The American Wisdom Series

Presents Pamphlet #1179  Ezek kc 55

Has anyone ever asked you,
"How do you know that the Bible is true and that it is the Word of God?"

Most Christians will answer something to the effect that you just have to have faith and be a believer.
But our Father does not want His watchmen, His servants, to give people, especially the non-believer, weak, empty answers like that!

Remember, the very name EZEK-I-EL means "God is my strength"
or "Whom God strengthens"
and the Lord GOD, Adonai Yahveh,
had this Book of Ezekiel written specifically to His watchmen of a certain generation,
the generation that "would come and serve Him" (Ps. 22:30)
who would understand exactly what is was that Ezekiel saw
coming towards him from out of the north in the very first chapter!

And it is those of the Baby Boomer generation
who do know and understand exactly what it was he saw.
(Refer to the Ezekiel chapter 1 studies if you don't know.
So how was it that God caused Ezekiel to be "strengthened", i.e. a strong servant?

He caused Him to read and understand the Word of God!

Ezekiel 2:6  And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
Remember those briers and thorns of Zidon in our last study?
They can't harm those with the Gospel Armor on (Eph. 6).
[7] And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.
Our people are rebellious because they do not study His Word (next verse).
[8]But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.
If you don't want to be rebellious then open your mouth
and begin to eat what God gives you,
not what man gives you through his polluted church traditions
handed down from our fathers.
[9] And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein;
Well lookie there!
The food is in the book.
The Bible IS the table of the Lord.
[10]And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.
We have been reading quite a few lamentations and woes (judgments)
about nations and people in this book of Ezekiel, haven't we?

They are placed there to strengthen us.

Ezekiel 29:3:1  Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel.
Again, how was it that God caused Ezekiel to be "strengthened"?
He caused Him to read and understand the Word of God!
[2] So I opened my mouth, and He caused me to eat that roll.
And when we understand that Word of God our faith is greatly increased,
because that's how a person acquires faith.
Romans 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
This is very important because God has repeatedly told Ezekiel
to speak in the manner of "Thus saith the Lord God".

We are to speak boldly and with authority,
His authority which comes from His Word (that's strength).

So our answers to questions people ask us about God and the Bible
should be directly from His Word (Thus saith the Lord God) as much as possible.

Christ set the example when He was asked questions.
He would often say "It is written" or "Haven't you read?"

In Ezekiel chapter 29 we see judgment placed on the nation of Egypt.

Some might wonder why it is that our Father is telling us all of this
in the book of strengthening, Ezekiel.

Can it be more obvious?

It is to strengthen us.

A watchmen just can't help notice how amazing these prophetic judgments are,
in that they are very specific to the nations.

We read them and then look at the nations and the cities today
and we find that what has happened to them is EXACTLY
what is written here in God's Word 2500 years ago.

That surely does gives strength to a watchmen!

God had recorded at the height of Tyrus' mighty stronghold
that He would destroy that city and more specifically
that it would cease to exist and never be rebuilt.

A good guess, you say?

In chapter 29 we learn that in 479 BC,
God declared in writing that Egypt,
a major superpower at the time of Ezekiel,
would not be totally destroyed forever like Tyrus.

He said He would simply reduce Egypt to a base nation
and she would remain so,
never again to rise to a major power.

So what do you say when someone asks you how you know the Bible is true
and that it is the Word of God?

Don't tell them to just believe and have faith.

Then it is just "your words" against theirs.

Tell them what God has done,
"Thus saith the Lord God" (meaning it is written).

Tell them about Egypt, about Tyrus.

Or tell them,
"Did you know that the specific events on the day of Christ's crucifixion
were recorded in minute detail a thousand years before they happened.

Really, they were.

Even the gambling for Christ's clothing by the Roman soldiers
and the very words that the high priest would say were recorded."

To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.


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