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One Year Whole Bible | July 31
Daily Devotional: Ezekiel 10–13, Psalm 26
Today's Theme: Rejecting False Peace: Welcoming God's Holy Inspection and Refining
Today's Theme: Rejecting False Peace: Welcoming God's Holy Inspection and Refining
Dear brothers and sisters, peace in the Lord! Welcome to our "One Year Whole Bible" series.
Today, we will read Ezekiel chapters 10 through 13, and Psalm 26.
In daily life, when faced with issues or hidden flaws, we often have a natural tendency to seek sweet words, emotional comfort, or appease ourselves with hollow assurances like "everything will be fine." Yet this self-deception and reluctance to face the truth only pushes us further away from real peace and resolution.
Ezekiel chapters 10 through 13 show us the tragic consequences of living in such self-deception. The prophet Ezekiel witnesses a heartbreaking vision: God's glory departure from the temple step by step due to secret idolatry among the leaders and people. At the same time, God sternly rebukes false prophets who whitewash walls with superficial assurances, plastering over real sin and impending crisis with illusions of peace. In stark contrast, Psalm 26 presents a completely different spiritual posture. David does not run from God's penetrating gaze; instead, he actively invites God to examine, prove, and refine his heart and mind so he may walk steadfastly in truth and integrity.
As we read today, let us reflect: When confronted with my own secret faults or life crises, do I tend to whitewash reality with empty comfort, or do I courageously welcome God's searching light? Am I willing like David to surrender my heart for God's refining so my life can be built on genuine truth?
Let us enter into His Word today with honest and reverent hearts.
Ezekiel 10–13, Psalm 26 Scripture Readings
Ezekiel 10–13, Psalm 26 Scripture Readings
Ezekiel 10
Ezekiel 10
10 Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.
2 And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight.
3 Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court.
4 Then the glory of the Lord went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the Lord's glory.
5 And the sound of the cherubims' wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh.
6 And it came to pass, that when he had commanded the man clothed with linen, saying, Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubims; then he went in, and stood beside the wheels.
7 And one cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubims unto the fire that was between the cherubims, and took thereof, and put it into the hands of him that was clothed with linen: who took it, and went out.
8 And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a man's hand under their wings.
9 And when I looked, behold the four wheels by the cherubims, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub: and the appearance of the wheels was as the colour of a beryl stone.
10 And as for their appearances, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel.
11 When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went.
12 And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, even the wheels that they four had.
13 As for the wheels, it was cried unto them in my hearing, O wheel.
14 And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
15 And the cherubims were lifted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar.
16 And when the cherubims went, the wheels went by them: and when the cherubims lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also turned not from beside them.
17 When they stood, these stood; and when they were lifted up, these lifted up themselves also: for the spirit of the living creature was in them.
18 Then the glory of the Lord departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims.
19 And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the Lord's house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.
20 This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar; and I knew that they were the cherubims.
21 Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.
22 And the likeness of their faces was the same faces which I saw by the river of Chebar, their appearances and themselves: they went every one straight forward.
Ezekiel 11
Ezekiel 11
10 Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.
2 And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight.
3 Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court.
4 Then the glory of the Lord went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the Lord's glory.
5 And the sound of the cherubims' wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh.
6 And it came to pass, that when he had commanded the man clothed with linen, saying, Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubims; then he went in, and stood beside the wheels.
7 And one cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubims unto the fire that was between the cherubims, and took thereof, and put it into the hands of him that was clothed with linen: who took it, and went out.
8 And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a man's hand under their wings.
9 And when I looked, behold the four wheels by the cherubims, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub: and the appearance of the wheels was as the colour of a beryl stone.
10 And as for their appearances, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel.
11 When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went.
12 And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, even the wheels that they four had.
13 As for the wheels, it was cried unto them in my hearing, O wheel.
14 And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
15 And the cherubims were lifted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar.
16 And when the cherubims went, the wheels went by them: and when the cherubims lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also turned not from beside them.
