November 23 Bible reading

November 23  Psalm 132  1 Peter 2:4-25  Ezekiel 43; 44

Please read the suggested passages, prayerfully consider them, and the questions below. My comments here may be helpful after those moments. The suggested daily reading is for the purpose of reading through the whole Bible within a year.

Reading the Bible is helpful in taking the next steps to follow Jesus. It may not be easy and yet it can be rewarding. Digging into Scripture alongside people you know is a life-giving way to pursue answers together. We discover the love that God has for us has been expressed through Jesus.

• What’s the plain simple truth of the verses you read?
• Based on today’s reading, what is one thing God is saying to you?
• What should you do about that truth?

November 23  Psalm 132  1 Peter 2:4-25  Ezekiel 43; 44

Psalm 132

We need a time and place of meeting with God. David made a priority of this. This Psalm is not written by David. It is written by people who recognized this value in David’s life. This place of meeting God was a secure, life-giving, transformational benefit to people who went there for personal time with God and for people who gathered in groups to worship God and receive instruction. As people returned to celebrate the faithfulness of God, they would sing about the specific ways in which God had lived among them and brought miracles of blessing. The Temple in Jerusalem had been a place of worship and a place they could find the manifest presence of God. The Israelites would come to this house of God and recall the lessons learned from King David about a personal relationship with God. God blessed it.

1 Peter 2:4-25

Jesus is the point of reference from which we build our lives and by which we evaluate our health. Jesus Christ is the starting point of our faith, our model example, and the One who sets things in motion for us. As followers of Jesus, we are brought into the Kingdom of God. Jesus is our Cornerstone. We are living stones in this New Temple, a place of worship and communion with God. Jesus endures being rejected by people whom He loves. As we receive the leadership of Jesus we also receive inexhaustible blessing from God. This should motivate us to live honorable lives. 1 Peter 2:22-25 should be a passage we reflect on at least monthly to consider exactly what this means. Out of a constant awareness of (and reverence for) God we live in honorable relationships with others: family, co-workers, neighbors, and authority figures. We do this by imitating Jesus who walked with humility and endured suffering with a focus on the victory that God would bring.

Ezekiel 43; 44

Twenty-five years into captivity, God brings Ezekiel a magnificent vision of an inspiring future and a new place of worship, to share with the people. It is a clear vision of a majestic and secure place of meeting with God. It speaks to the fulfillment of God’s work of redemption. In a vision of His glory returning to the Temple, God reveals to Ezekiel His desire for a close personal relationship with His people. God calls them to repent of their idol worship and selfishness. Ezekiel sees a time and place for the glorious presence of the One True Living God. It includes a place of meeting for God and His people. There will be peace forever uninterrupted. It is a place of absolute holiness. A place for wholehearted devotion to God, our Creator, and Redeemer. This vision included a place whose measurements made it clear to the Israelites that God was not calling them to go back to the “good old days”. Instead, God was calling them to a new and glorious future. Our Lord is looking for fully devoted followers. We see this in the words of God spoken to Ezekiel. This included the dedication God was looking for in princes and priests.

November 22 Bible reading

November 22  Psalm 131  1 Peter 1; 2:1-3  Ezekiel 41; 42

Please read the suggested passages, prayerfully consider them, and the questions below. My comments here may be helpful after those moments. The suggested daily reading is for the purpose of reading through the whole Bible within a year.

Reading the Bible is helpful in taking the next steps to follow Jesus. It may not be easy and yet it can be rewarding. Digging into Scripture alongside people you know is a life-giving way to pursue answers together. We discover the love that God has for us has been expressed through Jesus.

• What’s the plain simple truth of the verses you read?
• Based on today’s reading, what is one thing God is saying to you?
• What should you do about that truth?

November 22  Psalm 131  1 Peter 1; 2:1-3  Ezekiel 41; 42

Psalm 131

My hope is not in who I am or what I can accomplish. My hope is in the Lord. Growing in an eternal perspective will help us draw strength from our relationship with God. When we learn about who God is, it lessens the dynamic effect that this natural world, with its discouraging experiences and challenging circumstances, will have on us. Drawing closer to God will cause us to be moved by God’s love more than anything else. We will learn helpful self-control and humility from this relationship with God. Such benefits! What is having the most significant effect on you?

