Tag: Ezekiel

Who Are Gog and Magog? The Ancient Names That Echo Through Eternity

Here, we must pause and speak clearly. The temptation to identify modern nations in ancient symbols is strong. Russia, China, and Iran—it’s as if the Bible becomes a cosmic puzzle that today’s newspaper must solve.

Brent Pollard

“You will come up against my people Israel, like a cloud covering the land. In the latter days I will bring you against my land, that the nations may know me, when through you, O Gog, I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.” —Ezekiel 38.16 (ESV)

Specific names stand out from the vast library of Scripture like distant thunder—mysterious, powerful, stirring something deep within the soul. Gog and Magog are such names. For generations, these ancient words have captured people’s imaginations, sparked debates, and fueled the very speculation that obscures their true glory.

Imagine the exile sitting by Babylon’s rivers, scroll unfurled, reading Ezekiel’s vision for the first time. What did the names mean to him? What do they mean for us? And here is where we must tread carefully, because the path of truth leads to wonder, whereas the path of speculation leads only to shadows.

When Heaven Writes History in Advance

Enter Ezekiel’s world for a moment. The prophet describes Gog, “of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.” Sounds like they have weight, don’t they? But here something magnificent happens. This is not a typical historical account. This is heaven, writing poetry using the names of nations.

Consider this astonishing fact: no man named Gog has ever walked the earth. Yet, he is attributed as the leader of a coalition comprising Meshech, Tubal, Gomer, Togarmah, Persia, Cush, and Put—groups that have never historically formed such an alliance. These descendants, mentioned in Genesis 10, are scattered across the globe and are now gathered by divine artistry rather than human ambition.

Do you see it? Ezekiel paints with a cosmic brush, creating a vision that transcends time and geography. This is not tomorrow’s newspaper, written in ancient ink; it is eternity speaking in symbols that every generation can comprehend.

The War That Reveals God’s Heart

But what about the battle itself? Here is a mystery wrapped in majesty. Gog arrives with armies as massive as the stars, ready to descend like storm clouds on God’s people. The earth shakes with anticipation. Swords gleam. Banners break in the wind.

And then, before a single blow is thrown, the Author of All Stories takes the stage.

Earthquake. Pestilence. Heaven rains hailstones, fire, and brimstone (Ezekiel 38.22). The language itself echoes back in time to Sodom’s destruction and forward to judgment’s final hour. This isn’t about military genius or political strategy. This is about a God who fights for His children.

Classical commentators have long recognized that the vision magnifies God’s power in delivering His people and destroying their enemies. Gog represents not just one man’s ambition, but every force that has ever raised its fist against the Almighty’s chosen.

Do you feel your heart racing? Hopefully, it does. This is your story as well.

The Comfort Hidden in Symbols

Why this vision? Why now? Consider the first readers—God’s chosen people, dispersed like seeds in Babylon’s soil. Jerusalem lay in ruins. The temple stood as a collection of broken stones. Has their God forgotten them? Was He defeated by pagan gods and foreign armies?

The answer thunders from heaven: never.

The Lord provides centuries-long comfort through Ezekiel’s pen: “Every force that rises against you—every Gog that emerges from every Magog—will crumble before My power. Not because you are powerful, but because the I AM is your defender.”

Biblical interpreters understood this when they pointed out that Gog represents Christ’s enemies throughout history, serving as a timeless symbol of opposition to God’s people. For centuries, God’s people saw in these words not fear, but fierce hope. Only when speculative systems emerged in recent centuries did this comfort become clouded by confusion.

When the Final Curtain Falls

Turn the pages to Revelation 20, and the names appear again, like an echo across the corridors of time. “Gog and Magog.” But look at how John uses them! Satan, freed for his final act, gathers “the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth” for one last desperate charge against “the camp of the saints.”

Once again, no battle occurs. Fire descended from heaven. The end arrives not with a clash of armies, but with the whisper of divine judgment.

Gog and Magog represent not two nations, but all of God’s enemies. These names act as symbolic bookends to the eternal conflict between good and evil, representing all rebellion against divine authority.

Do you see the comfort here? Every enemy that has ever threatened God’s people, every force that has ever made you tremble in the night, has been gathered under these two ancient names, and they all face the same fate: swift, inevitable defeat by heaven’s own fire.

The Danger of Reading Tomorrow’s Headlines

Here, we must pause and speak clearly. The temptation to identify modern nations in ancient symbols is strong. Russia, China, and Iran—it’s as if the Bible becomes a cosmic puzzle that today’s newspaper must solve.

