Exile, Exile In The Land Who’s The Fairest In The Band

Ezekiel 47-Daniel 1

Both these followers of God are exiles in Babylon.  Daniel was deported first and about 10 years later Ezekiel.  Both books record events of the day, future events and end time prophecy.  But there is a greater record that may not be so obvious.  Both lived out their relationship with God, which lead to opportunities to share their beliefs. 

This is true.  If we will live as Christ calls us to live it will not be necessary to seek others to evangelize and disciple.  They will seek us out.  A Renewed person is the most attractive person in any group.

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good pleasing and perfect.”  Romans 12:2

Choose The Doxology

Ezekiel 43-46

This passage, in fact the entire Bible is about God creating ways to have relationship with humans.  How do you form a relationship with God?  If we stop long enough to consider this the implications are enormous.  Most relationships are built on a mutual sharing of selves.  What does God bring?  Sun, taste, love, food, stars, kissing, existence, trees, seeing…as the list grows I can have one of two thoughts,

1.     What could I possible bring to this relationship?

2.     I am so overwhelming grateful!!!

I’ll go with number two!

“Praise God from whom all blessing flow

Praise Him all creatures here below…”

Do They Recognize You?

Ezekiel 40-42

Ezekiel flies away in a vision by the hand of God to a mountaintop in Israel.  There a Holy Being tours him through a magnificent Holy Structure measuring it as He goes.  As we read one thing is very clear.  God has an exacting and clear sense of beauty, harmony and form, pillars of the aesthetic experience.  Somehow in the making and the beauty the structure is pronounced “Holy.”

That is an amazing concept.  A holy structure.  What does that mean?  Holy means to be recognized as sacred and dedicated or devoted to the service of God.  Have you ever encountered a “Holy” anything?

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 

1 Peter 2:9

I wondered if we’re recognized when encountered?

Shroud of Turin

Jim Croce Sings Ezekiel

Ezekiel 37-39

Two sets of bones, one being restored by God and one the result of God’s Holy anger against the enemies of His people.  The first set is a vision and are woven into His Holy children.  A work of performance art dramatizing God’s restorative will for His children.

The second set are real and are a result of a future battle between the powers of the north and east coming against a peaceful Israel.  This battle sees the armies of Gog, Magog, Rosh, Meshech, Tubal, Persia, Ethiopia, Put, Gomer and Beth-Togarmah completely destroyed by God.  It takes seven months for Israel to bury the bones.   

The moral of the story

“You don’t pull on Superman’s cape

You don’t spit into the wind

You don’t pull the mask off the old Lone Ranger

And you don’t mess around with Jim, Israel.”

The late Jim Croce

Not Guilty!!! Again And Again And Again...

Ezekiel 34-36

“…they will know that I am the Lord.”

This phrase is repeated over and over in Ezekiel.  How do you know that Christ is Lord?  It comes from a continual self-examination.  On any given day I can be petty, arrogant, stingy, prideful, selfish, lustful, greedy, mean, lazy, self centered, and worst of all, be ok with it.  Under sincere self-examination I see myself as I really am and know the helplessness of cleaning this mess up.  I can try harder to be better but I cannot absolve myself, cleanse myself of the guiltiness of being that way. 

“Moreover, I (God) will give you a new heart and put an new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statues and you will be careful to observe My ordinances…so you will be My people, and I will be your God.”  36:26-28

The Lord, when asked, absolves us of our guilt and daily renews in us a desire for His Spirit to live more freely in and through us. 

“…diggin The Dancing Queen”

Ezekiel 31-33

This reading reveals how we often hear God’s word,

“And behold, you are to them like a sensual song by one who has a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument; for they hear your (Ezekiel) words, but they do not practice them.”

Many of us see our faith as a good thing, like a praise song that emotionally lifts us to the heights of simplistic feeling.   

Heresy!!!  The bible teaches that the world is in a cosmic war between the forces of good and evil, which all wars combined, pale in comparison.  Every human is involved and every life at stake!  Like any war the dead and maimed, the heroes and the villains are all at play. 

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the ruler, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”   

                                             Ephesians 6:12

Many Christ followers are dancing like a queen at a Ball. 

FOOLS!!!

Rococo artist Fragonard's
The Swing.
Look closely and you may see the American Church

Hill Street Blues

Ezekiel 28-30

Tyre and Egypt are destroyed and in this passage a great mystery is developed.  The king Tyre is described as,

“You had the seal of perfection,

Full of wisdom and perfect

         in beauty.

You were in Eden, the garden

         of God;

Every precious stone was your

         covering…”

You walked in the midst of the

         stones of fire…

By the multitude of your

iniquities…

You profaned your

         sanctuaries.

Therefore I (God) have brought

         fire from the midst of you;

It has consumed you,

And I have turned you to

         ashes on the earth…”

Satan the evil one began first as “blameless in your ways…”

“Until unrighteousness was found in you…”

His desire for you and all those you love?

“only to steal, kill and destroy.”  Gospel of John 10:10

He’s here, he’s real and he has a plan for you and yours.

“Let’s be careful out there!!!”