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Weekly Guide：Week 85
September 08, 2019
Week 85 Day 1: Four Dreadful Judgments ⇧ ⇩
Foreword
We continue to read the Book of Ezekiel this week. Ezekiel faced numerous false prophets. Although God had repeatedly warned them, the false prophets told lies based on their own foolish hearts. They saw no vision or message from God but claimed what they said were from God. They were like scavenging foxes on the barren land, saw only themselves and no one else. They did not attempt to stand in the gaps nor did they attempt to rebuild the wall of the house of Israel. They robbed the weak and the ignorant. They promised calmness and proclaimed peace when God was destroying the temple. They were painting a thin wall made of straws to make it look good and strong, but it stood no chance with the test of a storm.
The true prophet prophesy what the people need. The false prophet prophesy what the people want. To be called by God to pronounce His words is a serious undertaking that treads on the narrow path. The one who tells the truth is not welcomed but rejected and even persecuted. However, popularity does not a truth proved. Despite all that, the true prophet calls the people to return to God, declares the truth, builds a solid foundation as his only purpose of life.
May you all be renewed in God’s word every day!
Question
What four dreadful judgments was the Lord going to send?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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When any of the Israelites set up idols in their hearts, the Lord will answer them Himself in keeping with their great idolatry.
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The Lord warned the Israelites to turn from their idols and renounce all their detestable practices.
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If a country sins against the Lord, He will stretch out His hand against it to cut off its food supply and send famine upon it.
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Even if these three men-Noah, Daniel and Job-were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness.
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The Lord would send four dreadful judgments-sword and famine and wild beasts and plague-to kill its men and their animals.
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - Even the three righteous men could not save the Israelites from their sin. Today, only Jesus Christ can save our lives. Think about how God hates sin and how He loves His people. How may I have victory over my sin?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 85 Day 2: Sinful as Prostitute ⇧ ⇩
Question
What did Jerusalem do to displease God?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The Lord said, as I have given the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest as fuel for the fire, so will I treat the people living in Jerusalem.
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The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel to confront Jerusalem with her detestable practices.
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The Lord said to Jerusalem, as you lay there in your blood I said to you, Live!
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Jerusalem trusted in her beauty and used her fame to become a prostitute.
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In addition to all her other wickedness, Jerusalem built a mound for herself and made a lofty shrine in every public square.
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The Lord will gather all her lovers, with whom she found pleasure, those she loved as well as those she hated. He would gather them against her from all around.
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The Lord will deal with those who despised their oath and breaking the covenant as they deserve.
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The Lord will remember the covenant He made with Jerusalem in the days of her youth and will establish an everlasting covenant with her.
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - God likened Jerusalem as a prostitute to depict her sinfulness. What attributes of God do I see in this? How shall I answer to God’s holiness and purity?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 85 Day 3: The Righteous Judgment ⇧ ⇩
Question
What is the principle behind the Lord’s judgment?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The Lord used the parable of two eagles and a vine to depict the judgment of Israel betraying the king of Babylon.
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The one who follows the Lord’s decrees and faithfully keeps the Lord’s laws. The man is righteous; he will surely live.
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Wicked son of righteous man is to be put to death.
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Righteous son of wicked father will not die for his father’s sin. But his father will die for his own sin.
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The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them.
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If a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all God’s decrees and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die.
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If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked person does, they will die.
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The Lord’s way is just. He will judge each of you according to your own ways. Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.
Meditation: My Story
- Integrity - Why did the Lord say to betray Babylon is the same as betraying the Lord? How shall I uphold the oath I have taken and the covenant I have made with others? Why is it that we must be faithful to others?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 85 Day 4: Exile and Destruction ⇧ ⇩
Question
What parable did the Lord use to depict Israel’s exile and destruction?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The trapped lion as a parable of Judah king being carried off to Babylon.
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The uprooted vine as a parable of Jerusalem’s destruction.
Meditation: My Story
- Fidelity - The king of Judah must carry the responsibility for the great destruction and judgement his household and the entire nation faced. How may I pray for the political leaders of my country to lead according to God’s will to seek blessings for the people and country?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 85 Day 5: History of Rebellions ⇧ ⇩
Question
What is Israel’s history of rebellions?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The elders of Israel came to inquire of the Lord, however the Lord would not let them inquire but judge them to confront them with their detestable practices.
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Israel rebelled against the Lord in Egypt. They did not forsake the idols of Egypt.
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Israel rebelled against the Lord in the wilderness. They did not follow the Lord’s decrees and rejected His laws.
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Their children rebelled against the Lord in the wilderness. They did not follow the Lord’s decrees and were not careful to keep His laws.
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Israel offered their sacrifices and made offerings to arouse the Lord’s anger on the high hill of the Promised Land.
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Therefore, the Lord would reign over Israel with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath.
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The Lord would bring Israel out from the nations and gather them from the countries where they have been scattered, and He will be proved holy through them in the sight of the nations.
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With the parable of setting the forest ablaze, the Lord described how Israel would be attacked.
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - Why does the word Sabbath appear so many times in this passage? How does Sabbath let Israelites know that the Lord makes them holy and is their God? How is my Sabbath? How may I Sabbath in front of God?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 85 Day 6: A Sword Drawn ⇧ ⇩
Question
How would the Lord judge Jerusalem?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The Lord would draw His sword from its sheath and cut off from Israel both the righteous and the wicked.
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The Lord said there would be a sword against the people and all the princes of Israel.
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The profane and wicked prince of Israel, whose day has come, whose time of punishment has reached its climax.
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The day has come for the wicked Ammonites, their time of punishment has reached its climax.
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Jerusalem brings on herself doom by shedding blood in her midst.
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The people of Israel have become dross to the Lord. He would melt them with a fiery blast inside the city.
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The Lord’s judgment came to the priests and prophets who profaned the Lord.
Meditation: My Story
- Fidelity - The Lord said, I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one. In this sinful world, is there someone who would build up the wall and stand in the gap?