But this path leads away from comfort, not towards it. It breeds fear where God intended peace and speculation where He promised certainty. Gog and Magog represent something far greater than any single nation or alliance—the eternal principle that the world will always fight against God’s people, but God will always triumph.

Your comfort comes not from avoiding geopolitical turmoil, but from knowing that behind every earthly conflict is a heavenly King who has never lost a battle and never will.

The Names That Mean “Never Alone”

So, what do Gog and Magog mean to you right now, as you grapple with ancient and modern fears? They tell that you are not alone.

When the headlines make you tremble, remember that every enemy is already named in God’s book, and their defeat is predetermined. When things seem hopeless, remember that the same God who scatters all rebellion with heaven’s fire is the God who walks with you today.

This isn’t about charts or theories. This is about a Father fighting for his children. This is about a King whose victory is so sure that Scripture declares all opposition defeated.

The most incredible truth of all? The story concludes not with your defeat, but with your King’s eternal glory shining over a universe at peace.

“So I will show my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.” —Ezekiel 38.23 (ESV)

And in that day , every knee will bow—not in terror, but in awe of the One who has always been, is now, and will always be your magnificent Defender.

“Son of Man”: Ezekiel, Jesus, and the Pattern of Prophetic Humility

God repeatedly reminds Ezekiel that he is not superhuman. He is a mortal man, chosen to carry the very words of God to a rebellious and hard-hearted people. His identity itself—son of man—becomes a walking testimony to humility.

Brent Pollard

When God called Ezekiel to his prophetic ministry, He chose not to address him by name, but by a title that would echo through the corridors of time: “Son of Man.” Ezekiel heard this title over ninety times from God’s lips throughout the book that bears his name. The Hebrew, ben adam, means “descendant of man” or “human one.” At first glance, it might seem like a poetic flourish. Since the title “son of man” is intentionally repeated and later used by Jesus of Nazareth, we should pause and ask: Why did He choose this title for both figures?

Isaiah may rightly bear the title “Messianic Prophet” for his remarkable prophecies of Christ’s birth, suffering, and coming reign (Isaiah 7.14; 9.6; 53). But Ezekiel’s role as “son of man” unveils something equally profound—it foreshadows the very form the Messiah would take, especially in His humble incarnation and prophetic ministry.

A Title That Humbles and Separates

Adam Clarke observed with penetrating insight that this term serves to humble Ezekiel, preventing him from being exalted in his mind because of the extraordinary revelations granted to him. Here is God’s gentle yet firm reminder of Ezekiel’s frailty and mortality—set against the backdrop of those overwhelming divine visions, particularly that awe-inspiring glimpse of the Almighty’s throne in Ezekiel 1. Matthew Henry echoes this truth, observing that despite the abundance of revelations, Ezekiel remains “a son of man, a mean, weak, mortal creature.”

God repeatedly reminds Ezekiel that he is not superhuman. He is a mortal man, chosen to carry the very words of God to a rebellious and hard-hearted people. His identity itself—son of man—becomes a walking testimony to humility.

John Gill observes deeper significance in this choice, noting that this title connects Ezekiel to the coming Christ. He points out that “this is a name which our Lord frequently took to himself in his state of humiliation” and that “the reason of it is, because he was an eminent type of Christ.” Thus, “son of man” becomes more than humiliation—it points forward to the One who would perfectly embody both human weakness and divine mission.

Prophetic Suffering and True Representation

Beyond its humbling power, the term “son of man” positions Ezekiel as one who truly represents his people. He stands not as an outsider hurling judgment from afar, but as a fellow exile (Ezekiel 1.1-3). God called Ezekiel to speak as one of them—and more, to suffer in symbolic ways that would paint vivid pictures of their coming condition (Ezekiel 4–5).

Burton Coffman observes that Ezekiel’s very actions embodied the message he delivered: lying upon his side for appointed days, shaving his head with a sword, cooking with defiled fuel, refusing to mourn when his beloved wife died—each act a living parable of Israel’s approaching judgment. In this suffering service, Ezekiel points forward to a greater Prophet yet to come, One who would bear not symbolic griefs but actual sorrows, not representative suffering but substitutionary sacrifice.

