Most of us don’t wade through the book of Ezekiel – we skim through it. Many of us don’t feel we have the capacity or spiritual maturity to comprehend much of Ezekiel’s long prophecy. Even some respected Bible teachers have suggested Ezekiel’s book is not the first book in the Bible a new believer should read.
Ezekiel, the prophet, was one of the Jewish captives taken from Jerusalem and carried to Babylon. He lived and died in exile, and his tomb is reputed to be just outside Baghdad. His wife died suddenly and traumatically. He was probably 35 at the time. His own name meant: God will strengthen. So often, he must have mused on the meaning of his name as he looked at the trials of his life. He experienced God at work in his life, in the life of his people, the Jews, and in the life of the nations around him.
Despite all we may not understand when reading Ezekiel, there is something we cannot miss – probably because of its repetition – frequent repetition. Over fifty times this expression is found:
You shall know or they “…shall know that I am the Lord.” Ezekiel 13:9
The burden of Ezekiel’s message was that ultimately everyone would know who the real Lord was – including straying Israel and the surrounding nations who had watched Israel lose its testimony as it plunged into idolatry. God’s Holy Name would be vindicated, and His glory recognized by all. (Ezekiel 36:22-23)
My highest pursuit in life should be to know the Lord – to know God and to know all that God has revealed about Himself. In the high priestly prayer of the Lord Jesus He prayed:
“And this is eternal life, that they know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3
The Apostle Paul wrote:
“…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection…” Philippians 3:10.
It is one thing to know Christ as my Saviour; Paul discovered that on the Damascus Road. But his lifelong pursuit became getting to know Christ better and better, more and more. Transcending his labours in the Gospel was his overarching goal of becoming more intimate with the Almighty.
It should not only be my highest pursuit in life; it is God’s highest purpose for me. In Hosea 6:6, we read that the “knowledge of God” transcends everything else in life – it is more critical than the best offerings we can bring to the Lord.
Here’s how it works: a couple first gets to know each other on their first date. The more time they spend together, the deeper their relationship becomes, and the more aware they become of each other’s qualities and preferences.
The more time we spend with the Lord, the more the relationship will grow and deepen and flourish. The more intimate we will become. The more I know Him as Lord, the less likely I will be to say “no” to His will.
Doesn’t it make you want to shout for joy to think that the Almighty has made such a relationship possible through His Son Jesus Christ? Why does He want me to be intimate with Him in the first place? Why! Why! Why! He knows me through and through, and yet He still wants me to get closer and closer to Him each day.
Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today.
Warmly in Christ,
Peter Ramsay