Looking Up
November 11th, 2007
Gayle
Ezekiel began a his career as a priest, having been raised and trained by his father, Buzi, in a Jerusalem temple. Unfortunately his career was short lived. In 598 BC he was taken, along with his contemporary Daniel, into captivity in Babylon. Daniel was hauled off to the court of the king while Ezekiel was led with others to live by the waters of Babylon.
Unable to perform his duties of the priesthood Ezekiel sat down with the others. But as they sat down and wept, Ezekiel looked up. (Psalm 137:1-2) “By the waters of Babylon, there we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.” (Ezekiel 1:1) “While I was by the river Chebar among the exiles the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.”
In the midst of difficult situations we are usually faced with two choices - we can “sit down and weep” or we can look up and see God. There certainly is a time and place for weeping. (Ecclesiastes 3:4) But the Israelites hung their harps in the trees (Psalms 137:2) and fell into despair. Solomon said in Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”
As believers our “vision” is often a spiritual understanding of what God would have us to do according to His Word in the midst of our situation. Without His wisdom we despair.
God gave Ezekiel a new mission. He was no longer priest, but prophet. (Ezekiel 2:3-5) “I am sending you to the sons of Israel, to a rebellious people who have rebelled against me….As for them, whether they listen or not…they will know that a prophet has been among them…”
I am encouraged and comforted that my God will answer when I call, that I will be found by Him when I seek Him. I just want to remember to look up, to be a visionary, to trust Him and be full of hope. I want to see and reflect His glory even in the toughest of times.
Lord, help us all to keep looking up.