Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 36-39, Jeremiah 45-49

The Lord took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley with bones. He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out. – Ezekiel 37:1-2

Can you picture this — a valley covered in old dry bones? What the Israelites probably pictured was the prophecy of Jeremiah just a few years before this:

“So beware,” says the Lord, “when that garbage dump will no longer be called Topheth or the valley of Ben-Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter. They will bury the bodies in Topheth until there is no more room for them. The bodies of my people will be food for the vultures and wild animals, and no one will be left to scare them away…Their bones will not be gathered up again or buried but will be scattered on the ground like manure…” – Jeremiah 7:32-8:2

What a horrifying picture. God was using this imagery to represent the people of Israel. By now Jerusalem had been destroyed and all of God’s people had been scattered. The Jews feared they would never be a nation again — that the people of Israel would slowly fade away and die.

Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, ‘We have become old, dry bones – all hope is gone. Our nation is finished.’ Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to RISE AGAIN. Then I will BRING YOU BACK to the land of Israel. When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the Lord. I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and RETURN HOME to your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes, the Lord has spoken!’” – Ezekiel 37:11-14

As angry as God was with the unfaithfulness of His prodigal children, He still heard their cries and wanted to give them HOPE. He spoke to his people through the prophet Ezekiel concerning the dry bones.

“Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life.” – Ezekiel 37:4-7

As Ezekiel watched, that is exactly what happened to the valley of dry bones — They all came to life and stood up on their feet — a great army (37:10b). Praise God! The people already knew with confidence that God COULD extend grace to them, forgive them and breathe life back into their nation. The question was whether or not He WOULD. They needed to hear that He was not completely abandoning them in their sin but that there was indeed hope for their future (Jer. 29:11).

And that is the God we serve! There are times when God allows us to experience the full consequences of our sins. We reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7-8). But the God we serve is also a loving God who does not give up on us — HE BREATHES NEW LIFE INTO US through the blood of Jesus. There are also times in our lives when God allows us to suffer from illnesses, disease or tragedies.

WE KNOW WE SERVE A GOD WHO CAN HEAL AND MAKE EVERYTHING BETTER, BUT WE FIND OURSELVES WATCHING AND WAITING TO SEE IF HE WILL.

Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil – the commander of the powers of the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is SO rich in mercy, and he loved us SO much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) – Ephesians 2:1-5

Let’s praise God along with the psalmist David and make this our prayer today:
No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.
My body rests in safety.
For you will NOT leave my soul among the dead
Or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.
You will show me the joy of your presence and
The pleasures of living with you forever. – Psalm 16:9-11

I am so thankful for a Father who never gives up on His prodigal children. I praise Him for being a God of grace and love who shows us the joy of His presence and leads us back into the fold.

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 32-35, Psalm 23, Jeremiah 50

“You are my flock, the sheep of my pasture. You are my people and I am your God. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken.” – Ezekiel 34:31

I find great comfort in the imagery that God is my shepherd, caring for me and watching over me each day. The analogy of the sheep and their dependence on the shepherd is used over and over again in the Bible. Of course, we could be a little insulted because of the lack of intelligence of sheep, yet we find ourselves agreeing with the fact that alone we are lost, unprotected and most definitely in need of a shepherd.

WE ARE ALL LOST SHEEP IN NEED OF A SHEPHERD.

My people have been lost sheep.
Their shepherds have led them astray
and turned them loose in the mountains.
They have lost their way
and can’t remember how to get back to the sheepfold. – Jeremiah 50:6

In Ezekiel, the Lord expressed anger with the leaders of Israel who were supposed to be “shepherding” the flock. “You abandoned my flock and left them to be attacked by every wild animal. And though you were my shepherds, you didn’t search for my sheep when they were lost. You took care of yourselves and left the sheep to starve” (Ezekiel 34:8).

Jesus expressed this same frustration with the leaders of Israel during His time on earth: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep” (John 10:11-15).

This is what the Good Shepherd has to say about how He will care for his sheep after their time of exile in Babylon: “I myself will search and find my sheep. I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day. I will bring them back home to their own land of Israel from among the peoples and nations. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel and by the rivers and in all the places where people live. Yes, I will give them good pastureland on the high hills of Israel. There they will lie down in pleasant places and feed in the lush pastures of the hills. I myself will tend my sheep and give them a place to lie down in peace, says the Sovereign Lord. I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again. I will bandage the injured and strengthen the weak” (Ezekiel 34:11-16).

