Scripture

It will become a majestic cedar, sending forth its branches and producing seed.

Observation

The time will come, says the Lord, when He will take a branch from the top of a tall cedar and plant it on Israel’s highest mountain. It will grow tall and strong, and birds will shelter in it.

All the trees will know that it is the Lord who pulls trees down and makes trees grow, who kills one tree and raises another to life.

Application

This parable is about the church, the Kingdom of God. It started off as a cutting (or perhaps a mustard seed), is planted on top of Israel’s mountain and becomes a mighty tree that even shelters the birds of the air.

God’s kingdom is huge with members in every nation, It is God who is establishing it and causing it to grow. It exists by the grace of God and for His glory.

And whenever any part of that church steps away from God’s grace, He will strike it down.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for bringing me into the tree of your kingdom. Amen.

Scripture

“I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down,” declares the Sovereign Lord.

Observation
The Lord will remove the false shepherds who have fed themselves on His sheep. The Lord Himself will be their shepherd. He will gather the sheep from all around the world and bring them back to Israel. He will give them rich pasture and search for the lost.

The Lord will judge His own sheep. The sheep who have pushed themselves forward to get the best feed will be judged. The Lord will rescue the flock, but He will also judge them.

Application
God declares that He is the true shepherd for His people, a metaphor that Jesus also uses. The Lord promises to rescue the sheep from the rulers who have oppressed them and to care for them Himself.

The rescue comes at a price- God will now judge those who push themselves past others to get the best stuff, and those who drive away by force those who are weaker.

Followers of Jesus cannot be self-centred or self-promoting. We must not pursue our own interests at the expense of other people.

Selfishness is an entirely natural human trait. And God promises that it will bring His judgement. The good news is that He also has the capacity to change our heart’s from self to Him and thence to others.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, forgive my selfish ways. Open my eyes so that I can see my sin and give me grace to repent. Amen.

Scripture

“I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes the Lord has spoken.”

Observation

The Spirit of the Lord takes Ezekiel to a valley full of dry bones. The Lord tells Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones commanding them to come together.

So the bones are gathered together, and flesh, sinews and skin cover the bones. But there is no life in them.

The Lord then tells Ezekiel to call out to the wind to come and fill the bodies. The bodies stand up, alive like a great army.

The Lord tells Ezekiel to prophesy to Israel and to promise that the Lord will bring them back from exile and He will put His Spirit in them.

Application

There is nothing more dead than dry bones. But God can turn death into life when we trust Him.

The people of Israel were in exile and had abandoned all hope of returning home. But God said, “You will go home.”

Whatever hopes or dreams we have that seem to be as dead as dry bones can be brought to life by the Holy Spirit.

The only condition is that we trust God to do it His way.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, come and bring life to the dry bones of my lost dreams. Come and bring life where there is no life. Amen.