Day 231 of the 2nd Bible Study Journey - 19 August 2022 reflections
Day 231, 19 August 2022
1) Ezekiel 20,21,22:1-16
Ezekiel 20
Israel's Continuing Rebellion
1 (Eze 8:1; 1:2; 24:1) In the seventh year, in the fifth month,
on the tenth day of the month, certain of the elders of Israel
came to inquire of the Lord and sat before me.
2 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
3 (Mic 3:7) Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them:
Thus says the Lord God: Do you come to inquire of Me? As I live,
says the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you.
4 (Eze 22:2; 23:36) Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them?
Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers.
5 (Ge 14:22; Ex 3:8) And say to them: Thus says the Lord God: On the day
when I chose Israel, and lifted up My hand to the seed of the house of Jacob,
and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up My hand
to them, saying, I am the Lord your God,
6 (Eze 20:15; Ex 3:8; Ps 48:2) on that day that I lifted up My hand to them
to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had selected
for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands,
7 (Lev 18:3; Ex 20:2) then I said to them: Cast away, each of you,
the abominations of his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols
of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.
8 (Isa 63:10; Eze 5:13) But they rebelled against Me and would not listen
to Me. They did not cast away the abominations of their eyes, nor did they
forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said I will pour out My fury upon them,
to accomplish My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.
9 (Eze 20:14; 20:22) But I acted for My name's sake, that it should not
be polluted before the nations among whom they were, in whose sight
I made Myself known to them in bringing them out of the land of Egypt.
10 Therefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt
and brought them into the wilderness.
11 (Lev 18:5; Dt 4:8) I gave them My statutes and showed them My judgments,
which if a man does them, he shall live.
12 (Ex 20:8-11; Lev 21:23) Moreover I gave them My Sabbaths to be a sign
between them and Me, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies
them.
13 (Eze 20:21; 20:8; Dt 9:8) But the house of Israel rebelled against Me
in the wilderness. They did not walk in My statutes, and they despised
My judgments, which if a man does them, he shall live. And My Sabbaths
they greatly polluted. Then I said I would pour out My fury upon them
in the wilderness to consume them.
14 (Eze 20:9) But I acted for My name’s sake, that it should not be polluted
before the nations in whose sight I brought them out.
15 (Ps 95:11; 106:26) Also I lifted up My hand to them in the wilderness
that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing
with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands,
16 (Nu 15:39; Eze 14:3-4) because they despised My judgments
and did not walk in My statutes, but polluted My Sabbaths.
For their hearts went after their idols.
17 (Eze 11:13; Jer 4:27) Nevertheless My eye spared them from destroying
them, nor did I make an end of them in the wilderness.
18 (Dt 4:3-6; Eze 20:7) But I said to their children in the wilderness:
Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments,
nor defile yourselves with their idols.
19 I am the Lord your God: Walk in My statutes, and keep My judgments,
and do them.
20 (Jer 17:22; Eze 20:12) And hallow My Sabbaths. And they shall be a sign
between Me and you that you may know that I am the Lord your God.
21 (Eze 20:13; 20:8; Nu 21:5) Yet the children rebelled against Me.
They did not walk in My statutes, nor did they keep My judgments
to do them, which if a man does them, he shall live. They polluted My Sabbaths.
Then I said I would pour out My fury upon them to accomplish My anger against
them in the wilderness.
22 (Eze 20:9; 20:14) Nevertheless I withdrew My hand and acted for My name's
sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the nations in whose
sight I brought them out.
23 (Lev 26:33; Eze 20:15) I lifted up My hand to them also in the wilderness,
that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them through
the countries,
24 (Eze 6:9; 20:16) because they had not executed My judgments,
but had despised My statutes and had polluted My Sabbaths, and their eyes
were after their fathers' idols.
25 (Ps 81:12; Isa 66:4) Therefore I gave them also statutes that were
not good and judgments by which they could not live.
26 (Lev 18:21; Eze 6:7) And I pronounced them unclean because of their gifts,
in that they caused to pass through the fire all who opened the womb, that
I might make them desolate in order that they might know that I am the Lord.
27 (Ro 2:24; Eze 2:7) Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel
and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Yet in this your fathers have
blasphemed Me, in that they have committed a trespass against Me.
28 (Eze 6:13; Jos 23:14) When I had brought them into the land for which
I lifted up My hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill
and all the leafy trees, and there they offered their sacrifices,
and there they presented the provocation of their offering.
There also they made their sweet savour
and there poured out their drink offerings.
29 Then I said to them: What is the high place to which you go?
And the name is called Bamah to this day.
30 (Jer 16:12; Jdg 2:19) Therefore say to the house of Israel,
Thus says the Lord God: Will you pollute yourselves after the manner
of your fathers and commit harlotry after their abominations?
31 (Ps 106:37-39; Jer 7:31) When you offer your gifts, when you make your sons
to pass through the fire, you pollute yourselves with all your idols,
even to this day. And shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel?
As I live, says the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you.
32 (Jer 44:17; Eze 11:5) That which comes into your mind shall not come
about when you say, "We will be as the nations,
as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone."
God Will Restore Israel
33 (Jer 21:5) As I live, says the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand
and with a stretched-out arm and with fury poured out, I will rule over you.
34 (Eze 20:38; 34:16) And I will bring you out from the peoples and will
gather you out of the countries in which you are scattered with a mighty hand
and with a stretched-out arm and with fury poured out.
35 (Hos 2:14; Jer 2:35) I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples,
and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face.
36 (Nu 11:1-35; 1Co 10:5-10) As I entered into judgment with your fathers
in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment
with you, says the Lord God.
37 (Lev 27:32; Jer 33:13) I will cause you to pass under the rod,
and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.
38 (Eze 13:9; Ps 95:11) And I will purge from among you the rebels
and those who transgress against Me. I will bring them out of the country
where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel.
And you shall know that I am the Lord.
39 (Jdg 10:14; Isa 1:13-15) As for you, O house of Israel, thus says
the Lord God: Go serve every one of you his idols, but later you shall
surely listen to Me. But do not pollute My holy name anymore with your gifts
and with your idols.
40 (Isa 56:7; 60:7) For on My holy mountain, on the mountain of the height
of Israel, says the Lord God, there all the house of Israel, all of them,
shall serve Me in the land. There I will accept them, and there I will seek
your offerings and the first fruits of your gifts with all your holy things.
41 (Eze 28:25; 11:17) I will accept you with your sweet savor when I bring
you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries in which you
have been scattered. And I will be sanctified among you before the nations.
42 (Eze 34:13; 38:23) You shall know that I am the Lord when I bring you
into the land of Israel, into the country for which I lifted up My hand
to give it to your fathers.
43 (Eze 6:9; Hos 5:15) There you shall remember your ways and all your deeds
in which you have been defiled. And you shall loathe yourselves in your own
sight for all your evils that you have committed.
44 (Eze 24:24; 20:9) You shall know that I am the Lord when I have dealt with
you for My name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, or according
to your corrupt deeds, O house of Israel, says the Lord God.
A Prophecy Against the Negev
45 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
46 (Eze 21:2; Am 7:16) Son of man, set your face toward the south,
preach against the south, and prophesy against the forest land in the Negev.
47 (Jer 21:14; Isa 9:18-19) And say to the forest of the Negev,
Hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God:
I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree in you
and every dry tree. The flaming flame shall not be quenched,
and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned in it.
48 All flesh shall see that I the Lord have kindled it.
It shall not be quenched.
49 (Jn 16:25) Then I said, "Ah, Lord God! They say of me,
'Does he not speak parables?' "
Ezekiel 20
[1] And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth
day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of
the LORD, and sat before me.
[2] Then came the word of the LORD unto me, saying,
[3] Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus
saith the Lord GOD; Are ye come to inquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord
GOD, I will not be inquired of by you.
[4] Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to
know the abominations of their fathers:
[5] And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when I chose
Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and
made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand
unto them, saying, I am the LORD your God;
[6] In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of
the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk
and honey, which is the glory of all lands:
[7] Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his
eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your
God.
[8] But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did
not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they
forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them
to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.
[9] But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before
the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto
them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.
[10] Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and
brought them into the wilderness.