Daniel’s Vision: The Title Transformed

In Daniel 7.13-14, something remarkable happens. “Son of Man” takes on entirely different colors. Daniel sees in his night visions “one like a son of man” coming with the clouds of heaven, receiving dominion that shall never pass away. What a contrast! Ezekiel’s “son of man” is lowly, suffering, and representative of human weakness. Daniel’s “Son of Man” is exalted, glorious, clothed with eternal authority.

Yet both point toward the same magnificent Person: Jesus Christ. In the Gospels, our Lord refers to Himself as “the Son of Man” more than eighty times—more than any other title He claims. In taking this name, Jesus gathers up both streams—Ezekiel’s humble suffering and Daniel’s eternal glory.

Jesus bears the full weight of human suffering, as Ezekiel did in shadow and type. Yet He also inherits that eternal kingdom promised in Daniel’s soaring vision.

Ezekiel: Pattern of the Incarnate Christ

Here then is the glory of it: if Isaiah introduces us to the person and mission of the coming Messiah, Ezekiel shows us the very form He would take—a suffering servant, fully human, yet burning with divine purpose. The constant repetition of “son of man” in Ezekiel prepares our hearts to recognize the breathtaking paradox of the incarnation itself—God in human flesh, humble yet holy, obedient unto death, acquainted with our griefs (Isaiah 53.3; Philippians 2.5-8).

Jesus, the true and ultimate Son of Man, fulfilled every aspect of Ezekiel’s prophecy, not only through His words but also through His life. He was the ideal representative of all people, carrying God’s final message as well as everyone’s sins.

Conclusion: The Seed of Eternal Purpose

It was not God’s caprice leading him to employ the phrase “son of man” to reference Ezekiel. The expression was a designation of Ezekiel’s humanity, prophetic duty, and role as the people’s representative. Yet, we understand it also served as a divinely planted seed, preparing hearts and minds to understand the Messiah—not only as conquering King and eternal Savior, but as One who would walk among us in perfect humility and carry all our sorrows.

In this “son of man,” we glimpse the wisdom of our God, who chooses frail vessels for eternal purposes—and who, when the fullness of time had come, became one Himself.

“Son of Man” represents grace beyond measure since the God calling a mortal man by that title would Himself take it for Himself, taking our nature and our place—that we might share in His glory forever.

IS IRAN IN THE CROSSHAIRS OF BIBLICAL PROPHECY? 

There’s a group of people who believe a dark alliance of nations will rise in the last days, and their sights set on one target: Israel. Among them stands Persia — known today as Iran.

For centuries, the prophetic words of Ezekiel lay dormant. But now, as Iran asserts its influence across the Middle East and sculpts its rhetoric against Israel, some Bible readers say we are watching prophecy awaken

Dale Pollard

There’s a group of people who believe a dark alliance of nations will rise in the last days, and their sights set on one target: Israel. Among them stands Persia — known today as Iran.

For centuries, the prophetic words of Ezekiel lay dormant. But now, as Iran asserts its influence across the Middle East and sculpts its rhetoric against Israel, some Bible readers say we are watching prophecy awaken.

Ezekiel 38 describes a future war led by a mysterious figure called Gog from the land of Magog, joined by a coalition including Persia. This alliance will launch a sudden attack on Israel, catching the world off guard. Yet, in a stunning twist, they will be supernaturally defeated — not by Israel’s army, but by divine intervention: earthquakes, hailstorms, and chaos among the invaders themselves.

According to these interpretations, Iran’s fate is sealed not by global politics, but by a divine script written long ago. Though the timeline remains uncertain, the message is clear: Persia, once a mighty empire, will play a pivotal — and ultimately tragic — role in the final act of history.

As tensions rise in the real world, some wonder: Is the stage being set? Let’s see what the Bible says about it.

The Bible does not mention “Iran” by name, but it refers to the ancient region of Persia, which is modern-day Iran. Biblical prophecy includes several references to Persia, both in historical and future contexts. Here’s the straight skinny on how Iran (Persia) is used in prophecy:

1. Persia In Context

  • Daniel 8:20 — “The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia.”

Explanation: This vision prophesies the rise of the Medo-Persian Empire, which historically conquered Babylon and ruled a vast territory. This is a fulfilled prophecy, not the future.

  • Ezra 1:1-4 / Isaiah 45:1 — The Persian king Cyrus is prophesied by name as the one who would allow the Jews to return from Babylonian exile and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.

The God and Magog War 

The most significant passage many refer to when discussing Iran’s prophetic future is Ezekiel 38–39, known as the Gog and Magog War.

Ezekiel 38:5

“Persia, Cush and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets.”

