Sticks and stones can break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” Have you ever heard that old saying? It’s not true, you know. If you’ve ever heard anyone laugh and make a rude comment about your looks, you know words can hurt. If anyone has ever started a rumor about you, you know words can hurt. But words can also heal. A word of encouragement, a simple compliment or an expression of appreciation can make you feel liked and confident. God reminded Ezekiel not to fear the words of his enemies but to “speak my words” to all. Be aware of the words you speak. Be sure they are words that heal rather than hurt.
Q: What strange meal did Ezekiel eat?
BONUS: What would have been the ingredients of the main dish?
In Ezekiel 6:2–3 God tells Ezekiel to speak to the mountains. Mountains can’t hear. Why talk to them?
Like other literature, the Bible uses literary devices. A writer uses literary devices to create a powerful image for the reader. Speaking as if mountains were people is a literary device called “personification.” God used this powerful way to tell the people that he knew about the altars they had built on top of the mountains. And he would soon smash those places of pagan worship and destroy the people who worshiped there (Ezekiel 6:3–7).
When the Bible writers used these literary devices, they hoped to create a picture in your mind that would help you better understand God’s message to you today.
The people in Judah thought they were safe from the Babylonians because God’s temple stood in Jerusalem. But in a vision from God Ezekiel saw the “glory of the LORD” (Ezekiel 10:18), God’s visible expression, actually leave the temple. Without God the temple was a beautiful but empty heap of stones, and no protection at all. The Babylonian army did sweep down on the little Jewish state. It crushed their defenses, captured the city and destroyed the temple. That terrible defeat is a reminder of an important truth: Just because you belong to the Lord does not mean that he will protect you from the consequences of doing wrong.
A year ago my mom and dad got divorced. I really miss being together as a family. Sometimes my parents would argue when I did something stupid. I feel like it was my fault or something that they got divorced. Can I do anything to get them back together?
Makayla
Dear Makayla,
Sadly, about half of all marriages end in divorce. When a divorce takes place, sometimes the children feel somehow responsible. But really, it was your parents’ decision to get married, and it was their decision to get divorced. It was not your fault at all. God tells us in Ezekiel 18:20, “The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child.” You are responsible to God when you sin, but it is not your fault if someone else falls short of God’s standard.
There is a lot of sadness and anger when two people get divorced. And it’s hard for the whole family. It kind of feels like somebody died, but there’s no body to bury. It’s normal to feel a sense of loss when parents get divorced. Sometimes it helps to talk about your feelings with somebody who can understand what you’re going through. But one thing you can feel good about: It wasn’t your fault. God doesn’t blame you and he doesn’t want you to blame yourself either.
Jordan
Many of you have family members or friends who don’t know the Lord. It hurts when you witness to people you love and they just won’t listen. The people of Ezekiel’s day didn’t listen to God’s prophet either. But God gave them a special promise through Ezekiel. “Afterward you will surely listen . . .” A person you love may not listen to you until after he or she suffers the consequences of wrong choices. Sure you’d like your loved ones to avoid being hurt. But some are only willing to listen “afterward.” Don’t stop praying for your loved ones. And don’t give up hope.
Every now and then you’ll hear someone say that the Bible can’t be trusted, that it’s not historically accurate, that things just didn’t happen the way the Old Testament says they did.
Then you come to a passage like Ezekiel 27. Tyre was one of the great trade cities of the ancient world. Its ships traveled all over the Mediterranean. And where do you suppose historians look to learn about trade in those ancient days? They look in Ezekiel 27! They’ve learned that everything in this chapter is accurate. Archaeological finds have shown that the prophet was right about the trade routes the ships traveled and the goods they carried.
Oh, some people will tell you that you can’t trust the Bible. Don’t believe them. The Bible is accurate. It’s God’s Word, and it’s not full of mistakes.
Last week in youth group our leader asked if some of us would share a time we witnessed to somebody. I didn’t say anything; I have never done that. Is everybody supposed to witness to people?
Elijah
Dear Elijah,
Sharing about what God is doing in your life seems very easy to some people. For others, it’s scary or it seems weird. If it doesn’t come easily to you, you should at least make a decision to be prepared to speak up if the Lord calls out to you. If you feel that urging inside of you to speak up, then you should.
Ezekiel was told by God to be a watchman. He was supposed to warn people who were living sinful lives. If he did not give the warning, he was guilty. If he gave the warning but people didn’t pay attention, they were responsible (Ezekiel 33:7–9).
Whether God asks you to warn someone, tell how God has answered a prayer, explain about salvation or share your faith in another way, be willing to obey his call. Ask God to give you the words. That’s a job the Holy Spirit does for us. The rest is up to God and the person you share with.
Jordan
Q: Where will Israel’s final enemy come from?
BONUS: Where are these lands on modern-day maps?
Q: How many Jewish temples on Mount Zion does the Bible describe?
BONUS: What stands on the temple mount today?
Ezekiel
Picture It.
What does God look like in this book? Angry like a thunderstorm but then showing love after the storm and bringing the Jews home to build a new temple.