Discipline

O. T. #1862 "Discipline"

January 18, 2021

Ezekiel 7

LET IT GLOW

Here is Ezekiel's second sermon. He is speaking as an eyewitness. In a sense he was as he saw visions and the Holy Spirit knew the future, giving him words to say. Many of the exiles would not accept the doom of Jerusalem that was ahead of them.

God would not allow His children to spread their disease of pride and idolatry to those around them. We read in verses 9 and 10 how God deals with His disobedient children as a loving parent does with a rod of discipline.(He is perfect in all of His ways.)

 I will recompense thee according to thy ways and thine abominations that are in the midst of thee; and ye shall know that I am the LORD that smiteth. (verse 9)

God smites His rebellious children in order for them to return to His holy ways and correct their ways. Otherwise we are headed for tragedy. When we hold onto bitterness, our life starts to unravel. Everything goes wrong, We may descend into confusion and chaotic ways. Our relationships may sour and we think everyone is against us. We will loose. He won't allow bitterness to continue. He comes to us in love, mercy, and great compassion. If we reject His offers, God will apply the rod of discipline to us, smiting us to bring us to repentance. (This may not apply to us, but we may know others in this position.)     [Resource: Knowing God By Name, by David Wilkerson]

Jehovah Makkeh means the God who smites in the Hebrew language.

Recompense refers to give, apply, bestow, bring, without fail, pay. It is found in verses 3,4,8, and 9.

Things had really gotten bad in Judah and Jerusalem. Before the siege of the Babylonians, there was bloodshed, plague, famine, fear, anxiety, and lack of security. Following the siege, the captives had no peace, no ministry of prophets, priest, and elders, and mourning by both king and people. What a mess.

We know that whatsoever a man sows that shall he also reap. Judah even set up alters to their false gods in the Temple of God. There they did immoral things. They defiles the holy place. It must have been nauseating to God. A holy God could not allow such things to continue.

Also, Judah had become so prideful in their wealth and in their buying idols of gold and silver. God is patient with sinners. His discipline is used to bring us to the truth that He is the only true living God to be loved and worshiped.

LET IT GROW

2 Peter 3:9 says, The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Such mercy! What we decide about God now will determine our fate for eternity. Jesus said that He is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes unto the Father except through Him. Have you come to Jesus? Is He your Savior and LORD?

It is good news for us when God takes us to the woodshed. When He disciplines us, that means we are one of His children and He loves us so much that He does not want us to continue going astray.

LET IT GO

Thank You Father for Your patience with us, for Your everlasting love.

Keep us in Your will, honoring You, King Jesus.