Verse of the Week: V23 “And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.”
1. The House Of God (V1-15)
V1 “Also, thou son of man, prophesy unto the mountains of Israel, and say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD:”
The mountains or the people of Israel were the house or the family of the Almighty God. God spoke through the prophet Ezekiel that whichever nation or people who shall attack and destroy His house or family, He shall attack and destroy that nation or people.
V12 “Yea, I will cause men to walk upon you, even my people Israel; and they shall possess thee, and thou shalt be their inheritance, and thou shalt no more henceforth bereave them of men.”
2. The Holiness Of God (V16-24)
V22 “Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.”
God chose the people of Israel not because of what they had done, but because God loved them. Though they sinned against God time and again, yet for the sake of God’s holy name or great name, God kept forgiving them, and even sanctified them in His holiness.
V23 “And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.”
3. The Heart Of God (V25-38)
V26 “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.”
God was so good to His people that He gave them a new heart, a new spirit that they could live a new life serving Him. Indeed, when we believe in the true and living God and become God’s people, whatever God promises to us, He shall fulfil them.
V36 “Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it.”
Prayer of the Week:
Dearest God, thank You that I am great and holy because You are great and holy.
Posted by: Pastor Dave Sim AT 05:10 pm
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Verse of the Week: V13 “Thus with your mouth ye have boasted against me, and have multiplied your words against me: I have heard them.”
1. Perpetual Hatred (V1-8)
V2 “Son of man, set thy face against mount Seir, and prophesy against it,”
The Almighty God spoke through the prophet Ezekiel pronouncing judgement upon the people of mount Seir or Edom, who were the perpetual or long time enemy of Israel. God pronounced severe judgement upon mount Seir because they continued to hate and harm Israel, who was God’s chosen nation. Similarly, God shall judge the people who constantly hate and harm Christians because Christians are God’s people, God’s children.
V5 “Because thou hast had a perpetual hatred, and hast shed the blood of the children of Israel by the force of the sword in the time of their calamity, in the time that their iniquity had an end:”
2. Perpetual Desolation (V9-12)
V9 “I will make thee perpetual desolations, and thy cities shall not return: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.”
God severely punished mount Seir and until today, mount Seir remains a wasteland with few inhabitants. Indeed, God is not mocked and whosoever mock God’s people are actually mocking God, and God shall punish them.
V11 “Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will even do according to thine anger, and according to thine envy which thou hast used out of thy hatred against them; and I will make myself known among them, when I have judged thee.”
3. Perpetual Love (V12-15)
V13 “Thus with your mouth ye have boasted against me, and have multiplied your words against me: I have heard them.”
The people of mount Seir were proud and boastful and they thought they could live without God. God heard their boasting and He severely judged and punished them. Indeed, when we humble ourselves and trust in God, we shall be under His perpetual and everlasting love and protection, however, if we are proud and boastful and refuse to believe in God, we shall be under His perpetual judgement and condemnation.
V15 “As thou didst rejoice at the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so will I do unto thee: thou shalt be desolate, O mount Seir, and all Idumea, even all of it: and they shall know that I am the LORD.”
Prayer of the Week:
Dearest God, thank You for Your everlasting love and protection.
Posted by: Pastor Dave Sim AT 10:17 am
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Verse of the Week: V2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?”
1. The Selfless Shepherd (V1-10)
V2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?”
Instead of feeding the flock, the shepherds of Israel fed themselves! These were the false prophets of God who preached and prophesied God’s Word for their own selfish gain. They served God with the motive of what they could get out of their service instead of serving selflessly. Today, we are also experiencing the same attitude from the false pastors who preach for their own selfish gain instead of the salvation of the people that they may come to know the Lord Jesus and receive Him as their Saviour and Shepherd.
2. The Seeking Shepherd (V11-19)
V11 “For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.”
