Are we each responsible for what we allow into our hearts? Let’s look at Ezekiel 14.
What happened when some elders of Israel came to Ezekiel?
Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me. And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them? (Ezek 14:1-3 KJV)
What are idols in the heart? Does that estrange someone from God?
Therefore speak to them and tell them, ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, “Any man of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, puts right before his face the stumbling block of his iniquity, and then comes to the prophet, I Yahweh will be brought to give him an answer in light of it, in light of the multitude of his idols, in order to seize the house of Israel by their heart, those who are estranged from Me through all their idols.”’ (Ezek 14:4-5 LSB)
What does God say about the idols we have built in our hearts? Can politics, nationalism, money, materialism, pride, our opinions, and many other emotional issues, be idols in our hearts?
Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “Repent and turn away from your idols, and turn your faces away from all your abominations. For anyone of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who reside in Israel, who deserts Me, sets up his idols in his heart, puts in front of his face the stumbling block of his wrongdoing, and then comes to the prophet to request something of Me for himself, I the Lord will let Myself answer him Myself. I will set My face against that person and make him a sign and a proverb, and I will eliminate him from among My people. So you will know that I am the Lord. (Ezek 14:6-8 NASB)
Will both the false prophet and the inquirer be guilty of sin?
“‘And if the prophet is enticed to utter a prophecy, I the Lord have enticed that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand against him and destroy him from among my people Israel. They will bear their guilt—the prophet will be as guilty as the one who consults him. Then the people of Israel will no longer stray from me, nor will they defile themselves anymore with all their sins. They will be my people, and I will be their God, declares the Sovereign Lord.’” (Ezek 14:9-11 NIV)
What happens to any land that engages in persistent unfaithfulness to God?
The word of the Lord came again to me, saying: “Son of man, when a land sins against Me by persistent unfaithfulness, I will stretch out My hand against it; I will cut off its supply of bread, send famine on it, and cut off man and beast from it. Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness,” says the Lord God. (Ezek 14:12-14 NKJV)
Can people piggyback on the faithful or is each blessed alone for their faithfulness?
Or suppose I were to send wild animals to invade the country, kill the people, and make the land too desolate and dangerous to pass through. As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, even if those three men were there, they wouldn’t be able to save their own sons or daughters. They alone would be saved, but the land would be made desolate. (Ezek 14:15-16 NLT)
Can a faithful person only decide for themselves to be true?
Or if I bring a sword on that land, and say, ‘Sword, go through the land, so that I cut off from it man and animal’— though these three men were in it, as I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “they would deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only would be delivered themselves.
Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my wrath on it in blood, to cut off from it man and animal— though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “they would deliver neither son nor daughter; they would deliver only their own souls by their righteousness. (Ezek 14:17-20 WEB)
Does God always have a just cause for punishing our sins?
The Lord God proclaims: How much more if I send all four of these terrible acts of judgment—sword, famine, wild animals, and plague—against Jerusalem, to eliminate both humans and animals? Yet a few survivors will be left. Sons and daughters will be brought out to you.
When you see their ways and their deeds, you will be consoled for the evil that I inflicted on Jerusalem, for all that I brought against it. Seeing their ways and their deeds will bring you some consolation, because then you will understand what I’ve done, and that I didn’t do any of these things without cause. This is what the Lord God says. (Ezek 14:21-23 CEB)
Is this principle of each being responsible for his own actions reiterated in the church?
And so, each of us must give an account to God for what we do. (Rom 14:12 CEV)
Are we each responsible for what we allow into our hearts? You decide!
False Prophets (Ezekiel 13)
Do false prophets use their lies to trap and exploit people? Let’s look at Ezekiel 13.
What does God think of those who preach things they invented from their own imaginations?
Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Tell those who prophesy out of their own imagination: Hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit yet have seen nothing. Your prophets, O Israel, are like foxes among the ruins. You did not go up to the gaps or restore the wall around the house of Israel so that it would stand in the battle on the Day of the LORD. (Ezek 13:1-5 NASB)
Do some liars today still claim that their word is something that the Lord declares?