This passage describes a future invasion of Israel by a coalition of nations led by “Gog of the land of Magog.”

While many view the Gog and Magog prophecy of Ezekiel 38–39 as a future apocalyptic war, several alternative perspectives argue it has already been fulfilled or symbolically represents historical events, check out this brief explanation of the major views.

·  Post-Exilic Threats: Some see Gog as symbolic of foreign powers threatening Israel after their return from Babylon, with God’s protection preventing any major invasion—fulfilling the prophecy through divine preservation, not visible warfare.

·  The Esther Parallel: Others connect Gog’s defeat to the events in the book of Esther, where Haman’s plan to annihilate the Jews was sovereignly overturned. God’s intervention and the enemies’ destruction parallel the reversal described in Ezekiel.

·  Maccabean Revolt: Some scholars associate the prophecy with Antiochus Epiphanes’ attack on Israel in the 2nd century BC. The miraculous Jewish victory under the Maccabees is viewed as a historical outworking of divine deliverance.

·  Symbolic Fulfillment in Christ: A theological reading sees Gog as representing all anti-God forces, with God’s ultimate defeat of them fulfilled in Christ’s victory on the cross and in spiritual judgment, rather than a literal battle. Homer Hailey refers to Gog and Magog as “symbolic names” and interprets Ezekiel 38–39 as a vision representing the ultimate enemies of God’s people, not literal nations (Hailey, Homer. A Commentary on the Book of Ezekiel. Baker Book House, 1972, 379-392). Robert Harkrider interprets the mention of Gog and Magog in Revelation 20 as symbolic of worldwide opposition to God’s people, culminating in their final defeat by God (Harkrider, Robert. Revelation. Truth for Today Commentary Series, edited by Eddie Cloer, Resource Publications, 2003, 377-383).

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Key Takeaways:

The Bible doesn’t predict the rise and fall of the modern state of Iran specifically.

No prophecy singles them out or specifies its exact fate beyond the involvement with Israel in its post exilic state.

Latter day prophecies like this would have had no value for the original readers.

Magic Dinosaur Bones

Dale Pollard

 I’m trying to convince my wife (Janelle) that she needs to make a podcast/Youtube series that would provide a nurses perspective on the many kinds of medicines used in the Bible as well as the medical practices of ancient cultures mentioned in the Bible. Would their medical practices actually work or make things worse? If you think that would be interesting as well, please send her a message and let’s all annoy nurse Janelle until she makes it happen. 

On a similar note, this article was written after researching a few of these bizarre medical practices.  

DID YOU KNOW…

The use of dragon bones in medicine is a fascinating aspect of ancient beliefs, particularly if you view these “dragons” as possible examples of humans and dinosaurs co-existing. However, what’s really  strange is the fact that various societies around the world all decided to use the bones in such a unique way— medicine. 

For example, in medieval Europe, people sometimes discovered large bones and  believed them to hold magical properties. Powders made from these bones were used as talismans or medicinal remedies.

During the Middle Ages, alchemists often incorporated “dragon” substances in their potions and elixirs. They believed that dragon bones could enhance the efficacy of their concoctions or serve as some sort of protective charm.

Some Mesoamerican civilizations had legends about dragon-like creatures, and they used the large fossilized bones in rituals and their medicinal practices because they believed the remains held mysterious power. 

An article in the Associated Press in 2007 had this to say about the ancient Chinese: 

“Villagers in central China spent decades digging up bones they believed belonged to flying dragons and using them in traditional medicines. Turns out the bones belonged to dinosaurs…

The calcium-rich bones were sometimes boiled with other ingredients and fed to children to treat dizziness and leg cramps.”

The Bible has an interesting account about “magic” bones in 2 Kings 13:20-21. This passage recounts the power of God working through the prophet Elijah— even after his death.

Here’s a brief summary for those who might be unfamiliar with this incredible account: 

The prophet Elijah made a significant impact (perhaps the most significant) in Israel. Even after his death his prophetic legacy was admired by the people, but Elijah would perform one last miracle from beyond the grave. Some men were burying a man when they saw a raiding party coming. In haste, they threw the deceased man into the tomb where Elijah’s bones lay and when the dead man touched the bones of Elijah he came back to life and stood on his feet. 

