Strength Renewed – Rise Up and SOAR!

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Isaiah 40:31 … Those who wait upon the Lord{for His help} will renew their strength. They will mount up{soar} with wings like eagles, they will run and not be weary, they will walk and not grow faint.
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Wait upon the Lord and
See your strength renewed
Rise up and soar
With wings like eagles. –Isaiah 40:31
The Lord alone is our help and shield. –Psalm 33:20
The Lord gives strength to His people and 
Blesses them with peace. –Psalm 29:11
Blessed are ALL who wait in hope for Him! –Isaiah 30:18
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Isaiah 30:18 … Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait in hope for Him!
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Psalm 33:20-22 … Our soul waits{in hope} for the LORD alone; He is our help and our shield. 21 In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name. 22 May we experience Your faithfulness, O Lord, for we wait in hope for You.
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The Lord will NOT Abandon His Special Possession!

Psalm 94:16-17 NLT … Who will protect me from the wicked? Who will stand up for me against evildoers?
17 Unless the Lord had helped me, I would soon have settled in the silence of the grave.
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Psalm 17:13 NLT … Arise, O Lord! Stand against them and bring them to their knees! Rescue me from the wicked with your sword!
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Psalm 94:14-15 NLT … The Lord will not reject His people; He will not abandon His special possession. 15 Judgment will again be founded on justice, and those with virtuous hearts will pursue it.
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Psalm 125:4 NLT … O LORD, do good to those who are good, whose hearts are in tune with You.
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Psalm 36:10 NLT … Pour out Your unfailing love on those who love You; give justice to those with honest hearts.
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Psalm 97:10 NLT … You who love the Lord, hate evil! He protects the lives of His godly people and rescues them from the power of the wicked.
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Ezekiel 4 – Bible Study Questions

Ezekiel 4 – Bible Study Questions
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Introduction Biblehub: Despite the ominous nature of Ezekiel 4, the chapter serves as a profound reminder of the consequences of turning away from God’s ways. Nevertheless, God’s justice is tempered with mercy, illustrated when he accepts Ezekiel’s plea. The chapter calls us to acknowledge our transgressions, respect divine law, and find hope in God’s unending mercy, even in times of adversity.
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Siege of Jerusalem{sign} –Ezekiel 4:1-8

• v1-3: What future event is Ezekiel being asked to act out here? What does the iron plate/pan represent? How might the iron plate relate to barriers in your life that prevent spiritual growth?
  Enduringword: “We must imagine that the strange actions which Ezekiel was now told to perform were to be carried out either just inside his house or, more likely, on the open space in front of his doorway. The actions were pointless unless they could be watched by a large number of people.” (Taylor)
  *“This, of course, was what would happen at Jerusalem in 588 B.C. when the Babylonian army began the siege of the city.” (Wiersbe)
  * “It was the kind of utensil that the priests used in the temple for preparing some of the offerings (Leviticus 2:5; 6:21; 7:9). The iron griddle symbolized the wall that stood between God and the sinful Jewish nation so that He could no longer look on them with approval and blessing.” (Wiersbe) =>There were some among the Israelite captives in Babylon (and also in Jerusalem) who thought that God would defend Jerusalem and rescue her when the Babylonians came again against her. This was a sure sign that it would not be so.
• v4-6: What does Ezkiel laying on his left and right side act out? How might the Lord being asking us to act out His message to others? –1Tim 4:16;Mt 12:33-37;Pro 4:23; Phil 4:8-9; Ps 19:14
  Enduringword: “The symbolism of upon your left side was probably helped out by the prophet’s lying on the ground in an east-west direction, with his head towards Jerusalem, and facing northwards as if towards Israel while on his left side and southwards towards Judah while on his right.” (Taylor)
  * “He now plays the role of the priest, carrying the burden of his people’s sins on his shoulder.” (Block)
  * “Ezekiel 4:4 makes it plain that the period must not represent the time of Israel’s sinning, but the period during which the nation bears its iniquity and is punished.” (Feinberg)
• V7-8: “set your face … your arm shall be uncovered“: What does this act out?
  Enduringword: In this acted-out prophecy, Ezekiel demonstrated that the strong arm of God’s judgment against Jerusalem would be active and unrestrained.
  * “Your arm shall be uncovered, naked and stretched out, as being ready to strike and slay.” (Poole)
  * After symbolically standing in the place of God, Ezekiel then stood in the place of Jerusalem, restrained and helpless before God and His coming judgment.