[11] And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a
man do, he shall even live in them.
[12] Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and
them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.
[13] But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they
walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man
do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then
I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.
[14] But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before
the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.
[15] Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would
not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and
honey, which is the glory of all lands;
[16] Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but
polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.
[17] Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I
make an end of them in the wilderness.
[18] But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the
statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile
yourselves with their idols:
[19] I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and
do them;
[20] And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you,
that ye may know that I am the LORD your God.
[21] Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my
statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall
even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out
my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.
[22] Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name's sake, that
it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I
brought them forth.
[23] I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would
scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries;
[24] Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my
statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their
fathers' idols.
[25] Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments
whereby they should not live;
[26] And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass
through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate,
to the end that they might know that I am the LORD.
[27] Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto
them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me,
in that they have committed a trespass against me.
[28] For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up
mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the
thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they
presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their
sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings.
[29] Then I said unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? And the
name thereof is called Bamah unto this day.
[30] Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye
polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after
their abominations?
[31] For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through
the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and
shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord
GOD, I will not be inquired of by you.
[32] And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say,
We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood
and stone.
[33] As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand, and with a
stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you:
[34] And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of
the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a
stretched out arm, and with fury poured out.
[35] And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will
I plead with you face to face.
[36] Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of
Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD.
[37] And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into
the bond of the covenant:
[38] And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that
transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they
sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know
that I am the LORD.
[39] As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye
every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but
pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.
[40] For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel,
saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the
land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your
offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy
things.
[41] I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the
people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered;
and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen.
[42] And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall bring you into the
land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give
it to your fathers.
[43] And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye
have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all
your evils that ye have committed.
[44] And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have wrought with you for
my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your
corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.
[45] Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[46] Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward
the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;
[47] And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus
saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall
devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall
not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned
therein.
[48] And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not
be quenched.
[49] Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?
Ezekiel 21
Babylon, the Sword of the Lord
1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
2 (Eze 20:46; 4:7; 25:2) Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem,
and speak against the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel,
3 (Job 9:22; Jer 21:13) and say to the land of Israel, Thus says the Lord:
I am against you, and will draw My sword from its sheath, and will cut off
from you the righteous and the wicked.
4 (Eze 20:47; 7:2) Seeing then that I will cut off from you the righteous
and the wicked, therefore My sword shall be drawn from its sheath
against all flesh from the south to the north,
5 (Eze 21:30; Na 1:9) that all flesh shall know that I the Lord have drawn
forth My sword from its sheath. It shall not return anymore.
6 (Isa 22:4; Eze 6:11) As for you, son of man, groan with breaking heart
and bitter grief, groan before their eyes.
7 Eze 7:17; Isa 13:7It shall be when they say to you, "Why do you groan?"
that you shall answer, "Because of the news that is coming. And every heart
shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint,
and all knees shall be weak as water. It comes and shall be brought to pass,"
says the Lord God.
8 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
9 (Eze 21:3) Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus says the Lord! Say:
A sword, a sword is sharpened
and also furbished!
10 (Ps 110:5-6; Eze 20:47) It is sharpened to make a slaughter;
it is furbished so that it may glitter like lightning.
Should we then make cheer, the rod of My son despising every tree?
11 (Eze 21:19) He has given it to be furbished,
that it may be handled;
the sword is sharpened,
and it is furbished to give it into the hand of the slayer.
12 (Eze 21:6; Joel 1:13) Cry out and howl, son of man;
for it shall be against My people,
it shall be against all the officials of Israel.
Terrors by reason of the sword
shall be upon My people;
therefore strike your thigh.
13 (Eze 21:10) Because it is a trial, and what if even the rod which
despises shall be no more? says the Lord God.
14 (Nu 24:10; 2Ki 24:1) You therefore, son of man, prophesy
and clap your hands together.
And let the sword be doubled
the third time,
the sword of the slain.
It is the sword of the great one slain,
which surrounds them.
15 (Jer 17:27; Eze 21:7) That their hearts may faint,
and many fall at all their gates,
I have given the glittering sword.
Ah! It is made for striking like lightning;
it is wrapped up for the slaughter.
16 Show yourself sharp, go to the right hand.
Set yourself. Go to the left hand,
wherever your edge is set.
17 (Eze 5:13; 21:14) I will also clap My hands together,
and I will cause My fury to rest;
I the Lord have spoken.
18 The word of the Lord came to me again, saying:
19 (Jer 1:10; Eze 4:1-3) As for you, son of man, appoint two ways
for the sword of the king of Babylon to come. Both of them shall come out
of one land. And make a signpost. Make it at the head of the way to the city.
20 (Jer 49:2; Am 1:14) Appoint a way for the sword to come to Rabbah
of the sons of Ammon and to Judah in Jerusalem the fortified.
21 (Ge 31:19; Pr 16:33) For the king of Babylon stands at the parting
of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination:
He shakes the arrows, he consults the images, he looks in the liver.
22 (Eze 4:2; 26:9) At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem:
to appoint battering rams, to open the mouth for the slaughter,
to lift up the voice with a battle shout, to appoint battering rams
against the gates, to cast up a ramp, and to build a siege tower.
23 (Nu 5:15; Eze 21:24) It shall be to them as a false divination
in their sight, to those who have sworn oaths. But he will call
to remembrance the iniquity, that they may be seized.
24 Therefore thus says the Lord God: Because you have made your iniquity
to be remembered, in that your transgressions are uncovered, so that
in all your deeds your sins do appear, because, I say, that you have
come to remembrance, you shall be seized with the hand.
25 (Eze 35:5; 2Ch 36:13) You, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day
has come in the time of the punishment of the end,
26 (Eze 17:24; Ps 75:7) thus says the Lord God: Remove the diadem
and take off the crown. This shall not be the same anymore.
Exalt what is low, and abase what is high.
27 (Ps 2:6; Ge 49:10) A ruin, a ruin, a ruin I shall make it.
And it shall be no more until He comes whose right it is,
and I shall give it to Him.
A Sword Against the Ammonites
28 (Eze 21:9-10; 21:20) You, son of man, prophesy and say: Thus says
the Lord God concerning the sons of Ammon and concerning their reproach,
and say,
The sword, the sword is drawn,
furbished for the slaughter,
to cause it to consume
that it may be like lightning,
29 (Eze 21:25; 22:28) while they see vanity for you,
while they divine a lie to you
to bring you upon the necks
of the wicked who are slain,
whose day has come
in the time of the punishment of the end.
30 (Jer 47:6-7; Eze 16:38) Return it to its sheath.
I will judge you
in the place where you were created,
in the land of your nativity.
31 (Ps 18:15; Isa 30:33) I will pour out My indignation upon you;
I will blow against you in the fire of My wrath,
and deliver you into the hand of cruel men,
skilled in destruction.
32 (Eze 25:10; Mal 4:1) You shall be fuel to the fire;
your blood shall be in the midst of the land.
You shall be no more remembered,
for I the Lord have spoken.
Ezekiel 21
[1] And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[2] Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the
holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel,
[3] And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I am against
thee, and will draw forth my sword out of his sheath, and will cut off from
thee the righteous and the wicked.
[4] Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked,
therefore shall my sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh from
the south to the north:
[5] That all flesh may know that I the LORD have drawn forth my sword out of
his sheath: it shall not return any more.
[6] Sigh therefore, thou son of man, with the breaking of thy loins; and
with bitterness sigh before their eyes.
[7] And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that
thou shalt answer, For the tidings; because it cometh: and every heart shall
melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all
knees shall be weak as water: behold, it cometh, and shall be brought to
pass, saith the Lord GOD.
[8] Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[9] Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD; Say, A sword, a
sword is sharpened, and also furbished:
[10] It is sharpened to make a sore slaughter; it is furbished that it may
glitter: should we then make mirth? it contemneth the rod of my son, as
every tree.
[11] And he hath give it to be furbished, that it may be handled: this sword
is sharpened, and it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the slayer.
[12] Cry and howl, son of man: for it shall be upon my people, it shall be
upon all the princes of Israel: terrors by reason of the sword shall be upon
my people: smite therefore upon thy thigh.
