OUR FATHER WHO SHINES FORTH
From Psalm 50;
The Mighty One, God, the Lord,
Summons the heavens and the earth
From the rising of the sun
To where it sets again He says;
Gather to me this consecrated people
Who made a covenant with Me by my sacrifice
Giving offerings of thanks honors Me
And the blameless I will show my salvation
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OUR FATHER WHO IS GREAT IN ZION
From Psalm 99;
The Lord reigns
Let the nations quake
He sits enthroned between the cherubim
Let the whole earth shake
Great is the One in Zion
Holy is the Lord
Let's worship at His holy mountain
Exalt our awesome God
See the great King He is mighty
In Him alone we trust
For the Lord our God He is holy
And All His ways are just
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OUR FATHER WHO QUESTIONS CREATING AND PROMOTING THE USE OF IDOLS
The book of Isaiah chapter 44 verses 9 - 10 says this;
All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless.
Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame.
Who shapes a god and casts an idol, which can profit nothing?
The Lord, in this passage, puts the idol making industry to shame.
Those who make idols, as they try to confer value on the idols they make, are themselves rendered valueless. They try to cherish worthless things and then try to induce other people to value the things that are valueless.
Even the people who promote the adoption of these idols are blind and ignorant and bear their responsibility for doing so.
The question posed by the Lord is, who, in their right mind would engage in such an enterprise which profits nothing?
Amen.
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OUR FATHER WHOSE WORD DOES NOT RETURN TO HIM VOID
The book of Isaiah chapter 55 verses 10 - 11 says this;
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
A word that is uttered by God purposefully goes out to achieve His will and intention.
In the same way that rain falls from heaven and waters the earth and facilitates life to flourish and new seeds to be created and food for people to eat before evaporating back to heaven, the word of God goes forth to cause life to spring forth in dry hearts and to be planted as seeds in the hearts of men to germinate in due time and to be bread as food for the souls of men.
The word of the Lord does not return to Him void but every place the word reaches, it fulfils its function and returns to the Lord.
Amen.
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OUR FATHER WHOSE PEOPLE WILL BE PERSECUTED FOR HIS NAME'S SAKE
The book of Isaiah chapter 66 verses 5 -6 says this;
Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at his word:
“Your own people who hate you, and exclude you because of my name, have said,
‘Let the Lord be glorified, that we may see your joy!’ Yet they will be put to shame.
This verse echoes the words of the Lord Jesus where He says in Matthew chapter 10 verse 22;
You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
In Isaiah, the people who are persecuting God's people believe they are serving God by persecuting them. These, as the scripture says, will be put to shame.
Then, as verse 6 says, they will face judgement from the Lord;
Hear that uproar from the city, hear that noise from the temple!
It is the sound of the Lord repaying his enemies all they deserve.
Those who fought the Lord's people will face the anger of God as He metes out the judgement on those who persecuted His people and they will be put them to shame.
Have mercy on us O Lord.
Amen.
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OUR FATHER WHO CLEANSES HIS PEOPLE AND THEN PLACES THEM UNDER HIS PROTECTION
The book of Isaiah chapter 4 verse 4, from the Amplified version, says this;
When the Lord has washed away the [moral] filth of the daughters of Zion and has cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning,
The verse then continues into verse 5 saying this;
then the LORD will create over the entire site of Mount Zion and over her assemblies, a cloud by day, smoke, and the brightness of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory and brilliance will be a canopy [a defense, a covering of His divine love and protection].
At the time when the Lord cleanses the people of Zion from their immorality and their bloodshed with a fiery judgement, He will create a system of protection like the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night that went ahead of the people of Israel as they left the bondage of Egypt behind and travelled to the promised land.
The people of God who are admitted into the kingdom of Zion will reside on mount Zion and there, the Lord will make a protective shield so that they are secure forever dwelling on Mount Zion the mountain of God.
Psalm chapter 15 lists the type of people who will be able to live on the holy mountain of God.
It reads this way;
Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain?
The one whose
1- walk is blameless
2- who does what is righteous,
3- who speaks the truth from their heart;
4- whose tongue utters no slander,
5- who does no wrong to a neighbor, and
6- casts no slur on others;
7- who despises a vile person
8-but honors those who fear the Lord;
9-who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind;
10-who lends money to the poor without interest;
11-who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
Whoever does these things will never be shaken.
Amen.
