The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Ezekiel 15:2-5,
Jerusalem had become as a useless vine for the Lord's purposes. Although Israel had been chosen by God as his own covenant people (because of the faith of Abraham) for the purpose of rolling out his plan of redeeming mankind, they had placed themselves in a position where they were no longer useful to him. They were no longer fit for service to him, they had lost their purpose in the things of God and as such, there would be no satisfaction or fulfillment for them in this life. All they had to look forward to was their own destruction at the hands of God. All this because they had turned their backs on God. They had literally placed themselves beyond usefulness for God's intentions for them.
It is not as though Israel was finished in God's purposes. However, in their current condition of sin and apostasy, they were worthless to him. They now faced God's judgment, and, hopefully, through all God would send their way, they might become useful once again to him.
I can't think of a more discouraging and disheartening position to be in than to find oneself without purpose in life. Yet, having turned their backs on God, this is exactly where they placed themselves.
It is never a good thing to turn against God. Only in him do we find meaningful existence, purposeful existence, fulfilling existence.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"Son of man [Ezekiel], how is the wood of a vine different from that of a branch from any of the trees in the forest? Is wood ever taken from it to make anything useful? Do they make pegs from it to hang things on? And after it is thrown on the fire as fuel and the fire burns both ends and chars the middle, is it then useful for anything? If it was not useful for anything when it was whole, how much less can it be made into something useful when the fire has burned it and it is charred?
Jerusalem had become as a useless vine for the Lord's purposes. Although Israel had been chosen by God as his own covenant people (because of the faith of Abraham) for the purpose of rolling out his plan of redeeming mankind, they had placed themselves in a position where they were no longer useful to him. They were no longer fit for service to him, they had lost their purpose in the things of God and as such, there would be no satisfaction or fulfillment for them in this life. All they had to look forward to was their own destruction at the hands of God. All this because they had turned their backs on God. They had literally placed themselves beyond usefulness for God's intentions for them.
It is not as though Israel was finished in God's purposes. However, in their current condition of sin and apostasy, they were worthless to him. They now faced God's judgment, and, hopefully, through all God would send their way, they might become useful once again to him.
I can't think of a more discouraging and disheartening position to be in than to find oneself without purpose in life. Yet, having turned their backs on God, this is exactly where they placed themselves.
It is never a good thing to turn against God. Only in him do we find meaningful existence, purposeful existence, fulfilling existence.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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