The Daily Fountain Devotional Wednesday, August 10, 2022
The Daily Fountain Devotional Wednesday, August 10, 2022
Wednesday, August 10, 2022
TOPIC: FORGETTING THE PAST SHAME
TEXT: Ezekiel 39:21-29
21 And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them. 22 So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward. 23 And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword. 24 According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them.
25 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name; 26 After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid.
27 When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; 28 Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them anymore there. 29 Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.
The Daily Fountain Devotional Wednesday, August 10, 2022
INTRODUCTION TEXT
Have you ever considered how much past shame influences our current lives? It does not take an average human being very long to remember something they are ashamed of. The Israelites, both the Northern and the Southern kingdoms, went into captivity because of their iniquity (v.23). But their captors oppressed them beyond measure. In verse 21, God says He would set His glory among the nations (Israel's captors) by executing His judgement upon them. His purpose of doing this was to let the house of Israel know that God is the Lord their God; and to let other nations know that the Israelites went into captivity because of their iniquity, and not because those other nations had power over Israel (w. 22-24). Verses 25-29 contain God's redemption plans for His people. This will make them forget their past shame.
Today many Christians are facing different kinds of sufferings and persecutions. Some are suffering because of their sins, as we can see in the case of the Israelites; while some others suffer because of their faith in Christ. However, some sufferings are neither persecution nor punishment, but they are consequences of one's actions. Let us return to God for He will surely put our shame behind us.
Prayer: Almighty God, forgive me my sin and release me from my shame in Jesus' Name. Amen.