[13] Because it is a trial, and what if the sword contemn even the rod? it
shall be no more, saith the Lord GOD.
[14] Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite thine hands together,
and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the slain: it is
the sword of the great men that are slain, which entereth into their privy
chambers.
[15] I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that their
heart may faint, and their ruins be multiplied: ah! it is made bright,
it is wrapped up for the slaughter.
[16] Go thee one way or other, either on the right hand, or on the left,
whithersoever thy face is set.
[17] I will also smite mine hands together, and I will cause my fury to
rest: I the LORD have said it.
[18] The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,
[19] Also, thou son of man, appoint thee two ways, that the sword of the
king of Babylon may come: both twain shall come forth out of one land: and
choose thou a place, choose it at the head of the way to the city.
[20] Appoint a way, that the sword may come to Rabbath of the Ammonites,
and to Judah in Jerusalem the defenced.
[21] For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of
the two ways, to use divination: he made his arrows bright, he consulted
with images, he looked in the liver.
[22] At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to appoint
captains, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with
shouting, to appoint battering rams against the gates, to cast a mount, and
to build a fort.
[23] And it shall be unto them as a false divination in their sight, to them
that have sworn oaths: but he will call to remembrance the iniquity, that
they may be taken.
[24] Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have made your iniquity
to be remembered, in that your transgressions are discovered, so that in all
your doings your sins do appear; because, I say, that ye are come to
remembrance, ye shall be taken with the hand.
[25] And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when
iniquity shall have an end,
[26] Thus saith the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown:
this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high.
[27] I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until
he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.
[28] And thou, son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD
concerning the Ammonites, and concerning their reproach; even say thou, The
sword, the sword is drawn: for the slaughter it is furbished, to consume
because of the glittering:
[29] Whiles they see vanity unto thee, whiles they divine a lie unto thee,
to bring thee upon the necks of them that are slain, of the wicked, whose
day is come, when their iniquity shall have an end.
[30] Shall I cause it to return into his sheath? I will judge thee in the
place where thou wast created, in the land of thy nativity.
[31] And I will pour out mine indignation upon thee, I will blow against
thee in the fire of my wrath, and deliver thee into the hand of brutish men,
and skilful to destroy.
[32] Thou shalt be for fuel to the fire; thy blood shall be in the midst of
the land; thou shalt be no more remembered: for I the LORD have spoken it.
Ezekiel 22
The Sins of Jerusalem
1 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
2 (Eze 20:4; 24:6) Now you, son of man, will you judge, will you judge
the bloody city? Indeed, you shall show her all her abominations.
3 (Eze 22:27) Then say, Thus says the Lord God: The city sheds blood
in her midst, that her time may come, and makes idols against herself
to defile herself.
4 (2Ki 21:16; Ps 44:13-14) You have become guilty in your blood that
you have shed and have defiled yourself with your idols which you have made.
And you have caused your day to draw near and have come to your years.
Therefore I have made you a reproach to the nations and a mocking
to all countries.
5 Those who are near and those who are far from you shall mock you,
you of infamy and much turmoil.
6 (Isa 1:23; Eze 22:27) The princes of Israel in you, every one according
to his power, have been bent on shedding blood.
7 (Ex 22:21-22; Dt 27:16) In you they have treated father and mother lightly.
In your midst they have dealt with the stranger by oppression.
In you they have vexed the fatherless and the widow.
8 (Eze 20:13; 22:26) You have despised My holy things and have profaned
My Sabbaths.
9 (Lev 19:16; Hos 4:10) In you are men who carry slanders to shed blood.
And in you they eat at the mountain shrines.
In your midst they commit lewdness.
10 (Lev 18:19; 18:7-8) In you they have uncovered their fathers' nakedness.
In you they have humbled her who was unclean in her menstrual impurity.
11 (Lev 18:15; 20:17) One has committed abomination with his neighbour's wife,
and another has lewdly defiled his daughter-in-law. And another in you
has humbled his sister, his father's daughter.
12 (Dt 27:25; Eze 23:35) In you they have taken bribes to shed blood.
You have taken usury and increase, and you have injured your neighbours
for gain by extortion, and you have forgotten Me, says the Lord God.
13 (Isa 33:15; Eze 21:17) Therefore I have struck My hand toward
your dishonest gain which you have made, and toward your blood which has been
in your midst.
14 (Eze 17:24; 21:7) Can your heart endure, or can your hands be strong
in the days that I shall deal with you? I the Lord have spoken and will do it.
15 (Dt 4:27; Zec 7:14) I will scatter you among the nations and disperse you
in the countries and consume your filthiness out of you.
16 (Eze 6:7; Ps 83:18) You shall profane yourself in the sight of the nations,
and you shall know that I am the Lord.
Ezekiel 22
[1] Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[2] Now, thou son of man, wilt thou judge, wilt thou judge the bloody city?
yea, thou shalt shew her all her abominations.
[3] Then say thou, Thus saith the Lord GOD, The city sheddeth blood in the
midst of it, that her time may come, and maketh idols against herself to
defile herself.
[4] Thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed; and hast
defiled thyself in thine idols which thou hast made; and thou hast caused
thy days to draw near, and art come even unto thy years: therefore have I
made thee a reproach unto the heathen, and a mocking to all countries.
[5] Those that be near, and those that be far from thee, shall mock thee,
which art infamous and much vexed.
[6] Behold, the princes of Israel, every one were in thee to their power to
shed blood.
[7] In thee have they set light by father and mother: in the midst of thee
have they dealt by oppression with the stranger: in thee have they vexed
the fatherless and the widow.
[8] Thou hast despised mine holy things, and hast profaned my sabbaths.
[9] In thee are men that carry tales to shed blood: and in thee they eat
upon the mountains: in the midst of thee they commit lewdness.
[10] In thee have they discovered their fathers' nakedness: in thee have
they humbled her that was set apart for pollution.
[11] And one hath committed abomination with his neighbour's wife; and
another hath lewdly defiled his daughter in law; and another in thee hath
humbled his sister, his father's daughter.
[12] In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and
increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and
hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD.
[13] Behold, therefore I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which
thou hast made, and at thy blood which hath been in the midst of thee.
[14] Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the days that
I shall deal with thee? I the LORD have spoken it, and will do it.
[15] And I will scatter thee among the heathen, and disperse thee in the
countries, and will consume thy filthiness out of thee.
[16] And thou shalt take thine inheritance in thyself in the sight of the
heathen, and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.
2) Our Daily Bread for 19 August 2022
https://odb.org/CA/2022/08/19/as-strong-as-iron
Entitled "As Strong as Iron"
Jeremiah 1:14-19
14 (Isa 41:25; Jer 4:6) Then the Lord said to me: Out of the north calamity
will break forth on all the inhabitants of the land.
15 (Jer 4:16; 9:11) For I will call all the families of the kingdoms
of the north, says the Lord.
And they will come and they will set each one his throne
at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem,
and against all the walls all around,
and against all the cities of Judah.
16 (Jer 7:9; 19:4) I will utter My judgments against them
concerning all their wickedness, whereby they have forsaken Me
and have burned incense to other gods,
and have worshipped the works of their own hands.
17 (1Ki 18:46; Job 38:3) You therefore gird up your loins
and arise, and speak to them all that I command you.
Do not be dismayed at their faces, lest I confound you before them.
18 (Isa 50:7; Jer 6:27) For indeed, I have made you this day a fortified city
and an iron pillar and bronze walls against the whole land,
against the kings of Judah, against the officials, against the priests,
and against the people of the land.
19 (Jer 1:8) They will fight against you, but they will not prevail
against you, for I am with you, says the Lord, to deliver you.
[14] Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth
upon all the inhabitants of the land.
[15] For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north,
saith the LORD; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne
at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls
thereof round about, and against all the cities of Judah.
[16] And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their
wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods,
and worshipped the works of their own hands.
[17] Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all
that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee
before them.
[18] For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron
pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah,
against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the
people of the land.
[19] And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against
thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.
Ironclad beetles are known for their tough exterior which protects them from
predators. One special variety, however, has extraordinary strength under
pressure. The insect's hard, outer shell stretches, rather than cracks, where
it joins together. Its flat back and low profile also help it to resist
fractures. Scientific tests show that it can survive a compression force
of nearly fourty thousand times its body weight.
