Spiritual Nourishment

Last week Ezekiel described God’s warnings to Israel for punishment of their sin.

We left off with Ezekiel “acting out” God’s intended siege against Jerusalem.

“Eat the food as you would a loaf of barley bread; bake it in the sight of the people, using human excrement for fuel. The Lord said, ‘In this way the people if Israel will eat defiled food among the nations where I will drive them’” (Ezekiel 4:12-13).

• God instructed Ezekiel how to prepare his food.
• Food prepared this specific way would be intentionally unclean.
• This symbolized Israel’s defilement during their exile.
• This graphic illustration and warning that God gives His people is interesting.
• We know He is a God of second chances, woven and pictured throughout Scripture.

*When has God given you a second chance?

“Then I said, ‘Not so, Sovereign Lord! I have never defiled myself. From my youth until now I have never eaten anything found dead or torn by wild animals. No impure meat has ever entered my mouth.’

‘Very well,’ he said, ‘I will let you bake your bread over cow dung instead of human excrement’” (Ezekiel 4:14-15).

• Ezekiel refused to defile himself as part of God’s object lesson.
• God honored Ezekiel’s request.
• God’s Word provides a glimpse of the relationship between God and Ezekiel—such that they had a conversation.
• Throughout history, God has had relationships with His devoted followers, for example, Abraham.¹

*What is the connection between devoted follower of God and relationship with Him?

*When have you enjoyed a conversation with God?

 “He then said to me: ‘Son of man, I am about to cut off the food supply in Jerusalem. The people will eat rationed food in anxiety and drink rationed water in despair, for food and water will be scarce. They will be appalled at the sight of each other and will waste away because of their sin” (Ezekiel 4:16-17).

• Ezekiel had already experienced rationed food and water during the time he bore Israel’s sin (4:10-11).
• Ezekiel could relate to Jerusalem’s experience and speak to their struggles.
• Jerusalem’s siege and famine will cause people to waste away [from malnutrition].
• This is a visible manifestation of how sin affects our spiritual life.

*How does sin affect our physical and spiritual lives today?

*How do our experiences with sin enable us to speak into another person’s struggles?

David reassures and comforts us with this reflection:

“Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven,

whose sins are covered.

Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them

and in whose spirit is no deceit.

When I kept silent, my bones wasted away

through my groaning all day long.

For day and night your hand was heavy on me;

my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.

Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.

I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.’

And you forgave the guilt of my sin” (Psalm 32:1-5).

*What do David’s words mean to you?

*How have you experienced the truth and hope in David’s song?

Through this chapter we have seen God sustaining Ezekiel.

We’ve drawn parallels regarding the need for spiritual nourishment for our souls.

John described Jesus’ provision for us and His example to us.

“‘For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’

‘Sir,’ they said ‘always give us this bread.’

Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty’” (John 6:33-35).

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. … In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind” (John 1:1-2, 4).

“‘My food,’ said Jesus, ‘is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work’” (John 4:34).

The work for God that we share with Jesus is doing the Father’s will.

We share the good news of God’s plan to redeem us in love, through Christ’s sacrifice.

*How do our spirits become malnourished [waste away]?

*How does Jesus sustain us?

 

1. Janet Holm McHenry. Praying Personalities. (Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 2024), 51-52.