Understand God’s intentions for you. #FullyRelyOnGod #TrustInGodAlone #GodsWordIsTrue
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
A “great eagle” in verse three (Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon – v12) after deposing the king of Judah, chose a seedling from the land (Zedekiah, member of the royal family – v13). This vassal king, though weakend, was able to flourish.
This seedling’s branches turned upward to and were dependent upon the “great eagle” (a forced treaty with Nebuchadnezzar – vv13,14). Second Kings 24:15-20 reveals that all these things happened due to Judah and Jerusalem’s idolatry and defiance of God.
Lord, you make clear your intentions towards me; I read, I understand, I surrender.
Believe in, trust fully and abide by God‘s word (Ezk 17:1-4,12). #FullyRelyOnGod #TrustInGodAlone #GodsWordIsTrue
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
The first eagle, great and powerful, flew into Lebanon and plucked off the top of a cedar tree. He carried it off to another land.
The eagle was Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon. He deposed Jehoiachin, king of Judah in Jerusalem (Lebanon) and removed all of Judah‘s rulers and princes to Babylon (the city of merchants). There, Jehoiachin and others were planted.
This allegorical prophecy, preceded the actual events pictured by a couple of years. In 597 BC this prophecy began to be fulfilled (2Ki 24:8-16). Lord, your word is true, and I may rely fully upon all that it says.
Look always to God from whence comes your help (Ezk 17:1-3). #LookToGod #FullyRelyOnGod #TrustInGodAlone
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
Sometimes life confronts us with a conundrum – a mystery or problem for which there seems to be no clear understanding. God uses such riddles to convey spiritual truth.* This riddle of two eagles (vv1-10) would be explained by Ezekiel (vv11-24).
Real life problems will either drive us closer to God or drive us further away; the later not being the better path. Though God explains this riddle, sometimes God‘s intended outcomes for us are not immediately known in the moment. But if we surrender to God‘s will, walk with and seek him, in due time it shall be made clear. **
Lord, may I, in every season of my life, look to you, my hope for your glorious outcomes.
_______
* Other Bible riddles: Samson to the Philistines – Jud 14:12-19; Sheba to Solomon – 2Ch 9:1)
May we humbly seek the forgiveness of God for our sin (Ezk 16:52-63).#Repentance #RepentTowardsGod #TurnNowToGod #JealousAnger
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
Judah had sinned greatly against God (far more than her pagan neighbors, Sodom and Samaria). God had already destroyed these pagan cities, for lessor sins. God would destroy Judah as well. The people of Judah would suffer shame, but he would restore her. How could God not also restore cities of lessor sin.
Ultimately these pagan Gentile cities would even become a part of the New Covenant (Jer 31:31-34; Ezk 36:25-36). God will make permanent atonement for sin, forgiveness of sin for all men. God‘s judgment of sin ends in the hope of forgiveness for sinners at the cross of Christ. Lord, may I humbly seek the forgiveness of God for my sin.
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.
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.“
Live not in thankless rebellion towards the gracious love of God (Ezk 16:9-34) #LoveTheLordThyGod #RedeemerLove #GodSoLoved
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
What a beautiful “rags to riches” parable. Who doesn’t love such a love story. A kind benefactor rescues a lowly beneficiary. Here, as with Ruth and Boaz (Ruth 3:8-10), Israel is taken from a lowly filthy place and made a queen by God. But, unlike Ruth, this queen of such grace and fortune goes about in adultery after other men (idolatrous behavior). And what of America?
This bride of fortune uses her inherited wealth to build shrines to men, worships these statues and then sacrifices her children to these stone images. This is Israel’s sad and thankless tale. Words here describe the shock of her benefactor (God). DISGRACEFUL! God is fully within his rights to bring judgment against adulterous Israel. Will America repent?
Lord, though I recoil at such unfaithful, thankless behavior, I too have acted in such ways. Your discipline in my life has brought me full circle in my love for you.*
Walk in faithfulness to your redeemer (Ezk 16:1-8) #LoveTheLordThyGod #RedeemerLove #GodSoLoved
Infancy Abandoned / Infancy Redeemed
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
This passage is difficult to read. God describes the unseemly birth of Israel. It is stark and harsh. It reminds me of a botched abortion. The baby is born alive. No one wanted it – it was left on the table to die. Or the baby was born at home. Then, unwanted, it was put into a trash sack and put into a trash dumpster as refuse.
“BUT I [God] RESCUED YOU.” God then spoke words of “life“ over the discarded infant, Israel. As she grew, God covered her as her redeemer (Ruth 3:8-10). God made a covenant with Israel to make her his very own bride. But Israel spurned and ignored God’s love. Lord, how could I ever ignore you? Your love for this old sentry has exceeded all expectations.
