SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 11/6/2014
10:48 AM
More on Ezekiel
I have been waiting for a book to come to me, one
that I use to have a very long time ago but gave away to a friend who was
studying the book of Ezekiel. I wanted
to read it again to get more incites on Ezekiel. The title of this book is “All things Weird and
Wonderful” and the author is Stuart Briscoe.
I have heard Stuart Briscoe preach at Moody Bible Institute’s Founders
week many years ago and truly enjoyed his preaching. He is from England and at the time had a
church in Wisconsin. He writes the
following in his Preface to his commentary on Ezekiel.
“There are several reasons why I believe Ezekiel is the
kind of book in the Bible that most people don’t read but should.
“First, the book’s main thrust is to show people who God
really is. He repeatedly told Ezekiel
that He was acting in a certain way so that people would know ‘I am the
Lord. People don’t really know the Lord
today because in many of our churches we talk about outselves and our problems
more than the Lord and His requirements.
“Second, Ezekiel lived in a period of societal disintegration.
In this breakdown he discovered both the sinfulness of man and the hand of God
and addressed himself to them. Our
society is coming apart at the seams, but those who admit it seem to think the
answers are political and economic rather than moral and spiritual. Ezekiel helps us understand this.
“Third, I have found all kinds of people who are fascinated
by the slightly weird, the occult, and the ‘way out’ aspects of today’s
world! Those people really need to get
alongside Ezekiel, because if God ever had a man ‘way out there’ it was Ezekiel.
“Fourth, we are a communications-crazy generation. In the Church we are getting so excited about
methods of communication that we are in danger of forgetting that the message
communicated must never be sacrificed at the altar of methodology. What does Ezekiel have to say to this? As one of the most gifted, unpredictable, and
effective communicators of unpalatable truth in God’s Book, he’s an absolute
for all world-be communicators.
“Fifth, in the Church of Jesus Christ we have
differences. This is to be expected, but
the ways we handle the differences are rather unexpected. Instead of showing our maturity by coolly
discussing them, we polarize! Ezekiel
gives us opportunity for improving our record!
“The Book of Ezekiel is not easy to study or to
understand and accept its message. It is
not easy to interpret or, by any means easy to apply, but it amply rewards
careful, reverent study. So follow the
advice of the wise man who said, ‘My son, if you wilt receive my words and hide
my commandments with thee, so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and
apply thine heart to understanding; yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and
liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou sleekest her as sliver and
searchest for her as hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the
Lord, and find the knowledge of God’
(Proverbs 2:1-5). I am sure you
will be enriched by your time spent in Ezekiel.”
Now I am going to quote Proverbs 2:1-5 in the NASB: “1 ¶
My son, if you will receive my words And treasure my commandments within
you, 2 Make your ear attentive to
wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding; 3
For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding;
4 If you seek her as silver And search
for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then
you will discern the fear of the LORD And discover the knowledge of God.”
11/6/2014 11:22 AM
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