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NOVEMBER 15
have made profit from your neighbors by Me on behalf of the land, that I should not
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extortion, and have forgotten Me,” says the destroy it; but I found no one. Therefore I
Lord GOD. have poured out My indignation on them; I
13 “Behold, therefore, I beat My fists at the have consumed them with the fire of My
dishonest profit which you have made, and at wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on
the bloodshed which has been in your midst. their own heads,” says the Lord GOD.
14 Can your heart endure, or can your hands
remain strong, in the days when I shall deal
with you? I, the LORD, have spoken, and will do
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it. I will scatter you among the nations, dis-
perse you throughout the countries, and re- 22:30 So I sought for a man. Ezekiel and
move your filthiness completely from you. You Jeremiah were faithful, but apart from them
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shall defile yourself in the sight of the nations; God sought a man capable of advocacy for
then you shall know that I am the LORD.”’” Israel when its sin had gone so far. But no one
17 The word of the LORD came to me, saying, could lead the people to repentance and draw
18 “Son of man, the house of Israel has become the nation back from the brink of the judg-
dross to Me; they are all bronze, tin, iron, and ment that came in 586 B.C.(Jer. 7:26,36; 19:15).
lead, in the midst of a furnace; they have Only God’s Messiah,God Himself,will have the
become dross from silver. Therefore thus character and the credentials sufficient to do
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says the Lord GOD: ‘Because you have all what no man can do, intercede for Israel (Is.
become dross, therefore behold, I will gather 59:16–19; 63:5; Rev. 5). He was rejected by
you into the midst of Jerusalem. As men them in His earthly ministry, so the effects of
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gather silver, bronze, iron, lead, and tin into this judgment continue today, until they turn
the midst of a furnace, to blow fire on it, to to Him in faith (Zech. 12:10; 13:1).
melt it; so I will gather you in My anger and
in My fury, and I will leave you there and melt
you. Yes, I will gather you and blow on you Psalm 126:1–6
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with the fire of My wrath, and you shall be A Song of Ascents.
melted in its midst. As silver is melted in the
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midst of a furnace, so shall you be melted in
its midst; then you shall know that I, the W hen the LORD brought back
the captivity of Zion,
LORD, have poured out My fury on you.’ ” We were like those who dream.
23 And the word of the LORD came to me, say- 2 Then our mouth was filled with
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ing, “Son of man, say to her: ‘You are a land laughter,
that is not cleansed or rained on in the day of And our tongue with singing.
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indignation.’ The conspiracy of her prophets Then they said among the nations,
in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the “The LORD has done great things
prey; they have devoured people; they have for them.”
taken treasure and precious things; they have 3 The LORD has done great things
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made many widows in her midst. Her priests for us,
have violated My law and profaned My holy And we are glad.
things; they have not distinguished between
the holy and unholy, nor have they made 4 Bring back our captivity, O LORD,
known the difference between the unclean and As the streams in the South.
the clean; and they have hidden their eyes 5 Those who sow in tears
from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned Shall reap in joy.
among them. Her princes in her midst are
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6 He who continually goes forth
like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to
destroy people, and to get dishonest gain. weeping,
28 Her prophets plastered them with untem- Bearing seed for sowing,
pered mortar, seeing false visions, and divin- Shall doubtless come again
ing lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord with rejoicing,
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GOD,’ when the LORD had not spoken. The Bringing his sheaves with him.
people of the land have used oppressions, com- Proverbs 28:23
mitted robbery, and mistreated the poor and
needy; and they wrongfully oppress the strang- 23 He who rebukes a man will find more
er. So I sought for a man among them who favor afterward
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would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Than he who flatters with the tongue.
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