Reading
- Eze. 26:1-21; 27:1-36; 28:1-26
Devotional
In today's reading GOD pronounces judgment upon the cities of Tyre and Sidon. The majority of the reading focuses upon the sins of Tyre and the details of what will occur to the city and its inhabitants as a result. Throughout today's reading and throughout the book of Ezekiel we find a consistent phrase, which will serve as our devotional today. Let's look at one verse as an example where this phrase is found:
3 therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against you, Tyre, and I will bring many nations against you, like the sea casting up its waves.
(Eze. 26:3 NIV)
The Daily Bible, from which I am reading and using to create these daily devotionals, uses the New International (NIV) translation. In this translation the phrase is translated "the Sovereign LORD." In the New King James Version (NKJV) and New American Standard Bible (NASB) translations, the phrase is translated "the Lord GOD." In the original Hebrew, the phrase is "adonai Yahweh." The first word, adonai, is an emphasized form of the word "l-o-r-d," thus it is spelled with a capital "L." The word is found 469 times in the NASB version of the Old Testament. It is always used as a name for GOD and it refers to His supreme rule over all people and nations. This is why we find the NIV translating the word as "Sovereign," which means "one who is the supreme ruler."
The second word, "Yahweh," refers to GOD's personal name. The Hebrew language didn't have vowels so the word was written "YHWH." The vowels are inferred. GOD first used this name in conversation with Moses at the burning bush (Ex. 3:14). The word literally means "to be." GOD uses this name to distinguish Himself from all idols, creatures, and created things. He made all things. He is entirely different than all else because He has always existed and will always exist. GOD has no birthday.
So, to put these two words back together, the message that is being communicated throughout the book of Ezekiel is that GOD is the supreme ruler of all people and places and that will never change because He will always be. There will be no end to Him. Based upon both importance and frequency of occurrence, this is the central theme of Ezekiel.
