“Son of man, describe to the people of Israel the Temple I have shown you. Tell them its appearance and its plan so they will be ashamed of all their sins.” - Ezekiel 43:10
God’s voice can humble us, stand us up, and strengthen us to hear more. A glimpse of his glory puts us on our face; a touch of his Spirit sets us on our feet. Only then are we ready to hear his voice. We must be prepared to hear his voice because what we hear when the voice speaks may not always be what we expect or want to hear!
Ezekiel was told that his life would be hard and his ministry unappreciated (Ezekiel 2:6-7). God made him a watchman over people who didn’t want watching! Over and over, God told Ezekiel to deliver laments and dire messages of doom: “Sing this funeral song for the princes of Israel” (Ezekiel 19:1), and “Prophesy against the shepherds, the leaders of Israel” (Ezekiel 34:2). These strong words were for leaders and kings as well as Ezekiel’s peers. Then Ezekiel was told to speak to the people about the temple “so they will be ashamed of all their sins” (Ezekiel 43:10). Why? Because God required “absolute holiness” in his temple (Ezekiel 43:12). God’s words were meant to shame the people. The people didn’t want to hear what God had to say, but they surely needed to.
Are you sure you want to hear God’s voice? Are you willing to face what God may say to you? God wants you to listen to his words.
For Further Study: Ezekiel 43:1-12
Excerpted from The One Year Devotions for Women, Copyright ©2000 by Jill Briscoe. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
For more from Jill Briscoe, please visit TellingtheTruth.org.
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