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OUR FATHER WHO REDEEMED US
From Psalm 107;
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so
Tell of how He saved us from danger
Give thanks to the Lord our God
For he is good His love endures forever
Some of us were thirsty, hungry and lost
Others were chained in darkness, terror and loss
Some of us were wandering, couldn't find a home
Others were afflicted, oppressed and alone
Then He turned the desert into flowing springs
And this why my heart rejoices and sings
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OUR FATHER WHO GIVES WISDOM TO ANYONE WHO ASKS
The book of Ecclesiates chapter 7 verses 1 - 7, dispensing words of wisdom, says this;
A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth.
This verse teaches that a good name is more enduring than expensive perfume. It brings to mind the verse in Mathew chapter 26 verses 12 - 13, where a woman, overcome with remorse, breaks a jar of costly perfume over the Lord's body. The Lord made this statement when the people around commented on her actions;
When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
This gesture of humble adoration is an illustration of how the woman was willing to expend a whole bottle of perfume in exchange for a good name for all the coming ages when the Lord Jesus declared that she would be remembered throughout the world because of her action.
The next section advises that we should give preference to somber and solemn events rather than events marked by laughter, feasting and pleasure.
It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart.
Frustration is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.
The counsel given is that the hearts of the wise gravitate towards occasions of mourning while the hearts of the foolish are drawn to occasions of pleasure.
The section that follows speaks to the value to our lives that the wise and the foolish bring.
It is better to heed the rebuke of a wise person than to listen to the song of fools.
Like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of fools. This too is meaningless.
These verses advise us that qualitatively, it is better to hear the rebuke of a wise man than to listen to the song of fools. Even though a rebuke sometimes difficult and even painful to receive, it profits us far more than to listen to a pleasant song of fools. The songs and laughter of fools bring no gain to our lives but are like thorns crackling in a fire where they burn away and amount to nothing.
This verse speaks of two ways that people can be induced to perform certain tasks or to overlook some activity. A person could be extorted or person could be bribed;
Extortion turns a wise person into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.
This insight given here is that if a wise man is subjected to extortion, he is turned into a fool because every option he has to choose between yields a bad result.
On the other hand, if a wise man is offered a bribe and he accepts it, his heart will get corrupted in a way that shapes how he percieves himself and how he is perceived by other people.
Amen.
OUR FATHER WHO DELIGHTS IN HIS SERVANT
The book of Isaiah chapter 42 verses 1 - 2 says this;
“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations.
He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets.
First, this passage records the Lord pointing out and introducing His servant to the people which is echoed in Mathew chapter 3 verse 3 which, even quoting Isaiah, speaks of announcing to the people the arrival of the Lord;
This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”
Secondly, this expected One is described in Isaiah as the One in whom the Lord delighted.
This mirrors the words that came from heaven when Jesus was being baptized by John the baptist in Mathew chapter 3 verse 17 which, in the Amplified version, says;
and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased and delighted!”
It is notable that "the One", in Isaiah, who delighted the Father, was a servant and "the One" in Mathew, was a Son.
Thirdly, the Lord, in Isaiah, says that He would put His Spirit on the servant while in Mathew, at the Baptism scene, Mathew chapter 3 verse 16 says this;
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.
These three converging conditions in both books, namely that God would publically point out the One who was chosen, and that the Lord was delighted in Him and that the Spirit of God would be placed on him, establish that the Servant and the Son, are one and the same person and that the promised Son would be revealed first as a servant.
This humble starting place for the Servant of God would take Him through paths of rejection, scorn, accusations and trials that ended in death but out of that, the perfection of the Son of God would cause Him to rise from death and ascend to the right hand of the Father, the servant now revealed as the King of glory.
Amen.
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OUR FATHER OF WHOM THE WHOLE EARTH WILL MARVEL
Psalm 99 100 verse 10 1 says this;
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
This verse outlines the appropriate scale and type of response that the Lord should receive when the whole world sees Him.
The ancient nagging questions that have haunted the entire human race from the dawn of time will be answered in one moment when the glory of God is seen by all.
The deep questions pertaining to our origin, our structure, our condition, our purpose and our destiny will be answered in a moment and joy, expressed in shouting and singing and clapping and weeping will spontaneously burst forth.
Our Creator, in His power and righteousness and perfection, will thrill the entire earth when we behold Him and marvel and tremble.
Blessed is the Lord.
Amen.
