THE LORD SPOKE (November 11)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Ezekiel 16

It’s probably not something you’ll be using in family devotions. They won’t be teaching it in Children’s Church. In fact, Rabbi Eleazer ben-Hyrcanus said in the Mishnah that Ezekiel 16 should never be read or explained in public.

But it’s in the Bible. Why would that be? For most people today the fact that it’s buried in the Old Testament - and in a rather obscure book at that - is enough. No need to drag it out. Pretty easy to just forget it. But it’s in the Bible. What can be learned from it?

The ugliness of Jerusalem’s sin is not really that far removed from our own. It’s always easier to recognize someone else’s sin and we’re good at confessing other people’s sins, à la the Pharisee in Luke 18.

Consider this outline:

I. The Pathetic Condition of the Subject (vs. 1-14)
II. The Prostituting Conduct of the Sinner (vs. 15-34)
III. The Punishing Condemnation by the Sovereign (vs. 35-58)
IV. The Pardoning Covenant of the Savior (vs. 59-63)

This ugly chapter has a glorious conclusion. Though God will deal with Jerusalem as she deserves (vs. 59), yet will He remember His covenant (vs. 60). That little three-letter word “yet” is packed full of grace. In spite of all her sin, God will make atonement (vs. 63) and bring restoration. There’s nothing else like that in all the universe.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter
Bind my wand’ring heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it;
Seal it for Thy courts above.


Psalms 111-112

How do you “ponder the works of God”? One thing is sure, it’s not done quickly. “Ponder” and “quick” don’t fit in the same sentence.

Every man’s list will look slightly different, but look at the author’s list in Psalm 111:

vs. 3a - his deeds
vs. 3b - his righteousness
vs. 4a - his wonders
vs. 4b - his grace and compassion
vs. 5a - his provision
vs. 5b - his covenant
vs. 6a - his power
vs. 6b - his gifts
vs. 7a - his faithfulness and justice
vs. 7b-8 - his precepts/teachings
vs. 9a - his redemption
vs. 9b - his holiness

No doubt if he were to personalize it more, there would be some specific examples following each category on the list (like what we’re given in vs. 5 and 6). How about you? Does the list suggest things to you that are worth pondering? Can you formulate some personal examples in each category? If you can, you should. If you can’t, you need to slow down and ponder a little more.

Make your own list. Stop to ponder what God has done in your world of experience. Writing it down will help a lot. It will be the first of many steps that will lead you to right where this psalm ends - the fear of the Lord. That is the beginning of wisdom and understanding. As the psalm concludes, doing this will help you follow (= do!) the precepts of the Lord. Back in Psalm 19:7-9 that terminology is in parallel with statutes, commands, and ordinances - so it means being immersed in Scripture.

Thanks to God whose word was written
In the Bible's sacred page,
Record of the revelation
Showing God to every age.
God has spoken, God has spoken:
Praise God for his open word.

Thanks to God whose Word is answered
By the Spirit's voice within.
Here we drink of joy unmeasured,
Life redeemed from death and sin.
God is speaking, God is speaking:
Praise God for his open word.

R.T. Brooks