many people miss the cue to pray urgently or to act on a vision or idea that I planted in their heart.

I have hundreds of people in Australia in every state right now committing their lives to serving me through intercessory prayer. Their faithfulness is holding back disasters over this nation.

Pray for those gap-standers and intercessors that their faith will not falter.

Scripture

“Son of Man, turn and face Jerusalem and prophesy against Israel and her sanctuaries. Tell her, “This is what the Lord says: I am your enemy, O Israel.”

Observation

The Lord tells Ezekiel to prophesy against Israel. The Lord is now the enemy of Israel and he will unsheathe his sword against them.

A sword is being sharpened and polished to bring terrible slaughter.

Babylon’s king is standing at a crossroad. One road leads to Ammon, the other to Jerusalem. His advisors are studying all kinds of omens and signs to work out which way he should go. The king will choose Jerusalem because of the rebellion of the people of Israel.

The people of Ammon cannot be complacent. A sword is being sharpened to massacre them also.

Application

What a fearful thing it is for the people of God to find out that He has become their enemy,

What level of sin and rebellion can bring God’s chosen people to be declared His enemy?

Those who call themselves Christians can also become the enemy of God. If we ignore God’s calling to be holy and persist in flagrant and public sin, he will set himself against us.

They thought they were safe from God’s anger, but they were walking straight into judgment.

What a terrible state to be in!

Listen

Lord, what do you want to say to me about being your enemy?

Keith, my people had been warned numerous times by many prophets. They persisted in their sin because they believed they were untouchable,

I poured out my wrath, numerous times on the city of Jerusalem and on the nation of Israel. I wanted them to come back to me, but they would not,

When I sent my son Jesus, the choice became clear. Continue down the path of rebellion or receive the forgiveness of sins. They refused to accept Jesus as their King and so in AD 70 I lifted my hand of protection and the temple, the city and the nation were destroyed.

Scripture

“Should I allow you to ask for a message from me, O people of Israel? Surely as I live,” says the sovereign Lord, “I will tell you nothing.”

Observation

Some of the elders of Israel come to Ezekiel to seek a word from the Lord. The message they get is that there will be no message from the Lord,

The Lord goes through the history of Israel. He starts at the captivity in Egypt and the Exodus. The people never trusted God to give them a good land. They rebelled and refused to let go of the gods of Egypt.

The Lord brought them out of Egypt and led them through the wilderness. He warned the children to not follow their parents in idolatry and to pay attention to the laws. But they did not do this.

When they came to the land, they offered sacrifices to other gods on every high place and under every green tree. They sacrificed their children to be burnt.

As long as they continue to worship other gods, the Lord will not speak to them.

Application

It seems odd that the leaders of Israel would be sacrificing to foreign gods but also seeking God’s word.

This tendency towards syncretism, that is mixing and matching different beliefs, is very common. We might be used to a binary view of all or nothing, but many people prefer a religious buffet where they can pick and choose their beliefs.

The message of this chapter is that God will not speak to people who do this. he must be Lord of every part of our lives and not just Sunday mornings.

The Old Testament describes God as a jealous God. He will not tolerate people who worship Him and also worship idols.

Listen

Lord, what do you want to say to me about this chapter?

Keith, many people approach me with a consumer mindset. They want a word from the Lord. They want a message to soothe their souls. They want music that they like and people that they approve of.

You must submit to me in everything. If your heart is focused on what you want, then there will be no word for you.

Yield it all to me. Focus on what I instruct and on your not on your own preferences. Then you will hear my voice and understand my words.

Scripture

Now the vine is transplanted to the wilderness, where the ground is hard and dry.

Observation

This chapter is in the form of a funeral song for the leaders of Israel,

Two lion cubs are described, referring to two of the kings towards the end of the dynasty ruling over Judah.

The first cub grows to be a strong young lion who hunts prey but becomes a man-eater. He is trapped in a pit and taken to Egypt.

