We continue reading the dark and gloomy picture of Israel’s spiritual adultery in Ezekiel chapter 16. It’s as if Ezekiel doesn’t have enough words to describe their total depravity. “‘Therefore, you prostitute, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you poured out your…
Picking up where we left off in Ezekiel, we learned back in November that God continued to pursue Israel, even in the midst of judging them for their detestable pagan practices. God offered new birth through covenant relationship with them. In the next part of this chapter, Ezekiel painted quite…
We don’t really have snow–yet. And I could count on less than ten fingers the number of sunrises I’ve seen this year (although there have been a few). Photos like this remind us God is faithful through it all. Ezekiel’s writing invites us to read slowly, study, pause, savor, and…
In this world of imperfect people, perhaps you need a fresh outpouring of love this day. A little afterglow to Christmas. This weekly Thursday blog post falls today, the day after Christmas. God’s Christmas gift to all of us is the fourth advent candle: love. Because we have the first…
Without looking back at last year’s writing, my recollection is we discovered one candle leads to the next so by the time we’ve lit them all, our faith shines brightly for all to see. The hope we have in Jesus provides us with peace greater than any the world might…
The week before Thanksgiving, the women’s Bible study I attend studied Titus chapter 2, which includes words to help us reflect on the first Advent candle, hope. The hope of Christmas spans past, present, and future. For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It…
My Bible contains section headings. I turned to Ezekiel chapter 16 and read, “An allegory of unfaithful Jerusalem.” This sounds like another dramatic scene—which role(s) might the Lord ask Ezekiel to play? The YouVersion online Bible I quote for these posts titles this section, “Jerusalem as an Adulterous Wife.” I…
In this chapter, God spoke to Ezekiel with a word picture, like a parable. The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, how is the wood of a vine different from that of a branch from any of the trees in the forest? Is wood ever taken…
In Ezekiel’s words of judgment, doom, and gloom, we’ve observed God’s hand at work, His character, and the remnant He kept for Himself. This week and next month are the same as last week and last month: we pray for God to give us eyes to see Ezekiel’s theme, that…
Originally, November 1 was celebrated by western churches as All Saint’s Day, a day to remember the saints who have gone before us. Non-religious traditions combined pagan festivals with the name to celebrate “all hallow’s eve.” Setting aside secular customs for a moment, I do like the notion of remembering…