Their visions are false and their divinations a lie. Even though the Lord has not sent them, they say, “The Lord declares,” and expect him to fulfill their words. Have you not seen false visions and uttered lying divinations when you say, “The Lord declares,” though I have not spoken? (Ezek 13:6-7 NIV)
Is some preaching even today just nonsense and lies? What does God think about those who teach such dishonesty?
Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Because you have spoken nonsense and envisioned lies, therefore I am indeed against you,” says the Lord God. “My hand will be against the prophets who envision futility and who divine lies; they shall not be in the assembly of My people, nor be written in the record of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord God. (Ezek 13:8-9 NKJV)
Is one false message peace, when there is none? Is that like covering a flimsy wall with whitewash?
“This will happen because these evil prophets deceive my people by saying, ‘All is peaceful’ when there is no peace at all! It’s as if the people have built a flimsy wall, and these prophets are trying to reinforce it by covering it with whitewash! Tell these whitewashers that their wall will soon fall down. A heavy rainstorm will undermine it; great hailstones and mighty winds will knock it down. And when the wall falls, the people will cry out, ‘What happened to your whitewash?’ (Ezek 13:10-12 NLT)
Will God break down the flimsy walls of pretentious false prophecy?
Therefore the Lord Yahweh says: “I will even tear it with a stormy wind in my wrath. There will be an overflowing shower in my anger, and great hailstones in wrath to consume it. So I will break down the wall that you have plastered with whitewash, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be uncovered. It will fall, and you will be consumed in the middle of it. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.” (Ezek 13:13-14 WEB)
What will God say to those who pamper people with false prophecies of peace?
I will exhaust my fury on the wall and on those who laid plaster on it. Then I will say to you, “Where is the wall?” and “Where are those who plastered it, those prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem and envisioned peace when there was no peace?” This is what the Lord God says! (Ezek 13:15-16 CEB)
Were some false prophets women, who also engaged in the occult?
Ezekiel, son of man, now condemn the women of Israel who preach messages that come from their own imagination. Tell them they're doomed! They wear magic charms on their wrists and scarves on their heads, then trick others into believing they can predict the future. They won't get away with telling those lies. They charge my people a few handfuls of barley and a couple pieces of bread, and then give messages that are insulting to me. They use lies to sentence the innocent to death and to help the guilty go free. And my people believe them! (Ezek 13:17-19 CEV)
Do those who practice magic arts actually seek to make people their prey?
Therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against your magic bands with which you hunt the souls like birds, and I will tear them from your arms, and I will let the souls whom you hunt go free, the souls like birds. Your veils also I will tear off and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand as prey, and you shall know that I am the Lord. (Ezek 13:20-21 ESV)
Do false prophets and diviners call evil good and good evil, so they can trap people?
Because you have disheartened the righteous person with lies, even though I have not caused him grief, and because you have encouraged the wicked person not to turn from his evil way to save his life, therefore you will no longer see false visions or practice divination. I will deliver My people from your hands. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.” (Ezek 13:22-23 HCSB)
Does Peter also warn against falling prey to exploitation by false prophets?
Now there were false prophets among the people, just as there also will be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many people will follow their immoral ways, and because of them the way of truth will be maligned. In their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. The ancient verdict against them is still in force, and their destruction is not delayed. (2 Peter 2:1-3 ISV)
Do false prophets use their lies to trap and exploit people? You decide!
What does God think of those who preach things they invented from their own imaginations?
Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Tell those who prophesy out of their own imagination: Hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit yet have seen nothing. Your prophets, O Israel, are like foxes among the ruins. You did not go up to the gaps or restore the wall around the house of Israel so that it would stand in the battle on the Day of the LORD. (Ezek 13:1-5 NASB)
Do some liars today still claim that their word is something that the Lord declares?
Their visions are false and their divinations a lie. Even though the Lord has not sent them, they say, “The Lord declares,” and expect him to fulfill their words. Have you not seen false visions and uttered lying divinations when you say, “The Lord declares,” though I have not spoken? (Ezek 13:6-7 NIV)
Is some preaching even today just nonsense and lies? What does God think about those who teach such dishonesty?
Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Because you have spoken nonsense and envisioned lies, therefore I am indeed against you,” says the Lord God. “My hand will be against the prophets who envision futility and who divine lies; they shall not be in the assembly of My people, nor be written in the record of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord God. (Ezek 13:8-9 NKJV)
Is one false message peace, when there is none? Is that like covering a flimsy wall with whitewash?
“This will happen because these evil prophets deceive my people by saying, ‘All is peaceful’ when there is no peace at all! It’s as if the people have built a flimsy wall, and these prophets are trying to reinforce it by covering it with whitewash! Tell these whitewashers that their wall will soon fall down. A heavy rainstorm will undermine it; great hailstones and mighty winds will knock it down. And when the wall falls, the people will cry out, ‘What happened to your whitewash?’ (Ezek 13:10-12 NLT)
Will God break down the flimsy walls of pretentious false prophecy?
Therefore the Lord Yahweh says: “I will even tear it with a stormy wind in my wrath. There will be an overflowing shower in my anger, and great hailstones in wrath to consume it. So I will break down the wall that you have plastered with whitewash, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be uncovered. It will fall, and you will be consumed in the middle of it. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.” (Ezek 13:13-14 WEB)
What will God say to those who pamper people with false prophecies of peace?
I will exhaust my fury on the wall and on those who laid plaster on it. Then I will say to you, “Where is the wall?” and “Where are those who plastered it, those prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem and envisioned peace when there was no peace?” This is what the Lord God says! (Ezek 13:15-16 CEB)
Were some false prophets women, who also engaged in the occult?
Ezekiel, son of man, now condemn the women of Israel who preach messages that come from their own imagination. Tell them they're doomed! They wear magic charms on their wrists and scarves on their heads, then trick others into believing they can predict the future. They won't get away with telling those lies. They charge my people a few handfuls of barley and a couple pieces of bread, and then give messages that are insulting to me. They use lies to sentence the innocent to death and to help the guilty go free. And my people believe them! (Ezek 13:17-19 CEV)
Do those who practice magic arts actually seek to make people their prey?
Therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against your magic bands with which you hunt the souls like birds, and I will tear them from your arms, and I will let the souls whom you hunt go free, the souls like birds. Your veils also I will tear off and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand as prey, and you shall know that I am the Lord. (Ezek 13:20-21 ESV)
Do false prophets and diviners call evil good and good evil, so they can trap people?
Because you have disheartened the righteous person with lies, even though I have not caused him grief, and because you have encouraged the wicked person not to turn from his evil way to save his life, therefore you will no longer see false visions or practice divination. I will deliver My people from your hands. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.” (Ezek 13:22-23 HCSB)
Does Peter also warn against falling prey to exploitation by false prophets?
Now there were false prophets among the people, just as there also will be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many people will follow their immoral ways, and because of them the way of truth will be maligned. In their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. The ancient verdict against them is still in force, and their destruction is not delayed. (2 Peter 2:1-3 ISV)
Do false prophets use their lies to trap and exploit people? You decide!
Spiritual Blindness (Ezekiel 12)
Did God tell Ezekiel that Israel had spiritual blindness? Do we? Let’s look at Ezekiel 12.
How did God describe the house of Israel to Ezekiel?
Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying: “Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, which has eyes to see but does not see, and ears to hear but does not hear; for they are a rebellious house. (Ezek 12:1-2 NKJV)
How did God ask Ezekiel to visualize His plans for Israel? Is visualization a good sermon tool?
“So now, son of man, pretend you are being sent into exile. Pack the few items an exile could carry, and leave your home to go somewhere else. Do this right in front of the people so they can see you. For perhaps they will pay attention to this, even though they are such rebels. Bring your baggage outside during the day so they can watch you. Then in the evening, as they are watching, leave your house as captives do when they begin a long march to distant lands.
Dig a hole through the wall while they are watching and go out through it. As they watch, lift your pack to your shoulders and walk away into the night. Cover your face so you cannot see the land you are leaving. For I have made you a sign for the people of Israel.” (Ezek 12:3-6 NLT)
How did Ezekiel’s prophetic demonstration play out day by day?
