September 10, 2010 Ezekiel 9-12

Ezekiel heard the men called who were to destroy Jerusalem. Six came through the north gate of the temple with deadly weapons. A seventh came forward with things to write with. God told the 7th man to mark foreheads of the people who were truly upset to see the sinful happenings in Jerusalem. He told the other 6 to follow him and kill anyone without the mark. Ezekiel was alone and asked God why? God told him that their sins were so horrible that He would have no pity on them. Then the man with things to write with came back and told God he had done what He asked.

In the courtyard of the temple, Ezekiel saw the same 4 winged creatures and wheels as before. The Lord told the man with the writing things to walk among the wheels and pick up as many hot coals as he could and then scatter them in Jerusalem.

The Lord's spirit lifted Ezekiel and took him to the east gate of the temple where he saw 25 men making evil plans. The Lord told Ezekiel to condemn them. The Lord's spirit took control of Ezekiel and he told the men they would die because of their evil schemes. The Lord told Ezekiel to tell the people that even though they weren't in the Holy Land, God would be with them. They could worship Him from wherever they were and He would bring them together again one day. Then Ezekiel saw the winged creatures leave and he was back in Babylon and told everyone what he had seen.

The Lord told Ezekiel to act out his captivity by digging a hole through the wall of his house and leave through it with a bag of his belongings, and walk away into the night. All this while everyone was watching. So he did. The Lord told Ezekiel that the people didn't get the message, so he had to tell them that this would happen to the leader of Jerusalem and the rest of the people would follow. Then the Lord told Ezekiel to shake with fear whenever he ate and tremble whenever he drank as a sign that everyone else would do the same. The Lord told Ezekiel that the people were fond of saying "Time passes, and prophets are proved wrong." He told Ezekiel to tell the people that they wouldn't say that again. The Lord also told Ezekiel that the things he had been told would come true quickly.

Tomorrow read Ezekiel 13:16:43