TOPIC: CLAP YOUR HANDS, BEAT YOUR BREAST
Bible Reading: Ezekiel 21:1-17
21 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel,
3 And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of his sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked.
4 Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall my sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh from the south to the north:
5 That all flesh may know that I the Lord have drawn forth my sword out of his sheath: it shall not return any more.
6 Sigh therefore, thou son of man, with the breaking of thy loins; and with bitterness sigh before their eyes.
7 And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that thou shalt answer, For the tidings; because it cometh: and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak as water: behold, it cometh, and shall be brought to pass, saith the Lord God.
8 Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
9 Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the Lord; Say, A sword, a sword is sharpened, and also furbished:
10 It is sharpened to make a sore slaughter; it is furbished that it may glitter: should we then make mirth? it contemneth the rod of my son, as every tree.
11 And he hath given it to be furbished, that it may be handled: this sword is sharpened, and it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the slayer.
12 Cry and howl, son of man: for it shall be upon my people, it shall be upon all the princes of Israel: terrors by reason of the sword shall be upon my people: smite therefore upon thy thigh.
13 Because it is a trial, and what if the sword contemn even the rod? it shall be no more, saith the Lord God.
14 Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite thine hands together. and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the slain: it is the sword of the great men that are slain, which entereth into their privy chambers.
15 I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that their heart may faint, and their ruins be multiplied: ah! it is made bright, it is wrapped up for the slaughter.
16 Go thee one way or other, either on the right hand, or on the left, whithersoever thy face is set.
17 I will also smite mine hands together, and I will cause my fury to rest: I the Lord have said it.
Also Read: GOD WILL NOT GIVE UP ON US Ezekiel 20:33-49
TOPIC: CLAP YOUR HANDS, BEAT YOUR BREAST
God hates sin and He was determined to punish His people God’s judgment will cut off both the righteous and sinner for their sin (v.3). Sin surely has wages! The drawn sword of (v.3). Sometimes, the righteous suffer not because of any sin they have committed, but because they live in a fallen world. There is a call to groan with a broken heart and bitter grief; and to cry out and wail (vs.6,12), because of the news of God’s judgment against the sins of His people. True prophets and followers of Jesus never rejoice when they must announce to people the consequences of their sin. Neither can they remain unconcerned in the face of the coming wrath of God. This raises questions about the practice in some churches today, where people are encouraged to pray for the destruction and death of their human enemies. What else was the prophet to do to show the method by which God will bring about His judgment (vs. 12,14)? These dramatic actions were to cause the people to change their ways because God was determined to punish their sin (v.17).
Also Read: OBEY THE LORD AND LIVE Ezekiel 20:21-32
Bible In One Year: Jeremiah 17-20
Missions: SLOVAKIA-The Romani (Gypsies) are usually misunderstood and marginalized and suffer from low education and a high level of poverty – but they are the most responsive people to the gospel in all Central and Eastern Europe. Persistent efforts to reach them overcame resistance and now see encouraging responsiveness. Pray for those reaching out to them, for love that will overcome all barriers and stereotypes.
Prayer: I take refuge in you from the coming wrath, Lord Jesus.
Key Verse: So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears (Acts 20:31
