MEMORY SCRIPTURE
The Word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the Priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon Him.
(Ezekiel 1:3)
Leadership, like that of Ezekiel and Daniel, is guided by God’s wisdom, combining faith, vision and courage to illuminate the path for others.
DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READINGS
Mon. 9: The Father’s Word To Ezekiel (Ezk. 1:3)
Tue. 10: The Father Speaks To Ezekiel (Ezk. 2:1)
Wed. 11: The Father Makes Ezekiel Eat (Ezk. 3:1-4)
Thur. 12: The Father Equips Ezekiel (Ezk. 3:8-9)
Fri. 13: The Father Instructs Ezekiel (Ezk. 3:10-11)
Sat. 14: The Father Commissions Ezekiel (Ezk. 3:17-21)
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT
God, the Father of all, never uses a vessel that He has not prepared ahead of time.
INTRODUCTION
TEXTUAL SOURCE: Ezekiel 1:1-3; Daniel 1:1-21; 6:10
A doration and honour be to God Almighty for unveiling His mind to us every time. In the last lesson, the journey began of how Gon PREPARES OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS FOR LEADERSHIP (I), and being the second part in the series, Isaiah and Jeremiah were our case studies.
In continuity, Ezekiel and Daniel will be our focus for this week. It is therefore our prayer that God, the ultimate Father, will reveal exactly His mind to us as regards what He wants us to learn from the lives and leadership styles of these O.T. prophets. May He also grant us the grace and willingness to put into practice what we learn at His feet, in Jesus name.
LESSON OUTLINE
- GOD PREPARES EZEKIEL
- GOD PREPARES DANIEL AND HIS FRIENDS
LESSON EXPOSITION
GOD PREPARES EZEKIEL (Ezk. 1:1-3)
And the Word of the LORD came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Chebah; and the hand of the LORD was upon him there
(v.3).
a) v. 1-2: Ezekiel’s prophetic ministry started in the 30th year, likely of the Babylonian Empire. Despite being in Babylonia by the river of Chebar; God was with him, marking the beginning of his prophetic calling.
b) v. 3: The opening of the heavens signifies the start of Ezekiel’s prophetic journey; his divine encounter and calling to prophetic ministry.
c) v.2: After about 5 years in captivity, Ezekiel received his prophetic call. The exile experience served as preparation for Ezekiel’s future leadership role as a prophet (cf. 2 Kgs. 24:10-16).
d) v.3: His upbringing and religious teachings, along with the guidance of mentors (his parents, elders and priests), prepared him for his role as prophet, instilling in him a strong devotion to YAHWEH that he maintained even in Babylon.
e) v.3; cf. 18:14-16: Ezekiel’s steadfastness and dedication to YAHWEH. despite challenges in captivity, showcased his commitment to God and prepared him for prophetic leadership responsibilities
f) v.3b: His seeking heart and prior relationship with Yahweh positioned him for divine encounters and prepared him for his prophetic calling and leadership role.
g) v.3: By willingly accepting important tasks, such as the vision of the dry bones (37:1-14), he proved his readiness for divine missions and his commitment to fulfilling his prophetic calling.
GOD PREPARES DANIEL AND HIS FRIENDS (Dan. 1:1-21;6:10)
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank.
(1:8a)
a) v. 7: Changing their God-glorifying names to reflect the honour of Babylonian idols didn’t affect their stand for God. This an indication of having been rooted in YAHWEH by their parents, elders and priests (cf.Deut. 6:1ff; Prov. 22:6) before they were exiled.
b) Thank God for their godly mentors whose impacts helped them maintain their godly identity. Are you preparing those children around you to firmly stand for God even when and where you won’t be there with them?
c) v. 8: Their refusal to eat the king’s delicacies shows a deep understanding and adherence to the Law (cf. Lev.11). A typical Jewish boy should be able to recite the Torah by age 6. What is your child’s relationship with the Bible?
d) Obviously, God had a hand in their exile (cf. Am. 3:6; Rom. 8:28). He knew ahead and had given them enviable qualities (vv. 4,17-20) that were later discovered. He knows and has the best (Jer. 29:11); follow His lead.
e) V.18-21: After three years of training, Daniel and his friends emerged healthier, wiser and more intelligent, relying on Yahweh rather than Babylonian education for their qualifications, showing God’s role in preparing them for His task.
f) 6:10: Daniel’s unperturbed attitude to enemies threat proved his unwavering stand for God. A true child of God, deeply nurtured and prepared by the Father, cannot be intimidated by any enemy.
LESSONS DERIVED
- God, as the sovereign Father, holds exclusive authority to determine how, when and where He prepares His children for leadership responsibilities.
- God knows your destination. Cooperate with Him to be prepared correctly for what lies ahead.
QUESTIONS
- Discuss how God prepared Ezekiel for prophetic leadership.
- What lessons have you learnt from how God prepared Daniel and his friends?
