Ezekiel 12:21 says, And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Ezekiel often stated that the word of the Lord came to him, and we should still hear and recognize God's voice today. Though it may not be an audible voice, we should still recognize when God speaks to us.
Verse twenty-two adds, Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth? Ezekiel said that this time God asked him a question, not because God didn’t know the answer but so that Ezekiel could show that he understood. The people were saying that though it might come someday, God’s judgment of them was far off. People today may think that if God’s judgment does come that it is a long way off, so they aren’t concerned about it because it is far off, but for many, many people, the day will be today. We need to live by this understanding as Christians.
Verse twenty-three continues, Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord God; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision. God then told Ezekiel to tell the people of Israel that the day of their judgment was at hand. God said this proverb about their judgment being a long way off would no longer be used. I don’t believe that we should ever live as though God’s judgment is a long way off and we certainly should not tell other people this. God’s final judgment is coming, but even before then, His judgment will come to many people and for some it will come too late for them to be spared from facing it on their own, without the redemption that Jesus Christ freeing them from the penalty of their sin.
Verse twenty-four states, For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel. God said that when His judgment came that there would no longer be any vain vision or flattering divination in the people of Israel. Anything that we believe is going to save us other than putting our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord will be in vain, or amount to nothing. Still, too many people will be led away from God by the flattering words of those around them.
Verse twenty-five adds, For I am the Lord: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord God. God told Ezekiel to tell the people that God was still God and that He had pronounced judgment on them. God said His word would always come to pass. The fact that people may not believe God’s word or even that there is a God will not keep His word from being fulfilled and when it is, they will know that He is God. God gave the people of Israel ample opportunity to repent and put their faith in Him again, but because His judgment didn’t come immediately, they continued to rebel against Him. God will always give people ample opportunity to accept His salvation plan, so if they face Him in judgment, the choice will have been theirs and not His.
Verse twenty-six states, Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying. This is stated as a separate time when God spoke to Ezekiel, but it seems to be a continuation or a more specific declaration of what God had already stated. I believe that God continues to speak to those who are followers of Christ until there can be no doubt about what He is saying.
Verse twenty-seven adds, Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off. God told Ezekiel that the people of Israel were saying that this coming judgment was a long way off, therefore it was of no concern to them. There are still people that think that if it comes, God’s judgment is a long way off and that they have no reason to be concerned about it today, but for many people, today will be their final day and God’s judgment will be at hand for them. We cannot believe that we will always have time to repent and come to God through putting our faith in Jesus Christ. Just as God’s judgment was at hand for the people of Israel even if they didn’t want to believe it, God’s judgment of the world could always come today.
Verse twenty-eight continues, Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; There shall none of my words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord God. God told Ezekiel to tell the people of Israel that God’s judgment would be delayed no longer. We need to always live by the belief that God’s judgment can come at any time, so we should never delay in accepting His gift of salvation.
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