THE LORD IS OUR GOOD SHEPHERD, SEARCHING FOR US IN ORDER TO BRING US SAFELY HOME.

Oh, how our Heavenly Father loves all of His sheep! He takes care of His flock, individually caring for each and every lamb. He doesn’t give up on the lost but actively draws them to Himself and heals them from their time away from the flock. This is what Jesus had to say about our Good Shepherd:

“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.” – Matthew 18:12-14

He cares more about the one who has wandered off into sin than for the one who has remained with the flock. We should be hurt by that, shouldn’t we? Oh, the sin of self-righteousness that trips us up over and over again. The prophet Isaiah clears this one right up for us: “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD. HE KNOWS ME AND I KNOW HIM.

Let’s join the psalmist David in this prayer, recognizing that God is OUR Shepherd:
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,
He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name sake.
Even though I walk through the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,
For you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. – Psalm 23

We have so many reasons to praise and worship our Heavenly Father today. Let us enter into His presence with thankful hearts for our Good Shepherd, recognizing that we were once lost and now we are found! God so loved each of us that he laid the iniquity of us all on Jesus so that we could experience freedom in Christ. Praise be to God!

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 29-31, Jeremiah 43-44, Psalm 118

There once was a tree, a strong and beautiful cedar tree. Its branches cast their shade across the forest, and the top of the tree was high enough to stand strong among the clouds. Deep springs provided water for the tree, helping it to grow tall and luxuriant. Water also flowed around the tree, providing for all of the nearby trees. This tree was taller than all the other trees and its branches were longer and thicker than all the others.

THE TREE WAS TALL AND STRONG BECAUSE OF THE WATER AT ITS ROOTS.

Birds would build their nests in the branches of the tree and its protective shade gave the wild animals a place to give birth. The greatest nations of the world lived in the shadow of this grand and beautiful tree. Because its roots went deep into the abundant water supply, the tree remained strong and beautiful with wide-spreading branches.

“No other cedar in the garden of God
could rival it.
No cypress had branches to equal it;
no plane tree had boughs to compare.
No tree in the garden of God
came close to it in beauty.
Because I made this tree so beautiful,
and gave it such magnificent foliage,
it was the envy of all the other trees of Eden,
the garden of God.” – Ezekiel 31:8-9

THE TREE WAS BEAUTIFUL AND ITS LEAVES WERE MAGNIFICENT BECAUSE GOD MADE IT SO.

But the tree became proud of its beauty and it boasted of its strength. It set itself above all other trees and ignored the role of its water supply. So the God of Eden handed the tree over to a mighty nation, allowing it to be destroyed because of its wickedness. The foreign army cut the tree down and left it on the ground where it fell. Its branches were scattered across both mountains and valleys. Those who lived in the shadow of the lush branches went away and left the tree lying on the ground. And here is the lesson: Let no tree find pride in its own prosperity, even if it is higher than the clouds and watered from the depths. All trees are doomed to die, just like everything and everyone else on earth.

“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When Assyria went down to the grave, I made the deep springs mourn. I stopped its rivers and dried up its abundant water. I clothed Lebanon in black and caused the trees of the field to wilt. I made the nations shake with fear at the sound of its fall, for I sent it down to the grave with all the others who descend to the pit. And all the other proud trees of Eden, the most beautiful and the best of Lebanon, the ones whose roots went deep into the water, took comfort to find it there with them in the depths of the earth. Its allies, too, were all destroyed and had passed away. They had gone down to the grave—all those nations that had lived in its shade.” – Ezekiel 31:15-17

THE TREE WAS BROUGHT DOWN SO THAT IT COULD NO LONGER PROVIDE SAFETY TO OTHERS.

“O Egypt, to which of the trees of Eden will you compare your strength and glory? You, too, will be brought down to the depths with all these other nations. You will lie there among the outcasts who have died by the sword. This will be the fate of Pharaoh and all his hordes. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!” – Ezekiel 31:18

The Lord sent a message to Judah through the prophet Jeremiah telling the people not to run to Egypt for safety. But the people refused to obey the voice of the Lord and went to Egypt anyhow. They thought they could escape the Lord’s punishment; they believed they could be rescued by earthly strength and beauty, but they could not.