The lioness takes another cub who also grows strong. He also becomes a man-eater, demolishing fortresses and destroying towns. The nations attack him and take him in a cage to Babylon,

Judah was a strong and fruitful vine growing tall. But it was uprooted in fury and transplanted to the desert where the ground is hard and dry. Its remaining limbs are not strong enough to be a ruler’s sceptre.

Application.

Judah had been a strong and fruitful vine planted in a fertile place. But its people had failed to obey God. They rebelled against him over and over. So he uprooted them and planted them in a foreign land where they would struggle to maintain their identity.

The discipline of the Lord never feels good at the time, but it is always positive. God leads us away from places and relationships that are bad for us. It feels like we have been uprooted and transplanted to hard, dry ground. But it is always for our good. He protects us from sins or a lifestyle that is leading to death.

A vine must be pruned to bear better fruit and more fruit. The Lord will prune us to see us bear more fruit for His kingdom.

Listen

Lord, is there more you would say to me about this chapter?.

Keith, leaders are like lions. If they do their job properly and take their calling seriously, they will protect my people from other predators,

Sometimes they themselves become the man eaters who pray on the flock, whether that is a nation or a church. They will face even greater punishment than others, because they know what they have done is wrong, but they use people for their own indulgence. I hate all who do this.

Scripture

” And all the trees will know that it is I, the Lord, who cuts the tall trees down and makes the short trees grow tall. It is I who makes the green tree wither and gives the dead tree new life. I, the Lord, have spoken and I will do what I have said.”

Observation

Ezekiel tells a parable about an eagle covered with many-coloured plumage. He seized the top of a cedar tree and plucked off its highest branch. He planted it in fertile soil beside a broad river. It took root and grew into a low spreading vine.

Another eagle came, and the vine grew towards him for water even though it already had plenty. The Lord will pull up this vine and cut off its fruit.

Ezekiel reveals that this parable is about the king of Israel. He and his officials rebelled against Babylon and sought help from Egypt. But Pharaoh will not step in when Babylon besieges Jerusalem. The Lord will punish the king, his soldiers and his officials for turning away from the Lord’s covenant.

Application

The Lord raises up kings and governments and the Lord pulls them down. Although this chapter is about kings and kingdoms, it applies to all people.

Often it seems to us that the powers and empires of the world are unshakable. After the Second World War communism in eastern Europe seemed permanent. But then, in the 1980’s, it all came crashing down almost overnight.

Individuals similarly can seem to be of high regard in a community. But then truth is exposed about their previous crimes or misdeeds and their reputation crumbles.

This is ultimately true of everyone who refuses to acknowledge and obey the Lord.

Listen

Lord, what do you want to say to me about this?

Keith, make sure you walk with me each and every day. I raise people up and I pull people down.

There are business men in your community who seem successful. They have built good businesses, but they are built on personal charisma, human wisdom and unethical practices,

I will destroy every business not built on the foundation of my word, I will raise up men and women who are faithful to me in their beliefs and in their actions.

Scripture

“You will remember your sins and cover your mouth in silent shame when I forgive you of all that you have done.”

Observation,

The Lord gives Ezekiel a parable about Israel.

He tells him that Jerusalem was like an abandoned baby left in its own blood. The Lord spoke life to the baby and it grew to into a healthy girl and then a beautiful woman. He rubbed fragrant oils into her skin, gave her expensive clothes and jewellery. She looked like a queen and her fame spread through the world.

Jerusalem thought her fame and beauty were her own doing. She gave herself as a prostitute to every man. This is adultery against the Lord.

So now the Lord will punish her for her adultery and idolatry. He will hand her over to those who were her allies and they will turn on her and destroy her.

The Lord will give her what she deserves but he will remember his covenant with her. He will forgive her and reaffirm his covenant with her. She will remember her sins and cover her mouth with silent shame when the Lord forgives her.

Application

Although our sins are terrible in the sight of the Lord, he will forgive us unconditionally,

We might recall our shame, but the Lord does not hold our sins against us. They no longer count.

