Author: John Tillman

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Ezekiel 8 Listen: (3:21)
Read: Romans 10 Listen: (5:23)

Scripture Focus: Ezekiel 8.3-11

3 He stretched out what looked like a hand and took me by the hair of my head. The Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and in visions of God he took me to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the north gate of the inner court, where the idol that provokes to jealousy stood. 4 And there before me was the glory of the God of Israel, as in the vision I had seen in the plain.

5 Then he said to me, “Son of man, look toward the north.” So I looked, and in the entrance north of the gate of the altar I saw this idol of jealousy.

6 And he said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing—the utterly detestable things the Israelites are doing here, things that will drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see things that are even more detestable.”

7 Then he brought me to the entrance to the court. I looked, and I saw a hole in the wall. 8 He said to me, “Son of man, now dig into the wall.” So I dug into the wall and saw a doorway there.

9 And he said to me, “Go in and see the wicked and detestable things they are doing here.” 10 So I went in and looked, and I saw portrayed all over the walls all kinds of crawling things and unclean animals and all the idols of Israel. 11 In front of them stood seventy elders of Israel, and Jaazaniah son of Shaphan was standing among them. Each had a censer in his hand, and a fragrant cloud of incense was rising.

Reflection: Grabbed By The Hair

By John Tillman

Commentaries describe God “transporting” Ezekiel in a vision to Jerusalem. Most fail to mention Ezekiel is grabbed by his hair.

I’ve never been grabbed by the hair except in a fight. But I’ve been forced to look at things I had done, broken, or allowed to happen. “Look what you did!”

God took Ezekiel by the hair to show him Jerusalm’s wickedness. He started with an idol openly standing in the temple. “But it gets worse,” he says. He has Ezekiel dig into the wall. Like Alice going through the looking glass, Ezekiel goes through the wall, witnessing the secret sins of Judah’s leaders. “Do you see this?,” God asked. “Is this trivial?”

We may ignore, downplay, defend, or minimize our sins or those of our communities, churches, or leaders. God won’t.

Within a few months in 2024, nine pastors from large churches in the DFW metroplex area left ministry due to various secret sins. Many find this upsetting or embarrassing. It may feel like being grabbed by the hair and forced to see unpleasant things. But it is necessary. Embarrassment leading to purification is a blessing. Complacency that leads to destruction is a curse.

These men needed to be (and must remain) removed from ministry. Just because their sins were secret didn’t mean they were not hurting the church before they were discovered. We should pray not only that our pastors do not sin in disqualifying ways, but also pray that if they are currently doing so, the truth would be exposed.

But if we only point at leaders and do not examine ourselves, we are foolish. We may be similarly blinded to our own sins.

We tend to look away from things we have done wrong or neglected. This includes small and large things, spiritual issues, and physical issues. They either become normal to us, like the idol in public, or invisible to us, like the sins hidden in the wall.

Are there sins that have become normal or trivial to you?
Are there sins that have become invisible to you, hidden behind a wall or in your heart?
If Ezekiel dug through the wall in your home or church like in the temple, what sins would he see?

Holy Spirit, arrest our attention!
Grab us by the hair if needed.
Dig into our walls if needed.
Bring sin to light, both in us and in our leaders.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

I put my trust in your mercy; my heart is joyful because of your saving help. — Psalm 13.5

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read The Bible With Us
It’s never too late to join our Bible reading plan. Immerse in the Bible with us at a sustainable, two-year pace.

https://mailchi.mp/theparkforum/m-f-daily-email-devotional

Read more about Who Tells Your Story?
Jonah is the only account in scripture in which the “title character” could be considered the villain.

Who Tells Your Story?

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Ezekiel 4 Listen: (2:56)
Read: Romans 7 Listen: (4:09)

Links for this weekend’s readings:

Read: Ezekiel 5 Listen: (3:28) Read: Romans 8 Listen: (6:22)
Read: Ezekiel 6 Listen: (2:49) Read: Romans 9 Listen: (5:15)

Scripture Focus: Ezekiel 4.1-4

1 “Now, son of man, take a block of clay, put it in front of you and draw the city of Jerusalem on it. 2 Then lay siege to it: Erect siege works against it, build a ramp up to it, set up camps against it and put battering rams around it. 3 Then take an iron pan, place it as an iron wall between you and the city and turn your face toward it. It will be under siege, and you shall besiege it. This will be a sign to the people of Israel.

