Do we really love our countries and lament their national sins? Let’s look at Ezekiel 27.
Do we brag that our land is the best country, perfect in beauty?
The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, take up a lament concerning Tyre. Say to Tyre, situated at the gateway to the sea, merchant of peoples on many coasts, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “‘You say, Tyre, “I am perfect in beauty.” (Ezek 27:1-3 NIV)
How glorious was Tyre in beauty and with much merchandise for trade?
Your borders are in the midst of the seas. Your builders have perfected your beauty. They made all your planks of fir trees from Senir; They took a cedar from Lebanon to make you a mast.
Of oaks from Bashan they made your oars; The company of Ashurites have inlaid your planks With ivory from the coasts of Cyprus. Fine embroidered linen from Egypt was what you spread for your sail; Blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah was what covered you.
Inhabitants of Sidon and Arvad were your oarsmen; Your wise men, O Tyre, were in you; They became your pilots. Elders of Gebal and its wise men Were in you to caulk your seams; All the ships of the sea And their oarsmen were in you To market your merchandise. (Ezek 27:4-9 NKJV)
How prominent was Tyre among the nations of that time in history?
Men from distant Persia, Lydia, and Libya served in your great army. They hung their shields and helmets on your walls, giving you great honor. Men from Arvad and Helech stood on your walls. Your towers were manned by men from Gammad. Their shields hung on your walls, completing your beauty.
Tarshish sent merchants to buy your wares in exchange for silver, iron, tin, and lead. Merchants from Greece, Tubal, and Meshech brought slaves and articles of bronze to trade with you. (Ezek 27:10-13 NLT)
Who were the many merchants who bought and traded goods from Tyre?
They of the house of Togarmah traded for your wares with horses, war horses, and mules. The men of Dedan traded with you. Many islands were the market of your hand. They brought you horns of ivory and ebony in exchange.
Syria was your merchant by reason of the multitude of your handiworks. They traded for your wares with emeralds, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and rubies. Judah and the land of Israel were your traders. They traded wheat of Minnith, confections, honey, oil, and balm for your merchandise. (Ezek 27:14-17 WEB)
What other kinds of goods and services were traded back and forth in Tyre?
For many of your finished products, Damascus traded out of its great wealth the wine of Helbon and white wool. Vedan and Javan from the region of Uzal traded with you. They exchanged wrought iron, cinnamon, and spices for your wares. Dedan was your agent for saddle blankets. Arabia and all the princes of Kedar traded for you. They procured lambs, rams, and goats for you.
They were your agents in Sheba and Raamah. For your wares they exchanged the finest spices, every kind of precious stone, and gold. Haran, Canneh, and Eden were your agents, and also Assyria and Chilmad. They procured fine finished goods for you, garments of purple and brocade, and plush carpets rolled up and securely tied with ropes, among your acquisitions. (Ezek 27:18-24 CEB)
How was Tyre analogous to the wreck of a large seagoing trade ship?
Large, seagoing ships carried your goods wherever they needed to go. You were like a ship loaded with heavy cargo and sailing across the sea, but you were wrecked by strong eastern winds. Everything on board was lost—your valuable cargo, your sailors and carpenters, merchants and soldiers. The shouts of your drowning crew were heard on the shore.
Every ship is deserted; rowers and sailors and captains all stand on shore, mourning for you. They show their sorrow by putting dust on their heads and rolling in ashes; they shave their heads and dress in sackcloth as they cry in despair. In their grief they sing a funeral song for you: “Tyre, you were greater than all other cities. But now you lie in silence at the bottom of the sea.” (Ezek 27:25-32 CEV)
How did a prosperous trading city come to such a tragic end?
When your wares came from the seas, you satisfied many peoples; with your abundant wealth and merchandise you enriched the kings of the earth. Now you are wrecked by the seas, in the depths of the waters; your merchandise and all your crew in your midst have sunk with you.
All the inhabitants of the coastlands are appalled at you, and the hair of their kings bristles with horror; their faces are convulsed. The merchants among the peoples hiss at you; you have come to a dreadful end and shall be no more forever.’” (Ezek 27:33-36 ESV)
Does John record a similar lament over the destruction of an end time Babylon?
The merchants of the earth will also weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their merchandise any longer—merchandise of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; fine fabrics of linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; all kinds of fragrant wood products; objects of ivory; objects of expensive wood, brass, iron, and marble; cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; wine, olive oil, fine wheat flour, and grain; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and slaves and human lives. (Rev 18:11–13 HCSB)
Do we really love our countries and lament their national sins? You decide!
Tyre Punished (Ezekiel 26)
What can we learn from ancient Tyre in countries at their peak of prosperity today? Let’s look at Ezekiel 26.
What did God say about Tyre, along the coast north of Israel, and her gloating over Jerusalem’s fall?
In the eleventh year, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, because Tyre said about Jerusalem, ‘Good! The gateway to the peoples is shattered. She has been turned over to me. I will be filled now that she lies in ruins,’ therefore this is what the Lord God says: See, I am against you, Tyre! I will raise up many nations against you, just as the sea raises its waves.
They will destroy the walls of Tyre and demolish her towers. I will scrape the soil from her and turn her into a bare rock. She will become a place in the sea to spread nets, for I have spoken.” This is the declaration of the Lord God. “She will become plunder for the nations, and her villages on the mainland will be slaughtered by the sword. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.” (Ezek 26:1-6 HCSB)
Which nation would God use to punish the people of Tyre?
“This is what the Lord God says: ‘Watch out! I’m about to bring from the north King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, that king of kings. He’ll come with horses, chariots, cavalry, and a vast army. He’ll execute your citizens who live on the mainland with swords. He’ll build siege engines to attack you. Then he’ll construct siege ramps against you and build huge shields to protect themselves against you.
“‘He’ll direct the blows of his battering rams against your walls and will breach your fortified towers with axes. There will be so many horses that the dust raised by them will cover you completely. The walls of your city will tremble from the noise of Nebuchadnezzar’s cavalry, wagons, and chariots when they enter through the gates of your city, as men enter a city that has been breached.
“‘Their horses will trample all the public places as he executes your inhabitants with swords. The most fortified of your pillars will be torn to the ground. They will plunder your riches and loot your businesses. They’ll tear down your walls and demolish your luxurious homes. They’ll grab the stones, wood, and rubble from the destruction and dump it all into the Mediterranean Sea.
“‘I’ll silence the noise of your songs and the music of your harps won’t be heard anymore. I’ll turn you into bare rock, and your city will become a place to spread nets. You will never be built again, because I the Lord have decreed this,’ declares the Lord God.” (Ezek 26:7-14 ISV)
Was Tyre a strong and renowned city? Can great human powers fall if God wills?
Thus saith the Lord God to Tyrus; Shall not the isles shake at the sound of thy fall, when the wounded cry, when the slaughter is made in the midst of thee? Then all the princes of the sea shall come down from their thrones, and lay away their robes, and put off their broidered garments: they shall clothe themselves with trembling; they shall sit upon the ground, and shall tremble at every moment, and be astonished at thee.
And they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and say to thee, How art thou destroyed, that wast inhabited of seafaring men, the renowned city, which wast strong in the sea, she and her inhabitants, which cause their terror to be on all that haunt it! Now shall the isles tremble in the day of thy fall; yea, the isles that are in the sea shall be troubled at thy departure. (Ezek 26:15-18 KJV)
Can even today’s great nations suffer a similar fate to Tyre unless we repent?
For thus says Lord Yahweh, “When I make you a city laid waste, like the cities which are not inhabited, when I bring up the deep over you and the great waters cover you, then I will bring you down with those who go down to the pit, to the people of old, and I will make you inhabit the lower parts of the earth, like the ancient waste places, with those who go down to the pit, so that you will not be inhabited; but I will set glory in the land of the living. I will bring terrors on you, and you will be no more; though you will be sought, you will never be found again,” declares Lord Yahweh. (Ezek 26:19-21 LSB)
Are there places worse than Tyre in the history of the world?
Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that occurred in you had occurred in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. (Mat 11:21-22 NASB)
What can we learn from ancient Tyre in countries at their peak of prosperity today? You decide!
What did God say about Tyre, along the coast north of Israel, and her gloating over Jerusalem’s fall?
In the eleventh year, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, because Tyre said about Jerusalem, ‘Good! The gateway to the peoples is shattered. She has been turned over to me. I will be filled now that she lies in ruins,’ therefore this is what the Lord God says: See, I am against you, Tyre! I will raise up many nations against you, just as the sea raises its waves.
They will destroy the walls of Tyre and demolish her towers. I will scrape the soil from her and turn her into a bare rock. She will become a place in the sea to spread nets, for I have spoken.” This is the declaration of the Lord God. “She will become plunder for the nations, and her villages on the mainland will be slaughtered by the sword. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.” (Ezek 26:1-6 HCSB)
Which nation would God use to punish the people of Tyre?
“This is what the Lord God says: ‘Watch out! I’m about to bring from the north King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, that king of kings. He’ll come with horses, chariots, cavalry, and a vast army. He’ll execute your citizens who live on the mainland with swords. He’ll build siege engines to attack you. Then he’ll construct siege ramps against you and build huge shields to protect themselves against you.
“‘He’ll direct the blows of his battering rams against your walls and will breach your fortified towers with axes. There will be so many horses that the dust raised by them will cover you completely. The walls of your city will tremble from the noise of Nebuchadnezzar’s cavalry, wagons, and chariots when they enter through the gates of your city, as men enter a city that has been breached.
“‘Their horses will trample all the public places as he executes your inhabitants with swords. The most fortified of your pillars will be torn to the ground. They will plunder your riches and loot your businesses. They’ll tear down your walls and demolish your luxurious homes. They’ll grab the stones, wood, and rubble from the destruction and dump it all into the Mediterranean Sea.
“‘I’ll silence the noise of your songs and the music of your harps won’t be heard anymore. I’ll turn you into bare rock, and your city will become a place to spread nets. You will never be built again, because I the Lord have decreed this,’ declares the Lord God.” (Ezek 26:7-14 ISV)
Was Tyre a strong and renowned city? Can great human powers fall if God wills?
Thus saith the Lord God to Tyrus; Shall not the isles shake at the sound of thy fall, when the wounded cry, when the slaughter is made in the midst of thee? Then all the princes of the sea shall come down from their thrones, and lay away their robes, and put off their broidered garments: they shall clothe themselves with trembling; they shall sit upon the ground, and shall tremble at every moment, and be astonished at thee.
And they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and say to thee, How art thou destroyed, that wast inhabited of seafaring men, the renowned city, which wast strong in the sea, she and her inhabitants, which cause their terror to be on all that haunt it! Now shall the isles tremble in the day of thy fall; yea, the isles that are in the sea shall be troubled at thy departure. (Ezek 26:15-18 KJV)
Can even today’s great nations suffer a similar fate to Tyre unless we repent?
For thus says Lord Yahweh, “When I make you a city laid waste, like the cities which are not inhabited, when I bring up the deep over you and the great waters cover you, then I will bring you down with those who go down to the pit, to the people of old, and I will make you inhabit the lower parts of the earth, like the ancient waste places, with those who go down to the pit, so that you will not be inhabited; but I will set glory in the land of the living. I will bring terrors on you, and you will be no more; though you will be sought, you will never be found again,” declares Lord Yahweh. (Ezek 26:19-21 LSB)
Are there places worse than Tyre in the history of the world?
Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that occurred in you had occurred in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. (Mat 11:21-22 NASB)
What can we learn from ancient Tyre in countries at their peak of prosperity today? You decide!
Gloating Punished (Ezekiel 25)
When God punished Israel, did some nations gloat over their suffering? Is God happy when others celebrate our pain? Let’s look at Ezekiel 25.
What did God say about Ammon, northeast of Jerusalem across the Jordan River?
Then this message came to me from the Lord: “Son of man, turn and face the land of Ammon and prophesy against its people. Give the Ammonites this message from the Sovereign Lord: Hear the word of the Sovereign Lord! Because you cheered when my Temple was defiled, mocked Israel in her desolation, and laughed at Judah as she went away into exile, I will allow nomads from the eastern deserts to overrun your country. They will set up their camps among you and pitch their tents on your land. They will harvest all your fruit and drink the milk from your livestock. And I will turn the city of Rabbah into a pasture for camels, and all the land of the Ammonites into a resting place for sheep and goats. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you clapped and danced and cheered with glee at the destruction of my people, I will raise my fist of judgment against you. I will give you as plunder to many nations. I will cut you off from being a nation and destroy you completely. Then you will know that I am the Lord. (Ezek 25:1-7 NLT)
What did God say about Moab, east of the Dead Sea?
The Lord Yahweh says: “Because Moab and Seir say, ‘Behold, the house of Judah is like all the nations,’ therefore, behold, I will open the side of Moab from the cities, from his cities which are on its frontiers, the glory of the country, Beth Jeshimoth, Baal Meon, and Kiriathaim, to the children of the east, to go against the children of Ammon; and I will give them for a possession, that the children of Ammon may not be remembered among the nations. I will execute judgments on Moab. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.” (Ezek 25:8-11 WEB)
What did God say about Edom, south of the Dead Sea?
