With and For

Daily Reading: Ezekiel 4

I assign to you a number of days, 390 days, equal to the number of the years of their punishment. So long shall you bear the punishment of the house of Israel. (Ezekiel 4.5)

Devotional Thought: Often in my pastoral work, I was at a loss for words: in a hospital room when bad news came, at the funeral home, in the home of a broken family.  The situations were numerous when my words were few.  Invariably, however, I was told something like this: "Pastor, you don't know what it means to us that you are here."  There is power in standing with someone. 

There is also power in standing for someone.  In Ezekiel 4, God called the prophet to do just that.  In a figurative act, Ezekiel was to enact the fall of Israel and Judah.  He was to lie on his left side for 390 days, "equal to the years of their punishment... So long shall you bear the punishment of the house of Israel" (Ezekiel 4.5).  He was to repeat this act on his right side for 40 days, but this time for the house of Judah.  430 days.  That's a long time to lie down on your side.  By this sacrificial action, Ezekiel was both identifying with his people and interceding for them.

Six hundred years later, Jesus came to earth and identified with fallen humanity.  Then, he interceded for us by his death on the cross.  Now, he has ascended to heaven where he bears the scars of his identification with us and continues his intercession for us at his Father's right hand.

The Spirit is also with us and for us: "I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth" (John 14.16-17).  And "the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words" (Romans 8.26).

With and for.  First done by Ezekiel, then by Jesus, now by the Holy Spirit.  Will you take your turn?

Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, that you have identified with me and even now intercede for me.  Help me to follow your example and be with and for the broken and needy.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 25.1-7

1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

2 O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me.

3 Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.

5 Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.

6 Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.

7 Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!