Nov. 22, 2009 Ezekiel 6 and 7

For Wordlisteners on Nov 22, 2009 we had 12 people. It was our guest
leader's last night. The discussions were lively. He asked how we
would react to a message from God of gloom and doom, and there was a
lively discussion around that. Fear is generally not a good long term
motivator. The time around 9/11 was remembered, people came to church
for a while, and then stopped. The Christian life was eloquently put
forth as a good way to live, that most people cannot deny.

The people of the time we talked about were most stubborn. Yet somehow
God was about to show them that He is God. He also warned them. My
thoughts on Hurricane Katrina pervade my notes below, and that topic did
not come up. I left them in there anyway.

Our next meeting will be December 13th, 2009 unless the Lord comes
before then.

Ezekiel 6

Mountain idols are smashed, later in Ezekiel, the mountains will be blessed. Time spent making and worshiping idols was time spent being selfish and not serving God. There are consequences for doing our own thing or what we think is best, or not paying attention to God.

All the wasted effort put forth into serving something other than God, coupled with all the pain and misery caused (to others). Pagan shrines are mentioned, not service to God. It takes a while to have a shrine. God will make it clear to these people He is God.

Was hurricane Katrina sent by God? I see mixed signals.
First if it was from God He would have warned us. Was there a report about the weakness of the dike system? Were we not able to see it coming across the gulf? What is the reason for building a substantial part of a city near a coast, and below sea level? Was pride at work? God has a history of warning before impending doom, giving people a chance to repent and turn. He has a history of warning people whether they were obedient and listening to the warnings or not. Judah had impending doom, Jeremiah, Isaiah and Ezekiel were warnings before it happened, and to all people.

Second if God had sent it we would have learned, He has a unique way of getting our attention and training us. Did we learn from New Orleans? Evidently not we rebuilt it, if anything our pride was strengthened, our resolve that we can have a city below sea level.

Third we see death and destruction as a negative, a bad thing, and therefore are hesitant to assign God as responsible. He certainly allowed the hurricane. He certainly is capable of making things right. He is after all about justice and fairness.

God is warning these people of what is about to happen. In Jeremiah 44 there is a passage, after the destruction of Jerusalem, after the people were warned not to go to Egypt but did anyway, and after Jeremiah warned them (15 years ahead of time) that destruction was coming. They said the reason their life was not going well was because they were not sacrificing as they should to the queen of heaven. These people were stubbornly selfish.

God will let a few escape, but it is interesting that He says He is devastated by their betrayals. God is hurt by their voracious lust for self gratification. During this God will show them what really matters. In the middle of Katrina, I'm sure helpless feelings abounded and prayers were offered up, and the focus was largely on God. All the cars, houses, locations, and possessions suddenly didn't matter.

My next focus is difficult to explain. There are consequences for not following God, for not being obedient. We want blessings without giving obedience or sacrificing in the way He asks (giving ourselves back to Him). We naturally want things our way. Yet to be God's people we have to deny self, its for the greater good. This statement seemingly implies that the Lord is a "kill joy", and yet it is our selfish acts of doing what we want and wanting our way that are the "kill joy" of others. Then we step up and defend our actions and beliefs as being good, but our actions if not God directed can hurt others. Although we will justify and convince ourselves, when we are the victim of injustice we will even more staunchly defend our case for our actions. In other words we are never ready to be on the receiving end of the injustices we cause. We would reject having to endure pain and suffering to satisfy the pleasure of others. God isn't a kill joy, it is His way (and only His) that allow all the opportunity to live fulfilled lives in peace and harmony.

Ezekiel 7

End-time, the verdict on the way people live. They will have to suffer for their selfish practices and choices. Anything done that doesn't glorify God is a selfish practice. He has to this point looked the other way, but has decided to be patient no longer. It will be so bad for them that they will know its from God (without mixed signals). It will be of a magnitude that man isn't capable of. Hurricane Katrina certainly wasn't of man in those terms.

Ignoring God - being selfish leads to obscenities and others getting hurt. Then adding pride by thinking we have always gotten away with it, or that we know best. We are so smart we feel we choose to rely on our own knowledge rather than what He says. We want to go our own direction rather than where He leads.