I did so as I was commanded. I brought out my baggage by day, as baggage for moving, and in the evening I dug through the wall with my hand. I brought it out in the dark, and bore it on my shoulder in their sight. (Ezek 12:7 WEB)
What did God want Ezekiel to say when people asked him what he was doing?
In the morning, the Lord’s word came to me: Human one [Son of man], has the house of Israel, that household of rebels, asked you, “What are you doing?” Say to them, The Lord God proclaims: This concerns the prince in Jerusalem, along with the entire house of Israel in it. Say: I’m your sign. Just as I have done, so it will be done to them. They will go into captivity in exile. (Ezek 12:8-11 CEB)
Would king Zedekiah be blinded by Nebuchadnezzar and so not see Babylon?
The leader of Jerusalem will lift his own bag to his shoulders at sunset and leave through a hole that the others have dug in the wall of his house. He will cover his face, so he can't see the land he is leaving. The Lord will spread out a net and trap him as he leaves Jerusalem. He will then be led away to the city of Babylon, but will never see that place, even though he will die there. His own officials and troops will scatter in every direction, and the Lord will track them down and put them to death. (Ezek 12:12-14 CEV)
Would the people being scattered actually help other nations to know God?
And they shall know that I am the Lord, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them among the countries. But I will let a few of them escape from the sword, from famine and pestilence, that they may declare all their abominations among the nations where they go, and may know that I am the Lord.” (Ezek 12:15-16 ESV)
What circumstances in Jerusalem would help the people to know that God is God?
The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, eat your bread with trembling and drink your water with shaking and anxiety. Then say to the people of the land: This is what the Lord God says about the residents of Jerusalem in the land of Israel: They will eat their bread with anxiety and drink their water in dread, for their land will be stripped of everything in it because of the violence of all who live there. The inhabited cities will be destroyed, and the land will become a desolation. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.” (Ezek 12:17-20 HCSB)
Because the people believed that God’s punishment was delayed, what would happen?
Later, this message came to me from the Lord: “Son of Man, what’s this proverb you have concerning Israel’s land that says, ‘The days pass slowly and every vision ends in nothing.’? Therefore you are to tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says, “I’m about to put an end to use of this proverb in Israel. It will never be used again as a proverb in Israel. Instead, tell them that the days are drawing near when every vision will be fulfilled. There will no longer be worthless visions and flattering divinations in the midst of Israel’s house. Because I am the Lord, I’ll speak and the message that I communicate will be accomplished without delay. While you continue to be a rebellious house, I’ll speak the message and then fulfill it,” declares the Lord God.’” (Ezek 12:21-25 ISV)
How imminent were God’s prophecies for a nation that ignored them?
Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying. 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. 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. (Ezek 12:26-28 KJV)
Did Jesus also rebuke His own disciples for spiritual blindness quoting this chapter?
Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember, when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces you picked up?” They said to Him, “Twelve.” (Mark 8:18-19 LSB)
Did God tell Ezekiel that Israel had spiritual blindness? Do we? You decide!
How did God describe the house of Israel to Ezekiel?
Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying: “Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, which has eyes to see but does not see, and ears to hear but does not hear; for they are a rebellious house. (Ezek 12:1-2 NKJV)
How did God ask Ezekiel to visualize His plans for Israel? Is visualization a good sermon tool?
“So now, son of man, pretend you are being sent into exile. Pack the few items an exile could carry, and leave your home to go somewhere else. Do this right in front of the people so they can see you. For perhaps they will pay attention to this, even though they are such rebels. Bring your baggage outside during the day so they can watch you. Then in the evening, as they are watching, leave your house as captives do when they begin a long march to distant lands.
Dig a hole through the wall while they are watching and go out through it. As they watch, lift your pack to your shoulders and walk away into the night. Cover your face so you cannot see the land you are leaving. For I have made you a sign for the people of Israel.” (Ezek 12:3-6 NLT)
How did Ezekiel’s prophetic demonstration play out day by day?
