Tomorrow will be the 22nd anniversary of my dad’s funeral. He once told me, “The cemetery is filled with people the world cannot live without.” This reality is humbling. All that we do that we think is so important will soon be forgotten. 
 
That is the message of our Old Testament lesson (Ezekiel 31-32) spoken to the Egyptian kingdom. The Assyrians once thought they were invincible. The LORD used them to bring judgment on others. And then the LORD brought that mighty empire down. He would do the same to Egypt.
 
Reading Ezekiel 32 is like walking through a cemetery. Mighty nations before Egypt went to the grave. Egypt would end up in the grave too. Successful and powerful people are buried in every cemetery. We will end up there too.

Reading Ezekiel 31 and 32 is meant to be a humbling experience. Death will defeat us too.

Defeat in the New Testament

In our New Testament lesson (John 13:21-38) Satan brings death to two men: Judas and Peter.

• One walks out into the night away from Jesus. He is lost forever. Death is victorious.
• Peter boasts of the strength of his faith. Satan's defeat of Peter has already begun. Thankfully, Peter walked out into the night with Jesus.

When you have a chance, walk through a cemetery and think of all the times the saints buried there were defeated by Satan. Those defeats were only temporary, as is death itself. They walked into the night of death with Jesus. In Christ, they are victorious. In Christ, we are and shall be victorious now and forever. Amen. 



The Timeline of Ezekiel's prophecy

The timeline above is also attached for easier reading. 

I found this timeline helpful to better understand the Holy Spirit's purpose for the original recipients of Ezekiel's prophecy. Each of the prophecies in today's lesson is dated. 

• 11th year, 3rd month, 1st day - Just like Assyria was cut down, so will Egypt be cut down - (31:1)
• 12th year, 10th month, 5th day - news of Jerusalem's fall reaches Ezekiel (33:21)
• 12th year, 12th month, 1st day - Lament over Pharoah (32:1)
• 12th year, 12th month, 15th day - Hordes of Egypt in realm of dead (32:17)

Ezekiel is in exile in Babylon. These words were written to speak to the hearts of the Israelites in exile. The exiles thought they would soon be going home... that the exile would be short.

The prophecies we read today are meant to destroy that hope:

Before the destruction of Jerusalem, the exiles thought that Egypt would be Jerusalem's savior. If Egypt came out in battle against the Babylonian's, the siege of Jerusalem would be lifted. The vision of Eze 31:1 announces that just as Babylon cut down Assyria, so they would do to Egypt. There would be no salvation for Jerusalem.

After the destruction of Jerusalem, the exiles must have still thought that Egypt would somehow rescue the remnant in Judah from the Babylonians. The vision of Eze 32:1 announces that is a foolish hope. 

The final vision received just two weeks later (32:17) repeats that theme - Egypt will be no savior. Her allies have already been destroyed, and Egypt will be too.

The exiles to whom Ezekiel prophesied were convinced that the LORD wasn't really using the exile in Babylon to punish them for their unfaithfulness. They refused to see their sin and their need to repent. 

The LORD is going to great lengths in these prophecies to destroy their false hopes. The LORD takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. He wants them to repent and be saved.

What was true of the exiles is true of us as well. What are the saviors that the LORD has to take away so that we put our hope in him?

• Does he take away our good health so that we cry out to him?
• Do we suffer financial defeat?
• Do we experience the loss of family relationships?
• Do we find a habit we used to relieve our stress becoming an addiction that destroys our hope?

Glorify Your Name

Every year as I read God's Word with you in these daily devotions, the Spirit leads me to new insights. Today it struck me how often "glory" and "glorify" are used in John... 26 times! You can see them all here.

As Judas goes out into the night to betray Jesus, our Savior's sacrifice has begun and God is glorified in Him. 

My surprise this morning is to see that the last use of that term in John 21 refers to Peter... "indicating by what kind of death he would glorify God" (John 21:19). 

Jesus' use of the term "glorify" has helped me better understand his prayer: "Heavenly Father, hallowed by your name."

• God's name would be glorified in Jesus' death and resurrection.
• God's name would be glorified by Peter's martyr-death.
• And so I pray, not to be rescued from every trouble, and even death itself... but that God's name be glorified... in my personal victories and personal defeats... and ultimately that God's name is glorified in my death. 

Father, glorify your name! 

Prayer:

Gracious LORD, you know my heart. You know the false saviors that I have erected there. Do what is necessary to destroy my false hopes so that my hope is in You alone. I trust your promise:  ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways!' Daily return me to Yourself, LORD, and I shall be turned. Let your name be glorified in my moments of victory, but especially in my moments of death. Father, glorify your name. Amen.