Sunday: A Whole Nation in Peril: Ezekiel 33:1-20
Faithful watchmen don’t always cry out what people want to hear, but they cry out the truth in spite of public opinion. Not one of God’s people was left out of divine scrutiny. Every life was examined and the truth blatantly told: without individual true repentance they would perish. Repentance requires more than regret (just being “sorry”) or remorse (being sorry and feeling woe for our actions). True repentance also involves an act of the will, abhorring what we’ve done, renouncing our sin, and submitting to God for a lasting and thorough change of our ways.
Monday: People of the Land: Ezekiel 33:21-29
The few Jews left in the land of Judah to tend it for their captors felt they were somehow special in being awarded such an assignment. But Ezekiel exposes their abominations in specific terms: (1) eating meat with the blood still in it; (2) worshiping idols; (3) murder; (4) relying on violence; (5) and other sins, such as adultery. For their sins, they would die by sword, by beasts, or by pestilence. The land of Judah would be left barren.
Tuesday: Exiles in Babylon: Ezekiel 33:30-33
The night before the exiles in Babylon receive the news of Jerusalem’s collapse and the temple’s destruction, God loosed Ezekiel’s lips so that he could speak normally. Other than the prophetic message, he had been mute among the people for about seven and a half years! But something special was about to happen, so that the prophet’s mouth would be needed to do a pastoral work in addition to the prophetic message. When the exiles received the news about Jerusalem, they realized that a true prophet had been among them. Their opinion of him was raised far above that of a religious “entertainer.”
Wednesday: The Sheep Exploited: Ezekiel 34:1-10
Kings and officers in Judah were often referred to as “shepherds.” It was their responsibility to give the people proper care, protect them, and provide for them. Most of these leaders had been extremely selfish, abusing and exploiting the people for their own profit. A neglected flock becomes a scattered flock. A scattered flock becomes an easy target for predators. God’s heart of love intervenes to expose the leadership failures.
Thursday: Rescuing the Flock: Ezekiel 34:11-22
What hope was there for God’s abused and scattered flock? The hope of the omnipotent God, Himself! Speaking even beyond the scope of restoring the exiles back to the land of promise, Ezekiel prophesies of an end time that the Lord will gather His flock “…from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day” (Ezekiel 34:12). There will one day be a literal regathering and precious uniting of Israel.
Friday: Protection for the Flock: Ezekiel 34:23-31
Pointing toward a future time when God’s people will enjoy “showers of blessing” and have the perfect ruler/shepherd caring for them (their Messiah-King), the people are given reassurance of dwelling in protected safety. In the future kingdom, God will smile upon His people, and dwell in their midst!
Saturday: The Sins of Edom: Ezekiel 35:1-15
The Lord revisits His judgments upon Edom (descendants of Esau) and adds some details. Because the Edomites had carried on a perpetual hatred against Israel, so God would make the land of the Edomites a perpetual desolation. Greedy for the lands of Judah and Samaria, they had joined with the Babylonians in attacking Jerusalem. God would not forget!