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.
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 (🎉🗣️🧞♀️👙🍺🏈🚙🚢💰).
Stay centered on the truth of God‘s word (Ezk 13:1-23) #FalseProphets #KnowGod #TrustGod #DiscernGod’sWord
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
There was much confusion over the truth in Israel. False prophets were giving messages that were in conflict with Ezekiel and Jeremiah (see also Jer 28:2-14; 29:8,9). They were “whitewashing“ the truth. They were promoting/selling “magic charms“ and magic veils”. They were telling the people everything was all right when it was not.
The false prophets lied and invented false predictions. God was about to clear up the confusion – 1Co 14:30-33. Their “whitewashed wall“ will crumble under a flood of God‘s anger and judgment. They will be banished from the land, their names blotted out from Israel’s record books. Lord, may I stay grounded in the truth of your word.
Live life in anticipation of Christ’s return at any moment, (Ezk 12:26-28) #Prophecy #KnowGod #TrustGod #DiscernGod’sWord #YadaYadaNot
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
A second myth, similar to the first (v22), is also dispelled. It says, “No worries man. Ezekiel‘s prophecies won’t happen for a very long time“. Concerning Christ’s return, some in the early church had a similar view… And many even today. Some say, “It’s been 2000 years and Christ has yet to come.” There’s plenty of time.
But God says in Ezekiel 12, “No more delays. I will do as I threatened“. God’s people in Ezekiel’s day, as in our day, have a duty to live in the light of prophecy being fulfilled at any time (2 Peter 3:8-13).
Lord, reading these words, presses me to live in the immediacy of prophecy, as if it will come true in any moment.
May we have discerning ears to hear and obedient hearts to follow. (Ezk 12:21-25) #Prophecy #KnowGod #YadaYadaNot #TrustGod #DiscernGod’sWord
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
God is here dispelling two popular myths – unfounded popular proverbs: the first, “Time passes, prophecies come to nothing.“ In-other-words, YADA-YADA-YADA! We’ve heard this doom and gloom before. Nothing comes of it. God will end that perspective.
Prophetic words uttered may or may not be true. Fulfillment (the rule of authenticity) may not occur for decades. It comes down to discernment of truth and error. The Christian is equipped by the Spirit of God to discern such things and respond accordingly (Jhn 16:13). History tells us, if God says it…It will be!
Lord, may I have a profound sense of discernment regarding any prophetic word attributed to you.*
Be discerning of, give witness to, God‘s discipline in your life (Ezk 12:14-16). #HearingGod’sVoice #God’sDiscipline #WitnessToTheTruth #LessonsInAdversity
God Has A Plan
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
The words spoken here by the prophet may be seen in the light of words spoken in 5:1,2. To what end does this scattering of God‘s people point?
“Experience will teach [God’s people] what otherwise they would never have learned, ‘that I am the Lord’ (v15). What men fail to appreciate in prosperity, they will occasionally learn through adversity. God will allow a few of [those scattered – a remnant] to survive so they can testify to God‘s truth (v16). Then, confessing their sins among the nations, God will be seen as holy and powerful, not helpless to save.“ *
Lord, may this old sentry be discerning of, give witness to, your discipline in my life circumstances.
_______
* Taylor, John B. Ezekiel, A Commentary, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Inter-Varsity Press, Downers Grove, IL (1969), pg. 116.
Open your eyes to sin and repent towards God (Ezk 12:14-20). #HeedGodsWord #Repent #TurnNowToGod
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
Ezekiel performs a second 1 act pantomime. He would tremble and shake while eating his food; shutter and quake while drinking his water. These actions represented the terror that Israel would experience as Babylon ransacked the land and decimated the city of Jerusalem (4:16).
War, famine, disease and fear would grip the people as God‘s judgment came against them for their sin of violence and neglect of God (2Ki 25:1–3).
Eventually a remnant would recognize God as Lord, but not before Israel had been scattered among the nations. Eventually, God would spare those who would confess their sin and turn to God. Not all war, disease or famine is judgment. But where sin reigns there will be eventual judgment.
Lord, give me eyes to see and ears to hear my own need to repent and turn to you (12:1).
May you heed the clear council of God‘s word (Ezk 12:12,13). #HeedGodsWord #HeedGodlyCounsel
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
The prophecy concerning King Zedekiah, last king of Judah. Zedekiah was disobedient to God (2Ki 24:19,20; Jer 52:2,3). As a result Babylon overran Jerusalem (587 or 586 BC). Zedekiah would flee unceremoniously under cover of night through a hole in the city wall.
