The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
Ezekiel 9-12
Act 2: God’s Covenant People
Scene 8: Exile: God Disciplines His People
Background Information: Ezekiel 9-12
Self-appointed prophets often give sermons and write books assigning end-time meaning to current political events. Various evil humans from history were declared to be anti-Christ. Important historical events were said to be proof that Christ would return that year or on a certain day. Never mind that Christ said it was not for us to know the times God has set for the end of the age; humans love to predict the future and to assign cosmic meaning to current events. Ezekiel gives the theological meaning and reason behind the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple. He is able to do this because this information has been revealed to him by God. Others claim to speak for God, but they do not. Scripture is God’s inspired, error-free word. Ezekiel is able to inform the people that God has not failed them in the catastrophic historical events that have brought about untold horror and dismay. God has not failed; he has acted. This judgment is his will. Babylon and her gods have not proven to be more powerful than the God of Abraham; they are tools in his hands. God is not through with his people, for there is a future for them after the coming judgment. In his vision, Ezekiel sees a reversal of what Solomon saw almost four hundred years earlier. In 1 Kings 8, Solomon dedicated the newly completed Temple. A cloud of the Lord’s presence filled the structure, and not even the priests were able to continue their work because of God’s great glory. Solomon gave a prayer proclaiming there is no God like Israel’s God. He keeps his covenant promises with those who remain faithful to him. Israel has been consistently unfaithful, and now God’s glory departs the Temple. Ezekiel’s vision of the awesome chariot throne of God reveals that God has left the temple. It was no longer a place he dwelt among his people, but it was merely a building, and soon it would become rubble. There are always theological reasons for human historical events. We must not presume to attach specific meaning to them, but we can be sure that God is sovereign over all of them. Nothing is happening merely because of human will or random chance. God is working all things to his own ends. Read the daily news, but do not wallow in dismay over all the terrible and terrifying events in the world. Read, then pray for your own daily bread and for his kingdom to come, his will to be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Pray for group leaders as they begin gathering their small groups for the semester. Pray that groups would work together to encourage one another and faithfully seek to make the gospel known.
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.