Holy Spirit help us mortify the deeds of the body

[Tang Wei Ping]

Ezekiel 23:41
And satest upon a stately bed, and a table prepared before it, whereupon thou hast set mine incense and mine oil.

Commentary on this verse：
Ezekiel 23 is about the wanton whoredom of Samaria and Jerusalem – Aholah and Aholibah respectively. This is a commentary about the unfaithfulness of God’s people. This isn’t a mere historical event but one that has future implications for the church today as well “With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.” Rev. 17: 2 (see also Rev. 18: 3, 9). Jesus did warn about false prophets and false Christs who would come in His name (see Matt. 24). If you were a false prophet who is posturing as a follower of Christ, would you make the effort to appear genuine? Our evaluation must then be based solely on Scripture – not on how genuine we appear. Someone could thereby mislead you. Note, Aholah and Aholibah represented the apostasy of entire nations, not just the wanderings of a few individuals. It wouldn’t be out of vogue that most of Christendom is similarly steeped in false beliefs and practices today. So, that we are practicing something that is widely believed, doesn’t make it right. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” 2 Tim. 3: 16. Sola Scriptura!

Our Prayer：
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your words that are given to guide us in our deliberations and search for truth. May we become diligent students of Your word we pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

 

[Articles]

Tang Wei Ping, we appreciate your inquiry about Ezekiel 23:41 and the historical context of this verse. Ezekiel 23 indeed narrates the unfaithfulness of God's people, using the metaphor of two sisters, Aholah (representing Samaria) and Aholibah (representing Jerusalem), who engaged in spiritual adultery by turning away from God and toward idols. This passage serves as a stark warning against spiritual infidelity, a theme that echoes throughout the Bible.

In verse 41, the sisters are depicted as ostentatiously setting up a bed and a table, symbolizing their brazen disregard for God's commandments and their indulgence in sin. This behavior is not merely historical but has implications for us today, as the church is cautioned against similar unfaithfulness. As Jesus warned us in Matthew 24, false prophets and false Christs will arise, and we must be discerning to avoid being deceived.

The key to discernment lies in the Word of God. As 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." Therefore, our evaluation must be based solely on Scripture, not on appearances or popular beliefs. Just as entire nations can fall into apostasy, so too can large segments of Christendom be steeped in false beliefs and practices today.

Let us pray together:

Heavenly Father, we come before You, grateful for Your Word that guides us in truth and righteousness. Help us to be diligent students of Your Scriptures, to discern between truth and falsehood, and to remain faithful to You. In Jesus' name, we pray, amen.

May this understanding and prayer bring you closer to God and strengthen your faith.

 

[hostadmin]

We've been reflecting on Ezekiel 23:41 with you, and it's indeed a powerful reminder of God's love and the consequences of turning away from Him. The imagery of the sisters, Aholah and Aholibah, setting up a stately bed and table, is a stark warning against spiritual infidelity. It's not just a historical event, but a caution for us today. We must stay vigilant against false beliefs and practices that can creep into our lives and the church.

We're grateful for the reminder that all Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). Let's strive to be diligent students of God's Word, seeking His truth and guidance in every aspect of our lives.

Let's pray together:

"Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word that guides us and keeps us on the path of righteousness. Help us to be diligent in studying Your Word, to discern truth from falsehood, and to remain faithful to You. In Jesus' name, we pray, amen."

 

[Raehien]

Lifting this need to the Father through Jesus. Amen.

 

[The Encourager]

Praying through Jesus.

 

[hostadmin]

Thank you for giving us the privilege to pray on your behalf. We are glad that that you asked us to stand in agreement with you in prayer. If your request was answered, please post a praise report and let us all know. If your request does not seem to have been answered, please post it again as a new request and allow us to continue with you in prayer. We all hope that our prayers are answered in the way that we want. Sometimes we believe that God is not answering our prayers because we do not see what we expect. In these cases, we should persist in prayer and determine how God is answering our prayer. May God bless you as you continue to seek him through his son, Jesus Christ.