Babylonian troops perused and captured Zedekiah. He was made to look on as his two sons were put to death. Then his eyes were put out, he was wrapped in chains and taken captive to Babylon. He died a prisoner in Babylon (2Ki 25:1-7; Jer 32:4,5; 34:2,3; 34:1-7; 52:4-11; Ezk 12:13). Lord, may I always heed the plain council of your word.
Speak the truth of God by your words and actions (Ezk 12:8-13). #SpeakForGod #WitnessForChrist #ActLikeAFollowerOfJesus
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
Ezekiel‘s pantomime, which he likely did not understand as he did it, is explained. The “rebellious“ Israelites wanted to know the meaning of Ezekiel‘s pantomime. The Lord says to tell them, “This is what the Lord is saying.“ Your mime is a message to the last king of Judah, Zedekiah in Jerusalem and the people there.
Ezekiel’s actions (vv 3-7) reflect what will soon happen to all of them. The king and those remaining in Judah will be driven into exile as captives. Zedekiah himself will escape Jerusalem incognito through a hole in the city wall at night, taking only what he can carry. The Lord speaks truth through Ezekiel’s actions to those around him.
Lord, may I be willing to speak the truth of God in my words and actions.*
__________
* Just as Jonah was a sign to the people of things to come, Ezekiel’s pantomime was a sign of things to come.
It has been my habit following my Morning Watch time to stand and pray in my driveway (usually between 6-7 AM). Many neighbors drive past me and wave. Most have stopped to greet me; even ask me to pray for them. I let them know that I am standing my post and praying for them. After a brief greeting, I will pray a short prayer over them as they leave. What an honor. Others may stop also: dog walkers, joggers, Amazon and school bus drivers. I share Christ and pray as I have opportunity. I’ve done that for years.
The Lord spoke to me this morning saying, that every day as you stand in your driveway you are a sign to those around you of your belief in God and love for them as neighbors.
Have courage daily to be a living example of the grace of God (Ezk 12:3-7).
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
Here is Ezekiel‘s pantomime.* He lays out items in his front yard what someone would pack quickly as they are exiled. He then lays open his baggage and packs it quickly. Later, in the evening, he would leave his house as captives might do making their forced long march to captivity.
While the crowd looked on, Ezekiel dug a hole in the wall of his house. He then went through the hole, picked up his bags, covered his eyes (as a captive who knows not where he is going) and walked away into the night.
Ezekiel himself was God‘s sign to those in Israel. They would know that there is a God in heaven and he is speaking to them (vv6c&11).
Lord, may I have the courage every day to be an open letter, a living example (2Cor 3:2,3) of the grace of God.
______
* The art or technique of conveying emotions, actions, feelings, etc., by gestures without speech.
May we be alert to see and hear God when he speaks (Ezk 12:3-7). #TurnNowToGod #Repent #ListenToGod
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
By now (six years into the Babylonian exile) Ezekiel has a powerful reputation for his dramatic displays of God‘s penetrating truth.
In this first of two one-man vaudevillian style acts or mimes, Ezekiel plays the role of an exile. Presumably Ezekiel would lay out the things an exile would carry leaving their home.
As a crowd gathered before him he would pack those things in a bag and leave his home to go somewhere else. He would do this in front of the people. The point was that the people might understand that their exiled plight was from the hand of God.
Lord, may my eyes be open to the many creative ways you communicate truth around me.
May we pay attention to the reality of God’s call to repent (Ezk 12:2,3). #TurnNowToGod #Repent #ListenToGod
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
Several years have passed since these Jews in Babylon had been exiled from Jerusalem. They were still arrogantly believing that God would rescue them, that Israel’s armies would deliver them. They believed false prophets who said they would return to their homeland soon. God had not yet been able to penetrate their prideful hearts.
So God calls upon Ezekiel once again to act out the painful reality of their circumstances. In a dramatic fashion, Ezekiel was to, 1) role play the part of the exiles leaving Jerusalem (vv 3-6); 2) shake and tremble while eating and drinking water (vv 17-20). Lord, I see here the great lengths to which you will go to call your people (me) repentance.
Don’t delay to humbly repent and surrender fully to God (Ezk 11:22-24). #GodsGrief #TurnNowToGod #RepentTowardsGod
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
This may be one of the saddest days in Israel’s history. The Glory of God, his presence, left the Temple, then the city of Jerusalem.
But the Glory of God stopped above the Mount of Olives and hovered there. Presumably it then ascended into heaven.
