April 2, 2025

God was particular on how the priest should conduct business, especially in the temple. He was even concerned with how they dressed and the specific fabric used; He wanted them to stay cool, so He told them to dress in linen so they wouldn’t sweat, and they were to change clothes before ministering to the people. Did you know that Adam and Eve didn’t sweat until after the fall? Sweating was a part of the curse. The priests were not to grow their hair long because it was feminine, but they were also not to shave it off but were to keep it short. They were not allowed to marry a widow unless she was the widow of a priest. God had His reasons for the many rules for His priests; He is holy and expects reverence and conformity when ministering to Him. Thankfully, as priests in the kingdom, we are sanctified by Jesus, and that is enough to minister to God. Jesus is the holy one; we are hidden in him, so God also recognizes us as holy. It is such a privilege to have Jesus as our Savior. Make sure you tell him how grateful you are for your salvation. 

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 1 Peter 2:9

And it shall come to pass, that when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, whiles they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within. Ezekiel 44:17

April 1, 2025

Ezekiel sets a beautiful scene in the description of the vision God gave him. God allowed him to see His glory fill the temple. What a privilege it must have been to witness such magnificence. One of the points made by The Matthew Henry Commentary was that Ezekiel didn’t describe God’s presence as a cloud, so this could mean his vision was that of the temple in the millennial kingdom or that of the temple in heaven because it is unveiled. 

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18

Do your best to manage here on earth and spend your time building your relationship with God, obeying his command to tell others about Jesus, and praise and worship Him. Our time here is short compared to eternity, but we can learn of God’s goodness by immersing ourselves in the scriptures and relishing the words He has given us for our comfort and to build our knowledge of Him. Many are dying without ever knowing Jesus; don’t be a gatekeeper; tell others what you know so they too might be saved.

And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east. So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house. Ezekiel 43:4-5

March 31, 2025

In Ezekiel’s description of the Temple as God gave him and accompanied by the angel, he describes many private chambers. 

Now the upper chambers were shorter: for the galleries were higher than these, than the lower, and than the middlemost of the building. For they were in three stories, but had not pillars as the pillars of the courts: therefore the building was straitened more than the lowest and the middlemost from the ground. Ezekiel 42:5-6

What were those chambers for? It’s possible that they were for the private worship of God. We have congregational worship, but we are also expected to worship God in secret.

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:6

In this verse, Jesus explains that we need to reach out to God secretly where only He sees us. He brought this up because many wanted others to see their devotion to God; Jesus saw what they were doing and knew it had nothing to do with their devotion to God but was a way to increase themselves in front of other people. Somehow they thought it made them look holy. When you worship in public, do you draw attention to yourself? Is your display about Jesus or is it about you? Do you stand on the front row and carry on so others see you or do you keep your worship reverent and solemn before God? Worship is to raise up God, not you. Assess your actions, determine if they are for God or for yourself, and make the appropriate corrections.

March 30, 2025

The angel gives Ezekiel the interior details of the temple and the separate building adjacent to the temple. Ezekiel was a priest, but being in captivity kept him from being able to participate in the duties that he had probably prepared his entire life to do. Though I’m purely speculating, maybe God gave him this vision, attended by an angel, so that he could see and understand the inner workings of the temple. Look at how intimate God is with him, especially since He shared the most holy details of His special place. Though Ezekiel may have been more committed to God than most of us, he was still just a human like you and me, and God thought it fitting to give him an image of His holy temple. He honored him and loved him enough to give him a glimpse into a missing part of his life. Isn’t that precious? We can always count on God to make up for something we may be missing. I’ve prayed for God to fill in the gaps in my understanding of the scriptures, and little by little, the Holy Spirit is guiding me in that direction. God truly loves us beyond our capacity to understand. Pray for the things you feel you are missing or lack comprehension, and wait patiently for His reply. Like Ezekiel, He will show you or give you understanding because He loves you. Worship Him with all your heart and praise His holy name. We are unworthy of Him, but He calls us worthy. 

