Then

In the book of Ezekiel, time and again, God says, as He tells Ezekiel what to say, “then they shall know that I am the LORD.”  (In the post, “Jots and Tittles”,  I gave an estimate of 34 times.)  The word “then” is a time word.  And many times the way it is used in Ezekiel is as warning.  God tells Ezekiel to say “such and such” and when “such and such” happens, “then they shall know…”.  So, it’s a warning about an event in the future that is past and how they are going to feel.  (I hope I said that correctly.)  In other words, you better heed the Word of the Lord through Ezekiel (and get on your faces and repent) or this bad thing going to happen and “then you’ll know”.

Ok, all that said, as you read chapter 33:30-33, you get a clear picture of what Ezekiel was up against with these fellow Israelites.  They talked about Ezekiel, knew he was getting messages from the Lord, wanted to go and hear the message, went and sat before him as people of God, heard the message and did not do what it said.  And listen to what God tells Ezekiel, “you are to them like a sensual song by one who has a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument.”  WOW!  That’s a mouthful!  I wonder how many godly pastors who preach the truth with passion feel the pressure of that reaction from a congregation.  And I wonder how many of us as a congregation are doing just that: listening, leaving, and lethargic!  It would truly be a heavy burden for a pastor to bear.  

And here’s what God says at the end of that chapter: “So when it comes to pass—as it will—then they will know that a prophet has been in their midst.” Now, we have “when” which denotes certainty and “then” used this time to encourage the prophet Ezekiel. Your work in the Lord, Ezekiel, is not in vain.  ( Cor. 15:58)