Saturday, September 4, 2021

Daily Scripture & Questions
Ezekiel 1-4 Chapters 1-25 of Ezekiel focus on the time before the fall of Jerusalem in 586-587 BC, with chapters 33-48 following this event.  Jehoiachin went into exile in 597 BC, so chapter one begins around 593 BC or six years before the fall of Jerusalem.  Chapter one's vision of the glory of God shows that His presence, His throne, can move to wherever He wills.  Chapters two and three give us Ezekiel's call to ministry.  How did God prepare him?  Chapter four gives us the instructions given to Ezekiel for his street-theater ministry.  What would you have thought if you had seen him there day after day lying on his side?
 
Family Devotions—Scripture & Questions
Read Ezekiel 1:4-28. This is a description of a vision of God's glorious throne. The wheels inside of wheels sound much like the kind of wheels that are on office chairs - the glory of God can go in any direction. It can always be where we are. Ezekiel was already in exile even though Jerusalem hadn't yet fallen. Why would a vision of God's glory being able to move anywhere be especially important to him?
 
Biblical Prayer Focus
Psalm 12:1-4
 "Save, O LORD, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man. Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts, those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail, our lips are with us; who is master over us?"
 
Plead for our land -- that it might be a place of truth and integrity. Ask the Lord to show you if you are slipping into half-truths or flattery. Plead for a humble heart that won't use any "verbal skills" you've been given to try to lord it over others and get your way.
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