QT 05/09/2024 Thu. Ezekiel 22. The necessity of purification. 净化的必要性。

QT 05/09/2024 Thu. Ezekiel 22.
READ http://www.esvbible.org/eze22

MEDITATION: A high point of prophetic preaching is the proclamation of the LORD's disgust and anger when His beautiful design has been corrupted or ignored. Relying on false gods (idolatry) was the main problem (Ezek 22:3,4). He labelled this as "abominations" (Ezek 22:2).

REFLECTION: Try reading the Prophetic Books from the LORD's viewpoint rather than that of our own problems and situations today, would you?

The behaviour of the "princes of Israel" necessitated punishment (Ezek 22:2-16). Punishment would come by "furnace" and "fire" (Ezek 22:18,20,22) so that the dross could be separated and discarded. However, instead of finding pure silver after purification, "the house of Israel has become dross to me" (Ezek 22:18).

APPLICATION: Be aware that idolatry would inevitably lead to the shedding of blood, violence and oppressions, e.g., mistreatment of kin, sojourners, orphans and widows.

Everyone has a part to play to keep out idolatry and its consequences whether they were prophets (Ezek 22:25), priests (Ezek 22:26), princes (Ezek 22:27), or even "the people of the land" (Ezek 22:29).

星期四 2024年9月5日 今日读经：以西结书22章。净化的必要性。
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/eze/22/

默想：传讲预言的最顶点就是当神的美丽计划没有实现或者不被当一回事时，先知必须宣告神的不悦和愤怒。倚靠假神（偶像崇拜）是最主要的问题（结22:3,4)。他称这为“可憎的事”(结22:2)。

反思：今天，何不试着从神的角度而不是从自己的问题和处境去阅读预言书？

“以色列人子”的行为是必须被惩处的(结22:2-16)。惩罚将是“被丢进火炉”和“大火”(结22:18,20,22)以致那些渣滓能够被分开并丢弃。然而，洁净之后的却不是纯银，“以色列家在我看来已成了渣滓"(结22:18）。

应用：注意，偶像崇拜必定会导致流血、暴力和逼迫，如亲人、寄居者、孤儿和寡妇遭虐待。

每一个人都有责任避开偶像崇拜及其带来的后果：先知(结22:25)、祭司(结22:26)，首领 (结22:27)，甚至是“这地的人”(结22:29)。