June 17
DUNG
-Have you ever wondered about Ezekiel chapter four? The Lord asks Ezekiel to do several things, one of which
was very strange. The Lord tells Ezekiel in verse nine to take wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and fitches, and put
them in one vessel, and make bread. The Lord then tells Ezekiel to eat it as barley cakes, and to bake it with DUNG that comes
out of man ( verse twelve ). The Lord further clarifies Himself in verse fifteen by saying, … I have given you cow’s
dung for man’s dung, and you shall prepare your bread with it. This is a very strange request, don’t you think?
What could be the purpose for this request? Did it symbolize something concerning the spiritual state of Israel? What did
it represent or speak of?
According to Dr. Stephen Jones:
-"In the fourth chapter of Ezekiel, at the beginning of his ministry, the prophet is told to eat food cooked
with dung. The word “dung” is from the Hebrew word "gelel" (#1561 in Strong’s Conc.). It is a variation
of the basic root word "galal", which also means “dung.” This Bible passage teaches us the contrast between
good food and dung. God’s Word is the good food; man’s traditions, that which proceeds from his rebellious heart,
are only dung. Those who eat food cooked with dung are those who believe in God, who do eat God’s Word, but they mix
it with the dung of men’s traditions, men’s understanding of God and His Word. This is one of the most basic moral
problems of all time. The Hebrew word for “idols” is "gillul", which is just a slight variation of "galal"
(“dung”). Ezekiel is really telling us that idols are dung. "Dung" was the popular euphemism for idols.
This dung was only a physical manifestation of that which he and the entire nation had already eaten spiritually." (
Heart Idolatry And Dung, Dr. Stephen Jones )
-Ezekiel chapter fourteen addresses the problem of idolatry that had plagued the nation of Israel. The Lord
tells Ezekiel that the people have set up idols in their heart, and that He will answer them according to the multitude
of their idols. Idolatry was something that was primarily seen outwardly during Old Testament times. Man would try to liken
the Godhead unto physical things such as gold, silver, or stone graven by art and man’s device. The idolatry of this
day and age happens to be more subtle, but in both cases it is a condition of the heart. In simple terms, "idolatry" is to
be seen as a preconceived idea or assumption about God that is not true. It keeps a person estranged from knowing the TRUE
GOD, His true nature, and His true character.
-The true nature and character of God is LOVE! Anything that replaces this idea of God is idolatry. We must
understand that God does not want to destroy us, but rather He wants to destroy the idols that are in our heart. Like the
prophet Ezekiel, we have all eaten the dung of man’s traditions. For those of you that are reading this, you are no
doubt being shown revelation truth from the Father. It is the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him that
destroys the idolatry in our lives. We must have compassion toward those who are still saturated in idolatry, praying for
their deliverance. Are you ready for the good food? It is …
-GOD’S WORD!-