Chapter 21 is structured around three prophetic words given to Ezekiel by the Lord, each beginning with the phrase, “The word of the Lord came to me” (1, 8, 18). Each of these prophecies is a message of lethal judgment,…
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Tuesdays with Ezekiel (Chapter 20)
The message from the Lord recorded in chapter 20 is triggered when “some of the elders of Israel” pay a visit to Ezekiel to “inquire of the Lord” (1). The Lord’s response is not what they expected or, at least,…
Tuesdays with Ezekiel (Chapter 19)
The opening and closing verse of chapter 19 announce that this word from the Lord is a “lamentation” (1, 14). Specifically, the Lord provides his people a lamentation “for the princes [kings] of Israel” (1). The lament divides into two…
Teaching in Coloured Pictures
G.K. Chesterton once admonished children (of all ages) with the words, "and don't believe anything that can't be told in coloured pictures." Allowing for the Chesterton overstatement, he makes a point that preachers and teachers need to hear. If our…
Tuesdays with Ezekiel (Chapter 18)
This “word of the Lord” to Ezekiel has the feel of a legal defense and indictment. The Lord addresses a complaint currently circulating among the Jews; they are accusing Him of being unjust and unfair towards the people still in…
Tuesdays with Ezekiel (Chapter 17)
“Son of man, propound a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel.” So begins the vision recorded in chapter 17. As the Son of God would speak in parables during his earthly ministry, so the LORD has…
Mother’s Day in a Pandemic (Again!)
Last year at this time, I was asked to record a Mother's Day sermon for a nearby church. My message focused on how mothers can impact the lives of their children in a powerful way. My hope was that the…
The Open Secret of the Christian Life
The secret of the Christian life is no secret. In fact, it's written down plainly in God's Word for everyone to read. I'd summarize this open secret in three words: Union with Christ. Every spiritual blessing we have and everything…
Graduation Days
Today and tomorrow are Graduation Days at Heritage. Today, at 2:00 pm, we will celebrate our college grads. Tomorrow at 10:30, it's our seminary graduates. You can watch the graduation ceremonies here. It's hard to put into words the gratitude…
Tuesdays with Ezekiel (Chapter 16)
From the shortest chapter in Ezekiel (15), we move to the longest chapter. Dan Block points out that chapter 16 is longer than six of the minor prophets. But what makes chapter 16 so memorable is not primarily its length…