Just as God made this bug extra tough, He gave resilience to Jeremiah as well.
The prophet would face intense pressure when he delivered unwelcome messages
to Israel, so God promised to make him "an iron pillar and a bronze wall"
(Jeremiah 1:18). The prophet wouldn't be flattened, dismantled, or
overwhelmed. His words would stand strong because of God's presence
and rescuing power.
Throughout his life, Jeremiah was falsely accused, arrested, tried, beaten,
imprisoned, and tossed into a well—yet he survived. Jeremiah also persisted
despite the weight of inner struggles. Doubt and grief plagued him. Constant
rejection and the dread of a Babylonian invasion added to his mental stress.
God continually helped Jeremiah so that his spirit and testimony weren't
shattered. When we feel like giving up on the mission He's given us, or
backing away from living faith-filled lives, we can remember that Jeremiah's
God is our God. He can make us as strong as iron because His power is made
perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
By: Jennifer Benson Schuldt
Reflect & Pray
Which circumstances are threatening to crush you?
How do the examples of Bible characters inspire you to exhibit faith in God?
Dear God, please strengthen me to meet the challenges I face today.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 8 Guided by Grace Day 6 - Through The Fire
Is 43:2
2 (Ps 66:12; Da 3:25-27) When you pass through waters,
I will be with you. And through the rivers,they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
nor shall the flame kindle on you.
2 When thou passest through the waters,
I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee:
when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned;
neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
In the Book of Daniel, 3 young men provide one of the world's best-known
Bible stories. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, three of the finest young
men of Israel, were taken into capitivity to Babylon. There King
Nebuchadnezzar, filled with his own importance, commanded that
everyone bow down and worship his image.
When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship anyone
except the One True god, they were cast into Nebuchadnezzar's
furnace of fire.
Is 43:2 brings their experience into focus for us. There the Lord says,
"When you pass through the fire ... when you walk through the water ..."
Not if, but when. If we are committed to serving and honouring the Lord,
at some point we will be faced with "passing through the fire" for hm.
We may not face a physical furnace, but we may face the fires of
persecution, anger, hostility or suffering. And God says:
"I will be with you."
When the three young Israelites stepped into the king's furnace, all
the people looked and saw, not three, but four men in the fire, their
bonds burned away, walking freely among the flames. They did not
escape the fate decreed for them. But the Lord was with them in
the fire, as surely as he has promised to be with us in the flood
and the fire, as surely as he has promised to be with us in the
flood and fire tht life brings to us. The promise of god remains:
"I will be with you; the waters will not overflow, nor will the
flames burn you."
Application
a) What kinds of "fires" and "Floods" have I experienced?
b) How was I aware of the Lord's presence with me?
4) Prosperity verses from Kenneth Copeland
Deut 28:11
11 (Dt 28:4; 30:9) The Lord will make you overflow in prosperity,
in the offspring of your body, in the offspring of your livestock,
and in the produce of your ground, in the land which the Lord swore
to your fathers to give you.
11 And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body,
and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land
which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are lonely
1 John 4:16b-18
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
17 (1Jn 2:5; 2:28) In this way God's love is perfected in us,
so that we may have boldness on the Day of Judgment, because as He is,
so are we in this world.
18 (Ro 8:15; 2Ti 1:7) There is no fear in love,
but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.
Whoever fears is not perfect in love.
God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness
in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear:
because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)
New Brunswick
Total population 753900
Muslim population (est.) 4543
Moncton, followed by Fredericton and Saint John, each have a growing Muslim
population in New Brunswick, In 2007, the building that was formerly a Baptist
church was converted into Moncton's 1st mosque. The University of Moncton
also has a Muslim student association hosting prayer services, fellowship
getherings, and outreaches on campus.
Fredericton also has one mosque and a Muslim student association serving the
campuses of the University of New Brunswick and St. Thomas University.
Fredericton's Muslim population consists in 2014 of about 50 families,
and between 300 to 400 university students.
Saint John is home to the 1st Muslim Association for the province,
which also helped foster the Islamic associations of Fredericton and Moncton.
a 'musalla', or prayer location that is not officially structured as a mosque,
has been established in the Uptown area with the intention of seeing it grow
into a 2nd official place of Muslim worship. Demand for this new location has
been primarily for university students moving into the area.
Pray for Muslims and New Brunswick
- that the eyes of pastors, believers and entire congregations will be opened
to see this growing body of Muslims, and their hearts will be opened
to sharing God's love in Jesus Christ with them
- that intentional ministries to Muslims will grow and flourish in these
areas of concentration
- that cooperative CNNMM Networks will form to really, encourage,
and equip believers to lovingly reach Muslims in this province.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 12 They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other,
"What does this mean?"
13 (1Co 14:23) Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."
Peter's Speech at Pentecost
14 (Ac 1:26) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice
and said to them, "Men of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem,
let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose,
since it is the third hour of the day.
16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 (Isa 44:3; Ac 10:45) 'In the last days it shall be,' says God,
'that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.'
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
And
Thank you for praying through the
5 Days of Prayer for Sikhs.
"My name is Kam. I'm 29 years of age, and I grew up Sikh. As a teenager,
I struggled with depression, brokenness, and addiction to
cannabis. I didn't know how to stop or how to get help.
Then a friend invited me to church. As I spent time with Christians
and heard the message of the Gospel, I experienced the
love of Jesus Christ, and it was like nothing I'd known before.
One night I had a dream where I saw Him - a figure surrounded by
light who I knew was Jesus, the light of the world.
As I began to understand the gospel message, I encountered a reassuring and
confident solution to the problem of sin. I knew that I needed a solution
to my sin problem, and I gave my life to Christ.
Slowly, God began to heal my broken heart and my addiction.
Nine years have passed, and I am a devoted husband and a father
to two beautiful boys. I grow deeper in love with Jesus each day.
I ask you to continue praying with me, and others around the world, for Sikhs.
God is the only one who can draw people to Himself. He works in and through
the prayers of His people. I want Sikhs to know the freedom
and healing that is only available through Jesus Christ."
13 (Ro 14:17; 12:12) Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy
and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope,
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
[13] Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that
ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
ROMANS 15:13
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, atheists, secular humanists, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
17th Day of the Month
a) Pray for the safety of those
who live in your community -
safety from conflict an crimes
( Ps 122:7 - 7 Peace be within your walls
and security within your towers!
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
19th Day of the Month
a) Pray the the Holy Spirit will influence our governmental leaders
as they make vital decisions that shape Canadian Society
(
1 Tim 2:1-2
)
b) Pray for the province of Prince Edward Island
I) Pray for the leaders of Prince Edward Island,
that God's Spirit would influence
then to act justly,
serve with integrity
and honour high moral standards. ( 1 Tim 2:1 - 4
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that you make supplications,
prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings for everyone,
2 (Ezr 6:10) for kings and for all who are in authority,
that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty,
3(1Ti 1:1; Lk 1:47) for this is good
and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 (Eze 18:23; 18:32)who desires all men to be saved
and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet
and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge
of the truth.
)
II) Pray for the churches of the province,
that they would be lighthouses
beaming forth the illuminating truth of God's Word.
III) Pray that the Lord would use
the Finding the Hope Campaign
and booklet to turn many hearts to Jesus
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray to keep His covenant.
Pray to the Lord: "Dear God,
please strengthen me to meet the challenges I face today."
Pray to the Lord and pray to put your burdens on Him.
Pray to the Lord and pray to obient to Him for He
will give you abundance.
Pray to the Lord and remember He is love.
Pray for Muslims and New Brunswick
- that the eyes of pastors, believers and entire congregations will be opened
to see this growing body of Muslims, and their hearts will be opened
to sharing God's love in Jesus Christ with them
- that intentional ministries to Muslims will grow and flourish in these
areas of concentration
- that cooperative CNNMM Networks will form to really, encourage,
and equip believers to lovingly reach Muslims in this province.
Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
Pray the the Holy Spirit will influence our governmental leaders
as they make vital decisions that shape Society
Pray that new church leaders in Turkmenistan will replace the pastors
who have fled the country.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.
