Ezekiel 41:5

November 29, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“Then he measured the wall of the temple, six cubits thick, and the breadth of the side chambers, four cubits, all around the temple.” (Ezekiel 41:5)

Like chapter 40 – but only more – this chapter is filled with specific details of a Jewish temple. It can be easy to lose interest because … who really cares how thick a wall is? Or, how wide is a room?

Since God showed Ezekiel these blueprints and told him to declare this information to the house of Israel (40:4), we need to guard our hearts so that we do not dismiss this information as irrelevant to us.

This vision occurred while the Jews were in Babylon, and Jerusalem had been destroyed. We know the vision wasn’t of the then currently destroyed temple. Apparently, it was of a future temple. When the Jews returned to Israel, they restored Solomon’s temple, which differed from Ezekiel’s vision. In about 20 BC, Herod began a significant remodeling and expansion of the Temple Mount. The outcome of his project also differed from Ezekiel’s vision. So, we can conclude that there remains yet another temple to be built.

Since this temple has yet to be built, we should watch its construction. I’m not certain whether it is earthly or heavenly, though. Let’s keep watching.

Father, help me to anticipate the future with excitement. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Ezekiel, Faith, Israel, Jerusalem, Old Testament, Prophecy, Restoring Israel, Temple Mount

Ezekiel 18:20-21

November 6, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.” (Ezekiel 18:20-21)

This is powerful! This may be the clearest demonstration of God’s grace and man’s personal responsibility in the Old Testament. After a fairly lengthy and clear explanation that man is accountable for his own sin and that God offers life to the repentant, Ezekiel offers this summary statement, to which I have matched New Testament parallels.

  1. The soul that sins shall die. (The wages of sin is death. Romans 6:23)
  2. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. (“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” 2 Corinthians 5:10)
  3. But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. (The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out. Acts 3:19)

Thank you, Father, for offering forgiveness. Please help me to have a heart of repentance. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Evangelism, Ezekiel, Faith, forgiveness, heart matters, Old Testament, repentance

Ezekiel 14‬:‭2‬-‭3‬, ‭6‬, ‭10‬-‭11‬

November 2, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“And the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their hearts, and set the stumbling block of their iniquity before their faces.'” (2-3)

“Therefore, say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: Repent and turn away from your idols, and turn away your faces from all your abominations.'” (6)

“And they shall bear their punishment—the punishment of the prophet and the punishment of the inquirer shall be alike— that the house of Israel may no more go astray from me, nor defile themselves anymore with all their transgressions, but that they may be my people and I may be their God, declares the Lord God.” (10-11)

I think some would be surprised to see these three steps in the Old Testament: 1) You are a sinner. 2) Repent. 3) Be my people. Here, God tells Ezekiel that some elders of Israel have taken their idols into their hearts. And, if the leaders are going astray, which way will they lead the nation? Away from the Lord.

What was the appropriate response to falling away from the Lord in those days? The same as today: Repentance! Today, we might look at Acts 3:19, for example – “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out.”

What was the outcome of repentance in Ezekiel’s day? Being the people of God. What is it today? “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬-‭13‬)

I’m thankful for a God who is consistent, even when I am not.

Filed Under: Acts, devotional thoughts, Ezekiel, Faith, John, Old Testament, repentance

Jeremiah 37:13-15

September 29, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“When he was at the Benjamin Gate, a sentry there named Irijah the son of Shelemiah, son of Hananiah, seized Jeremiah the prophet, saying, ‘You are deserting to the Chaldeans.’ And Jeremiah said, ‘It is a lie; I am not deserting to the Chaldeans.’ But Irijah would not listen to him, and seized Jeremiah and brought him to the officials. And the officials were enraged at Jeremiah, and they beat him and imprisoned him in the house of Jonathan the secretary, for it had been made a prison.” (Jeremiah 37:13-15)

Jeremiah was doing the right thing when he was falsely accused and sent to prison. This is a good example of how life can be – even for a believer – in a broken world. (John the Baptist is a New Testament parallel.) Why should I think things should be different for me? I’m not looking to be arrested, but I can’t think I deserve better than Jeremiah.

Father, help me to grow in humility so that I can serve you in a broken world without expectation or complaining. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Faith, humility, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, Old Testament
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