September 04, 2020: SOAP #3928:  Ezekiel 22-24; Revelation 9

Scripture:  Ezekiel (NIV) 22:26 Her priests do violence to my law and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.
27 Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill people to make unjust gain.
28 Her prophets whitewash these deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations. They say, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says’—when the LORD has not spoken.

Observation:   The Israelites had been freed from the slavery in Egypt to become a nation of people who honored the One True God.  God had chosen them for a special purpose, to bring forth the Messiah, the Savior of the world. 

In these verses, God, through the prophet Ezekiel, brings accusations against three groups of people, against the priests, against the government leaders, and against the prophets.  Instead of helping Israel move toward its special purpose, they hindered God’s plan.     

Application:   The church today needs those same ministries.  We need priests/pastors who will teach the people about sin and how we can determine what is sin.   We need government leaders who are servants of the people and not out to enrich themselves and making laws that they are not required to follow.  We need prophets, evangelists, TV preachers who tell us what God is really saying.      

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, today, more than ever before, we need your presence and ministry in the church.  With so many voices on TV and radio and internet, with so many books and so many claiming to be speaking for God, we need your wisdom in whom we follow and to whom we listen. Help us to know the Bible for ourselves so that we will not be deceived.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!