I wonder if, in that hovering, God stopped to look one more time at Jerusalem, grieved and weeping over Israel’s sin and rejection.
Jesus, The the Radiance of God’s Glory Weeps over Jerusalem
I wonder if Jesus (as God, the radiance of God’s glory) remembered that moment in the Old Testament when he saw the sin and rejection of Israel happening all over again [Jesus wept and spoke words of deep grief – Luk 19:41-44].
Jerusalem would continue to be devoid of God‘s blessing until his Glory returns for the final time in the millennium (Ezk 43:1–7; Acts 1:11–12). Ezekiel‘s vision ends here. He was then moved by the Spirit of God to go and share with the Jewish exiles in Babylon all that he had seen and heard.
Lord, my delay to repent of sin, cuts deeply into the heart of God. May my words be few and may they speak surrender.
Put faith in all the promises of God (Ezk 11:17-20). #PromiseMadePromiseKept #GodIsFaithful
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
This passage is a prophesy of the return of those Israelites exiled to Babylon back to Jerusalem (538, 539 BC) after King Cyrus of Persia conquered Babylon. The Old Testament books of Ezra and Nehemiah record one of those returns.
But this passage also has eschatological meaning. It points to spiritual renewal. The word “spirit“ in verse 19 could also be translated “Spirit,“ as in God‘s Holy Spirit. Whereas, God‘s Spirit would indwell certain people at certain times for certain work, this is a reference to an indwelling of the Spirit in all Believers. This was inaugurated after the death of Christ (Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-4,7). Full restoration of Israel in their hearts toward God will come to full fruition in the millennium when Jesus Returns (Isa49:6-18).
Lord, may I have faith your word as promises made, promises kept and promises yet to be fulfilled.
Remain open to God for a new heart (Ezk 11:14-21). #HeartOfGod #StoneColdHeart #NewHeart
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
God speaks to Ezekiel in response to his prayer in verse 13. Those in Jerusalem spoke arrogantly and pridefully about those who had been taken into exile and Babylon.
They were the ones considered far from God, far from the temple in Jerusalem “where God was.“ But God‘s presence was about to leave the temple. God promises here to himself be the sanctuary of those in exile in Babylon.
It is not about a building. It is about a surrendered heart. Those remaining in Jerusalem were not repentant and knew nothing of that. God promises, Ezekiel and those in exile, to return them to their homeland.
They would return with a new spirit and a new heart (also 36:25-27). They would obey God faithfully and be his people. He would be their God.
Lord, thank you for not only the promise, but the reality of changing the stony cold heart of this old sentry into one that is new and surrendered to you.
Do not persist in sin until God must act dramatically in your life (Ezk 11:13). #TurnNowToGod #Repent
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
Whether still seeing the judgment of Judah (Jerusalem) in a vision or thereafter prophesying to the people what God told Ezekiel in that vision (vv24,25), one of the named officials (Pelatial) in verse 1 was struck down dead.
This death was an affirmation of the seriousness of the coming and eminent judgment of God for sin (see also Acts 5:1-11). Ezekiel is so shaken by this death that he falls face down crying out to God – would God kill everyone in Israel? Lord, may I not persist in sin, causing dramatic acts of God in my life.
Put your full faith in God‘s word as true & reliable (Ezk 11:10,11). #TrustGodsWord #GodsWordIsReliable
God’s is like a mighty rock
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
Versus 10 and 11 are not mere hyperbole or some metaphor used to explain God‘s judgment. This prophecy became Jerusalem‘s reality when Babylon took over Jerusalem and destroyed the temple, 596-581 BC (Jer 52:8-11, 24-28).
Further, God‘s people thought they were impregnable because God had given them their land – but God had also warned them if they did not follow him wholeheartedly he would remove them from it (Deu 28:15, 36, 64-68). HE DID! But in their near future God would return them to their land (11:17-19). Ezekiel also predicts Israel’s full restoration to the land as yet to unfold at Christ’s return (Ezk 36:24-28; 37:21-28).
God’s word is trustworthy and reliable. It is able to discern the hearts of men (Heb 4:12). Lord, may I know an unwavering faith in the truth and reliability of your word.
Remain humble and open to God’s conviction (Ezk 11:1-12). #Can’tRunCan’tHide #RemainOpenToGod
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
The leaders of Jerusalem were leading God‘s people away from God. They believed that they were insulated from further Babylonian attacks (our city is like an iron pot; we the people are like meat safe in the pot). Neither the leaders, nor the people of Israel would acknowledge their sin.
