Ezekiel 34:23-31
23-24 “‘I’ll appoint one shepherd over them all: my servant David. He’ll feed them. He’ll be their shepherd. And I, God, will be their God. My servant David will be their prince. I, God, have spoken.
25-27 “‘I’ll make a covenant of peace with them. I’ll banish fierce animals from the country so the sheep can live safely in the wilderness and sleep in the forest. I’ll make them and everything around my hill a blessing. I’ll send down plenty of rain in season—showers of blessing! The trees in the orchards will bear fruit, the ground will produce, they’ll feel content and safe on their land, and they’ll realize that I am God when I break them out of their slavery and rescue them from their slave masters.
28-29 “‘No longer will they be exploited by outsiders and ravaged by fierce beasts. They’ll live safe and sound, fearless and free. I’ll give them rich gardens, lavish in vegetables—no more living half-starved, no longer taunted by outsiders.
30-31 “‘They’ll know, beyond doubting, that I, God, am their God, that I’m with them and that they, the people Israel, are my people. Decree of God, the Master:
You are my dear flock,
the flock of my pasture, my human flock,
And I am your God.
Decree of God, the Master.’”
God is concerned with our heart. Our earnest heart.
25-27 “‘I’ll make a covenant of peace with them. I’ll banish fierce animals from the country so the sheep can live safely in the wilderness and sleep in the forest. I’ll make them and everything around my hill a blessing. I’ll send down plenty of rain in season—showers of blessing! The trees in the orchards will bear fruit, the ground will produce, they’ll feel content and safe on their land, and they’ll realize that I am God when I break them out of their slavery and rescue them from their slave masters.
28-29 “‘No longer will they be exploited by outsiders and ravaged by fierce beasts. They’ll live safe and sound, fearless and free. I’ll give them rich gardens, lavish in vegetables—no more living half-starved, no longer taunted by outsiders.
30-31 “‘They’ll know, beyond doubting, that I, God, am their God, that I’m with them and that they, the people Israel, are my people. Decree of God, the Master:
You are my dear flock,
the flock of my pasture, my human flock,
And I am your God.
Decree of God, the Master.’”
God is concerned with our heart. Our earnest heart.
Jesus grabs and holds our hearts because He weeps for us and with us.
When Tyre looted the ruined Jerusalem, glad for its destruction,
God felt Tyre's hardness of heart. 2012, Baylor University and University of North Caroline uncovered a mosaic of Ezekiel 26 in a Synagogue near Capernaum. Alexander the Great visited the Temple to bow to the representative of God. Because Alexander the Great well knew when to recognize prophecy of God in His Word, after making Tyre into mainland in a tremendous military campaign to reach the Island of Tyre.
Ezekiel was right Tyre ships were never to be seen again, and the island never recovered as Israel did again and again with the blessing and help of Father God.
We learn about resiliency from the faith of Israel and more importantly, the Mercy of God - God is Love.
The Huqoq Synagogue mosaic was completed much later, in the 400s.
How are the mosaic figures similar?
How are they different? The art world is seeing tremendous comparisons.
The meeting of Alexander the Great and the Jewish priests of Jerusalem is an old story that would have been very familiar to 5th century AD Jews in Huqoq. (Josephus! You kind of can’t escape him in this part of the world.)
The mosaic shows a procession of soldiers and elephants following a warrior in battle dress and a purple cape. “Battle elephants were associated with Greek armies beginning with Alexander the Great,” explains Dr. Magness.
Pompeii's Alexander the Great at the Battle of Darius III, owned by the House of the Faun in Pompeii
Now consider
the familiar photo of the Huqoq Synagogue which is basic,
a little crass looking, basically a very bad photo:
The two mosaics look completely different in artistic style.
Now Compare
The Comparison depends on the distance of the Photograph.
This is much, much closer art identification Alexander Pompeii Mosaic to Alexander Huqoq, Israel Mosaic, far closer than the portraits of Pierre-Auguste Renoir to the photos of the individual clients.
Wonder.
We would wonder what the 5th Century knew of Art History and Art History of Alexander the Great. Eyes on Alexander the Great.
Today, we all face aspects of emotions in all the news and times.
We will all have laments. Jesus knew about this and said:
Luke 8:52
Now they were all weeping and lamenting for her; but He said, "Stop weeping, for she has not died, but is asleep."
The times and seasons not to mourn. Ecclesiastes. We will have these times and seasons move back and forth during the day.
Jesus grabs and holds our hearts because He weeps for us and with us. Even the temporary death of Lazarus and the grief God knows we suffer.
When Ezekiel's wife died:
When Ezekiel's wife died:
Ezekiel 24
Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban fastened and your sandals on your feet; do not cover your mustache and beard or eat the customary food of mourners.
Jesus weeps for us and with us. This is our Father God of Love.
Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban fastened and your sandals on your feet; do not cover your mustache and beard or eat the customary food of mourners.
Jesus weeps for us and with us. This is our Father God of Love.
He strengthens us to be real and not anything but earnest. Providing the hope of real recovery.
Abba, Father God,
We believe with You, Father God,
You have told us in Thessalonians we are informed, about those who asleep, we will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. We believe Jesus died and rose again, even and You will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus to eternal life in You.
You are the Life Everlasting.
Help us always to seek You First.
We will have our souls and hearts
look to You. And find more Heaven on earth.
Bless our Republic. Bless Your Good Creation.
The days are filled with concerns and worries about us all.
We believe in Jesus Christ
if You ask Jesus to pray for us
this pray will go amazing places and be heard and answered.
Always pray with hope, Jesus said.
God is working and so is Jesus.
We pray for Janet
We pray for Elliott for God's Willing and Healing Word.
Speak Your Willing Word to comfort those who Suffer
and to give comfort this day.
Including those who Hope for Better Days and Plan
for Your Blessings. And Willingness.
Thank You, Father God,
In the Highest Name of Jesus we ask, Amen.
Lord Jesus has the whole world in His Hands
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