The Lord God proclaims: Edom acted with excessive force against the house of Judah. The Judeans were guilty, but Edom’s vengeance was excessive. So the Lord God now proclaims: I’ll overpower Edom, eliminate all living creatures, and make it a wasteland from Teman to Dedan. They will fall by the sword. I will execute my vengeance in Edom through my people Israel’s power. They will act in Edom according to my anger and fury, and they will know my vengeance. This is what the Lord God says. (Ezek 25:12-14 CEB)
What did God say about Philistia, along the south coast west of Judah?
The Lord God said, “The cruel Philistines have taken revenge on their enemies over and over and have tried to destroy them. Now it's my turn to treat the Philistines as my enemies and to kill everyone living in their towns along the seacoast. In my fierce anger, I will take revenge on them. And when I punish them, they will know that I am the Lord.” (Ezek 25:15-17 CEV)
When enemies hurt us, should we take revenge or let God handle things?
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (Rom 12:19 ESV)
When God punished Israel, did some nations gloat over their suffering? Is God happy when others celebrate our pain? You decide!
What did God say about Ammon, northeast of Jerusalem across the Jordan River?
Then this message came to me from the Lord: “Son of man, turn and face the land of Ammon and prophesy against its people. Give the Ammonites this message from the Sovereign Lord: Hear the word of the Sovereign Lord! Because you cheered when my Temple was defiled, mocked Israel in her desolation, and laughed at Judah as she went away into exile, I will allow nomads from the eastern deserts to overrun your country. They will set up their camps among you and pitch their tents on your land. They will harvest all your fruit and drink the milk from your livestock. And I will turn the city of Rabbah into a pasture for camels, and all the land of the Ammonites into a resting place for sheep and goats. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you clapped and danced and cheered with glee at the destruction of my people, I will raise my fist of judgment against you. I will give you as plunder to many nations. I will cut you off from being a nation and destroy you completely. Then you will know that I am the Lord. (Ezek 25:1-7 NLT)
What did God say about Moab, east of the Dead Sea?
The Lord Yahweh says: “Because Moab and Seir say, ‘Behold, the house of Judah is like all the nations,’ therefore, behold, I will open the side of Moab from the cities, from his cities which are on its frontiers, the glory of the country, Beth Jeshimoth, Baal Meon, and Kiriathaim, to the children of the east, to go against the children of Ammon; and I will give them for a possession, that the children of Ammon may not be remembered among the nations. I will execute judgments on Moab. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.” (Ezek 25:8-11 WEB)
What did God say about Edom, south of the Dead Sea?
The Lord God proclaims: Edom acted with excessive force against the house of Judah. The Judeans were guilty, but Edom’s vengeance was excessive. So the Lord God now proclaims: I’ll overpower Edom, eliminate all living creatures, and make it a wasteland from Teman to Dedan. They will fall by the sword. I will execute my vengeance in Edom through my people Israel’s power. They will act in Edom according to my anger and fury, and they will know my vengeance. This is what the Lord God says. (Ezek 25:12-14 CEB)
What did God say about Philistia, along the south coast west of Judah?
The Lord God said, “The cruel Philistines have taken revenge on their enemies over and over and have tried to destroy them. Now it's my turn to treat the Philistines as my enemies and to kill everyone living in their towns along the seacoast. In my fierce anger, I will take revenge on them. And when I punish them, they will know that I am the Lord.” (Ezek 25:15-17 CEV)
When enemies hurt us, should we take revenge or let God handle things?
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (Rom 12:19 ESV)
When God punished Israel, did some nations gloat over their suffering? Is God happy when others celebrate our pain? You decide!
Jerusalem Punished (Ezekiel 24)
Was Jerusalem punished for her many sins? Do our cities deserve divine punishment? Let’s look at Ezekiel 24.
Did God ask Ezekiel to create a parable of a boiling pot?
The word of the Lord came to me in the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month: “Son of man, write down today’s date, this very day. The king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day. Now speak a parable to the rebellious house. Tell them: This is what the Lord God says: Put the pot on the fire—put it on, and then pour water into it! Place the pieces of meat in it, every good piece—thigh and shoulder. Fill it with choice bones. Take the choicest of the flock and also pile up the fuel under it. Bring it to a boil and cook the bones in it.” (Ezek 24:1-5 NKJV)
Did God publicly expose Jerusalem as a blood-filled city?
This is what the Lord God says: ‘How terrible it is for that blood-filled city, to the pot whose rust remains in it, whose rust won’t come off. Empty it one piece at a time. Don’t let a lot fall on it. Her blood was in it. She poured it out onto bare rock. She didn’t pour it out on the ground, intending to cover it with dirt. In order to stir up my anger and in order to take vengeance, I set the blood on a bare rock so that it cannot be covered.’ (Ezek 24:6-8 ISV)
Did the pot’s destruction foretell that their symbol of divine protection, the temple, would no longer exist?
Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Woe to the bloody city! I will even make the pile for fire great. Heap on wood, kindle the fire, consume the flesh, and spice it well, and let the bones be burned. Then set it empty upon the coals thereof, that the brass of it may be hot, and may burn, and that the filthiness of it may be molten in it, that the scum of it may be consumed.
She hath wearied herself with lies, and her great scum went not forth out of her: her scum shall be in the fire. In thy filthiness is lewdness: because I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee. Did God ask Ezekiel to create a parable of a boiling pot? (Ezek 24:9-14 KJV)
What did God command Ezekiel to do as he lost his wife?
And the word of Yahweh came to me saying, “Son of man, behold, I am about to take from you the desire of your eyes with a blow; but you shall not mourn, and you shall not weep, and your tears shall not come. Groan silently; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your headdress and put your shoes on your feet and do not cover your mustache and do not eat the bread of men.” So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. And in the morning I did as I was commanded. The people said to me, “Will you not tell us what these things that you are doing mean for us?” (Ezek 24:15-19 LSB)
How was Ezekiel’s quiet mourning without public display also God’s command to Israel regarding the temple?
Then I said to them, “The word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Speak to the house of Israel, “This is what the Lord God says: ‘Behold, I am about to profane My sanctuary, the pride of your power, that which is precious in your eyes and the longing of your soul; and your sons and your daughters whom you have left behind will fall by the sword. And you will do just as I have done; you will not cover your mustache, and you will not eat the bread of other people. Your turbans will be on your heads, and your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn and you will not weep; but you will rot away in your guilty deeds, and you will groan to one another. So Ezekiel will be a sign to you; according to all that he has done, you will do. When it comes, then you will know that I am the Lord God.’” (Ezek 24:20-24 NASB)
When they also receive news of Jerusalem and their precious temple’s destruction would they also be too stunned to mourn?
And you, son of man, on the day I take away their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes, their heart’s desire, and their sons and daughters as well—on that day a fugitive will come to tell you the news. At that time your mouth will be opened; you will speak with him and will no longer be silent. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the Lord. (Ezek 24:25-27 NIV)
Did Jesus also predict a similar time of Jerusalem’s destruction?
But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. (Luke 21:20 NKJV)
Was Jerusalem punished for her many sins? Do our cities deserve divine punishment? You decide!
Did God ask Ezekiel to create a parable of a boiling pot?
The word of the Lord came to me in the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month: “Son of man, write down today’s date, this very day. The king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day. Now speak a parable to the rebellious house. Tell them: This is what the Lord God says: Put the pot on the fire—put it on, and then pour water into it! Place the pieces of meat in it, every good piece—thigh and shoulder. Fill it with choice bones. Take the choicest of the flock and also pile up the fuel under it. Bring it to a boil and cook the bones in it.” (Ezek 24:1-5 NKJV)
Did God publicly expose Jerusalem as a blood-filled city?
This is what the Lord God says: ‘How terrible it is for that blood-filled city, to the pot whose rust remains in it, whose rust won’t come off. Empty it one piece at a time. Don’t let a lot fall on it. Her blood was in it. She poured it out onto bare rock. She didn’t pour it out on the ground, intending to cover it with dirt. In order to stir up my anger and in order to take vengeance, I set the blood on a bare rock so that it cannot be covered.’ (Ezek 24:6-8 ISV)
Did the pot’s destruction foretell that their symbol of divine protection, the temple, would no longer exist?
Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Woe to the bloody city! I will even make the pile for fire great. Heap on wood, kindle the fire, consume the flesh, and spice it well, and let the bones be burned. Then set it empty upon the coals thereof, that the brass of it may be hot, and may burn, and that the filthiness of it may be molten in it, that the scum of it may be consumed.
She hath wearied herself with lies, and her great scum went not forth out of her: her scum shall be in the fire. In thy filthiness is lewdness: because I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee. Did God ask Ezekiel to create a parable of a boiling pot? (Ezek 24:9-14 KJV)
What did God command Ezekiel to do as he lost his wife?
And the word of Yahweh came to me saying, “Son of man, behold, I am about to take from you the desire of your eyes with a blow; but you shall not mourn, and you shall not weep, and your tears shall not come. Groan silently; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your headdress and put your shoes on your feet and do not cover your mustache and do not eat the bread of men.” So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. And in the morning I did as I was commanded. The people said to me, “Will you not tell us what these things that you are doing mean for us?” (Ezek 24:15-19 LSB)
How was Ezekiel’s quiet mourning without public display also God’s command to Israel regarding the temple?
Then I said to them, “The word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Speak to the house of Israel, “This is what the Lord God says: ‘Behold, I am about to profane My sanctuary, the pride of your power, that which is precious in your eyes and the longing of your soul; and your sons and your daughters whom you have left behind will fall by the sword. And you will do just as I have done; you will not cover your mustache, and you will not eat the bread of other people. Your turbans will be on your heads, and your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn and you will not weep; but you will rot away in your guilty deeds, and you will groan to one another. So Ezekiel will be a sign to you; according to all that he has done, you will do. When it comes, then you will know that I am the Lord God.’” (Ezek 24:20-24 NASB)
When they also receive news of Jerusalem and their precious temple’s destruction would they also be too stunned to mourn?
And you, son of man, on the day I take away their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes, their heart’s desire, and their sons and daughters as well—on that day a fugitive will come to tell you the news. At that time your mouth will be opened; you will speak with him and will no longer be silent. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the Lord. (Ezek 24:25-27 NIV)
Did Jesus also predict a similar time of Jerusalem’s destruction?
But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. (Luke 21:20 NKJV)
Was Jerusalem punished for her many sins? Do our cities deserve divine punishment? You decide!
Corrupt Sisters (Ezekiel 23)
What kind of bad example were the nations of Israel and Judah? Let’s look at Ezekiel 23.
Who are the two sisters, Oholah and Oholibah, both harlots?
The word of Yahweh came to me again, saying, “Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother; and they played the harlot in Egypt. They played the harlot in their youth; there their breasts were pressed, and there their virgin bosom was handled. Their names were Oholah the elder and Oholibah her sister. And they became Mine, and they bore sons and daughters. And as for their names, Samaria is Oholah [her tent] and Jerusalem is Oholibah [my tent is in her]. (Ezek 23:1-4 LSB)
After what lovers did Oholah lust and what did she worship?
Oholah prostituted herself while she was Mine; and she lusted after her lovers, after the Assyrians, her neighbors, who were clothed in purple, governors and officials, all of them handsome young men, horsemen riding on horses. She bestowed her obscene practices on them, all of whom were the choicest men of Assyria; and with all whom she lusted after, with all their idols she defiled herself.
She did not abandon her obscene practices from the time in Egypt; for in her youth men had slept with her, and they handled her virgin breasts and poured out their obscene practice on her. Therefore, I handed her over to her lovers, to the Assyrians, after whom she lusted. They uncovered her nakedness; they took her sons and her daughters, but they killed her with the sword. So she became a subject of gossip among women, and they executed judgments on her. (Ezek 23:5-10 NASB)
After what lovers did her sister Oholibah lust and what did she worship?
Her sister Oholibah saw this, yet in her lust and prostitution she was more depraved than her sister. She too lusted after the Assyrians—governors and commanders, warriors in full dress, mounted horsemen, all handsome young men. I saw that she too defiled herself; both of them went the same way.
But she carried her prostitution still further. She saw men portrayed on a wall, figures of Chaldeans portrayed in red, with belts around their waists and flowing turbans on their heads; all of them looked like Babylonian chariot officers, natives of Chaldea. As soon as she saw them, she lusted after them and sent messengers to them in Chaldea. Then the Babylonians came to her, to the bed of love, and in their lust they defiled her. After she had been defiled by them, she turned away from them in disgust.
When she carried on her prostitution openly and exposed her naked body, I turned away from her in disgust, just as I had turned away from her sister. Yet she became more and more promiscuous as she recalled the days of her youth, when she was a prostitute in Egypt. There she lusted after her lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of horses. So you longed for the lewdness of your youth, when in Egypt your bosom was caressed and your young breasts fondled. (Ezek 23:11-21 NIV)
And what did God say to Oholibah, Judah and Jerusalem?
