for you will know that I have done nothing in it without cause

Ezekiel 14:12-23

“Son of man, if a country sins against me by being unfaithful and I stretch out my hand against it to cut off its food supply and send famine upon it and kill its people and their animals, even if these three men—Noah, Daniel and Job—were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness, declares the Sovereign Lord.

Or if I send wild beasts through that country

Or if I bring a sword against that country and say, ‘Let the sword pass throughout the land,’

Or if I send a plague into that land and pour out my wrath on it through bloodshed,

they could not save their own sons or daughters. They alone would be saved.

How much worse will it be when I send against Jerusalem my four dreadful judgments—sword and famine and wild beasts and plague—to kill its men and their animals! Yet there will be some survivors—sons and daughters who will be brought out of it. They will come to you, and when you see their conduct and their actions, you will be consoled regarding the disaster I have brought on Jerusalem—every disaster I have brought on it. You will be consoled when you see their conduct and their actions, for you will know that I have done nothing in it without cause, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

Why?

Because people in Jerusalem sin against the Lord by being unfaithful, so the Lord stretched out his hands against them.

Even righteous men Noah, Daniel, and Job are living there, they can save themselves but they can not save their families. because everyone has to bear their own sin.

The Lord sent famine, beasts, swords, and plague into that land and put our God's wrath.

The Lord let Ezekiel saw the vision in Jerusalem, and let Eceiiel know why so sever disaster came upon Jerusalem.

Under the judgment of the Lord, there is the mercy of the Lord to keep some survivors brought out of it.

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13章人被假先知迷惑，14章人被自己迷惑

人把假神帶進來，或是以為某個團體而益。不是加入教會體系就得救，可是因為認罪悔改歸向神才加入教會。福音是悔改認罪才是得救。

有一國犯罪干犯我, 挪亞、但以理、約伯這三人是義人，但是他們的義不能因這三人得救，而逃離神的確妙審判。奉獻的人與神有親密關係。這三人是義人，聖經沒有指出他們有什麼惡。

四樣大災─就是刀劍、饑荒、惡獸、瘟疫降在耶路撒冷:然而其中必有剩下的人。神的恩典大過人的過犯。剩下的人：是神存留的人，把恩典給似乎還沒有悔改的人是指那些投降被擄的人。這些被擄的人從這些剩下的人傳來耶路撒冷的信息，他們發現他們是蒙恩的，所以心得著安慰。神要把神百姓的心帶回來！

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How?

God is righteousness and the Judgment is nothing in it without cause. everyone has to take his own responsibility.

Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!

Ezekiel 14:1-11

Some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat down in front of me. Then the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all? Therefore speak to them and tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When any of the Israelites set up idols in their hearts and put a wicked stumbling block before their faces and then go to a prophet, I the Lord will answer them myself in keeping with their great idolatry. I will do this to recapture the hearts of the people of Israel, who have all deserted me for their idols.

Therefore say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!

 “‘And if the prophet is enticed to utter a prophecy, I the Lord have enticed that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand against him and destroy him from among my people Israel. They will bear their guilt—the prophet will be as guilty as the one who consults him. Then the people of Israel will no longer stray from me, nor will they defile themselves anymore with all their sins. They will be my people, and I will be their God, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

Why?

The Lord knows our hearts before we talk to Him. What we are worshiping, is the Lord or others?

Turn from our idols and renounce all our detestable practices! For we belong to the Lord Almighty.

False prophets are the enemies of the Lord, so the Lord will destroy them without mercy.

How?

Do not rely on the behavior of others but trust in the Lord and obey God's commands.

Set your face against the daughters of your people who prophesy out of their own imagination

Ezekiel 13:17-23

“Now, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people who prophesy out of their own imagination. Prophesy against them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the women who sew magic charms on all their wrists and make veils of various lengths for their heads in order to ensnare people. Will you ensnare the lives of my people but preserve your own? You have profaned me among my people for a few handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. By lying to my people, who listen to lies, you have killed those who should not have died and have spared those who should not live.

Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against your magic charms with which you ensnare people like birds and I will tear them from your arms; I will set free the people that you ensnare like birds. I will tear off your veils and save my people from your hands, and they will no longer fall prey to your power. Then you will know that I am the Lord. Because you disheartened the righteous with your lies, when I had brought them no grief, and because you encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways and so save their lives, therefore you will no longer see false visions or practice divination. I will save my people from your hands. And then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

Why?

My God is the Lord, fear the Lord is the wisdom.

Even there were false prophets and there were false prophecy women who prophesy out of their own imagination, so the Lord will against them.

False prophets not only harm themselves but also harm those who are righteous men.

How?

Doing what is right and intimate the mind and heart of the Lord to honor his Holy Name.

When the wall collapses, will people not ask you, “Where is the whitewash you covered it with?

Ezekiel 13;1-16

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination: ‘Hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing! Your prophets, Israel, are like jackals among ruins.

Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because of your false words and lying visions, I am against you, declares the Sovereign Lord. My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of my people or be listed in the records of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.

When the wall collapses, will people not ask you, “Where is the whitewash you covered it with?”

‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: In my wrath I will unleash a violent wind, and in my anger hailstones and torrents of rain will fall with destructive fury. I will tear down the wall you have covered with whitewash and will level it to the ground so that its foundation will be laid bare. When it falls, you will be destroyed in it; and you will know that I am the Lord. So I will pour out my wrath against the wall and against those who covered it with whitewash. I will say to you, “The wall is gone and so are those who whitewashed it, those prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her when there was no peace, declares the Sovereign Lord.”’

Why?
The wrath of the Lord comes upon the false prophets, they said peace, but no peace, they said false visions and utter lying divination. They say the sweet word to attract people, but it is false talk.

Many of us like to hear the beautiful word but do not know it is false, because we don't know the truth. So let us learn and come closer to the Lord, according to God's word we will know what is true, the meaning of the Lord has been revealed to us in the Bible.

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責備假先知，因為人喜歡被奉承。他們隨從自己的心意，為了得到社會地位等。祭司、先知需要神的呼召。狐狸經過洞，利用洞卻不會把洞補起來。用狂風暴雨冰雹來沖刷未泡透的灰，使虛假顯露出來。假先知出現，因為人愛聽，愛聽粉飾太平的話。

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How?

Carefully read the word of the Lord and make clear what the Lord says to us and obey it.

None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign Lord.’

 Ezekiel 12:17-28

Son of man, tremble as you eat your food, and shudder in fear as you drink your water. Say to the people of the land: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says about those living in Jerusalem and in the land of Israel: They will eat their food in anxiety and drink their water in despair, for their land will be stripped of everything in it because of the violence of all who live there. The inhabited towns will be laid waste and the land will be desolate. Then you will know that I am the Lord. 

“Son of man, what is this proverb you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days go by and every vision comes to nothing’? Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am going to put an end to this proverb, and they will no longer quote it in Israel.’ Say to them, ‘The days are near when every vision will be fulfilled.  For there will be no more false visions or flattering divinations among the people of Israel. But I the Lord will speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled without delay. For in your days, you rebellious people, I will fulfill whatever I say, declares the Sovereign Lord.

None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign Lord.

Why?

The vision of the proverb will be fulfilled, false talk always attracts the heart of man, but the beautiful vision comes to an end.

God's word never fails so be aware the word of the Lord written in the Bible will come true. 

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俗語：普世的價值，一般普遍的看法。因為人的錯誤思維文化，普世價值，不相信神的話。人愈在那個點不相信神的，在他們還活著時，就會應驗。或是有人認為會應驗，但是極遠以後的事，與我無關。人想要反駁神的話，俗語、往往彼此矛盾的。人以為民主是好的，但是當眾多罪人制定的政策反而使人受害。

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How?

I should study hard to read out the meaning of the Lord in the Bible and practice it in daily life. May the Holy Spirit helo me!

Ezekiel 12:1-16

Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.

Therefore, son of man, pack your belongings for exile and in the daytime, as they watch, set out and go from where you are to another place. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious people. Then in the evening, while they are watching, go out like those who go into exile. While they watch, dig through the wall and take your belongings out through it. Put them on your shoulder as they are watching and carry them out at dusk. Cover your face so that you cannot see the land, for I have made you a sign to the Israelites

In the morning the word of the Lord came to me: “Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: This prophecy concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the Israelites who are there.’ Say to them, ‘I am a sign to you.’ As I have done, so it will be done to them. They will go into exile as captives.

“They will know that I am the Lord, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries. But I will spare a few of them from the sword, famine and plague, so that in the nations where they go they may acknowledge all their detestable practices. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”

Why?
They will know that I am the Lord, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them.

They will know that they are a rebellious people. They had eyes but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear the word of the Lord.

The Lord's prophecy concerns the prince in Jerusalem. All were come true in the history of Isreal.

How?

The word of the Lord never fails, and be aware how about my eyes and my ear, do I see and heat what the Lord let me know?

I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries, and give you back the land of Israel again

Ezekiel 11:14-25

This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.

Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again.’

They will return to it and remove all its vile images and detestable idols. I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God. But as for those whose hearts are devoted to their vile images and detestable idols, I will bring down on their own heads what they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord.

The Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the exiles in Babylonia in the vision given by the Spirit of God.

Why?
God's promise never failed. It is proved that Israel returned to the promised land after World War II.

But those whose hearts are devoted to their vile images and detestable idols will be judged by what they have done.

Ezekiel saw the image in vision and looked at the situation of Jerusalem, the land of the promised land, and the hearts of many leaders and priests. So the Lord knows every one of our minds and hearts.

How?

Give glory to the Lord and obey God's word, come closer to the Lord with all my strength, my heart and my mind.