Steven Wales

JERUSALEM HAS NO RIVER. Ezekiel 47:1-12; John 4:14.

Great cities are built on the water: New York, Cairo, London, Paris, Rome, Tokyo—but not Jerusalem. This world capital, a sacred destination to billions of Christians, Jews, and Muslims—has no river, no port, no shipping. Jerusalem is landlocked. But in Heaven the New Jerusalem will be the source of the greatest river: “There was waterContinue reading “JERUSALEM HAS NO RIVER. Ezekiel 47:1-12; John 4:14.”

Size is Irrelevant. “For Who Has Despised the Day of Small Things?” Ezekiel 42:20.

Solomon’s Temple was not as big as you think. We speak of the glory of Solomon’s Temple as though nothing else like it ever existed. In terms of gold-paneled walls, inlaid jewels, and precious stones, perhaps nothing else like it has existed. But Solomon’s Temple was probably no bigger than your house. The Tabernacle cameContinue reading “Size is Irrelevant. “For Who Has Despised the Day of Small Things?” Ezekiel 42:20.”

THAT VERSE I ONCE SHARED WITH COOPER WOLFF…. Ezekiel 44:18-23.

Ezekiel 41-44 is not a passage with a lot of practical application, but I like this part about Israel’s priests: “They are not to put on anything that makes them sweat…. They may not shave their heads or let their hair grow long, but must carefully trim their hair. No priest may drink wine beforeContinue reading “THAT VERSE I ONCE SHARED WITH COOPER WOLFF…. Ezekiel 44:18-23.”

Write This Down! Ezekiel 40:4.

What is with these kids? Classes began last week. I had a room full of college kids staring at me as I told them about the class. I told them about myself and the way class would be structured—all the usual things. They listened but wrote down nothing. Then we began discussing the law. AndContinue reading “Write This Down! Ezekiel 40:4.”

God Can Wipe Out Armies With a Word. Ezekiel 39:9

Benjamin Franklin was known to be a deist, believing God to be a distant watch maker who set the planets in orbit, then took no further interest. Yet, as he aged, Franklin’s views appear to have changed. After all–he was an eyewitness to the incredible David vs Goliath victory when the rag-tag Continental army defeated the armiesContinue reading “God Can Wipe Out Armies With a Word. Ezekiel 39:9”

Be Holy. Ezekiel 38:16

God is holy and expects us to be holy. He says, “Be holy, even as I am holy” 1 Peter 1:16, quoting Leviticus 11:44. And He uses judgment to remind us of His holiness. Even when that means using our enemies against us. He tells Gog He will send them to attack Israel. I willContinue reading “Be Holy. Ezekiel 38:16”

GHOST STORIES IN THE BIBLE. Ezekiel 37:1-10.

Do you believe in ghosts? There are stories in the Bible that make you wonder—events science can’t explain—or as Hamlet put it after talking to his father’s ghost: “There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” God brought Ezekiel to a valley filled with dry bones—millions of dry,Continue reading “GHOST STORIES IN THE BIBLE. Ezekiel 37:1-10.”

Dry Bones. Ezekiel 37:1-14.

Have you ever felt dead inside? Maybe that was how the Hebrews felt in Ezekiel 37. So God took Ezekiel out and showed him an entire valley filled with human bones as far as the eye could see. God asks “Can these bones live?,” and Zeke says, “Only you know.” So God tells him toContinue reading “Dry Bones. Ezekiel 37:1-14.”

What’s My Motivation? Ezekiel 36:22-23.

It’s an old cliché for an actor to ask “What’s my motivation?” But it is an important question. An actor may read lines and think his character is angry, while the director may believe the character to be exaggerating or making a joke or something else entirely. Here’s your question of the day: WHAT ISContinue reading “What’s My Motivation? Ezekiel 36:22-23.”

A PASTOR/SHEPHERD IS A SERVANT, NOT AN ENTERTAINER. Ezekiel 33-34.

My childhood pastor, John Bisagno, had “a flair for the dramatic.” He was an engaging preacher with a powerful voice and a rich imagination. Sometimes I became so swept up in the moment, I focused more on the delivery than the message. Brother John was not just a preacher, but an orator. I was enthralled.Continue reading “A PASTOR/SHEPHERD IS A SERVANT, NOT AN ENTERTAINER. Ezekiel 33-34.”