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Dear Heavenly Father, Praise The book of Ezekiel ends with the words, “And the name of [Jerusalem] from that time on shall be, The Lord Is There (Yahweh-Sammah)” (Ezek 48:35b). This means that one day you will dwell with your people forever. Never again will they be separated from you because of sin. Israel will be your people, and you will be their God! How wonderful to serve a God who tabernacles with His people! Hallelujah! Today in Your Word Today you shared with me the last of Ezekiel’s vision of the Millennium. Life-giving water will come from beneath the temple: half will flow west to the Mediterranean Sea, and half will flow east to the Jordan valley and the Dead Sea (Zech 14:8). The Dead Sea, which today is a symbol of barrenness and death, will be filled with fresh water and will teem with fish. This is a beautiful picture of the life and healing that comes from your presence. You are the God of life—the source of all blessing and health! The vision ends with the giving of Israel’s national boundaries and the allotment of the land to the tribes. The boundary of Israel in the future will be almost identical to its original border (Num 34:3–12); however, the tribal allotments will be the same size, with Joseph receiving two portions, and the Levites having their own land. Your people will dwell in the land, but it will not be for them alone. Any Gentiles who settle among the tribes will inherit portions of land just like the natives (Ezek 47:21–23). This shows your desire to incorporate Gentiles into the nation of Israel (cf. Lev 19:34). What a compelling picture of the unity between Jews and Gentiles through Jesus Christ, your Son! In Him, I’m a child of Abraham and a spiritual Jew (cf. Rom 9–11)! The book of Ezekiel ends with this vision of the future, but Ezekiel’s last prophecy was yet to come. Some two and half years later, you spoke to Ezekiel about Babylon’s siege of Tyre. The siege had lasted for almost 13 years, and just as Ezekiel predicted (Ezek 26:7–11), Nebuchadnezzar finally prevailed. However, he had gotten nothing from the city to pay for the long siege. So you said, “Behold, I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and he shall carry off its wealth and despoil it and plunder it; and it shall be the wages for his army. I have given him the land of Egypt as his payment for which he labored, because they worked for me, declares the Lord God” (Ezek 29:19–20). Amazing! Though he probably never realized it, Nebuchadnezzar had been doing the Lord’s work! This teaches me that the nations of men are under your sovereign control, and even their wars are turned to the purpose of your will! How much more is my life in your hands—I can rest safe and secure in the knowledge that you will guide and protect me! Reflection The book of Ezekiel gives a sobering account of how wickedness can drive away your presence. Am I living in consistent obedience to your will? Can it be said of my life, ‘The Lord Is There’? Request Father, impress the message of Ezekiel on my heart and mind. May I be so caught up in doing your will that I never even pause to consider the passing pleasures of sin! Thanksgiving Thank you for the glorious future that awaits the people of God. May all praise and honor and glory be to the Lamb! Hallelujah! In Jesus’ name, Amen. Suggested Hymn: “Shall We Gather at the River?” — Robert Lowry. Meditation Verse: Ezekiel 47:12. |