Ezekiel, like the Lord GOD, was the true shepherd who searched and sought for the lost sheep of Israel, the people of Israel, to repent of their sins and turn to God. Indeed, the true pastor will search and seek for lost souls and share with them the Gospel so that they may know the Lord Jesus and receive Him as their Saviour and Lord.
V12 “As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.”
3. The Serving Shepherd (V20-31)
V23 “And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.”
God’s one shepherd or God’s servant David was none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall feed His sheep or the people of God, with the Word of God, and they shall never be hungry or thirsty again. Indeed, the true Shepherd is a serving Shepherd who came to serve, and to die for the sins of the whole world, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life with the Lord Jesus Christ in heaven.
V31 “And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD.”
Prayer of the Week:
Dearest God, thank You for being my true Shepherd and Saviour.
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 03:37 pm
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Verse of the Week:V3 “If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;”
1. The Faithful Watchman (V1-4)
V3 “If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;”
Christians today are the watchmen in the days of the prophet Ezekiel. The faithful watchmen or Christians are those who blow the trumpet and warn the people that if they refuse to repent of their sins and believe in the true and living God, they will perish in the fiery pits of hell the moment they die.
V4 “Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.”
2. The Unfaithful Watchman (V5-19)
V6 “But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.”
The unfaithful watchmen or Christians are those who refuse to blow the trumpet and warn the people that if they refuse to repent of their sins and believe in God, the people will be condemned to hell the moment they die. God also pronounced that the blood of the people shall be in the hands of these unfaithful watchmen or Christians.
V8 “When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.”
3. The Holy Judge (V20-33)
V20 “Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O ye house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways.”
Instead of repenting their sins, the people of Israel falsely accused God of being unfair. Hence, God pronounced judgments upon the people of Israel. Subsequently God’s judgments came, and many were destroyed, and the people of Israel realized that Ezekiel was indeed the prophet sent by the Almighty God. Indeed, God is fair and He shall judge the sins and wickedness of every man and woman, and no one shall escape His judgment.
V33 “And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them.”
Prayer of the Week:
Dearest God, please help me to be Your faithful watchman.
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 10:57 am
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Verse of the Week: V31 “Pharaoh shall see them, and shall be comforted over all his multitude, even Pharaoh and all his army slain by the sword, saith the Lord GOD.”
1. Lamentation For Egypt (V1-16)
V2 “Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh king of Egypt, and say unto him, Thou art like a young lion of the nations, and thou art as a whale in the seas: and thou camest forth with thy rivers, and troubledst the waters with thy feet, and fouledst their rivers.”
The Almighty God revealed to Prophet Ezekiel that He would severely punish Egypt because Egypt was an enemy of God. Time and again Egypt rebelled against God, and hence, God commanded Prophet Ezekiel to lament for Pharaoh as He would send the mighty Babylonians to humble and destroy Pharaoh and the Egyptians.
V11 “For thus saith the Lord GOD; The sword of the king of Babylon shall come upon thee.”
2. Wail For Egypt (V17-30)
V18 “Son of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt, and cast them down, even her, and the daughters of the famous nations, unto the nether parts of the earth, with them that go down into the pit.”
Again, God commanded Ezekiel to wail and lament for the Egyptians that they would repent their sins and believe in God. The Egyptians represent the unbelievers who refuse to repent of their sins and rather choose to enjoy the pleasures of sins than to trust in God. Hence, the Almighty God shall condemn them into the fiery pits of hell on Judgment Day.
V21 “The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword.”
3. Comfort For Egypt (V31-32)
V31 “Pharaoh shall see them, and shall be comforted over all his multitude, even Pharaoh and all his army slain by the sword, saith the Lord GOD.”
Instead of repenting his sins, Pharaoh took comfort that the Babylonians and the rest of his enemies would also be slain by the sword and condemned to hell.
V32 “For I have caused my terror in the land of the living: and he shall be laid in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that are slain with the sword, even Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD.”
Prayer of the Week:
Dearest God, thank You for being our Friend as You preserves and protects us.
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 01:19 pm
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Verse of the Week: V18 “To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? Yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD.”