OUR FATHER WHO GIVES INCENTIVES TO WALK IN LOVE
Philemon chapter 1 verse 7 says this;
Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.
The apostle Paul, writing from prison to his friend Philemon, lauds him for the love he had shown to other believers and also for his faith in the Lord Jesus.
Paul tells Philemon that hearing of this love had filled him with joy and encouragement because this love had refreshed the hearts of the Lord's people.
The gift that Paul gave to Philemon for the love shown to the people of God was to pray for him so that his activities would give him access to a deeper understanding of the things that Paul was doing for the sake of Christ.
This means that demonstrating the love of God to the people of God so as to refresh and revive them, is a channel of gaining deeper revelations of the goods things that shared for the sake of Christ.
Amen.
OUR FATHER WHO HAS OVERCOME
The book of Ezekiel chapter 2 verses 5 - 6 says this;
And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them.
And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.
This passage records the charge that God gave to the prophet Ezekiel to speak the word of the Lord to people of Israel.
He was to speak to them whether they listened or not.
The people were described as rebelious which invokes their involvement in witchcraft as alluded to in 1 Samuel chapter 15 verse 23 which says;
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,
Ezekiel is instructed not to fear them or whatever they said. Even though fears and worries are cast upon him and witches lived around him, Ezekiel was told by the Lord to be steadfast and unshaken.
This charge is on us as well. We are to be fearless in the face of darkness and its power.
The Lord Jesus made a public spectacle of these powers and they have been placed under His feet.
Amen.
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OUR FATHER WHO GIVES WARNINGS OF IMPENDING JUDGEMENT
The book of Ezekiel chapter 4 verse 10 says this;
But take wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt; put them in a single container and make them into bread for yourself. This is what you are to eat during the 390 days you lie on your side. You are to weigh out twenty shekels of food to eat each day, and you are to eat it at set times.
The prophet Ezekiel had been instructed by the Lord to lie on the ground for three hundred and ninety days in front of the city of Jerusalem as a sign to them of the siege that was to come against them.
Ezekiel was then instructed to made bread from a variety of grains and this was what he would have to eat for the three hundred and ninety days that he was lying on the ground.
He was then to ration out the bread by taking a set amount of food each day and was to fix the times during the course of the day that the bread could be eaten.
This would represent what the people of Israel would experience when they went into exile by illustrating the scarcity of food as well as the loss of freedom to choose even their own mealtimes
The coming judgement would expose the people of Israel to the harshness of servitude and Ezekiel demonstrated this to warn the people.
Amen.
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OUR FATHER WHO IS THE JUDGE
The book of Ezekiel chapter 7 verses 1 - 4 says this;
And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “O son of man, this is what the Lord GOD says to the land of Israel:
‘The end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land. The end is now upon you, and I will unleash My anger against you. I will judge you according to your ways and repay you for all your abominations.
I will not look on you with pity, nor will I spare you, but I will punish you for your ways and for the abominations among you.
Then you will know that I am the LORD.’
The prophet Ezekiel received a word of warning to give to the land of Israel.
The Lord declared to them that their evil conduct and their iniquity had reached a threshold that triggered judgement upon them that could not be repealed. No pity would be shown to them and when the anger of the Lord was unleashed upon His people, they would certainly know that He is the Lord.
Their violence, pride, idolatry and materialism had sown the seeds of wrath on the land and the punishment of foreign invasion and plagues was now inevitable.
Those who survived would flee to the hills where they would tremble and mourn as the unimaginable destruction engulfed their land.
Amen.
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OUR FATHER WHO IS CLOTHED IN GLORY
The book of Ezekiel chapter 8 verse 4 says this;
And there I saw the glory of the God of Israel, like the vision I had seen in the plain.
This verse, written by the prophet Ezekiel to explains a vision he had where he saw the glory of God that was like a previous vision where he had seen the glory of God in the plain.
This first vision is recorded in Ezekiel chapter 1 verses 26 - 27 as follows;
Above the expanse over their heads was the likeness of a throne with the appearance of sapphire, and on the throne high above was a figure like that of a man.
From what seemed to be His waist up, I saw a gleam like amber, with what looked like fire within it all around. And from what seemed to be His waist down, I saw what looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded Him.
Such was the glory of God that Ezekiel saw first by the River Kebar and then again at the city of Jerusalem where he had been carried by the Spirit of God.
Amen.
