Ezekiel 32

“Son of man, weep for the hordes of Egypt and for the other mighty nations. For I will send them down to the world below in company with those who descend to the pit. Say to them, ‘O Egypt, are you lovelier than the other nations? No! So go down to the pit and lie there among the outcasts.’” (Ezekiel 32:18–19, NLT)

The LORD told Ezekiel to take up a lamentation or funeral dirge for Pharaoh king of Egypt. Although he considered himself to be a lion among the nations, Pharaoh would be taken down to the pit along with all of Egypt and the other nations. They would all be consigned to the grave (Hades). But even though Egypt had been a perennial enemy of Israel, the LORD grieved over her demise. He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn and live (Ezekiel 18:32; 33:11). Therefore, the LORD told Ezekiel to weep for them.

This makes me wonder…how much do I really grieve for the lost? Cindy and I were in Portland, Oregon last week. We went downtown to eat lunch and visit a bookstore. Everywhere we saw evidence of homelessness. Tents were set up on the riverbank and along railroad tracks. People were spending their day asking for money. One man was talking to himself and then said something to us as we passed by that we couldn’t understand. There were the smells of urine, feces and the kind of pungent body odor that only occurs when someone hasn’t bathed for a long, long time. My heart sank as I remembered what Portland was like when I was a teenager staying with my grandparents during summers. They were Portland natives, and both of my parents were born and raised there. I thought to myself, “I have not seen such lostness, laziness, addiction, and mental illness as this in the cities I've visited in Europe. What has happened to our nation?” And yet, would I take up a funeral dirge for these people? Do I grieve over the fact that many of them will go down to the pit, separated from God for eternity? Do I weep for the hordes of lost Americans? I shudder to think what will happen to the United States if there is not widespread repentance and revival.

“Father, open our eyes to see what you see. Fill our hearts with your compassion for lost souls. Grant to us tears for outcasts who do not know you and for the future of our nation. Show us how to reach our people with the gospel of Jesus Christ.”