1 Peter 1; 2:1-3

We are able to receive the salvation of our eternal spiritual souls because of the benevolence of God. The supernatural power of God was seen by eyewitnesses in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Just like Paul, Peter is writing about redemption (salvation now) and restoration (salvation ultimate). Peter was an eyewitness to the way that Jesus walked through suffering, with a focus on the glory of eternal life. Jesus desired the future in Heaven of an unbroken relationship with all who would receive His love. God protects us here and now for that day to come. Jesus Christ kept a focus on this future day to come. This is how the genuine faith of Jesus remained strong through times of suffering. We are now invited to follow His example of faith through suffering. Bringing ourselves daily to thankfulness to God for our salvation, we are made stronger. Through Jesus, we rely on God and live with a new focus. Choosing to keep our faith actively focused on Jesus through the challenges of this life will bring rewards. Now we show sincere love to each other that is supernatural. Through this relationship with God, we are given the ability to think clearly, exercise helpful self-control, and look forward to the love of God and victory in Jesus. God’s love will last forever. The challenges we face today are temporary.

Ezekiel 41; 42

Through the prophet Ezekiel, God had warned the people of Israel of the specific destruction that would come if they continued to reject His love in favor of their selfishness and violence. They had rejected God in favor of their own pursuits. Now they were experiencing the consequences. Jerusalem has fallen and the Israelites have been taken captive. Twenty-five years into this, God brings Ezekiel a magnificent vision of an inspiring future and a new place of worship, to share with the people. It is a clear vision of a majestic and secure place of meeting with God. It speaks to the fulfillment of God’s work of redemption. It is a view of a better future and a completed restoration after they had suffered the worst destruction of their history. God gives Ezekiel a vision of a new place of worship, a Temple far bigger than they had seen and bigger than what was known at the time of Jesus. We must connect this to the prediction of Jesus, seen in John 4:1-42. In  Heaven, we will worship in the City of our God in spirit and in truth.

November 21 Bible reading

November 21  Psalm 130  James 5  Ezekiel 40

Please read the suggested passages, prayerfully consider them, and the questions below. My comments here may be helpful after those moments. The suggested daily reading is for the purpose of reading through the whole Bible within a year.

Reading the Bible is helpful in taking the next steps to follow Jesus. It may not be easy and yet it can be rewarding. Digging into Scripture alongside people you know is a life-giving way to pursue answers together. We discover the love that God has for us has been expressed through Jesus.

• What’s the plain simple truth of the verses you read?
• Based on today’s reading, what is one thing God is saying to you?
• What should you do about that truth?

November 21  Psalm 130  James 5  Ezekiel 40

Psalm 130

Deeply discouraged and yet I will look to God, in hopeful expectation of His faithful love4. Under stress, in pain, and yet desperately holding out hope that God will provide, Psalm 130 sings an encouragement to choose faith in Yahweh God. Spiritual cleansing and forgiveness for our mistakes, we have received from God. Mercy and grace have been extended to us, as an invitation to walk in a respectful relationship with God. O that we would learn about who God is, through this! The love of God has never failed us.

James 5

We expect the triumphant return of Jesus to this world. A desire for this will help our daily life. It motivates us to live with a healthy respect for God and other people. God is aware of those who harm others while pursuing their own financial gain. Our God will judge those who use other people to get ahead and get money. In contrast, Job showed his faith in God by praying for others, even on his own worst days. Our God responds to the faith that is shown by prayer. We confess our wrong, seeking forgiveness and restoration. We bring to God our requests for others. This prayer has great power as it is working. We should help each other course correct when we drift from the truth. Followers of Jesus are called to patient endurance while waiting for the return of Jesus Christ. Conversation with God must be our daily priority.

Ezekiel 40

Through the prophet Ezekiel, God had warned the people of Israel of the specific destruction that would come if they continued to reject His love in favor of their selfishness and violence. They had rejected God in favor of their own pursuits. Now they were experiencing the consequences. Jerusalem has fallen and the Israelites have been taken captive. Twenty-five years into this, God brings Ezekiel a magnificent vision of an inspiring future and a new place of worship, to share with the people. On our worst days, God has hope and a future waiting for us. If we will respond to God we can be encouraged. (For future study, it’s important to note the spiritual significance of the Temple’s gateways, courtyards, and places of sacrifice.)

