Many ‘churches’ today practice religion as if Jehovah does change. They often take a verse totally out of context to confirm what they believe or need to be true. Some just continue as they have been taught and experienced in the ‘churches’ within which they grew up.
I once was one of these deceived, but sincere religious worshippers. But, thanks be to Jehovah, after teaching a Men’s Bible study for over 20 years, I was challenged to seriously reconsider some beliefs that had no basis in Scripture.
Let us start with Jehovah’s displeasure with those who do not teach His Word accurately or completely. Ezekiel was a priest in Babylon.
Ezekiel 1:1 Now it came about in the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was by the river Chebar among the exiles, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. 2-3 (On the fifth of the month in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin's exile, the word of the LORD came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and there the hand of the LORD came upon him.)
Jehovah always wants to place His word exactly in history so none can truly question Him. He now lays out His extreme displeasure, anger, and wrath toward the very priests He appointed to instruct and warn His people.
Ezekiel 22:25 "There is a conspiracy of her prophets in her midst like a roaring lion tearing the prey. They have devoured lives; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in the midst of her.
26 "Her priests have done violence to My law and have profaned My holy things; they have made no distinction between the holy and the profane, and they have not taught the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they hide their eyes from My sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.
Serious charges but absolutely true. Have you ever been taught any of these? Certainly, Jehovah rightfully expected His priests to teach the distinctions between the clean and unclean, the holy and profane, and the importance of the sabbaths, His sabbaths. I will attempt to clarify the challenges and confusion of sabbaths later.
27 "Her princes within her are like wolves tearing the prey, by shedding blood and destroying lives in order to get dishonest gain.
28 "Her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, 'Thus says the Lord GOD,' when the LORD has not spoken.
None of the leadership, ordained by Jehovah and put in place by Moses, are obeying Jehovah. In fact, they are defiantly disobeying Him.
29 "The people of the land have practiced oppression and committed robbery, and they have wronged the poor and needy and have oppressed the sojourner without justice.
So, what is the result of the failures of all the leaders? The people have forgotten His commandments, His blessings, and His warnings.
Does this sound familiar? Has this continued forward to today? Are the ‘churches’ truly concerned with holiness, clean and unclean, sanctification, justice, obedience, fidelity, and on and on?
30 "I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one.
Is Jehovah saying that He failed in finding them due to their being hidden in congregations? Did He give up too soon? Did He look in the wrong places? No! Jehovah knows the hearts, minds, and actions of everyone for all time. As stated in Romans 3;
Romans 3:10 as it is written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
Rom 3:11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE."
13 "THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE, WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING," "THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS";
14 "WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS";
15 "THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD, 16 DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS,
17 AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN."
18 "THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES."
No, it is the sad assessment of a world that has forsaken Jehovah. The ‘church’ has mimicked the world rather than imitate Jesus Christ.
31 "Thus I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; their way I have brought upon their heads," declares the Lord GOD.
Is Jehovah justified? Is He the problem? Has He not done enough lately? Are we approaching the times of Jonah?
More next Saturday.