1. The Greatness Of Egypt (V1-9)
V2 “Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude; Whom art thou like in thy greatness?”
During the time of prophet Ezekiel, the greatest nation of the world was Egypt and the greatest leader was Pharaoh, the King of Egypt. The great Egypt and the great Pharaoh stood tall among all the nations of the world in terms of their wisdom, wealth, power, military and economic might.
V5 “Therefore his height was exalted above all the trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, and his branches became long because of the multitude of waters, when he shot forth.”
2. The Pride Of Egypt (V10-11)
V10 “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast lifted up thyself in height, and he hath shot up his top among the thick boughs, and his heart is lifted up in his height;”
Pharaoh was not satisfied just to be the greatest king of the world; he wanted to be like god, his creator and maker. His pride and ego could only be satisfied if all the people of the world worshipped him as their god and paid him tribute, honour and respect. This was why God subsequently sent the mighty Babylonians to attack, defeat, destroy and humble the Egyptians, and since then, Egypt has never been the greatest nation of the world.
V11 “I have therefore delivered him into the hand of the mighty one of the heathen; he shall surely deal with him: I have driven him out for his wickedness.”
3. The Fall Of Egypt (V12-18)
V18 “To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? Yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD.”
All including the greatest nation and the greatest leader who commits evil and wickedness and refuse to acknowledge and believe in the true and great God shall be judged and condemned to hell. God is not a respecter of nation or person.
Prayer of the Week:
Dearest God, please humble me to know that You are the only true and great God.
Posted by: Pastor Dave Sim AT 10:50 am
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Verse of the Week: V6 “Thus saith the LORD; They also that uphold Egypt shall fall; and the pride of her power shall come down: from the tower of Syene shall they fall in it by the sword, saith the Lord GOD.”
1. Egypt Became Powerful (V1-5)
V4 “For the sword shall come upon Egypt, and great pain shall be in Ethiopia, when the slain shall fall in Egypt, and they shall take away her multitude, and her foundations shall be broken down.”
At that time, Egypt was a superpower and Pharaoh king of Egypt was the most powerful leader of the world. All countries in the world would pay tribute to Egypt and Pharaoh to gain their friendship, trust and support in order for them to live in peace and harmony.
V5 “Ethiopia, and Libya, and Lydia, and all the mingled people, and Chub, and the men of the land that is in league, shall fall with them by the sword.”
2. Egypt Became Weak (V6-19)
V6 “Thus saith the LORD; They also that uphold Egypt shall fall; and the pride of her power shall come down: from the tower of Syene shall they fall in it by the sword, saith the Lord GOD.”
God will never allow the people and the nations of this world to be proud and arrogant. In the history of mankind, every superpower and every super leader was humbled by God. Egypt, the superpower and Pharaoh king of Egypt, the super leader, were humbled when God sent the Babylonians to attack and defeat them because of the pride of their power.
V10 “Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also make the multitude of Egypt to cease by the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon.”
3. Egypt Became Nothing (V20-26)
V22 “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and will break his arms, the strong, and that which was broken; and I will cause the sword to fall out of his hand.”
The Babylonians attacked and scattered the Egyptians throughout the world. Indeed, no nation or no man can claim to be a superpower or a super leader as God shall humble them. Throughout history, God humbled all great empires such as the Hebrew, the Egyptian, the Babylonian, the Persian, the Greek, the Roman as well as the British empire.
V26 “And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them among the countries; and they shall know that I am the LORD.”
Prayer of the Week:
Dearest God, please humble me to know that I am nothing without You.
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 10:20 am
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Verse of the Week: V21 “In that day will I cause the horn of the house of Israel to bud forth, and I will give thee the opening of the mouth in the midst of them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.”
1. God Against Egypt (V1-7)
V2 “Son of man, set thy face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt:”
God was against Pharaoh King of Egypt and the Egyptians because they were the great power of the world and became proud and arrogant. They refused to acknowledge and believe that the true God of Israel had richly blessed them. Instead, time and again, they persecuted and punished the people of Israel and caused them to sin against God.