Defiled Bread{sign} –Ezekiel 4:9-17

• v13: What is the symbol of eating deifeled bread among the nations?
  Biblehub: The Mosaic law purposely so hedged the people about with detailed precepts in regard to their food and its preparation, that it was impossible for them to share the food of the Gentiles without contracting ceremonial defilement; and the declared object of this symbolism is to teach that the Israelites should thus be forced to contract defilement. Their sins had brought them to that pass, which is so often the result of continued and obdurate sin, that it should be impossible for them to avoid further transgression. Ezekiel shows by his reply, in Ezekiel 4:14, that like St. Peter, in Acts 10:14, he had ever been a scrupulous observer of the law. To St. Peter, however, it was made known that in the breadth of the Christian dispensation this ceremonial law was now done away, while to Ezekiel it still remained in full force.
• v14-17: Why were the exiles in this situation where they could not uphold the Mosaic law?  Matthew Henry: The bread which was Ezekiel’s support, was to be made of coarse grain and pulse mixed together, seldom used except in times of urgent scarcity, and of this he was only to take a small quantity. Thus was figured the extremity to which the Jews were to be reduced during the siege and captivity. Ezekiel does not plead, Lord, from my youth I have been brought up delicately, and never used to any thing like this; but that he had been brought up conscientiously, and never had eaten any thing forbidden by the law. It will be comfortable when we are brought to suffer hardships, if our hearts can witness that we have always been careful to keep even from the appearance of evil. See what woful work sin makes, and acknowledge the righteousness of God herein. Their plenty having been abused to luxury and excess, they were justly punished by famine. When men serve not God with cheerfulness in the abundance of all things, God will make them serve their enemies in the want of all things.
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  1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 AMPC … But test and prove all things [until you can recognize] what is good; [to that] hold fast. 22 Abstain from evil [shrink from it and keep aloof from it] in whatever form or whatever kind it may be.
  

  From NetBible 1Thess 5:21

  • prove[1381] = to test, examine, scrutinise (to see whether a thing is genuine or not)
  • hold fast[2722] = keep in memory, take possesion ofv14-17: Why were the exiles in this situation where they could not uphold the Mosaic law?

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Related:
SimplyBible Ezekiel Outline
Ezekiel 4:4-5 Devotion

Quote: Obviously, we’re not Ezekiel in this unique time in redemptive history, but every single one of us is called to live a life to show today, a life to people around us that reflects the word of God in us.

Ezekiel 4:4-8 Devotion

Quote: As Ezekiel demonstrated the specific words of God in his life, we have been called to live our lives according to God’s Word.

The Iron Plate

Quote: The point was crystal clear, the sins of the nation had set up a strong barrier between the LORD and the people. Sin does this every time — puts a wall between us and God. God and His people were not OK. They had sinned and were continuing to sin; as it might be put in modern vernacular, they just weren’t that into God. How “into God” are you really? Or is God just a hobby?

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Created vs. Preserved Unity

Often I hear the cry for the body of believers in Jesus Christ to join forces in love, to agree to disagree over doctrinal differences for the sake of unity and the advancement of the kingdom. The motive behind this is to have a good witness of love and unity to the world(Jn 13:35). Can we really create christian unity and love this way?! The following scriptures shed some light on this reoccurring cry.
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Psalm 19:9-11 … The fear of the LORD is clean{pure, right}, enduring forever; The ordinances{judgments} of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 They are more precious{desired} than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. 11 Moreover, by them Your servant is warned{finds moral guidance there}; In keeping[08104] them there is great reward.
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Ephesians 4:1-3 … I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk{live a life} worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to keep[5083] the unity[1775] of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
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Notice this place of great reward. It is a place “protected, guarded and preserved” by keeping God’s ordinances/ word and having true reverence/ awe/ fear of the Lord. It’s interesting that this place of great reward also seems to be the place of unity/ oneness/ agreement with the Spirit.
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Ephesians 4:11-16 … And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity[1775] of the faith[4102] , and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. 14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
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Faith is here defined as belief in a shared view of truth/doctrine(Eph 4:13;Jude 1:3).
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Love is defined in terms of obedience to the Truth/Word. (Jn 14:15,21,23-24; 1 Jn 2:3-6)
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Look more closely at John 17, it also shows that TRUTH is intimately involved in becoming “one” with the Lord and each other. We are given the Word and Jesus prays that we be sanctified by the Word, the TRUTH. The TRUTH is how we are set apart from the world just as Jesus was(Jn 17:11, 14-19).
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In attaining unity of faith, contending for faith and being set apart to become “one”, Truth, doctrine and theology are involved. Yes, sometimes this will cause division – division from error, false doctrine and people – false teachers and prophets. Some division is not bad, but necessary to preserve the “unity of faith”, “common salvation”.
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Also remember it’s the teaching of false doctrine that divides. True doctrine or theology unites. Unity based on anything else is deception.
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Love corrects error.
Romans 16:17-18 NKJV … Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.
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Ephesians 5:6-11 NASB … Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them; 8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them…
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Word Study . From NetBible Ps 19:11 keeping[08104] = guard, preserve, obey, give heed From NetBible Eph 4:3, Eph 4:13 keep[5083] = guard, take care of, hold fast, preserve unity[1775] = oneness, agreement . From NetBible Eph 4:13, Jude 1:3 unity of faith[4102] – contend for the faith[4102] faith[4102] = conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervor born of faith and joined with it . * The term “faith” has a variety of meanings in the NT. Here, the faith refers to the doctrinal content embraced by believers rather than the act of believing. Rather than discuss the points of agreement that Jude would have with these believers, because of the urgency of the present situation he must assume that these believers were well grounded and press on to encourage them to fight for this common belief. . “common salvation” *Jude starts by affirming that the gospel the Gentiles had received from Paul was the same as the one the Jewish Christians had received from the other apostles (our common salvation). But in the midst of writing this letter, Jude felt that the present crisis deserved another, shorter piece. The crisis, as the letter reveals, is that the false teachers whom Peter prophesied have now infiltrated the church. The letter of Jude is thus an ad hoc letter, intended to confirm the truth of Peter’s letter and encourage the saints to ground their faith in the written documents of the nascent church, rather than listen to the twisted gospel of the false teachers. In large measure, the letter of Jude illustrates the necessity of clinging to the authority of scripture as opposed to those who claim to be prophets. . From NetBible  Jn 17:11, 14-19 John 17:11,14-19 NKJV … Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. … 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. *  The Greek word translated set…apart{sanctified}(ἁγιάζω, Jagiazw) is used here in its normal sense of being dedicated, consecrated, or set apart. The sphere in which the disciples are to be set apart is in the truth. In 3:21 the idea of “practicing” (Grk “doing”) the truth was introduced; in 8:32 Jesus told some of his hearers that if they continued in his word they would truly be his disciples, and would know the truth, and the truth would make them free.

