Reading through Ezekiel recently, I was struck by the number
of times that Ezekiel fell face down before the Lord. I counted 6 (Ezekiel
1:28, 3:23, 9:8, 11:13, 43:3, 44:4). Ezekiel was a prophet blessed with an
almost indescribable vision of the glory of God, and in the blinding light of
that glory there is no other response. So many others also fell down on their
faces before the Lord: Abraham (Gen 17:3), Moses and Aaron (Numbers 20:6),
Joshua (Joshua 5:14), Balaam (Numbers 22:31), Manoah and his wife (Judges
13:20), David (1 Chr 21:16), Jehoshaphat (2 Chr 20:18), Daniel (Daniel 10:9).
The disciples fell face down to the ground terrified when
Jesus was transfigured before their very eyes in all His glory (Matthew 17:6).
And our Lord Himself, the perfect, sinless, spotless Son of
God, in Whom all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form, fell with His
face to the ground in prayer before His Heavenly Father (Matthew 26:39).
Jesus was then lifted up as He bore our sins in His body on
the tree (John 3:14).
Jesus was then raised to life on the third day (1 Cor 15:4).
Jesus was then exalted to the right hand of God, above the
heavens (Hebrews 7:26).
“See, my Servant will act wisely,
He will be raised and
lifted up and highly exalted”
(Isa 52:13).
And just as Ezekiel testifies in 6 places that “The Spirit
lifted me up” (Eze 3:12, 3:14, 8:3, 11:1, 11:24, 43:5) so too as we bow down
with our faces on the ground before our Holy, Holy, Holy God we can testify
that:
As we lift up our soul to the LORD (Ps 25:1);
As we lift up our hands towards the Most Holy Place for
mercy and help (Ps 28:2)
As we lift up our eyes to Him for mercy (Ps 123:1-3);
As we lift our voices to Him for mercy (Ps 142:1):
He lifts up all who are bowed down (Ps 145:14);
He has lifted us up out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and
the mire (Psalm 40:2);
He has given us His Spirit, who raised Jesus from the dead,
giving life to our mortal bodies (Rom 8:11)
He has raised us up with Christ (Eph 2:6);
He has seated us with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph
2:6);
We will be raised at the last day (John 6:40).
Our pastor commented on Sunday that when you look at the
wheat and the tares, the tares stand proudly and fruitless amongst the wheat
which bows down under the weight of its fruit (see Matthew 13:24-30). May we continue to bow down before our Holy,
Holy, Holy God, that He may lift us up.
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| "A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honour" (Prov 29:23) |
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Ah, so beautiful. To see the wheat "burdened down with fruitfulness."
ReplyDeleteThank you, Diana, for another post that brings God the glory that is due Him. A beautiful meditation to start the day with.
Love,
-L
God bless you Liz, and God bless you for the way you walk bowed down before Him but lifted high in Him.
DeleteWhat an interesting image this is
ReplyDelete"when you look at the wheat and the tares, the tares stand proudly and fruitless amongst the wheat which bows down under the weight of its fruit (see Matthew 13:24-30). May we continue to bow down before our Holy, Holy, Holy God, that He may lift us up"
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on this Diana, it gives me a lot to think about and I hope and pray that someday I am weighted down with such fruit.
What I love about this picture is the fact that the wheat, BY ITS VERY NATURE, BECAUSE IT IS WHEAT, is bowed down and is fruitful. This picture speaks of a rich promise that this is what happens to wheat. If we hunger and thirst for righteousness, He promises we will be filled (Mt 5:6). And sometimes we're fruitful but just don't have the eyes to see it, because we are so bowed down ♥
DeleteBeautiful. Yes, the wheat is bowed for that is what is accomplished by our Lord in His power. Amen <3
ReplyDeleteMarianne! What a delight to see your comment here! Bless you, thank you for your kind words, and it is right to praise Him for all He accomplishes in our lives by His power for His Glory's sake!
DeleteI, too, am struck by the picture of the wheat bowing down. Beautiful words, dear friend.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Melissa. I'm so glad this picture has blessed you as much as it has blessed me. God bless you! Much love to you.
DeleteThis post was very encouraging, Diana. I love how you reminded us that our Lord doesn't leave us as we are; to be lifted out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and the mire (Psalm 40:2) and to be given His Spirit. Words can't even describe really how I feel. Thank you bunches!!!
ReplyDelete-christina lum
God bless you, Christina! If there's one thing I've learnt in this past couple of years, it is that our God is a God of Redemption, and He redeems all things for His Name's sake - even us ♥
DeleteThis is a very beautiful post Diana. You have really brought out some incredible verses here. All glory to God!
ReplyDeleteLove you.