November 20 Bible reading

November 20  Proverbs 28:7-17  James 4  Ezekiel 38; 39

Please read the suggested passages, prayerfully consider them, and the questions below. My comments here may be helpful after those moments. The suggested daily reading is for the purpose of reading through the whole Bible within a year.

Reading the Bible is helpful in taking the next steps to follow Jesus. It may not be easy and yet it can be rewarding. Digging into Scripture alongside people you know is a life-giving way to pursue answers together. We discover the love that God has for us has been expressed through Jesus.

• What’s the plain simple truth of the verses you read?
• Based on today’s reading, what is one thing God is saying to you?
• What should you do about that truth?

November 20  Proverbs 28:7-17  James 4  Ezekiel 38; 39

At a level rarely seen, King Solomon had resources and influence available to him. He writes wisdom drawn from his relationship with God. One of the most effective and successful wealth managers of all time speaks to the foolishness of some rich people and the discernment of some people who are poor.

Proverbs 28:13 & 1 John 1: 6-9 make it clear that we will not benefit from keeping our sin a secret, pretending that we are in a healthy relationship with God. If we will confess our sin, God will be faithful to forgive us. The sacrifice of Jesus has made this possible. Our reasonable response is to live out of passionate gratitude.

James 4

We should love God more than we love pleasure. The humility that comes from this brings peace and freedom. Let us abandon a me-first lifestyle. This will take us away from jealous arguments, gossip, and self-righteous judgment of others. We draw strength from our relationship with God, as we humble ourselves, confessing our wrong, and asking for forgiveness and help. We turn away from our wrong and move toward a close personal relationship with God. We become fully devoted followers of Christ, in community. We choose to resist our spiritual enemy. We receive grace from God and respond by freely giving it away to others. In this way, we can avoid sins of commission and omission. God gives us the ability to live in a healthy relationship with Him and others. We can choose to receive this gift.

Ezekiel 38; 39

Through the prophet Ezekiel, God predicts specific ways in which He will show sovereign control over powerful military nations. The fulfillment of these predictions served as further evidence of God’s identity. We should recognize this today. Through Ezekiel, God reveals His desire that all people come to recognize Him as sovereign Lord. Whether they turn to Him in faith or not, God will be glorified. For those who would repent, God will bring about restoration and will remove shame. God will usher in a time of uninterrupted relationship with Him. Love will abound for all who worship our God. This plan for God’s redemption includes people from every nation and culture.

November 19 Bible reading

November 19  Psalm 129  James 3  Ezekiel 36; 37

Please read the suggested passages, prayerfully consider them, and the questions below. My comments here may be helpful after those moments. The suggested daily reading is for the purpose of reading through the whole Bible within a year.

Reading the Bible is helpful in taking the next steps to follow Jesus. It may not be easy and yet it can be rewarding. Digging into Scripture alongside people you know is a life-giving way to pursue answers together. We discover the love that God has for us has been expressed through Jesus.

• What’s the plain simple truth of the verses you read?
• Based on today’s reading, what is one thing God is saying to you?
• What should you do about that truth?

November 19  Psalm 129  James 3  Ezekiel 36; 37

Psalm 129

This Psalm says, “All my life I have been harassed by backstabbers, and yet I am not defeated. God is good. God has given me freedom from them.” When we live out of gratitude to God, we can be healthy and happy regardless of backstabbing. Even if we are attacked, we can experience peace and sing, “the Lord is good”. Our God is a source of love and healing. Our God brings freedom.

James 3

Are you salty? Have you ever heard that question? “Salty” can be used to describe a person who is agitated, angry, or upset. If we are saying things that are salty, our inner spiritual life is not as healthy and strong as it should be. A focus on God should cause us to speak blessing and not cursing. Feeding our spirits the loving truth of God will cause us to speak with grace. It also provides the self-control needed to speak without clenching our teeth. Have I received the grace of God? Am I changed for the better by a relationship with Jesus? One way to find out is by asking the people in my life if I am growing in the ability to be careful with what I say. Do I bring encouragement or harm? Even if I must bring an adjustment to someone else, do I bring it in a way that is loving, encouraging, equipping, and life-giving? Following Jesus should bring humble wisdom, gentleness, and peace-loving out of us. Wisdom from God brings humility.

