EZEKIEL 20:7-17 – “And I said to them, ‘Cast away the detestable things your eyes feast on, every one of you, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the LORD your God.’ But they rebelled against me and were not willing to listen to me. None of them cast away the detestable things their eyes feasted on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. “Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them and spend my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made myself known to them in bringing them out of the land of Egypt. So I led them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. I gave them my statutes and made known to them my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live. Moreover, I gave them my Sabbaths, as a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them. But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not walk in my statutes but rejected my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live; and my Sabbaths they greatly profaned. “Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them in the wilderness, to make a full end of them. But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out. Moreover, I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land that I had given them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most glorious of all lands, because they rejected my rules and did not walk in my statutes, and profaned my Sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols. Nevertheless, my eye spared them, and I did not destroy them or make a full end of them in the wilderness.”
THEME OF THE DAY: DON’T PRESUME UPON GOD’S PATIENCE. Today’s scripture is very serious. It should cause us to ponder with wide open eyes the anger of God over His choice people of Ezekiel’s time. Israel had rebelled against God, repeatedly, and time and time again after great displays of His goodness, grace, mercy, and abundance of protection and deliverance. They also presumed upon His patience, and He warned them of what lies ahead if they continued . . . His wrath, His punishment, His holy anger vented upon a people created for His glory, reflection of His image, and to enjoy Him forever
Enter 21st century United States. The God of the New Testament is the God of the Old Testament. Hard to believe there are professing Christians who don’t believe that and even proclaim the Old Testament is irrelevant! Our God is the God of the Bible. He is unchanging, and thus unchanging in how He deals with a rebellious world and particularly a rebellious people of His! And the signs of our rebellion as His people are the spirit of indifference, being lukewarm to the sinful culture, and prayerless as intercessors for God’s mercy and the only hope for America – revival.
Remember, God punishes a sinful people and nation still. And though God doesn’t punish His people for sin, praise Him for dealing with all our sins, past – present – future in Jesus. But that doesn’t mean no discipline toward us which is often very painful. I would be as bold to say, “The Lord’s church has presumed upon His patience, fallen into a deep sleep of worldliness, and is far off its gospel mission.” We should be begging for a spiritual awakening within ourselves as individuals, and the church as a whole. If not, we don’t know the severity that God may deal with us as a nation and His people in this nation.
Maybe we start with, “O, Lord, forgive us for not taking You seriously to be a holy, separate people who love You with a sincere obedience to Your Word with a deepening burden to see You glorified by awakening us and saving sinners.”
PRAYER: Father, grant me a heart to earnestly intercede for my nation, and a world in rebellion against You.
REFLECTION: America is under the wrath and judgment of God. Let those truths lead us to pleading prayer for mercy.