Ezekiel in the most fascinating of ways in his oracles uses the attacks against the foreign nations as a prelude to the new covenant and the new blessing of the people when he brings them back from the exile. Over and over Ezekiel denounces the arrogant pride of Egypt and Tyre who think they are more powerful than Yahweh. Ezekiel’s actual words of hope to the people are not uttered until the city has fallen. When the word reached Ezekiel in Babylon that all was lost (chapter 33) he immediately turned to the future to find God's promises still alive. He foresaw a twofold plan of God. The first was to bring the exiles back from captivity and purify their sense of the covenant. (This too is what we are called to today as modern Christian’s continual conversion and change.) A new heart that Ezekiel talks about 36:22-32.
The second part of the plan is found in chapters 40-48. Once the people have returned to the covenant (made possible by God's power alone and not their own good will of which holds true today) then he shall give the land its order a new temple at the center of a renewed nation in which everyone has his or her place. At the center of this vision, parallel to the new heart (through conversion) are life-giving waters that flow from the temple to touch every living thing in the land (Ezekiel 47:1-12). The source of hope and prosperity both back then and today will be God alone truly worshipped.
Is this not the exact same formula God uses today to bring his people back from exile? When we live for the things of this world and get caught up in the temporal fleeting desires of the world we are truly in exile! When humanity worships the trinity of me, myself and I instead of the true trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit we are sent into spiritual exile. Exactly like the people of God in the times of the prophets were called to return to the Lord by conversion of heart. Called to lay down their own needs, wants and desires and to return to God from which all blessings flow. Our God is truly the same yesterday, today and tomorrow and the message of the prophets remains unchanged throughout all of salvation history.
God Bless,
Deacon Jim
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
I appreciate your insight on the Book of Ezekiel. It's true that we, humans, are same in every era. Prophets like Ezekiel knew fallen nature of humans and tried to open people's eyes. Before I often imagined Ezekiel was probably treated as strange man with wicked doings. But now I have a different image in Ezekiel-he was a God-fearer and real person.
I loved your reference to our culture worshipping the Trinity of "me, myself and I." I've never heard that said before, and it just really resonated with me. Thank you.
Also, I struggle thinking of God today as the same God of yesterday. While there are times where I believe my life is certainly connected to the past, I just find it difficult to connect with some of the angry, punishing God stories from the OT.
Thanks for a thought-provoking post.
Jim,
Very well said. I agree that God has not changed his ways. As I have been reading the prophets I am noticing that much of what they are saying can be related to today's society just as much as back then.
Post a Comment