Ezekiel 5

“And you, son of man, take a sharp sword, take it as a barber’s razor, and pass it over your head and your beard; then take scales to weigh and divide the hair. You shall burn with fire one-third in the midst of the city when the days of the siege are finished; then you shall take one-third and strike around it with the sword, and one-third you shall scatter in the wind: I will draw out a sword after them. You shall also take a small number of them and bind them in the edge of your garment. Then take some of them again and throw them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire. From there, a fire will go out into all the houses of Israel. Thus says the Lord God: ‘This is Jerusalem; I have set her in the midst of the nations and the countries all around her. She has rebelled against My judgments by doing wickedness more than the nations, and against My statutes more than the countries that are all around her; for they have refused My judgments, and they have not walked in My statutes.’” Ezekiel 5:1-6 (HCSB)

Those of us who get weary of what God asks us to do should remember what He asked the prophets to do in His name. Then, we should consider closely the words of Paul:

“Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.” 1 Corinthians 14:1 (NKJV)

To imagine doing Ezekiel’s job for even a few days is difficult, but Ezekiel’s faithfulness shines in his willingness to do the same task every day for over a year! We might be called upon to perform many tasks that may be regarded as humdrum and others that might attract ridicule from an unbelieving world. But God calls us to be faithful, even if that means becoming fools on behalf of the Gospel.

“We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!” 1 Corinthians 4:10 (NKJV)

God hates sin. And how had His people sinned? They turned their backs on God and His covenant – a covenant in which the warnings that those who disobeyed it would incur its curses. (Deuteronomy 27, 28) Those who serve other gods are guilty of violating the purpose for which they were created. At the time of today’s chapter, Jerusalem’s destruction was only five years away, and it was the direct result of the people’s sin. In light of that harsh truth, we can appreciate God’s love for us and Jesus’ atoning sacrifice on our behalf.

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (NIV)

As sure as the destruction of Jerusalem was prophesied and fulfilled with complete accuracy, so too will the prophecies of the Day of the Lord in the Book of Revelation come to pass. Will you choose to be a rebel or participate in the Remnant?