Although the people of Ezekiel’s day had no knowledge of the cross of Christ, they did have the promise that God would forgive them and restore them.

Now, because of the blood that Christ shed on the cross, we can all know the awesome grace of Christ covering every sin.

We do have to receive this grace, though, and believe that in him we are forgiven of all unrighteousness.

Listen

Lord, is there more that you want to say to me about this chapter?

Keith, the leaders of Jerusalem were not content to worship other so called gods, they actually set up idols and worshipped them in my house

The adultery of this people, my own people, was beyond measure in every way possible. They trampled all that was holy.

I will not tolerate my chosen people, those who were called by my name chasing the world and not me. Every church that embraces the gods of the world will die. Even denominations that trample my holy name will be destroyed.

Scripture

“Since they are useless, I have thrown them onto the fire to be burned.”

Observation

The Lord asks Ezekiel a rhetorical question about the worth of grapevine. It isn’t strong enough to be used as a peg for hanging pots and pans. It isn’t useful as a fuel, as it burns too quickly.

The people of Jerusalem are like a grapevine growing in a forest. They are useless and the Lord will throw them onto the fire to be burned. The Lord will make the land desolate, because His people have been unfaithful to Him.

Application

A grapevine is good for just one thing, growing grapes. Unlike wood from trees, which is strong and can be fashioned into many objects, grapevine fibre is weak and twisted. It doesn’t even give much heat when it is burned in a fire,

So, a grapevine that produces no fruit is useless. It doesn’t even do the one thing that it was created for.

Jesus tells us that we are the branches of a grape vine. We must stay connected to him to be fruitful. Any branch that does not produce fruit will be cut off and thrown away.

The exact fruit that God is looking for varies from person to person. He wants each of us to be faithful in serving him and doing the things that he shows us to do.

Listen

Lord, is there more that you would like to say to me about this passage?

Keith, the majority of people in Israel were not fruitful. Israel was intended to be the light of the world, but they chose to be like the nations. They wanted to be of the world and not of me. I always had a faithful few who loved me, but as a whole, Israel preferred the way of sin.

It can be the same in the church when Christians love the world more than they love me.

Let the grace of my Spirit and the power of my love keep your flame for me burning.

Scripture

This is what the sovereign Lord says, “I am against all your magic charms which you use to entangle my people like birds. I will tear them from your arms, setting my people free like birds set free from a cage.”

Observation

Ezekiel prophesies against false prophets. They do not hear or see from the Lord but prophesy from their own imaginations. They say, “This message is from the Lord,” even though the Lord never sent them. These false prophets will be banished from the community of Israel and they will never again set foot in their own land.

The false prophetesses are also condemned by the Lord. They tie magic charms to the wrists of God’s people and provide them with magic veils. They trap the souls of these people and speak lies to them.

The Lord hates the magic charms and magic veils. He will tear them off the people and set them free. The Lord will rescue his people from their grasp.

Application

Every so-called magic charm, spell or false prophecy is from Satan. Attempting to control other people is witchcraft and it is evil.

What is particularly bad is when people dress themselves up in Christian images and use Christian terminology while mixing in magic or occultic practices. This makes the Lord angry, because it is attacking the faithful, the elect, the church.

Sadly this is all too common in parts of the Pentecostal and charismatic churches. You can buy prayer shawls and holy oil that are supposed to make your prayer more effective. This is deception and it is from Satan.

Beware of men and women who claim to speak on behalf of God, but use ungodly methods, charms and mantras.

Listen

Lord, in what other ways may christians be misled by those who claim to speak for you but are really agents of satan?

Keith, there are many preachers who claim to speak on my behalf, but are really just preaching their own ideas. The so-called progressive preachers just copy the values of the world and then claim they speak for me. The extreme Pentecostal preachers sell trinkets at huge markup and claim it is all from me.

I made the world and everything in it. I have no need of trinkets to entice me to answer prayers.

I love all my people. I will work out all of their lives for good if they will trust me and not their TV preacher.

The test of every ministry is this. Do they draw people to me or to themselves?