So he measured the length thereof, twenty cubits; and the breadth, twenty cubits, before the temple: and he said unto me, This is the most holy place. Ezekiel 41:4

March 29, 2025

God gave Ezekiel a detailed description of the Temple with measurements, locations of arches and windows, and a myriad of other details. The instructions are so vast that it takes up the next several chapters of Ezekiel. We know that the Temple resides within us because of Jesus’s gift to us of the Holy Spirit. If God had spent so much time describing in great detail the Temple and all the chambers and rooms for the different people groups, how much more do you think we should include other Christians in the Temple of our being? Ezekiel describes many different rooms, much like when Jesus told us he was going to make a place for us in his Father’s house. The Matthew Henry Commentary mentions that all the different rooms could be like the different church denominations. That makes sense, but notice that they are all under the same roof. I believe God will give us a certain amount of grace concerning our misunderstanding of the scriptures, though I think we should be diligent in seeking the truth as best we can. God will clean us up and refine our understanding as we submit to Him. The one thing that is very clear is that we need Jesus; without him, there would be no Priest for our Temple, and we would be lost forever. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33

And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel. Ezekiel 40:4

March 28, 2025

Ezekiel continued his end-time prophecy against Gog, who represents the antichrist, and Magog. They position themselves as invaders, but there will not be a fight! The invaders will come to fight against Israel, and they will die by the hand of God, and he will set Magog on fire.

And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand. Ezekiel 39:3

There will be so many of them that it will take seven months to bury them; all the people will help to cleanse the land of the bodies. After the seven months, when most of the bodies are buried, abled men will be assigned to the duty of burial to cover the bones of the ones not readily seen and the ones where birds had feasted on the flesh. There will be so many weapons left that they will use them as firewood for their home, allowing time for the forests to flourish. Then, Jesus will reveal himself to Israel, pour out His Holy Spirit upon them, and they will know he is God. 

Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD. Ezekiel 39:29

March 27, 2025

From what I’ve found, no one knows who Gog and Magog are. However, what we do know is that they will come against Israel, and God will destroy them. Historians and commentators are unsure whether they represent an actual leader and country or if it’s a reference to the enemy; you can guess all you want, but that won’t make it the truth. God gives Israel the outcome of their enemy first as comfort so they know they will eventually prevail in the hands of God. 

And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: Ezekiel 38:4

Gog and Magog are also mentioned in Revelation as a precursor to tribulation. In Revelation, Gog and Magog, God's enemies, are sent to the lake of fire. Our enemies are God's enemies and will not prevail against Him if they deny Him. I'm not talking about an occasional spat with another Christ-follower as your enemy, these enemies reject God and refuse His deity. Work out your differences with other Christians; they are not the enemy. We can be sure that God's plan for us is perfect, and no matter the outcome we see here on earth, the promise of a new heaven and new earth awaits us, and we will dwell with Jesus forever. 

March 26, 2025

The Spirit of the Lord came upon Ezekiel, and he had a vision of dry bones; there were many of them, enough to make an army. God asked him if dry bones could live, and Ezekiel replied that only He knew. God told him to speak to the dry bones, so he did what He commanded and spoke to them, and they came together with sinews and flesh but had no life in them. God told him to prophesy to the four winds and tell them to breathe on them, and they stood on their feet, came to life, and created a great army. God told him that these were the people of Israel and indicated that they would be resurrected and brought back to their land. God was giving the people hope for the future, to know that after death, they would live again at the resurrection of the dead. He also prophesied that Israel and Judah would become one nation again. 

We have the same hope as Israel; Jesus came so that we all could hope for eternal life, become our King, and expect God to put our bodies back together to live in his new kingdom on earth. As a side note: this story is probably why some believers don’t want to be cremated, but if God can put new sinews and skin on old dry bones and make Adam out of dust, you can bet He can recreate your body from the dust of your bones. This story is another reason to hope for a future and to live your life for Jesus, worship the Father, and allow the Holy Spirit to help you turn your life around. 

And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD. Ezekiel 37:13-14

March 25, 2025

Some of us are hard-headed, and it takes a while for our hearts to tenderize. God knows this about us, and thankfully, He gave us time for our stony hearts to become flesh, soft, and malleable. As the voice of the Holy Spirit becomes more evident, our hearts become softer, allowing us to overcome the works of darkness and do the work God has called us to do. There are a lot of promises in Ezekiel 36 that we should commit to memory and even clarity as to why some churches sprinkle rather than full immersion. Interesting, right? Also, there is a promise that we don’t have to worry about famine! God promises no famine twice in this text. Here I am, putting away food like a happy homesteader when I shouldn’t be worried about such things. Or did God have me canning so our family wouldn’t be hungry? Hmm. The promises of God give us the ability to do His work and bring others to salvation in Jesus; without His grace, we couldn’t do it. 

