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.

Israel’s Deja Vu

(Ezekiel 20:32-38)

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH & NATION:

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

Respond humbly to God‘s discipline; don’t repeat past mistakes (Ezk 20:32-38). #ReturnNowToGod #DisciplineCorrectsAndRestores

The years ahead for Israel in Babylon will mirror their experience in the wilderness after years of bondage in Egypt. Israel wandered in the wilderness 40 years, until the generation who refused to move forward into the promised land had died off (Num 14:26-35).

It was and is God‘s intent to once again purge his people of those disobedient idolaters who worship other gods. Terms like, “strong hand“ and “powerful arm“ are a throwback to the days of the exodus and the wilderness. It was a powerful reminder of who God is. God’s discipline is always designed to restore his people (Heb 12:5-13).

Lord, may I humbly receive needed discipline and correction; repent and return to you.

Now You See Me; Now You Don’t

(Ezekiel 20:5-10)

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH & NATION:

May we live in this world without acting like the world (Ezk 20:30-31). #WalkWithGod #InTheWorldButNotOfIt

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

The bulk of this chapter details how Israel, God‘s chosen people, went off the rails time and time again. They disobeyed God‘s commands, rejected his decrees, flagrantly ignored God’s Sabbath rest and they went about sacrificing their children on alters of fire to other gods. Despicable!

Ezekiel makes reference to idol worship 17 times. Verse 32 implies that the elders speaking to Ezekiel (v1), had syncretized their worship of God with many other gods. Jehovah was just one of many. They had become and were becoming more like the culture around them. God was abandoning his people to the consequences of their sin (vv 25,26; Rom ‭1‬:‭22‬-‭25‬).

Lord, may my life reflect you‬; may I not grow accustomed to [be a reflection of] the culture around me.

Prone to Wander

(Ezekiel 20:5-10)

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH & NATION:

May we not ignore God‘s mercy and grace (Ezk 20:5-10). #ChooseGod #FollowGodFaithfully #ListenToGod

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

Ezekiel chapter 16 describes the history of Israel in parabolic prose. It is the picture of a rebellious child. Here (chapter 20) Israel‘s rebellion against God is defined in specific terms. God is holding court. Ezekiel is the prosecuting attorney. Evidence of sins against God will be presented. Judgment will follow.

Israel had rebelled against God dating back to their days of bondage in Egypt. They paid homage to Egyptian pagan gods. For this God had threatened to pour out his wrath. But in mercy, he did not. Instead, he revealed his power and glory by delivering them out of Egyptian bondage.

Lord, I could never point a finger at Israel without considering my own heart that is so prone to wander from God.

UNEXCUSED

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH & NATION:

Maintain a heart of humble repentance towards God (Ezk 16:46-52) #Repentance #RepentTowardsGod #EveryoneGuiltyBeforeGod.

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

Here, God paints a picture of Judah‘s horrific sin. Her sins are many and great. She is compared to Sodom. But, she is worse than Sodom. We think of Sodom’s horrible sexual sin: adultery, homosexuality. But the prophets give even more insight.

Isaiah 3:8,9 – Sodom spoke openly and flagrantly against God, refused to obey God. Jeremiah 23:14 – Sodom was dishonest, encouraged evil, and was unrepentant. Here, Ezekiel says Sodom was prideful, gluttonous, lazy, and ignored the poor and needy. Though I may not commit heinous sexual sin like Sodom, I am UNEXCUSED for committing so-called, “lesser sins”.

Guilty: Lord, may my heart remain humble and repentant towards you.

God’s Jealous Anger

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH & NATION:

Surrender your heart to God‘s loving discipline (Ezk 16:35-45).#Repentance #RepentTowardsGod #TurnNowToGod #JealousAnger

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

Jerusalem, this once beautiful queen (vv13,14) had prostituted herself (forged alliances with ungodly nations and worshiped their pagan idols – snubbing God, her true lover). She would fall to destruction by these very pagan lovers (23:47). This was warned of in Deuteronomy 13:12-16 and so it came to pass.

Jerusalem forgot the God of her youth, the God who rescued her (vv6-15). But she will remember (vv61-63). God’s fury won’t last forever and his jealous anger will eventually subside.* But not until he has brought his people to repentance and redemption.

Lord, may my heart surrender to your loving redemptive purposes through your discipline (Psm 30:5; Pro 3:11,12; Heb 12:5,6).

_____

* I remember a notable pastor saying once, “God is not a God of anger in the Old Testament. He is a God of love provoked to jealousy.“

Kindling Faith

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH & NATION:

Stoke a faith that is found fruitful and useful to God (Ezk 15:1-8) #Judgment #Repent #WorshipGodAlone #GodAboveAllElse

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

This parable of a grapevine would have struck a chord, as Israel is compared to such often (e.g. Isa 5:1-7). But in Israel’s current idolatrous condition, she is of no greater value than kindling for fire and not even very good for that either.

This is the sad tale of a people of God who had grown apathetic and unfruitful. It reminds me of five of the seven churches in Revelation 2&3 who have become weak, indifferent, arrogant, fruitless, useless, idolatrous, lukewarm and faithless.

Lord, may the fires of my faith burn forever, faithful, and fruitful for you.

IDOLS: 🎉🗣️🧞‍♀️👙🍺🏈🚙🚢💰

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH & NATION:

🎉🗣️🧞‍♀️👙🍺🏈🚙🚢💰

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

Guard your heart against idolatrous worship (Ezk 14:1-4, 20-23) #RejectIdolatrousWorship #Judgment #Repent #WorshipGodAlone #GodAboveAllElse

God‘s focus here is on the leaders of Israel who came to Ezekiel seeking advice. Yet, their hearts were full of idolatrous worship and their sin was great. God says to them through Ezekiel, nothing, no one will save them from judgment (war, famine, wild animals, and disease).

Not even Noah, Daniel or Job (great men of God) could save the nation from the coming judgment. The nation would come to realize through pain and suffering, once again, that Jehovah God is a sovereign Lord. Lord, it is so very important that every prayer sentry keep his/her heart from the worship of any idol (🎉🗣️🧞‍♀️👙🍺🏈🚙🚢💰).