I did so as I was commanded. I brought out my baggage by day, as baggage for moving, and in the evening I dug through the wall with my hand. I brought it out in the dark, and bore it on my shoulder in their sight. (Ezek 12:7 WEB)
What did God want Ezekiel to say when people asked him what he was doing?
In the morning, the Lord’s word came to me: Human one [Son of man], has the house of Israel, that household of rebels, asked you, “What are you doing?” Say to them, The Lord God proclaims: This concerns the prince in Jerusalem, along with the entire house of Israel in it. Say: I’m your sign. Just as I have done, so it will be done to them. They will go into captivity in exile. (Ezek 12:8-11 CEB)
Would king Zedekiah be blinded by Nebuchadnezzar and so not see Babylon?
The leader of Jerusalem will lift his own bag to his shoulders at sunset and leave through a hole that the others have dug in the wall of his house. He will cover his face, so he can't see the land he is leaving. The Lord will spread out a net and trap him as he leaves Jerusalem. He will then be led away to the city of Babylon, but will never see that place, even though he will die there. His own officials and troops will scatter in every direction, and the Lord will track them down and put them to death. (Ezek 12:12-14 CEV)
Would the people being scattered actually help other nations to know God?
And they shall know that I am the Lord, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them among the countries. But I will let a few of them escape from the sword, from famine and pestilence, that they may declare all their abominations among the nations where they go, and may know that I am the Lord.” (Ezek 12:15-16 ESV)
What circumstances in Jerusalem would help the people to know that God is God?
The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, eat your bread with trembling and drink your water with shaking and anxiety. Then say to the people of the land: This is what the Lord God says about the residents of Jerusalem in the land of Israel: They will eat their bread with anxiety and drink their water in dread, for their land will be stripped of everything in it because of the violence of all who live there. The inhabited cities will be destroyed, and the land will become a desolation. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.” (Ezek 12:17-20 HCSB)
Because the people believed that God’s punishment was delayed, what would happen?
Later, this message came to me from the Lord: “Son of Man, what’s this proverb you have concerning Israel’s land that says, ‘The days pass slowly and every vision ends in nothing.’? Therefore you are to tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says, “I’m about to put an end to use of this proverb in Israel. It will never be used again as a proverb in Israel. Instead, tell them that the days are drawing near when every vision will be fulfilled. There will no longer be worthless visions and flattering divinations in the midst of Israel’s house. Because I am the Lord, I’ll speak and the message that I communicate will be accomplished without delay. While you continue to be a rebellious house, I’ll speak the message and then fulfill it,” declares the Lord God.’” (Ezek 12:21-25 ISV)
How imminent were God’s prophecies for a nation that ignored them?
Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying. 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. 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. (Ezek 12:26-28 KJV)
Did Jesus also rebuke His own disciples for spiritual blindness quoting this chapter?
Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember, when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces you picked up?” They said to Him, “Twelve.” (Mark 8:18-19 LSB)
Did God tell Ezekiel that Israel had spiritual blindness? Do we? You decide!
A New Heart (Ezekiel 11)
Was the biggest problem the people, having a stubborn heart like stone and not pliable flesh? Let’s look at Ezekiel 11.
Who was chiefly responsible for Jerusalem’s apostasy? Who are the instigators of our nation’s sins?
The Lord's Spirit lifted me up and took me to the east gate of the temple, where I saw 25 men, including the two leaders, Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiah son of Benaiah. The Lord said, “Ezekiel, son of man, these men are making evil plans and giving dangerous advice to the people of Jerusalem. They say things like, ‘Let's build more houses. This city is like a cooking pot over a fire, and we are the meat, but at least the pot keeps us from being burned in the fire.’ So, Ezekiel, condemn them!” (Ezek 11:1-4 CEV)
Had deaths increased under this bad leadership? What would God do?
And the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and he said to me, “Say, Thus says the Lord: So you think, O house of Israel. For I know the things that come into your mind. You have multiplied your slain in this city and have filled its streets with the slain. Therefore thus says the Lord God: Your slain whom you have laid in the midst of it, they are the meat, and this city is the cauldron, but you shall be brought out of the midst of it. You have feared the sword, and I will bring the sword upon you, declares the Lord God. And I will bring you out of the midst of it, and give you into the hands of foreigners, and execute judgments upon you. (Ezek 11:5-9 ESV)
Why were these weak leaders being punished? Do we also have similar leaders?