Here are the highlights of God’s promises in Ezekiel 36:

God will:

1. Sanctify His great name. Vs. 23
2. Gather us out of the heathen into our own land. Vs. 24
3. Sprinkle us with water to cleanse us. Vs. 25
4. Put His spirit in us, replace our stony hearts, so we walk in His ways. Vs. 26
5. Be our God, and we will be His people. Vs. 27
6. Save us from our uncleanliness. Vs. 28
7. Increase the corn and multiply the fruit so we don’t have to worry about famine. Vs. 29-30

Doesn’t that warm your heart and help you relax? It does me.

Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your ownsight for your iniquities and for your abominations. Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord GOD, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel. Ezekiel 36:31-32

March 24, 2025

The land of Israel was desolate, and the Edomites were happy because they thought they could take it over and enrich themselves off the land. Ezekiel prophesied against them because they rejoiced rather than become terrified of Israel’s punishment. It was like when one child was getting punished, and the other laughed, thinking they could have the punished child’s snack. God does not take kindly to such behavior. 

And say unto it, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O mount Seir, I am against thee, and I will stretch out mine hand against thee, and I will make thee most desolate. Ezekiel 35:3

As we begin to notice people being punished for their actions and justice being served, we should take notice, be cognizant of our behavior, and learn from their conduct so we are not also admonished. We can see that justice is on the horizon for those who have taken advantage of the American people and people worldwide who have suffered at the hands of filthy governments. However, we must be careful; it’s okay to feel relieved, but we shouldn’t go too far because we don’t want to be reprimanded for rejoicing over their punishment as the Edomites did.

Thus with your mouth ye have boasted against me, and have multiplied your words against me: I have heard them. Thus saith the Lord GOD; When the whole earth rejoiceth, I will make thee desolate. Ezekiel 35:13-14

March 23, 2025

God sees our struggles and knows the hands that caused them. He told Ezekiel to prophesy against the shepherds who scattered His flock, who got rich off them and fattened themselves rather than caring for them. Notice Matthew’s Commentary, which was written in the 1600s, and what he says here: “It is ill with the patient when his physician is his worst disease, ill with the flock when the shepherds drive them away and disperse them, by ruling them with force.”  We can see from his comment that history repeats itself, and we are reliving a scenario much like it was in his day and back when the scripture was written. We have been so slowly immersed in oppression that we don’t recognize that we are oppressed. However, when the cost of living becomes so high that we can barely afford to eat, the eyes of the oppressed begin to open, revealing the truth. I know my children couldn’t be the only ones feeling it. The good news is that God sees our struggles and has a plan to remediate them. Ezekiel predicted the promise of the good King, Jesus, our Messiah. You can understand why, when he came as a baby and grew up to become a dynamic teacher and preacher, Israel was disappointed that he wasn’t saving them out of their trouble right then and there. That’s why they denied him and his deity. Now, we await him and expect a warrior to come and save us; he will! Be patient. Pray for your situation and believe that our salvation is near. He is coming back; we can be sure of that. 

And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid. And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more. Ezekiel 34:28-29

March 22, 2025

Ezekiel was put in place to be a watchman over the children of Israel. Did you know that Jesus put us in charge of warning people, much like he did Ezekiel? It's a heavy calling, but necessary to bring salvation to the world. If we don't warn the people of their pending doom, their blood could be on our hands.

But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand. Ezekiel 33:6

Was this warning only to Ezekiel? No. It is also a warning to those of us who God commissioned for such a time as this.How do you know you are commissioned? Jesus told us before he ascended to go!

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:19-20

Here is a warning: It may seem that things are getting better, making us complacent and thinking we have more time, but we don't. God's plan is still running its course, so we must continue to engage in conversations about Jesus and spreading the truth. The internet and social media have given us far more opportunities than ever before to share the good news. Use some of that scrolling time to tell the world about Jesus.  

March 21, 2025

We mustn’t rejoice over the demise of the goats, those people on the left. It seems evident that a separation is taking place, and Jesus is parting us out. Their eyes are blinded, and they cannot see the truth about who Jesus is. Satan has them in his hands and has sent them out to torment the children of God. However, their time is short, and it won’t be long before the truth is revealed to everyone. Those who failed to exalt Jesus will bow to him and face their end. Even though Egypt was trouble for Israel and Judah, He told Ezekiel to take up a lamentation for them. However, God was not very kind in his words about them, but as with anyone doomed for destruction, we are to cry to Him for their salvation. Just as Jesus spoke to God saying, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do,” we are to pray for them that they might hear our words, turn to Jesus, and away from their wickedness. Even though God is the one who ultimately allows the demise of worldly people, He still wants us to feel sorry for them, pray for them, and do our part to encourage their salvation in Jesus; it’s part of our commission. Lament for the lost and those who hate you; your efforts to bring them to Christ will bring rewards in Heaven.