1) Ezekiel 20,21,22:1-16
Ezekiel 20
Israel's Continuing Rebellion
1 (Eze 8:1; 1:2; 24:1) In the seventh year, in the fifth month,
on the tenth day of the month, certain of the elders of Israel
came to inquire of the Lord and sat before me.
2 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
3 (Mic 3:7) Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them:
Thus says the Lord God: Do you come to inquire of Me? As I live,
says the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you.
4 (Eze 22:2; 23:36) Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them?
Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers.
5 (Ge 14:22; Ex 3:8) And say to them: Thus says the Lord God: On the day
when I chose Israel, and lifted up My hand to the seed of the house of Jacob,
and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up My hand
to them, saying, I am the Lord your God,
6 (Eze 20:15; Ex 3:8; Ps 48:2) on that day that I lifted up My hand to them
to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had selected
for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands,
7 (Lev 18:3; Ex 20:2) then I said to them: Cast away, each of you,
the abominations of his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols
of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.
8 (Isa 63:10; Eze 5:13) But they rebelled against Me and would not listen
to Me. They did not cast away the abominations of their eyes, nor did they
forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said I will pour out My fury upon them,
to accomplish My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.
9 (Eze 20:14; 20:22) But I acted for My name's sake, that it should not
be polluted before the nations among whom they were, in whose sight
I made Myself known to them in bringing them out of the land of Egypt.
10 Therefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt
and brought them into the wilderness.
11 (Lev 18:5; Dt 4:8) I gave them My statutes and showed them My judgments,
which if a man does them, he shall live.
12 (Ex 20:8-11; Lev 21:23) Moreover I gave them My Sabbaths to be a sign
between them and Me, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies
them.
13 (Eze 20:21; 20:8; Dt 9:8) But the house of Israel rebelled against Me
in the wilderness. They did not walk in My statutes, and they despised
My judgments, which if a man does them, he shall live. And My Sabbaths
they greatly polluted. Then I said I would pour out My fury upon them
in the wilderness to consume them.
14 (Eze 20:9) But I acted for My name’s sake, that it should not be polluted
before the nations in whose sight I brought them out.
15 (Ps 95:11; 106:26) Also I lifted up My hand to them in the wilderness
that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing
with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands,
16 (Nu 15:39; Eze 14:3-4) because they despised My judgments
and did not walk in My statutes, but polluted My Sabbaths.
For their hearts went after their idols.
17 (Eze 11:13; Jer 4:27) Nevertheless My eye spared them from destroying
them, nor did I make an end of them in the wilderness.
18 (Dt 4:3-6; Eze 20:7) But I said to their children in the wilderness:
Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments,
nor defile yourselves with their idols.
19 I am the Lord your God: Walk in My statutes, and keep My judgments,
and do them.
20 (Jer 17:22; Eze 20:12) And hallow My Sabbaths. And they shall be a sign
between Me and you that you may know that I am the Lord your God.
21 (Eze 20:13; 20:8; Nu 21:5) Yet the children rebelled against Me.
They did not walk in My statutes, nor did they keep My judgments
to do them, which if a man does them, he shall live. They polluted My Sabbaths.
Then I said I would pour out My fury upon them to accomplish My anger against
them in the wilderness.
22 (Eze 20:9; 20:14) Nevertheless I withdrew My hand and acted for My name's
sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the nations in whose
sight I brought them out.
23 (Lev 26:33; Eze 20:15) I lifted up My hand to them also in the wilderness,
that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them through
the countries,
24 (Eze 6:9; 20:16) because they had not executed My judgments,
but had despised My statutes and had polluted My Sabbaths, and their eyes
were after their fathers' idols.
25 (Ps 81:12; Isa 66:4) Therefore I gave them also statutes that were
not good and judgments by which they could not live.
26 (Lev 18:21; Eze 6:7) And I pronounced them unclean because of their gifts,
in that they caused to pass through the fire all who opened the womb, that
I might make them desolate in order that they might know that I am the Lord.
27 (Ro 2:24; Eze 2:7) Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel
and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Yet in this your fathers have
blasphemed Me, in that they have committed a trespass against Me.
28 (Eze 6:13; Jos 23:14) When I had brought them into the land for which
I lifted up My hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill
and all the leafy trees, and there they offered their sacrifices,
and there they presented the provocation of their offering.
There also they made their sweet savour
and there poured out their drink offerings.
29 Then I said to them: What is the high place to which you go?
And the name is called Bamah to this day.
30 (Jer 16:12; Jdg 2:19) Therefore say to the house of Israel,
Thus says the Lord God: Will you pollute yourselves after the manner
of your fathers and commit harlotry after their abominations?
31 (Ps 106:37-39; Jer 7:31) When you offer your gifts, when you make your sons
to pass through the fire, you pollute yourselves with all your idols,
even to this day. And shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel?
As I live, says the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you.
32 (Jer 44:17; Eze 11:5) That which comes into your mind shall not come
about when you say, "We will be as the nations,
as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone."
God Will Restore Israel
33 (Jer 21:5) As I live, says the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand
and with a stretched-out arm and with fury poured out, I will rule over you.
34 (Eze 20:38; 34:16) And I will bring you out from the peoples and will
gather you out of the countries in which you are scattered with a mighty hand
and with a stretched-out arm and with fury poured out.
35 (Hos 2:14; Jer 2:35) I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples,
and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face.
36 (Nu 11:1-35; 1Co 10:5-10) As I entered into judgment with your fathers
in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment
with you, says the Lord God.
37 (Lev 27:32; Jer 33:13) I will cause you to pass under the rod,
and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.
38 (Eze 13:9; Ps 95:11) And I will purge from among you the rebels
and those who transgress against Me. I will bring them out of the country
where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel.
And you shall know that I am the Lord.
39 (Jdg 10:14; Isa 1:13-15) As for you, O house of Israel, thus says
the Lord God: Go serve every one of you his idols, but later you shall
surely listen to Me. But do not pollute My holy name anymore with your gifts
and with your idols.
40 (Isa 56:7; 60:7) For on My holy mountain, on the mountain of the height
of Israel, says the Lord God, there all the house of Israel, all of them,
shall serve Me in the land. There I will accept them, and there I will seek
your offerings and the first fruits of your gifts with all your holy things.
41 (Eze 28:25; 11:17) I will accept you with your sweet savor when I bring
you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries in which you
have been scattered. And I will be sanctified among you before the nations.
42 (Eze 34:13; 38:23) You shall know that I am the Lord when I bring you
into the land of Israel, into the country for which I lifted up My hand
to give it to your fathers.
43 (Eze 6:9; Hos 5:15) There you shall remember your ways and all your deeds
in which you have been defiled. And you shall loathe yourselves in your own
sight for all your evils that you have committed.
44 (Eze 24:24; 20:9) You shall know that I am the Lord when I have dealt with
you for My name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, or according
to your corrupt deeds, O house of Israel, says the Lord God.
A Prophecy Against the Negev
45 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
46 (Eze 21:2; Am 7:16) Son of man, set your face toward the south,
preach against the south, and prophesy against the forest land in the Negev.
47 (Jer 21:14; Isa 9:18-19) And say to the forest of the Negev,
Hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God:
I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree in you
and every dry tree. The flaming flame shall not be quenched,
and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned in it.
48 All flesh shall see that I the Lord have kindled it.
It shall not be quenched.
49 (Jn 16:25) Then I said, "Ah, Lord God! They say of me,
'Does he not speak parables?' "
Ezekiel 20
[1] And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth
day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of
the LORD, and sat before me.
[2] Then came the word of the LORD unto me, saying,
[3] Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus
saith the Lord GOD; Are ye come to inquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord
GOD, I will not be inquired of by you.
[4] Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to
know the abominations of their fathers:
[5] And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when I chose
Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and
made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand
unto them, saying, I am the LORD your God;
[6] In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of
the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk
and honey, which is the glory of all lands:
[7] Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his
eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your
God.
[8] But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did
not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they
forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them
to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.
[9] But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before
the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto
them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.
[10] Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and
brought them into the wilderness.
[11] And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a
man do, he shall even live in them.
