Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 7; Psalm 84
“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Clap your hands in horror, and stamp your feet. Cry out because of all the detestable sins the people of Israel have committed. Now they are going to die from war and famine and disease. Disease will strike down those who are far away in exile. War will destroy those who are nearby. And anyone who survives will be killed by famine. So at last I will spend my fury on them. – Ezekiel 6:11-12
“THEN THEY WILL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD.” (6:14b)
The Lord had given the people of Israel chance after chance to repent. He had sent message after message revealing the punishment that would come if they did not stop their wicked ways and fully surrender their hearts to the God who had rescued them from slavery in Egypt. He had provided blessing after blessing in the land He had promised their ancestors, and yet they still were not giving God their full attention.
Then this message came to me from the Lord: “Son of man, this is what the Sovereign Lord says to Israel:
“The end is here!
Wherever you look—
east, west, north, or south—
your land is finished.
No hope remains,
for I will unleash my anger against you.
I will call you to account
for all your detestable sins.
I will turn my eyes away and show no pity.
I will repay you for all your detestable sins.
Then you will know that I am the Lord.” – Ezekiel 7:1-4
“THEN YOU WILL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD.” (7:4b)
The Lord, whom we know to be slow to anger and filled with unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion (Numbers 14:18), is also the God who commands obedience. The Lord of compassion and mercy is slow to anger and filled with faithfulness (Exodus 34:6), but He does not tolerate disobedience and disloyalty. He is prepared to get our attention so that we can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He is the Lord!
Soon I will pour out my fury on you
and unleash my anger against you.
I will call you to account
for all your detestable sins.
I will turn my eyes away and show no pity.
I will repay you for all your detestable sins.
Then you will know that it is I, the Lord,
who is striking the blow. – Ezekiel 7:8-9
“THEN THEY WILL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD.” (7:27b)
Does God have your full attention during this season of your life? Do you know with confidence that you are allowing Him to be Lord in every area, with every decision, and in every relationship? Have you surrendered everything to God so that you can fully experience His kindness?
Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off. And if the people of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the tree. You, by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So if God was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into his cultivated tree, he will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong. – Romans 11:22-24
Lord, we place our trust in you today. Thank you for pursuing us even when our fickle hearts have strayed. We are grateful to be recipients of your grace and mercy. We declare today that we want you and only you to be the Lord of our lives. May we experience joy today as we choose to trust in you wholeheartedly. Amen.
A single day in your courts
is better than a thousand anywhere else!
I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God
than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.
He gives us grace and glory.
The Lord will withhold no good thing
from those who do what is right.
O Lord of Heaven’s Armies,
what joy for those who trust in you. – Psalm 84:10-12