This is the lamentation wherewith they shall lament her: the daughters of the nations shall lament her: they shall lament for her, even for Egypt, and for all her multitude, saith the Lord GOD. Ezekiel 32:16

March 20, 2025

The prophecy in Ezekiel 31 occurred before Jerusalem was taken. A warning went out to Pharaoh, who had exalted himself above all others. He was likened to a tree that stood taller than all the rest, and there were no others to whom he could compare. That puts him in a precarious position because the next great height was God, and He doesn’t like when someone exalts themselves to those heights nor when others raise them to that point. God is the only one we should elevate. The United States finds itself in a similar situation as Egypt in that we have an elected official who stands above all other kings, monarchs, and presidents around the world; he is very well known for his dealings. If we are not careful, as a nation, we could find ourselves in a situation where God will use us for a purpose and then punish us for mistreating others. Don’t get complacent; remember that we are not too big to fall! How are we any better than Pharaoh? We have this going for us: we are a nation that loves and respects Jesus, and we have no other gods to worship. There are people who we’ve let in our country that worship other gods, so our hope is that he only takes them out and that we do not become collateral damage from friendly fire. However, if that were to happen, we know He will make it right when He takes us into heaven. The warning is to be careful in your dealings and not elevate yourself higher than others; God created all of us, and we have an obligation to lift Him above all others. 

Side note: don’t worry about what’s happening in our country;  sit back, eat your popcorn, and enjoy the show.

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast lifted up thyself in height, and he hath shot up his top among the thick boughs, and his heart is lifted up in his height; I have therefore delivered him into the hand of the mighty one of the heathen; he shall surely deal with him: I have driven him out for his wickedness. Ezekiel 31:10-11

March 19, 2025

You cannot stop God. If He intends to make corrections because the people have strayed or denied Him, His plan will prevail no matter what a government tries to do. The phrase “nothing can stop what’s coming” seems to be a word we can count on. Those who reject Jesus and deny God’s sovereignty will have a rude awakening when Jesus comes to take his place as King. Egypt was haughty and thought they were too big to be taken down, but God told Ezekiel to tell His plan and lament over Egypt. Why a lamentation? Because God would rather they repent and come to Him than require His correction. It is the same thing today. God wants our submission, to accept His gift of Jesus for salvation, to humble ourselves, and to repent. If we would turn from our worldly pursuits, deny ourselves, and turn to Him, and pray, He might relent, but if our country continues on its path of rejecting Jesus and denying God, He will have no choice but to correct us. Keep praying and repent every day, even if you don’t think you sinned; make it part of your prayers. Offer heartfelt praise and thanksgiving as a way of life. We must do our part to give as much time as possible to bring our friends and family into the sheepfold before God’s corrections occur. 

Thus will I execute judgments in Egypt: and they shall know that I am the LORD. Ezekiel 30:19

March 18, 2025

God told Ezekiel to prophesy against the pharaoh of Egypt. His complaint against him was that he was haughty in thinking he made and owned the river. 

Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself. Ezekiel 29:3

We must consider this a warning not to become too pleased with our accomplishments. Had it not been for God, nothing we have ever said or done would have happened, nor would we own anything without Him giving it to us. Don't forget that He also gives us our abilities; we did nothing to earn them, but because God entrusted us with His plan, He gave us the knowledge we needed for that purpose. What good are you doing if you are not using your gifts to further the kingdom of God? Do you think you earned the wealth you've accumulated? You haven't. Everything God has given you can also be taken away by Him, just as it happened with Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Thank God for everything you have because, without Him, we would still be dust. 