[12] Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and
them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.
[13] But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they
walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man
do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then
I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.
[14] But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before
the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.
[15] Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would
not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and
honey, which is the glory of all lands;
[16] Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but
polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.
[17] Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I
make an end of them in the wilderness.
[18] But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the
statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile
yourselves with their idols:
[19] I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and
do them;
[20] And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you,
that ye may know that I am the LORD your God.
[21] Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my
statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall
even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out
my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.
[22] Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name's sake, that
it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I
brought them forth.
[23] I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would
scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries;
[24] Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my
statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their
fathers' idols.
[25] Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments
whereby they should not live;
[26] And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass
through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate,
to the end that they might know that I am the LORD.
[27] Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto
them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me,
in that they have committed a trespass against me.
[28] For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up
mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the
thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they
presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their
sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings.
[29] Then I said unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? And the
name thereof is called Bamah unto this day.
[30] Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye
polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after
their abominations?
[31] For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through
the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and
shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord
GOD, I will not be inquired of by you.
[32] And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say,
We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood
and stone.
[33] As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand, and with a
stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you:
[34] And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of
the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a
stretched out arm, and with fury poured out.
[35] And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will
I plead with you face to face.
[36] Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of
Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD.
[37] And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into
the bond of the covenant:
[38] And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that
transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they
sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know
that I am the LORD.
[39] As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye
every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but
pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.
[40] For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel,
saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the
land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your
offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy
things.
[41] I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the
people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered;
and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen.
[42] And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall bring you into the
land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give
it to your fathers.
[43] And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye
have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all
your evils that ye have committed.
[44] And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have wrought with you for
my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your
corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.
[45] Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[46] Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward
the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;
[47] And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus
saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall
devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall
not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned
therein.
[48] And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not
be quenched.
[49] Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?
Ezekiel 21
Babylon, the Sword of the Lord
1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
2 (Eze 20:46; 4:7; 25:2) Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem,
and speak against the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel,
3 (Job 9:22; Jer 21:13) and say to the land of Israel, Thus says the Lord:
I am against you, and will draw My sword from its sheath, and will cut off
from you the righteous and the wicked.
4 (Eze 20:47; 7:2) Seeing then that I will cut off from you the righteous
and the wicked, therefore My sword shall be drawn from its sheath
against all flesh from the south to the north,
5 (Eze 21:30; Na 1:9) that all flesh shall know that I the Lord have drawn
forth My sword from its sheath. It shall not return anymore.
6 (Isa 22:4; Eze 6:11) As for you, son of man, groan with breaking heart
and bitter grief, groan before their eyes.
7 Eze 7:17; Isa 13:7It shall be when they say to you, "Why do you groan?"
that you shall answer, "Because of the news that is coming. And every heart
shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint,
and all knees shall be weak as water. It comes and shall be brought to pass,"
says the Lord God.
8 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
9 (Eze 21:3) Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus says the Lord! Say:
A sword, a sword is sharpened
and also furbished!
10 (Ps 110:5-6; Eze 20:47) It is sharpened to make a slaughter;
it is furbished so that it may glitter like lightning.
Should we then make cheer, the rod of My son despising every tree?
11 (Eze 21:19) He has given it to be furbished,
that it may be handled;
the sword is sharpened,
and it is furbished to give it into the hand of the slayer.
12 (Eze 21:6; Joel 1:13) Cry out and howl, son of man;
for it shall be against My people,
it shall be against all the officials of Israel.
Terrors by reason of the sword
shall be upon My people;
therefore strike your thigh.
13 (Eze 21:10) Because it is a trial, and what if even the rod which
despises shall be no more? says the Lord God.
14 (Nu 24:10; 2Ki 24:1) You therefore, son of man, prophesy
and clap your hands together.
And let the sword be doubled
the third time,
the sword of the slain.
It is the sword of the great one slain,
which surrounds them.
15 (Jer 17:27; Eze 21:7) That their hearts may faint,
and many fall at all their gates,
I have given the glittering sword.
Ah! It is made for striking like lightning;
it is wrapped up for the slaughter.
16 Show yourself sharp, go to the right hand.
Set yourself. Go to the left hand,
wherever your edge is set.
17 (Eze 5:13; 21:14) I will also clap My hands together,
and I will cause My fury to rest;
I the Lord have spoken.
18 The word of the Lord came to me again, saying:
19 (Jer 1:10; Eze 4:1-3) As for you, son of man, appoint two ways
for the sword of the king of Babylon to come. Both of them shall come out
of one land. And make a signpost. Make it at the head of the way to the city.
20 (Jer 49:2; Am 1:14) Appoint a way for the sword to come to Rabbah
of the sons of Ammon and to Judah in Jerusalem the fortified.
21 (Ge 31:19; Pr 16:33) For the king of Babylon stands at the parting
of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination:
He shakes the arrows, he consults the images, he looks in the liver.
22 (Eze 4:2; 26:9) At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem:
to appoint battering rams, to open the mouth for the slaughter,
to lift up the voice with a battle shout, to appoint battering rams
against the gates, to cast up a ramp, and to build a siege tower.
23 (Nu 5:15; Eze 21:24) It shall be to them as a false divination
in their sight, to those who have sworn oaths. But he will call
to remembrance the iniquity, that they may be seized.
24 Therefore thus says the Lord God: Because you have made your iniquity
to be remembered, in that your transgressions are uncovered, so that
in all your deeds your sins do appear, because, I say, that you have
come to remembrance, you shall be seized with the hand.
25 (Eze 35:5; 2Ch 36:13) You, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day
has come in the time of the punishment of the end,
26 (Eze 17:24; Ps 75:7) thus says the Lord God: Remove the diadem
and take off the crown. This shall not be the same anymore.
Exalt what is low, and abase what is high.
27 (Ps 2:6; Ge 49:10) A ruin, a ruin, a ruin I shall make it.
And it shall be no more until He comes whose right it is,
and I shall give it to Him.
A Sword Against the Ammonites
28 (Eze 21:9-10; 21:20) You, son of man, prophesy and say: Thus says
the Lord God concerning the sons of Ammon and concerning their reproach,
and say,
The sword, the sword is drawn,
furbished for the slaughter,
to cause it to consume
that it may be like lightning,
29 (Eze 21:25; 22:28) while they see vanity for you,
while they divine a lie to you
to bring you upon the necks
of the wicked who are slain,
whose day has come
in the time of the punishment of the end.
30 (Jer 47:6-7; Eze 16:38) Return it to its sheath.
I will judge you
in the place where you were created,
in the land of your nativity.
31 (Ps 18:15; Isa 30:33) I will pour out My indignation upon you;
I will blow against you in the fire of My wrath,
and deliver you into the hand of cruel men,
skilled in destruction.
32 (Eze 25:10; Mal 4:1) You shall be fuel to the fire;
your blood shall be in the midst of the land.
You shall be no more remembered,
for I the Lord have spoken.
Ezekiel 21
[1] And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[2] Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the
holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel,
[3] And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I am against
thee, and will draw forth my sword out of his sheath, and will cut off from
thee the righteous and the wicked.
[4] Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked,
therefore shall my sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh from
the south to the north:
[5] That all flesh may know that I the LORD have drawn forth my sword out of
his sheath: it shall not return any more.
[6] Sigh therefore, thou son of man, with the breaking of thy loins; and
with bitterness sigh before their eyes.
[7] And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that
thou shalt answer, For the tidings; because it cometh: and every heart shall
melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all
knees shall be weak as water: behold, it cometh, and shall be brought to
pass, saith the Lord GOD.
[8] Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[9] Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD; Say, A sword, a
sword is sharpened, and also furbished:
[10] It is sharpened to make a sore slaughter; it is furbished that it may
glitter: should we then make mirth? it contemneth the rod of my son, as
every tree.
[11] And he hath give it to be furbished, that it may be handled: this sword
is sharpened, and it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the slayer.
[12] Cry and howl, son of man: for it shall be upon my people, it shall be
upon all the princes of Israel: terrors by reason of the sword shall be upon
my people: smite therefore upon thy thigh.
[13] Because it is a trial, and what if the sword contemn even the rod? it
shall be no more, saith the Lord GOD.