Ezekiel 36; 37

Murder and the worship of anything (as more valuable than God) is pollution in our homeland. That is how God sees it. Through Ezekiel God speaks a warning that He would punish people who refused to turn from their violence, murder, and worship of idols. Our Creator offers us a complete change of heart in this new life as Jesus followers. Through this change, God will give us the ability to live in new ways, healthy, and full of life. Our God will bring life where we see signs of death, in our homes and communities. Where we cannot see hope, our God brings hope. God will speak life and bring about the restoration that seems impossible. God brought about an end to the civil war between Israel and Judah. God brought lasting peace between people in conflict. This same God offers us a covenant agreement of peace whereby we can see lasting change in our lives.

November 18 Bible reading

November 18  Psalm 128  James 2  Ezekiel 33:21-33; 34; 35

Please read the suggested passages, prayerfully consider them, and the questions below. My comments here may be helpful after those moments. The suggested daily reading is for the purpose of reading through the whole Bible within a year.

Reading the Bible is helpful in taking the next steps to follow Jesus. It may not be easy and yet it can be rewarding. Digging into Scripture alongside people you know is a life-giving way to pursue answers together. We discover the love that God has for us has been expressed through Jesus.

• What’s the plain simple truth of the verses you read?
• Based on today’s reading, what is one thing God is saying to you?
• What should you do about that truth?

November 18  Psalm 128  James 2  Ezekiel 33:21-33; 34; 35

Psalm 128

When we live out of gratitude to God there is a joy that is with us today and will be with us tomorrow. When we live in constant awareness of God there is a love and respect that fills our hearts and homes. This song describes the benefits of a life given to wholehearted devotion to God. Let us give our utmost respect and highest praises to God with the best of our energy. God is able to bless us with vibrant healthy happy homes. A focus on God brings many blessings to a family.

James 2

If we treat some people as less valuable than others, we are not faithful followers of Jesus. Favoritism and prejudice bring brokenness into a relationship with Jesus. My suggestion to all Christians is to read the words of Jesus found in Matthew 5 -7 and then James 1 – 5 for a helpful perspective. We are certainly saved by grace through faith in Jesus as Savior (as evidenced by our true repentance). This means that our change of heart is seen by a change of actions. If the trajectory of our lives as Jesus followers shows no change in our values, decision making, and acts of service (for people in need) then it is quite possible we are spiritually sick at the least. As Jesus followers, we have received mercy and so we must show mercy. God shows us, love, by making forgiveness and new spiritual life available through Jesus. As we receive this love, we believe in Jesus as Savior. This faith must produce action.

Ezekiel 33:21-33; 34; 35

Through the life of the prophet Ezekiel, God has been calling people into a loving committed relationship. After years of rejection and subsequent violence, God has been sending warnings. Through Ezekiel, God called people to repent and brought judgment on those who replied with lip service and yet no change in their actions. Our God knows the heart of each person and mourns the punishment needed for those who reject His covenant agreement of peace. The day will come when everyone will recognize Yahweh as Sovereign Lord.

November 17 Bible reading

November 17  Psalm 127  James 1  Ezekiel 32; 33:1-20

Please read the suggested passages, prayerfully consider them, and the questions below. My comments here may be helpful after those moments. The suggested daily reading is for the purpose of reading through the whole Bible within a year.

Reading the Bible is helpful in taking the next steps to follow Jesus. It may not be easy and yet it can be rewarding. Digging into Scripture alongside people you know is a life-giving way to pursue answers together. We discover the love that God has for us has been expressed through Jesus.

• What’s the plain simple truth of the verses you read?
• Based on today’s reading, what is one thing God is saying to you?
• What should you do about that truth?

November 17  Psalm 127  James 1  Ezekiel 32; 33:1-20

Psalm 127

Hard work alone will not bring ultimate fulfillment. What is the will of God? Where is God already at work? Yahweh God, our Creator & Redeemer, is the one who provides for us. God makes it possible for us to work and rest. If we give our best energy to a life independent of God, it will ultimately be useless. We should seek the will of God and the Kingdom of God above all else. In this way, we bring ourselves into alignment with God. It is wise to apply our hard work to the purposes of God. In a life that honors God, children are valued as a blessing from God. They can bring great joy to parents!

