He did not know what it meant but he started praising the Lord. He also told the Lord his decision about a very important matter. The bad news hit him when he reached home eventually discovering something (of the worldly system) he used to consider important indeed was missing. It was no coincidence that prior to this he had already made a decision on his way home about not relying on the worldly system.
The same night he made a further big decision about his life. Once he had decided, the real pain finally hit him like a mental tsunami. But when he opened the Bible he found the page opened with these verses speaking to him and confirming the Lord’s message:
“Return to the stronghold, you prisoners of HOPE. Even today I declare that I will restore double to you.” (Zech.9:12)
Isaiah 49:9 9 That You may say to the prisoners, ‘Go forth,’ To those who are in darkness, ‘Show yourselves.’ “ They shall feed along the roads, And their pastures shall be on all desolate heights.”
“REJOICE greatly” (Zech.9:9) He happened to be the one who carried the banner displaying the word “REJOICE“ in the banner march during his past week’s faith in action participation.
Isaiah 61:1-3 The Good News of Salvation “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,
3 To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”
During the past week he saw two visions of night scenes (depicting end times) of rows of tall straight trees along the side of a road. One road led to a distant horizon and one man was walking on it. In another scene the row of trees shielded the building (the church) and completely hid it from sight. It was like end times churches will be hidden from those not led by the Holy Spirit. He did not know what the trees were then.
Now he knows they are called trees of righteousness, the remnant believers and followers of Jesus Christ. They were the planting of the Lord God Himself. He does not even need to worry how he should grow. The Lord will see to that!
Indeed, he was comforted and reassured by the oil of joy.
Of course, he is still human and he could feel the pain and silent inner weeping of the prophet watchman Ezekiel who was forbidden to express his grief for his most precious loss. He believed the oil of joy had comforted Ezekiel despite the command from the Lord that he should not mourn his loss.
The tragedy happened in chapter 24, but Ezekiel continued his journey by faith in the Holy Spirit and was given the breath taking prophetic act of faith in the dry bones revival miracle & prophesying the unification of Israel(in chapter 37), the New Jerusalem & New Temple (in chapters 40-46), and the Healing waters and Trees eventually (in the last chapter).
Ezekiel 24:15-18 The Prophet’s Wife Dies
“15 Also the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 16 “Son of man, behold, I take away from you the desire of your eyes with one stroke; yet you shall neither mourn nor weep, nor shall your tears run down. 17 Sigh in silence, make no mourning for the dead; bind your turban on your head, and put your sandals on your feet; do not cover your lips, and do not eat man’s bread of sorrow.”
18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died; and the next morning I did as I was commanded.”
No comments:
Post a Comment