Friday, November 26 2010
Ezekiel 4
Verse of the Week: V14 “Then said I, Ah Lord God! Behold, my soul hath not been polluted: for from my youth up even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, or is torn in pieces; neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth.”
1. 390 Years (V1-5)
V4 “Lie thou also upon thy left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it: according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon it thou shalt bear their iniquity.”
God spoke to prophet Ezekiel that He would punish Israel, the Northern Kingdom, for 390 years for their sins by commanding Ezekiel to lie on his left side for 390 days, each day representing a year. Imagine Ezekiel lying on his side for 390 days or more than a year. This was how obedient Ezekiel was yet the people of Israel were disobedient to God.
V5 “For I have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days: so shalt thou bear the iniquity of the house of Israel.”
2. 40 Years (V6-8)
V6 “And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year.”
If there was one obedient man in the entire world he must be Ezekiel! Not only he laid on his left side for 390 days, this time he had to lie on his right side for 40 days for the sins of Judah, the Southern Kingdom.
3. Eternity (V9-17)
V14 “Then said I, Ah Lord God! Behold, my soul hath not been polluted: for from my youth up even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, or is torn in pieces; neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth.”
And if lying for 430 days were not enough, God commanded Ezekiel to eat defiled bread he had never eaten before. Ezekiel was willing to obey God no matter how inconvenient and how difficult life was. He knew that he would rather suffer on earth and enjoy eternity with God in heaven than to enjoy on earth and suffer eternity in hell without God. Ezekiel was a type of Christ who was obedient to death, even the cruel death of the cross.
Philippians 2:8
“And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
Prayer of the Week
Dearest God, please help me to be obedient to You even if it costs my life.