You will fall by the sword, and I will judge you at the border of Israel. Then you will know that I am Yahweh. The city will not be a pot for you, and you will not be the meat within it. I will judge you at the border of Israel, so you will know that I am Yahweh, whose statutes you have not followed and whose ordinances you have not practiced. Instead, you have acted according to the ordinances of the nations around you.” (Ezek 11:10-12 HCSB)
When one of the leaders died, did Ezekiel hope that was the end of God’s punishment? What did God point out to him?
While I was prophesying, Benaiah’s son Pelatiah died, so I fell on my face and cried out with a loud voice. “Ah, Lord God,” I said, “are you going to put an end to the survivors within Israel?” Then this message came to me from the Lord: “Son of Man, your brothers, your other relatives, your fellow exiles, and the entire house of Israel are the people to whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, ‘They’ve abandoned the Lord. This land was given to us for an inheritance.’” (Ezek 11:13-15 ISV)
Would God be present in some form of little sanctuaries for the exiles? Is this the origin of the synagogue?
Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord God; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come. (Ezek 11:16 KJV)
Would people eventually return to the land with new hearts?
Therefore say, ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, “I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries among which you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.”’ When they come there, they will remove all its detestable things and all its abominations from it. And I will give them one heart and give within them a new spirit. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God. But as for those whose hearts walk after their detestable things and abominations, I will give what is due for their way on their heads,” declares Lord Yahweh. (Ezek 11:17-20 LSB)
Where did the glory of the Lord first go after leaving the temple?
Then the cherubim lifted up their wings with the wheels beside them, and the glory of the God of Israel hovered over them. The glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city and stood over the mountain which is east of the city. And the Spirit lifted me up and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God to Chaldea, to the exiles. Then the vision that I had seen left me. And I told the exiles all the things that the Lord had shown me. (Ezek 11:22-25 NASB)
Finding fault with the people, would God give them a new heart and a new covenant?
But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises. For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. But God found fault with the people and said:
“The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord. This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (Heb 8:6-10 NIV)
Was the biggest problem the people, having a stubborn heart like stone and not pliable flesh? You decide!
Who was chiefly responsible for Jerusalem’s apostasy? Who are the instigators of our nation’s sins?
The Lord's Spirit lifted me up and took me to the east gate of the temple, where I saw 25 men, including the two leaders, Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiah son of Benaiah. The Lord said, “Ezekiel, son of man, these men are making evil plans and giving dangerous advice to the people of Jerusalem. They say things like, ‘Let's build more houses. This city is like a cooking pot over a fire, and we are the meat, but at least the pot keeps us from being burned in the fire.’ So, Ezekiel, condemn them!” (Ezek 11:1-4 CEV)
Had deaths increased under this bad leadership? What would God do?
And the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and he said to me, “Say, Thus says the Lord: So you think, O house of Israel. For I know the things that come into your mind. You have multiplied your slain in this city and have filled its streets with the slain. Therefore thus says the Lord God: Your slain whom you have laid in the midst of it, they are the meat, and this city is the cauldron, but you shall be brought out of the midst of it. You have feared the sword, and I will bring the sword upon you, declares the Lord God. And I will bring you out of the midst of it, and give you into the hands of foreigners, and execute judgments upon you. (Ezek 11:5-9 ESV)
Why were these weak leaders being punished? Do we also have similar leaders?
You will fall by the sword, and I will judge you at the border of Israel. Then you will know that I am Yahweh. The city will not be a pot for you, and you will not be the meat within it. I will judge you at the border of Israel, so you will know that I am Yahweh, whose statutes you have not followed and whose ordinances you have not practiced. Instead, you have acted according to the ordinances of the nations around you.” (Ezek 11:10-12 HCSB)
When one of the leaders died, did Ezekiel hope that was the end of God’s punishment? What did God point out to him?
