Reflection on the readings for November 3

Give thanks to the Lord.
We call upon your name.
We will make your deeds known to all people!
(adapted form Psalm 105:1, Common English Bible)

Ezekiel 7:1-9:11
Ezekiel relays what the Lord has told him, that their country is to be overtaken by their powerful enemy. Disaster is coming, and there's no place to hide from it. He then quotes this chilling assessment by the Lord, "When I do to them what they have done and judge them by their own justice, they will know that I am the Lord." In another vision, the Lord tells him that they are very, very guilty, that their land is full of blood, and the city full of injustice. No one will be spared. All will be held accountable for their ways.

Hebrews 5:1-14
The first recipients of this letter would have been familiar with the office of high priest--that person chosen to be an intermediary between the people and God. To represent them adequately, the high priest would have to understand their condition--and to help them modify that condition where necessary.

The office of high priest was one of honor; yet, the high priest, as a human being, was subject to human frailities.

Yet, boldness was required. The high priest was approaching God to ask for mercy and grace for the sinful and suffering.

Not just anybody could be a high priest. Rather, only God could decide who would be appropriate for the role.

The author of this letter is pointing out that Jesus is the high priest for Christians. He, a human, can sympathize with our human condition. And, and Son of God, having been made perfect, he is the source of eternal salvation. He then goes on to point out how childishly we humans often behave.

Psalm 105:1-15
Although Psalm 105 is a litany of praise for God's goodness of Israel, we all can appropriate its words to apply to our situations.

In our daily prayers as we thank God for what we already have and also ask for even more gifts, we may utilize the commands in this psalm as a checklist:

Give thanks to the Lord.
Tell people what God has done for you.
Seek the Lord.
Seek the Lord continually.
Remember what God has done for you.

Proverbs 26:28
A lying tongue hates those it crushes;
a flattering tongue causes destruction.

Prayer for Today: Use Psalm 105 as a guide to your prayer today. Also, remember to voice repentance for any of those sins that Ezekiel had recounted to the people of his place and time.