March 17, 2025

The king of Tyre was haughty and positioned himself as a god. Jewels and merchandise surrounded him. Because he thought of himself as greater than he ought, God sentenced him to die at the hands of strangers, like being thrown away at sea. God told Ezekiel to take up a lamentation for the king; in it, he described all his riches and that he was like a cherub in the Garden of Eden, guarding the entrance to paradise. Sadly, when you think of yourself as a god, the One True God will put you in your place, and that’s what happened to the king of Tyre. Compared to our current situation, I can see the current leader of the free world being a king similar to the king of Tyre, dripping with wealth and holding unimaginable power. I can see him resembling him more than David or the Persian king, but let’s hope that’s not the case; only time will tell. Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful for what he is doing for our country, but I have no intention of putting him ahead of God, nor should you. God can use whoever he wants to bring about His plan. As a precaution, sleep in your armor, and God will do the rest. We are hidden in Jesus so we can rest peacefully knowing he has us covered, but if you must unsheathe the sword, remember that God fights for us, so we need not worry. 

And they shall dwell safely therein, and shall build houses, and plant vineyards; yea, they shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgments upon all those that despise them round about them; and they shall know that I am the LORD their God. Ezekiel 28:26

March 16, 2025

God told Ezekiel to write a lamentation for Tyre. If you remember, they rejoiced over the devastation of Jerusalem; we shouldn’t be happy over someone’s ruin. Ezekiel recounted all the attributes of Tyre; because of his description, it was a place that I would have liked to visit, with its wealth, beauty, and desirable merchandise, much like visiting a high-end Walmart with everything you could imagine, only better. God’s recount of Tyre through Ezekiel even made me lament their destruction. I feel like it was a beautiful place we never got to see. Its undoing made me think about what could happen to the United States and all the wonderful things we enjoy if God ever decided to punish us for what the extreme liberals have done by rejecting the sovereignty of God. Our beauty and fortune could disappear like Tyre. I hope He still considers us blessed because we are still free to worship Him and because there are more of us who honor Him than those who dishonor Him. Stand firm, mighty warriors of God, fight against the powers and principalities seeking to destroy our nation, and pray that God would route them in every endeavor to come against us, His beloved Church, the beacon on a hill that shines for all to see. 

These were thy merchants in all sorts of things, in blue clothes, and broidered work, and in chests of rich apparel, bound with cords, and made of cedar, among thy merchandise. The ships of Tarshish did sing of thee in thy market: and thou wast replenished, and made very glorious in the midst of the seas. Ezekiel 27:24-25

March 15, 2025

Just when I thought I couldn’t learn anything from God’s vengeance on the enemies of Israel and Judah, He opened my eyes to the truth. What could we possibly learn from these other countries? Tyre wasn’t an enemy of Judah and Jerusalem but was a rival. When Jerusalem fell at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, they were happy because now they could prosper more by filling the needs of Jerusalem’s customers. God doesn’t see things the same as we do, and He was not happy with them for rejoicing over the destruction of His people and sent Nebuchadnezzar to take over their country, too. Their destruction was so bad that they would never be heard from again. We should learn from their experience and shouldn’t be happy about the destruction of others because the recompense of God will come down hard on those who are delighted over someone’s misfortune. God expects us to love our neighbors, so we should expect His correction if we provoke Him for not keeping His commands. Like a dear friend reminded me, vengeance is not as satisfying as you would expect. Let God handle the correction, but do not rejoice in the misfortune of others, even your enemy. 

I will make thee a terror, and thou shalt be no more: though thou be sought for, yet shalt thou never be found again, saith the Lord GOD. Ezekiel 26:21

March 14, 2025

Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord. In the following seven chapters of Ezekiel, he prophesies against Israel's enemies. When God corrects us, it is loving, but when he corrects others for oppressing His children, especially those who reject Him and seek after fake gods, it is wrath! When someone hurts me or my family, I seethe with anger and desire to lash out against them with revenge. However, that's not the best idea because who can cause more harm to them than God? Rather than take things into your own hands, pray that you might see the outcome of His vengeance. Now remember, seeing it may not be part of God's plan, but it would sure feel good to know that the pain they caused us doesn't go unpunished. You can be sure that even if you don't get to witness God's vengeance on your behalf, there will be consequences for their actions against you. Cry out to God and allow Him to relieve your anger. Ask Him for justice. He is loving and will calm your anger and soothe your pain. Don't forget, He wants your enemy to turn away from evil and seek Him, too, and turn to His Son, our Savior, Jesus, and come under His covering. At the time, we may wish they burn in hell for the rest of their lives, but we don't understand that kind of pain and should never want that for anyone. The best revenge is to see them turn themselves around and come to know the Lord, which will make things better for everyone.

And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them. Ezekiel 25:17