Two Reasons for the Exile

because they rejected my laws and did not follow my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths. For their hearts were devoted to their idols. (Ezekiel 20:16)

Thoughts: Ezekiel, in chapter 20 speaks of the sins of the people and why they were taken into exile.  Ezekiel duplicsates these two causes many times in this chapter.  The two causes for the exile were 1) idolatry, and 2) Sabbath breaking.  The people in Jesus' day learned how to avoid these two things.  They went too far, and would not allow works of love and mercy on the Sabbath.  But the Sabbath is so foreign to many today.  We do not know how to prioritize God or to worship and rest.  We would do well to learn to worship God only and to prioritize the Sabbath. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for loving truth and teaching us to rest.