While there may or may not be anything to the medicinal benefits of dinosaur bones as claimed by ancient cultures, there’s no need to speculate where the power was coming from in our biblical account. It’s obvious that it was God’s hand at work and not the prophet’s bones. The same can be said of baptism or even our Bibles. The power isn’t in water found in a baptistery or words on a page because we know the source is actually our Savior. The cure to the world’s greatest disease isn’t some secret recipe that utilizes dragon bones. What we need is what we already have and it’s widely available. 

“Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.” 

Proverbs 3.7-8

Motivation For Attending Church Services

Neal Pollard

“An Italian newspaper recently carried an interesting story about a young couple in Milan who had a wonderful attendance record at a particular cathedral. The priest assumed they were very devoted to their faith because they regularly spent an hour before one of the statues in the church’s worship area.  He thought they were doing some intense praying.  Only later did he discover the couple simply came to re-charge their cell phone from the electrical outlet behind the statue” (King Duncan, via Waterview, Richardson, TX, 3/16/14).

My first reaction to that was to chuckle, then be a little indignant, and then become introspective.  The thought that someone may come to church services for apparent honorable intentions but be serving some baser motive may be shocking, but it is not unheard of.  Jesus taught, “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me” (Mat. 15:9).  Jesus is quoting Isaiah, and it was a problem in that prophet’s day, too.  Think of what another prophet wrote.  Ezekiel said, “They come to you as people come, and sit before you as My people and hear your words, but they do not do them, for they do the lustful desires expressed by their mouth, and their heart goes after their gain” (Ezek. 33:31).

When I come before the Great I Am, not only must I keep from distractions.  Deeper than that, I must examine my overall motivation for being at worship or serving the Lord.  Why am I a Christian?  Self-examination is as important as any spiritual exercise there is (2 Cor. 13:5).  Nobody else may know why we are before the Lord in worship, but He does.  May He see our motivation as transparent and true, honest and sincere!  

The End-Times

Friday’s Column: Brent’s Bent

Brent Pollard

People all over the eschatological spectrum have been watching recent news events with bated breath. Putin’s invasion of Ukraine must be a sign of the “end-times.” To some, in the premillennial camp, Putin is an antichrist. Yes, he has military might and money. And he could undoubtedly become a global dictator ushering in “The Great Tribulation,” which those unlucky enough not to be raptured must endure before Christ sets up His earthly kingdom.  

But, to postmillennialist Pat Robertson, Putin fulfills Ezekiel’s prophecy showing that “God is getting ready to do something amazing…”1Postmillennialism is more optimistic than premillennialism with its doom and gloom of the worst trials and tribulations the world has ever seen. So, first, the world will come to Christ, more or less. (Though Robertson believes it will involve warfare.) Then Jesus will set up a kingdom on earth, and we will enjoy a golden age.  

There is a big problem with this thinking, though. We have been in the “end-times” since about the day of Pentecost A.D. 30 or 33. In Acts 2, Jesus fulfilled His promise to pour the Spirit upon the apostles (John 16.7; Acts 2.33). Thus filled with the Spirit, the apostles began speaking in tongues, languages they had never studied. We know they were languages rather than unintelligible gibberish because the people listening to them were from various places. The people wondered why they could hear these Galileans speak their native tongues. Peter told them that it was a result of the pouring out of the Spirit upon men, something the prophet Joel wrote would happen during the “last days” (Acts 2.16-21; Joel 2.28-32).   

Hence, it has been the “end-times” for about 2,000 years. And what of the kingdom? It might surprise some to hear me say that the kingdom is here. Now, I hear even someone who has only dabbled in theological studies respond, “That just makes you an amillennialist.” No, that is a misnomer. That term means “no millennium” since the prefix “a” negates the following word. It is not a denial of a period of the kingdom’s reign; instead, the Scriptures demonstrate that we are not waiting for the kingdom’s establishment. Jesus told His disciples in Mark 9.1 that there would be those listening to Him who would not die until they had seen the kingdom arrive with power. Therefore, unless there are 2,000-year-old disciples, the kingdom is with us now. 

And the kingdom’s present reality is what the Bible teaches. In Revelations, the beloved apostle John wrote that he was already in the kingdom (Revelation 1.9). Furthermore, Paul thanked God for rescuing us from the “domain of darkness” and transferring us to the “kingdom of His beloved Son.” (Colossians 1.13 NASB1995) And Jesus already sits upon His throne at the right hand of God. Note the penultimate verse of Mark’s Gospel: “So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.” (Mark16.19 NASB1995) Jesus will remain on His throne until His enemies are defeated, the last of whom is death (1 Corinthians 15.24-26). 

