Ezekiel 6:8

Ezekiel 6:8 says, Yet will I leave a remnant, that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scattered through the countries.  Ezekiel said that God was going to save a remnant of the people of Israel from those who were scattered through the other nations.  This would be those who had repented for not putting their faith in Him and not just an arbitrary group that He chose to spare.  Faith God is always the key to being a part of those that He spares from everlasting punishment, and sometime those that do may be a small number.   

Verse nine adds, And they that escape of you shall remember me among the nations whither they shall be carried captives, because I am broken with their whorish heart, which hath departed from me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their idols: and they shall lothe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations.  God told Ezekiel that this remnant would be scattered, but they would repent of the evil that they had done when following false gods and worshiping idols.  They were not spared from being taken captive physically, but they were no longer held captive by sin.  Matthew Henry states that God’s grace allows people time to repent, but they don’t always do so.  When we become a follower of Christ, it is because of the grace of God that we have the opportunity, but this doesn’t mean that we will never suffer physically.  The opposite is often true.  People sometimes suffer physically because of their faith in Christ.   

Verse ten continues, And they shall know that I am the Lord, and that I have not said in vain that I would do this evil unto them.  God said that people would know that He was God because He had caused or allowed this evil to come on them.   God has promised that those who do not accept His gift of salvation will one day be sent away to everlasting punishment, but those who do accept His gift of salvation will always know that He is God, even if we sometimes fail to obey Him.  We must always do our best to show the world that we believe in and worship God alone.    

Verse eleven states, Thus saith the Lord God; Smite with thine hand, and stamp with thy foot, and say, Alas for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel! for they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.  Ezekiel was told to hit with his hand and stomp with his feet to represent God’s judgment of the sins of those who professed to be His people.  This would emphasize that Ezekiel believed what he was saying, according to Matthew Henry.  I  don’t believe that all preachers should be dramatic in their preaching, but they should all allow those that they are preaching or witnessing to see that they are sincere in what they believe.  I believe they should all preach with a Godly passion.     

Verse twelve adds, He that is far off shall die of the pestilence; and he that is near shall fall by the sword; and he that remaineth and is besieged shall die by the famine: thus will I accomplish my fury upon them.  Ezekiel's message was not one of hope for the people of Israel.  Our message to the lost people off the world today should be one of hope, as it was for the remnant then, but it must also proclaim the truth that those who do not accept God’s gift of salvation which He made possible when He sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to die to pay the penalty for our sins, then they are going to face everlasting punishment.   

Verse thirteen continues, Then shall ye know that I am the Lord, when their slain men shall be among their idols round about their altars, upon every high hill, in all the tops of the mountains, and under every green tree, and under every thick oak, the place where they did offer sweet savour to all their idols.  God told Ezekiel that when people died where they had been worshipping false gods that they would know that He was God because the false gods did nothing to save them.  For them, this knowledge would come too late.  One day, every knee is going to bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, but for the vast majority, it will be too late.  They will know that God is God, but they will know it while being forever punished for the fact that they refused to acknowledge Him when they had a chance, just as the people of Israel who didn’t remain true to their covenant relationship with God and began to put their faith in other gods came to know this.  If a person does not accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, they are effectively putting their faith in some other god, even if it isn't a physical idol.   

Verse fourteen concludes, So will I stretch out my hand upon them, and make the land desolate, yea, more desolate than the wilderness toward Diblath, in all their habitations: and they shall know that I am the Lord.  God said that He was going to make their land desolate.  It wasn’t some army that they needed to be concerned about, but it was the judgment of God.  We don't need to be concerned about the powers of the earth today, but we need to be concerned about the judgment of God, Who is all powerful.  One day, everyone will know that God is the only God, but for too many, it will be from the desolation of hell. 

Luke 2:1

I am going to pause on Ezekiel today, Christmas day, to look back to that first Christmas.

Luke 2:1 says, And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.  We may not like to be taxed, but it is nothing new and the people of Israel were often taxed even more than other people.  Caesar Augustus didn't know that he was being used to fulfill a prophesy of God, and people in the government today may be used to bring about God's will whether they realize it or not.

Verse two adds, (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) This verse tells us when this taxing occurred.  

Verse three continues, And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.  At least we don't have to go back to where our ancestors were born in order to pay our tax.

Verse four states, And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)  Mary and Joseph had to travel from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea because he was a descendant of David, as was Mary.  There is usually a lot of traveling to go back to where we grew up or just to visit relatives at Christmas time today, but it is our choice if we do so and not something that the government forces us to do. 

Verse five adds, To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.  Mary and Joseph had to go, even though Mary was close to giving birth.  They couldn.t just jump in a car or on a bus to go there but had to travel by walking or on a donkey.  I believe we may sometimes forget how good we have it here in America, but too often we can't even drive to church to worship God.  

Verse six continues, And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.  While they were there, it came time for Mary to give birth to her Son.  They didn't have ultrasound to tell them the gender of a baby, but Mary knew she was going to have a Son because the angel of God had told her she would. 

Verse seven concludes, And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.  There was no room for Mary and Joseph in the inn, so Jesus was born in a barn I think would be the implication and then in laid a manger.  The question is, "Do you have room for Jesus in your life today, or do you send Him elsewhere?"

Verse eight says, And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  These shepherds were doing what shepherds do, and most people looked down on them because of it.  It doesn't matter how lowly the world may see you as being today, God still will see you as just as important as anyone else.   