A similarity between then and now, so striking. An economic crisis will hit Jerusalem. Its easy for us to see if it is surrounded by enemies. Don't we have one? They like we are looking for an economic fix, but it is their sin that has bankrupt them. Their choices. Sound familiar. Anarchy will then break out it is said- no one marches out for battle when the trumpet sounds. Real unemployment is approaching 1 in 5 in our time and we hear the rumblings of desperation. The fields are nearing "white", people are starting to lose their treasures and idols. They are becoming more aware of their sins. Some aren't, like the Jews in Egypt, they will continue to push for what doesn't work and clearly avoid the truth and continue to deny God. Money becomes (or will) worthless in Jerusalem. If you are hungry and there is no food then it doesn't matter your riches. Dave Ramsay said that a case of bottled water during the weeks after Katrina was worth quite a lot, and gold meant nothing- interesting how those things come to mind. Judah it says tripped over wealth and fell into sin. They became proud of their wealth, and it took their focus off of God. God will show them that the things they feel are important but truly aren't will be trod upon. He will let His temple be defiled because of the people's disobedience to Him. He will deal with their pride.

Catastrophe after catastrophe, disaster after disaster, then the people will seek answers, but nobody will have any. The prophets (God's messengers) no answers. The priests- religious leaders- no answers. The king - political leaders- no answers. The warnings came before, His back is now turned, but mercy is available to those that genuinely seek it. Just like during the time during Katrina in the midst of the storm, when all the technology of man could not help a single soul, God answered those who called to Him, just maybe not in the ways we would have wanted Him to. Glory to God.

Nov 15, 2009 Ezekiel 3:22-5

For Word Listeners on Nov 15th we had 15 people in attendance. Our
Guest speaker Drew continued leading us through Ezekiel. He had a
handout, and we learned about "sign-acts". I made some notes from the
meeting, and then included my notes from the reading of the scripture.

We look forward to next week with Drew.

God's message - Ezekiel a watchman for Israel. He is to relay the
warnings he hears from God to them. This is the charge given to all
prophets. God emphasizes the importance of obedience in following His
call. If Ezekiel warns and they ignore then the consequences are on
those that ignored the warning. if Ezekiel doesn't share the warning,
then he is responsible for the consequences. This is a truly fearful
passage as to the responsibility we have to share what God has given us.
What if it turns out badly? Its a faith opportunity, how big is God
compared to our circumstances? Is He able to deliver us?- we say it all
the time. God's warnings are a matter of life and death. Its true He
wants relationship with all people, but He has the standard of Holiness.

God wanted to further speak to him so He sent him out to the plain (away from distractions? - prayer closet- of sorts?). The spirit entered him (Holy Spirit) Go home and remain silent - tied up at home. He'll see the wrong people are doing but will not be able to speak until the time is ripe. God will at that time free his tongue to share the message. What marvelous comfort for those of us who struggle with whether we should warn people of their poor choices or not. He (God) will free our tongue to warn people when the time is right, and He wants us to. Its not something of our own strength but God working through us (Holy Spirit). In the meantime our life of obedience is always a witness to the things of God. The more fearful question may be - Would your actions warrant a conviction in a court to the accusation of being a Christian? Does God now really make a difference in your life, are you His people set apart or distinct from those who are not?

God puts His message out there (through His obedient servants), the people out there can listen or not whichever they like- sounds like free will.

Ezekiel 4

"Sign-acts" act out what God is saying. In this chapter Ezekiel provides a visual of the siege of Jerusalem. Using a brick to represent Jerusalem. There is strong evidence that some people are "visual" learners, and here we are 2700 years ago God providing to those people something other than words to bring about His message. God already knew what we let people "study".

Now we have a Jesus glimpse, Ezekiel is told to lie on his side and take the sins of the people on himself. He is to bear the sin of Israel for 390 days and the sins of Judah - on his other side for 40 days. He will have a minimal diet and minimal water (just like those in Judah and Israel will experience in exile). He is on his side one day for each year of sin. To survive they will have to eat unclean food, relationship and obedience to God is the important point, not foods consumed. In Hebrews 4:14-16 Paul says our High Priest (Jesus) knows of our sufferings, He has been there. Ezekiel also has experienced the pain. God knows our struggles.