Therefore, Oholibah, thus says the Lord God: ‘Behold, I will stir up your lovers against you, From whom you have alienated yourself, And I will bring them against you from every side: The Babylonians, All the Chaldeans, Pekod, Shoa, Koa, All the Assyrians with them, All of them desirable young men, Governors and rulers, Captains and men of renown, All of them riding on horses. And they shall come against you With chariots, wagons, and war-horses, With a horde of people. They shall array against you Buckler, shield, and helmet all around.
‘I will delegate judgment to them, And they shall judge you according to their judgments. I will set My jealousy against you, And they shall deal furiously with you; They shall remove your nose and your ears, And your remnant shall fall by the sword; They shall take your sons and your daughters, And your remnant shall be devoured by fire. They shall also strip you of your clothes And take away your beautiful jewelry. Thus I will make you cease your lewdness and your harlotry Brought from the land of Egypt, So that you will not lift your eyes to them, Nor remember Egypt anymore.’ (Ezek 23:22-27 NKJV)
Would the shame of her prostitution be exposed to all the world?
For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will surely hand you over to your enemies, to those you loathe, those you rejected. They will treat you with hatred and rob you of all you own, leaving you stark naked. The shame of your prostitution will be exposed to all the world. You brought all this on yourself by prostituting yourself to other nations, defiling yourself with all their idols. Because you have followed in your sister’s footsteps, I will force you to drink the same cup of terror she drank. (Ezek 23:28-31 NLT)
Would Jerusalem drink deeply from the same cup as Samaria?
The Lord Yahweh says: ‘You will drink of your sister’s cup, which is deep and large. You will be ridiculed and held in derision. It contains much. You will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, with the cup of astonishment and desolation, with the cup of your sister Samaria. You will even drink it and drain it out. You will gnaw the broken pieces of it, and will tear your breasts; for I have spoken it,’ says the Lord Yahweh. “Therefore the Lord Yahweh says: ‘Because you have forgotten me and cast me behind your back, therefore you also bear your lewdness and your prostitution.’” (Ezek 23:32-35 WEB)
Was God going to judge both sisters for murdering their children and adultery?
Then the Lord said to me, Human one [Son of man], judge Oholah and Oholibah, and make known their detestable practices to them. They committed adultery, so now blood is on their hands. They committed adultery with their idols, and they even took their children whom they had borne to me and offered them up to be consumed for them. They also did this to me: On the same day, they made my sanctuary unclean and made my sabbaths impure. When they slaughtered their children for their idols, they came into my sanctuary and made it impure on that very same day. They actually did this inside my temple. They even sent for men who came from a great distance. No sooner than a messenger was sent, they arrived! For these men you bathed, you painted your eyes, and you put on your jewelry. You took your place on a splendid couch with a richly set table in front of it, and you set my incense and my oil on it. The sound of a noisy crowd was around her. Men from the common multitude, drinkers of wine, were brought from the desert. They put bracelets on their wrists and beautiful crowns on their heads. Then I thought, For a foolish woman they become adulterers! Incited by her seduction, they prostitute themselves—for her! They come as if coming to a prostitute, first to Oholah, and then to Oholibah, those traitorous women. But men who do the right thing will judge them, and they will be punished as adulterers and murderers, because they are in fact adulterers, and blood is on their hands. (Ezek 23:36-45 CEB)
What punishment would God bring upon these two sisters?
So I, the Lord God, now say to these sisters: I will call together an angry mob that will abuse and rob you. They will stone you to death and cut you to pieces; they will kill your children and burn down your houses. I will get rid of sinful prostitution in this country, so that women everywhere will be warned not to act as you have. You will be punished for becoming prostitutes and for worshiping idols. Then you will know that I am the Lord God. (Ezek 23:46-49 CEV)
Does James offer a similar analogy for following the world instead of God?
You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:4 ESV)
What kind of bad example were the nations of Israel and Judah? You decide!
Who are the two sisters, Oholah and Oholibah, both harlots?
The word of Yahweh came to me again, saying, “Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother; and they played the harlot in Egypt. They played the harlot in their youth; there their breasts were pressed, and there their virgin bosom was handled. Their names were Oholah the elder and Oholibah her sister. And they became Mine, and they bore sons and daughters. And as for their names, Samaria is Oholah [her tent] and Jerusalem is Oholibah [my tent is in her]. (Ezek 23:1-4 LSB)
After what lovers did Oholah lust and what did she worship?
Oholah prostituted herself while she was Mine; and she lusted after her lovers, after the Assyrians, her neighbors, who were clothed in purple, governors and officials, all of them handsome young men, horsemen riding on horses. She bestowed her obscene practices on them, all of whom were the choicest men of Assyria; and with all whom she lusted after, with all their idols she defiled herself.
She did not abandon her obscene practices from the time in Egypt; for in her youth men had slept with her, and they handled her virgin breasts and poured out their obscene practice on her. Therefore, I handed her over to her lovers, to the Assyrians, after whom she lusted. They uncovered her nakedness; they took her sons and her daughters, but they killed her with the sword. So she became a subject of gossip among women, and they executed judgments on her. (Ezek 23:5-10 NASB)
After what lovers did her sister Oholibah lust and what did she worship?
Her sister Oholibah saw this, yet in her lust and prostitution she was more depraved than her sister. She too lusted after the Assyrians—governors and commanders, warriors in full dress, mounted horsemen, all handsome young men. I saw that she too defiled herself; both of them went the same way.
But she carried her prostitution still further. She saw men portrayed on a wall, figures of Chaldeans portrayed in red, with belts around their waists and flowing turbans on their heads; all of them looked like Babylonian chariot officers, natives of Chaldea. As soon as she saw them, she lusted after them and sent messengers to them in Chaldea. Then the Babylonians came to her, to the bed of love, and in their lust they defiled her. After she had been defiled by them, she turned away from them in disgust.
When she carried on her prostitution openly and exposed her naked body, I turned away from her in disgust, just as I had turned away from her sister. Yet she became more and more promiscuous as she recalled the days of her youth, when she was a prostitute in Egypt. There she lusted after her lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of horses. So you longed for the lewdness of your youth, when in Egypt your bosom was caressed and your young breasts fondled. (Ezek 23:11-21 NIV)
And what did God say to Oholibah, Judah and Jerusalem?
Therefore, Oholibah, thus says the Lord God: ‘Behold, I will stir up your lovers against you, From whom you have alienated yourself, And I will bring them against you from every side: The Babylonians, All the Chaldeans, Pekod, Shoa, Koa, All the Assyrians with them, All of them desirable young men, Governors and rulers, Captains and men of renown, All of them riding on horses. And they shall come against you With chariots, wagons, and war-horses, With a horde of people. They shall array against you Buckler, shield, and helmet all around.
‘I will delegate judgment to them, And they shall judge you according to their judgments. I will set My jealousy against you, And they shall deal furiously with you; They shall remove your nose and your ears, And your remnant shall fall by the sword; They shall take your sons and your daughters, And your remnant shall be devoured by fire. They shall also strip you of your clothes And take away your beautiful jewelry. Thus I will make you cease your lewdness and your harlotry Brought from the land of Egypt, So that you will not lift your eyes to them, Nor remember Egypt anymore.’ (Ezek 23:22-27 NKJV)
Would the shame of her prostitution be exposed to all the world?
For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will surely hand you over to your enemies, to those you loathe, those you rejected. They will treat you with hatred and rob you of all you own, leaving you stark naked. The shame of your prostitution will be exposed to all the world. You brought all this on yourself by prostituting yourself to other nations, defiling yourself with all their idols. Because you have followed in your sister’s footsteps, I will force you to drink the same cup of terror she drank. (Ezek 23:28-31 NLT)
Would Jerusalem drink deeply from the same cup as Samaria?
The Lord Yahweh says: ‘You will drink of your sister’s cup, which is deep and large. You will be ridiculed and held in derision. It contains much. You will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, with the cup of astonishment and desolation, with the cup of your sister Samaria. You will even drink it and drain it out. You will gnaw the broken pieces of it, and will tear your breasts; for I have spoken it,’ says the Lord Yahweh. “Therefore the Lord Yahweh says: ‘Because you have forgotten me and cast me behind your back, therefore you also bear your lewdness and your prostitution.’” (Ezek 23:32-35 WEB)
Was God going to judge both sisters for murdering their children and adultery?
Then the Lord said to me, Human one [Son of man], judge Oholah and Oholibah, and make known their detestable practices to them. They committed adultery, so now blood is on their hands. They committed adultery with their idols, and they even took their children whom they had borne to me and offered them up to be consumed for them. They also did this to me: On the same day, they made my sanctuary unclean and made my sabbaths impure. When they slaughtered their children for their idols, they came into my sanctuary and made it impure on that very same day. They actually did this inside my temple. They even sent for men who came from a great distance. No sooner than a messenger was sent, they arrived! For these men you bathed, you painted your eyes, and you put on your jewelry. You took your place on a splendid couch with a richly set table in front of it, and you set my incense and my oil on it. The sound of a noisy crowd was around her. Men from the common multitude, drinkers of wine, were brought from the desert. They put bracelets on their wrists and beautiful crowns on their heads. Then I thought, For a foolish woman they become adulterers! Incited by her seduction, they prostitute themselves—for her! They come as if coming to a prostitute, first to Oholah, and then to Oholibah, those traitorous women. But men who do the right thing will judge them, and they will be punished as adulterers and murderers, because they are in fact adulterers, and blood is on their hands. (Ezek 23:36-45 CEB)
What punishment would God bring upon these two sisters?
So I, the Lord God, now say to these sisters: I will call together an angry mob that will abuse and rob you. They will stone you to death and cut you to pieces; they will kill your children and burn down your houses. I will get rid of sinful prostitution in this country, so that women everywhere will be warned not to act as you have. You will be punished for becoming prostitutes and for worshiping idols. Then you will know that I am the Lord God. (Ezek 23:46-49 CEV)
Does James offer a similar analogy for following the world instead of God?
You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:4 ESV)
What kind of bad example were the nations of Israel and Judah? You decide!
Our Bloody Cities (Ezekiel 22)
Who can possibly stop the murders in our bloody cities? Let’s begin in Ezekiel 22.
Why was Jerusalem judged by the Lord as a bloody city, a disgrace?
Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “And you, son of man, will you judge, will you judge the bloody city? Then inform her of all her abominations. And you shall say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “A city shedding blood in her midst, so that her time is coming; and a city that makes idols, contrary to her own good, for defilement! You have become guilty by the blood which you have shed, and you have become defiled by your idols which you have made. So you have brought your days closer and have come to your years; therefore I have made you a disgrace to the nations, and an object of mocking to all the lands. Those who are near and those who are far from you will make fun of you, you of ill repute, full of turmoil. (Ezek 22:1-5 NASB)
Do our national leaders oppress foreigners and mistreat the needy?
See how each of the princes of Israel who are in you uses his power to shed blood. In you they have treated father and mother with contempt; in you they have oppressed the foreigner and mistreated the fatherless and the widow. You have despised my holy things and desecrated my Sabbaths. In you are slanderers who are bent on shedding blood; in you are those who eat at the mountain shrines and commit lewd acts.
In you are those who dishonor their father’s bed; in you are those who violate women during their period, when they are ceremonially unclean. In you one man commits a detestable offense with his neighbor’s wife, another shamefully defiles his daughter-in-law, and another violates his sister, his own father’s daughter. In you are people who accept bribes to shed blood; you take interest and make a profit from the poor. You extort unjust gain from your neighbors. And you have forgotten me, declares the Sovereign Lord. (Ezek 22:6-12 NIV)
Will God punish businesses in our land that make dishonest profits?
Behold, therefore, I beat My fists at the dishonest profit which you have made, and at the bloodshed which has been in your midst. Can your heart endure, or can your hands remain strong, in the days when I shall deal with you? I, the Lord, have spoken, and will do it. I will scatter you among the nations, disperse you throughout the countries, and remove your filthiness completely from you. You shall defile yourself in the sight of the nations; then you shall know that I am the Lord. (Ezek 22:13-16 NKJV)
Have our people acted so badly that God would refer to them as dross?
Then this message came to me from the Lord: “Son of man, the people of Israel are the worthless slag that remains after silver is smelted. They are the dross that is left over—a useless mixture of copper, tin, iron, and lead. So tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you are all worthless slag, I will bring you to my crucible in Jerusalem. Just as silver, copper, iron, lead, and tin are melted down in a furnace, I will melt you down in the heat of my fury. I will gather you together and blow the fire of my anger upon you, and you will melt like silver in fierce heat. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have poured out my fury on you.’” (Ezek 22:17-22 NLT)
Have our priests and prophets or religious leaders devoured souls?
Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, “Son of man, tell her, ‘You are a land that is not cleansed nor rained on in the day of indignation.’ There is a conspiracy of her prophets within it, like a roaring lion ravening the prey. They have devoured souls. They take treasure and precious things. They have made many widows within it. Her priests have done violence to my law and have profaned my holy things. They have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they caused men to discern between the unclean and the clean, and have hidden their eyes from my Sabbaths. So I am profaned among them. (Ezek 22:23-26 WEB)
Have our princes or political leaders practiced extortion and committed robbery?
Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, shedding blood, destroying lives to get dishonest gain. And her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ when the Lord has not spoken. The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy, and have extorted from the sojourner without justice (Ezek 22:27-29 ESV)
Is there someone who can repair the wall and stand in the gap to intercede between God and man?
“I searched for a man among them who would repair the wall and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land so that I might not destroy it, but I found no one. So I have poured out My indignation on them and consumed them with the fire of My fury. I have brought their actions down on their own heads.” This is the declaration of the Lord God. (Ezek 22:30-31 HCSB)
Did Jesus also refer to Jerusalem as a bloody city, murdering prophets and missionaries?
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent [apostled] unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! (Luke 13:34 KJV)
Is Babylon symbolic of many other cities where the blood of prophets, saints and others is shed?
And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. (Rev 18:24 KJV)
Who can possibly stop the murders in our bloody cities? You decide!
Why was Jerusalem judged by the Lord as a bloody city, a disgrace?
Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “And you, son of man, will you judge, will you judge the bloody city? Then inform her of all her abominations. And you shall say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “A city shedding blood in her midst, so that her time is coming; and a city that makes idols, contrary to her own good, for defilement! You have become guilty by the blood which you have shed, and you have become defiled by your idols which you have made. So you have brought your days closer and have come to your years; therefore I have made you a disgrace to the nations, and an object of mocking to all the lands. Those who are near and those who are far from you will make fun of you, you of ill repute, full of turmoil. (Ezek 22:1-5 NASB)
Do our national leaders oppress foreigners and mistreat the needy?
See how each of the princes of Israel who are in you uses his power to shed blood. In you they have treated father and mother with contempt; in you they have oppressed the foreigner and mistreated the fatherless and the widow. You have despised my holy things and desecrated my Sabbaths. In you are slanderers who are bent on shedding blood; in you are those who eat at the mountain shrines and commit lewd acts.
In you are those who dishonor their father’s bed; in you are those who violate women during their period, when they are ceremonially unclean. In you one man commits a detestable offense with his neighbor’s wife, another shamefully defiles his daughter-in-law, and another violates his sister, his own father’s daughter. In you are people who accept bribes to shed blood; you take interest and make a profit from the poor. You extort unjust gain from your neighbors. And you have forgotten me, declares the Sovereign Lord. (Ezek 22:6-12 NIV)
Will God punish businesses in our land that make dishonest profits?
Behold, therefore, I beat My fists at the dishonest profit which you have made, and at the bloodshed which has been in your midst. Can your heart endure, or can your hands remain strong, in the days when I shall deal with you? I, the Lord, have spoken, and will do it. I will scatter you among the nations, disperse you throughout the countries, and remove your filthiness completely from you. You shall defile yourself in the sight of the nations; then you shall know that I am the Lord. (Ezek 22:13-16 NKJV)
Have our people acted so badly that God would refer to them as dross?
Then this message came to me from the Lord: “Son of man, the people of Israel are the worthless slag that remains after silver is smelted. They are the dross that is left over—a useless mixture of copper, tin, iron, and lead. So tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you are all worthless slag, I will bring you to my crucible in Jerusalem. Just as silver, copper, iron, lead, and tin are melted down in a furnace, I will melt you down in the heat of my fury. I will gather you together and blow the fire of my anger upon you, and you will melt like silver in fierce heat. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have poured out my fury on you.’” (Ezek 22:17-22 NLT)
Have our priests and prophets or religious leaders devoured souls?
Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, “Son of man, tell her, ‘You are a land that is not cleansed nor rained on in the day of indignation.’ There is a conspiracy of her prophets within it, like a roaring lion ravening the prey. They have devoured souls. They take treasure and precious things. They have made many widows within it. Her priests have done violence to my law and have profaned my holy things. They have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they caused men to discern between the unclean and the clean, and have hidden their eyes from my Sabbaths. So I am profaned among them. (Ezek 22:23-26 WEB)
Have our princes or political leaders practiced extortion and committed robbery?
Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, shedding blood, destroying lives to get dishonest gain. And her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ when the Lord has not spoken. The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy, and have extorted from the sojourner without justice (Ezek 22:27-29 ESV)
Is there someone who can repair the wall and stand in the gap to intercede between God and man?
“I searched for a man among them who would repair the wall and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land so that I might not destroy it, but I found no one. So I have poured out My indignation on them and consumed them with the fire of My fury. I have brought their actions down on their own heads.” This is the declaration of the Lord God. (Ezek 22:30-31 HCSB)
Did Jesus also refer to Jerusalem as a bloody city, murdering prophets and missionaries?
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent [apostled] unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! (Luke 13:34 KJV)
Is Babylon symbolic of many other cities where the blood of prophets, saints and others is shed?
And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. (Rev 18:24 KJV)
Who can possibly stop the murders in our bloody cities? You decide!
Sword of Judgment (Ezekiel 21)
Does God judge nations for their sins? Let’s look at two nations, Israel and Ammon in Ezekiel 21.
Would God draw out His sword from its sheath against Israel?
Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, “Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem, and preach toward the sanctuaries, and prophesy against the land of Israel. Tell the land of Israel, ‘Yahweh says: “Behold, I am against you, and will draw my sword out of its sheath, and will cut off from you the righteous and the wicked. Seeing then that I will cut off from you the righteous and the wicked, therefore my sword will go out of its sheath against all flesh from the south to the north. All flesh will know that I, Yahweh, have drawn my sword out of its sheath. It will not return any more.”’ (Ezek 21:1-5 WEB)
Would people tremble at this bad news for the nation?
You, human one [Son of man], groan in their sight; groan bitterly with trembling knees. If they ask you why you’re groaning, say to them, “Because of the news.” When it comes, every heart will despair, every hand will hang lifeless, every spirit will be listless, and urine will run down every leg. It’s coming! It will happen! This is what the Lord God says. (Ezek 21:6-7 CEB)
What was God’s warning to Jerusalem that they had ignored?
The Lord said: Ezekiel, son of man, tell the people of Jerusalem: I have sharpened my sword to slaughter you; it is shiny and will flash like lightning! Don't celebrate— punishment is coming, because everyone has ignored my warnings. My sword has been polished; it's sharp and ready to kill.
Cry out and wail, son of man, for it is against my people. It is against all the princes of Israel. They are delivered over to the sword with my people. Strike therefore upon your thigh. For it will not be a testing—what could it do if you despise the rod?” declares the Lord God. (Ezek 21:8-13 CEV)
Would men’s hearts melt, and many stumble at the great slaughter coming?
“As for you, son of man, prophesy. Clap your hands and let the sword come down twice, yes, three times, the sword for those to be slain. It is the sword for the great slaughter, which surrounds them, that their hearts may melt, and many stumble. At all their gates I have given the glittering sword.
Ah, it is made like lightning; it is taken up for slaughter. Cut sharply to the right; set yourself to the left, wherever your face is directed. I also will clap my hands, and I will satisfy my fury; I the Lord have spoken.” (Ezek 21:14-17 ESV)
How did the king of Babylon decide to attack Jerusalem and not Rabbah (Amman)?
Then the word of the Lord came to me: “Now you, son of man, mark out two roads that the sword of Babylon’s king can take. Both of them should originate from the same land. And make a signpost at the fork in the road to each city. Mark out a road that the sword can take to Rabbah of the Ammonites and to Judah into fortified Jerusalem.
For the king of Babylon stands at the split in the road, at the fork of the two roads, to practice divination: he shakes the arrows, consults the idols, and observes the liver.
The answer marked Jerusalem appears in his right hand, indicating that he should set up battering rams, give the order to slaughter, raise a battle cry, set battering rams against the gates, build a ramp, and construct a siege wall. It will seem like false divination in the eyes of those who have sworn an oath to the Babylonians, but it will draw attention to their guilt so that they will be captured. (Ezek 21:18-23 HCSB)
Did the people remember their guilt and deserve punishment? Would there be a great reversal: the humble exalted, the exalted humbled?
Therefore this is what the Lord God says: “Because you remembered your sins when your transgressions were uncovered, your sins are visibly evident in everything you’ve done. And since you’ve remembered them, you’ll be taken captive.
“So now, you dishonored and wicked prince of Israel, whose day has come in this time of final punishment, This is what the Lord God says: ‘Remove your turban! Take off your crown! Things aren’t going to remain as they used to be. What is lowly will be exalted, and what is lofty will be brought low. A ruin! A ruin! I’m bringing about ruin!’ But this also will not happen until he who has authority over it arrives, because I’ll give it to him.” (Ezek 21:24-27 ISV)
What does God say to the Ammonites, an ancient people that no longer exist?
And thou, son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord God concerning the Ammonites, and concerning their reproach; even say thou, The sword, the sword is drawn: for the slaughter it is furbished, to consume because of the glittering:
Whiles they see vanity unto thee, whiles they divine a lie unto thee, to bring thee upon the necks of them that are slain, of the wicked, whose day is come, when their iniquity shall have an end. (Ezek 21:28-29 KJV)
Would God pour out His indignation on the Ammonites? Would they be forgotten as a people?
Return it to its sheath. In the place where you were created, in the land of your origin, I will judge you. And I will pour out My indignation on you; I will blow on you with the fire of My fury, and I will give you into the hand of brutal men, craftsmen of destruction. You will be fuel for the fire; your blood will be in the midst of the land. You will not be remembered, for I, Yahweh, have spoken.’” (Ezek 21:30-32 LSB)
Does Jesus use similar imagery when He returns to judge the nations?
From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. (Rev 19:15 NASB)
Does God judge nations for their sins? You decide!
Would God draw out His sword from its sheath against Israel?
Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, “Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem, and preach toward the sanctuaries, and prophesy against the land of Israel. Tell the land of Israel, ‘Yahweh says: “Behold, I am against you, and will draw my sword out of its sheath, and will cut off from you the righteous and the wicked. Seeing then that I will cut off from you the righteous and the wicked, therefore my sword will go out of its sheath against all flesh from the south to the north. All flesh will know that I, Yahweh, have drawn my sword out of its sheath. It will not return any more.”’ (Ezek 21:1-5 WEB)
Would people tremble at this bad news for the nation?
You, human one [Son of man], groan in their sight; groan bitterly with trembling knees. If they ask you why you’re groaning, say to them, “Because of the news.” When it comes, every heart will despair, every hand will hang lifeless, every spirit will be listless, and urine will run down every leg. It’s coming! It will happen! This is what the Lord God says. (Ezek 21:6-7 CEB)
What was God’s warning to Jerusalem that they had ignored?
The Lord said: Ezekiel, son of man, tell the people of Jerusalem: I have sharpened my sword to slaughter you; it is shiny and will flash like lightning! Don't celebrate— punishment is coming, because everyone has ignored my warnings. My sword has been polished; it's sharp and ready to kill.
Cry out and wail, son of man, for it is against my people. It is against all the princes of Israel. They are delivered over to the sword with my people. Strike therefore upon your thigh. For it will not be a testing—what could it do if you despise the rod?” declares the Lord God. (Ezek 21:8-13 CEV)
Would men’s hearts melt, and many stumble at the great slaughter coming?
“As for you, son of man, prophesy. Clap your hands and let the sword come down twice, yes, three times, the sword for those to be slain. It is the sword for the great slaughter, which surrounds them, that their hearts may melt, and many stumble. At all their gates I have given the glittering sword.
Ah, it is made like lightning; it is taken up for slaughter. Cut sharply to the right; set yourself to the left, wherever your face is directed. I also will clap my hands, and I will satisfy my fury; I the Lord have spoken.” (Ezek 21:14-17 ESV)
How did the king of Babylon decide to attack Jerusalem and not Rabbah (Amman)?
Then the word of the Lord came to me: “Now you, son of man, mark out two roads that the sword of Babylon’s king can take. Both of them should originate from the same land. And make a signpost at the fork in the road to each city. Mark out a road that the sword can take to Rabbah of the Ammonites and to Judah into fortified Jerusalem.
For the king of Babylon stands at the split in the road, at the fork of the two roads, to practice divination: he shakes the arrows, consults the idols, and observes the liver.
The answer marked Jerusalem appears in his right hand, indicating that he should set up battering rams, give the order to slaughter, raise a battle cry, set battering rams against the gates, build a ramp, and construct a siege wall. It will seem like false divination in the eyes of those who have sworn an oath to the Babylonians, but it will draw attention to their guilt so that they will be captured. (Ezek 21:18-23 HCSB)
Did the people remember their guilt and deserve punishment? Would there be a great reversal: the humble exalted, the exalted humbled?
Therefore this is what the Lord God says: “Because you remembered your sins when your transgressions were uncovered, your sins are visibly evident in everything you’ve done. And since you’ve remembered them, you’ll be taken captive.