“Therefore, this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: I am determined to destroy every one of you! I will take this remnant of Judah—those who were determined to come here and live in Egypt—and I will consume them. They will fall here in Egypt, killed by war and famine. All will die, from the least to the greatest. They will be an object of damnation, horror, cursing, and mockery. I will punish them in Egypt just as I punished them in Jerusalem, by war, famine, and disease. Of that remnant who fled to Egypt, hoping someday to return to Judah, there will be no survivors. Even though they long to return home, only a handful will do so.” – Jeremiah 44:11-14

Heavenly Father, we ask you to forgive us of our rebellion. We have placed our confidence in others rather than in your authority and power. We live among a generation that has taken pride in our own abilities, and we have demanded the independence to make our own decisions. Forgive us for the arrogance with which we ignore your call to holiness. Bring us to our knees so that we can recognize that you are the source of everything good in our lives. Strengthen our roots and spread wide our branches so that we can be used to lead others to you. We submit to your purposes and your plan this morning. We ask that you make something beautiful out of our surrender and obedience. Amen.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people. – Psalm 118:8

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord
and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat
or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green,
and they never stop producing fruit.” – Jeremiah 17:7-8

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 25-28, Jeremiah 39-42

“I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one.” – Ezekiel 22:30

There are many choices that people make in reaction to the sinful culture in which we live. Some are lured in by the promise of happiness and choose to join the party. Some plan to simply enjoy the pleasures of the world for just a short time; they ignorantly plan to have fun for a while and then submit to God later. Some mourn over the choices of the world and lock their doors, guarding themselves from the evil that is so prevalent in our society. But some are willing to be a voice for the Lord, just as Jeremiah and Ezekiel were.

THE LORD IS LOOKING FOR THOSE WHO WILL STAND IN THE GAP.

Are you available for God to use in this way? This is not an easy decision to make. To speak out against sin is now defined as hate. To define what is moral and what is not is now considered hate speech. To call out the behavior of a group of people is now thought to be prejudice and is equated with racism or abuse. To be conservative politically is now regarded as judgmental and uncompassionate.

In the next few chapters of Ezekiel, God reveals His judgment for those who have taken the blessings of God and corrupted their thinking. He speaks out against those who have disregarded His call to righteousness and chosen their own path.

“You were blameless in all you did from the day you were created until the day evil was found in you.
Your rich commerce led you to violence, and you sinned…
Your heart was filled with pride because of your beauty.
Your wisdom was corrupted by your love of splendor.” – Ezekiel 28:15-17

But for those like Jeremiah and Ezekiel who have stayed faithful to God and been willing to be a vessel of truth, God had this message: “I will do to this city everything I have threatened. I will send disaster, not prosperity. You will see its destruction, but I will rescue you from those you fear so much. Because you have trusted me, I will give you your life as a reward. I will rescue you and keep you safe. I, the Lord, have spoken!” (Jeremiah 39:16b-18)

THE LORD WILL RESCUE THOSE WHO TRUST IN HIM — THOSE WHO FEAR THE LORD MORE THAN THE FEAR THE OPINION OF MAN.

Just as He promised, God rescued Jeremiah from his chains. The captain of the guard recognized that God was pouring out His judgment just as He said He would. He took Jeremiah’s chains off and let him go. He even offered to let Jeremiah come with him to Babylon so that he could see that the prophet was well taken care of. He was given his freedom to go wherever he wanted to go but he chose to stay in Judah and minister to those who had been left behind under the leadership of Gedaliah, whom the King of Babylon had named governor.

Jeremiah continued to be a voice for God, encouraging the people to obey God so that everything would turn out well for them. He gave them the Lord’s message that they would be protected if they stayed in Judah but destroyed if they chose to live in Egypt. They looked at what little was left in Judah and lusted after all the promises of happiness that could be found in Egypt. They walked away from all God had offered them in order to experience all the riches this world promised to give them.

DO NOT BE SURPRISED WHEN THOSE AROUND YOU WILL NOT LISTEN TO YOU.

