Oh, these chapters in Ezekiel just made me want to cry. God's manifest presence ~ His glory ~ physically leaving the temple as a result of Israel's sin. How that vision must have pained Ezekiel!
There are so many things that stuck out for me, but I just want to draw your attention to a couple. Did you notice how Ezekiel had to dig through the wall of the temple in order to see the ugliness of the leaders' sin? It wasn't open and obvious. And none of the "detestable" things they're doing are things that would necessarily have made them "bad" people.
I couldn't help but think about our modern society where we are generally only concerned with "badness" as it relates to the world around us, not with regards for God's idea of bad and good, of detestable and holy. But this is a strong reminder that God sees it ALL ~ the big sins that everyone knows about and the hidden ones that we figure are our own little secret ~ and will judge it all according to HIS standards. I won't be measured against a pastor or a pedophile. I will be measured against God's standard of holiness.
And then comes God's very harsh punishment of those who've turned away from Him and those who've not been concerned about their spiritual condition. He tells one man to mark those who follow Him and who are grieved at Israel's rebellion, but He orders SIX to slaughter all the unmarked individuals. He saves the faithful remnant, true to His promises, but orders all the rest killed, every single one ~ man, woman, child. He tells the six men to go ahead and defile the temple by killing within its courtyards (something that was expressly forbidden according to the Mosaic Law) and then to spread beyond throughout the city and the whole land. It's interesting to me that God's judgement starts with the spiritual leaders and spreads from there. Somehow, I think that's probably significant.
These chapters in Ezekiel (as well as chapter 11 from tomorrow's reading) describe the incredible sadness, the desolation, and the judgment that come when the glory of God leaves its rightful place, but 1 Timothy gives us instruction on how to let that glory shine through our lives.
In chapter 5, we see again some helpful ideas for putting our religion into practice, as Paul puts it, and living lives that honour and glorify God. In the first few verses, we see God's plan for old age pension and how elderly parents should be looked after by their families, if they have. It seems to be assumed that a man will work for his own living, no matter how old he is, whereas the women are to be specially cared for by the church if they have no family of their own who can provide for them, and if they've proven to be a godly women. I don't know about you, but I just love it that "bringing up children" is seen here as a good deed! In fact, it tops the list of good deeds!!
Of course, just being a good mom doesn't mean we can neglect the other responsibilities of being hospitable, of ministering to the needs within our church, and of reaching out to the needy in our communities, but it's nice to know that it's considered a good deed all on its own, isn't it?! :)
I used to really bristle at Paul's teachings on how women should act and use their time, but you know, I'm beginning to see it again not as rules, but as a call for our physical and spiritual protection and provision. Paul knew ~ as we know (but don't like to admit!) ~ that when we have too much time on our hands, our tendency is to be lazy, unproductive, and often-times, to begin sticking our noses where they don't belong or filling our minds with harmful, wasteful things. When we're busy and productive in our homes, we don't have as much time for gossiping, for indulging our selfish desires, and worse. I don't think Paul is nearly as concerned here with the details of what, exactly, a woman should or should not be allowed to do as he is with her spiritual health and the development of her godly character. Again we see his reasoning: "...to give the enemy no opportunity for slander."
This is not about rules. This is all about the remnant, the Church ~ the Bride of Christ ~ looking her radiant best, reflecting the awesome glory of God.
Tomorrow's readings: Ezekiel 11-13; 1 Timothy 6
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