And the word of the LORD came to me: 3 “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD, Is it to inquire of me that you come? As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you.
Shakespeare wrote a touching scene about King Henry V banishing his old friend Falstaff after years of cavorting together. The new king just could no longer afford such company. It is heartbreaking but necessary. Ezekiel received a similar message from the LORD for Israel’s leaders. The message was clear; pray all you want, I will not hear you. The message was that God had carried them as their King and Father and they repaid him with disobedience. God would no longer let them come before his throne. They would be banished to captivity. One look at their past would explain this banishment. They deserved it.
Imagine praying to the LORD as we do in the morning, only to hear that the LORD will no longer listen to our prayers and that we are banished; no longer permitted to enter the throne room. We could say any number of things. We deserve it; that is one. God is sovereign and he can do what he wants is another reply. I propose a bolder and more faithful reply. You promised! It is this phrase that guarantees that we will never be banished from before his throne if we have believed in his Son Jesus Christ. God has never broken a promise so there is nothing that can separate us from his love; not even our multitudes of sins. Speak to the Lord today and rest assured that he has promised that…
He will listen.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church