4 “Then lie on your left side and put the sin of the people of Israel upon yourself.

Reflection: Model of an Exile

By John Tillman

Ezekiel didn’t preach attempting to prevent the judgment of God—he already lived under it. Ezekiel is an exile. We have this in common with him.

Ezekiel served those who had already suffered exile. They had experienced sieges and been defeated in battle. They had been stripped of their property, family members, and clothing and marched ignominiously into slavery and servitude in Babylon.

In his acting out of the final siege of Jerusalem, however, Ezekiel introduces something other than the starvation, the deprivation of freedom, or the destruction these people had already experienced. He demonstrated the role of someone who would bear the sins of the city.

The word translated “bear” can mean to lift or carry away. The people Ezekiel was serving had already been “carried away” into captivity. But part of Ezekiel’s message was that their sin would one day be carried away by another. The Messiah to come would bear their burdens, sorrows, and sins.

Ezekiel did not just build a model of a battle, he gave us a model of how to minister to our fellow exiles and to the land in which we are foreigners. He cares for the exiles, cautioning them to not forget their God in this new land. He confronts them, refusing to avoid the hard truth that their sins brought destruction to the city, the country, and the people they loved. He also comforts them, teaching that there will be a time of restoration, healing, and peace.

As we worship God in this world, we may feel under siege. This should remind us that we are in a state of exile. No matter how comfortable we allow ourselves to become in our countries, our cities, or our cultures, we are from another place and represent another kingdom.

We must not avoid the difficult truths of our sins and the consequences that affect us in this falling empire of Babylon in which we live. We also must speak of the healing and comfort available in the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who bears our sins.

May we confront and be humbled by difficult truths about our sins.

May we be comforted by Christ who bears our sins.

May we construct for others actions that model what Christ does for us, his beloved exiles.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

Let your loving-kindness be my comfort, as you have promised to your servant.

Let your compassion come to me, that I may live, for your law is my delight. — Psalm 119.76-77

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more about It’s Not Over When It’s Over
Jerusalem didn’t fall in a day. It was a long, slow-motion train wreck of a million rebellious choices by kings, priests, false prophets, wealthy rulers, and ordinary people

It’s Not Over When It’s Over

Read more about Beyond Second Chances
Haggai spoke to people returning from exile. They are at home, yet homeless, returning to a flattened, burned, destroyed city.

Beyond Second Chances

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Ezekiel 2 Listen: (1:38)
Read: Romans 5 Listen: (3:53)

Scripture Focus: Ezekiel 2.6-10

6 And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people. 7 You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious. 8 But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious people; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” 9 Then I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out to me. In it was a scroll, 10 which he unrolled before me. On both sides of it were written words of lament and mourning and woe.

Reflection: Sticks and Stones and Scorpions

By John Tillman

In 1862, The Christian Recorder, published by the African Methodist Episcopal Church printed  the rhyme, “sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me.”

The adage was a stunning statement to publish in the middle of the American Civil War. Especially coming from those familiar with both broken bones of violence and the oppression of dehumanizing language. Does the rhyme’s wisdom for schoolchildren hold up outside the schoolyard? Can words harm? Can words heal?

God told Ezekiel to speak truth to rebels even should their retorts sting like a scorpion. At times, I feel like we live among scorpions. Many people say “mean words” don’t matter.

They deny that crass, crude, violent, or deceptive language disqualifies leaders. They say “Facts don’t care about your feelings” or “The unloving thing is not telling the truth” even “It’s okay to lie to win the culture war.” But they sting like scorpions when confronted with the truth. Apparently words matter when directed at them.

How can we live among scorpions and be faithful to speak “God’s words” without fear of harm?

