Together - Daily DevotionalSample

Direction and Purification

Reading: Ezekiel 29: 17, 45:18-25

Key Verse: “In the twenty-seventh year, in the first month on the first day, the word of the Lord came to me ... this is what the Sovereign Lord says, ‘In the first month on the first day you are to take a young bull without defect and purify the sanctuary’” Ezek.29:17, 45:18

The name ‘Ezekiel’ means ‘God strengthens’ and his prophetic book was written to encourage and strengthen the hearts of God’s people. They had been forcibly taken into captivity as slaves in Babylon but Ezekiel prophesised that one day they would return to Jerusalem and the glorious temple would be rebuilt. In fact the key phrase of his book is “the glory of the Lord” which appears over eleven times. We have already seen historic fulfilment of his prophecies through Zerubbabel, Ezra and Nehemiah and yet a still greater temple awaited God’s people.

Note once again the importance of first day of the first month in Ezekiel’s prophecy. It was on that day that the word of the Lord came and on that day that purification of the temple would commence. In this first month of the New Year we can believe for at least two things: we are purified by the greatest sacrifice of all – God’s Son the Lord Jesus Christ. Secondly that God Himself wants to speak to us anew to strengthen us with words of comfort, encouragement and love. After all, “his sheep hear his voice” (John 10:4).

Prayer: Father thank You that You have purified me by the blood of Jesus and You love to guide and strengthen me