Visions
Day 407, Monday, Sept. 22
Ezekiel Chapters 1 – 3
The prophetic message of Ezekiel is similar to what we’ve read already in other prophets—the obedient will be saved and the disobedient will be damned—but Ezekiel writes in the language of fantastic visions. If you have ever read Revelation, much of the imagery will sound the same, as that writer draws on the images that would have been familiar to his readers from Ezekiel.
Ezekiel is cautioned early that the people may not listen to him, but he must speak God’s truth anyway.
In 2:7-8 we read, “You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious. But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious people; open your mouth and eat what I give you.”
The “eat what I give you” image comes from God in the vision giving Ezekiel a scroll and telling him to eat it. That is a visual way of saying to consume and digest God’s words—an image we will see again when we get to Revelation.
In chapter 3, beginning with verse 16, God warns Ezekiel of the consequences of failing to deliver God’s message. If Ezekiel delivers the message and the person turns away from God, only that person will die for his disobedience. If, however, Ezekiel fails to deliver the message, both the person and Ezekiel will be held accountable for the disobedience.

-Rev. Mark Fleming

Monday meditation

Job 37:1-13
“At this my heart pounds and leaps from its place. Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice, to the rumbling that comes from his mouth. He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth. After that comes the sound of his roar; he thunders with his majestic voice.
When his voice resounds, he holds nothing back. God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ So that everyone he has made may know his work, he stops all people from their labor. The animals take cover; they remain in their dens.
The tempest comes out from its chamber, the cold from the driving winds. The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen. He loads the clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning through them. At his direction they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever he commands them. He brings the clouds to punish people, or to water his earth and show his love.

Prayer focus
Open our hearts and eyes to understand the meaning of your word, even when shared in fantastic images.