God’s message of judgment continues. Note the reason for judgment (I learned this great verse recently):
“I was crushed by their promiscuous hearts that turned away from Me and by their eyes that lusted after idols.” Ezekiel 6:9
Imagine—your heart (not actions, but your HEART) can “crush” God. When our hearts stray into idolatry or lust (same thing), it hurts God deeply.
So God casts Ezekiel as the lead in a play warning of judgment:
“Now son of man, take a sharp sword, use it as you would a barber’s razor, and shave your head and beard. Then take a set of scales and divide the hair. You are to burn a third of it in the city… take a third and slash it with the sword all around the city; and scatter a third to the wind… BUT you are to take a few strands and secure them in the folds of your robe.” Ezekiel 5:1-4.
This bit of theater will be seen by everyone: Ezekiel is God’s prophet; even unbelieving Israelites will be fascinated. Everyone will be talking about it: “Did you see what Ezekiel did? What do you think it means?”
What do YOU think it means? God explains:
“A THIRD of your people will die by plague and be consumed by famine…; a THIRD will fall by the sword all around you; and I will scatter a THIRD to every direction of the wind…. Yet I will leave a remnant when you are scattered among the nations.” Ezekiel 5:12;6:8.
How many thirds? Three. God punishes THREE thirds (that’s EVERYONE). But a few strands—a remnant too small to count—will be tucked into His robe.
God, we want to be part of the remnant. Help us STUDY Your word and hate sin. We don’t want to crush You with promiscuous hearts. We want to please You. Please tuck our lives away, safe in the folds of Your robe. Help us choose holy actions. Teach us to read Your signs (if any) in our circumstances.
ΑΩ
Household Words: 