QT 12/08/2025 Tue. Ezekiel 21 The Sword Is Drawn 刀剑出鞘
QT 12/08/2025 Tue. Ezekiel 21 The Sword Is Drawn
READ http://www.esv.org/eze21
Ezekiel 21 vividly portrays God's impending judgment using the metaphor of a sharpened sword.
Scripture: Ezekiel 21:9-10 (ESV)
“Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus says the Lord: Say, A sword, a sword is sharpened and also polished, sharpened for slaughter, polished to flash like lightning! (Or shall we rejoice? You have despised the rod, my son, with everything of wood.)”
Reflection:
Ezekiel 21 is not comfortable reading. It is a heavy passage, filled with warning and vivid imagery of judgment. God commands Ezekiel to announce that a sword has been drawn—a symbol of judgment against His rebellious people. This isn’t random wrath. It’s targeted, just, and deliberate. The sword is “sharpened for slaughter,” “polished to flash like lightning.” In other words: judgment is not only coming—it’s imminent and unavoidable.
As believers, how do we reconcile this fierce vision of God’s justice with the grace we have in Christ?
We must remember: the holiness of God demands justice. He cannot overlook sin. In Ezekiel’s day, the people of Judah had defied God repeatedly. They trusted in their idols, their alliances, and their own strength. God had warned them again and again—but their hearts were hardened.
Today, we live under the New Covenant, but God’s holiness has not changed. The sword of judgment still exists—but the good news is that it fell on Jesus instead of us. At the cross, Jesus bore the full weight of God's wrath for our sin. The sharpened sword that should have struck us down was plunged into Christ.
This should both humble us and awaken us. Are we living in gratitude for what Christ endured on our behalf? Or are we treating His sacrifice lightly, flirting with sin, and assuming grace without reverence?
Let Ezekiel’s words stir your soul. Don’t run from the sharp edge of God’s truth. Let it cut away what is dead and deceitful in you. The same God who judges sin is the One who made a way for you to be saved from it—through the blood of Jesus.
Prayer: Lord, I am sobered by Your holiness. You are not a God to be trifled with. Thank You for sending Jesus to take the sword of judgment in my place. Forgive me for treating sin lightly. Help me to walk in the fear of the Lord, not out of dread, but out of deep reverence and love for who You are. Purify my heart and keep me close to You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Application:
(1) Examine your life this week. Are there areas of compromise or rebellion God is calling you to surrender?
(2) Reflect on the cross—the place where judgment and mercy met perfectly. Take time to thank Jesus.
(3) Share the gospel boldly—remember, the sword is still drawn for those outside of Christ.
QT 12/08/2025 星期二. 以西结书第 21 刀剑出鞘
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Eze/21/
以西结书21章生动地用锋利的刀剑作为比喻，描绘了上帝即将降下的审判。
经文：以西结书21:9-10（ESV）
9 “人子啊！你要预言，说：‘主耶和华这样说：有一把刀，有一把磨利了的刀，是擦亮了的刀；10磨利，是为要大行杀戮，擦亮，是为要闪烁发光！我们怎能快乐呢？我的儿子藐视管教的杖和一切劝告（“劝告”原文作“木头”）。
反思：
以西结书21章并非令人愉快的阅读。这是一段沉重的经文，充满了警告和对审判的生动描绘。上帝命令以西结宣告：一把刀已经拔出——这是对祂悖逆子民的审判象征。这不是随意的愤怒。它是针对性的、公义的、有意的。这把刀是“磨利了，为要杀戮”，“打磨得像闪电一样明亮”。换句话说：审判不仅即将到来——它是迫在眉睫且不可避免的。
作为信徒，我们如何将上帝公义的严厉异象与我们在基督里所拥有的恩典相调和？
我们必须记住：上帝的圣洁要求公义。祂不能容忍罪恶。在以西结的时代，犹大人民多次悖逆上帝。他们依赖偶像、盟约和自己的力量。上帝一再警告他们——但他们的心已硬化。
今天，我们生活在新约之下，但上帝的圣洁并未改变。审判的利剑依然存在——但好消息是，它落在了耶稣身上，而非我们。在十字架上，耶稣承担了上帝因我们的罪所发出的全部愤怒。本应击倒我们的锋利利剑，却刺入了基督。
这应当使我们谦卑并警醒。我们是否因基督为我们所受的苦难而心怀感恩？还是轻视祂的牺牲，与罪恶调情，并以不敬虔的态度假设恩典？
让以西结的话语触动你的灵魂。不要逃避上帝真理的锋利边缘。让它割除你内心中死寂与欺骗的部分。那位审判罪恶的上帝，正是那位通过耶稣的宝血为你开辟救赎之路的上帝。
祷告：
主啊，您的圣洁使我警醒。您不是一个可以轻慢的神。感谢您差遣耶稣替我承受审判之剑。原谅我轻视罪恶。帮助我以对主的敬畏之心行走，不是出于恐惧，而是出于对您本性的深刻敬畏与爱。洁净我的心，使我亲近你。奉耶稣的名。阿们。
应用：
(1) 审视你本周的生活。是否有你需要向神顺服的妥协或叛逆的领域？
(2) 反思十字架——审判与怜悯完美交汇的地方。花时间感谢耶稣。
(3) 勇敢地分享福音——记住，对于那些在基督以外的人，审判之剑仍然拔出。
