Fri Oct 23

Listen up, little ones

Especially for the littles in your household.

Listen for the words son of man.

Reading

Ezekiel 1:1-4, 2:1-4—Introduction to Ezekiel, a Son of Man

Optional Reading

Psalm 137:1-9

Keys for kids

Also for the littles. Young households might choose, after Keys for Kids, to go directly to praise and prayer.

Ezekiel was a priest, but God made him a prophet.
He was taken to Babylon with others from Judah.
God called Ezekiel son of man.

Questions

(Some read the ?s before the notes/ ask them after.)

How do you think Ezekiel felt in Babylon?
How do you think the other exiles felt?
What is God’s purpose in having Ezekiel in Babylon?

Catechism

WSC 89

How is the word made effectual to salvation?

The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching of the word, an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith, unto salvation.

Nehemiah 8:8; 1 Corinthians 14:24-25; Acts 26:18; Psalms 19:8; Acts 20:32; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Romans 10:13-17; Romans 1:16

Notes

(See Saturday for authors.)

Ezekiel, whose name means God Strengthens, was a priest. However, at age 25, when he was supposed to start his priestly duties, he was instead taken captive with the second group of Judean exiles (of 3) to Babylon (Daniel and his friends were in the first group of exiles).

How do you think you would have felt if you were getting ready to start your career doing a job you really wanted to do, and then you were taken somewhere else where you had no chance at all to do that job anymore? That is what happened to Ezekiel.

Now, in Ezekiel 1, Ezekiel is 30 years old and somewhere in Babylon. (See Psalm 137:1-4 for some of their feelings and experiences)

But God has a purpose in having Ezekiel here. God does not call Ezekiel to be a priest right now, but a prophet. God wanted Ezekiel to be exactly where he was so that he could help God's people recognize the consequences of their sin AND see God's mercy and care, even then.

What is the name God gives Ezekiel (2:1, 3)? Who else is called that in the Bible? (There is more than one, but Jesus is called the Son of Man!) What do you think that indicates about Ezekiel? (Type of Christ)

Swedish Method questions

See the Sunday notes for meaning of the symbols.

Praise

Psalm 137a, 104a

Prayer

Pray that you would be content exactly where God has you and be willing to do whatever he calls you to do!
Pray for the hearing of God’s Word preached this Lord’s Day’s.
Pray for a member of our church, for your family, and for a non-Christian friend/family member.