How can Ezekiel 12:9 inspire us to be more attentive to prophecy? The Setting of Ezekiel 12:9 “Son of man, has not the rebellious house of Israel asked you, ‘What are you doing?’” (Ezekiel 12:9) • Ezekiel’s enacted parable of packing exile baggage (vv. 1-7) was God’s literal warning that Jerusalem would fall and its people be carried away. • The people’s incredulous question showed spiritual dullness; they saw the sign yet missed its meaning. • God recorded this moment to affirm that every word of prophecy is trustworthy and will come to pass exactly as spoken. God Highlights the Need for Attentiveness • The Lord Himself points to the people’s question—He notices when hearts drift into apathy. • Their failure wasn’t lack of information; it was refusal to connect the prophet’s actions to God’s revealed word. • By preserving this scene, the Spirit calls every generation to stay alert to divine signals embedded in Scripture and history. Lessons for Today • Prophecy is given to be understood, not ignored. • The literal fulfillment of Ezekiel’s words anchors confidence that remaining prophecies will be fulfilled just as precisely. • Spiritual inattentiveness is a form of rebellion; watchfulness is an act of obedience. Cultivating Alertness to Prophecy • Read the prophetic portions of Scripture regularly, trusting their plain meaning. • Compare current events with biblical timelines without speculation, letting Scripture interpret events rather than events interpret Scripture. • Guard against cynicism; expect God to speak and act exactly as He has promised. • Encourage fellowship that values prophecy—discuss passages, share insights, and build one another’s anticipation of Christ’s return. Scriptures Echoing the Call to Watchfulness • “So we have the prophetic word confirmed, and you will do well to pay attention to it as to a lamp shining in a dark place” (2 Peter 1:19). • “Blessed is the one who reads aloud and those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it, because the time is near” (Revelation 1:3). • “Therefore keep watch, for you do not know on what day your Lord will come” (Matthew 24:42). • “So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:6). Walking It Out • Approach Scripture expecting literal fulfillment. • Let fulfilled prophecy fuel confidence in what is yet to come. • Stay spiritually awake, discerning the signs God graciously places before His people. |
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