I have only touched the hem of the garment on this issue. There is much more to be said. However, to paraphrase Jude, I had intended to write a different article but thought I should write this one in response to all the “end-times” talk caused by Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Rather than fear the unfolding of events, take comfort in knowing that you have the ear of a King. Yes, Jesus now reigns and makes intercession for us (Romans 8.34).   

Sources Cited 

1 Warren, Steve. “’God Is Getting Ready to Do Something Amazing’: CBN Founder Pat Robertson on Russia and Its Place in Prophecy.” CBN News, CBN News, 1 Mar. 2022, www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/2022/february/god-is-getting-ready-to-do-something-amazing-founder-pat-robertson-on-russia-and-its-place-in-prophecy. 

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Can These Dry Bones Live Again?

Tuesday’s Column: Dale Mail 

blond man with goatee smiling at camera with blazer on
Dale Pollard

Six hundred years before Christ would make His providential appearance, a righteous man finds himself in captivity. While exiled, Ezekiel was able to witness the spirit of God in a very intimate way (Ezekiel 1). Even so, he was still living under the thumb of the Babylonians like every other Israelite with him. While under these unideal circumstances though, he is privileged to see awe inspiring visions from God. Have you ever paid attention to the eerie sensations described throughout this book? In Ezekiel 1:4, the prophet feels a great and stormy wind on the bank of the river Chebar. The wind brings with it a massive cloud with fire flashing around it and a substance like glowing metal in the center of it. The wings of the creatures he saw (verse 24) made sounds like that of roaring waters. The voice of the Almighty was like the sound of a great army camp. What sights he was able to see! This great connection to God didn’t take away his pain or sorrow, though.

Chapter 19 is one long lament as Ezekiel cries over his hard-hearted Israelite brothers. Why won’t they listen to him? Even after Ezekiel performs some radical visual illustrations like eating his bread over dung and laying on his side for an entire year, they won’t respond to the “invitation.” How frustrating is that, preachers? God never abandons His faithful servant but His confused prophet is still left to wonder what God is going to do about the mess which makes up his reality. A familiar feeling for many faithful Christians today.  

Never underestimate the hand of the Almighty. This truthful statement can be pulled from Ezekiel 37, when the prophet is taken up and then placed in the middle of a dark valley. Ezekiel is surrounded on all sides by heaps of dry human bones and he’s probably wondering why in the world God has taken him to such a place. The text answers the question by asking a question. God speaks to Ezekiel and says, “Can these dry bones live again?” What an odd thing to ask. However, Ezekiel responds, “Only you know, oh Lord.”

It’s always when we’re deep in the valleys of life that we’re forced to answer the difficult questions about God’s abilities. When we’re surrounded by darkness, the question we have to ask is, “Does God have the power to see me through this?” If you remember, Ezekiel has become frustrated with the fact that Israel just won’t listen to him or Him. He’s lost hope in their ability to change— they’re just too far gone. However, God demonstrates to His prophet in a dramatic way that NOTHING is impossible for Him. 

He doesn’t bring the bones to life in the blink of an eye, but we know He could have. Instead, He allows Ezekiel to hear those bones rattle and to hear the sounds of fibers and flesh sticking together. He wanted to leave an impression on Ezekiel to demonstrate the might of the Almighty. Ezekiel had no idea how those bones came to life, but he knew one thing for certain. God did it. You may not understand why God has allowed you to enter your valley, but you can be certain that He has the power to see you through. You are standing on your two feet because God has given you the strength to do so. God has promised His faithful servants a heavenly light at the end of our tunnels and whatever God says— He will always accomplish (Ezekiel 37:14). 

Everything You Want

 Friday’s Column: Brent’s Biblical Bytes

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Brent Pollard

There is a rite of passage dreaded by aging music fans; It is the day that your favorite music, your youth’s music, becomes relegated to a niche station on platforms like satellite radio. Fortunately, music providers have found more creative ways of marketing such specialty stations than slapping the “classic” or “oldies” label upon it. Instead, you are now a member of an exclusive club of people with exquisite musical taste. Yes, I am such a club member, and I listened to “my station” while running errands. The unofficial theme of my present love life began playing on the radio: “Everything You Want.” As one who finds illustrations in practically everything, I started drawing religious parallels. However, before you can understand those parallels, I first need to fill you in about the song. 