OUR FATHER GIVES COUNSEL TO HIS OWN PEOPLE
The book of Ecclessiates chapter 5 verses 1 - 10 says this;
Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.
A dream comes when there are many cares, and many words mark the speech of a fool.
When entering the house of God in the spirit, be cautious and self - aware at all times. Listen to the things being said rather than speaking hasty words. Weigh everything you have to say before you say it and do not spontaneously utter anything. The general rule of thumb is to speak a minimal number few words.
Because God is in heaven and we are on earth, the words we speak in the temporal realm are received in an eternal realm and here, they are measured more stringently that we can.
The visitor into the spirit is cautioned to be calm by putting aside cares and worries because they stir up distracting dreams and many words signify that the speech containing them is that of an inartful person.
Continuing with verse 4;
When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.
Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.
When a person vows anything before the Lord, it is imperative that the promise is promptly kept.
The fear of the Lord must instigate us to fulfil any obligations we have towards Him with no delays or retractions for such are sins. Such breaking of the vows made before the Lord can lead to the destruction of one's work. Making vows based on dreams, speculations and streams of words leads to futility of life.
Continuing with verse 8;
If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still.
The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.
When people are oppressed in the land, it is a sure sign that corruption has infiltrated the country and the hierarchy of leaders in government have colluded to take a portion of the efforts of others and to protect one another from scrutiny. At the top, the king of the land gathers his share from the structure of officials to his own profit. Such incentives perpetuate the systems of oppression and they are entrenched in the land.
Continuing with verse 10;
Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.
The irrational addiction to money that does not have an upper-limit that is considered enough, leads to a meaningless and futile life that has no eternal significance.
Amen.
OUR FATHER WHO GIVES WISDOM TO THOSE WHO REQUEST IT WITH NO QUESTIONS ASKED
The book of Ecclesiates chapter 4 verses 1 - 10 says this:
Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun:
I saw the tears of the oppressed—and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors—and they have no comforter.
And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive. But better than both is the one who has never been born, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.
The reality of oppression is that once people have fallen under oppression, they are powerless to end it and even though they cry, no man comes to their aid. Men, their fallen state under the dominion of darkness, have no power to redeem themselves. Only the Lord brings comfort by His Holy Spirit and orchestrates their reprieve from oppression as their redeemer.
Continuing with verse 4;
And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves.
Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.
Here, the ceaseless work that is expended to try keep up with the Jones and participating in the rat race is described as a pointless futility but on the other hand, sitting around idly is a recipe for personal ruin.
Gaining one portion of provision through the tranquility and peace of spiritual blessing is better than working in the flesh to gain two portions.
Continuing with verse 7;
Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:
There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother.
There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth.
“For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?”
This too is meaningless—a miserable business!
The futility of endlessly working and accumulating wealth with no one to share it with lead to a question arising, "For whom am I toiling".
This may in fact be the impetus of the Son of God to create the human race for He had no son or brother and in the human race, He has those He calls sons and brothers with whom He shares His inheritance.
Continuing with verse 9;
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Here, the amplification of effectiveness by joining forces with others is illustrated. Two persons working in concert are able to create some efficiencies that allow them to achieve more. As well, in unified teams, there are some safeguards against permanently falling.
In teams of two, they can help each other stand if they fall and they can effectively defend against attacks by being able to guard each other's backs and when one sleeps, the other can watch.
Teams of three people working in unity are not easily broken apart by enemy forces.
If a team of two is under sever attack, a third member brings exponentially more defensive power.
The scripture here advises us to form small teams of two and even three when engaging in the things of the spirit.
Amen.
OUR FATHER WHO IS AWESOME IN POWER
From Psalm 47 and 48;
How beautiful is Mount Zion
The joy of the whole world
City of the Great King
For the Lord Most High is awesome
He reigns in power over all nations
Sing praises to God, sing praises
To Him let us joyfully sing
The Lord is greatly exalted
Amid resounding trumpets, He ascended
For God is the King over all the earth
All the rulers assemble before Him.
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OUR FATHER WHO COMFORTS HIS PEOPLE
Isaiah chapter 39 40 verse 9 1 says this;
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
This verse records the words of the Lord comforting His people.
After the days of the hardship of judgement are over, the Lord speaks tenderly to His people as verse 2 says;
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.
The Lord tells His prophet to speak gently to Jerusalem and it is with this tone that the prophecy of the one who was to come as a voice in the wilderness to make straight the way of the Lord is pronounced in verse 3;
A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our Lord.
