READING: Ezekiel 20:1-22:16
More than once, God required Ezekiel to act out what was going to take place. In today’s reading, the prophet was to illustrate in dramatic form the grief the people would feel when Jerusalem fell under God’s judgment. He was to “groan bitterly with a broken heart” (Ezek 21:6)—a phrase that recognizes the complete shattering of physical and emotional strength. He was to weep before the people, prepared to answer their question about what his bitter grief meant.
Every heart would melt. Everyone would be discouraged. All would be weak. It would be a devastating time, but God had said it would happen – so it would. Grief would abound. Ezekiel’s role was to prophecy what would come.
Here’s my question today: Ezekiel’s purpose for his expressed grief was different, but do we who know from God’s Word that judgment will someday fall on nonbelievers grieve over that reality? Are our hearts broken over coming anguish? Does that grief cut us to our core – and if it does, are we telling others about Christ so they might avoid that judgment?
PERSONAL REFLECTION: How do you answer these questions about grieving coming judgment?
DAILY PRAYER: “God, break my heart over people who reject You and who face Your judgment.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Ezekiel 22:17-23:49, 2 Kings 24:20-25:2, Jeremiah 52:3-5, Jeremiah 39:1, Ezekiel 24:1-14