[14] Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite thine hands together,
and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the slain: it is
the sword of the great men that are slain, which entereth into their privy
chambers.
[15] I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that their
heart may faint, and their ruins be multiplied: ah! it is made bright,
it is wrapped up for the slaughter.
[16] Go thee one way or other, either on the right hand, or on the left,
whithersoever thy face is set.
[17] I will also smite mine hands together, and I will cause my fury to
rest: I the LORD have said it.
[18] The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,
[19] Also, thou son of man, appoint thee two ways, that the sword of the
king of Babylon may come: both twain shall come forth out of one land: and
choose thou a place, choose it at the head of the way to the city.
[20] Appoint a way, that the sword may come to Rabbath of the Ammonites,
and to Judah in Jerusalem the defenced.
[21] For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of
the two ways, to use divination: he made his arrows bright, he consulted
with images, he looked in the liver.
[22] At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to appoint
captains, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with
shouting, to appoint battering rams against the gates, to cast a mount, and
to build a fort.
[23] And it shall be unto them as a false divination in their sight, to them
that have sworn oaths: but he will call to remembrance the iniquity, that
they may be taken.
[24] Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have made your iniquity
to be remembered, in that your transgressions are discovered, so that in all
your doings your sins do appear; because, I say, that ye are come to
remembrance, ye shall be taken with the hand.
[25] And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when
iniquity shall have an end,
[26] Thus saith the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown:
this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high.
[27] I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until
he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.
[28] And thou, son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD
concerning the Ammonites, and concerning their reproach; even say thou, The
sword, the sword is drawn: for the slaughter it is furbished, to consume
because of the glittering:
[29] Whiles they see vanity unto thee, whiles they divine a lie unto thee,
to bring thee upon the necks of them that are slain, of the wicked, whose
day is come, when their iniquity shall have an end.
[30] Shall I cause it to return into his sheath? I will judge thee in the
place where thou wast created, in the land of thy nativity.
[31] And I will pour out mine indignation upon thee, I will blow against
thee in the fire of my wrath, and deliver thee into the hand of brutish men,
and skilful to destroy.
[32] Thou shalt be for fuel to the fire; thy blood shall be in the midst of
the land; thou shalt be no more remembered: for I the LORD have spoken it.
Ezekiel 22
The Sins of Jerusalem
1 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
2 (Eze 20:4; 24:6) Now you, son of man, will you judge, will you judge
the bloody city? Indeed, you shall show her all her abominations.
3 (Eze 22:27) Then say, Thus says the Lord God: The city sheds blood
in her midst, that her time may come, and makes idols against herself
to defile herself.
4 (2Ki 21:16; Ps 44:13-14) You have become guilty in your blood that
you have shed and have defiled yourself with your idols which you have made.
And you have caused your day to draw near and have come to your years.
Therefore I have made you a reproach to the nations and a mocking
to all countries.
5 Those who are near and those who are far from you shall mock you,
you of infamy and much turmoil.
6 (Isa 1:23; Eze 22:27) The princes of Israel in you, every one according
to his power, have been bent on shedding blood.
7 (Ex 22:21-22; Dt 27:16) In you they have treated father and mother lightly.
In your midst they have dealt with the stranger by oppression.
In you they have vexed the fatherless and the widow.
8 (Eze 20:13; 22:26) You have despised My holy things and have profaned
My Sabbaths.
9 (Lev 19:16; Hos 4:10) In you are men who carry slanders to shed blood.
And in you they eat at the mountain shrines.
In your midst they commit lewdness.
10 (Lev 18:19; 18:7-8) In you they have uncovered their fathers' nakedness.
In you they have humbled her who was unclean in her menstrual impurity.
11 (Lev 18:15; 20:17) One has committed abomination with his neighbour's wife,
and another has lewdly defiled his daughter-in-law. And another in you
has humbled his sister, his father's daughter.
12 (Dt 27:25; Eze 23:35) In you they have taken bribes to shed blood.
You have taken usury and increase, and you have injured your neighbours
for gain by extortion, and you have forgotten Me, says the Lord God.
13 (Isa 33:15; Eze 21:17) Therefore I have struck My hand toward
your dishonest gain which you have made, and toward your blood which has been
in your midst.
14 (Eze 17:24; 21:7) Can your heart endure, or can your hands be strong
in the days that I shall deal with you? I the Lord have spoken and will do it.
15 (Dt 4:27; Zec 7:14) I will scatter you among the nations and disperse you
in the countries and consume your filthiness out of you.
16 (Eze 6:7; Ps 83:18) You shall profane yourself in the sight of the nations,
and you shall know that I am the Lord.
Ezekiel 22
[1] Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[2] Now, thou son of man, wilt thou judge, wilt thou judge the bloody city?
yea, thou shalt shew her all her abominations.
[3] Then say thou, Thus saith the Lord GOD, The city sheddeth blood in the
midst of it, that her time may come, and maketh idols against herself to
defile herself.
[4] Thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed; and hast
defiled thyself in thine idols which thou hast made; and thou hast caused
thy days to draw near, and art come even unto thy years: therefore have I
made thee a reproach unto the heathen, and a mocking to all countries.
[5] Those that be near, and those that be far from thee, shall mock thee,
which art infamous and much vexed.
[6] Behold, the princes of Israel, every one were in thee to their power to
shed blood.
[7] In thee have they set light by father and mother: in the midst of thee
have they dealt by oppression with the stranger: in thee have they vexed
the fatherless and the widow.
[8] Thou hast despised mine holy things, and hast profaned my sabbaths.
[9] In thee are men that carry tales to shed blood: and in thee they eat
upon the mountains: in the midst of thee they commit lewdness.
[10] In thee have they discovered their fathers' nakedness: in thee have
they humbled her that was set apart for pollution.
[11] And one hath committed abomination with his neighbour's wife; and
another hath lewdly defiled his daughter in law; and another in thee hath
humbled his sister, his father's daughter.
[12] In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and
increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and
hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD.
[13] Behold, therefore I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which
thou hast made, and at thy blood which hath been in the midst of thee.
[14] Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the days that
I shall deal with thee? I the LORD have spoken it, and will do it.
[15] And I will scatter thee among the heathen, and disperse thee in the
countries, and will consume thy filthiness out of thee.
[16] And thou shalt take thine inheritance in thyself in the sight of the
heathen, and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.
2) Our Daily Bread for 19 August 2022
https://odb.org/CA/2022/08/19/as-strong-as-iron
Entitled "As Strong as Iron"
Jeremiah 1:14-19
14 (Isa 41:25; Jer 4:6) Then the Lord said to me: Out of the north calamity
will break forth on all the inhabitants of the land.
15 (Jer 4:16; 9:11) For I will call all the families of the kingdoms
of the north, says the Lord.
And they will come and they will set each one his throne
at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem,
and against all the walls all around,
and against all the cities of Judah.
16 (Jer 7:9; 19:4) I will utter My judgments against them
concerning all their wickedness, whereby they have forsaken Me
and have burned incense to other gods,
and have worshipped the works of their own hands.
17 (1Ki 18:46; Job 38:3) You therefore gird up your loins
and arise, and speak to them all that I command you.
Do not be dismayed at their faces, lest I confound you before them.
18 (Isa 50:7; Jer 6:27) For indeed, I have made you this day a fortified city
and an iron pillar and bronze walls against the whole land,
against the kings of Judah, against the officials, against the priests,
and against the people of the land.
19 (Jer 1:8) They will fight against you, but they will not prevail
against you, for I am with you, says the Lord, to deliver you.
[14] Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth
upon all the inhabitants of the land.
[15] For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north,
saith the LORD; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne
at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls
thereof round about, and against all the cities of Judah.
[16] And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their
wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods,
and worshipped the works of their own hands.
[17] Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all
that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee
before them.
[18] For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron
pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah,
against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the
people of the land.
[19] And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against
thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.
Ironclad beetles are known for their tough exterior which protects them from
predators. One special variety, however, has extraordinary strength under
pressure. The insect's hard, outer shell stretches, rather than cracks, where
it joins together. Its flat back and low profile also help it to resist
fractures. Scientific tests show that it can survive a compression force
of nearly fourty thousand times its body weight.