“So now, you dishonored and wicked prince of Israel, whose day has come in this time of final punishment, This is what the Lord God says: ‘Remove your turban! Take off your crown! Things aren’t going to remain as they used to be. What is lowly will be exalted, and what is lofty will be brought low. A ruin! A ruin! I’m bringing about ruin!’ But this also will not happen until he who has authority over it arrives, because I’ll give it to him.” (Ezek 21:24-27 ISV)
What does God say to the Ammonites, an ancient people that no longer exist?
And thou, son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord God concerning the Ammonites, and concerning their reproach; even say thou, The sword, the sword is drawn: for the slaughter it is furbished, to consume because of the glittering:
Whiles they see vanity unto thee, whiles they divine a lie unto thee, to bring thee upon the necks of them that are slain, of the wicked, whose day is come, when their iniquity shall have an end. (Ezek 21:28-29 KJV)
Would God pour out His indignation on the Ammonites? Would they be forgotten as a people?
Return it to its sheath. In the place where you were created, in the land of your origin, I will judge you. And I will pour out My indignation on you; I will blow on you with the fire of My fury, and I will give you into the hand of brutal men, craftsmen of destruction. You will be fuel for the fire; your blood will be in the midst of the land. You will not be remembered, for I, Yahweh, have spoken.’” (Ezek 21:30-32 LSB)
Does Jesus use similar imagery when He returns to judge the nations?
From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. (Rev 19:15 NASB)
Does God judge nations for their sins? You decide!
Bad Citizens (Ezekiel 20)
Are ordinary people also to blame for a nation’s problems? Let’s look at Ezekiel 20.
Would God listen to rebellious and apostate leaders of the nation?
In the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire of Yahweh, and sat before me. Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and tell them, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Is it to inquire of me that you have come? As I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “I will not be inquired of by you.”’ (Ezek 20:1-3 WEB)
What did God demand that each citizen of the land do?
Son of man, bring charges against them and condemn them. Make them realize how detestable the sins of their ancestors really were. Give them this message from the Sovereign Lord: When I chose Israel—when I revealed myself to the descendants of Jacob in Egypt—I took a solemn oath that I, the Lord, would be their God.
I took a solemn oath that day that I would bring them out of Egypt to a land I had discovered and explored for them—a good land, a land flowing with milk and honey, the best of all lands anywhere. Then I said to them, ‘Each of you, get rid of the vile images you are so obsessed with. Do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt, for I am the Lord your God.’ (Ezek 20:4-7 NLT)
What sins did the people commit in the land of Egypt?
But they rebelled against me and refused to listen to me. No one cast off their disgusting things or abandoned their Egyptian idols. So I declared that I would pour out my wrath on them and satisfy my anger against them in the land of Egypt. But I acted for my name’s sake, so that it wouldn’t be degraded in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, and in whose sight I made it known that I would lead them out of the land of Egypt. (Ezek 20:8-9 CEB)
Did Israel fare any better in obeying God once they were freed from Egyptian slavery?
So I brought them out and led them into the desert. I gave them my laws and teachings, so they would know how to live right. And I commanded them to respect the Sabbath as a way of showing that they were holy and belonged to me. But the Israelites rebelled against me in the desert. They refused to obey my laws and teachings, and they treated the Sabbath like any other day. Then in my anger, I decided to destroy the Israelites in the desert once and for all. (Ezek 20:10-13 CEV)
Did the people continue worshipping idols even though they were freed in the desert?
But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out. Moreover, I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land that I had given them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most glorious of all lands, because they rejected my rules and did not walk in my statutes, and profaned my Sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols. Nevertheless, my eye spared them, and I did not destroy them or make a full end of them in the wilderness. (Ezek 20:14-17 ESV)
What did God want to do with the people who rebelled against Him in the wilderness?
Then I said to their children in the wilderness: Don’t follow the statutes of your fathers, defile yourselves with their idols, or keep their ordinances. I am Yahweh your God. Follow My statutes, keep My ordinances, and practice them. Keep My Sabbaths holy, and they will be a sign between Me and you, so you may know that I am Yahweh your God.
But the children rebelled against Me. They did not follow My statutes or carefully keep My ordinances—the person who does them will live by them. They also profaned My Sabbaths. So I considered pouring out My wrath on them and exhausting My anger against them in the wilderness. (Ezek 20:18-21 HCSB)
What disgusting things did the people do that God decided to scatter them among the nations?
But I withdrew my decision so my reputation wouldn’t be tarnished among the nations before whose eyes I brought them out. Furthermore, I solemnly swore in the wilderness to disperse them among the nations and scatter them to other lands because they didn’t observe my ordinances. Instead, they rejected my statutes, profaned my Sabbaths, and worshipped their ancestors’ idols.
So I gave them statutes that weren’t good and ordinances by which they could not live. I made them unclean because of their offerings, so they made all their firstborn to pass through the fire, so that I could make them astonished. Then they’ll know that I am the Lord.” (Ezek 20:22-26 ISV)
Did the people offer pagan sacrifices on every high hill to their idols?
Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me. For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings. Then I said unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? And the name whereof is called Bamah unto this day. (Ezek 20:27-29 KJV)
Did the people want to be just like other nations instead of faithful to God?
Therefore, say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, “Will you defile yourselves in the way of your fathers and play the harlot after their detestable things? And when you offer your gifts, when you cause your sons to pass through the fire, you are defiling yourselves with all your idols to this day. And shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live,” declares Lord Yahweh, “I will not be inquired of by you. And what comes upon your spirit will not happen, when you say: ‘We will be like the nations, like the families of the lands, to minister to wood and stone.’ (Ezek 20:30-32 LSB)
Will there be another Exodus out of this world and another covenant?
“As I live,” declares the Lord God, “with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out, I assuredly shall be king over you. I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you are scattered, with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out; and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face.
Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you,” declares the Lord God. “I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant; and I will purge from you the rebels and those who revolt against Me; I will bring them out of the land where they reside, but they will not enter the land of Israel. So you will know that I am the Lord. (Ezek 20:33-38 NASB)
What further does the Lord say to the people of Israel?
“‘As for you, people of Israel, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Go and serve your idols, every one of you! But afterward you will surely listen to me and no longer profane my holy name with your gifts and idols. For on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord, there in the land all the people of Israel will serve me, and there I will accept them.
There I will require your offerings and your choice gifts, along with all your holy sacrifices. I will accept you as fragrant incense when I bring you out from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will be proved holy through you in the sight of the nations.
Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the land I had sworn with uplifted hand to give to your ancestors. There you will remember your conduct and all the actions by which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil you have done. You will know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for my name’s sake and not according to your evil ways and your corrupt practices, you people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.’” (Ezek 20:39-44 NIV)
Did God prophesy against the southern kingdom of Judah, that her forests would be burned up? Are there many forests in southern Israel today? Did the people take this literally or excuse it as a parable or allegory?
Furthermore the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, set your face toward the south; preach against the south and prophesy against the forest land, the South, and say to the forest of the South, ‘Hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree and every dry tree in you; the blazing flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be scorched by it. All flesh shall see that I, the Lord, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.” ’ ” Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! They say of me, ‘Does he not speak parables?’ ” (Ezek 20:45-49 NKJV)
Is this a warning for us today not to harden our hearts like them?
Remember what it says: “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled.” (Heb 3:15 NLT)
Are ordinary people also to blame for a nation’s problems? You decide!
Would God listen to rebellious and apostate leaders of the nation?
In the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire of Yahweh, and sat before me. Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and tell them, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Is it to inquire of me that you have come? As I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “I will not be inquired of by you.”’ (Ezek 20:1-3 WEB)
What did God demand that each citizen of the land do?
Son of man, bring charges against them and condemn them. Make them realize how detestable the sins of their ancestors really were. Give them this message from the Sovereign Lord: When I chose Israel—when I revealed myself to the descendants of Jacob in Egypt—I took a solemn oath that I, the Lord, would be their God.
I took a solemn oath that day that I would bring them out of Egypt to a land I had discovered and explored for them—a good land, a land flowing with milk and honey, the best of all lands anywhere. Then I said to them, ‘Each of you, get rid of the vile images you are so obsessed with. Do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt, for I am the Lord your God.’ (Ezek 20:4-7 NLT)
What sins did the people commit in the land of Egypt?
But they rebelled against me and refused to listen to me. No one cast off their disgusting things or abandoned their Egyptian idols. So I declared that I would pour out my wrath on them and satisfy my anger against them in the land of Egypt. But I acted for my name’s sake, so that it wouldn’t be degraded in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, and in whose sight I made it known that I would lead them out of the land of Egypt. (Ezek 20:8-9 CEB)
Did Israel fare any better in obeying God once they were freed from Egyptian slavery?
So I brought them out and led them into the desert. I gave them my laws and teachings, so they would know how to live right. And I commanded them to respect the Sabbath as a way of showing that they were holy and belonged to me. But the Israelites rebelled against me in the desert. They refused to obey my laws and teachings, and they treated the Sabbath like any other day. Then in my anger, I decided to destroy the Israelites in the desert once and for all. (Ezek 20:10-13 CEV)
Did the people continue worshipping idols even though they were freed in the desert?
But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out. Moreover, I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land that I had given them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most glorious of all lands, because they rejected my rules and did not walk in my statutes, and profaned my Sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols. Nevertheless, my eye spared them, and I did not destroy them or make a full end of them in the wilderness. (Ezek 20:14-17 ESV)
What did God want to do with the people who rebelled against Him in the wilderness?
Then I said to their children in the wilderness: Don’t follow the statutes of your fathers, defile yourselves with their idols, or keep their ordinances. I am Yahweh your God. Follow My statutes, keep My ordinances, and practice them. Keep My Sabbaths holy, and they will be a sign between Me and you, so you may know that I am Yahweh your God.
But the children rebelled against Me. They did not follow My statutes or carefully keep My ordinances—the person who does them will live by them. They also profaned My Sabbaths. So I considered pouring out My wrath on them and exhausting My anger against them in the wilderness. (Ezek 20:18-21 HCSB)
What disgusting things did the people do that God decided to scatter them among the nations?
But I withdrew my decision so my reputation wouldn’t be tarnished among the nations before whose eyes I brought them out. Furthermore, I solemnly swore in the wilderness to disperse them among the nations and scatter them to other lands because they didn’t observe my ordinances. Instead, they rejected my statutes, profaned my Sabbaths, and worshipped their ancestors’ idols.
So I gave them statutes that weren’t good and ordinances by which they could not live. I made them unclean because of their offerings, so they made all their firstborn to pass through the fire, so that I could make them astonished. Then they’ll know that I am the Lord.” (Ezek 20:22-26 ISV)
Did the people offer pagan sacrifices on every high hill to their idols?
Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me. For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings. Then I said unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? And the name whereof is called Bamah unto this day. (Ezek 20:27-29 KJV)
Did the people want to be just like other nations instead of faithful to God?
Therefore, say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, “Will you defile yourselves in the way of your fathers and play the harlot after their detestable things? And when you offer your gifts, when you cause your sons to pass through the fire, you are defiling yourselves with all your idols to this day. And shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live,” declares Lord Yahweh, “I will not be inquired of by you. And what comes upon your spirit will not happen, when you say: ‘We will be like the nations, like the families of the lands, to minister to wood and stone.’ (Ezek 20:30-32 LSB)
Will there be another Exodus out of this world and another covenant?
“As I live,” declares the Lord God, “with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out, I assuredly shall be king over you. I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you are scattered, with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out; and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face.
Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you,” declares the Lord God. “I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant; and I will purge from you the rebels and those who revolt against Me; I will bring them out of the land where they reside, but they will not enter the land of Israel. So you will know that I am the Lord. (Ezek 20:33-38 NASB)
What further does the Lord say to the people of Israel?
“‘As for you, people of Israel, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Go and serve your idols, every one of you! But afterward you will surely listen to me and no longer profane my holy name with your gifts and idols. For on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord, there in the land all the people of Israel will serve me, and there I will accept them.
There I will require your offerings and your choice gifts, along with all your holy sacrifices. I will accept you as fragrant incense when I bring you out from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will be proved holy through you in the sight of the nations.
Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the land I had sworn with uplifted hand to give to your ancestors. There you will remember your conduct and all the actions by which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil you have done. You will know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for my name’s sake and not according to your evil ways and your corrupt practices, you people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.’” (Ezek 20:39-44 NIV)
Did God prophesy against the southern kingdom of Judah, that her forests would be burned up? Are there many forests in southern Israel today? Did the people take this literally or excuse it as a parable or allegory?
Furthermore the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, set your face toward the south; preach against the south and prophesy against the forest land, the South, and say to the forest of the South, ‘Hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree and every dry tree in you; the blazing flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be scorched by it. All flesh shall see that I, the Lord, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.” ’ ” Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! They say of me, ‘Does he not speak parables?’ ” (Ezek 20:45-49 NKJV)
Is this a warning for us today not to harden our hearts like them?
