Shaving as an enactment of disgrace

Hello My Friend; Good day.

Our reading for today is from Ezekiel chapter 5. This story which God directed Ezekiel to demonstrate symbolizes a dramatic enactment of the fate of Judah and Jerusalem. The shaving off of the hair from the head and beard and dividing them into three parts bore some serious significance. The head and the hair constitute the crown of the body. By shaving and dividing the hair symbolized God's utter rejection of the people as a worthless generation and bringing an end to her honor and liberty. One third that was burnt in the middle of the city denotes those who would perish by famine in the city; the other third would perish by sword; the other third would be carried away into captivity; and the other remnant would be would signify a small remnant that would be left under the government of Gedaliah who would maintain the land.

From verses 5-17, we see that God had set Jerusalem in the center of the surrounding powerful nations to be a beacon of light to them, but Jerusalem turned out to be more rebellious and sinful than those nations. God said that they had become more unruly than the nations around them and had not followed God's decrees nor kept His laws. God said the He Himself was against them. Their suffering would increase to the point that parents will eat their children and children will eat their parents because of starvation. Even those who escaped to the wilderness would be eaten by wild animals. In verse 13, we see that God's anger will come to an end and His wrath satisfied after so much sufferings and public disgrace. It is unbelievable that God would make such pronouncements against His people and actually carried them out! These prophetic pronouncements were made way before they happened so that the critics should know and believe that though the heaven and earth will pass away, the Words of God will stand for ever. The people though Jeremiah and Ezekiel said these things out of their "delusional impulses", but we now see that they were inspired by the Lord Almighty.

A word of caution is necessary to the Church. The Church has proudly called "itself as the "New Israel" and it is rightly so. The Church has been made the center of attraction and the light to the world. We see the Church going in the way of the ancient Israel and Judah. There is more sin in the Church now than in the wicked world, why? Jesus said to the inquires about the ruins of the Temple that they would likewise perish if they failed to repent. God is watching you my friend and if He did not spare His Chosen people, what do you think about yourself after the Prince of Glory came down and died for your sins. The verdict is Repent or you will likewise perish.

Prayer for today: Dear God, we all have sinned and come short of your glory. We all like sheep have turned to our wicked ways. By the merits of your dear Son, have mercy on us, forgive our sins and bring us to life everlasting through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Apostle Ndueso Udoiwod.