While I was prophesying, Benaiah’s son Pelatiah died, so I fell on my face and cried out with a loud voice. “Ah, Lord God,” I said, “are you going to put an end to the survivors within Israel?” Then this message came to me from the Lord: “Son of Man, your brothers, your other relatives, your fellow exiles, and the entire house of Israel are the people to whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, ‘They’ve abandoned the Lord. This land was given to us for an inheritance.’” (Ezek 11:13-15 ISV)
Would God be present in some form of little sanctuaries for the exiles? Is this the origin of the synagogue?
Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord God; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come. (Ezek 11:16 KJV)
Would people eventually return to the land with new hearts?
Therefore say, ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, “I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries among which you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.”’ When they come there, they will remove all its detestable things and all its abominations from it. And I will give them one heart and give within them a new spirit. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God. But as for those whose hearts walk after their detestable things and abominations, I will give what is due for their way on their heads,” declares Lord Yahweh. (Ezek 11:17-20 LSB)
Where did the glory of the Lord first go after leaving the temple?
Then the cherubim lifted up their wings with the wheels beside them, and the glory of the God of Israel hovered over them. The glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city and stood over the mountain which is east of the city. And the Spirit lifted me up and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God to Chaldea, to the exiles. Then the vision that I had seen left me. And I told the exiles all the things that the Lord had shown me. (Ezek 11:22-25 NASB)
Finding fault with the people, would God give them a new heart and a new covenant?
But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises. For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. But God found fault with the people and said:
“The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord. This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (Heb 8:6-10 NIV)
Was the biggest problem the people, having a stubborn heart like stone and not pliable flesh? You decide!
God Leaves (Ezekiel 10)
Did God abandon Jerusalem? Does He generally leave the disobedient behind? Let’s begin in Ezekiel 10.
Does Ezekiel return to a description of God’s throne echoing a previous vision?
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. 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. (Ezek 10:1-2 KJV)
Unlike the little winged babies pictured in art, are cherubs actually mighty angels?
Now the cherubim were standing on the right side of the house when the man entered, and the cloud filled the inner court. Then the glory of Yahweh rose up from the cherub to the threshold of the house, and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was filled with the brightness of the glory of Yahweh. Moreover, the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when He speaks. (Ezek 10:3-5 LSB)
Where did the man dressed in linen get coals of fire from?
And it came about when He commanded the man clothed in linen, saying, “Take fire from between the whirling wheels, from between the cherubim,” he entered and stood beside a wheel. Then the cherub reached out with his hand from between the cherubim to the fire which was between the cherubim, took some coals and put them into the hands of the one clothed in linen; and he took them and went out. The cherubim appeared to have something like a human hand under their wings. (Ezek 10:6-8 NASB)
Were further details of the incredible cherub transportation given?
I looked, and I saw beside the cherubim four wheels, one beside each of the cherubim; the wheels sparkled like topaz. As for their appearance, the four of them looked alike; each was like a wheel intersecting a wheel. As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the cherubim faced; the wheels did not turn about as the cherubim went.
The cherubim went in whatever direction the head faced, without turning as they went. Their entire bodies, including their backs, their hands and their wings, were completely full of eyes, as were their four wheels. I heard the wheels being called “the whirling wheels.” Each of the cherubim had four faces: One face was that of a cherub [ox], the second the face of a human being, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. (Ezek 10:9-14 NIV)
Is the description of cherubs here very similar to those described in Ezekiel 1?
And the cherubim were lifted up. This was the living creature I saw by the River Chebar. When the cherubim went, the wheels went beside them; and when the cherubim lifted their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also did not turn from beside them. When the cherubim stood still, the wheels stood still, and when one was lifted up, the other lifted itself up, for the spirit of the living creature was in them. (Ezek 10:15-17 NKJV)
Did the glory of the Lord begin to move out of the temple in Jerusalem?
Then the glory of the Lord moved out from the entrance of the Temple and hovered above the cherubim. And as I watched, the cherubim flew with their wheels to the east gate of the Lord’s Temple. And the glory of the God of Israel hovered above them. (Ezek 10:18-19 NLT)
Was this the same phenomenon that Ezekiel had seen before?
