Tag: mat5

I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one. (Ezekiel 22:30, NLT) Interestingly, Jerusalem’s biggest threat was not another nation; regardless of how powerful that nation might be, her biggest threat was her sin. At the same time, Jerusalem’s protection was not in her city walls or the alliances and treaties she made with powerful nations but in a wall of righteousness. This wall of righteousness was broken down due to her sin, and they are left exposed to the judgment of God. 

But God was not interested in “taking advantage” of this breach, as an enemy would. He sought someone who might stand in the middle of the brokenness, someone who might rebuild it, but God found none. Therefore I have poured out my indignation upon them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have returned their way upon their heads, declares the Lord God.” (Ezekiel 22:31, ESV)

What a powerful reminder of the effect of righteous people in a wicked world—those willing to stand in the gap of brokenness and not cave to the iniquity and sinful culture around them—who stand opposed in a society that agrees to do wickedly. The biggest threat in our day is not the wicked who do so wickedly; it is the salt that is not salty (Matthew 5:13) and the hidden light (Matthew 5:14-16). While this kind of “standing in the gap” is not popular and is often targeted with persecution, popularity is not our calling. Raising a banner of righteousness is our calling, that many may be spared the destruction of sin and the judgment of God. 

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Ezekiel 22-23.

Today, we find ourselves in the Book of Ezekiel. In our text, Ezekiel, the human penman of this book, is thirty years old. He was twenty-five when he was taken captive and brought to Babylon under the first siege of Nebuchadnezzar. His prophetic ministry lasted for 22 years. He was a contemporary of Daniel.

The prophecy before us came to Ezekiel in the thirteenth year, also the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity. This prophecy marks the beginning of the second stage of the Babylonian captivity; it is a show-and-tell prophecy of a coming siege (There were three sieges). Ezekiel is to build a model showing this siege against Jerusalem. And then God commands him to do something interesting. “Then lie on your left side… 390 days, equal to the number of the years of their punishment. … And when you have completed these, you shall lie down a second time, but on your right side…Forty days I assign you, a day for each year…And behold, I will place cords upon you, so that you cannot turn from one side to the other, till you have completed the days of your siege. (Ezekiel 4:4–8, ESV) In other words, God required Ezekiel to live out his message to the people. 

What a thought, living out the message one preaches! This reminds me of something Jesus said. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16, KJV) Yes, Christians, we are to show and tell the Gospel. If someone looks at our lives, what message are we sending them? 

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Ezekiel 1-4.