Remember what it says: “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled.” (Heb 3:15 NLT)
Are ordinary people also to blame for a nation’s problems? You decide!
Bad Leaders (Ezekiel 19)
Is this world’s leadership just doomed to fail without God? Let’s begin in Ezekiel 19.
Did Egypt trap king Jehoahaz like a lion in a pit, ending his brief reign?
Moreover take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel, And say, What is thy mother? A lioness: she lay down among lions, she nourished her whelps among young lions. And she brought up one of her whelps: it became a young lion, and it learned to catch the prey; it devoured men. The nations also heard of him; he was taken in their pit, and they brought him with chains unto the land of Egypt. (Ezek 19:1-4 KJV)
Is a second lion like Jehoiachin who becomes even more fearsome, terrifying the land. Does Babylon cage him, so his roar is never again heard on Israel’s mountains?
Then she saw, as she waited, That her hope was lost, So she took another of her cubs And made him a young lion. And he walked about among the lions; He became a young lion; He learned to tear his prey; He devoured men. He knew how to destroy their fortified towers And laid waste their cities; And the land was in desolation, as well as its fullness Because of the sound of his roaring.
Then nations put themselves against him All around from their provinces, And they spread their net over him; He was captured in their pit. They put him in a cage with hooks And brought him to the king of Babylon; They brought him in hunting nets So that his voice would be heard no more On the mountains of Israel. (Ezek 19:5-9 LSB)
Was Zedekiah like a dried up vine, planted by the waters, uprooted in anger, thrown to the ground, and scorched by an east wind, destroying the last branch?
Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard, Planted by the waters; It was fruitful and thick with branches Because of abundant waters. And it had strong stems fit for scepters of rulers, And its height was raised above the clouds So that it was seen in its height with the mass of its branches.
But it was uprooted in fury; It was thrown down to the ground; And the east wind dried up its fruit. Its strong stem was torn out So that it withered; The fire consumed it. And now it is planted in the wilderness, In a dry and thirsty land. And fire has gone out from its stem; It has consumed its shoots and fruit, So that there is no strong stem in it, A scepter to rule.’”
This is a song of mourning, and has become a song of mourning. (Ezek 19:10-14 NASB)
Is there leadership we can trust, Jesus THE lion of the tribe of Judah, who will triumph?
I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals (Rev 5:4-5 NIV)
Is there a leader we can trust, Jesus the true vine, in whom we can abide and bear fruit?
I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. (John 15:1-4 NKJV)
Is this world’s leadership just doomed to fail without God? You decide!
Did Egypt trap king Jehoahaz like a lion in a pit, ending his brief reign?
Moreover take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel, And say, What is thy mother? A lioness: she lay down among lions, she nourished her whelps among young lions. And she brought up one of her whelps: it became a young lion, and it learned to catch the prey; it devoured men. The nations also heard of him; he was taken in their pit, and they brought him with chains unto the land of Egypt. (Ezek 19:1-4 KJV)
Is a second lion like Jehoiachin who becomes even more fearsome, terrifying the land. Does Babylon cage him, so his roar is never again heard on Israel’s mountains?
Then she saw, as she waited, That her hope was lost, So she took another of her cubs And made him a young lion. And he walked about among the lions; He became a young lion; He learned to tear his prey; He devoured men. He knew how to destroy their fortified towers And laid waste their cities; And the land was in desolation, as well as its fullness Because of the sound of his roaring.
Then nations put themselves against him All around from their provinces, And they spread their net over him; He was captured in their pit. They put him in a cage with hooks And brought him to the king of Babylon; They brought him in hunting nets So that his voice would be heard no more On the mountains of Israel. (Ezek 19:5-9 LSB)
Was Zedekiah like a dried up vine, planted by the waters, uprooted in anger, thrown to the ground, and scorched by an east wind, destroying the last branch?
Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard, Planted by the waters; It was fruitful and thick with branches Because of abundant waters. And it had strong stems fit for scepters of rulers, And its height was raised above the clouds So that it was seen in its height with the mass of its branches.
But it was uprooted in fury; It was thrown down to the ground; And the east wind dried up its fruit. Its strong stem was torn out So that it withered; The fire consumed it. And now it is planted in the wilderness, In a dry and thirsty land. And fire has gone out from its stem; It has consumed its shoots and fruit, So that there is no strong stem in it, A scepter to rule.’”
This is a song of mourning, and has become a song of mourning. (Ezek 19:10-14 NASB)
Is there leadership we can trust, Jesus THE lion of the tribe of Judah, who will triumph?
I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals (Rev 5:4-5 NIV)
Is there a leader we can trust, Jesus the true vine, in whom we can abide and bear fruit?
I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. (John 15:1-4 NKJV)
Is this world’s leadership just doomed to fail without God? You decide!
Repentance (Ezekiel 18)
Is individual repentance a part of both the new and old covenants? Let’s look at Ezekiel 18.
Is the ultimate penalty for sin passed upon both the guilty and the innocent?
Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “What do you people mean by using this proverb about the land of Israel, saying, ‘The fathers eat sour grapes, But it is the children’s teeth that have become blunt’? As I live,” declares the Lord God, “you certainly are not going to use this proverb in Israel anymore. Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die. (Ezek 18:1-4 NASB)
Is there a godly reward for living a good and upright life?
Suppose there is a righteous man who does what is just and right. He does not eat at the mountain shrines or look to the idols of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife or have sexual relations with a woman during her period. He does not oppress anyone, but returns what he took in pledge for a loan.
He does not commit robbery but gives his food to the hungry and provides clothing for the naked. He does not lend to them at interest or take a profit from them. He withholds his hand from doing wrong and judges fairly between two parties. He follows my decrees and faithfully keeps my laws. That man is righteous; he will surely live, declares the Sovereign Lord. (Ezek 18:5-9 NIV)
What if that righteous man has an unrighteous son, will he die in his own sins?
If he begets a son who is a robber Or a shedder of blood, Who does any of these things And does none of those duties, But has eaten on the mountains Or defiled his neighbor’s wife; If he has oppressed the poor and needy, Robbed by violence, Not restored the pledge, Lifted his eyes to the idols, Or committed abomination; If he has exacted usury Or taken increase—Shall he then live? He shall not live! If he has done any of these abominations, He shall surely die; His blood shall be upon him. (Ezek 18:10-13 NKJV)
What if that unrighteous son has a righteous son, will that grandson live?
But suppose that sinful son, in turn, has a son who sees his father’s wickedness and decides against that kind of life. This son refuses to worship idols on the mountains and does not commit adultery. He does not exploit the poor, but instead is fair to debtors and does not rob them. He gives food to the hungry and provides clothes for the needy. He helps the poor, does not lend money at interest, and obeys all my regulations and decrees. Such a person will not die because of his father’s sins; he will surely live. But the father will die for his many sins—for being cruel, robbing people, and doing what was clearly wrong among his people. (Ezek 18:14-18 NLT)
Should any of us bear the ultimate penalty for the sins of anyone else?
Yet you say, ‘Why doesn’t the son bear the iniquity of the father?’ When the son has done that which is lawful and right, and has kept all my statutes, and has done them, he will surely live. The soul who sins, he shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be on him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be on him. (Ezek 18:19-20 WEB)
What if the wicked turn away from all their sins and change their ways?
But if the wicked turn away from all the sins that they have committed, keep all my regulations, and act justly and responsibly, they will surely live and not die. None of the sins that they committed will be held against them, but they will live because they do the right things. Do I take pleasure in the death of the wicked? says the Lord God. Certainly not! If they change their ways, they will live. (Ezek 18:21-23 CEB)
What if good people start to sin and start doing disgusting things?
But when good people start sinning and doing disgusting things, will they live? No! All their good deeds will be forgotten, and they will be put to death because of their sins. (Ezek 18:24 CEV)
Is God’s way just or not? Are our world’s ways just or not?
Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die. Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? (Ezek 18:25-29 ESV)
What was God’s declaration about repentance to the house of Israel?
“Therefore, house of Israel, I will judge each one of you according to his ways.” This is the declaration of the Lord God. “Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so they will not be a stumbling block that causes your punishment. Throw off all the transgressions you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death.” This is the declaration of the Lord God. “So repent and live!” (Ezek 18:30-32 HCSB)
Is repentance still a part of the message that Jesus preached?
From then on, Jesus began to announce, “Repent, because the kingdom from heaven is near!” (Mat 4:17 ISV)
Is individual repentance a part of both the new and old covenants? You decide!
Is the ultimate penalty for sin passed upon both the guilty and the innocent?
Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “What do you people mean by using this proverb about the land of Israel, saying, ‘The fathers eat sour grapes, But it is the children’s teeth that have become blunt’? As I live,” declares the Lord God, “you certainly are not going to use this proverb in Israel anymore. Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die. (Ezek 18:1-4 NASB)
Is there a godly reward for living a good and upright life?
Suppose there is a righteous man who does what is just and right. He does not eat at the mountain shrines or look to the idols of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife or have sexual relations with a woman during her period. He does not oppress anyone, but returns what he took in pledge for a loan.
He does not commit robbery but gives his food to the hungry and provides clothing for the naked. He does not lend to them at interest or take a profit from them. He withholds his hand from doing wrong and judges fairly between two parties. He follows my decrees and faithfully keeps my laws. That man is righteous; he will surely live, declares the Sovereign Lord. (Ezek 18:5-9 NIV)
What if that righteous man has an unrighteous son, will he die in his own sins?
If he begets a son who is a robber Or a shedder of blood, Who does any of these things And does none of those duties, But has eaten on the mountains Or defiled his neighbor’s wife; If he has oppressed the poor and needy, Robbed by violence, Not restored the pledge, Lifted his eyes to the idols, Or committed abomination; If he has exacted usury Or taken increase—Shall he then live? He shall not live! If he has done any of these abominations, He shall surely die; His blood shall be upon him. (Ezek 18:10-13 NKJV)
What if that unrighteous son has a righteous son, will that grandson live?
But suppose that sinful son, in turn, has a son who sees his father’s wickedness and decides against that kind of life. This son refuses to worship idols on the mountains and does not commit adultery. He does not exploit the poor, but instead is fair to debtors and does not rob them. He gives food to the hungry and provides clothes for the needy. He helps the poor, does not lend money at interest, and obeys all my regulations and decrees. Such a person will not die because of his father’s sins; he will surely live. But the father will die for his many sins—for being cruel, robbing people, and doing what was clearly wrong among his people. (Ezek 18:14-18 NLT)
Should any of us bear the ultimate penalty for the sins of anyone else?
Yet you say, ‘Why doesn’t the son bear the iniquity of the father?’ When the son has done that which is lawful and right, and has kept all my statutes, and has done them, he will surely live. The soul who sins, he shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be on him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be on him. (Ezek 18:19-20 WEB)
What if the wicked turn away from all their sins and change their ways?
But if the wicked turn away from all the sins that they have committed, keep all my regulations, and act justly and responsibly, they will surely live and not die. None of the sins that they committed will be held against them, but they will live because they do the right things. Do I take pleasure in the death of the wicked? says the Lord God. Certainly not! If they change their ways, they will live. (Ezek 18:21-23 CEB)
What if good people start to sin and start doing disgusting things?
But when good people start sinning and doing disgusting things, will they live? No! All their good deeds will be forgotten, and they will be put to death because of their sins. (Ezek 18:24 CEV)
Is God’s way just or not? Are our world’s ways just or not?
Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die. Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? (Ezek 18:25-29 ESV)
What was God’s declaration about repentance to the house of Israel?
“Therefore, house of Israel, I will judge each one of you according to his ways.” This is the declaration of the Lord God. “Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so they will not be a stumbling block that causes your punishment. Throw off all the transgressions you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death.” This is the declaration of the Lord God. “So repent and live!” (Ezek 18:30-32 HCSB)
Is repentance still a part of the message that Jesus preached?
From then on, Jesus began to announce, “Repent, because the kingdom from heaven is near!” (Mat 4:17 ISV)
Is individual repentance a part of both the new and old covenants? You decide!
Parable of Unfaithfulness (Ezekiel 17)
Does a parable begin to explain why salvation is not found in politics but in faithfulness to God? Let’s look at a parable of unfaithfulness in Ezekiel 17.
What did an eagle do with a cedar branch from Lebanon and a seed from Israel?
The Lord said: Ezekiel, son of man, tell the people of Israel the following story, so they will understand what I am saying to them: A large eagle with strong wings and beautiful feathers once flew to Lebanon. It broke the top branch off a cedar tree, then carried it to a nation of merchants and left it in one of their cities.
The eagle also took a seed from Israel and planted it in a fertile field with plenty of water, like a willow tree beside a stream. The seed sprouted and grew into a grapevine that spread over the ground. It had lots of leaves and strong, deep roots, and its branches grew upward toward the eagle. (Ezek 17:1-6 CEV)
What happens to the vine with a second great eagle?
Now there was another great eagle with great wings and much plumage. This vine bent its roots and turned its branches toward him so that it might draw more water from him than from its own bed, a good field with plentiful water where it was planted to grow branches, bear fruit, and become a splendid vine.