Verse nine adds, And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  The shepherds' night became much less boring when an angel of the Lord came to them and His glory shined all around them.  When God calls you to come to Jesus Christ, there may not be any great physical sights going on, but God's glory will still shine in your life.  They were afraid, and we might be also if something like this happened to us.

Verse ten continues, And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  The angel gave the shepherds assurance that they didn't need to be afraid, and we certainly don't need to be afraid when we meet Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.

Verse eleven states, For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  The angels, lowly as they were seen to be by people of the world, were the first to hear the good news of the birth of Jesus Christ.  We won't be the first to hear, but there will come a day when we hear this for the first time.  

Verse twelve adds, And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  The sign that they shepherds were giving to know this was true was nothing spectacular, but it was that this Savior would be a Child, wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger.  This is probably not what they thought birth of the Savior of the world would look like, and Jesus Christ is still not what many people think He should be.  Jesus Christ was a humble Servant not a glorious earthly King.  We must acknowledge that Jesus Christ was a Man Who was not glorified by the world during His lifetime, but that He was also the only begotten Son of God.      

Verse thirteen continues, And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,  The people of the earth may not have glorified Him, but the angels did.  They still glorify Him today, and so should we as His followers.  

Verse fourteen concludes, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.  Jesus Christ came to bring peace between God and mankind and we should with the angels give Him the glory.

Verse fifteen says, And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.  The shepherds, when the angels were gone, decided to go to Bethlehem and see this thing that had come to pass. We may hear the gospel proclaimed many times, but until we decide that we want to come to Jesus and see that it is true, it will do us no good. 

Verse sixteen adds, And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.   The shepehrds hurried to see what the angel had proclaimed, and they found Jesus as the angel had said He would be.  Again, this wasn't what people would expect the Savior of the world to look like, and today people at times realize that Jesus Christ is not what the people of the world would look for in a Savior, but we must come to Him by faith and acknowledge that He is Who He says He is if we are to be saved. 

Verse seventeen continues, And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.  After seeing Jesus for themselves, the shepherds went away sharing the good news that the angels had given them.  Once we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we need to share the good news with the people around us.

Verse eighteen states, And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.  The people who heard what the shepherds said wondered about it, but we are not told that they went to see for themself.  There are still people who hear the gospel and wonder about it, but they do not follow through in looking for proof that it is true.  We must come to a personal knowledge, by the faith that God gives us if we accept His call, that Jesus Christ is indeed the Savior of all those who put their faith in Him, if we are to be saved from our sins.

Verse nineteen adds, But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.  Mary kept these things in her heart and pondered on them.  Once we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we must keep His truth in our heart and ponder on what he would have us to do in life.

Verse twenty continues, And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.  The shepherds returned to tend to their sheep, but now, they were glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen.  Once we accept Jesus Christ as our persona Savior and Lord, not much may change in our everyday life physically, but spiritually we are changed and we should be glorifying God and praising Him even as we go about our life everyday.

Ezekiel 6:1

Ezekiel 6:1 says, And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,  It would seem that this was a different prophesy than the following two, and I know that God continues to speak to us after we become a Christien, so we need to always be listening to Him.   

Verse two adds, Son of man, set thy face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them,  Ezekiel was told to set his face towards the mountains of Israel and prophesy against them.  Isreal here referred to all twelve tribes and not just the ten that were often referred to as Israel with the other two being referred to as Judah.  The mountains woold have been the highest points Ezekiel would have had any possibility of seeing from captivity, and they would have also been seen as unmovable, but God could shake them.  The people of Israel felt that since they were called God’s chosen people that they should be unshakeable, but God was letting them know that when they failed to obey Him that this was not true.  The same is true for those who profess to be Christians today but are so in name only.  

Verse three continues, And say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God; Thus saith the Lord God to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys; Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places.  God then proclaimed quite clearly that He was going to bring judgment on Israel with the sward of war and that He would destroy their high places, or places where they worshipped false gods.  God had been protecting and empowering them, and He was no longer going to do that.  If we as followers of Christ begin to turn away from doing His will, we should no longer expect Him to strengthen and empower us.   

Verse four states, And your altars shall be desolate, and your images shall be broken: and I will cast down your slain men before your idols.  Ezekiel said that God said that their altars would be desolate, their images or false gods would be broken, and He was going to cast their slain men down before their worthless idols.  If we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we should then cast down any idols that we may have worshipped before.  If we allow them to come back into our lives, we need to repent and ask God to help us cast them down once more.   

Verse five adds, And I will lay the dead carcases of the children of Israel before their idols; and I will scatter your bones round about your altars.  God said that children were going to be killed as well as adults and this is often the case in war.  He then said He would lay their dead bodies around their altars to their idols.  The idols that they had looked to for help would be shown to be worthless, just as any idol that people put their faith in today will one day be shown to be worthless.   We need to pray that we come to understand this before we die and put our faith in Jesus Christ before it is too late.   

Verse six continues, In all your dwellingplaces the cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall be desolate; that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, and your idols may be broken and cease, and your images may be cut down, and your works may be abolished.  God said that all their idols and dwelling places would be destroyed and become desolate.  Ever idol that we may have worshipped before coming to God by putting our faith in Jesus Christ must be destroyed and we must worship Him alone.   

Verse seven concludes, And the slain shall fall in the midst of you, and ye shall know that I am the Lord.  God said that when their slain fell in the midst of them that they would know that He was God. When we know that God is God, which happens by accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we must allow all the idols in our life to be slain and thrown down.