Song of the Sword (2nd Ver)

(Ezekiel 21:28-32)

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH & NATION:

May your lips always bring honor to the Lord our God (Ezk 21:28-32). #DoNotMockGod #HonorJehovahGod

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

God‘s judgment is here turned towards the Ammonites. King Nebuchadnezzar had decided to bypass Ammon (vv 20,22) and destroyJerusalem (both allied against Babylon). The Ammonites thought they had escaped destruction. In their jubilation, they became proud. They mocked Israel’s destruction (25:3,4).

These Ammonites further tried to create other alliances in the region against Babylon (read Jer 40:13-41:10). But nomadic hordes would attack Ammon and destroy her (note Chapter 25). She would not escape God‘s judgment. Any proud people who mock God’s name will be subject to judgment (Psm 59:8; Pro 17:5; Gal 7:5).

Lord, may my heart always honor you and be in alignment with your heart.

Day of Reckoning

(Ezekiel 21:25-27)

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH & NATION:

Delay no longer to repent and turn to God (Ezk 21:25-27). #Repent #TurnNowToGod

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

Here is the message from God to Jerusalem‘s corrupt and wicked king. The day of reckoning is upon him. Dethroned and deposed, a new order is come. The mighty are brought low and the lowly are exalted.

Thrice called “destroyed” (complete-total) the kingdom of Judah will be no more. It will not be restored until the righteous one, Jesus the Christ, comes to rule (Gen 49:10; Zec 9:9; Mat 21:1-11; Rev 9:11-16). Lord, though you may wait, that men might turn to you, at the exact right time you will judge.

Broken Promises

(Ezekiel 21:22-25)

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH & NATION:

Only a repentant heart will secure favor with God (Ezk 21:22-25). #TrustGodFully #StayOpenToGodsWill

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

Ezekiel makes clear that King Nebuchadnezzar will in fact lay siege to Jerusalem and destroy her. But the people don’t believe it. They think that their treaty with Babylon will prevent it. But in fact, they themselves have broken the treaty themselves (17:15).

Nebuchadnezzar will remind them of their broken promise and proceed to attack them, burn Jerusalem to the ground and take those left in Jerusalem as captives. Now is the time of their punishment for their sin. The time has come, the final day of reckoning has come for their corrupt and wicked prince in Israel, King Zedekiah.

Lord, may I not delay to repent towards you.

Sovereign Choices

(Ezekiel 21:18-23)

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH & NATION:

Trust God implicitly to order choices that impact the course of our lives (Ezk 21:18-23). #TrustGodFully #StayOpenToGodsWill

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

I am here introduced to the third of three symbolic swords. This third sword is given into the hands of Babylon by God. She will destroy Jerusalem due to sin. Ezekiel explains in parabolic language: he drew out a map showing a road leading from Babylon to Jerusalem.

King Nebuchadnezzar‘s reaches a fork in that road. It leads to a decision to take the road to Jerusalem. This decision is reached by idolatrous deviation. In an act of God’s sovereignty, he uses man’s free will to choose to accomplish his purposes.

Lord, I can’t explain the means by which you work, but I trust in your sovereign will (Pro 16:4,9 & 21:1).

Song of the Sword (Pt 2)

(Ezekiel 21:14-17)

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH & NATION:

May we treat sin with all seriousness (Ezk 21:14-17). #Repent #TurnFromSin

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

The brandishing of the sword by Ezekiel as he acts out this judgment is designed to move so fast that the sword seems like multiples.

Somewhere in his action, the prophet stops to “clap his hands.“ It is like a man who threatens another by pounding his fist into his other hand. This symbolized, a violent gesture of emotion.

When the judgment of God falls, hearts will melt. The sword of judgment will slash right and left, up and down and in every direction. It’s devastation will be felt by all of God‘s people. God too expresses the same violent emotion as Ezekiel at the sin of the people.

There was a time in my life that I felt the serious emotion of God towards my sin; that not turning back would have serious life altering repercussions. Lord, may I treat sin with the same seriousness as you.

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My testimony on this blog:

Window of Opportunity: A Testimony

Song of the Sword (Pt 1)

(Ezekiel 21:8-13)

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH & NATION:

May we as a people, a nation, search our hearts for any unconfessed sin (Ezk 21:8-13).

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

“A sword, a sword”*: Ezekiel returns to the imagery of the sword of God‘s judgment. This sword is being prepared for the executioner (Babylon). Repetition here is emphatic. The sword is being sharpened and polished for judgment.

“You laugh at these words now. It will not be so funny when God‘s judgment falls on the people of God“. Ezekiel cries out and wails at the knowledge of God‘s terrible swift judgment. Ezekiel pounds his thighs in grief and alarm at the coming swift slaughter of God‘s rebellious people. There will be no chance of survival.

It is not for me to point a finger at Judah and find satisfaction in their just desserts. I must ask, “Lord, search my own heart for unconfessed sin.”

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* This may have been part of a sword-dance familiar to the people.

National Brokenness

(Ezekiel 21:6,7)

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH & NATION:

Pray for a national brokenness of heart towards God (Ezk 21:6,7). #Brokeness #Repent #TurnNowToGod

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

As Ezekiel is pronouncing the complete destruction of Judah, God instructs him to show visible signs of mourning. He’s not faking this. He is truly brokenhearted publicly and openly. God instructs: when the people ask, “Why are you so brokenhearted?“, he would tell them why.

The news of the total destruction of their home land and Jerusalem, the city of God, would be so horrible that all the exiles in Babylon will be broken and mourn with deep emotion. They would faint at the news. Even the boldest and strongest will melt with fear and agony. It will be so. The Sovereign Lord had ordained it.

Lord, give me a heart of brokenness for my country, my church, family, and friends.

Riddler’s Challenge

(Ezekiel 20:49)

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH & NATION:

Press on/through doubts and fears, trusting God (Ezk 20:49). #TrustGodWhenDoubting

You have been warned.
If you have ears, listen (Mat 1-:13-15)

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

The whole of verses 45–49 are an introduction to what is to come in the four new messages of Chapter 21. Fire and sword are about to fall on Judah. Ezekiel here in interjects, “O Sovereign Lord, they are saying to me, ‘he is just a riddler of riddles.’“

It’s not clear exactly what Ezekiel expected God to do about that. But God does not stop to console. God had already told Ezekiel to press the message of judgment home whether they listen or not. They [Judah] are living in rebellion (2:7). When God has spoken, one must lean in on the message.

Lord in times of doubt or fear may this ol’ sentry trust you to carry me through to the outcomes.

“Scorched Earth”

(Ezekiel 20:45-48)

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH & NATION:

Always take God at his word (Ezk 20:45-48). #God’sWordIsTruth

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

These verses move past God’s statement of deliverance (vv40-44). God tells Ezekiel to 1) face south (Judah), 2) speak to the south and 3) tell them the forests of the south are targets for “scorched earth.“ The significance of this, three times spoken, is a powerful reminder of divine intervention and completeness.

The entire region’s forests will be scorched and burned to the ground – by God, completely, in judgement of their sin’s defilement. Today this region still stands as a waterless desert.* None will escape this destruction. All will know that this was the hand of God. No one should doubt God’s words of intervention and judgment.

Lord, it is the duty of the prayer sentry to take God at his word and proclaim it as such.

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* The exceptions to this are places where irrigation has been added.