Say, The Lord God proclaims: Will it thrive? Won’t he tear out its roots, strip its fruit, and cause all the leaves of its branches to wither? It will dry up, and no one will need a strong arm or a mighty army to uproot it. Though it is planted, will it thrive? When the east wind touches it, won’t it completely wither? On the bed in which it was planted, it will wither away. (Ezek 17:7-10 CEB)
Are the two eagles Babylon that removed Judah’s king and Egypt that they broke covenant with God by seeking aid there?
Then the word of the Lord came to me: “Say now to the rebellious house, Do you not know what these things mean? Tell them, behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and took her king and her princes and brought them to him to Babylon.
And he took one of the royal offspring and made a covenant with him, putting him under oath (the chief men of the land he had taken away), that the kingdom might be humble and not lift itself up, and keep his covenant that it might stand. But he rebelled against him by sending his ambassadors to Egypt, that they might give him horses and a large army. Will he thrive? Can one escape who does such things? Can he break the covenant and yet escape? (Ezek 17:11-15 ESV)
Did the king of Judah break his covenant pledge?
“As I live”—this is the declaration of the Lord God—“he will die in Babylon, in the land of the king who put him on the throne, whose oath he despised and whose covenant he broke. Pharaoh will not help him with his great army and vast horde in battle, when ramps are built and siege walls constructed to destroy many lives. He despised the oath by breaking the covenant. He did all these things even though he gave his hand in pledge. He will not escape!” (Ezek 17:16-18 HCSB)
Should the king of Judah suffer the consequences of his treachery?
Therefore, this is what the Lord God says, “As long as I live, because he despised my oath and broke my covenant, he’s going to suffer the consequences. I’ll spread my net over him so that he’ll be caught in my snare. I’ll bring him to Babylon and carry out my sentence there because of his treachery toward me. The fugitives of his troops will die by the sword, and the survivors will be scattered to the four winds. Then you’ll know that I, the Lord, have spoken.” (Ezek 17:19-21 ISV)
Is the tender one symbolic of Jesus? Is this similar to Isaiah’s prophecy of a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch that would grow out of his roots?
Thus saith the Lord God; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent: In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell. And all the trees of the field shall know that I the Lord have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the Lord have spoken and have done it. (Ezek 17:22-24 KJV)
Is this chapter similar in some ways to a parable that Jesus gave?
He presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; and this is the smallest of all seeds, but when it is fully grown, it is the largest of the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” (Mat 13:31-32 LSB)
Does a parable begin to explain why salvation is not found in politics but in faithfulness to God? You decide!
What did an eagle do with a cedar branch from Lebanon and a seed from Israel?
The Lord said: Ezekiel, son of man, tell the people of Israel the following story, so they will understand what I am saying to them: A large eagle with strong wings and beautiful feathers once flew to Lebanon. It broke the top branch off a cedar tree, then carried it to a nation of merchants and left it in one of their cities.
The eagle also took a seed from Israel and planted it in a fertile field with plenty of water, like a willow tree beside a stream. The seed sprouted and grew into a grapevine that spread over the ground. It had lots of leaves and strong, deep roots, and its branches grew upward toward the eagle. (Ezek 17:1-6 CEV)
What happens to the vine with a second great eagle?
Now there was another great eagle with great wings and much plumage. This vine bent its roots and turned its branches toward him so that it might draw more water from him than from its own bed, a good field with plentiful water where it was planted to grow branches, bear fruit, and become a splendid vine.
Say, The Lord God proclaims: Will it thrive? Won’t he tear out its roots, strip its fruit, and cause all the leaves of its branches to wither? It will dry up, and no one will need a strong arm or a mighty army to uproot it. Though it is planted, will it thrive? When the east wind touches it, won’t it completely wither? On the bed in which it was planted, it will wither away. (Ezek 17:7-10 CEB)
Are the two eagles Babylon that removed Judah’s king and Egypt that they broke covenant with God by seeking aid there?
Then the word of the Lord came to me: “Say now to the rebellious house, Do you not know what these things mean? Tell them, behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and took her king and her princes and brought them to him to Babylon.
And he took one of the royal offspring and made a covenant with him, putting him under oath (the chief men of the land he had taken away), that the kingdom might be humble and not lift itself up, and keep his covenant that it might stand. But he rebelled against him by sending his ambassadors to Egypt, that they might give him horses and a large army. Will he thrive? Can one escape who does such things? Can he break the covenant and yet escape? (Ezek 17:11-15 ESV)
Did the king of Judah break his covenant pledge?
“As I live”—this is the declaration of the Lord God—“he will die in Babylon, in the land of the king who put him on the throne, whose oath he despised and whose covenant he broke. Pharaoh will not help him with his great army and vast horde in battle, when ramps are built and siege walls constructed to destroy many lives. He despised the oath by breaking the covenant. He did all these things even though he gave his hand in pledge. He will not escape!” (Ezek 17:16-18 HCSB)
Should the king of Judah suffer the consequences of his treachery?
Therefore, this is what the Lord God says, “As long as I live, because he despised my oath and broke my covenant, he’s going to suffer the consequences. I’ll spread my net over him so that he’ll be caught in my snare. I’ll bring him to Babylon and carry out my sentence there because of his treachery toward me. The fugitives of his troops will die by the sword, and the survivors will be scattered to the four winds. Then you’ll know that I, the Lord, have spoken.” (Ezek 17:19-21 ISV)
Is the tender one symbolic of Jesus? Is this similar to Isaiah’s prophecy of a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch that would grow out of his roots?
Thus saith the Lord God; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent: In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell. And all the trees of the field shall know that I the Lord have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the Lord have spoken and have done it. (Ezek 17:22-24 KJV)
Is this chapter similar in some ways to a parable that Jesus gave?
He presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; and this is the smallest of all seeds, but when it is fully grown, it is the largest of the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” (Mat 13:31-32 LSB)
Does a parable begin to explain why salvation is not found in politics but in faithfulness to God? You decide!
Unfaithful Jerusalem (Ezekiel 16)
Is the history of Jerusalem one of arrogant unfaithfulness? Let’s look at Ezekiel 16.
Was Jerusalem like an unwanted baby on the day it was born?
Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, “Son of man, make known to Jerusalem her abominations and say, ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh to Jerusalem, “Your origin and your birth are from the land of the Canaanite; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. As for your birth, on the day you were born your navel cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water for cleansing; you were not rubbed with salt or even wrapped in cloths. No eye had pity on you to do any of these things for you, to have compassion on you. Rather you were thrown out into the open field, for your soul was abhorred on the day you were born. (Ezek 16:1-5 LSB)
Did God pass by Jerusalem, see her squirming and tell her to live?
When I passed by you and saw you squirming in your blood, I said to you while you were in your blood, ‘Live!’ Yes, I said to you while you were in your blood, ‘Live!’ I made you very numerous, like plants of the field. Then you grew up, became tall and reached the age for fine jewelry; your breasts were formed and your hair had grown. Yet you were naked and bare. (Ezek 16:6-7 NASB)
When she was old enough did God make a marriage covenant with Jerusalem?
Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your naked body. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Sovereign Lord, and you became mine. (Ezek 16:8 NIV)
Did God take care of His new bride, adorning her with gold and silver?
“Then I washed you in water; yes, I thoroughly washed off your blood, and I anointed you with oil. I clothed you in embroidered cloth and gave you sandals of badger skin; I clothed you with fine linen and covered you with silk. I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on your wrists, and a chain on your neck. And I put a jewel in your nose, earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head.
“Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. You ate pastry of fine flour, honey, and oil. You were exceedingly beautiful, and succeeded to royalty. Your fame went out among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through My splendor which I had bestowed on you,” says the Lord God. (Ezek 16:9-14 NKJV)
Did Jerusalem betray her husband with spiritual prostitution, idolatry?
“But you thought your fame and beauty were your own. So you gave yourself as a prostitute to every man who came along. Your beauty was theirs for the asking. You used the lovely things I gave you to make shrines for idols, where you played the prostitute. Unbelievable! How could such a thing ever happen?
You took the very jewels and gold and silver ornaments I had given you and made statues of men and worshiped them. This is adultery against me! You used the beautifully embroidered clothes I gave you to dress your idols. Then you used my special oil and my incense to worship them. Imagine it! You set before them as a sacrifice the choice flour, olive oil, and honey I had given you, says the Sovereign Lord. (Ezek 16:15-19 NLT)
Did Jerusalem enter spiritual prostitution betraying her marriage to God, and also offer her children as sacrifices?
Moreover you have taken your sons and your daughters, whom you have borne to me, and you have sacrificed these to them to be devoured. Was your prostitution a small matter, that you have slain my children and delivered them up, in causing them to pass through the fire to them? In all your abominations and your prostitution you have not remembered the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, and were wallowing in your blood. (Ezek 16:20-22 WEB)
Did Jerusalem’s spiritual adultery include prostituting herself to all comers?
After all your wickedness—doom, doom to you, proclaims the Lord God— you built a pavilion for yourself and set up platforms in every square. At every crossroad you built your platform and degraded your beauty by spreading your legs to all comers. And so you encouraged even more promiscuity. You prostituted yourself with the Egyptians, your neighbors with the large sexual organs, and as you added to your seductions, you provoked me to anger. (Ezek 16:23-26 CEB)
Were even Jerusalem’s enemies shocked by her behavior chasing other nations as lovers?
So I punished you by letting those greedy Philistine enemies take over some of your territory. But even they were offended by your repulsive behavior. You couldn't get enough sex, so you chased after Assyrians and slept with them. You still weren't satisfied, so you went after Babylonians. But those merchants could not satisfy you either. (Ezek 16:27-29 CEV)
Was Jerusalem like an adulterous wife giving gifts to her lovers?
How sick is your heart, declares the Lord God, because you did all these things, the deeds of a brazen prostitute, building your vaulted chamber at the head of every street, and making your lofty place in every square. Yet you were not like a prostitute, because you scorned payment. Adulterous wife, who receives strangers instead of her husband! Men give gifts to all prostitutes, but you gave your gifts to all your lovers, bribing them to come to you from every side with your whorings. So you were different from other women in your whorings. No one solicited you to play the whore, and you gave payment, while no payment was given to you; therefore you were different. (Ezek 16:30-34 ESV)
What did God have to say to Jerusalem for her adulterous prostitution and sacrificing her children?
Therefore, you prostitute, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Lord God says: Because your lust was poured out and your nakedness exposed by your acts of prostitution with your lovers, and because of all your detestable idols and the blood of your children that you gave to them, I am therefore going to gather all the lovers you pleased—all those you loved as well as all those you hated. I will gather them against you from all around and expose your nakedness to them so they see you completely naked. I will judge you the way adulteresses and those who shed blood are judged. Then I will bring about your bloodshed in wrath and jealousy. (Ezek 16:35-38 HCSB)
What kind of punishment would God use to stop Jerusalem’s prostitution?
I’ll also deliver you into their control, and they’ll break down your mounds, tear down your high places, strip off your clothes, remove your fine jewels, and then they’ll leave you stark naked! They’ll bring a mob against you to stone you to death and cut you into pieces with their swords. Then they’ll burn your houses and carry out my sentence against you in the sight of many women. That’s how I’ll make you stop your prostitution so you won’t pay any prostitute’s fees anymore. (Ezek 16:39-41 ISV)
What outcome was God hoping for in His punishment of Jerusalem?
So will I make my fury toward thee to rest, and my jealousy shall depart from thee, and I will be quiet, and will be no more angry. Because thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, but hast fretted me in all these things; behold, therefore I also will recompense thy way upon thine head, saith the Lord God: and thou shalt not commit this lewdness above all thine abominations. (Ezek 16:42-43 KJV)
What proverb would be quoted against Jerusalem who acted worse than others?
Behold, everyone who quotes proverbs will quote this proverb concerning you, saying, ‘Like mother, like daughter.’ You are the daughter of your mother, who loathed her husband and children. You are also the sister of your sisters, who loathed their husbands and children. Your mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite. Now your older sister is Samaria, who lives north of you with her daughters; and your younger sister, who lives south of you, is Sodom with her daughters. Yet you have not merely walked in their ways or done according to their abominations; but, as if that were too little, you acted more corruptly in all your ways than they. (Ezek 16:44-47 LSB)
Had Jerusalem done worse than Sodom, who did not help the needy and committed abominations?
As I live,” declares the Lord God, “Sodom, your sister and her daughters have not done as you and your daughters have done! Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, plenty of food, and carefree ease, but she did not help the poor and needy. So they were haughty and committed abominations before Me. Therefore I removed them when I saw it. (Ezek 16:48-50 NASB)
Were Jerusalem’s sins so bad that even sinful Samaria appeared righteous?
