Are You Ready?

Yesterday we began considering the name Jehovah-Shammah, the LORD is there.   We found this name in the book of Ezekiel, in a prophecy of a time yet future.  We also looked at some Scriptures to help us understand how to live now with confidence as we look forward to that future day.

Today let's dig a little deeper.  Ezekiel wrote to Jews who had been taken captive into Babylon.  As the book of Ezekiel opens, Jerusalem had not yet been destroyed.  There were three invasions of Jerusalem before it fell.  Daniel was taken captive in the first invasion, and Ezekiel was taken captive in the second and he had been in captivity for about 5 years before he wrote.  Ezekiel prophesied the fall of Jerusalem and the glory of the Lord departing the temple in Ezekiel 10-11.  News of the fall of Jerusalem is found in Ezekiel 33:21, the verse viewed by many as the turning point of the book.  It must have been really difficult for God's people to believe that He would allow Jerusalem to be destroyed.  For them, Jerusalem had been the place where they went to meet with God.  And so, Ezekiel points them to the future Jerusalem, the city that will not be destroyed. 

I wonder if Israel and Judah had perhaps taken God's presence for granted.  God had always manifested Himself to them in one way or another.    Did they take His presence so for granted that they didn't really believe He would do what He said?  That they didn't really believe He would really let Jerusalem be taken captive by the ungodly Babylonians?  Did they just assume they could continue to just go through life however they wanted to without really paying attention to God?  Can you see any parallels here to our culture today???  Hmmmm.........Something to think about! 

Let's look today at some Scriptures that show how God had always been present with His people.  Note the form that His presence took.  As usual, this is not an exhaustive list.  You can use your word study tools to find additional references.

• Exodus 13:20-22
• Exodus 33:12-16
• Joshua 1:1-5
• 1 Samuel 4:6-7
• Psalm 132:8, 13-14
• Ezekiel 8:3-6, 17-18
• Ezekiel 10:3-4, 18-19
• Ezekiel 11:22-23

Although the Lord's presence left the Temple, left Jerusalem, here's the important point........He will come back!!  He is Jehovah, a covenant-keeping God!  Look at Ezekiel's question to God in Ezekiel 11:13, and Jehovah's response in Ezekiel 11:16-19.  Can you get a sense of how much it must have meant to God's people to hear "the city shall be", "that day shall be."    The Lord is there.  He will return.  Don't you think that would bring them immense comfort?! 

And what about you?  Are you comforted by that thought.....He WILL return.  Are you expecting Him?  Are your ready?