"Take Up A Lament"

Still amazed that I could have read Ezekiel as many times as I have and not fully pursued an understanding of the heart of this prophet.

"Ezekiel lived in Judah until around 597 BCE, when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquered the city. At about 25 years old, Ezekiel was taken captive and exiled to Babylon alongside King Jehoiachin and other Judean nobility. He spent the rest of his life there, where he wrote the Book of Ezekiel and received his prophetic visions along the Kebar Canal near Nippur."

This morning I was struck by his boldness in speaking to those of his own nationality who had strayed so far from their faith. He mentions specifics: arrogance, overfed, unconcerned, did not help the poor and needy.

Lord help us!

Then he caps all this off with "repent and live" (Ez. 18:32), but with a word unlike "metanoia" (a wake up call) but rather "shuv (שׁוּב)" which means "return" often used to mean a total change in direction!

Rather than just a confession, the occasional Sunday morning, "God we were wrong, we're sorry, please forgive us", then assuming God's mercy, we continue down the same path.

Repent and live, words followed in Chapter 19 by..."take up a lament!"

There seems a strong message here!