Samaria did not commit half the sins you did. You have done more detestable things than they, and have made your sisters seem righteous by all these things you have done. Bear your disgrace, for you have furnished some justification for your sisters. Because your sins were more vile than theirs, they appear more righteous than you. So then, be ashamed and bear your disgrace, for you have made your sisters appear righteous. (Ezek 16:51-52 NIV)
Will God repatriate the captives of Sodom, Samaria and Jerusalem?
When I bring back their captives, the captives of Sodom and her daughters, and the captives of Samaria and her daughters, then I will also bring back the captives of your captivity among them, that you may bear your own shame and be disgraced by all that you did when you comforted them. When your sisters, Sodom and her daughters, return to their former state, and Samaria and her daughters return to their former state, then you and your daughters will return to your former state.
For your sister Sodom was not a byword in your mouth in the days of your pride, before your wickedness was uncovered. It was like the time of the reproach of the daughters of Syria and all those around her, and of the daughters of the Philistines, who despise you everywhere. You have paid for your lewdness and your abominations,” says the Lord. For thus says the Lord God: “I will deal with you as you have done, who despised the oath by breaking the covenant. (Ezek 16:53-59 NKJV)
Will God establish an everlasting covenant, whereby they will know that He is the Lord?
Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you when you were young, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you. Then you will remember with shame all the evil you have done. I will make your sisters, Samaria and Sodom, to be your daughters, even though they are not part of our covenant. And I will reaffirm my covenant with you, and you will know that I am the Lord. You will remember your sins and cover your mouth in silent shame when I forgive you of all that you have done. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken! (Ezek 16:60-63 NLT)
Is there another Jerusalem that is completely without sin?
But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all. (Gal 4:26 WEB)
Is the history of Jerusalem one of arrogant unfaithfulness? You decide!
Was Jerusalem like an unwanted baby on the day it was born?
Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, “Son of man, make known to Jerusalem her abominations and say, ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh to Jerusalem, “Your origin and your birth are from the land of the Canaanite; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. As for your birth, on the day you were born your navel cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water for cleansing; you were not rubbed with salt or even wrapped in cloths. No eye had pity on you to do any of these things for you, to have compassion on you. Rather you were thrown out into the open field, for your soul was abhorred on the day you were born. (Ezek 16:1-5 LSB)
Did God pass by Jerusalem, see her squirming and tell her to live?
When I passed by you and saw you squirming in your blood, I said to you while you were in your blood, ‘Live!’ Yes, I said to you while you were in your blood, ‘Live!’ I made you very numerous, like plants of the field. Then you grew up, became tall and reached the age for fine jewelry; your breasts were formed and your hair had grown. Yet you were naked and bare. (Ezek 16:6-7 NASB)
When she was old enough did God make a marriage covenant with Jerusalem?
Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your naked body. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Sovereign Lord, and you became mine. (Ezek 16:8 NIV)
Did God take care of His new bride, adorning her with gold and silver?
“Then I washed you in water; yes, I thoroughly washed off your blood, and I anointed you with oil. I clothed you in embroidered cloth and gave you sandals of badger skin; I clothed you with fine linen and covered you with silk. I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on your wrists, and a chain on your neck. And I put a jewel in your nose, earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head.
“Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. You ate pastry of fine flour, honey, and oil. You were exceedingly beautiful, and succeeded to royalty. Your fame went out among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through My splendor which I had bestowed on you,” says the Lord God. (Ezek 16:9-14 NKJV)
Did Jerusalem betray her husband with spiritual prostitution, idolatry?
“But you thought your fame and beauty were your own. So you gave yourself as a prostitute to every man who came along. Your beauty was theirs for the asking. You used the lovely things I gave you to make shrines for idols, where you played the prostitute. Unbelievable! How could such a thing ever happen?
You took the very jewels and gold and silver ornaments I had given you and made statues of men and worshiped them. This is adultery against me! You used the beautifully embroidered clothes I gave you to dress your idols. Then you used my special oil and my incense to worship them. Imagine it! You set before them as a sacrifice the choice flour, olive oil, and honey I had given you, says the Sovereign Lord. (Ezek 16:15-19 NLT)
Did Jerusalem enter spiritual prostitution betraying her marriage to God, and also offer her children as sacrifices?
Moreover you have taken your sons and your daughters, whom you have borne to me, and you have sacrificed these to them to be devoured. Was your prostitution a small matter, that you have slain my children and delivered them up, in causing them to pass through the fire to them? In all your abominations and your prostitution you have not remembered the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, and were wallowing in your blood. (Ezek 16:20-22 WEB)
Did Jerusalem’s spiritual adultery include prostituting herself to all comers?
After all your wickedness—doom, doom to you, proclaims the Lord God— you built a pavilion for yourself and set up platforms in every square. At every crossroad you built your platform and degraded your beauty by spreading your legs to all comers. And so you encouraged even more promiscuity. You prostituted yourself with the Egyptians, your neighbors with the large sexual organs, and as you added to your seductions, you provoked me to anger. (Ezek 16:23-26 CEB)
Were even Jerusalem’s enemies shocked by her behavior chasing other nations as lovers?
So I punished you by letting those greedy Philistine enemies take over some of your territory. But even they were offended by your repulsive behavior. You couldn't get enough sex, so you chased after Assyrians and slept with them. You still weren't satisfied, so you went after Babylonians. But those merchants could not satisfy you either. (Ezek 16:27-29 CEV)
Was Jerusalem like an adulterous wife giving gifts to her lovers?
How sick is your heart, declares the Lord God, because you did all these things, the deeds of a brazen prostitute, building your vaulted chamber at the head of every street, and making your lofty place in every square. Yet you were not like a prostitute, because you scorned payment. Adulterous wife, who receives strangers instead of her husband! Men give gifts to all prostitutes, but you gave your gifts to all your lovers, bribing them to come to you from every side with your whorings. So you were different from other women in your whorings. No one solicited you to play the whore, and you gave payment, while no payment was given to you; therefore you were different. (Ezek 16:30-34 ESV)
What did God have to say to Jerusalem for her adulterous prostitution and sacrificing her children?
Therefore, you prostitute, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Lord God says: Because your lust was poured out and your nakedness exposed by your acts of prostitution with your lovers, and because of all your detestable idols and the blood of your children that you gave to them, I am therefore going to gather all the lovers you pleased—all those you loved as well as all those you hated. I will gather them against you from all around and expose your nakedness to them so they see you completely naked. I will judge you the way adulteresses and those who shed blood are judged. Then I will bring about your bloodshed in wrath and jealousy. (Ezek 16:35-38 HCSB)
What kind of punishment would God use to stop Jerusalem’s prostitution?
I’ll also deliver you into their control, and they’ll break down your mounds, tear down your high places, strip off your clothes, remove your fine jewels, and then they’ll leave you stark naked! They’ll bring a mob against you to stone you to death and cut you into pieces with their swords. Then they’ll burn your houses and carry out my sentence against you in the sight of many women. That’s how I’ll make you stop your prostitution so you won’t pay any prostitute’s fees anymore. (Ezek 16:39-41 ISV)
What outcome was God hoping for in His punishment of Jerusalem?
So will I make my fury toward thee to rest, and my jealousy shall depart from thee, and I will be quiet, and will be no more angry. Because thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, but hast fretted me in all these things; behold, therefore I also will recompense thy way upon thine head, saith the Lord God: and thou shalt not commit this lewdness above all thine abominations. (Ezek 16:42-43 KJV)
What proverb would be quoted against Jerusalem who acted worse than others?
Behold, everyone who quotes proverbs will quote this proverb concerning you, saying, ‘Like mother, like daughter.’ You are the daughter of your mother, who loathed her husband and children. You are also the sister of your sisters, who loathed their husbands and children. Your mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite. Now your older sister is Samaria, who lives north of you with her daughters; and your younger sister, who lives south of you, is Sodom with her daughters. Yet you have not merely walked in their ways or done according to their abominations; but, as if that were too little, you acted more corruptly in all your ways than they. (Ezek 16:44-47 LSB)
Had Jerusalem done worse than Sodom, who did not help the needy and committed abominations?
As I live,” declares the Lord God, “Sodom, your sister and her daughters have not done as you and your daughters have done! Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, plenty of food, and carefree ease, but she did not help the poor and needy. So they were haughty and committed abominations before Me. Therefore I removed them when I saw it. (Ezek 16:48-50 NASB)
Were Jerusalem’s sins so bad that even sinful Samaria appeared righteous?
Samaria did not commit half the sins you did. You have done more detestable things than they, and have made your sisters seem righteous by all these things you have done. Bear your disgrace, for you have furnished some justification for your sisters. Because your sins were more vile than theirs, they appear more righteous than you. So then, be ashamed and bear your disgrace, for you have made your sisters appear righteous. (Ezek 16:51-52 NIV)
Will God repatriate the captives of Sodom, Samaria and Jerusalem?
When I bring back their captives, the captives of Sodom and her daughters, and the captives of Samaria and her daughters, then I will also bring back the captives of your captivity among them, that you may bear your own shame and be disgraced by all that you did when you comforted them. When your sisters, Sodom and her daughters, return to their former state, and Samaria and her daughters return to their former state, then you and your daughters will return to your former state.
For your sister Sodom was not a byword in your mouth in the days of your pride, before your wickedness was uncovered. It was like the time of the reproach of the daughters of Syria and all those around her, and of the daughters of the Philistines, who despise you everywhere. You have paid for your lewdness and your abominations,” says the Lord. For thus says the Lord God: “I will deal with you as you have done, who despised the oath by breaking the covenant. (Ezek 16:53-59 NKJV)
Will God establish an everlasting covenant, whereby they will know that He is the Lord?
Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you when you were young, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you. Then you will remember with shame all the evil you have done. I will make your sisters, Samaria and Sodom, to be your daughters, even though they are not part of our covenant. And I will reaffirm my covenant with you, and you will know that I am the Lord. You will remember your sins and cover your mouth in silent shame when I forgive you of all that you have done. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken! (Ezek 16:60-63 NLT)
Is there another Jerusalem that is completely without sin?
But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all. (Gal 4:26 WEB)
Is the history of Jerusalem one of arrogant unfaithfulness? You decide!
Vine Wood (Ezekiel 15)
Is a kind of wood mostly used as kindling, a picture of unfaithfulness? Is abiding in Jesus, the true vine, the best choice? Let’s begin in Ezekiel 15.
Does the wood of the vine have any purpose in heavy carpentry, or is it quick to mold and rot?
And the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, how does the wood of the vine surpass any wood, the vine branch that is among the trees of the forest? Is wood taken from it to make anything? Do people take a peg from it to hang any vessel on it? (Ezek 15:1-3 ESV)
Other than a temporary rope, wreaths or small trinkets, is the wood of a vine really useful for anything?
In fact, it is put into the fire as fuel. The fire devours both of its ends, and the middle is charred. Can it be useful for anything? Even when it was whole it could not be made into a useful object. How much less can it ever be made into anything useful when the fire has devoured it and it is charred! (Ezek 15:4-5 HCSB)
Is unfaithful Jerusalem going to be put to a similar use as vine wood, for kindling?
Therefore this is what the Lord God says: “Just as the wood from a grape vine is removed from the forest and used for kindling fires, I’m giving the inhabitants of Jerusalem over to punishment. They may have escaped one fire, but the coming fire will burn them up completely, and they will know that I am the Lord, when I set myself in opposition to them and dedicate the land to desolation because of their unfaithful unbelief,” declares the Lord God. (Ezek 15:6-8 ISV)
How does abiding in the true vine give the exact opposite effect?
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (John 15:1-6 KJV)
Is a kind of wood mostly used as kindling, a picture of unfaithfulness? Is abiding in Jesus, the true vine, the best choice? You decide!
Does the wood of the vine have any purpose in heavy carpentry, or is it quick to mold and rot?
And the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, how does the wood of the vine surpass any wood, the vine branch that is among the trees of the forest? Is wood taken from it to make anything? Do people take a peg from it to hang any vessel on it? (Ezek 15:1-3 ESV)
Other than a temporary rope, wreaths or small trinkets, is the wood of a vine really useful for anything?
In fact, it is put into the fire as fuel. The fire devours both of its ends, and the middle is charred. Can it be useful for anything? Even when it was whole it could not be made into a useful object. How much less can it ever be made into anything useful when the fire has devoured it and it is charred! (Ezek 15:4-5 HCSB)
Is unfaithful Jerusalem going to be put to a similar use as vine wood, for kindling?
Therefore this is what the Lord God says: “Just as the wood from a grape vine is removed from the forest and used for kindling fires, I’m giving the inhabitants of Jerusalem over to punishment. They may have escaped one fire, but the coming fire will burn them up completely, and they will know that I am the Lord, when I set myself in opposition to them and dedicate the land to desolation because of their unfaithful unbelief,” declares the Lord God. (Ezek 15:6-8 ISV)
How does abiding in the true vine give the exact opposite effect?
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (John 15:1-6 KJV)
Is a kind of wood mostly used as kindling, a picture of unfaithfulness? Is abiding in Jesus, the true vine, the best choice? You decide!
Individual Responsibility (Ezekiel 14)
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!
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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