Ezekiel….
It’s a book in the Old Testament that we know is there, but
it’s certainly not the most popular or often quoted book in the Bible. And I need
to be honest… I knew Ezekiel was a prophet, and I knew this was where we could
find the incredible, miraculous story of the dry bones being brought to human
life, but other than that, my knowledge of Ezekiel and his role was limited.
So here I was, reading through the Bible, and it was time
for Ezekiel.
And again, I should be honest… I struggled. This is a long
book, with 48 Chapters in length, and it comes right on the heels of
Lamentations, which is known to be a book of grief and sadness, lamenting the
destruction of Jerusalem. So, the mood, so to speak, was already heavy. And
Ezekiel… poor guy… Like so many of the prophets before him, he had a rough job
and had to prophesy some really horrible things. Ultimately, I struggled with
this book because there was SO much disobedience, and in turn, SO much death,
destruction, defeat, and just utterly dismal circumstances.
I remember even verbalizing this to Joey at one point,
saying that it was a hard book to get through because there was just so much judgement
and loss. Yes, it’s a poignant reminder that sin and disobedience have consequences,
and there are great nuggets of truth, hope, and wisdom sprinkled all throughout
Ezekiel, but I was eagerly awaiting getting to the book of Daniel next.
BUT THEN – as I read the final verse of Ezekiel, I smiled,
and I think I even audibly chuckled, nodded my head and said “That’s it.”
That’s it.
See – after ALL those chapters of continued disobedience, chaos,
loss, and damnation, Chapter 39 introduces the restoration of God’s people, and
Chapters 40-48 focus on the rebuilding of the temple, down to the most minute
details.
Then, in the culmination of ALL of this - the temple being
rebuilt and God’s people turning back to Him – we have the final words of the
whole book, Ezekiel 48:35:
“And from that day the name of the city will be “The Lord is
There.”
WOW.
“The Lord is There.”
He WAS THERE.
After all the prophesies. After all the disobedience. After
all the false idols and worship. After all the war. After all the death. After
all the destruction. After all the chaos. After all the turmoil.
THE LORD IS THERE.
As I read that line, I said “That’s it.” This is a picture
of total and complete restoration. I grabbed my pen and in the margin of my
Bible wrote those exact thoughts… “wow – talk about restoration.”
You see, God doesn’t leave us. We leave Him.
When we do life our way, and neglect Him and cause total
chaos in our own lives, HE doesn’t forsake us.
And just like He restored His people, HE can restore ALL of
us, each and every one of us.
He is in the business of RESTORATION.
Restoring people, restoring circumstances, restoring places,
restoring cities, restoring lives.
Because at the end of it all, after the pain, after the loss…
the Lord redeems, the Lord restores, and take heart…
THE LORD IS THERE.