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Ezekiel 3 – Bible Study Questions

Ezekiel 3 – Bible Study Questions
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Introduction Biblehub: Ezekiel 3 encapsulates the hard truths and responsibility of being a messenger for God. It highlights that obedience to God often involves courage, sacrifice, and unwavering resolve. Yet, amid these challenges, the sweetness of knowing and sharing God’s word shines through.
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Eating the Scroll. –Ezekiel 3:1-11

• What does eating the scroll symbolize?
  Enduringword: It is specially incumbent on those who have to go forth and speak, to open their mouths and eat the scroll. There is no greater mistake than to suppose that, because we are constantly handling God’s Word for the purpose of teaching and exhorting others, we are therefore feeding on it for ourselves. It is possible to acquire an intellectual knowledge of the truth, while the heart is entirely unaffected. (Meyer)
  * Ezekiel wasn’t to merely “taste” or “sample” God’s written revelation. He was to fill himself with it, especially because it was received from God (that I give you).
• v3: “the scroll sweet like honey in my mouth”: What does this symbolize?
  Biblehub: The words remind us of Psalm 19:10; Proverbs 24:13; Jeremiah 15:16 and again of those of Jeremiah in the darkest hour of his ministry. They are reproduced yet more closely by St. John (Revelation 10:9-10). There is, after the first terror is over, an infinite sweetness in the thought of being a fellow worker with God, of speaking his words and not our own. In the case of St. John, the first sweetness was changed to bitterness as soon as he had eaten it; and this is, perhaps, implied here also in v14. The first ecstatic joy passed away, and the former sense of the awfulness of the work returned.
• v8-9: What does “harder than flint, I have made your forehead” mean? Where else do we see this? –Ezek 3:8-9;Isa 50:7
  From Biblehub: For the Lord God will help me; rather, but the Lord God will help me. I shall not be left always in the hands of my enemies. In this confidence the Servant rests, and is not confounded, even when the worst happens to him. He sets his face like a flint; i.e. makes it hard, impassive, expressionless, and at the same time determined, fixed not to give way (comp. Ezekiel 3:8-9).
  Face Like Flint
• v10: “receive into your heart all My words”: How is this related to v1 “eat the scroll”?
  1st listen to all the Lord speaks, then absorb or digest them in your heart and then speak them when instructed. 
  1Timothy 4:15-16 … Practice and work hard on these things; be absorbed in them [completely occupied in your ministry], so that your progress will be evident to all. 16 Pay close attention to yourself [concentrate on your personal development] and to your teaching; persevere in these things [hold to them], for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.
• What challenges does Ezekiel face? Why might it be more difficult to speak to a familiar people? –Mk 6:3-6
  Matthew Henry: Ezekiel was to receive the truths of God as the food for his soul, and to feed upon them by faith, and he would be strengthened. Gracious souls can receive those truths of God with delight, which speak terror to the wicked. He must speak all that, and that only, which God spake to him. How can we better speak God’s mind than with his words? If disappointed as to his people, he must not be offended. The Ninevites were wrought upon by Jonah’s preaching, when Israel was unhumbled and unreformed. We must leave this unto the Divine sovereignty, and say, Lord, thy judgments are a great deep. They will not regard the word of the prophet, for they will not regard the rod of God. Christ promises to strengthen him. He must continue earnest in preaching, whatever the success might be.

Ezekiel Transported. –Ezekiel 3:12-15

• v14: “I went in bitterness”: What does this symbolize?
  Biblehub: Ezekiel now begins to realize the sorrow and the trial of the task laid upon him. The command of the Lord was sweet (Ezekiel 3:3), its performance is bitter. “But the hand of the Lord was strong” upon him, and he could not forbear. Compare the similar experience of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20:8-9; Amos 3:8), when in his discouragement he had almost resolved to refuse to declare God s message, but the word of the Lord was as a burning fire within, and he could not refrain{hold back}–an experience which every faithful teacher in God’s name is obliged, more or less fully, to pass through.

Ezekiel a Watchman. –Ezekiel 3:16-21

• v16-19: What is the job of a watchman in regards to the wicked? What happens if the wicked are not warned? If they are warned but don’t turn? If they are warned and do turn?
• v20-21: What is the job of a watchman in regards to the righteous? What happens if the righteous are not warned? If they are warned but don’t turn? If they are warned and do turn?
  Matthew Henry: If we warn the wicked, we are not chargeable with their ruin. Though such passages refer to the national covenant made with Israel, they are equally to be applied to the final state of all men under every dispensation. We are not only to encourage and comfort those who appear to be righteous, but they are to be warned, for many have grown high-minded and secure, have fallen, and even died in their sins. Surely then the hearers of the gospel should desire warnings, and even reproofs.

