Ezekiel 32-33

When we see mighty men fall, it should cause us all to tremble.  "I will trouble the hearts of many peoples, when I bring about your destruction" (32:9).

Chapter 33 has the memorable imagery of Ezekiel being a "watchman for the people of Israel."  How should that look for us today?

"I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked person should turn from his ways and live.  Repent, repent of your evil ways!  Why will you die, house of Israel?" (33:11).

Read it here.

Ezekiel 29-31

There was a day when the whole world shook before the tyranny of Egypt.  Even the seas were ruled by her.  Her kings' images were carved into stone and their bones were buried under the mighty pyramids.  If you had been an Egyptian in her days of glory you would have thought your nation to be impregnable...maybe even omnipotent!

Guess not.  Maybe there is a lesson here.

Read it here.

Ezekiel 27-28

"Your heart is proud, and you have said, 'I am a god'."

The most proud and secure and god-like of people are often the ones to fall the hardest.  Does ch. 28 describe Lucifer?  Perhaps.  It also speaks to all who sit proudly and autonomously.  There is a God in heaven!

Read it here.

Ezekiel 24-26

What happens when God takes away "the pride of your power, the delight of your eyes, and the desire of your heart?"  The people of Israel loved their Temple more than the One who indwelled the Temple.  That magnificent building - built to worship God - became a god to the people.  And it had to go.

Read it here.

Ezekiel 21-23

"This is what the Lord says: I am against you!"(21:3).  In our world of political correctness and religious sentimentalism, the Lord breaks through and let's us know that we can land ourselves on the wrong side of Him.

"YOU have brought your judgment days near." (22:4).  What?  Personal responsibility??  We will be held accountable for our sins?

Ezekiel describes their sin vividly...shockingly.  God hates sin.

Read it here.

Ezekiel 18-20

"Throw off all your transgressions you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit." (18:31).  God seems to always throw out the lifeline.  Let's grab for it!

Sometimes God let's us go and chase the idols that we think will satisfy.  Then when we've been burned and come humbly back to Him, we loather ourselves for all the evil we chose over God (20:43).  That is when we cry out our praise to the One who did not spare us because of our righteous acts, but because of His great name (20:44).

The gospel is woven throughout this whole book!

Read it here.

Ezekiel 16-17

"You slaughtered my children and gave them up..."

After God did so much for His people, rescuing them from certain destruction, they responded by raging in their sin!  And the helpless children they bore were senselessly murdered.

Helpless children were rescued only to murder their own helpless children.

And we wonder why God judges the earth!

Read it here.

Ezekiel 13-15

What is to happen when even the "prophets" of God speak lies?  It seems like these words could be spoken over us today.  Prophets telling people, "Peace" when there is no peace.

Who are they speaking for?

Read it here.

Ezekiel 10-12

God's glory begins to leave the Temple - the place where God would meet with His people.

I'm leaving you.

At first He pauses at the gate.  He journeys a bit further and pauses just at the edge of the city.

Was anyone running after Him, begging Him not to go?

Read it here.

Ezekiel 7-9

The end has come.  The end is now upon you.  The end has come, the end has come!  The time has come; the day is near.  Look!  The day is coming!  The time has come; the day has arrived.

These repeated phrases were to jolt the people awake.  They were carrying on as if they would never have to give an account to God.

What if we were given a vision of what was to come?  Would it change us?

Read it here.

Ezekiel 4-6

God calls Ezekiel to give very visual sermons to His people.  His meaning will not be missed.  Important question: Why is God going to such measures to let the people know of His coming vengeance?  There can be only one answer: He is calling them to repent and come back to Him.

The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)  

Read it here.

Ezekiel 1-3

In 597 BC a large contingency of Israelites were taken into captivity to Babylonia.  Ezekiel the prophet was among them.  From there God gave him dramatic visions.  "The heavens opened and I saw visions of God."

Ezekiel had his work cut out for him.  God describes His people as obstinate, hard-headed, hard-hearted and rebellious.  He even calls them "pagans."  It was highly unlikely that these fellow-captives would give Ezekiel a hearing.  But Ezekiel had a message to give to them.  And God would hold him responsible to speak for Him - no matter what response he got.

Strap it in, here we go!

Read it here.

Psalms 149-150

The epic Grand Finale of the psalms.  Why did they put these two songs right at the end of this collection?  I think it was so that we would hear that we are to continually come up with new songs to the Lord.  These were not to be the last songs...but just an inspiration to countless songs that would come from His people.  May new songs be sung and played with every instrument and joined by every voice in every place.

Sing it, world.  LET EVERYTHING THAT HAS BREATH PRAISE THE LORD!

Read them here.

Psalms 147-148

He is not impressed by the strength of a horse;

He does not value the power of a man.
The Lord values those who fear Him,
those who put their hope in His faithful love.

Read them here.

Psalms 144-146

David was a strong, powerful military leader.  People wrote songs about his heroics.  David didn't sing them.  These are the songs he sang.  Read them and imagine a decorated general singing these words.  It will dramatically color each stanza.

Read them here.

Psalms 141-143

Lord, I call to You; hurry to help me.
I cry aloud to the Lord; I cry aloud to the Lord for mercy.
Lord, hear my prayer.  In Your faithfulness, listen to my plea.

These are the first lines of these three psalms.  What follows from the heart of this desperate child of God?

Read them here.

Psalms 138-140

Though the Lord is exalted,
He takes note of the humble;
but He knows the haughty from a distance.
(Psalm 138:6)

Psalm 139 ... God knows us thoroughly and has since we came to life in our mother's womb.  The only appropriate response?  "Search me, O God, and know my heart."

I want to be known by You, Lord!

Read them here.

Psalms 133-137

All the thankfulness and songs of praise come to an abrupt end when you arrive at Psalm 137.  For there we are transported to a distant land where the psalmist is longing to be home - back in the land of Promise.  Their sin landed them there - and there the joyful songs (like Psalm 136) won't form on their lips.

Read them here.

Psalms 130-132

As you continue in this journey of ascents ... making your way to Jerusalem, these psalms give you much to meditate on.  You can sense the longing to see God, to be with Him, and to be humbled in His presence.

As you near the end of Psalm 132 you get the idea that the psalmist is seeing the Temple - the place one goes to meet with God!

Read them here.

Psalms 125-129

Think about walking toward Jerusalem to worship the God you love.  As you see the mountain before you, these words come spilling from your mouth as you join the chorus of voices on the road...

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion.
It cannot be shaken; it remains forever.
Jerusalem--the mountains surround her.
And the Lord surrounds His people,
both now and forever more.

Get caught up in the praise!

Read them here.

Psalm 120-124

This set of Psalms contains one that God has used in my life more than perhaps any other - Psalm 121.  My son, Collin, even has it tattooed on his arm!

These "Songs of Ascents" were sung by God's people as they made pilgrimage UP to Jerusalem.  All ascended up to that place of worship because it sits at a high elevation from all its surroundings.

They sing of confidence and trust in the Lord.  May they strengthen you in your journey toward the New Jerusalem.

Read them here.