I have a special addition to our Ezekiel notes in which I share my heart and explain how I finally found “church” after decades of being a Believer. It is available in audio and print. Click here to read or listen to it if you’d like.

GOOD MORNING, Siblings!

Today’s readings are Ezekiel 13-15

Read today’s verses on BibleGateway by clicking here.

Rabbit Trails

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
    nor be weary when reproved by him.
For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
    and chastises every son whom he receives.”

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.  Hebrews 12:6-12

Read that again. If you’re feeling a bit beaten down by all we’ve read. If your toes are bruised from being stepped on. If your heart aches for the distance you didn’t realize you’d put between you and the Father – this is evidence of your return to Him. And His loving correction is evidence of His return to you. Pay attention beyond the correction and you’ll notice that His grace, blessings, and love are there as well.

And now onto the notes for today’s readings.

Ezekiel 13:2-3

“Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel, who are prophesying, and say to those who prophesy from their own hearts: ‘Hear the word of the Lord!’ Thus says the Lord God, Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! Ezekiel 13:2-3 

Whose hearts are these prophecies coming from? Whose spirit are these false prophets following? The same is true for false prophets today.

Ezekiel 13:6

They have seen false visions and lying divinations. They say, ‘Declares the Lord,’ when the Lord has not sent them, and yet they expect Him to fulfill their word.

Now that is some boldness! But haven’t you seen it as well? Think about it. Have you not witnessed Believers ordering YHWH around in their public prayers and declarations? Have you been guilty of this? I sure have. “Father we want you to do this…” or “Father, we declare that you will do this…” I’ve seen it far more blatant than this even. I’ve seen television preachers commanding the Father to do things in line with their will. The point I’m trying to make here is that we just need to be mindful of issuing commands to the Father because we will see that example in the world around us, in people we respect, and in “spiritual” leaders. But just because the world goes sideways doesn’t mean we have to go with it. We can still live in reverence to YHWH.

He is not our genie in a lamp. He is God.

Ezekiel 13:18 speaks of “magic bands” in the ESV translation. Other translations may call these magic charms, etc. Just in case you were wondering what that was talking about.  Think “lucky” objects like rabbit’s feet and “lucky” coins. These also fit that description.

Ezekiel 14:3 “Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their hearts, and set the stumbling block of their iniquity before their faces. Should I indeed let myself be consulted by them?

Not to beat a dead horse here but a couple of questions to consider.

  • Who chose to take these idols into their hearts?
  • Who set them as a stumbling block before them?

Choices. We make these choices for ourselves. And some of the choices we make separate us from YHWH.

Ezekiel 14:12-23 demonstrates an important principle that I’ve talked about countless times: A people may be condemned through their actions but the individual still has a choice. Or, as I said just a minute ago: Just because the world goes sideways doesn’t mean we have to go with it. 

Let’s look at what the Father is declaring:

12 And the word of the Lord came to me: 13 “Son of man, when a land sins against me by acting faithlessly, and I stretch out my hand against it and break its supply of bread and send famine upon it, and cut off from it man and beast, 14 even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver but their own lives by their righteousness, declares the Lord God. Ezekiel 14:12-14

The Father has just told us that if a land (country) were condemned because of their actions and there were three men as righteous as Noah, Daniel, and Job within it, He would not exempt the land from it’s judgement but, rather, deliver just the remnant that resided within the land. Wow. I don’t know about you, but that is a bombshell revelation to me. Lest me think we misunderstood Him, the Father goes on to repeat that same statement in different forms three times in this passage.

15 “If I cause wild beasts to pass through the land, and they ravage it, and it be made desolate, so that no one may pass through because of the beasts, 16 even if these three men were in it, as I live, declares the Lord God, they would deliver neither sons nor daughters. They alone would be delivered, but the land would be desolate. Ezekiel 14:15-16

17 “Or if I bring a sword upon that land and say, Let a sword pass through the land, and I cut off from it man and beast, 18 though these three men were in it, as I live, declares the Lord God, they would deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they alone would be delivered. Ezekiel 14:17-18

19 “Or if I send a pestilence into that land and pour out my wrath upon it with blood, to cut off from it man and beast, 20 even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, declares the Lord God, they would deliver neither son nor daughter. They would deliver but their own lives by their righteousness. Ezekiel 14:19-20

When does a parent repeat themselves? When it is important. 

Ezekiel 14:22-23 shows us who is saved and reiterates why they are chosen to be saved.

22 But behold, some survivors will be left in it, sons and daughters who will be brought out; behold, when they come out to you, and you see their ways and their deeds, you will be consoled for the disaster that I have brought upon Jerusalem, for all that I have brought upon it. 23 They will console you, when you see their ways and their deeds, and you shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, declares the Lord God.”

Why would Ezekiel be consoled by their ways and their deeds? These are righteous people who walk in the ways of the Father.

May our ways and deeds encourage, strengthen, and console one another in this lost world in which we live. 

March on, Remnant.

The King is coming.

I initially had written much more for today but removed about half of it because I know hearts are so heavy right now as it is. I’ve published the part I removed as it’s own stand alone post entitled “Going To Church”. Click here to read that if you would like. 


Test everything, hold tight to what is good.~ 1 Thess 5:21

We are saved by Grace alone: Obedience is not the root of our salvation, it is the fruit!

May YHWH bless the reading of His Word!

Print This Post Print This Post

Christy Jordan
Latest posts by Christy Jordan (see all)