Post by Woody Williams on May 24, 2007 6:40:39 GMT -5
Text for the Day -- Ezekiel 3:12-19
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Then the spirit lifted me up, and as the glory of the LORD rose from
its place, I heard behind me the sound of loud rumbling; it was the
sound of the wings of the living creatures brushing against one
another, and the sound of the wheels beside them, that sounded like a
loud rumbling. The spirit lifted me up and bore me away; I went in
bitterness in the heat of my spirit, the hand of the LORD being
strong upon me. I came to the exiles at Tel-abib, who lived by the
river Chebar. And I sat there among them, stunned, for seven days.
At the end of seven days, the word of the LORD came to me: Mortal, I
have made you a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a
word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to
the wicked, "You shall surely die," and you give them no warning, or
speak to warn the wicked from their wicked way, in order to save
their life, those wicked persons shall die for their iniquity; but
their blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked,
and they do not turn from their wickedness, or from their wicked way,
they shall die for their iniquity; but you will have saved your life.
Devotional
----------
Ezekiel was a prophet to the exiles in Babylon. He was to carry the
heavy burden of being a prophet to speak to those doing evil, calling
them to repent of their evil ways. If the prophet failed to do this,
he would be losing his own life. Speaking the truth about good and
evil is critical for persons, nations and cultures to survive. All
must hear and respond to God's judgments when they are made.
Prayer
----------------
May I hear your call to truth, gracious God. Amen
----------
Then the spirit lifted me up, and as the glory of the LORD rose from
its place, I heard behind me the sound of loud rumbling; it was the
sound of the wings of the living creatures brushing against one
another, and the sound of the wheels beside them, that sounded like a
loud rumbling. The spirit lifted me up and bore me away; I went in
bitterness in the heat of my spirit, the hand of the LORD being
strong upon me. I came to the exiles at Tel-abib, who lived by the
river Chebar. And I sat there among them, stunned, for seven days.
At the end of seven days, the word of the LORD came to me: Mortal, I
have made you a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a
word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to
the wicked, "You shall surely die," and you give them no warning, or
speak to warn the wicked from their wicked way, in order to save
their life, those wicked persons shall die for their iniquity; but
their blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked,
and they do not turn from their wickedness, or from their wicked way,
they shall die for their iniquity; but you will have saved your life.
Devotional
----------
Ezekiel was a prophet to the exiles in Babylon. He was to carry the
heavy burden of being a prophet to speak to those doing evil, calling
them to repent of their evil ways. If the prophet failed to do this,
he would be losing his own life. Speaking the truth about good and
evil is critical for persons, nations and cultures to survive. All
must hear and respond to God's judgments when they are made.
Prayer
----------------
May I hear your call to truth, gracious God. Amen