Ezek 16 — The Lord’s Faithless Bride
Ezek 17 — Parable of Two Eagles and a Vine
Ezek 18 — The Soul Who Sins Shall Die
Thoughts about serving others
This link includes a list of posts about Serving the Least, the Lost, and the Lonely.
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Let the Word evoke words. May your life encourage lives.
Chapter 16 is difficult to read, the imagery harsh and blunt. Finally in verses 59-63 we read “I will deal with you as you deserve, because you have despised my oath by breaking the covenant. Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you” (Ezekiel 16:59-60). Even after Israel prostitutes itself, the Lord will remember the covenant, he will “make atonement for you for all you have done, you will remember and be ashamed and never again open you mouth because of your humiliation, declares the Sovereign Lord” (16:63). It’s amazing that God so patiently deals with his people, though many would not see it in that light–those who choose to oppose him.
God again provides a marvelous promise: “I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain” (17:22). There is always a glimmer of hope, even though Ezekiel’s words (from God) seem so harsh. Hope is incredibly powerful, but only if it is hope in the Lord–all other hope is contrived and will eventually fail. Draw closer to the Lord each day and feel the presence of the hope of Christ. There is true comfort and boldness. Lord draw me into you presence and teach me, strengthen me each day for your purposes. Thanks be to the Lord Almighty for his unfailing love, the hope for all.