James 1

James, the pastor of the Jerusalem church, is the first to write an open letter that serves as one of the pastoral epistles of the New Testament. He writes to Jewish followers of Jesus a letter that is directly connected to Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount”. He speaks to the spiritual strength we can draw from a relationship with Jesus. Challenging days bring opportunities to grow in this spiritual strength. We can walk through dark days without being overwhelmed. God gives wisdom to people who rely on Him alone. We should live with a focus on God (not our cravings). Which are you following? We should be good listeners, who choose their words carefully and are not easily angered. Seeking wisdom from God, we can learn to see our lives clearly. Perspective is critical. James warns us to not be misled, allowing ourselves to be deceived. We can receive salvation by grace and live in new healthy ways because of this new spiritual life.

Ezekiel 32; 33:1-20

God instructed the prophet, Ezekiel, to deliver messages of punishment on Egypt and its Pharaoh with a lament for the suffering to come. God was about to show His sovereign power. This mourning further reveals the loving heart of God for all people. Read Ezekiel 33:11 again. God doesn’t want to bring punishment. Our God wants everyone to turn away from their self-destructive sin and toward His life-giving love. The prophet served as a watchman, providing the people with a warning of the punishment to come. It also served as the voice of God, calling people away from such suffering and back to His committed love for them.

November 16 Bible reading

November 16  Proverbs 27:23-27; 28:1-6  Hebrews 13  Ezekiel 30; 31

Please read the suggested passages, prayerfully consider them, and the questions below. My comments here may be helpful after those moments. The suggested daily reading is for the purpose of reading through the whole Bible within a year.

Reading the Bible is helpful in taking the next steps to follow Jesus. It may not be easy and yet it can be rewarding. Digging into Scripture alongside people you know is a life-giving way to pursue answers together. We discover the love that God has for us has been expressed through Jesus.

• What’s the plain simple truth of the verses you read?
• Based on today’s reading, what is one thing God is saying to you?
• What should you do about that truth?

November 16  Proverbs 27:23-27; 28:1-6  Hebrews 13  Ezekiel 30; 31

Proverbs 27:23-27; 28:1-6

The wisdom that comes from a healthy relationship with God points us toward the good stewardship of our resources. This includes careful consideration and planning. Leaders who use these principles bring stability to their organizations and people. God our Creator has made it possible for us to earn money. We have resources of time, energy, and money. They are temporary. Our spirit will live forever. We are stewards of the resources God has provided. Healthy decisions make good use of those resources. Diligence, hard work, and healthy decisions show your eternal perspective and appreciation for all that God has provided you.

Hebrews 13

Inspired by the example of Jesus we can show love to others. Thankful for God’s forgiveness we can now live with a fresh commitment. This includes integrity and abandoning a “me-first” ethic in marriage and financial management. We can now draw spiritual strength from the grace of God (instead of by the measure of our past actions). Through Jesus, our God has made a way for us to be cleansed, forgiven, and brought into new spiritual life. In Hebrews 13:5 & Deuteronomy 31:6 we see that God has promised to never abandon us. Here we find confident hope in God our provider, a present help in times of need. For this reason, we should not fear what people may do to us. We are now able to live a lifestyle of love with courageous generosity to all people. We must be on the lookout for opportunities to serve someone we have just met, someone in need, someone in prison, and anyone who is being mistreated. Let us live a life focused on Jesus. May God give us the ability to live in this way.

Ezekiel 30; 31

God spoke through the prophet Ezekiel things that must have seemed impossible at the time. As a sign to all who would read it, God gave Ezekiel prophetic visions (which he wrote and distributed). These visions predicted specific events in the history of the nations of Babylon, Egypt, and Israel. Egypt’s defiant pride and evil power would be punished by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (whom God would enable). As these prophecies were fulfilled the relevant written history served as further proof of Yahweh God’s sovereign control of human history. The redemptive narrative of God’s story can be seen in the big picture.

November 15 Bible reading

November 15  Psalm 126  Hebrews 12:14-29  Ezekiel 28; 29

Please read the suggested passages, prayerfully consider them, and the questions below. My comments here may be helpful after those moments. The suggested daily reading is for the purpose of reading through the whole Bible within a year.

Reading the Bible is helpful in taking the next steps to follow Jesus. It may not be easy and yet it can be rewarding. Digging into Scripture alongside people you know is a life-giving way to pursue answers together. We discover the love that God has for us has been expressed through Jesus.

• What’s the plain simple truth of the verses you read?
• Based on today’s reading, what is one thing God is saying to you?
• What should you do about that truth?