Ezekiel Controlled by the Spirit. –Ezekiel 3:22-27

• God told Ezekiel to symbolically act out a message through isolation{shut yourself in}, inactivity{bound with ropes}, and silence{tongue stuck}. What might this mean?
  Enduringword: * An acted-out prophecy of what would happen to Ezekiel from the people of Israel as they rejected his message and punished him (Trapp).

  * An acted-out prophecy of the doom and helplessness to come upon Israel (Vawter and Hoppe).

  *God’s restriction upon Ezekiel, keeping him inactive and silent until the appointed time (Wright, Taylor).

  *An illustration of God’s silence toward Israel (Clarke).

  =>To illustrate that Israel had no regard for the word of God, the LORD told Ezekiel not to speak. Possibly, God afflicted Ezekiel with a temporary muteness to illustrate God’s silence to those who will not listen.

  =>God would not stay silent forever, and neither would Ezekiel. God would restore his ability to speak and he would fulfill his role as God’s messenger.

  =>With Ezekiel speaking as he should, delivering God’s message, the responsibility would be on those he spoke to and not upon himself. Israel as a rebellious house would have to answer for their own sin and could not claim they never heard.

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Related:
SimplyBible Ezekiel Outline
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Delight in the Lord = Complete Surrender

Psalm 37:3-5 … Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 4 Delight/be soft/ pliable/ surrender[06026] yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit[01556]  your future to the Lord! Trust in him, and he will act on your behalf. 

• Delight[06026] = to be soft{pliable}, be delicate, be dainty
  Psalm 37:11 … But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight[06026] themselves in the abundance of peace.
• Desires[04862] = request, petition, prayers

*Faith and obedience (v3) will bring divine blessing – answered prayer(v4).

• Commit[01556] = to roll, trust 
  Proverbs 16:3 … Commit[01556] to the LORD whatever you do{works}, and your plans/thoughts will succeed/be established.

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Proverbs 16:3 AMPC … Roll your works upon the Lord [commit[01556] and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.

• From NetBible Pro 16:3
  *The verb גֹּל (to commit[01556]) is from the root גָּלַל (“to roll”). The figure of rolling, as in rolling one’s burdens on the Lord, is found also in Psalm 22:8;37:5; and 55:22. It portrays complete dependence on the Lord. This would be accomplished with a spirit of humility and by means of diligent prayer, but the plan must also have God’s approval.
  Psalm 22:8 … Commit[01556] yourself to the LORD; let Him deliver him; Let Him rescue him, because He delights[02654] in him.
  * delights[02654] =take pleasure in, desire, be pleased with, favor
  Psalm 37:23 … If the LORD delights[02654] in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm{established, ordered}.
• Psalm 37:5 … Commit[01556]  your future to the Lord! Trust in him, and he will act on your behalf.
  Psalm 55:22 … Cast your burden /cares[07993] upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

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Was contemplating the meaning of these verses and what it means here to “delight in the Lord”. It seems to mean complete surrender, to be soft and pliable in the Lord’s hands – “committing” everything to Him. He then aligns your thoughts and heart to His will causing the blessing of establishing your plans. Interesting complete surrender is a way to delight in the Lord and His will!
=> Another benefit from Psalm 37:11 is delighting themselves in the abundance of peace.
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Psalm 22:8 and Psalm 37:23 indicate that the one who delights in the Lord and His will, this is the one the Lord delights in and takes pleasure in! This is the one who ravishes the Lord’s heart with just one glance!
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Song 4:9-10 … You have stolen{ravished} my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace. 10 How beautiful /delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much better is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your oils than all kinds of spices!

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Lion of Judah Roar Protection Over me!