This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river Chebar; and I knew that they were cherubim. Every one had four faces, and every one four wings. The likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings. As for the likeness of their faces, they were the faces which I saw by the river Chebar, their appearances and themselves. They each went straight forward. (Ezek 10:20-22 WEB)
Is there a related description found in the book of Revelation?
Something like a glass sea, like crystal, was in front of the throne. In the center, by the throne, were four living creatures encircling the throne. These creatures were covered with eyes on the front and on the back. The first living creature was like a lion. The second living creature was like an ox. The third living creature had a face like a human being. And the fourth living creature was like an eagle in flight. Each of the four living creatures had six wings, and each was covered all around and on the inside with eyes. They never rest day or night, but keep on saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is coming.” (Rev 4:6-8 CEB)
Did God abandon Jerusalem? Does He generally leave the disobedient behind? You decide!
Does Ezekiel return to a description of God’s throne echoing a previous vision?
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. 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. (Ezek 10:1-2 KJV)
Unlike the little winged babies pictured in art, are cherubs actually mighty angels?
Now the cherubim were standing on the right side of the house when the man entered, and the cloud filled the inner court. Then the glory of Yahweh rose up from the cherub to the threshold of the house, and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was filled with the brightness of the glory of Yahweh. Moreover, the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when He speaks. (Ezek 10:3-5 LSB)
Where did the man dressed in linen get coals of fire from?
And it came about when He commanded the man clothed in linen, saying, “Take fire from between the whirling wheels, from between the cherubim,” he entered and stood beside a wheel. Then the cherub reached out with his hand from between the cherubim to the fire which was between the cherubim, took some coals and put them into the hands of the one clothed in linen; and he took them and went out. The cherubim appeared to have something like a human hand under their wings. (Ezek 10:6-8 NASB)
Were further details of the incredible cherub transportation given?
I looked, and I saw beside the cherubim four wheels, one beside each of the cherubim; the wheels sparkled like topaz. As for their appearance, the four of them looked alike; each was like a wheel intersecting a wheel. As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the cherubim faced; the wheels did not turn about as the cherubim went.
The cherubim went in whatever direction the head faced, without turning as they went. Their entire bodies, including their backs, their hands and their wings, were completely full of eyes, as were their four wheels. I heard the wheels being called “the whirling wheels.” Each of the cherubim had four faces: One face was that of a cherub [ox], the second the face of a human being, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. (Ezek 10:9-14 NIV)
Is the description of cherubs here very similar to those described in Ezekiel 1?
And the cherubim were lifted up. This was the living creature I saw by the River Chebar. When the cherubim went, the wheels went beside them; and when the cherubim lifted their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also did not turn from beside them. When the cherubim stood still, the wheels stood still, and when one was lifted up, the other lifted itself up, for the spirit of the living creature was in them. (Ezek 10:15-17 NKJV)
Did the glory of the Lord begin to move out of the temple in Jerusalem?
Then the glory of the Lord moved out from the entrance of the Temple and hovered above the cherubim. And as I watched, the cherubim flew with their wheels to the east gate of the Lord’s Temple. And the glory of the God of Israel hovered above them. (Ezek 10:18-19 NLT)
Was this the same phenomenon that Ezekiel had seen before?
This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river Chebar; and I knew that they were cherubim. Every one had four faces, and every one four wings. The likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings. As for the likeness of their faces, they were the faces which I saw by the river Chebar, their appearances and themselves. They each went straight forward. (Ezek 10:20-22 WEB)
Is there a related description found in the book of Revelation?
Something like a glass sea, like crystal, was in front of the throne. In the center, by the throne, were four living creatures encircling the throne. These creatures were covered with eyes on the front and on the back. The first living creature was like a lion. The second living creature was like an ox. The third living creature had a face like a human being. And the fourth living creature was like an eagle in flight. Each of the four living creatures had six wings, and each was covered all around and on the inside with eyes. They never rest day or night, but keep on saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is coming.” (Rev 4:6-8 CEB)
Did God abandon Jerusalem? Does He generally leave the disobedient behind? You decide!
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