During the siege there will be famine, God warned them. Its up to them to listen or not.

Ezekiel 5

Another action (visual or sign act) acting out what will happen after the siege. The people of Jerusalem are represented by Ezekiel's hair which he was asked to cut off. One third of them will be burned up in the city (people), another third will be killed by the sword (chopped up), the last third will be thrown to the wind (escape) but will be chased by the sword. God said it, it will happen, and it did, He has standards and we make choices, and our choices will have consequences in His creation. A few hairs are protected and thrown in the fire, this fire will spread to the whole family of Israel.

Why would God do this? Isn't He a God of Love, who doesn't keep records of wrongs? He doesn't keep a record of wrongs for those who repent and allow Him to change them. If however you choose to do your own thing His patience may end. There is no contradiction here. We ourselves are more ready to forgive those who realize they have hurt us, rather than those that don't care that they did, but then again we are made in the image of God. God explains why He is letting Jerusalem be destroyed.

Jerusalem was placed by God to be an example for the world. His people also were to be an example, but with their free will they chose not to be. They rebelled against Him and ignored Him (or tried to). So He will use them as an example to the world of what happens when the creation denies the creator. His desire was for their good, but His plan is completed, they were an example for the world. Their choices and trying to survive will lead to cannibalism, something they never considered to be the result of their actions I'm sure. What are the results of your actions and choices if they don't include God? Do you choose to ignore Him, and then expect Him to protect you from the consequences of your unrepentant choices?

The hair was the visual, now a plain word explanation. A third of Jerusalem's people will die of famine and disease, a third will be killed by the invaders outside the city, and a third will escape but be on the run the rest of their lives. God is jealous and denying Him is really putting something else before Him. He will allow His Temple to be destroyed, Jerusalem will be that example for the world, and even though it is in what we might consider a bad way, it will be clear that God sent it.

Nov 8, 2009 Ezekiel 1-3:23, and a Jeremiah resource link

Word Listeners met on Nov 8th and 15th, I'll send in notes from the 15th
soon.

One additional thing I had gotten a while back was a link to some
teachings on Jeremiah. I've been meaning to share it, but haven't until
now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5Cdqb31ty4&feature=channel

The posting for Nov. 8, 2009 Wordlisteners Ezekiel 1-3:23 is as follows:

We had 18 for Wordlisteners tonight, and we eagerly awaited for our
guest leader to lead us through Ezekiel. He gave us some background on
Ezekiel and we read and discussed Chs 1-3:21. I made notes and typed
them up, they are as follows:

Ezekiel 1
Ezekiel was of the priestly tradition. He was part of the early exile
of Jews from Judah to Babylon. In reading his book (which God has kept
for us) the following general themes can be seen.
Judgment
Syncretism- mixed worship practices pagan and Jewish
Restoration
Temple worship- the presence of God
Theodicy- how do we know God is with us. How do we experience Him.

In this chapter Ezekiel has a vision of God. Its awesome, maybe scary.
In thinking about how God appeared throughout the Bible, there is
usually great fear associated by those coming into the presence of God.
Our leader contrasted this with Elijah's still small voice. The vision
represents a mobile God, a God that was going with His people into
exile.

One comment was about the four faces on the vision and four facets of
God (we usually think of Him as a Trinity).

God is everywhere.

Ezekiel 2

A very short chapter about Ezekiel's call by God, Israel had been
selfish - worshiping other God's. God is still loyal to His chosen
people despite their disobedience. He is to go to them and speak God's
word- the work of a prophet- whether the people listen or not.

Ezekiel 3

God handed him a scroll of lamentations and doom and told him to eat it.
God's word literally being ingested. It shows the importance of reading
and study. In eating the Word it was sweet in his mouth. Seemingly
unpleasantness when associated with God is pleasant.

He is warned that the people of Israel are stubborn. God will make him
more stubborn in order to get His message out regardless of the
circumstances. God is far more long-suffering than we are as evidenced
by how long He kept Jerusalem from being destroyed. He is also more
stubborn.

He sends Ezekiel to the people of Israel, and he waits seven days before
God gives him a message. 7, the number of creation, the number of
mourning and for this people renewal. The number of completeness.

We stopped at verse 21.