THE LORD SPOKE (November 5)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Ezekiel 3-4

Accountability. There are several different kinds of accountability. The IRS keeps us financially accountable, at least for paying taxes. The threat of high interest and penalty fees keeps us financially accountable in other ways. Many people are part of an accountability group or meet regularly with an accountability partner. Through gentle but firm prodding we help each other work on our areas of weakness or see our own blind spots before they become a major downfall.

Ezekiel brings up two areas of accountability which also makes us squirm a little:

Ezek. 3:16-19 - WATCH OUT FOR THE WICKED - TURN THEM TO RIGHTEOUSNESS

Like Ezekiel, we have a responsibility to watch out for wicked men and to warn them. Sinners all around us are going to die for their sin. We know the truth and, therefore, have a responsibility to warn them. It’s not enough to be righteous yourself and let them go on their merry way. It is our job to warn others and we will be held accountable for how we do in this area. Our modern American society gives us plenty of opportunity! Lot “was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men” (II Pet. 2:7). He was late in warning them and judgment came upon them, for which he suffered too.

Ezek. 3:20-21 - WATCH OUT FOR THE RIGHTEOUS - KEEP THEM FROM TURNING TO WICKEDNESS

Flip that coin and you see the other side. We are going to be held accountable for those who turn from righteousness to follow wickedness. This is probably most easily illustrated with children. Not that they are righteous of themselves, but we will be held accountable if we do not provide instruction and example to help them make the right choices in life. It’s not enough to be righteous yourself and let them make their own choices.

That’s an awesome responsibility, isn’t it?

By the way, make sure you stay accountable in your own life. Get some help. Find another believer who will help you (and whom you can help too). Preacher and best-selling author, Chuck Swindoll, has suggested the following accountability questions which you might find helpful. Adapt them as you need to but use them!

• Have you been with a woman anywhere this past week that might be seen as compromising?
• Have any of your financial dealings lacked integrity?
• Have you exposed yourself to any sexually explicit material?
• Have you spent adequate time in Bible study and prayer this week?
• Have you invested sufficient priority time with your family?
• Have you fulfilled the mandates of your pastoral role?
• Have you just lied to me?

Psalms 99-100

Psalms 93-100 form a collection within the larger collection of psalms. Seven compositions which frequently use the number seven (e.g. Ps. 99 uses the divine tetragramaton, represented by “LORD in English, seven times), these psalms are gems of Hebrew poetic artistry. The Hebrew parallelism is often seen in expanding stanzas, repeated refrains, and triplets that rise to a crescendo. Even in English translation, they express the majesty of God in human language in a way that lifts our soul. Each one of these seven hymns emphasizes the hope that God’s kingdom will soon spread over all the earth.

Psalm 100 provides a fitting close to this unit. It’s an ode to joy. The opening words are a call to worship the Lord with gladness, to express our joy in Him, to praise His name. When He made us, He put a song in our heart. For those who are His, thanksgiving and praise come naturally.

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near;
Praise Him in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord, who over all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen how thy desires ever have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
If with His love He befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him.
Let the Amen sound from His people again,
Gladly for aye we adore Him.