17 When they stood, these stood; and when they were lifted up, these lifted up themselves also: for the spirit of the living creature was in them.
18 Then the glory of the Lord departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims.
19 And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the Lord's house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.
20 This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar; and I knew that they were the cherubims.
21 Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.
22 And the likeness of their faces was the same faces which I saw by the river of Chebar, their appearances and themselves: they went every one straight forward.
Ezekiel 12
Ezekiel 12
12 The word of the Lord also came unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house.
3 Therefore, thou son of man, prepare thee stuff for removing, and remove by day in their sight; and thou shalt remove from thy place to another place in their sight: it may be they will consider, though they be a rebellious house.
4 Then shalt thou bring forth thy stuff by day in their sight, as stuff for removing: and thou shalt go forth at even in their sight, as they that go forth into captivity.
5 Dig thou through the wall in their sight, and carry out thereby.
6 In their sight shalt thou bear it upon thy shoulders, and carry it forth in the twilight: thou shalt cover thy face, that thou see not the ground: for I have set thee for a sign unto the house of Israel.
7 And I did so as I was commanded: I brought forth my stuff by day, as stuff for captivity, and in the even I digged through the wall with mine hand; I brought it forth in the twilight, and I bare it upon my shoulder in their sight.
8 And in the morning came the word of the Lord unto me, saying,
9 Son of man, hath not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said unto thee, What doest thou?
10 Say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; This burden concerneth the prince in Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel that are among them.
11 Say, I am your sign: like as I have done, so shall it be done unto them: they shall remove and go into captivity.
12 And the prince that is among them shall bear upon his shoulder in the twilight, and shall go forth: they shall dig through the wall to carry out thereby: he shall cover his face, that he see not the ground with his eyes.
13 My net also will I spread upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare: and I will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans; yet shall he not see it, though he shall die there.
14 And I will scatter toward every wind all that are about him to help him, and all his bands; and I will draw out the sword after them.
15 And they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall scatter them among the nations, and disperse them in the countries.
16 But I will leave a few men of them from the sword, from the famine, and from the pestilence; that they may declare all their abominations among the heathen whither they come; and they shall know that I am the Lord.
17 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
18 Son of man, eat thy bread with quaking, and drink thy water with trembling and with carefulness;
19 And say unto the people of the land, Thus saith the Lord God of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and of the land of Israel; They shall eat their bread with carefulness, and drink their water with astonishment, that her land may be desolate from all that is therein, because of the violence of all them that dwell therein.
20 And the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall be desolate; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.
21 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
22 Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth?
23 Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord God; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision.
24 For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel.
25 For I am the Lord: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord God.
26 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying.
27 Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off.
28 Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; There shall none of my words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord God.
Ezekiel 13
Ezekiel 13
13 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the Lord;
3 Thus saith the Lord God; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!
4 O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.
5 Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord.
6 They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The Lord saith: and the Lord hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.
7 Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The Lord saith it; albeit I have not spoken?
8 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord God.
9 And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord God.
10 Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter:
11 Say unto them which daub it with untempered morter, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it.
12 Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it?
13 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume it.
14 So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered morter, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall know that I am the Lord.
15 Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with untempered morter, and will say unto you, The wall is no more, neither they that daubed it;
16 To wit, the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord God.
17 Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, which prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy thou against them,
18 And say, Thus saith the Lord God; Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes, and make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and will ye save the souls alive that come unto you?
19 And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies?
20 Wherefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly.
21 Your kerchiefs also will I tear, and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand to be hunted; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.
22 Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life:
23 Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and ye shall know that I am the Lord.
Psalm 26
Psalm 26
26 Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the Lord; therefore I shall not slide.
2 Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
3 For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.
4 I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.
5 I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.
6 I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O Lord:
7 That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.
8 Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.
9 Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men:
10 In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes.
11 But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.
12 My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the Lord.
Thank you for completing today's reading from Ezekiel and Psalms with us.
False peace eventually collapses under the storm, but a life refined by God's truth stands firm through every trial.