Do not be shocked by their choice to indulge in the temporary pleasures of this world. God is calling us to continue to be the voice of truth in the midst of a sinful generation, while also being the voice of grace that offers salvation. We are not to celebrate the judgment of sinners but show them the love of Christ, continuing to invite them to follow after all God has to offer them. Show compassion to sinners without redefining morality; show love to those who are lost while also rescuing them from the lies of the enemy.

Father God, we ask you to place your love inside of us so that we can authentically love others the way that you love them. May our heart reflect the desire of your heart; may our eyes see those around us the way you see them. Give us a boldness to obediently step into each conversation you place before us and the courage to say what your Spirit gives us to save. Amen.

LET’S SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE — KINDLY YET UNAPOLOGETICALLY — WHILE WE STAND IN THE GAP FOR OUR COUNTRY.

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 21–24; Psalm 137

“Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Again and again you remind me of your sin and your guilt. You don’t even try to hide it! In everything you do, your sins are obvious for all to see. So now the time of your punishment has come!” – Ezekiel 21:24

Now this message came to me from the Lord: “Son of man, are you ready to judge Jerusalem? Are you ready to judge this city of murderers? Publicly denounce her detestable sins and give her this message from the Sovereign Lord: O city of murderers, doomed and damned — city of idols, filthy and foul — you are guilty because of the blood you have shed…Every leader in Israel who lives within your walls in bent on murder…Your leaders are like wolves who tear apart their victims. They actually destroy people’s lives for money!” – Ezekiel 22:1-6, 27

As we read chapter after chapter of the bad behavior of the people, it is hard not to recognize the same carnality in our own culture. Our nation has continued to worship the things of this world instead of the God on whom our country was built. Our leaders have continued to destroy lives for their own gain and our people have continued to lust after all things sexual. The desire to feel good and redefine morality has changed the atmosphere in which the next generation is growing up.

A message came to Ezekiel from the Lord describing Samaria and Jerusalem as two sisters who lusted after attractive young men from Assyria. They wanted to be fondled and physically pleasured so they gave themselves as prostitutes to these men. They were abused and mistreated, but chose to become slaves to their sexual desires instead of turning back to the Lord. They gazed upon pictures of handsome men and longed to give themselves away, and so they did. They committed adultery by worshiping idols and murder by sacrificing their children (Ezekiel 23).

“And because you have forgotten me and turned your back on me, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: You must bear the consequences of all your lewdness and prostitution.” – Ezekiel 23:35

In chapter 24, Ezekiel told of another message from the Lord in which he described Jerusalem as a cooking pot that was so encrusted with sin that it would not come clean. The Lord ordered that wood be heaped on the fire to make the pot boil, but it was hopeless; the corruption could not be cleaned out.

“Your impurity is your lewdness and the corruption of your idolatry. I tried to cleanse you, but you refused. So now remain in your filth until my fury against you has been satisfied.” – Ezekiel 24:15

The Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. God took away their source of security and pride. Their sons and daughters left behind in Judea were slaughtered by the sword. God allowed their dearest treasures to be taken away. They had placed their delight in something other than the worship of God. They had found joy and glory in following their heart’s desire, making the things of this world their stronghold instead of trusting in God (Ez. 24:20-25).

So where do we see ourselves in this scripture? Have we fallen prey to the sexual addictions of our society? Do we lust after the things of this world? Have we made our own success the source of our security and pride? Have we found joy in pursuing what makes us feel good? Does our heart chase after the things of this world more than it longs for God? Perhaps God is calling us even now to stand in the gap of the broken wall around our country, praying for the repentance of our nation and the protection of our children. When it seems easier to give up and begin mourning, perhaps God is calling us to rebuild the wall of righteousness that used to guard our land.

“I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to STAND IN THE GAP in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one. So now I will pour out my fury on them, consuming them with the fire of my anger. I will heap on their heads the full penalty of all their sins. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!” – Ezekiel 22:30-31

Father God, our nation is a reflection of this passage of scripture. We have sinned against you. Our priorities are self-serving, sexual sin has corrupted our culture, and the unborn are daily sacrificed in the name of women’s sexual rights. Our nation does not deserve your mercy but we pray that you will raise up an army of your people to rebuild the foundation of righteousness on which this nation was formed. May our light shine brighter as this world grows darker, so that the lost may be found and so that hope will be restored. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Obadiah, Psalm 82

Just as the prophets foretold, God’s people were captured by Babylon and taken into captivity. Jerusalem was destroyed. God’s promise to His people was to bring them back home after seventy years of captivity. During this same time of God bringing forth judgment on the Israelites, he was also speaking judgment against the enemy nations that surrounded them. One of those enemies was their “brother nation”.