Just as God made this bug extra tough, He gave resilience to Jeremiah as well.
The prophet would face intense pressure when he delivered unwelcome messages
to Israel, so God promised to make him "an iron pillar and a bronze wall"
(Jeremiah 1:18). The prophet wouldn't be flattened, dismantled, or
overwhelmed. His words would stand strong because of God's presence
and rescuing power.
Throughout his life, Jeremiah was falsely accused, arrested, tried, beaten,
imprisoned, and tossed into a well—yet he survived. Jeremiah also persisted
despite the weight of inner struggles. Doubt and grief plagued him. Constant
rejection and the dread of a Babylonian invasion added to his mental stress.
God continually helped Jeremiah so that his spirit and testimony weren't
shattered. When we feel like giving up on the mission He's given us, or
backing away from living faith-filled lives, we can remember that Jeremiah's
God is our God. He can make us as strong as iron because His power is made
perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
By: Jennifer Benson Schuldt
Reflect & Pray
Which circumstances are threatening to crush you?
How do the examples of Bible characters inspire you to exhibit faith in God?
Dear God, please strengthen me to meet the challenges I face today.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 8 Guided by Grace Day 6 - Through The Fire
Is 43:2
2 (Ps 66:12; Da 3:25-27) When you pass through waters,
I will be with you. And through the rivers,they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
nor shall the flame kindle on you.
2 When thou passest through the waters,
I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee:
when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned;
neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
In the Book of Daniel, 3 young men provide one of the world's best-known
Bible stories. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, three of the finest young
men of Israel, were taken into capitivity to Babylon. There King
Nebuchadnezzar, filled with his own importance, commanded that
everyone bow down and worship his image.
When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship anyone
except the One True god, they were cast into Nebuchadnezzar's
furnace of fire.
Is 43:2 brings their experience into focus for us. There the Lord says,
"When you pass through the fire ... when you walk through the water ..."
Not if, but when. If we are committed to serving and honouring the Lord,
at some point we will be faced with "passing through the fire" for hm.
We may not face a physical furnace, but we may face the fires of
persecution, anger, hostility or suffering. And God says:
"I will be with you."
When the three young Israelites stepped into the king's furnace, all
the people looked and saw, not three, but four men in the fire, their
bonds burned away, walking freely among the flames. They did not
escape the fate decreed for them. But the Lord was with them in
the fire, as surely as he has promised to be with us in the flood
and the fire, as surely as he has promised to be with us in the
flood and fire tht life brings to us. The promise of god remains:
"I will be with you; the waters will not overflow, nor will the
flames burn you."
Application
a) What kinds of "fires" and "Floods" have I experienced?
b) How was I aware of the Lord's presence with me?
4) Prosperity verses from Kenneth Copeland
Deut 28:11
11 (Dt 28:4; 30:9) The Lord will make you overflow in prosperity,
in the offspring of your body, in the offspring of your livestock,
and in the produce of your ground, in the land which the Lord swore
to your fathers to give you.
11 And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body,
and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land
which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are lonely
1 John 4:16b-18
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
17 (1Jn 2:5; 2:28) In this way God's love is perfected in us,
so that we may have boldness on the Day of Judgment, because as He is,
so are we in this world.
18 (Ro 8:15; 2Ti 1:7) There is no fear in love,
but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.
Whoever fears is not perfect in love.
God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness
in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear:
because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)
New Brunswick
Total population 753900
Muslim population (est.) 4543
Moncton, followed by Fredericton and Saint John, each have a growing Muslim
population in New Brunswick, In 2007, the building that was formerly a Baptist
church was converted into Moncton's 1st mosque. The University of Moncton
also has a Muslim student association hosting prayer services, fellowship
getherings, and outreaches on campus.
Fredericton also has one mosque and a Muslim student association serving the
campuses of the University of New Brunswick and St. Thomas University.
Fredericton's Muslim population consists in 2014 of about 50 families,
and between 300 to 400 university students.
Saint John is home to the 1st Muslim Association for the province,
which also helped foster the Islamic associations of Fredericton and Moncton.
a 'musalla', or prayer location that is not officially structured as a mosque,
has been established in the Uptown area with the intention of seeing it grow
into a 2nd official place of Muslim worship. Demand for this new location has
been primarily for university students moving into the area.
Pray for Muslims and New Brunswick
- that the eyes of pastors, believers and entire congregations will be opened
to see this growing body of Muslims, and their hearts will be opened
to sharing God's love in Jesus Christ with them
- that intentional ministries to Muslims will grow and flourish in these
areas of concentration
- that cooperative CNNMM Networks will form to really, encourage,
and equip believers to lovingly reach Muslims in this province.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 12 They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other,
"What does this mean?"
13 (1Co 14:23) Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."
Peter's Speech at Pentecost
14 (Ac 1:26) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice
and said to them, "Men of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem,
let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose,
since it is the third hour of the day.
16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 (Isa 44:3; Ac 10:45) 'In the last days it shall be,' says God,
'that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.'
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
And
Thank you for praying through the
5 Days of Prayer for Sikhs.
"My name is Kam. I'm 29 years of age, and I grew up Sikh. As a teenager,
I struggled with depression, brokenness, and addiction to
cannabis. I didn't know how to stop or how to get help.
Then a friend invited me to church. As I spent time with Christians
and heard the message of the Gospel, I experienced the
love of Jesus Christ, and it was like nothing I'd known before.
One night I had a dream where I saw Him - a figure surrounded by
light who I knew was Jesus, the light of the world.
As I began to understand the gospel message, I encountered a reassuring and
confident solution to the problem of sin. I knew that I needed a solution
to my sin problem, and I gave my life to Christ.
Slowly, God began to heal my broken heart and my addiction.
Nine years have passed, and I am a devoted husband and a father
to two beautiful boys. I grow deeper in love with Jesus each day.
I ask you to continue praying with me, and others around the world, for Sikhs.
God is the only one who can draw people to Himself. He works in and through
the prayers of His people. I want Sikhs to know the freedom
and healing that is only available through Jesus Christ."
13 (Ro 14:17; 12:12) Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy
and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope,
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
[13] Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that
ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
ROMANS 15:13
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, atheists, secular humanists, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
17th Day of the Month
a) Pray for the safety of those
who live in your community -
safety from conflict an crimes
( Ps 122:7 - 7 Peace be within your walls
and security within your towers!
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
19th Day of the Month
a) Pray the the Holy Spirit will influence our governmental leaders
as they make vital decisions that shape Canadian Society
(
1 Tim 2:1-2
)
b) Pray for the province of Prince Edward Island
I) Pray for the leaders of Prince Edward Island,
that God's Spirit would influence
then to act justly,
serve with integrity
and honour high moral standards. ( 1 Tim 2:1 - 4
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that you make supplications,
prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings for everyone,
2 (Ezr 6:10) for kings and for all who are in authority,
that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty,
3(1Ti 1:1; Lk 1:47) for this is good
and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 (Eze 18:23; 18:32)who desires all men to be saved
and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet
and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge
of the truth.
)
II) Pray for the churches of the province,
that they would be lighthouses
beaming forth the illuminating truth of God's Word.
III) Pray that the Lord would use
the Finding the Hope Campaign
and booklet to turn many hearts to Jesus
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray to keep His covenant.
Pray to the Lord: "Dear God,
please strengthen me to meet the challenges I face today."
Pray to the Lord and pray to put your burdens on Him.
Pray to the Lord and pray to obient to Him for He
will give you abundance.
Pray to the Lord and remember He is love.
Pray for Muslims and New Brunswick
- that the eyes of pastors, believers and entire congregations will be opened
to see this growing body of Muslims, and their hearts will be opened
to sharing God's love in Jesus Christ with them
- that intentional ministries to Muslims will grow and flourish in these
areas of concentration
- that cooperative CNNMM Networks will form to really, encourage,
and equip believers to lovingly reach Muslims in this province.
Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
Pray the the Holy Spirit will influence our governmental leaders
as they make vital decisions that shape Society
Pray that new church leaders in Turkmenistan will replace the pastors
who have fled the country.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.
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