Prayer: Father, may I experience grief for my sin and my past. I am grieved over losing forty years of not serving You with my whole heart. Thank You for being long suffering, merciful, and gracious. Amen.
Reading: Ezekiel 24 key: vs. 23-24 “Your turbans will remain on your heads and your shoes on your feet—you will not lament or weep. But you will pine away in your iniquities and groan to each other. Ezekiel will be a sign for you; just as he has done, you will do. When this comes, you will know that I am Adonai.’ TLV
Attention: It is interesting that just yesterday, I met with a male friend, and we talked about our past and our regret for wasting our past lives in disobedience to Messiah. We both lamented but confirmed with each other, our mutual desire to finish strong in our desire to know God, worship Him, and live obedient lives.
Adonai tells Ezekiel that He is taking his wife, the object of his affection from him. “I am about to take away the desire of your eyes with a single blow. But do not lament, do not weep or allow any tears to flow. Sigh silently, do not observe mourning for the dead, keep your turban fastened, and keep your sandals on your feet. Do not cover your upper lip or eat the bread of mourners.” So I spoke to the people in the morning and my wife died in the evening. In the morning I did just as I was commanded (Ezekiel 24:16b-18).”
I have not experienced the death of a spouse. However, my wife has suffered two husbands preceding her in death. I have studied grief through my association with a widow’s organization and being a chaplain. Grief is a part of the natural life which God implanted in us. To not grieve is to deny our natural proclivity, yet Ezekiel obeyed.
If we have a supernatural (God) perspective on life and death, with the help of the Holy Spirt, we can overcome the darkness which natural grief can bring. I experience a near death experience with my dad about five years ago. At that time, I could not hold back the tears as I saw him in a state which I had never witnessed before. Before, he was always strong and vibrant. Yet, five years later, God called him home and I can testify to a supernatural peace which defied explanation.
Ezekiel’s experience had a God given purpose, to be an object lesson to Israel. Our grief has a God given purpose too. That we might show those around us, the hope we have in Messiah. I give you this word of encouragement which Paul shared with the Ekklesia in Thessalonica, “Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13).”
Action: I choose today to grieve as one with hope of the resurrection.
Yield: I choose to yield to the sovereignty of Adonai.
Engage: I choose to engage with the power of the Holy Spirit in demonstrating Messiah!
Relationship: I choose to live in holy, righteous, obedience to Adonai.
Prayer: Father, may we grieve as one who has placed their total hope in You for resurrection and eternal life lived with You. Amen.
Memory Verse: 1 Thessalonians 4:13 “Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest who have no hope.” TLV
Music Video: Text: Edward Mote/Music: William B. Bradbury—My Hope is Built on Nothing Less https://youtu.be/DWdNgXSd46Y?si=LPkFzwixDyV9GFk6
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”