Ezekiel 34:30 - Homiletics

The presence of God.

I. GOD IS PECULIARLY PRESENT WITH HIS PEOPLE . We know that he is everywhere on the desolate sea and the fair earth, in the high heavens and the dark regions of death ( Psalms 139:1-24 .). Therefore if any would desire to escape from his presence, this is impossible. How, then, can God be said to be in an especial manner present with his people? Spiritual presence is spiritual manifestation. God is more fully present where he more completely manifests his power and grace.

1. He is present in the hearts of his people . He dwells in the contrite and humble spirit ( Isaiah 57:15 ). The Christian's body is a "temple of the Holy Ghost" ( 1 Corinthians 6:19 ). God comes into especially close contact with those who are reconciled to him, and who open their hearts to receive his Spirit.

2. He is present in the lives of his people . He shapes their lives with his providential guidance, and watches over them with tender care, warding off danger and supplying wants. Even when they forget him in the slumbers of the night and during the busy distractions of the day, he neither sleeps nor neglects his people. Ever with them to guide and help and save, as he was with Israel in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, God overshadows and surrounds his people with his fostering presence.

II. GOD 'S PEOPLE MAY RECOGNIZE HIS PRESENCE . The verse which suggests these reflections is somewhat like a frequent expression in the prophecies of Ezekiel. After denunciations of wrath and judgment against the heathen nations, the conclusion repeatedly arrived at is, "And they shall know that I am the Lord" ( e . g . Ezekiel 30:25 ). In these cases the awful action of God in his wrath is to bring home to the heathen the fact of his existence and supremacy; but it is not said that they will know that God is with them. To Israel, however, this new thing is asserted. Israel will not merely know that God is the eternal Lord; she will know that God is present. This further knowledge belongs to Christians. They are not merely theists, who believe in the existence of God; they know his actual, living presence. It is not suggested that this knowledge is to be obtained by direct, mystical intuition; it is rather suggested that it is gathered from the experience of God's goodness. Hagar recognized the presence of God when the angel addressed her ( Genesis 16:13 ). Jacob perceived it on awakening from his dream ( Genesis 28:16 ). The later Jews were to see it in their restoration from the Captivity. We are to acknowledge it in the experience of the Christian redemption. In this Christ will manifest himself to us as he does not unto the world ( John 14:21 , John 14:22 ).

III. THE RECOGNITION OF GOD 'S PRESENCE IS ACCOMPANIED BY THAT OF HIS OWNERSHIP OF HIS PEOPLE . "And that they, even the house of Israel, are my people." God is present with his people as their Owner. He comes to them to claim them. He visits his inheritance to take possession of it. When we perceive that God is with us we have to go further and acknowledge his relationship to us. It is much to acknowledge that we do not belong to ourselves, that we are God's possession, bought with a great price, and valued by him as precious property is valued by its owner.