Think back to the story of Abraham and Sarah. God told them they would have many descendants, and He blessed them with a son in their old age. Isaac married Rebekah and she gave birth to twins – Esau and Jacob. These brothers started their struggle against each other in their mother’s womb and continued this adversarial relationship into adulthood. They left behind descendants who carried on the family feud.

God’s people, the Israelites, were descendants of Abraham’s grandson, Jacob. The descendants of Jacob’s twin brother, Esau, were the people of Edom. The prophet Obadiah spoke strongly against the reaction of the Edomites to the defeat of Israel, replaying the animosity that Esau felt towards Jacob. As the Jacob’s descendants were being attacked and carried into exile, Esau’s descendants were celebrating; they were gloating and even going as far as to assist the Babylonians instead of stepping in to help the Israelites.

GLOATING INSTEAD OF HELPING

O Lord, remember what the Edomites did on the day the armies of Babylon captured Jerusalem. “Destroy it!” they yelled. “Level it to the ground!” – Psalm 137:7

The Lord says to Edom, “I will cut you down to size among the nations; you will be greatly despised. You have been DECEIVED BY YOUR OWN PRIDE because you live in a rock fortress and make your home high in the mountains. ‘Who can ever reach us up here?’ you ask boastfully. But even if you soar as high as eagles and build your nest among the stars, I WILL BRING YOU CRASHING DOWN,” says the Lord. – Obadiah 1:2-4

“Because of the violence you did to your close relatives in Israel, you will be filled with shame and destroyed forever. When they were invaded, YOU STOOD ALOOF, refusing to help them. Foreign invaders carried off their wealth and cast lots to divide up Jerusalem, but you acted like one of Israel’s enemies. You should not have gloated…You should not have rejoiced…You should not have spoken arrogantly in that terrible time of trouble…As you have done to Israel, so it will be done to you.” – Obadiah 1:10-12,15

STANDING ALOOF INSTEAD OF CARING

God, help us! How often have we been found standing aloof while those around us are struggling? How often have we refused to help those around us who are suffering the consequences of their own actions? We stand back and say, “It serves them right” or “I’m not surprised” or “They are getting what they deserve…” Just as God expected the descendants of Esau to step in and help their neighboring brother nation, He communicated strong expectations in both the Old and New Testaments for how we are to help those around us.

“If you see your neighbor’s ox or sheep or goat wandering away, don’t ignore your responsibility. Take it back to its owner. If its owner does not live nearby or you don’t know who the owner is, take it to your place and keep it until the owner comes looking for it. Then you must return it. Do the same if you find your neighbor’s donkey, clothing, or anything else your neighbor loses. Don’t ignore your responsibility. If you see that your neighbor’s donkey or ox has collapsed on the road, DO NOT LOOK THE OTHER WAY. Go and help your neighbor get back on its feet!” – Deuteronomy 22:1-4

IGNORING INSTEAD OF SHOWING MERCY

“Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me your clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’
And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’
And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.” – Matthew 25:41-46

God obviously takes our responsibility to those around us VERY seriously — to the point of punishment here on earth and eternally. For this reason, we also should take it seriously. So how can we apply this? God has blessed us with so much and there are so many around us who have so little.

Dear Lord, show us today to whom you would have us reach out. Forgive us for our complacency and our gloating. Destroy our pride and replace it with compassion for others. Convict us when we look away and give us YOUR eyes to see the world around us. Amen.

