We shall not flag or fail, we shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence, and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island…we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender. These powerful words, delivered by Winston Churchill in June of 1940 to the House of Commons at Parliament, followed the inspiring events which occurred on the beaches of Dunkirk, France, where over 800 defenseless private boats would set out in a race against time to rescue stranded soldiers. It would be an act of heroism that would define World War II. Churchill would rally his nation by repeating we shall 11 times, driving home to his listeners that victory would require a unified effort.
It has been said that if a point is worth making, it’s worth repeating. Repetition is extremely helpful as a teaching tool, and as any parent can attest, if you want something to sink in and become part of your child’s life, repeat it over and over and over again. Ezekiel’s desire was to drive home wonder of God’s sovereignty, His absolute dominion over humanity and the affairs of a planet that He formed by the power of His hands, so he makes use of repetition. “And they shall know that I am the LORD:” is a phrase Ezekiel expresses a stunning 65 times in his book. That’s a lot of repeating! If a point is made once or twice, it may be overlooked, but it’s nearly impossible to ignore a concept if it’s repeated 65 times!
God is the mighty King of history, He is in control of all the events that occur, and when His plan is someday completed, the whole world will stand in awe at the sovereignty of God. As a result, “every knee shall bow…every tongue confess to God.” What a glorious day that will be! God will assert Himself as Lord over all creation, as He promises that “Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.”
Perhaps you are feeling overwhelmed by the depravity and wickedness rooted in a culture that denies the existence of our God of wonders. We listen daily to His precious name defamed, we watch the cross of Christ “trodden underfoot,” and witness as His powerful Spirit is blasphemed. Be encouraged, “one day is with the LORD as a thousand years,” and He is long suffering, patient, compassionate, “not willing that any should perish.” But we are rapidly approaching that glorious day when He will reveal Himself to mankind in an awesome, undeniable display of power, a day when “they shall know” that HE is LORD!
Romans 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
Praise the Lord…what a day that will be! King of kings, Lord of lords for all eternity!