I am reading the Bible – a routine – about to check daily devotions off my “to do” holiness list of the day, when the Spirit of God reaches out through His Word and gives me a good shaking.
Think of your mother when you were a child. Something that you did; something that you shouldn’t have done. The shaking expected; you were doomed. But at the end of whatever punishment meted out for your crimes, your mother says, “I love you!” You knew this, even during your shaking.
There it was as I read my Bible – in Ezekiel. What?! Ezekiel? Yes, Ezekiel, a prophetic book from the old testament, mostly avoided by Twitterites because it’s too long, confusing, with no prophecies under the 280-character limit.
The shaking:
“The days are approaching as well for the fulfillment of every vision. For there will no longer be any false vision or deceptive divination within the house of Israel. For I, the Lord, will speak whatever word I speak, and it will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, for in your days, you rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it,” declares the Lord God. Ezekiel 12:23-25
A time is coming… for I the Lord will speak whatever word I speak, and it will be performed. It will no longer be delayed… I will speak the word and perform it.
Thanks, Ezekiel, for writing that 2,600 years ago for me in 2020. For you too. No more waiting for God’s blessings.
Ezekiel’s prophecies were from around the time Jerusalem was captured, destroyed, and its leading citizens brought to Babylon. For the godly exiles, hearing Ezekiel’s prophecies – that the days of waiting were soon to be over – what a relief!
Let’s compare 605 BC with 2020 AD.
Think visions of Washington D.C., burned, smoke lingering, and all the political leaders killed or exiled (Please don’t rejoice.). No more $600 or $1200 0r $2000 checks. Our government does not exist.
This happened to Jerusalem.
Most of us know that 2020 is a once-in-history and a-beginning-birth-pang-of-the-end-times year. Not on the level of what happened to Jerusalem… yet. But who knows what is next? The Bible predicts excruciating trials of increasing difficulty in both frequency and intensity.
For the Jews living in Babylon, the promise of “I will speak the word and perform it” was partially fulfilled just 70 years later with the return of exiles to Jerusalem.
This year: COVID, racial tension, election mayhem, expected future political carnage, fortunately a “V” stock market this year but a soon “666” economy, limited or no celebrations for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and a weariness for all!
I am praying for revival. I’m praying the power of God’s promises to be released.
Why not now, God?
This is my #2 New Year’s Resolution for 2021: To pray often, “God bring revival, power, healing, and salvation in 2021.”
My #1 New Year’s Resolution for 2021: I will recognize and confess my bitter-bits before they ignite a forest! (Explained in Interruption #233)
Note: God loves us during the shaking of 2020. There are many prophecies in Ezekiel not fulfilled for 2,600 years until recently. Keep watch in 2021! God is doing what He promised.