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. – Romans 12:9-10 NLT

Today’s Reading: Lamentations 4-5, Psalm 88

Our hearts are sick and weary,
and our eyes grow dim with tears…
But Lord, you remain the same forever!
Your throne continues from generation to generation.
Why do you continue to forget us?
Why have you abandoned us for so long?
Restore us, O Lord, and bring us back to you again!
Give us back the joys we once had!
Or have you utterly rejected us?
Are you angry with us still? – Lamentations 5:18-22

I am forgotten, cut off from your care.
You have thrown me into the lowest pit, into the darkest depths…
I am in a trap with no way of escape.
My eyes are blinded by my tears.
Each day I beg for your help, O Lord;
I lift my hands to you for mercy. – Psalm 88:5b-9

Many of us have gone through a season in life when one thing after another seems to be going wrong. We cry out to God and dare to hope that He will answer our prayers. We repeat the same prayers over and over again without a clear sign that God has heard or is answering our prayers. We hold on tight to our faith as we push back the wave of doubt that threatens to undo us.

Jerusalem’s gates have sunk into the ground.
He has smashed their locks and bars.
Her kings and princes have been exiled to distant lands; her law has ceased to exist.
Her prophets receive no more visions from the Lord.

The leaders of beautiful Jerusalem sit on the ground in silence.
They are clothed in burlap and throw dust on their heads.
The young women of Jerusalem hang their heads in shame.

I have cried until the tears no longer come; my heart is broken.
My spirit is poured out in agony as I see the desperate plight of my people.
Little children and tiny babies are fainting and dying in the streets.
They cry out to their mothers, “We need food and drink!”
Their lives ebb away in the streets like the life of a warrior wounded in battle.
They gasp for life as they collapse in their mothers’ arms. – Lamentations 2:9-12

Life as they knew it was gone. They were surrounded by death and grief. The totality of their sin had destroyed their beautiful city and the time of exile had begun. They cried out to God and held on to His promise that He would be with them during this difficult time. He would hold them in His hand and help them. There was not a promise to save them from pain or take away their grief, but there was a promise to be faithful in the midst of the storm. God promised them, just as He promises us, that He would not abandon them but would continue to be their Lord and Redeemer.

Are you discouraged about a certain situation? Can you relate to the cries of God’s people as their city was being destroyed and their families were being divided? I pray that today you are reminded that God is for you, that you are chosen, and that He has not forsaken you. My prayer for you today is that you will be reminded that you are who God says you are, and that you will know with confidence that He is who He says He is.

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand…
For I hold you by your right hand – I, the Lord your God.
And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.
I am the Lord, your Redeemer.
I am the Holy One of Israel.’” – Isaiah 41:10,13-14

Today’s Reading: Lamentations 1-3; Ps 137

Beside the rivers of Babylon, we sat and wept
as we thought of Jerusalem.
We put away our harps,
hanging them on the branches of poplar trees.
For our captors demanded a song from us.
Our tormentors insisted on a joyful hymn:
“Sing us one of those songs of Jerusalem!”
But how can we sing the songs of the Lord
while in a pagan land? – Psalm 137:1-4

God’s people grieved while in exile; they longed for their homeland. And in the midst of their grief, they wondered if God was still listening to their prayers. Have you ever felt that way? Have you ever gone through a time when you wondered if God was even listening anymore?

“And though I cry and shout, he has shut out my prayers.” – Lamentations 3:8

After reading 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings and 1 & 2 Chronicles, then listening to the prophets through whom God spoke to His people, we have new context to the book of Lamentations. Using poetry, Jeremiah mourned the loss of what Jerusalem used to be. He wept over the conditions of those who had been left behind as they starved behind the walls that were built to protect them. It would have been better for them to be captured and exiled than to remain there to watch what Jerusalem had become and to watch her children begging for food.

The Lord in his anger has cast a dark shadow over beautiful Jerusalem.
The fairest of Israel’s cities lies in the dust, thrown down from the heights of heaven.
In his day of anger, the Lord has shown no mercy even to his Temple… – Lamentations 2:1

As we read the grief expressed in the book of Lamentations, many of us can relate to a time when we were hurting over a loss of some kind. Perhaps you are in the midst of your grief right now. Most likely, all of us have lost someone we loved over the last five years. In 2021, our family sat by my father’s bedside as he took his last breath. I have watched a friend grieve the loss of her husband over this last year. Loss is a natural part of life, but goodbyes are hard and grief can be debilitating.

