S) "15 And the word of the Lord came to me saying, 16 'Son of man, behold, I am about to take from you the desire of your eyes with a blow; but you shall not mourn and you shall not weep, and your tears shall not come.'"
Ezekiel 24:15-16 (NASB)
*because there are already entries for each of these chapters, I also read Ezekiel 24
*because there are already entries for each of these chapters, I also read Ezekiel 24
O) This is a very difficult passage to read. Life and death are complicated issues to dissect, even to the sovereignty of God and how involved He may, or may not, be involved. Without a doubt, though, there are specific examples of Him causing life, and specific examples of Him causing death. When He causes life, few people struggle with it. When He causes death, though... in this passage, Ezekiel's wife is to be used as a tragic analogy to God's people. His wife is to represent the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem, which was the desire of their eyes. The people drew inspiration, confidence, motivation, courage, and the like, knowing that they had the temple of the LORD in their midst. It was one of the things they held over the kingdom of Israel. In many ways, they had idolized the temple (and the ark of the covenant, when it was there). Because of the nature of this analogy that was to come, and because God specified to Ezekiel that he was not allowed to mourn, or weep, or even to cry, it is abundantly clear that Ezekiel loved his wife dearly. Now, I don't think he idolized her, or his marriage, because he was not rebuked about it. But, he surely loved her greatly. She was the desire of his eyes. What makes this even more difficult, is that the verse specifies she was going to die "with a blow;" While we aren't given the details about how she died, it's clear that it was sudden. It's not like she was chronically ill. Also, I'm not sure we know Ezekiel's age, let alone his wife's age, but it seems unlikely then, that her age was a factor. No, the phrase, "with a blow," certainly sounds like she was going to die from violence. This also fits the analogy that God was creating, since the temple was not going to fall from age, as if the stones or wood were deteriorating. The temple was not going to fall by natural causes, like an earthquake or flood or storm. The temple was going to fall because of violence against it. All of this makes the death of Ezekiel's wife quite somber.
A) I love my wife dearly. I love my marriage. God has blessed me beyond anything I could have imagined. So, when I read some passages, I have a particularly hard time. Imagining myself in Ezekiel's position really grips me. There was a time when this story would have really tripped me. What I have to accept, and what I imagine Ezekiel must have concluded, is that the sovereignty of God simply overrides everything I want. This challenges me to humility. This challenges me to determine that God is good. This challenges me to view my life as belonging to Christ. My wife's life, also, belongs to Christ. I have heard stories of otherwise strong Christians who, after losing their spouse suddenly, have a real crisis of faith. Those serve to warn me not to idolize my marriage and to hold my wife, as a gift, with an open hand. In the end, my wife does not belong to me, she belongs to Christ. I am her steward. I imagine for Ezekiel, his loss might've been even tougher, because he was not allowed to mourn. On the other hand, maybe his experience was easier, because God warned him that it was going to happen ahead of time. For myself, I pray that God gives me a warning, and that I am able to mourn her fully. But, neither of those things are owed to me. God is not any more obligated to do that, than He is to consult me about when she should die. He is sovereign, I am not. Maybe Kristin's eventual death will serve some greater purpose. Maybe I'll never know. What I can answer difinitively, is my attitude about her passing. I can know that now, because I can determine to trust the goodness of my God. At the root of all of this, is that I must keep things straight. My priorities must place my God above my wife. In terms of my commitment, it's God first, Kristin second, my kids third, and everyone else shakes out after that.
P) Father, You are good. Your purposes are often beyond my comprehension, but in Your sovereignty, You don't have to keep counsel with anyone. But, I trust You, Lord. I choose to find my portion in You, God. I choose to find my satisfaction in You. I don't know much about my future with certainty, but I know that You are good. If Kristin goes home to You before I do, I pray that I am prepared in my heart. I pray that I will have been such a husband to her, that I have no regrets. I pray that I am humble enough on that day, that I recognize Your goodness through my loss. I pray You warn me, and I pray that I mourn, not as those without hope, but as one who is joyfully waiting for Your glory. If i come home before Kristin, I pray these same things for her. In our marriage, while we live, I pray Yoh are glorified. In our marriage, when we pass, I pray You are glorified all the more. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment