Daily Devotions
Ezekiel
"They shall eat their bread with anxiety"
Text: Ezekiel 12:19
ANOTHER OBJECT LESSON
Ezekiel was tasked to teach another object lesson to Judah. At meal time he must eat with a sense of anxiety! Meals would no longer be moments of pleasure.
“Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
‘Son of man, eat your bread with quaking,
and drink your water with trembling and anxiety.
And say to the people of the land,
‘Thus says the Lord GOD
to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the land of Israel:
‘They shall eat their bread with anxiety,
and drink their water with dread,
so that her land may be emptied of all who are in it,
because of the violence of all those who dwell in it.
Then the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste,
and the land shall become desolate;
and you shall know that I am the LORD.”'”
Ezekiel 12:17-20
1. The word of the LORD.
a) A new word came from the LORD to Ezekiel.
b) This word concerns a normal daily activity- eating and drinking.
2. An object lesson to be acted out.
a) Food
Bread was to be eaten with quaking hands.
b) Drink
Water was to be taken with fear and anxiety.
3. The inhabitants of Israel:
a) In Jerusalem.
b) Throughout the whole land.
c) The land would soon be emptied.
d) Parts of the land had already seen violent devastation.
e) The remainder would feel:
i) Dread and uncertainty.
ii) Many would be wondering when the sword would fall on them.
iii) Thus, home meals would no longer be eaten at leisure.
iv) Instead, the family would be filled with dread and fear as they sit down for a family meal.
4. Devastation forewarned.
a) Some cities were already suffering from violence.
b) Other cities had been laid waste.
c) Soon the entire homeland would be destroyed.
d) Anxiety and dread would fill the hearts of all.
e) Their worship of idols could not give them peace of heart and mind!