Amen.
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OUR FATHER ANNOUNCES HIS VISITATION
Isaiah chapter 40 verses 3 - 5 says this;
A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.
And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
This passage contains the prophecy written by the prophet Isaiah about the coming of a messenger who would announce the arrival of God among His people.
This herald was the revealed to be John the Baptist by John himself as revealed in the Book of John (the apostle) chapter 1 verse 22 - 24 which says;
Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”
John the Baptist did indeed proclaim the arrival of the Lord and called all people to repentance and baptism in water and when the Lord Jesus presented Himself to John for baptism, John declared to the people that Jesus was the One, the lamb of God who came to take away the sins as John chapter 1 verse 29 says;
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
The prophecy of Isaiah describes the time of the arrival of the Lord as one of great upheaval as conditions were set up to make straight the way of the Lord.
The prophecy then points further forward to a time when the glory of God will be revealed and all people will see it at once which is echoed in the book of Revelation chapter 1 verse 7 which says;
“Look, he is coming with the clouds, and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen.
John the Baptist, knowing this about the One whom he was heralding, said to the people inquiring about him in John chapter 1 verse 26 - 27;
“I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”
Amen.
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OUR FATHER WHO JUDGES FALSE PROPHETS AS A WARNING TO THOSE WHO FOLLOW THEM
Ezekiel chapter 14 verse 11 says this;
Then the people of Israel will no longer stray from me, nor will they defile themselves anymore with all their sins. They will be my people, and I will be their God, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”
This verse is a declaration by the Lord concerning the people of Israel who had been worshiping idols and then inquiring of false prophets.
The Lord warned the false prophets who had prophesied falsely to the people of Israel that He would judge them and they would destroyed from among the people.
It is when the people see this judgement that they would be chastened and no longer stray from the Lord and they would turn from their sinful ways and they would submit to the Lordship of God.
Amen.
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OUR FATHER WHO RESISTS FALSE PROPHETS
Ezekiel chapter 13 verses 8 - 9 says this;
“‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because of your false words and lying visions, I am against you, declares the Sovereign Lord.
My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of my people or be listed in the records of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.
This passage declares the opposition of the Lord to the false prophets of Israel. At the time, the false prophets were uttering prophecies of peace independent of God.
Because they had embarked on the deception of the people, the Lord turned against them.
They were disqualified from membership in the council of the people of Israel and were barred from entering the promised land.
Prophets uttering prophecies must be careful to ensure that they are actually hearing God before they make declarations in His name.
Amen.
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OUR FATHER WHO CLARIFIES THROUGH HIS PROPHETS
Ezekiel chapter 12 verse 10 says this;
“Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: This prophecy concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the Israelites who are there.’
The prophet Ezekiel had been commanded by the Lord to enact a scene that represented the coming judgement on Jerusalem that would send them all into exile.
Before all the people of the city, he was to pack his belongings, dig through the city wall and then at dusk, he was to crawl through the wall and leave the city carrying his pack on his shoulder.
Ezekiel carried out these instructions in the sight of all the people of the city.
Our passage in Ezekiel chapter 12 joins the narrative after the people did not inquire into what Ezekiel was doing. They did not think that the actions of the prophet concerned them.
In our verse, the Lord directs the prophet Ezekiel to plainly explain to the leaders and the people in Jerusalem that the enactment was referring to the judgement that was going to afflict them because of their violent deeds.
And further to that, the judgement was not going to tarry but would come upon them shortly.
Amen.
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OUR FATHER WHO SINGS OVER US
From Psalm 42;
As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after Thee
You alone are my hearts desire
And I long to worship Thee
Deep calls to deep
Your waves sweep over me
I pour out my soul
And place my hopes in Thee
Day by day You pour Your steadfast love on me
And by night, You sing a prayer over me
Amen.
OUR FATHER IS MIGHTY TO SAVE
From Isaiah chapter 63 verses 1 - 3;
Who is this? Robed in splendor
Marching forward in the greatness of His strength
It is I the Lord, I'm the victor
None was with me but I was mighty to save
For in my power, I trampled nations down
And in my anger, tread where seeds of wrath were sown
Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson?
Who is this, robed in splendor, striding forward in the greatness of his strength?
“It is I, proclaiming victory, mighty to save.”
Why are your garments red, like those of one treading the winepress?
“I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with me.
I trampled them in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments, and I stained all my clothing.
Amen.
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