And ye shall know that I am the Lord

I’ve been sick with a cold for the past two days. Yesterday was the worst. I got out of bed only as long as it took to take a Thera-flu and get back to bed. Later in the day I started feeling somewhat better and decided to read. I chose the book of Ezekiel; I liked the sound of his name at the moment.

God comes to Ezekiel and chooses him to prophesy to the nation, about what is to come.

God makes it plain so there is no mistake as to why all this will be happening.
Rebellion; not only among the people, but among the priest and elders of the synagogues is why sickness, hunger, wars, and pestilence are slowly eroding away at the country. The end of all this was to be enslavement.

Rebellion: Not only were some of the priests and elders taking the matters of God into their own hands. Making decisions themselves without consulting God and waiting on his answers, but the people “in the chambers of his imagery” (meaning in their own minds) were saying
“The Lord seeth us not: the Lord hath forsaken the earth. EZ. 8:12
In other words, God doesn’t care, I am left to myself to do what I feel is right.
They were in a sense, passing the buck; putting the blame for any sin they might commit onto God.

The word of God teaches that mankind making decisions solely on his/her own generally makes a mess of things. The consequences of those decisions that do not include God will result, in the long run, to troubles. Sometimes seen immediately, sometimes years later, but always seen.

God tells Ezekiel in essence that the people have chosen to go their own way; therefore he will let them deal with the problems they have created for themselves.
“and ye shall know that I am the Lord” This phrase follows each time God tells the consequences of their rebellion. BUT, he gives a promise. He makes a way, a provision for those who truly look to him and follow His commands.

In chapter 9 he calls the man from beside the altar, dressed in white linen carrying the ink horn. This man he commands to go through the people and place a mark on the foreheads of those who ‘cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst’. Those who are grieved for the sins that have been committed are set apart. This is the remnant from chapter 6 verse 8.

The man clothed in white linen is the man in the book of Revelation. He will write your name in the Lamb’s book of life as well.
Many of our leaders are telling us that there is no God. ("God does not see") They have taken things into their own hands are running our nation the way they think it should go. God has left us to the consequences of our sin.
BUT God gives you a promise:
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. II Chronicles 7:14
This promise is to each person;therefore the conditions must be met individually by each person who is grieved with the abominations that are happening around them, just as in Ezekiel's day.

Are you tired of rebelling; of trying to do things your way? Are you grieved for your nation? God has written an entire book to let you know how to travel through this world safely. Humble yourself.Read the Bible. Pray, and seek his face, talk to the Creator of the universe. Turn from your wicked ways and  trust Him to guide you in His way. If each of us does, then he will heal our land.

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet

For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.

 Proverbs 6:23

Not too many people can see in the dark. Although some can see pretty well, I have seen others who couldn’t see anything in the dark. But one thing is certain: trying to do something without the proper light always makes the job harder to do; there are more chances of making mistakes.

The more light you have when doing a job, the easier it is to get the job done. When your light is limited it is much harder to tell, even after you have finished the job, whether or not it is done correctly.

King Solomon is letting you know in this verse that God’s truth acts like a light on your path of life. With that Light, the light of God’s word, you will be able to stay on the right path. There is less chance of falling, or going the wrong way.

Not to say that you will never make another mistake. There is the human factor to remember here as well. Meditating or thinking intently on the path and the word are called for as well as staying in the light.

Thinking will make walking that path a lot easier; the same as thinking about what you are doing when you are working in a lighted area will make the job go faster and smoother.

God supplies the Light and leads you in the right path; man/woman must supply the thoughtfulness to travel it well.