28th March 2025

28th March 2025


Pray (ACts)


Read (Ezekiel 28 focus v20-26)


Message (Alan Burke)


The bible is clear on many things, many things that are clear that you and I no doubt have seen those who claim to be his ignore. One such thing is for God’s people to marry those who are among God’s people, a believer to marry a believer. If you’re wondering where that comes from you can start in the Old Testament, Deuteronomy 7:3-4. In the New Testament 2 Corinthians 6:14-16. As the Lord now turns his attention to Sidon. Sidon was a trading partner of Tyre, around twenty-five miles south on the Mediterranean coast. Note that there is no charge that is levelled against Sidon rather it is simply announced that the Lord is against it. If you go back in the history of the people of God it was a woman that reintroduced the worship of Baal to the people of God, king Ahab (1 Kings 16:31-34) married Jezebel daughter of the king of Sidon. This may not have seemed significant after all these days the attitude is love is love, but the Lord warned his people not to intermarry (Deut 7:3), for his people they should not be unevenly yoked believer with unbeliever (2 Corin 6:14-18). 


Anyone who ignores God’s will on this is saying that no matter what the person they have chosen to marry is more important to them that God, they are worth more to them than the blood shed for us. The problem is that Jezebel came and promoted the worship of Baal led the people to turn from the Lord and help add to the moral and spiritual decay of the people that brought the judgment of the Lord. Ahab I’m sure never thought that his marriage would lead to such consequences. 


The Lord was bringing his judgement upon Sidon an idolatrous people and if you look at the imagery it is reminiscent of what took place in Egypt as the Lord brought his people out of slavery. Just like there, the Lord was bringing his judgment upon Sidon for his own glory. In all that takes place God is working all things together for his glory, he was in Egypt, with the judgement of Sidon and in this world today. In everything he does he does for his own glory. His glory is the reason why the Lord made all that is, why he created the heavens and the earth and it is the reason why he saved the Israelites from their slavery in Egypt, why he brought judgment upon Tyre and Sidon and it is the reason why he saves us from sin, it is for his glory.


Also in judgement of sin the Lord is given glory, for there is a day coming when all will see his glory as he executes his ringtones judgement. There will be no injustice (Rom 3:19) everything will then be set right and the wicked will get what they deserve. Yet for all who have called upon the name of the Lord they will know his grace and life eternally. As this chapter comes to an end the Lord tells his people how they will no longer have malicious neighbours, and anticipates a future day when Israel will be gathered in and restored. 


The Lord through Ezekiel is not telling his people of a restored Israel, a nation but instead of what he would do in the future for the people of Israel. What we need to understand is that the church is the heir of this promise for we are the true Israel of God. For the Lord is not speaking here of the nation of Israel or ethnic Israel but the church, of the church is the true Israel of God (Gal 6:16) for all those in Christ’s are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. (Ga 3:29). For all those who have put their trust in the Lord’s Christ, past present and future, for those in the days of Ezekiel, those today and those not yet born who repent and believe they will dwell securely in the promised land. Until then we are to live for Christ in all aspects of our lives, in our relationships, in our choices, in every regard. If you have failed to do that know that there is forgiveness in Christ, repent and seek his forgiveness looking to the hope that there is in Christ Jesus. 


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q43 What is the preface to the ten commandments?
A. The preface to the ten commandments is in these words, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
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