V3 “Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself.”
2. God Attacked Egypt (V8-20)
V8 “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will bring a sword upon thee, and cut off man and beast out of thee.”
God allowed the Babylonians to attack and defeat the proud Egyptians and robbed them of their wealth and riches as wages for the King of Babylon and his mighty army.
V19 “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will give the land of Egypt unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall take her multitude, and take her spoil, and take her prey; and it shall be the wages for his army.”
3. God Assured Israel (V21)
V21 “In that day will I cause the horn of the house of Israel to bud forth, and I will give thee the opening of the mouth in the midst of them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.”
The Almighty God assured the people of Israel that He would be for them, and would make them the light of the world, if they would humble themselves, pray, seek His face and turn from their wicked ways. Indeed, if God be for us, who can be against us?
2 Chronicles 7:14
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
Prayer of the Week:
Dearest God, please humble me so that You are for me and not against me.
Posted by: Pator Dave Sim AT 10:35 am
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Verse of the Week: V2 “Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:”
1. The Pride (V1-6)
V2 “Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:”
What pride that Tyrus would claim that he was God when he was just a creature of God! God created Tyrus with perfect beauty and wisdom, and blessed him with riches and fame, yet instead of being grateful to God, he became proud and desired to be God.
V4 “With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures:”
2. The Punishment (V7-19)
V14 “Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.”
The anointed cherub, Lucifer, fell from grace because of pride and became the Devil or Satan. The anointed cherub like Tyrus was created with perfect beauty and wisdom, yet like Tyrus, he too fell from grace because of pride. God punished the people of Tyrus as well as the anointed cherub as no man or angel can claim to be God, except God Himself.
V17 “Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.”
3. The People (V20-26)
V25 “Thus saith the Lord GOD; When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob.”
Indeed, God punishes the proud and blesses the humble. God promises to bless and sanctify His people including the nation of Israel if they humble themselves and seek His face and turn from their sins of pride and rebellion.
Prayer of the Week:
Dearest God, I need You as You are my God and I am just Your creation.
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 05:15 pm
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Verse of the Week: V3 “And say unto Tyrus, O thou that art situate at the entry of the sea, which art a merchant of the people for many isles, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O Tyrus, thou hast said, I am of perfect beauty.”
1. Perfect Tyrus (V1-11)
V3 “And say unto Tyrus, O thou that art situate at the entry of the sea, which art a merchant of the people for many isles, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O Tyrus, thou hast said, I am of perfect beauty.”
Tyrus was perfectly situation at the entry of the sea where all ships had to pass through it before going to other cities and countries. Cities and nations praised Tyrus for her perfect beauty as it was the centre of all trade and commerce in the region as well as in the world.
V11 “The men of Arvad with thine army were upon thy walls round about, and the Gammadims were in thy towers: thy hanged their shields upon thy walls round about; they have made thy beauty perfect.”
2. Prosperous Tyrus (V12-25)
V12 “Tarshish was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of all kind of riches; with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they traded in thy fairs.”
Tyrus became one of the most prosperous cities in the world as people from all over the world came to trade and do business with her as well as with the rest of the world.
V25 “The ships of Tarshish did sing of thee in thy market: and thou wast replenished, and made very glorious in the midst of the seas.”
3. Proud Tyrus (V26-36)
V26 “Thy rowers have brought thee into great waters: the east wind hath broken thee in the midst of the seas.”
Though Tyrus was the perfect and prosperous city, it soon became proud and God sent the east wind or a great storm to destroy the entire city. Many times God allow crises in our lives to humble us so that we know that He is behind our success and achievement.
V36 “The merchants among the people shall hiss at thee; thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt be any more.”
James 4:6
“But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”
Prayer of the Week:
Dearest God, please humble me and give me grace to live for You.
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 02:15 pm
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