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Joel 3:16 AMP … The Lord thunders and roars from Zion and utters His voice from Jerusalem [in judgment of His enemies], and the heavens and the earth tremble and shudder; But the Lord is a refuge for His people and a stronghold [of protection] to the children of Israel.
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The Lord’s roar shows protection and strength to His people, but to His enemies it is a battle cry. His children run to Him for safety and protection while His enemies flee in terror!
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A Song:
Lion of Judah roar over me(2x)
O roar over me.
A mighty thunderous roar –Ps 29:3-4
From the secret place of thunder –Ps 81:7
O roar over me.
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1Peter 5:8 … Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
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It’s comforting to remember when feeling attacked by the enemy that the Lion of Judah roars louder. His roar is greater and makes the enemy flee. The Lord the mighty warrior-king(Ps 29:3) is your refuge and strength – run to Him and be kept safe(Pro 18:10)! 
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Breath of the Almighty ROAR! –Job 33:4
His breath gives life – revives, quickens, restores
The cloud of His presence –Ps 81:7
Protection for His children
His own special possession –Isa 31:4;Mal 3:16-17;1Pe 2:6-10
Lion of Judah ROAR
A mighty thunderous roar
The enemy flees in terror –Joel 3:16
Lion of Judah ROAR
From the secret place of thunder! –Ps 81:7
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Psalm 91:1,14 AMPC … He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand]. … 14 Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness—trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never].
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Word Study . From Biblehub Joel 3:16 But the Lord will be the Hope of his people, and the Strength of the children of Israel. He shrinks, as we have seen, from describing the actual execution of judgment, and, breaking off with somewhat of abruptness, exhibits the bright side of the picture. With the destruction of his foes is joined, as usual, the deliverance of his friends. To his people he stands in the double relation of a Place of refuge (machseh) and a Place of strength (ma’oz), that is, not only a place to which they may flee for safety, but a place in which, as a stronghold, they shall be kept safe. . From NetBible Ps 29:3-4 The voice of the LORD is over the waters; The God of glory thunders; The LORD is over many waters. 24 The voice{shout} of the LORD is powerful; The voice of the LORD is full of majesty. * the “voice of the Lord” is here the thunder that accompanies a violent storm. The psalm depicts the Lord in the role of a warrior-king, so the thunder is his battle cry * the Lord coming in the storm to do battle with his enemies and to vindicate his people * here the Lord is depicted as elevated above and sovereign over the raging waters{roar!} . From Biblehub Psalm 81:7 You called in trouble, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah I answered thee in the secret place of thunder.–Mr. Burgess is undoubtedly right in taking the verb as from ?nan, “to cover,” instead of ?nah, “to answer.” I sheltered thee in the thundercloud, with plain allusion to the “cloudy pillar.” The same verb is used in Psalm 105:39, “He spread out the cloud for a covering.” * I proved thee at the waters of Meribah (Exodus 17:7). The “selah” after these words marks a pause, during which the people addressed might reflect on the manifold mercies which God had vouchsafed to them in Egypt, in the wilderness, and elsewhere. . From NetBible  Job 33:4 AMP [It is] the Spirit of God that made me [which has stirred me up], and the breath of the Almighty that gives me life [which inspires me]. Spirit[07307] of God = wind/breath of heaven, Holy Spirit, inspires prophetic utterances, Shekinah glory manifest breath[05397] of the Almighty = spirit of God, divine inspiration gives life [02421]revives, quickens, restores, refreshes from sickness, discouragement, faintness, death . From Biblehub Isaiah 31:4  For this is what the LORD has said to me: “Like a lion roaring or a young lion over its prey— and though a band of shepherds is called out against it, it is not terrified by their shouting or subdued by their clamor — so the LORD of Hosts will come down to do battle on Mount Zion and its heights”. Like as the lion . . .–The similitude is note worthy, as for its fulness and vividness, so also for the fact that the lion is made the symbol, not of destruction, but protection. As the king of beasts stands haughtily defiant over the prey which he has made his own against the shepherds who seek to rob him of it, so will Jehovah, in His character as the Lord of hosts, refuse to surrender Jerusalem, His peculiar possession, to the armies of the Assyrians. *The lion in the last case is claiming the sheep as his own prey, and will not suffer interference from without.

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Related:
From: A Mighty Thunderous Roar {Article}

All will tremble at the roar of the Lion of Judah (Amos 3:8). To those who contend with the Lord, His roar will show His wrath (Prov 19:12, 20:2). They will tremble in terror. But to those who belong to the Lord it will be protection. They will tremble in awe and respect gathered like protected children around Him.

Ezekiel 2 – Bible Study Questions

Ezekiel 2 – Bible Study Questions
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Introduction Biblehub: Ezekiel 2 represents a pivotal moment in the life of the prophet Ezekiel as it outlines his divine calling and mission from God. Despite the daunting task and hard-hearted audience, Ezekiel is expected to embody fearlessness and unswerving commitment. Ezekiel 2 offers insights into the character of God, the nature of prophecy, and the human propensity for rebellion.
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Ezekiel’s Call. –Ezekiel 2:1-5

• v1: “Son of man”: What does this title bring to mind about humanity? About Jesus the Messiah?
  Ezekiel Son of Man: In the gospels, Jesus often refers to Himself as the Son of Man (e.g., Matthew 16:27; Mark 14:21; Luke 7:34; John 3:13). Jesus’ use of this title links Him to Daniel 7:13–14, a passage describing the coming Messiah
  * Jesus always called Himself “the Son of Man,” as in the only one there is. In using the definite article, Jesus contrasts Himself with other personalities in the Bible associated with the same term. Ezekiel is never called “the son of man”; he is always just a “son of man,” as in one among many.
• v2: “Stand on your feet”: What do you notice about this position? Did Ezekiel stand on his feet in his own strength?
  Enduringword: Ezekiel 1:28 tells us that the prophet fell on his face at the sight of the likeness of the glory of the LORD in the vision of Ezekiel 1. Now he is told to stand, to hear God’s message and to receive his call.
  * It was that of standing erect before God in order that face to face he might receive the word of God. (Morgan)
  * In those days servants always stood in the presence of their Master. (Smith)
  * On many occasions, the Spirit would lift him up (Ezekiel 2:2; 3:14; 8:3; 11:1; 37:1; 43:5) and give him special power for his tasks (Ezekiel 3:24; 11:5). The important thing was that Ezekiel stand obediently before the Lord and listen to His Word. (Wiersbe)
  * If God has called you to do a certain thing, He’ll give you the power to do it. The best position you can come to is to recognize that you are not able in your own strength to do the job the Lord has given to you. (McGee)
• v3-5: What does it mean to be rebellious? Hard-hearted? What is the opposite of a hard heart? How is Ezekiel instructed to handle this?
  Hard Heart: Relying on human/worldly wisdom results in a hard heart that is unable to see, hear, understand or remember things of the Lord!
  –Mark 8:17-18;Ecc 1:8-11
  * A noble heart is the opposite of a hard heart.
  –Luke 8:15,18;Acts 17:11;Mark 4:23-25
  * Ezekiel is instructed to give God’s message whether it is received or not. –2Corinthians 2:14-16

