ISRAEL, THEN AND NOW
Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 21-22
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Just outside ancient Ephesus in Turkey is this wall on which people have placed thousands of written prayers. It is said that Mary, the mother of Jesus, lived here in the home that John made for her. From the Cross, Jesus asked John to care for His widowed mother. Tradition says that John, unlike the people described in our key verse, took care of her needs. John stood “in the gap.”
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Ezekiel 22:29-30
The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger. So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.
What did the people of Jerusalem do wrong? According to these two chapters, nearly everything! The leaders and many of the people consistently broke God’s laws for moral and social conduct, for religious practices and economic systems. Ezekiel, the prophet, had already been taken by King Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon in the second wave of captives. Life in Jerusalem continued. As Ezekiel writes in 21:21, the King of Babylon was at the crossroads of decision as to what he should do regarding the latest rebellion of King Zedekiah in Jerusalem. Zedekiah was in the process of making an alliance with Babylon’s arch enemy, Egypt. In contrast to the clear words of God’s prophets, Nebuchadnezzar was making his decisions based on divination practices such as described in the words, “He looks at the liver.” They would dissect a liver from an animal and look there for guidance. It sounds ridiculous to us, but what about the astrological charts in today’s newspaper? Ezekiel would’ve been willing to stand “in the gap” for Israel, but he was unable to return to Jerusalem. All he could do was obey God, and “sigh…with a breaking heart” (21:6), and speak his prophetic word from a distance.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I pray for grace to do my best to “stand in the gap” for others. Grant me the empathy to “sigh…with a breaking heart” for people whose lives are broken because of economic circumstances (the poor and needy) and because of deliberate sin against You. Lead me, guide me, direct my ways in the ways of righteousness, I pray. Help me to speak up against those things that destroy people and to realize that actions speak louder than words. In the Name of Jesus, who wept over the needs of the people and took action to establish righteousness, I pray. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
Yesterday, I promised to continue the “Make You Think” emphasis. Why would God call for a prophet’s word from human lips? Was it really necessary? Could He not have gone ahead and done what ever He wanted to do without someone speaking out His Word in advance? For His own reasons He involved free-will people in His decisions. I think that those words “free will” are the key to understanding the reason for prophecy. When a word of prophecy is spoken, God, who made man in His own image and likeness (Genesis 1:26-30) and gave humanity “dominion” over the earth, waits for the permission of a spoken prophecy before taking “dominion” over human affairs. I have found it hard to get my mind around this.
There was one time only in my life that I believe I experienced the kind of Biblical prophecy experienced by Ezekiel. It was in Jerusalem. I was a member of the press corps covering President Carter’s last-ditch stand to conclude the treaty between Egypt and Israel known as the “Camp David Accords.” I won’t take the space to tell the story here, but it is in my latest book, This Far By Faith. It was a live statement on government radio stations, broadcasting with immediate translations into Hebrew and Arabic languages, covering the entire Middle East, including Iraq (Babylon) and Egypt. This is a very subjective judgment, but I believe that “word” rendered the ruler of the darkness of this world powerless to mess up God’s will for Israel and Egypt at that time.
Yours for the purpose of understanding a little bit more of the reason why God called prophets to speak out in advance of events,
David
P.S. Tomorrow, God willing, I want to write about the difference between New Testament prophecy and that of Ezekiel’s time. We must be very careful in this area. False doctrines have been taught and religious cults established by what has been called “prophecy.”
What a servant David Mainse was and how God needed Him to implement His plans. God ordains that a prophetic word take place before the coming of a divine order on earth. To all saints who need prayer for themselves and their families, we call to our Heavenly King for His strength, comfort and blessing upon you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
“The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life” (Job 33:4).
Acappella Praise – Hide me away – Lyrics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH43NgxXBow
For Charlene’s prayer request from yesterday, know that we are with you:
Lord God, we pray to You, the Jehovah Rapha, our God who heals; Jehovah Jireh, our God who provides and Jehovah Nissi, our banner of protection, for Charlene’s son, Sheldon. Breathe into him, Holy Spirit, Ruach breath of life. We pray for the cancer in his body to be completely removed and for his soul to be saved, claiming the Name of Jesus as his Saviour. We pray also for peace of mind and comfort for Charlene and her family. Lord, you know this mother’s heart and love for her son. We hold them in prayer to You, our Messiah Christ. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
“The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life” (Job 33:4).