“Everything You Want” was released by the alternative rock band Vertical Horizon in 1999 and became a hit in July of 2000. It became Billboard’s Most Played Single of 2000. Matt Scannell, the songwriter, explained that an ex-girlfriend inspired the song. She looked for love and acceptance everywhere but the person who loved her the most. Obviously, as a listener unaware of the backstory, I interpreted the song differently. I thought of those times when a member of the fairer sex made an offhanded comment about wanting to meet someone “just like” me. (I seem to live in a place called “the friend zone.”) I wished to reply, “Why do you want ‘just like’ when the original is available?” Unrequited love can be frustrating, as it has been for me, or sad, as with the songwriter. 

Would it surprise you to know God experienced unrequited love too? God compared Himself to the husband of two faithless women, Oholah and Oholibah (Ezekiel 23.1ff). Elsewhere, Solomon admitted his spiritual infidelity in the book of Ecclesiastes. Solomon looked for happiness and contentment in EVERYTHING but what ultimately mattered. After his vain pursuit of such things, Solomon says, “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.” (Ecclesiastes 12.13 NASB1995) The famous baseball player-turned-preacher, Billy Sunday, once summed up such people as Oholah, Oholibah, and Solomon. They have only enough religion to make them miserable. Sunday added, “If there is not joy in religion, you have got a leak in your religion.” Indeed. The problem lies not with the Bridegroom but the bride. Yes, if there is no love for Him, or our love has faded, the fault lies in us.  

How do we show our love for the Bridegroom? He says we show our love by keeping His commandments (John 14.15). Is it that simple? Yes, obedience springs from the mindset of putting God and His kingdom first (Matthew 6.33). We stray when we look for fulfillment elsewhere. And for the one yet to put on Christ in baptism (Galatians 3.27), the preference is for another whom he or she believes can bring similar joy: “The love of God enamors me, but the world gives me pleasure without requiring ‘burdensome’ commandment-keeping.” Jesus assures us that His yoke is not a burden (Matthew 11.28-30). As Saul discovered on the road to Damascus, we only hurt ourselves when we fight against that yoke. Jesus told Saul that he was kicking against the sharpened sticks (i.e., goads) used to pen cattle (Acts 26.14). Thus, I urge you, whether you have left your first love like Ephesus (Revelation 2.4) or have not confessed your love for the Savior, that you don’t ignore the Greatest Love you have ever known or can ever know (John 3.16). 

It may seem odd to close devotional thoughts out with secular lyrics, but I will do so anyway. I pray that you do not find a relevant metaphor for your relationship with Jesus Christ in these lyrics. He loves you. Don’t make His an unrequited love: 

“He’s everything you want 
He’s everything you need 
He’s everything inside of you 
That you wish you could be 
He says all the right things 
At exactly the right time 
But he means nothing to you 
And you don’t know why.” 

Works Consulted 

“Vertical Horizon.” Billboard, Billboard Media, LLC, www.billboard.com/music/Vertical-Horizon/chart-history/HSI/song/67304. 

Erica. “Out and About in Jax.” Out and About in Jax: Interview with Lead Singer of Vertical Horizon Matt Scannell, Blogger, 18 Nov. 2010, web.archive.org/web/20120326110903/www.outandaboutinjax.com/2010/11/interview-with-lead-singer-of-vertical.html. 

“Vertical Horizon – Everything You Want Lyrics.” MetroLyrics, MetroLyrics, www.metrolyrics.com/everything-you-want-lyrics-vertical-horizon.html. 

 

A Message From The Rattling Bones

Tuesday’s Column: Dale Mail

Dale Pollard

Six hundred years before Christ would make His providential appearance, a righteous man finds himself in captivity. While exiled, Ezekiel, was able to witness the spirit of God in a very intimate way (Ezekiel 1). Even so, he was still living under the thumb of the Babylonians like every other Israelite with him. While under these unideal circumstances though, he is privileged to see awe-inspiring visions from God. Have you ever paid attention to the eerie sensations described throughout this book? In Ezekiel 1:4 the prophet feels a great and stormy wind on the bank of the river Chebar. The wind brings with it a massive cloud with fire flashing around it and a substance like glowing metal in the center of it. The wings of the creatures he saw (verse 24) made sounds like that of roaring waters. The voice of the Almighty was like the sound of a great army camp. What sights he was able to see! This great connection to God didn’t take away his pain or sorrow, though.

