November 17, 2006 - Ezekiel 5-7 and Hebrews 12
Amazingly, the main theme of both passages is the same today. God's punishment for our sin comes to show us that He is Lord. His punishment comes to us because of His love and His desire for us to be rightly related to Him.
In chapter 5 Ezekiel is told to act out the punishment of God by shaving his hair and burning one third of it, striking one third with a sword, and scattering the other third to the wind, except for a small remnant. This was a drastic way to show the Israelites their sin and punishment, but I am sure it was effective. I am glad Ezekiel had enough faith to do just what God told him to do. Then, in chapters 6 and 7 there is one phrase repeated over and over. Did you catch it? God told him to tell the people that this had happened so that "they would know that I am the Lord." He did it in love, because He was crushed by their spiritual adultery. (6:9) He did it so that they would never forget that He was the Lord and not those dead idols they were worshiping.
Then, in Hebrews 12 the picture is of a father chastening his children. It tells us plainly that all children of God are chastened. This is to show that He is Lord. He is our Father, so we must listen to Him. That is the only way to come to the peaceable fruit of righteousness in our lives. (v.11) It is the only way we can grow up spiritually to be the saints we should be. Therefore, we are not to resist chastening, but to allow it to work God's will in our lives, knowing it comes from a loving Father, and it is for our own good.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Ezekiel 8-10 and Hebrews 13.
In chapter 5 Ezekiel is told to act out the punishment of God by shaving his hair and burning one third of it, striking one third with a sword, and scattering the other third to the wind, except for a small remnant. This was a drastic way to show the Israelites their sin and punishment, but I am sure it was effective. I am glad Ezekiel had enough faith to do just what God told him to do. Then, in chapters 6 and 7 there is one phrase repeated over and over. Did you catch it? God told him to tell the people that this had happened so that "they would know that I am the Lord." He did it in love, because He was crushed by their spiritual adultery. (6:9) He did it so that they would never forget that He was the Lord and not those dead idols they were worshiping.
Then, in Hebrews 12 the picture is of a father chastening his children. It tells us plainly that all children of God are chastened. This is to show that He is Lord. He is our Father, so we must listen to Him. That is the only way to come to the peaceable fruit of righteousness in our lives. (v.11) It is the only way we can grow up spiritually to be the saints we should be. Therefore, we are not to resist chastening, but to allow it to work God's will in our lives, knowing it comes from a loving Father, and it is for our own good.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Ezekiel 8-10 and Hebrews 13.