Resting and Relaxing

O. T. #1920  "Resting and Relaxing"

April 12, 2021

Ezekiel 32

LET IT GLOW

We had a very relaxing and restful weekend. We had not gotten away since last July, so it was a long time coming. Sometimes you need to get away and rest the mind as well as the body. Stress can affect a person in a variety of ways. We have been waiting on the Lord to show us the right path He has for us. I think we are headed on road of faith that He wants us to be on. How about you?

Psalm 37 has a lot of good verses which cannot be skipped. We need to be reminded of these things.  So here they are:

Fret not thyself because of evil doers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.(v1)

For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. (v2)

Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. (v3)

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and He shalt give thee the desires of thine heart. (v4)

Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass. (v5)

And He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. (6)

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. (v7)

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. (v8)

For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. (v9)

When a word appears 3 times, I take notice. What is God saying to you and me about fretting?  

Fret means angry, be hot, to blaze up, jealousy.

We are not to be jealous or angry at evildoers that prosper, for they will soon get what is coming to them. Our focus is to be on the Lord Jesus. We are to trust in Him, delight in Him, rest in Him, and wait patiently for Him.  As we do those things, we will be fed, we are to do good, commit our way to Him, and not be angry, nor do evil.

When we do those things, what will happen to us, God's children? We will be fed, given His desires for us, He will bring to pass His way for us, making it happen, cause our righteousness in Him to shine in us, and we will have peace.    

 LET IT GROW

Egypt was a nation that worshiped all kinds of pagan gods, even those things of nature which God created.

 As a lion is the king among animals, so Pharaoh likened himself to the powerful one among the nations. However, God likened him to the ugly crocodile in the muddy waters of the Nile River.(verse 2) It took a couple of months for the word of Egypt being conquered by the Babylonian army to reach the exiled Jews in Babylon. So it happened about 19 months after Jerusalem fell. God told Ezekiel to write a lament for Egypt, not for Judah. Egypt though they were so powerful that they would not be overcome. Pharaoh's crocodile-like power was no problem for God.

What happened?

• God spread His net over Pharaoh and his armies using the Babylonians. (verse 3)
• They hauled the Pharaoh up on the land and threw him out in an open field where the earth's scavengers could feed on his carcass. (verses 3-5)
• Blood flowed through the land of Egypt and thick darkness covered it, like the 2 plagues the first time. (verses 6-8)
• Other nations were appalled at Egypt's collapse; their kings shuddered with fear that it could happen to them. (verses 9-10)
• Babylon's swords were brought against the swords of Egypt. (verses 11-12)
• Even the animals in Egypt suffered as the land was decimated. (verse 13)
• Its waters would flow like oil when the end came to Egypt. (verses 14-15)
• The daughters of the nations were invited to take up the lamentation over Egypt. (verse 16)
• Another prophesy against Egypt described Egypt as its arrival in the underworld, where it finds itself among many other nations that defied God and were gone down to the pit. (verses 18-23)
• Other nations mentioned suffered the same fate as Egypt. (verses 24-30)
• Even Assyrian army, who was in the land, was defeated by the Babylonian army. (verse 23)

God did all of this to the 7 nations so people would know He alone is the One True Living God. We wrapped up that section of Ezekiel. Tomorrow we will learn about the prophecies concerning Israel's future restoration. Doesn't that sound good?

LET IT GO

Jesus, You are my King.

Amazing love, how could it be, that You my King should die for me?

Amazing love, I know it's true, and it's my joy to honor You.

Help us Lord to not fret about things, but place them into Your hands.

Thank You for peace that floods our soul when we do this.