Ezek 33 — Ezekiel Is Israel’s Watchman, Jerusalem Struck Down
Ezek 34:1-24 — Prophecy Against Israel’s Shepherds
Ezek 34:25-31 — The Lord’s Covenant of Peace
Ezek 37 — The Valley of Dry Bones
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.
The fall of Jerusalem is explained: the Lord’s people have turned from his ways. The people come to hear the words of the prophet, “but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain” (Ezekiel 33:31). Though the people say ‘the way of the Lord is not just’ (33:17-20) it is the way in which they defile the Lord. They demand the land of Abraham’s promise, but disregard the Lord’s commands (33:23-26).
I pray these words will not be spoken of us: “you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice” (33:32). James reminds us, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.” (James 1:22-24). Lord help us to be doers of your word, not just those that hear.
God does not give up on his people, he will be our shepherd. “I myself will search for my sheep and look after them” (Ezekiel 34:11). No longer waiting for his people to act appropriately, God will look after his sheep. Such encouraging words: “I will search for the lost and bring back the strays” (34:16) and “I will save my flock, and they will no longer be plundered” (34:22). God will fulfill his promise!