Devotion

QT 05/07/2024 Fri. Ezekiel 1. 以西结书1

QT 05/07/2024 Fri. Ezekiel 1
READ http://www.esvbible.org/eze1

MEDITATION: The LORD taught His people that He would not and could not be boxed-in nor domesticated in a certain LOCATION, not even His own temple in Jerusalem. Other false gods of the Ancient Near East needed a temple to reside in and to "rule" the cosmos from there. The LORD of Israel DID NOT require it. He was MOBILE. So the destruction of His temple was inconsequential.

Did you notice that "wheel" or "wheels" occurred 10 times? (Ezek 1:15,16,19,20,21) "Wheel" is suggestive of the mobility of the LORD and His agents.

REFLECTION: Brothers and sisters, do you believe that the LORD is present everywhere and is reigning everywhere, including your lives wherever lived? Are you living according to His omnipresent reign?

Firstly, the LORD's prophet was now called AND he operated OUTSIDE the land of Israel and Judah. Ezekiel was called while "in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar canal" while "among the exiles" (Ezek 1:1-2), in enemy territory!

Secondly, prepare your tears for Ezek 10-11, where the LORD LEFT His temple, RELUCTANTLY. The "wheels" were associated with "the living creatures" (Ezek 1:15), but these followed the spirit. "Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, and the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels." (Ezek 1:20)

The LORD gave revision lessons to Ezekiel about why Judah was in exile. But the LORD also assured Ezekiel of His rule and presence with the remnant of His people, in the midst of their punishment preceding restoration of relation with Him.

APPLICATION: Love and worship the LORD, everywhere. In every sphere of our lives, abstain from sin, because the Holy LORD is there too. Remember, the LORD is omnipresent and is overseeing what you are doing right now.

星期五 2024年7月5日今日读经：以西结书1
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/eze/1/

默想：耶和华教导祂的子民，祂将不会也不可能被关起来或被驯服留在某个地方，即使那是祂自己在耶路撒冷的圣殿。古代近东的假神都需要居住在一间殿宇里并在那里面“统治”宇宙。以色列的耶和华却不需要。祂是无所不在的。所以即使祂的圣殿被毁了也无关紧要。

你有没有发现“轮子”一词出现了10次？(结1:15,16,19,20,21) 经文用“轮子”表示耶和华和祂的天使都是满有流动的潜能的。

反思：弟兄姐妹，你相信我们的主是无所不在且无论在哪里祂都掌权吗，包括你现在生活的个个层面及处境？你是否活在祂的掌权下？

首先，耶和华的先知已被呼召而且他在以色列和犹大的国土之外作工。以西结是在“迦勒底人的地方，迦巴鲁河边”，在“被掳的人中间”(结1:1-2)，在敌人的地盘上被呼召的！

接下来，当你在读以西结10-11章时，准备拭泪，因那是耶和华很不情愿地离开祂的圣殿的时候。那“轮子”与“那些活物”(结1:15)是有关系的，但这些都跟随了灵。“灵往哪里去，活物就往哪里去，轮子也随着它们升起，因为活物的灵是在轮子里面。”(结1:20)

耶和华让以西结知道犹大为什么会被掳。但耶和华也向以西结保证，犹大在与祂的关系和好之前被惩罚的那段日子，祂仍掌权，也会与祂余存的子民同在。

应用：要爱耶和华并敬拜祂，无论身在何处。在我们的生活各领域里，要避免犯罪，因为圣洁的耶和华也在那里。记住，耶和华是无所不在的而且祂正看着你的一举一动。