Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “Hard Head, Soft Heart” – Friday, 30 May 2014 - Scripture: Ezekiel 3:4-15

Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “Hard Head, Soft Heart” – Friday, 30 May 2014 - Scripture: Ezekiel 3:4 He said to me, Son of man, go to the house of Israel, and speak my words to them. 5 For you are not sent to a people of a strange speech and of a hard language, but to the house of Israel; 6 not to many peoples of a strange speech and of a hard language, whose words you can not understand. Surely, if I sent you to them, they would listen to you. 7 But the house of Israel will not listen to you; for they will not listen to me: for all the house of Israel are obstinate[a] and hard-hearted. 8 Behold, I have made your face hard against their faces, and your forehead hard against their foreheads. 9 As an adamant harder than flint have I made your forehead: don’t be afraid of them, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house. 10 Moreover he said to me, Son of man, all my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart, and hear with your ears. 11 Go to them of the captivity, to the children of your people, and speak to them, and tell them, Thus says the Lord Yahweh; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear. 12 Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me the voice of a great rushing, saying, Blessed be Yahweh’s glory from his place. 13 I heard the noise of the wings of the living creatures as they touched one another, and the noise of the wheels beside them, even the noise of a great rushing. 14 So the Spirit lifted me up, and took me away; and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; and Yahweh’s hand was strong on me. 15 Then I came to them of the captivity at Tel Aviv, that lived by the river Chebar, and to where they lived; and I sat there overwhelmed among them seven days.
Footnotes:
a. Ezekiel 3:7 Literally, have a hard forehead
“Hard Head, Soft Heart” by Duane C. Brush
In some ways it is harder to be a faithful witness to family and neighbors than to people we do not know. God did not minimize Ezekiel’s challenge. The prophet was called to speak words of judgment to people who had become “hardened and obstinate” (v. 7).
Jesus said of Nazareth, His hometown, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home” (Mark 6:4). He “was amazed at their lack of faith” and “could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them” (vv. 5-6). Luke (4:29) tells us that the Nazarenes were so furious with Jesus that they tried to throw Him off a cliff!
God promises to make Ezekiel “as unyielding and hardened” as his hearers (Ezekiel 3:8). Tough times demand tough prophets. God’s message must be proclaimed, whether they would listen or not. Thought He was angered at the people's response, Ezekiel's heart was "deeply distressed' by their condition.

“Forgive us for thinking that others have soft heads and hard hearts, when we are often the ones afflicted by both. Help us to be more open with our hearts, more knowledgeable with our heads, and more generous in spirit.” (Moravian Lectionary).

Hymn for Today:

“Soldiers of Christ, Arise” by Charles Wesley
1. Soldiers of Christ, arise,
And put your armor on;
Strong in the strength which God supplies,
Through His eternal Son.
2. Strong in the Lord of Hosts,
And in His mighty power;
Who in the strength of Jesus trusts,
Is more than conqueror.
3. Stand then in His great might,
With all His strength endued;
And take, to arm you for the fight,
The panoply of God.
4. From strength to strength go one,
Wrestle, and fight, and pray;
Tread all the powers of darkness down,
And win the well-fought day.
5. That, having all things done,
And all your conflicts past,
Ye may o'ercome, through Christ alone,
And stand complete at last.
Thought for Today:
“Whatever assignment God gives us, He will make us fit for the task.”
Prayer Needs:
Many people in Botswana will come to know Jesus the Christ, Yeshua the Messiah, and receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
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