The Living Word: A Daily Devotional with Jeff & Dale from The Jenkins Institute

n every parable, there are lessons to be learned. In this parable, God tells

Ezekiel to fill a pot with water, collect the choice cuts of meat from the

best of the flock, burn the bones under the pot, and then bring it to a boil.

Once this is complete, pile wood under the pot, dump out the meat and

broth, then put it back on the fire and burn the scum out of it.

One of the meanings of the parable is that the only hope for God’s people

is cleansing through the fires of judgment. The fire would burn away

everything that displeases God. This is not the kind of sermon that is

going to get a preacher invited back for another speaking engagement!

In Ezekiel 24, God visualizes and explains their problem with a parable. In

his classic work, "All the Parables of the Bible," Herbert Lockyer claims that

there are more than 250 parables in the Bible. Lockyer says that the most

common word for parable in the New Testament is parabole, which means

“likeness,” or “resemblance.”

Our Lord told many parables. There are estimates that he told anywhere

from thirty to forty-four during His three-year ministry.

By the time we arrive at Ezekiel 23, we learn that the people of God had a

problem. As is always the case when people are away from God, the

problem was a heart problem.

Jesus spoke often of the importance of our hearts. “‘Where your treasure

is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21, ESV). “This people

honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me” (Matthew 15:8,

ESV). He told us that we are to love the Lord our God with all of our heart,

soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37). 

Throughout Scripture, servants of God have been commanded by their Maker to

proclaim His Message in what we might consider to be odd circumstances.

Jeremiah was told to go to the potter and obtain a clay pot, to take that pot and

break it before the people of God as an illustration of their brokenness. God told

Jeremiah not to get married or have children.

Peter was given a dream about a sheet with all kinds of animals in 

“The book of Ezekiel takes its title from the priest of the same

name, son to a man named Buzi. Ezekiel’s priestly lineage shines

through in his prophetic ministry; he often concerned himself with

topics such as the tem

When I was a boy, I collected baseball and basketball cards. I would

work during the week in hopes that on the weekend, my parents

would take me to the Limestone County Flea Market, where booths

would be set up with people selling all kinds of things. I would take

the few dollars that I saved up that week and go buy some packs of

cards. My favorite was the late 80s and early 90s Upper Deck cards.

I’ll confess, for years, I didn’t listen all that well. I would tune out

most anything if my mind was thinking on something particular.

Sometimes it was in innocence, at other times it was purposeful.

I’ve tried to be a better listener. Especially now, since my hearing

isn’t what it used to be.

My stomach turned as I watched the wheel of a trailer break loose

and roll into a dry, mature field of wheat. As soon as it stopped

rolling, the wheat ignited, and fire began to spread rapidly.

Apparently, the wheel bearing had heated up as the driver was

driving down the highway, and eventually, the entire wheel broke

loose. That hot bearing immediately

It can be difficult to speak what is right when masses of people are

going in the opposite direction. Being bold can open people up to

criticism, rejection, and persecution. But God’s people are called to

be bold and speak up for what is righteous.

Ezekiel pronounces judgment in Ezekiel 20 upon the southern

kingdom of Judah because of their rebellion against God’s will. He

uses figurative language to describe a fire being kindled and

spreading throughout the land. It cannot be quenched and

consumes every tree, both green and dry.