REPROACH
TO NATIONS: Devotion for Saturday October 1, 2016
Text:
Ezekiel 22:1 – 16 Memory verse: Ezekiel
22 verse 4
Happy independent celebrations to Nigeria and
Nigerians! Today is the 56th Independence Anniversary of Nigerian nation. We
congratulate Nigerians as they celebrate this day.
Here in our text for the day, Jerusalem is
called a bloody city because of her crimes. This chapter of Ezekiel explains
why Jerusalem’s judgment would come (Ezekiel 22:2–16), how it would come (Ezekiel
22:17–22), and who would be affected by it (Ezekiel 22:23–31). The sins which
Jerusalem stands charged with are exceedingly sinful – murder, idolatry,
disobedience to parents, oppression and extortion, profanation of the Sabbath
and holy things, seventh commandment sins, lewdness and adultery.
What would have led a nation adopted by a
holy, righteous and pure God into this level of sin, crime and evil? Not being
mindful of God led them into this wickedness. They took the mercies and grace
of God for granted and thus due to their complacency and lukewarmness, they
started compromising which took them into these evil they were charged of
here.
Sinners provoke God by forgetting Him. When
they do not take His ordinances to heart, they can do anything they like. When
they also see the worship of God as ceremonies without spiritual attachment to
it, their worship will not have any impact on them. Jerusalem has filled the
measure of her sins. Family Bible Notes says about Ezekiel 22:4 that, “When we
see a community giving itself up to the practice of iniquity of every kind
without restraint, we may be certain, from the sure testimony of God, that its
days of punishment are near.” The
position of Family Bible Notes here can well be said of our present generation
where all manner of evil are seen on daily basis.
The sins charged against Jerusalem, are
similar to what we see in Nigeria today – murder, oppression and extortion,
adultery, etc. The spate of Fulani herdsmen and marauders, killings, abduction and kidnapping,
Boko Haram, budget padding, corruption, etc are all pointers to the assertion
that our present day Nigeria is similar to what Ezekiel saw in Jerusalem at the
time he was prophesying. Just like Jerusalem became a reproach to nations
around her so our country, Nigeria has become a reproach to nations around her.
As Family Bible Notes posited above, we are
expecting God’s judgment upon this country for we have turned against God in so
many ways. In fact we have started reaping the fruit of our evil, greed,
corruption, hatred, in ability to forgive ourselves, etc with the current
economic recession and poor leadership we have experienced in Nigeria since
independence.
Think of the number of churches in our
country. What are the effects of these churches in our nation? Are the
perpetrators of these crimes not found in our churches? We should be prepared
for the day of the Lord. How prepared are you for God’s judgment because it
will certainly come? Don’t think you can escape it unless you repent. Nigeria
needs a Solemn Assembly which should be led by our leader. Until we sincerely
and truly repent, we cannot escape the wrath of God that will be revealed to
avenge the blood of innocent souls spilled in this country.
Food
for Thought:
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people - Proverbs
14:34.
Prayer: Lord God, heal our country
and her people that we will no longer be reproach unto nations in Jesus name.