Instructions to the prophet Ezekiel. –Ezekiel 2:6-8

• What do the thorns, briers and scorpions represent? .
  Enduringword: God warned Ezekiel that many would reject his message. Their rejection would sting like briars, like thorns, and like scorpions – yet it should not drive the prophet to fear and despair.
  * Note how Isaiah (Isaiah 6:9-12), Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:17-19) and Ezekiel, here (Ezekiel 2:7), were all given a depressing call. They were needed in a desperate situation, and had to be prepared for a large measure of rejection and even threats on their life (Wright).
  This difficult call was easier for Ezekiel to embrace because it came from a genuinely awesome encounter with God. Because he was absolutely convinced of the power, majesty, and glory of God it gave him strength and courage to stand against the stinging rejection of men. ii. This difficult call was easier for Ezekiel to embrace because it came from a genuinely awesome encounter with God. Because he was absolutely convinced of the power, majesty, and glory of God it gave him strength and courage to stand against the stinging rejection of men.
• v8: “Open your mouth and eat”: What does this depict?
  Enduringword:  God’s servants should receive God’s word as if they actually eat it. Actually eating the material pages of a Bible would do one no spiritual good, but using the figure of eating the scroll as a picture of how we should receive God’s word can do us great good. Eating the scroll speaks of many things that should mark our reception of God’s revealed word: Deliberate action; Readiness to receive; Internal reception; Repetitious chewing; Complete reception; The process of digestion; Necessity; Sweetness; Strength; Nourishment.

The Scroll of Lament. –Ezekiel 2:9-10

• “the scroll written on both sides” : What does this depict?
  Enduringword: It was full of God’s message. It was complete.
  * Ezekiel may not modify it with his own comments, nor does God allow himself any room for adjustments. (Block)
  * This was the most important message for the house of Israel to hear, and it was the message that would be sharply rejected.

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Matthew Henry 2:1-5 : Lest Ezekiel should be lifted up with the abundance of the revelations, he is put in mind that still he is a son of man, a weak, mortal creature. As Christ usually called himself the Son of man, it was also an honourable distinction. Ezekiel’s posture showed reverence, but his standing up would be a posture of greater readiness and fitness for business. God will speak to us, when we stand ready to do what he commands us. As Ezekiel had not strength of his own, the Spirit entered into him. God is graciously pleased to work in us whatever he requires of us. The Holy Spirit sets us upon our feet, by inclining our wills to our duty. Thus, when the Lord calls upon the sinner to awake, and attend to the concerns of his soul, the Spirit of life and grace comes with the call. Ezekiel is sent with a message to the children of Israel. Many might treat his message with contempt, yet they should know by the event that a prophet had been sent to them. God will be glorified, and his word made honourable, whether it be a savour of life unto life, or of death unto death.
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Matthew Henry 2:6-10:  Those who will do any thing to purpose in the service of God, must not fear men. Wicked men are as briers and thorns; but they are nigh unto cursing, and their end is to be burned. The prophet must be faithful to the souls of those to whom he was sent. All who speak from God to others, must obey his voice. The discoveries of sin, and the warnings of wrath, should be matter of lamentation. And those acquainted with the word of God, will clearly perceive it is filled with woe to impenitent sinners; and that all the precious promises of the gospel are for the repenting, believing servants of the Lord.

Good to Draw Near

Psalm 73:26-28 AMP… My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the rock and strength of my heart and my portion forever. 27 For behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful and have abandoned You. 28 But as for me, it is good for me to draw near to God; I have made the Lord God my refuge and placed my trust in Him, that I may tell of all Your works.
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My flesh and my heart may fail
BUT God is the rock and strength of my heart
And my portion forever.
I have made the Lord my refuge
And placed my trust in Him
It is good for me to draw near.
May all those who seek 
The Lord as life’s first priority
Rejoice and be glad.
Let the Lord be magnified!
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Psalm 70:4 AMP … May all those who seek You [as life’s first priority] rejoice and be glad in You; May those who love Your salvation say continually, “Let God be magnified”!
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@Khollandsblog Tweets: My flesh and my heart may fail BUT God is the rock and strength of my heart And my portion forever. I have made the Lord my refuge And placed my trust in Him It is good for me to draw near. –Psalm 73:26-28 #GodsGoodness .