 Chapter 19 is one long lament as Ezekiel cries over his hardhearted Israelite brothers. Why won’t they listen to him? Even after Ezekiel performs some radical visual illustrations like eating his bread over dung and laying on his side for an entire year, they won’t respond to the “invitation.” How frustrating is that, preachers? God never abandons His faithful servant, but His confused prophet is still left to wonder what God is going to do about the mess which makes up his reality. A familiar feeling for many faithful Christians today.  

Never underestimate the hand of the Almighty. This truthful statement can be pulled from Ezekiel 37, when the prophet is taken up and then placed in the middle of a dark valley. Ezekiel is surrounded on all sides by heaps of dry human bones and he’s probably wondering why in the world God has taken him to such a place. The text answers the question by asking a question. God speaks to Ezekiel and says, “Can these dry bones live again?” What an odd thing to ask. However, Ezekiel responds, “Only you know, O Lord.”

 It’s always when we’re deep in the valley’s of life that we’re forced to answer the difficult questions about God’s abilities. When we’re surrounded by darkness, the question we have to ask is, “Does God have the power to see me through this?” If you remember, Ezekiel has become frustrated with the fact that Israel just won’t listen to him or Him. He’s lost hope in their ability to change— they’re just too far gone. However, God demonstrates to His prophet in a dramatic way that NOTHING is impossible for Him. 

He doesn’t bring the bones to life in the blink of an eye, but we know He could have. Instead, He allows Ezekiel to hear those bones rattle and to hear the sounds of fibers and flesh sticking together. He wanted to leave an impression on Ezekiel to demonstrate the might of the Almighty. Ezekiel had no idea how those bones came to life, but he knew one thing for certain. God did it. You may not understand why God has allowed you to enter your valley, but you can be certain that He has the power to see you through. You are standing on your two feet because God has given you the strength to do so. God has promised His faithful servants a heavenly light at the end of our tunnels and whatever God says— He will always accomplish (Ezekiel 37:14). 

Elders Who Shepherd

Monday’s Column: Neal at the Cross

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Neal Pollard

There was a problem with the shepherds of Ezekiel’s day. They tended to their own needs, but not the flock’s (34:2-3). There were tangible needs and problems, but these shepherds sinned by omission (34:4). The sheep were scattered and these shepherds did not work to get them back or save them from predators (34:5-6). Then, God through Ezekiel utters these harrowing words: “Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will demand My sheep from them and make them cease from feeding sheep” (34:10). 

In the New Testament, Paul tells the elders of the church at Ephesus to “be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). Guard the flock, watch over the flock, and shepherd the flock. What a weighty work! To be on guard means “to be in a continuous state of readiness to learn of any future danger, need, or error, and to respond appropriately” (Louw-Nida 332). An overseer has the responsibility of seeing to the spiritual safety and proper conduct first of themselves but also of those they watch over (Arndt 379). The idea of shepherding indicates care, concern, love, provision, relationship and intimacy, knowledge, and familiarity (see Kittel et al 902ff). These lexicographers who define what Bible words mean give insight into what elders are to be like as they do this crucial work. Isn’t it incredible and encouraging to see spiritual, albeit inevitably imperfect, men who “aspire to the office of overseer” (1 Tim. 3:1)?

Yesterday is a day I’ll never forget. We tagged along with three elders and their wives as they went around to 26 houses of members of our congregation. Exercising due caution under the current medical crisis, they nonetheless drove to see members young, old, and in-between. They visited with, sang to, and prayed for so many face to face, delivering Dana’s delicious baked goods. Seeing their enthusiasm to do this and watching the genuine joy on their faces as they served and ministered was a blessing that will stoke my spiritual fire for a long time to come. 

But, that’s just what I got to see. I’m not seeing the other times they’ve done this. I’m not there as they’re making so many phone calls to everyone. Over the weekend, they met together for several hours to strategize about a reopening and communication plan not just to get back to “normal” but to thrive and grow as we go into the future. Another of the elders has since spent hours piecing together that plan to provide clear communication to the church. 

All of them work full-time jobs and are hard workers. All of them have families to love and care for. All of them have hobbies and interests. But, all of them have Christ in the center of their hearts and lives. That last fact is what drives them to know about, care about, and reach out to the sheep. 

Thank God for the many churches who are being shepherded through unprecedented times like these by engaged, concerned, and involved shepherds. Church growth, doctrinal soundness, examples of Christ-centered living, and so much more depend on elders who shepherd. Will you take the names of your shepherds to the throne of God each day, imitate their faith, and assist them in their work? They are a vital part of God’s plan to touch and transform eternity! 

elders
Only ten in this group picture!