Sunday, March 30, 2008

Thorns, Thistles, and Sitting on Scorpions

Ezekiel 2:6,7 "And you, son of man, neither fear them nor fear their words, though thistles and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions, neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house. But you shall speak My words to them WHETHER THEY LISTEN OR NOT, for they are a rebellious."

Sabina Wurmbrand, from A PASTOR'S WIFE sure came to mind when I read that verse this morning. What a brave woman to speak God's Words to her prison guards and interrogators and to her fellow prisoners.

And as moms, we need reminding that we answer to God, and He would have us speak His Words, whether they listen or not.

Please give me Your Words, Lord, and season my tone of voice with Your Passion, Your Desire, and Your Inflection. Make my face reflect those words, and make Your Love shine through. In Jesus name. Amen.

I have to believe that the entire Old Testament was committed to Jesus' memory as He grew and walked on this earth. He was Perfect and took God's direction from Scripture. They were His marching orders, His comfort, and His confidence. And when Jesus read and committed to memory these words, He was given the courage to stand up to the Pharisees and all those who had misread and misapplied Scripture. And if/when He sat on a scorpion, I doubt it stung Him. We stung Him when He died for us on the Cross.

And I was surprised to find this verse in the Old Testament. Oft quoted at funerals, I thought it was a New Testament verse. Hosea 13:14 "O Death, where are your thorns? O Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion will be hidden from My sight."

2 comments:

ShalomSeeker said...

You know, while away, I did a study on Ezekiel 1-3, and learned that this or a similar phrase/explanation (whether they listen or not) is given FIVE times in this brief space. And the commission to not be afraid/terrified is given SIX times. God also told Ezekiel TEN times that he must speak/say/warn Israel whatever God spoke to him. And EIGHT times God made it very clear that Ezekiel was being sent by God. And FOURTEEN times God called the Israelites rebellious/obstiante/stubborn, etc. With so much repetition required, Ezekiel should have known he was in for some tough stuff!

joyce said...

Thanks for the heads up. I am fascinated by God's repeating things. It is alike a neon arrow, eh?