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Related:
God’s Goodness{prayer}
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Ezekiel 1 – Bible Study Questions

Ezekiel 1 – Bible Study Questions
A vision of a whirlwind firestorm, four creatures, four wheels, a firmament, and high above, an appearance like a man on a throne.
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Introduction to Ezekiel –Ezekiel 1:1-3

• SimlplyBible: The Book’s origin is given in the opening verses. The writer is identified. He is “Ezekiel the priest”(V3).
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  We are also told the place and time where Ezekiel saw and heard what he wrote in his book. He was “among the captives” (V1) “in the land of the Chaldeans” (V3). That was “in the 30th year” of his life (V1), and “in the 5th year of king Jehoiachin’s captivity” (V2).
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  This places Ezekiel in Babylonian exile a little after 600BC. In the time of Judah’s kings Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin, the Babylonians (also called Chaldeans) had besieged and attacked Jerusalem in Judea and carried away captives. Daniel was one of them (Daniel 1:1-4). Ezekiel was another.
• v3: “the hand of the LORD was upon him” : What does this indicate?
  Enduringword: The hand of the Lord was upon him’ connotes the idea of God’s strength on behalf of the person involved (Ezekiel 3:14; Isaiah 25:10; 41:10, 20), a concept inherent in the name ‘Ezekiel’ (yehezqel), which means ‘God strengthens.’” (Alexander)
  *Ezekiel 3:14 note 2: tn Heb “the hand of the Lord was on me heavily.” The “hand of the Lord” is a metaphor for his power or influence; the modifier conveys intensity. sn In Ezekiel God’s “hand” being on the prophet is regularly associated with communication or a vision from God (1:3; 3:14, 22; 8:1; 37:1; 40:1).

Vision of God and the Living Creatures. –Ezekiel 1:4-9

• v4: “a whirlwind was coming out of the north” : What does coming from the north indicate?
  Enduringword: The north is often associated with God’s judgment through Israel’s powerful enemies (Jeremiah 1:14-15; 3:18) and Israel’s captivity.
  * It was significant that this vision of God and the living creatures came from the direction of captivity and conquest imposed upon Israel. It was a way of saying that those calamities were from God.
• v4: “a great cloud with fire flashing forth”: What does the cloud and fire remind you of? The radiating brightness?
  Enduringword: The cloud by day and fire by night was the expression of God’s presence with Israel through the wilderness (Exodus 13:21-22). A raging fire engulfing itself is a reminder of the burning bush that Moses saw, which burned but did not consume itself (Exodus 3:2).
  * This radiating brightness is an expression of the glory of God. “If the message of Isaiah centers about the salvation of the Lord, that of Jeremiah about the judgment of the Lord, and that of Daniel about the kingdom of the Lord, then that of Ezekiel is concerned with the glory of the Lord.” (Feinberg)
• v5-6: “the likeness of a man with four faces”: What does this make you think of? –Heb 13:2
  Enduringword:  Ezekiel noted that they were not men; they were angelic beings, not human beings.
  * When angelic beings appear to men and women in the Bible, they often have the likeness of a man. Perhaps the general form and appearance of angels is something like the general form and appearance of human beings.
• v7: “feet and polished/burnished bronze”: Where have we seen this before? –Dan 10:6;Rev 1:14-15
  Enduringword: His feet like fine brass: Jesus chose this description of Himself from Revelation 1:15 to emphasize His purity because brass is pure and highly refined in the fire. It also emphasized His steadfastness, because brass was the strongest known metal in the ancient world, and feet like fine brass would be strong and unmovable.

Appearance of the Living Creatures. –Ezekiel 1:10-14

• Where else do we see a similar description of the four faces? What seems to be their purpose? –Rev 4:6-8; 5:8; Isa 6:1-3
  * They seem to be worshipping around the throne
  EnduringWord: Like a lion… like a calf… a face like a man… like a flying eagle: John described four cherubim, each with a different face. From comparison with Ezekiel 1, we can see that each of the cherubim have four faces, and at the moment, John saw each one of the four different faces pointed in his direction. The significance of these four faces has been interpreted in many ways.* The four different faces of the cherubim are often taken as symbols of Jesus as represented in each gospel.

Gospel	Face	Tribe
Matthew	Lion Royalty	Judah Numbers 2:3
Mark	Ox Service	Ephraim Numbers 2:10
Luke	Man Physician	Reuben Numbers 2:18
John	Flying Eagle Resurrection	Dan Numbers 2:25

• The description of the wings and the burning coals indicate?
  EnduringWord: Cherubim are a very special class of angelic beings, and this is one of the few places in Scripture that tells us that wings are associated with angelic beings at all.* In Isaiah 6:1-4, the prophet described his heavenly vision where he saw beings he called seraphim who had six wings. It is likely that cherubim and seraphim are the same beings described from slightly different perspectives or noting different details. The name seraphim means burning ones, which seems to fit with these cherubim as described in Ezekiel 1:13.

The Wheels and the Living Creatures. –Ezekiel 1:15-21

• v15-17: What is this most likely a description of?
  EnduringWord: It is probably the idea of a grand four-wheeled chariot bringing the throne of God. The general impression is of constant activity and motion, not only by the living creatures themselves (Ezekiel 1:14), but also by the throne of God (specifically mentioned in Ezekiel 1:26).
• v18: “rims full of eyes round about” : What does this most likely indicate?
  EnduringWord: The description of full of eyes was how John described the cherubim themselves (Revelation 4:6). The sense is of great knowledge and intelligence.
  * “The wheels symbolize the omnipresence of God, while the eyes on their rims suggest the omniscience of God, seeing and knowing everything.” (Wiersbe)
• v19-21: “When the living beings moved, the wheels moved”: How closely associated does this show the living beings and the wheels?
  EnduringWord: As the four cherubim moved, so did the four wheels and their workings. They were so closely connected that Ezekiel could write, the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
  * In thirteen months the cherubim and this heavenly chariot will return to remove the glory of the Lord from the temple and Jerusalem (Ezekiel 9-10). Yet, graciously, God also gave Ezekiel a vision of the return of God’s glory to the temple, along with these cherubim and the heavenly chariot (Ezekiel 43:1-5).

