LIFE-STUDY OF EZEKIEL
Read and pray: “Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle” (Exo. 40:34)
God judged His people by means of four terrible things: the sword, famine, pestilence or disease, and wild beasts (14:21). Ezekiel clearly says that some were slain by the sword. The fugitives died because of the lack of food; others were killed by pestilence; and the rest were devoured by wild beasts.
War causes famine. Thus, when there is war, there is a shortage of food. The lack of food brings pestilence or disease. These were the means God used to carry out His judgment upon His people (7:15-17).
These four means of God’s judgment can be applied to the situation of Christianity today. Among Christians, there is much fighting and very little peace. If in a certain church there is war, this indicates that God’s judgment has come. This indicates that something idolatrous, profane, or unjust has brought in God’s judgment, which is first by the sword, that is, by fighting.
All of us need to be careful. If there is fighting or discord among us, this is a sign of God’s judgment. The more we fight one another, the more we will suffer God’s judgment.
Because of the conflicts among Christians, there is a shortage of food. When a church is full of battles, there will not be in that church a rich supply of spiritual food. Instead of spiritual food, there will be death and famine.
There is the need for all to be in the Spirit and to be one. That church will always be full of the supply of food. After each meeting, there is an abundance of “leftovers.” This is a strong proof that those who are in that church are not under God’s judgment.
Due to the shortage of spiritual food, there is pestilence among Christians today. This means that there are all kinds of spiritual diseases, sickness, and weakness. However, when the church life is proper, there will be no pestilence and no disease. Instead, there will be healing, strengthening, and building up.
Furthermore, among Christians today there are many wild beasts that roar, devour, and consume. In Acts 20:29, Paul warned the elders of Ephesus that one day fierce wolves would enter into the church, not sparing the flock. Caring only for themselves, they would devour the church.
There may be small wolves in some of the local churches. Christianity today is characterized by fighting, shortage of food, spiritual diseases, and wild beasts that roar and devour. As a result, almost all Christians are spiritually dead. Not many remain alive.
THE RESULTS OF GOD’S JUDGMENT
Now we need to go on to see the results of God’s judgment upon His people.
Losing the Good Land
The first result of God’s judgment was that the people of Israel lost the good land. They were scattered, dispersed, and taken captive (Ezek. 12:15; 7:21). In spiritual experience, losing the good land means losing the enjoyment of Christ. Today, the vast majority of Christians are mortified, scattered, and without the enjoyment of Christ.
The Glory of the Lord Departed
The second result of God’s judgment was that the glory of the Lord departed (9:3; 11:22-23). In the history of the people of Israel, the glory of the Lord came to them twice and filled them.
The first time was at Mount Sinai, when the tabernacle was erected (Exo. 40:34). The glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle from that time until the days of Eli. During the days of Eli, the people of Israel fought against the Philistines with the ark in a superstitious way and were defeated (1 Sam. 4:3-10). The ark was captured, and the glory of the Lord left the tabernacle. This means that the Lord abandoned the tabernacle.
When the temple was built in the days of Solomon, the glory of the Lord returned to fill the temple (1 Kings 8:10-11). The glory of the Lord remained there until the time when Ezekiel saw it depart, leaving the temple and the city, resting upon the Mount of Olives, and finally returning to the heavens. In Christianity today there is not the glory of the Lord. On the contrary, there is dispersion, scattering, captivity, and the loss of the enjoyment of Christ.
Regarding this matter, there is no need to argue in terms of right and wrong. Instead, we should simply check whether the glory of the Lord is present. If the glory of the Lord is there, you are right. If the glory of the Lord is not there, you are wrong. If the glory of God is not in the church, we will not be able to sense the taste and the manifestation of God.
🌿Enjoy more:
Hymn: Praise the Lord - “His Humanity”
No comments:
Post a Comment