“Everything I had hoped for from the Lord is lost!” – Lamentations 3:18

We have all experienced loss and grief in our life and we have all watched others around us suffer. But in the midst of utter sorrow, we have also experienced the mercy of our wonderful Lord and Savior. When grief threatens to overwhelm us, God steps in and we experience a moment of hope. We serve a God who is faithful and never abandons us, even if it feels like that at times.

“I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss.
Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this:
The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.
I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!’
The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.
So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.” – Lamentations 3:20-26

I do not know everything that is going on in the lives of those who will share my morning coffee with me today. You might be in the midst of your grief or you may be seeking healing from past hurts. My prayer is that God will use these verses to give you hope and remind you that He is faithful.

For NO ONE is abandoned by the Lord forever.
Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion because of the greatness of his unfailing love…
Then why should we, mere humans, complain when we are punished for our sins?
Instead, let us test and examine our ways.
Let us turn back to the Lord.
Let us lift our hearts and hands to God in heaven and say,
“We have sinned and rebelled, and you have not forgiven us…”
My tears flow endlessly; they will not stop until the Lord looks down from heaven and sees.
My heart is breaking…
But I call on your name, Lord, from deep within the pit.
You heard me when I cried, “Listen to my pleading! Hear my cry for help!”
Yes, you came when I called; you told me, “Do not fear.” – Lamentations 3:31-32,39-42,49-51a,55-57

Sometimes our present suffering seems more real than the hope of our salvation — the possibility that God will step in and rescue us from our pain. Remember God loves you. Hold on to the fact that God is faithful. If you seek Him, you will find Him. If you pray to Him, you will be heard. If you cry out to Him, He will hold you. God has not abandoned you. He is with you.

Father God, I pray for the one who is sharing my morning coffee with me this morning who is overwhelmed with grief. I pray that you will make your presence known in a tangible way today. May their cries reach your ears, and may they hear your gentle response. May they know that you have not abandoned them and that your love is unfailing. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 18–20

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” – John 9:1-2

This was a question that had been asked for generations, and continues to creep into our thinking today. There is this expectation that I won’t have to pay the consequences for my sins. There is this comfortable theology that says if I am a righteous person who turns from my righteous behavior and starts to do sinful things, I am somehow protected by my previous status with God and will not be held accountable for today’s decisions. But our righteous God made Himself clear through the prophet Ezekiel.

And this is my rule: The person who sins is the one who will die. – Ezekiel 18:4b

“‘What?’ you ask. ‘Doesn’t the child pay for the parents’ sins?’ No!…The person who sins is the one who will die. The child will not be punished for the parent’s sins, and the parent will not be punished for the child’s sins. Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behavior, and wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness. But if wicked people turn away from all their sins and begin to obey my decrees and do what is just and right, they will surely live and not die. All their past sins will be forgotten, and they will live because of the righteous things they have done.” – Ezekiel 18:19-22

Even while displaying justice, God is also showing mercy. Our holy God who punishes sin is also the God of grace who is making a way for the lost to find their way back to Him.

GOD IS NOT WANTING ANYONE TO PERISH.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. – 2 Peter 3:9

This is not just a New Testament thought; this same message is evident in the book of Ezekiel. Even as God is prophesying the destruction of Jerusalem as a punishment to His people for their sins, He speaks of His desire that all should come to repentance — then none should perish. He appointed Ezekiel as a “watchman” to tell those who were sinning to repent and to encourage those who were not sinning to continue in their righteousness (Ez.33:7-9). The same message of God’s desire to save the lost and to bless His people is presented in chapters 18 and 33 of Ezekiel.

“As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live… The righteous behavior of righteous people will not save them if they turn to sin, nor will the wicked behavior of wicked people destroy them if they repent and turn from their sins. When I tell righteous people that they will live, but then they sin, expecting their past righteousness to save them, then none of their righteous acts will be remembered. I will destroy them for their sins. And suppose I tell some wicked people that they will surely die, but then they turn from their sins and do what is just and right…then they will surely live and not die. None of their past sins will be brought up again, for they have done what is just and right, and they will surely live.” – Ezekiel 33:11-16

GOD NEVER GIVES UP ON US.