The Firmament Above. –Ezekiel 1:22-25

• v22: Where else is this firmament described?
  EnduringWord: “The Hebrew meaning of something ‘made firm’ by beating or stamping, e.g. a hammered piece of metalwork. It usually refers to the curve of the heavens, which to an observer on the ground appears like a vast inverted bowl of blue. In passages like Genesis 1:6; Psalms 19:1; 150:1; Daniel 12:3, it clearly has this meaning, but in Ezekiel it has the sense of a firm, level surface or platform. In the book of Revelation this same phrase becomes ‘a sea of glass, like crystal’ before the throne of God (Revelation 4:6).”
• v24: What does the “noise of their wings”: sound like?
  EnduringWord: This seems to describe the loud and majestic noise of a great waterfall. John used this phrase to describe the voice of the ascended Jesus (Revelation 1:15), the voice of God (Revelation 14:2), and the voice of a great multitude (Revelation 19:6).
  *The living creatures responded to this voice that came from above all.

The Throne and He Who Sat on it. –Ezekiel 1:25-28

•  “likeness of a throne” ?
  EnduringWord: Since the wheels and their working seemed to be on the earth beside each living creature (Ezekiel 1:15) and the voice and the throne came from above the firmament (Ezekiel 1:25-26), the presence of God was above the cherubim and the wheels and their workings.
  *“In the Book of Isaiah we have the principles of the throne of God; in Jeremiah we have the practice of that throne; but in Ezekiel we have the Person who is on the throne.” (McGee)
  *like a sapphire stone: Moses described parts of his heavenly vision with the blue color and brilliance of a sapphire stone (Exodus 24:10).
  *“He observes the most majestic throne one could imagine, made entirely of lapis lazuli, one of the most precious stones known to the ancients.” (Block)
  *“The pure oriental sapphire, a large well cut specimen of which is now before me, is one of the most beautiful and resplendent blues that can be conceived.” (Clarke)
• likeness of a man: ?
  EnduringWord:  The representation Ezekiel saw of God was something like a man. This is consistent with the other descriptions of God in heavenly visions (such as Isaiah 6:1-4;Revelation 4-5) and the general idea that God made man in His image (Genesis 1:26-27).
  * color of amber: This is the fourth association of color. First beryl or emerald green (Ezekiel 1:16), then clear crystal (Ezekiel 1:22), then sapphire blue (Ezekiel 1:26), and now golden-brown amber. Alexander says the word translated amber (hasmal) is more literally “glowing metal,” and has the idea of something that shines, such as a shining metal.
  *appearance of fire with brightness all around: Flashing red and yellow light came downward from this representation of God. The suggestion is of His power and radiance going from heaven down to earth. “The symbolism points to God as high and lifted up above the heavens, far removed from this world. Yet he still gives direction and order to his creation from his heavenly throne.” (Smith)
  * appearance of a rainbow in a cloud: The whole picture is of colorful, bright, happy radiance – like a rainbow in a cloud. In John’s heavenly vision, he saw the throne of God surrounded by a rainbow (Revelation 4:3). All around this setting of all sovereignty, power, authority and glory – this setting of the throne of God – God set a reminder of His promise to never destroy the earth again with water (Genesis 9:13-16), a promise that directs His sovereignty, so that it is not capricious or against His promises.
  *A throne says, “I can do whatever I want because I rule.” A promise says, “I will fulfill this word to you, and I cannot do otherwise.” A rainbow over the throne of God is a remarkable thing, showing that God will always limit Himself by His own promises.
• likeness of the glory of the LORD: ?
  Enduringword: Ezekiel artfully built up to this declaration, revealing that the radiant being he described was in fact Yahweh, the God of Israel Himself. Ezekiel did not claim to see God directly, but only the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Yahweh.
  * “All that was suggested to Ezekiel by the fire, the living ones, the wheels, the spirit of life, has been more clearly revealed to us in the Son of His love.” (Morgan)
  * Glory: “The term kabod derives from a root meaning ‘to be heavy,’ but when applied to royalty and divinity it denotes the sheer weight of that person’s majesty, that quality which evokes a response of awe in the observer.” (Block)
• I heard a voice of One speaking: Why is hearing the voice important?
  EnduringWord: Ezekiel’s response was one of humble surrender before such a God of glory. God’s response was to reveal Himself through His word. One might think that the mere revelation of God in a vision was enough, but it was not enough for God. Something in His nature demands that He reveal Himself through His word, making this vision valuable not only for Ezekiel the prophet but for all who will read and consider His word.
  *If Ezekiel didn’t know it before, now he clearly understood that the glory of God is not restricted to Jerusalem and the temple.
  *“There is no doubt that through all his ministry, whether Ezekiel listened to the voice, or spoke the messages entrusted to him, he did so in the consciousness of the glory of Jehovah as he had seen it in those visions.” (Morgan)

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Related:
SimplyBible Ezekiel Outline
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