Arrogance, pride, worship of pagan gods, ignoring God‘s word and his warnings was a recipe for failure and God‘s judgment/discipline. It was for Israel then and it is for us today. God put his finger directly on their faulty thinking – he knows our thoughts. Hiding from God is futile. Lord, keep the heart of this ol’ sentry from arrogance and pride.
Do not neglect the glory and salvation of the Lord (Ezk 10:9-17). #SeekGodsPresence #live#LiveToGodsglory
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
These verses comprise half of Ezekiel 10. They are Ezekiel’s description of the cherubim, the mobile throne and glory of God. This was seen in Ezekiel chapter 1. All of this informs us of God‘s intent to judge sin in Israel and in the nations, even for us today; all of us individually.
Colossians 1:27 tells us that “Christ in us is the hope of glory.“ Ezekiel teaches that God will only stay where he is wanted and obeyed. God never wants to withdraw his presence from his people. But when we (I) fill our lives with idolatrous worship we drive God’s presence from us (Isa 42:8).
Lord, your word warns not to neglect so great a salvation (Heb 2:1-3); we (I) need to wake up (Rom 13:11), hear your message and turn now to God.
May you see the glory, faithfulness, purity and eternal righteousness of God (Ezk 11:22,23). #ForeverGlorious
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
I am skipping ahead to the movement of God‘s glory from the east gate to the mountain on the east side of Jerusalem (that would be the Mount of Olives). From there, the glory of God would ascend into heaven and not return to the Temple.
Centuries later, Christ, the radiance of God‘s glory (Heb 1:1-3) would return in fulfillment of many prophecies concerning his birth, death and resurrection. Much of the later ministry of Christ centered in and around the place of God’s departure from Israel, the Mount of Olives in Ezekiel’s vision.*
Lord, may I not get bogged down in the daily struggle through the imagery of the prophets, time lines and prophetic utterances. May my reading, study and meditation on the your word lead me to see the glory of God, the faithfulness of God, purity of God, the patience of God with man and God‘s ultimate judgment of sin and God’s deliverance of his righteous ones into the eternal glorious homeland of Heaven.
_______
* Hailed as King of the Jews, Christ would make his triumphal entry into Jerusalem by an east gate (by that time Jerusalem and the Temple of Ezekiel’s day would have been destroyed and rebuilt).
One week later Christ would be crucified and resurrected from the dead. 40 days after that Christ would ascend from the Mount of Olives back into heaven (Acts 1:9-12). He would fill all believes with his glory (Col 1:27). He will one day return again descending in this same place (Zec 14:1-4; Acts 1:10,11). He will return as the reigning king over his new eternal Kingdom (Rev 11:25).
May our lives reflect the glory of God and pleasing him. (Ezk 10:18,19). #SeekGodsPresence #NothingRivalsJehovahGod #NoOtherGodsBeforeMe
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
The glory of God moved from the doorway to the inner court of the Temple. It then ascended over the mobile chariot above the cherubim (v18). The chariot, with God‘s glory hovering over it, then moved to the east gate of the Temple.
The Glory of God Departs the Temple
The east gate is significant (Psm 24:7-10; 118:19,20). The Jewish Talmud calls it the “Sun Gate“. Daily the dawning sun shown through the eastern gate of the Temple. The scene is rich with symbolism pointing to the return of Christ. (Mat 24:27; Zec 14:4;Ezk 43:1-4).
Lord, may my focus ever be on the glory of God and living my life so as to please you.
Worship the Lord alone with a whole heart (Ezk 10:1-4). #SeekGodsPresence #NothingRivalsJehovahGod #NoOtherGodsBeforeMe
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
In Ezekiel‘s vision, God told the man in linen to take hot coals from the cherubim and spread them around the city (Jerusalem). This was a sign of God‘s judgment, just as with Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19:24,25). Israel had invoked God’s fury and would pay for her sins of (9:9,10).
God‘s glory is now on the move (8:6). The glory of God moves from the Holy of Holies to the doorway of the Temple (9:3; 10:4). The mobile throne (God‘s holy chariot) was waiting there at the door to the inner court of the Temple. The entire house of God and inner court was filled with a cloud and a shimmering, bright glow.
This public display of God‘s glory, God‘s presence, leaving the temple is a reminder that God is true to his word. He will not be rivaled by other gods who are no gods.
The drama of this scene is traumatic as the fury of God is in play over the transformation of his holy place, his house of worship and prayer, into a place of pagan idolatrous worship. [Picture someone moving pagan idols into the worship center and halls of your church]
Lord, may I worship you and you alone with a whole heart.
The Prayer Sentry 