Now, let us quiet our hearts and meditate on today's daily key verse:
Daily Key Verse
Daily Key Verse
Psalm 26:2 (KJV)
"Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart."
Learning from the Key Verse
Learning from the Key Verse
To the world, being "examined" and "refined" sounds like an uncomfortable process to avoid, but for God's children who long for truth, it is the highest path to purity and spiritual strength.
In Hebrew culture, "reins and heart" represent a person's deepest motivations, emotions, and hidden thoughts. David did not presume self-righteousness, nor did he hide his weaknesses; he chose to open the innermost chamber of his soul completely to God. Such a prayer requires immense courage and absolute trust in God's love—for only when the fire of God's truth burns away our hidden compromises and self-deceptions can our lives radiate genuine integrity and resilience.
Daily Prayer
Daily Prayer
Today's scripture sounds a sobering warning against hollow security while revealing the beauty of a heart rendered fully surrender to God's holy refining. Let us draw near and pray together:
Holy Father, who searches every heart and refines us in Your truth, we praise You today!
Father, thank You for giving us Your Word today through Ezekiel chapters 10 to 13 and Psalm 26. Today's passage acts as a sharp sword of the Holy Spirit, cutting through our disguises and self-deceptions to guide us into true holiness and authenticity that pleases You.
Lord, in Ezekiel chapters 10 and 11, we witness a sobering and tragic sight: because of secret idolatry and injustice among the leaders and people, Your glory departed step by step from the temple and the beloved city. Father, this strikes a deep warning in our hearts! How precious is Your presence, and how holy You are! You will never compromise with sin or hidden idols. Forgive us for the times we secretly set up idols of self in our hearts or tolerate hidden compromises. Teach us to stay vigilant, cleansing our lives of secret sins so our hearts remain holy temples for Your Spirit, anchoring Your presence closely with us.
Lord, in Ezekiel chapters 12 and 13, You severely rebuked the false prophets who catered to human desires by proclaiming empty peace, whitewashing frail walls with untempered mortar to give people false hope that collapsed in the storm. Lord, this forces us to examine our own lives. When facing internal weaknesses or external pressures, do we indulge in shallow comfort and flattery rather than facing Your Word in honest repentance? Grant us the courage to embrace truth. Remove all superficial whitewash from our lives, that we may no longer build on false illusions, but establish our foundation firmly on the bedrock of Your Word.
In Psalm 26, David demonstrates a completely different choice. Instead of shrinking from Your inspection, he prays with heartfelt sincerity: "Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart." Father, grant us a heart like David's that longs for purity. We confess that hidden motives, unexamined impurities, and personal weaknesses dwell within us. Let Your truth shine into our innermost rooms, refining away our pride, selfishness, and vanity. Keep us from sitting with deceitful men, that we may wash our hands in innocence and sing songs of thanksgiving around Your altar.
Today, we also place our dear family members, friends, and co-workers into Your hands. In a world full of superficial promises and false narratives, many are misled by hollow assurances or hiding from real life crises under a illusion of peace. Lord, let Your Holy Spirit illuminate their hearts, breaking down illusions and giving them courage to face reality. Bring Your genuine truth and salvation into their lives, granting them an unshakeable peace that comes through divine refining.
We bring this restless world before You as well. Nations and societies are flooded with falsehoods, short-sighted hype, and policies that plaster over systemic crises and injustice. Lord, execute Your righteousness, expose deceit and darkness, and cause Your truth to prevail. Raise up Your church in this generation to stand firm without compromising with worldly trends, proclaiming not a false peace, but the true gospel of repentance and Christ's salvation as a shining beacon of light.
Hear our prayer, guide our steps today, grant us peaceful rest tonight, and empower us tomorrow to walk in truth and holiness through You.
In the name of Lord Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.
Response Song After Devotional
Response Song After Devotional
Thank you for joining us today in reading God’s Word. May His truth be the strength of your heart each and every day.
We invite you to share this daily reading with your family and friends, so that we may grow together in God’s Word and walk united in prayer.
We will see you tomorrow as we continue our spiritual journey together!
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