FCS DAILY GUIDE THURSDAY 19 AUGUST 2021
TOPIC: LAMENTATION OF UNFAITHFUL LEADERS
Bible Reading: Ezekiel 19:1-14
19 Moreover take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel,
2 And say, What is thy mother? A lioness: she lay down among lions, she nourished her whelps among young lions.
3 And she brought up one of her whelps: it became a young lion, and it learned to catch the prey; it devoured men.
4 The nations also heard of him; he was taken in their pit, and they brought him with chains unto the land of Egypt.
5 Now when she saw that she had waited, and her hope was lost, then she took another of her whelps, and made him a young lion.
6 And he went up and down among the lions, he became a young lion, and learned to catch the prey, and devoured men.
7 And he knew their desolate palaces, and he laid waste their cities; and the land was desolate, and the fulness thereof, by the noise of his roaring.
8 Then the nations set against him on every side from the provinces, and spread their net over him: he was taken in their pit.
9 And they put him in ward in chains, and brought him to the king of Babylon: they brought him into holds, that his voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel.
10 Thy mother is like a vine in thy blood, planted by the waters: she was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters.
11 And she had strong rods for the sceptres of them that bare rule, and her stature was exalted among the thick branches, and she appeared in her height with the multitude of her branches. FCS DAILY GUIDE THURSDAY 19 AUGUST 2021
12 But she was plucked up in fury, she was cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up her fruit: her strong rods were broken and withered; the fire consumed them.
13 And now she is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty ground.
14 And fire is gone out of a rod of her branches, which hath devoured her fruit, so that she hath no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule. This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.
FCS DAILY GUIDE THURSDAY 19 AUGUST 2021
This chapter is a parable that relates to the one in chapter 17. The lioness represents the nation of Israel (v.1). The first cub was King Jehoahaz who was taken captive to Egypt (2Kings 23:31-33). The Second cub was either King Jehoiachin who was already in captivity in Babylon or a prediction about King Zedekiah. The Lord made it clear that these two kings of Judah consider themselves great leaders, but since they ignored His word He cut them down after brief reigns. In leadership today, it appears that popularity and “success” are more important than faithfulness. Notice how God’s anger fell on the disobedient leaders of Israel (vs. 10-14). The fruitful vine (Israel) produced many kings who rebelled against God and were chastised by being uprooted to Babylon, from a fertile land to a desert. They broke treaty with Babylon, lost the scepter and the throne, and ended the dynasty of David. Had Israel obeyed the Lord, she would have remained a mighty lion and fruitful vine to the glory of God. However, Jesus Christ, Israel’s Messiah, came as the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5) and the true vine (John 15:1) to restore the Kingdom. FCS DAILY GUIDE THURSDAY 19 AUGUST 2021
ALSO READ: GOD’S LOVE FOR THE WICKED Ezekiel 18:19-32
Prayer For Missions: SERBIA-Millions who were uprooted and became refugees or internally displaced are reached by ministries like Bread of Life, MCC etc, CEF reaches to children, IFES reaches students on campuses, while Teen Challenge Serbia ministers to young men and women suffering from drug abuse. Pray for God’s visitation in this nation.
FCS DAILY GUIDE THURSDAY 19 AUGUST 2021
Bible In One Year: Jeremiah 3-5
Prayer: O Lord, give us leaders who will leave a legacy of faithfulness for the next generation.
Quote: You must be the change you want to see in the world. (Mahatma Ghandi)