Amen!
Amen and amen Beverlee . Agreeing with you in prayer for Sheldon.
Amen….agreeing in prayer along with Beverlee and everyone for God’s healing power and grace to be upon Sheldon and also Charlene and family! the whole family.
Dear Lord God, thank You for all Your people through the ages, and for Your Word, which is Truth. As the noble Bereans did, may we also check the Scriptures to see if the teachings we hear are truly from You. Please help all Your people to stand in the gap for their families, friends, coworkers, neighbours, leaders, and our country. May Your truly good will be done on Earth today, Lord, in Jesus’s great name, amen
Amen
Thanks for your prayers,Beverlee and Rob.I am also praying/prayed for Charlene’s son, Sheldon’s healing and for my own unsaved son who has Psoriatic Arthritis,maybe the worst form of that disease.He’s a foreman electrician for a large national company so is on his feet all day.(His knees grind when he walks and is in constant pain.)I hesitate to ask for prayer.I must ask for prayer for my closest friend who has advanced Parkinson’s.He had a hernia operation Monday and his palate is enlarged (“like a finger in his throat.”) It affects his breathing and exacerbates his speech problem even more.His wife just called to say the attending Dr wants to see him this afternoon.Please pray for him.He is a very devout Christian and ‘got me going to church’ 10 years ago.(So blame him for me being here,lol.)Thanks to all and have faith.God bless
A father’s prayer for his son:
‘ Thank You,Father,for all the blessings.I ask for
your blessings on my son and his family,for he
thinks he doesn’t want to know You.That’s because
he ‘does not know’ You.Like Paul,no one can know
the richness of your love better than those who
were against you and were turned around to find you
through righteous repentance.Thank You,Father.I
pray this in Jesus’ most holy name.Amen ‘
(GW) Bill Marshall/05-Jan-16
Amen
Lord God we bring Bill’s unsaved son who has psoriatic arthritis before You, and Bill’s friend who has Parkinson’s Disease after his hernia surgery, this week. Bless them dear God, with your healing touch and mighty power. Bring them to a better place that is closer in walk with You, dear God. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.
Amen Beverlee, Rob and William. Agreeing in prayer for Sheldon, and your son and Christian friend William. Was up in the night and on my knees praying for my family, friends, community and country Rob. The Bible exhorts us to continually watch and pray. Amen!
Praying for Sheldon and for Bill’s friend and his son.
Oh God, our Heavenly Father! We ask you to come to the aid of these precious people. Touch their bodies and heal them. We pray also that you will draw Sheldon and Bill’s son to you. Give them a revelation of who You are. Holy Spirit, minister to them in their physical needs and above all, heal their spiritual condition and make them “new creations” and members of your eternal kingdom! Amen!
Asking God to minister to each and every blogger. Bless you all!
Amen Luisa.
Amen Luisa
Heavenly Father Your Word tells us that You hear and answer our prayers; Thank You Father God for Your intervention in all the prayer needs brought forth to you within this blog today, in Jesus Name I pray; the Name above all Names
Saints, I want to know what you are feeling about this coronavirus as a plague hitting the earth? It has killed so many especially in China but now has hit all the continents except Antarctica. Just read about the first death in California.
Psalm 91 is out hope & promise re: Corona virus, etc. Jesus is our Shelter in the storm. We need to keep His Name on our lips continually. Amen. Blessings on all & on our families, especially those who are walking afar off. In Jesus Name Amen
Amen Doreen.
Amen, Doreen, Joyce, Irene.
Yes, Amen Doreen
Yes, Amen Doreen agreeing with you
Amen Doreen. Just posted Psalm 91 on the wall above my computer so can repeat it often. Thanks for the reminder. God bless.
Oh Saints, where.do I begin! First I want to assure you that I am praying for all your needs & also for your friends & family who are in need of prayer. My cousin Eva who has cancer was told by her oncologist that they don’t know how to treat her cancer because she can’t tolerate chemo or radiation. Please pray for God’s healing & it is not His will that the doctors will find another way to fight this cancer.
Also I fell again (my knee gave out. I sprained my ankle badly & am using anair cast but am unable to walk yet. Your prayers for Eva & myself would be greatly appreciated. Thank you saints!