God is Known to Men Through Men
I will open your lips among them. Then they will know that I am the Lord. (Ezekiel 29:21)
Read: Ezek. 29:21; Lk. 21:12-19; I Cor. 1:4-9; II Cor. 8:7; Col. 4:3-4
What Is God Saying?
In this section of his prophecy, Ezekiel is declaring the judgment of God against the nations who had evil plans against Israel. The judgment of God against nations who have been a curse to Israel has been going on ever since He first let it be known that ‘I will bless those who bless you and him who curses you, I will curse’ (Gen. 12:3). Egypt was next as it became dust beneath the feet of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon (Ez. 29:19). Ezekiel had a hard commission, however. He must ‘set his face against Pharoah, King of Egypt, and prophesy against him and all Egypt.’ This assignment would rate as high on the popularity scale as telling a striking union that no raise would be coming their way, but it needed to be said. ‘I will make a horn blow (horn symbolizes strength) for the house of Israel. Tell Egypt that for all their boasted strength, I will make the land a ruin and a desolate waste’ (29:9-12). Not easy, Ezekiel, but you must do it—then they will learn that I am the Lord.
How Does This Apply To Us?
Who needs words from our open lips to learn the truth of God's judgment? Who is weary of the struggle and in need of the strengthening grace of God's Word from our open lips? Who is lost and needs to find the way with direction from our open lips? Who is at the end of their rope and needs to hear from our open lips that God still cares and that man's extremity is God's opportunity?
Our lips should be open with clarity and they need even more to be open with charity. All this is so that others may know that God is the Lord and there is no other. Our lips should be open so that others may know Him, whom to know is life eternal. Let us pray that God will ‘set a guard over our mouth and keep watch over the door of our lips’ (Ps. 141:3) that they may speak of love not pride, of hope not fear, and of conviction, not compromise. Lord, open our lips for all the right reasons but also keep them closed for all the right reasons.
Pray With Me
Loving Lord, You have chosen to make Yourself known to men through men. May I be counted worthy to open my lips among men for You. Open my lips so that I may speak of truth and power. Open my lips so that I may speak of love with a persuasiveness that comes from real experience. Open my lips so that I may lift the discouraged and cheer the sad. Open my lips that I may warn the wicked, awaken the slumbering, and enlighten the ignorant.
Sometimes my lips are opened by pride and fear. Sometimes I complain when I should praise. Sometimes I do not speak the whole truth for fear that it might affect my pattern of life. Sometimes I take to verbal sparring with those who touch the quick of my pride. Sometimes I retaliate when selfish interests are disturbed. In all those ways and more, the evil one has opened my lips. I know this and I confess my weakness.
From now on, Lord of my life, be the Lord of my lips. Open them to speak with courage. Open them to speak with conviction. Open them to speak with clarity. Open them to speak with love. Let the opening of my lips have the effect of making You known. Let not the reflection of Your truth and love be disturbed by hasty speech or cowardly silence. As a pebble can mar the whole surface of a pool, the single word that is not fitly spoken may keep someone from knowing that You are the Lord.
Set a guard upon my lips. Let them be closed when to speak would bring shame to my Master. Let them be open when to keep silent would keep Your glory from men. Make and keep my heart so right with You that my lips will never be open except to bless and never be closed when they can speak of Your love to others.
For the sake of His glory who is the Lord of my life and lips. Amen.
Moving On In The Life of Prayer
We go to prayer and continue in prayer so that we may know when our lips should be open to be a blessing or closed for the same reason. The warning of James is to the point, ‘From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brethren, this ought not to be so’ (Jas. 3: 10). Prayer helps us to see that this doesn't happen. When our hearts form words in prayer for the blessing of others, they are not likely to do anything different when they are open in daily conversation. This, too, is the power and the purpose of prayer.
