Ezekiel 21 - 01.08.26

SCRIPTURE

“The word of the Lord came to me: “Therefore groan, son of man!

Groan before them with broken heart and bitter grief. And when they ask you, ‘Why are you groaning?’ you shall say, ‘Because of the news that is coming. Every heart will melt with fear and every hand go limp; every spirit will become faint and every leg will be wet with urine.’

It is coming! It will surely take place, declares the Sovereign Lord.””

‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭21‬:‭1‬, ‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

OBSERVATION

Next to Job, Ezekiel is one of the most challenging books of the Bible, with Chapter 21 being particularly difficult. Here, the people stand at the brink of God’s impending Judgment, having received SO many warnings that have fallen on deaf ears, and still they are impervious to the Judgment that is Coming. They are choosing to Listen to what they “want” to hear rather than the “Truth”.

God’s severe judgment against Judah and Jerusalem—symbolized by a “drawn sword,” representing the Babylonian army—would bring complete destruction in the form of a national catastrophe. This judgment underscores the absolute certainty of God’s wrath in response to turning away from Him and continuing in persistent sin. The sheer magnitude and severity of what was coming would serve as a powerful revelation to the watching world, making it clear that only God Himself could be behind such a great reckoning. 

Yet, God did not want Ezekiel to be an unemotional messenger of judgment.

God wanted the heart of the prophet to display the same breaking heart that God Himself had.

God told Ezekiel to “groan with a broken heart and bitter grief.”

Our sin and His punishment, though righteous—-breaks God’s heart.

APPLICATION

Lord Jesus—Break My Heart for what Breaks Your Heart

Why did Jesus weep when He saw Jerusalem?

His ministry was almost over. Time was short. He had healed their sick. He had raised their dead. He had cleansed their lepers. He had fed their hungry. He had forgiven their sins. Yet for the most part, He had been rejected. The same people who were shouting “Hosanna” soon would be shouting “Crucify him”.

“He came to—His own, and His own—did Not receive Him.” (John 1:11)

Unbelief and rejection breaks God’s heart, because He knows the consequences.

But when the door of the human heart is shut, He will Not enter by Force.

He will only knock—wanting to gain admittance.

He has given us the ability to choose.

But when we choose the wrong thing,

He knows the repercussions that will follow—in this life—and the one to come.

And His heart is broken.

As Followers of Christ Jesus we can also break His Heart by not caring deeply about what Breaks God’s Heart. The very Thing He Came to this earth for as He Lived, Ministered, and sacrificed His Life. The Good News.

““For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

The Good News is SO much MORE than gaining a place in Heaven for the Future. Salvation is not the end, it’s the Glorious Beginning of what it means to walk this discipleship journey FOLLOWING Jesus.

“Now this IS eternal life: that they may KNOW You,

the ONLY true supreme and sovereign God, and in the same manner KNOW Jesus as the Christ whom You have sent.” (John‬ ‭17‬:‭3‬ ‭AMP‬‬)

“And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me as My disciples, accepting Me as your Master and Teacher and walking the same path of life that I walk, and I will make you fishers of men.”” (Matthew‬ ‭4‬:‭19‬)

“Then Jesus said to His disciples,

“If ANYONE wishes to follow Me as My disciple, he must deny himself—set aside selfish interests—and take up his cross—expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come—and follow Me—believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me.” (Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭24‬)

“The sheep that are MY own—HEAR My voice—and LISTEN to Me;

I know them—and they FOLLOW Me.

And I give them eternal life, and they will never, ever by any means perish;

and no one will ever snatch them out of My hand.”

‭‭(John‬ ‭10‬:‭27‬-‭28‬)

PRAYER

Lord Jesus,

Forgive me for so many wasted years. Thank You for Your mercy and grace and Love that is beyond Compare. Break my heart so deeply and fully for the people who are in such desperate need of knowing You. Only if You do this will it happen. We can do nothing apart from You. I am dust. Only by Your power and will am I living and breathing. Melt me Mold me FILL me and use me as You Will. Open my heart to Hear Your voice leading me each day. Teach me to Follow You as Your disciple. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Tina L Kudelka