I love that our God never gives up on us – that He is always willing to forgive, always desiring for His children to come to repentance. Often we give up on the chance that our friend or loved one will ever turn from their sinful lifestyle, but God never gives up. Just like Ezekiel, HE HAS APPOINTED US ALL AS WATCHMEN. He wants us to help bring back the lost sheep and watch over the flock so that they will not wander away. He is a loving God who wishes to extend grace to His people. But our God is also a jealous God and a just God. We have a choice to either sin or not sin, and we will be judged by our choices.

“Do you think that I like to see wicked people die, says the Sovereign Lord. Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live. However, if righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things and act like other sinners, should they be allowed to live? No, of course not! All their righteous acts will be forgotten, and they will die for their sins.” – Ezekiel 18:23-24

Thank you for being a God of love and grace, who transforms our hearts so that we can be conduits of that love and grace to others. CREATE IN US A WATCHMAN’S HEART so that we will care passionately about the lost souls around us. Give us eyes to see the lost and a heart of grace to reach out to them. Use us to bring back the lost sheep and care for those in your flock, that none would be lost. Thank you for being a God of love and grace. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 17, Psalm 57

“A great eagle with broad wings and long feathers,
covered with many-colored plumage,
came to Lebanon.
He seized the top of a cedar tree
and plucked off its highest branch.
He carried it away to a city filled with merchants.
He planted it in a city of traders.
He also took a seedling from the land
and planted it in fertile soil.
He placed it beside a broad river,
where it could grow like a willow tree.
It took root there and
grew into a low, spreading vine.
Its branches turned up toward the eagle,
and its roots grew down into the ground.
It produced strong branches
and put out shoots.” – Ezekiel 17:3b-6

The Lord used this beautiful word picture to help His people understand what happened in the past, what was happening now, and what would happen one day. It was a reminder of who God is and who He will always be. Even in the midst of the exile, there was a seedling of hope planted. As long as the seedling turned its branches towards the eagle and kept its roots growing down into the fertile soul the Lord provided, it would grow strong. New shoots would produce new growth and grow new fruit.

“But then another great eagle came
with broad wings and full plumage.
So the vine now sent its roots and branches
toward him for water,
even though it was already planted in good soil
and had plenty of water
so it could grow into a splendid vine
and produce rich leaves and luscious fruit.” – Ezekiel 17:7-8

The tree had everything it needed, yet it rerouted its roots and branches towards the second eagle. The beauty and strength of the new eagle attracted the attention of the tree and it lost its purpose. But without the eagle who had planted the tree in the perfect spot for nourishment and growth, the tree would not prosper; it could not prosper.

God had exiled His people to a place where they could thrive. They were given the opportunity to live with their families and enjoy a pleasant life. It was not home and they would be aware that they could not leave, yet they would grow and thrive in Babylon. Yet the king of Israel pushed against the parameters of this exile and reached out to Egypt for rescue. Instead of humbly accepting the consequences of their rebellion, the king continued to look for salvation in sources other than God.

“So now the Sovereign Lord asks:
Will this vine grow and prosper?
No! I will pull it up, roots and all!
I will cut off its fruit
and let its leaves wither and die.
I will pull it up easily
without a strong arm or a large army.
But when the vine is transplanted,
will it thrive?
No, it will wither away
when the east wind blows against it.
It will die in the same good soil
where it had grown so well.” – Ezekiel 17:9-10

But even in the midst of this bad news, there is hope for what is ahead. God promised a new branch that would bring a new day. Its branches would grow and provide both shelter and a home. It would produce seed and new life would bloom.

“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will take a branch from the top of a tall cedar, and I will plant it on the top of Israel’s highest mountain. It will become a majestic cedar, sending forth its branches and producing seed. Birds of every sort will nest in it, finding shelter in the shade of its branches. And all the trees will know that it is I, the Lord, who cuts the tall tree down and makes the short tree grow tall. It is I who makes the green tree wither and gives the dead tree new life. I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do what I said!” – Ezekiel 17:22-24

Giver of life, we look to you this morning for our sustenance. We long to be rooted in Christ, growing in strength, and producing fruit with seeds so that you can multiply new life in others through us. May our eyes stay focused on you, and may we forever worship the one who cuts the tall tree down and makes the short tree grow tall. Lord, we give you permission to wake up any part of us that is dying and breathe new life into your children — into your Church. Amen.

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord
and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat
or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green,
and they never stop producing fruit.” — Jeremiah 17:7-8