First, are we speaking God’s words? We must eat God’s words to speak them. (Ezekiel 2.8-10) If we do not partake of Christ, the living bread and water, we have nothing to speak but the bile of a sick stomach. A diet of other “words” may be the reason we cannot speak or the reason our words harm. God’s words are truth and good news which set people on the path to freedom, not harm or shame. Never be ashamed of the gospel regardless of any power against it. (Romans 1.16)

Second, winsomeness is a gospel requirement. God calls us to convince, if possible, everyone. Yet, people’s response is their responsibility, not ours. We hold out our hands pleading with them, whether they listen or not. (Isaiah 65.2; Acts 28.23-24)

Third, when words hurt, we have a healer. Christians know words can create, heal, educate, and bless. We must reject the idea that they cannot harm, destroy, manipulate, and curse. Our healing comes through the Holy Spirit and God’s healing words. Open your mouth to eat God’s Word, before you open your mouth to speak. Speak truth in love, regardless of rebellious responses.

Of course words can harm. Stones may strike, sticks may swing, or scorpions sting. Fear not. The gospel’s words of healing are for us and them.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. — Psalm 31.1

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more about The Language of a Good Neighbor
Mister Rogers connected being the good neighbor to having a Christlike view of ourselves and looking at, and speaking to, our neighbor with that perspective.

The Language of a Good Neighbor

Read The Bible With Us
It’s never too late to join our Bible reading plan. Immerse in the Bible with us at a sustainable, two-year pace.

https://mailchi.mp/theparkforum/m-f-daily-email-devotional

Today’s Readings:

Ezekiel 1 (4:47)
Romans 4 (4:08)

Scripture Focus: Ezekiel 1.1, 26-28

1 In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.

26 Above the vault over their heads was what looked like a throne of lapis lazuli, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. 27 I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.

This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

Reflection: It’s Not Over When It’s Over

By John Tillman

“Rome wasn’t built in a day” and “Rome didn’t fall in a day,” teach us consequential changes are often slow. Yet even so, there came “a day” when Rome had risen and “a day” when Rome fell.

It was over.

Jerusalem didn’t fall in a day. It was a long, slow-motion train wreck of a million rebellious choices by kings, priests, false prophets, wealthy rulers, and ordinary people. Some tried to stop it. Prophets stood on the wall and blew trumpets of truth. They waved red flags no one feared. They announced alarms no one heeded. Yet there came a day when Jerusalem fell.

It was over. This is where we meet Ezekiel. After it’s over. After the fall.

There are many strident voices today warning that institutions are falling. “The government is falling.” “Democracy is falling.” “The church is falling.” Words like “most consequential,” “unprecedented,” and “our last chance” are frequent in both political and religious speeches. These people want us to “fight” to prevent the fall. Usually for them at cost to ourselves.

Are they telling the truth or catastrophizing? Is the sky falling? Or are they variations on Chicken Little?

First, if we are going to “fight” it better be for the right kingdom. All others are falling.

Second, we “fight” for Jesus with plows, not swords. With cultivation, not destruction. With healing, not harm.

So, what if it all falls down? What if we lose our nation and our freedom? (John 11.48) What if it is all over?

Ezekiel’s vision among the exiles tells us that, with God, it’s not over when it is over. Ezekiel’s nation fell. The wheels of God’s throne roll on, trampling political definitions. Ezekiel’s faith community fell. God remains in his true temple, which overshadows our reality.

Ezekiel falls facedown to listen to God’s voice. (Ezekiel 1.28) This is the position from which faith after the fall can rise.

If it all falls down, God remains. His sovereignty, worthiness, righteousness, and power, are unchanged. His true church will remain, regardless of tainted versions that may fall. His remnant will rise.

Can we save falling things? Perhaps. But failing that, we can rise from destruction. Ezekiel begins at the end of Jerusalem, but God makes a new beginning, a new Jerusalem.

No matter what falls don’t give up. “Strengthen what remains” and endure to the end. (Revelation 3.2)

All will fall down. We will stand up.

Music: “All Fall Down,” Sarah Masen

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

May God be merciful to us and bless us, show us the light of his countenance and come to us. — Psalm 67.1

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more about When God Leaves the Building — Readers’ Choice
Even if everything falls and burns, God can restore, if we will simply be faithful.

When God Leaves the Building — Readers’ Choice

Read more about Supporting Our Work
Help us continue and expand our ministry by becoming a donor. Your support makes what we do possible.

Supporting our Work