6 May 2016, Ezekiel 4 以西结书 4, Dramatizing the Siege of Jerusalem 将耶路撒冷的围困戏剧化

Posted on May 2, 2016 in Devotions, Ezekiel |

Scripture Reading  : Ezekiel 4

Theme                      : Dramatizing the Siege of Jerusalem

 

Chapters 4–24 combine a series of oral messages and symbolic acts designed to warn the people of Judah that judgment was coming. It is also designed to warn the exiles to listen to God and submit to His lordship. God wants to rid Israel of idolatry and turn them back to His kingship. Ezekiel begins his role as watchman in this chapter by warning the Jews of the coming fall of Jerusalem. His message is preached through symbolic acts. First through a model that depicts the siege of Jerusalem and then through lying on his side. He did not literally lie on his sides the whole day since other texts mentioned he sat with elders and perform other symbolic acts. He only lied down for most of the day. During his bed confinement, he also eats and drinks by measurement to symbolize the scarcity of food and water in Jerusalem during the siege. All the punishment that God is giving to Israel is clearly stated in the Mosaic Covenant in Deut. 28.

 

Praying the Scripture

Sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4). The essence of sin is breaking the first and most important law in the Bible, which is the first Commandment: to not worship idols in your heart (Ex. 20:3), but to love God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might (Deut. 6:5). The Jews sinned in many shocking ways, but the root of their sins is the sin of idolatry. Pray for God to strengthen your faith in God as your king and the greatest treasure or portion in your life (Ps. 16:5-11).

经文：以西结书4

主题：将耶路撒冷的围困戏剧化

 

第四至二十四章包含了一系列的口述信息以及象征性的举动，其目的是要警戒犹大有关即将到来的审判。这也是为了劝告被掳之民要听从神并降服于祂做主。神要除尽以色列的偶像，叫他们归回自己的主权。以西结从此刻开始作以色列的守望者，而首件事就是告诫犹太人有关耶路撒冷不久后的沦陷。他的信息是借着象征性的举动传达的。首先，他造了一个象征耶路撒冷被困的模型，然后侧卧。他并不是一整天都侧卧着，因为其他经文也有提到他与众长老同坐，并行了其他象征性的举动。他只是大部分时候是侧卧着的。在这段期间，他也必须按分量吃喝；这象征了耶路撒冷被困时饮食的缺乏。神向以色列所实行的一切惩罚已在申命记28的摩西之约中清楚列下了。


用经文祷告

违背律法就是罪（约一3:4）。罪的本质就是违背圣经里首要的诫命，即第一条诫命：内心不可敬拜偶像（出20:3），乃要尽心、尽性、尽力爱耶和华你的神（申6:5）。犹太人确实行了不同骇人听闻的罪，但其根源是拜偶像之罪。要向神祷告，求祂坚固你的信心，叫神能永远作你的王以及生命中最大的宝藏或产业（诗16:5-11）。