The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
Ezekiel 5-8
Act 2: God’s Covenant People
Scene 8: Exile: God Disciplines His People
Background Information: Ezekiel 5-8
It may be tempting, as you read of God’s righteous anger against sin, to judge God. “How can God do this to his people?” Be careful, we do not judge him; he judges us. His anger is not some emotional outburst. His wrath is the outworking of his holy character, not the result of a lack of self-control. The words used to describe God’s actions are familiar words, but his anger is not the same as ours. We are warned to make sure that, in our anger, we do not sin. Our anger is often, not always, rooted in our sin. God’s anger never is. In his anger, he can never sin. His terrible wrath on sin is right. Mercy is not getting what we deserve, and the people have received much mercy. Judgment is getting what we deserve, and the time has come for judgment. Grace is getting what you do not deserve, and in keeping his covenant promises, God will give grace through the coming Messiah. Now, Judah is being judged. This judgment is well deserved, but it is not merely punitive–it is part of God’s larger plan to rescue a fallen world. Ezekiel sees the elders of Israel and others, representing what the people in whole were doing. There in the Temple of God, thinking God did not see them, they were worshipping images of nature: Tammuz (the god of vegetation), and the Sun. There in the very building designed for worship of the Creator, they worshipped the creation. Here’s how Paul describes this in his own time:
“For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles. Therefore God delivered them over in the desires of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen”
Romans 1:21-25
We may not make images to worship, but we are prone to make idols of health, wealth, and pleasure. To wrap your heart around anything other than God is to worship the creation over the creator. Give glory and gratitude to God right now. Today and every day, confess him as Lord of your whole life.
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Pray for Christian Challenge. Tonight is the first large group meeting of the semester. Ask God to speak through the message and use the worship to turn people back to him.
Ask God for… (what else concerns you?)
Reflect:
Write down one passage of scripture that stood out to you today.
Write down why this passage stood out to you.
Engage Community:
Text or call someone now and tell them…
– What you are praying for.
– What stood out from God’s word today.