November 15  Psalm 126  Hebrews 12:14-29  Ezekiel 28; 29

Psalm 126

People returning to Jerusalem for worship would sing Psalm 126. They recalled a season of amazing fulfillment and happiness. They recognized the miracles God had done to make their joy possible after their season of trouble and exile. They had repented of sin and returned to a healthy relationship with God. As a result, they found a harvest of blessing at just the right time. This song reminded current-day believers of those lessons from the past. It reminded them of the benefits of turning away from me-first mistakes.

Hebrews 12:14-29

Drawing spiritual strength from Jesus is possible as we follow the example of Jesus. We can now live in this new way. We will have faith to work toward peaceful relationships with others. We will gain the resolve to pursue this in every way that it may be possible for us. Following the example of Jesus, we can now tune our hearts into God’s direction daily. We are then motivated to live out of pure dedication to God. From a faith focused on Jesus, we are called to pursue healthy relationships (in right standing) with each other (by Hebrews 12:14-15). A lifestyle of wholehearted devotion to God should include caring about the people in your life. We can help each other receive the grace of God, the healing it brings, and freedom from unresolved hurt or anger from the past. Each of us must relate with Jesus as our Mediator of a New Covenant in our relationship with the all-powerful living God.

Ezekiel 28; 29

The king of a powerful nation had taken the “me-first” philosophy to the point of believing himself to be a deity. The leaders of Tyre, Sidon, Egypt, and Babylon found their thoughts, feelings, and actions unveiled by an attentive God. They thought themselves more powerful than God. Through the prophet Ezekiel, God predicted the exact ways in which they would be punished. This pre-emptive written word served as proof of Yahweh God’s sovereignty. God is all-knowing and all-powerful. We should relate to God with respect to these truths. The restoration of people turning to God is again predicted.

November 14 Bible reading

November 14  Psalm 125  Hebrews 12:1-13  Ezekiel 26; 27

Please read the suggested passages, prayerfully consider them, and the questions below. My comments here may be helpful after those moments. The suggested daily reading is for the purpose of reading through the whole Bible within a year.

Reading the Bible is helpful in taking the next steps to follow Jesus. It may not be easy and yet it can be rewarding. Digging into Scripture alongside people you know is a life-giving way to pursue answers together. We discover the love that God has for us has been expressed through Jesus.

• What’s the plain simple truth of the verses you read?
• Based on today’s reading, what is one thing God is saying to you?
• What should you do about that truth?

November 14  Psalm 125  Hebrews 12:1-13  Ezekiel 26; 27

Psalm 125

When the Israelites returned to Jerusalem they would be reminded of the protection of God, standing faithfully like the mountains that repelled would-be attackers. When we rely on God, He will not fail us and we can walk in peace. Let us spend time each day to bring our hearts in tune with God. The One True Living God is trustworthy. The Kingdom of God is above all others. It will last forever. As we trust in God, we can be confident in our hope of God’s victory and peace.

Hebrews 12:1-13

We found joy and received salvation through Jesus. Every day we should keep a focus on Jesus our Champion. Jesus initiates our faith and is bringing it to fulfillment. Our strength increases as we daily consider who Jesus is and how Jesus lives. This will motivate us to do anything possible to please God who has lavished love on us. When God brings guidance, reshaping our desires, and correcting our behavior, we should be predisposed to respond out of humble gratitude. This adjustment, from God, comes with our best interest in mind. Our Creator knows best how we should live. Let’s not follow self-destructive desires. God has been at work to make a future eternity in Heaven available. It will be a reunion with all who believe. As we look ahead to that day we receive strength for enduring the challenges of today. In this way, we are following the example that Jesus already set here on earth. That is how we can walk this journey of faith with strength.

Ezekiel 26; 27

Tyre was among the powerful nations who mocked the One True Living God. They took pride in what they had built (and in the beauty of it) as well as what they had accomplished in their power and influence. Our God watched as the people of Tyre lived the way that they wanted to, ignoring their Creator, and celebrated the destruction of Jerusalem. God knew their hearts. In a display of sovereign control, God would bring destruction on them at a national level and historic scale. God predicted the specifics of this through Ezekiel as a further proof is His own identity. God asked Ezekiel to sing a funeral song for them. Pride will bring consequences. Humility has benefits.