Ezekiel’s ministry coincides with Jerusalem’s darkest hour. His messages are dated between 593 and 571 B.C. during the fall of Judah to the Babylonians. Though the nation of Judah, like her sister nation Israel, had turned away from Jehovah, He remained determined to be their Sovereign God. The phrase, “Then they will know that I am the Lord,” is found at least sixty-five times through the book of Ezekiel.

Henry Fracis Lyte, lived in a British seaside community. Lyte was a man in his fifties suffering from rapidly deteriorating health. His doctors advised him that he would benefit from the sunny climate of Italy, thus he began making preparations for the journey. Leaving his home and friends was certainly not easy. In the midst of his despair Lyte realized his overwhelming need for God and wrote the words of the beautiful hymn, “Abide With Me.”

In the midst of our rushed and hurried lives we need to be reminded of the same truth spoken by Ezekiel and expressed by Lyte. God longs to abide with us.