"A sword, a sword, sharpened and polished, sharpened for the slaughter, Polished to flash like lighting. Shall we rejoice in the scepter of my son, Judah? The sword despises every such stick."
- Ezekiel 21:10
 
A question occurs in the midst of a most solemn warning. Ezekiel was directed to prophesy against Israel and to foretell the destruction of Jerusalem. He was bidden by God to cry out: "A sword is sharpened, it is sharpened to make a sore slaughter." The enemy would soon come to destroy the city, to slay many of its inhabitants, and to lead others captive. And all this was God's judgment over sinful Israel, which had refused to repent and to turn unto the LORD, Eze. 18:30-32. Yet this warning of God was not heeded. The people continued in their routine business and . . .

"A sword, a sword, sharpened and polished, sharpened for the slaughter, Polished to flash like lighting. Shall we rejoice in the scepter of my son, Judah? The sword despises every such stick."
- Ezekiel 21:10
 
A question occurs in the midst of a most solemn warning. Ezekiel was directed to prophesy against Israel and to foretell the destruction of Jerusalem. He was bidden by God to cry out: "A sword is sharpened, it is sharpened to make a sore slaughter." The enemy would soon come to destroy the city, to slay many of its inhabitants, and to lead others captive. And all this was God's judgment over sinful Israel, which had refused to repent and to turn unto the LORD, Eze. 18:30-32. Yet this warning of God was not heeded. The people continued in their routine business and pleasure, unmindful of God's threat and their own doom. With holy indignation the Prophet poses the question: "Should we, then, make mirth? KJV. (rejoicing,festive, laughter).

Christian friends, this question is very much in place today. A terrific war is raging in all parts of the world. Thousands of men have already been killed and wounded. Each day and night more are being slain. Should this not make men sober? Should there not be a daily increase in the number of those who call upon God in sincere repentance?  Yet on the home front, what mirth, what gaiety. What sinful self-indulgence. "Let us eat, drink, and be merry" remains the motto of the world. "Should we then make mirth?" Rather let us turn to God in earnest prayer.
 
      Since prayer if God's most gracious plan
      Whereby He links Himself with man,
      Should not His own more often say
      To one another,  "Let us pray"?
 
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - Our highest privilege is to talk to God.