Jerusalem is under siege, about to fall. He spends chapters 13 through 24 telling parables to those in exile how Israel has over and over rebelled against their God, comparing her to a whoring wife who betrays her husband with anyone she can find. The pictures that Ezekiel creates are disturbing, but true. Israel often rebelled: in the wilderness, in scouting out Canaan, while taking ownership of the land of milk and honey and even after they had settled and built the temple. Israel refuses to consistently walk with the Lord. Ezekiel dispels the notion that children pay for their parent’s sins. While consequences relating to their sins may effect others, only the person who sins will face judgement before God. We are all responsible for our own actions.
We all need to stop and think before we act. Will my actions be a positive force for change? Are they aligned with walking with the Lord or am I pursuing my own agenda? My hope is that I can continue to rely on Him to guide my path, so that I do not become like Israel: one who often rebels against the Lord.
Passage:
Ezekiel 13-24
Discovered:
- False prophets who tell lies would lose ability to influence His people, their citizenship and the ability to enter land of Israel.
- Lord will deliver His people from the women who practice divination, who encourage the wicked.
- Even the leaders of Israel worship idols, as a result, I will turn away from Israel.
- Even travelers were included.
- Only righteous individuals would be saved.
- There will be some wicked who survive, an example of why I did what I did.
- Jerusalem is a worthless vine with no use.
- Israel is described as an adulteress bride: giving herself in the streets, to strangers, making idols out of gifts from her husband even though she was given every fine thing from her husband (Lord).
- Israel will face judgement for her adultery.
- Lord will bring all her lovers: alliances and enemies against her.
- Israel will be naked and her home burnt to the ground.
- Israel was worse than Sodom and Samaria.
- Samaria, Sodom and Israel will be restored to their glory when the new covenant is established (new kingdom) when He atones for their sins.
- An eagle broke a twig off a cedar tree from a top branch and carried it to a land of merchants, he took a seedling and planted it near the river and it grew into a spreading vine.
- A second eagle came along and the vine chased after it for water, even though it had good soil and abundant water, but the vine will wither because God will pull it up.
- Parable is talking about the King of Israel taken to Babylon and replaced with a son, Zedekiah who rebelled against Babylon – sought help from Egypt.
- While consequences of sins affect everyone, every soul is responsible for their actions/sins.
- Those who walk in my statutes are righteous will surely live.
- If a wicked person turns away from his sin and lives righteously his sin will be forgiven and he will live.
- Those who lived righteously turned wicked will have their righteousness forgotten and die.
- Lord takes no pleasure in anyone’s death, so walk with Him.
- Chapter 19 – Lamentation describing Judah’s Kings were captured and replaced.
- I sought out a land of milk and honey for my people but over and over again they rebelled.
- I will gather my people and they will face judgement for their actions.
- Ezekiel’s prophecy told everyone destruction was coming.
- Babylon will come to destroy Jerusalem.
- No King for Israel until I send mine (Jesus).
- Judgement has come from dishonest gain, idols.
- Despite refining you are worthless.
- Prophets x2, priests, princes and people all have their own sin.
- Onolah & Oholibah: 2 daughters, unfaithful, whored after everything, everyone.
- represents Samaria & Judah.
- They will face judgement for their actions: devoured by sword, fire and stripped naked.
- Jerusalem is under siege, Ezekiel tells a parable: boil a pot of meat and it will all come out rotten, Israel’s judgement will be for all to see.
- Lord: I will take your wife suddenly, but you cannot mourn her and Ezekiel obeyed.
- Israel was to mourn Jerusalem silently.
- Ezekiel was free to speak once he received word of Jerusalem’s destruction.
Help me to remember:
while my sin is my own, it does affect others.
Lord, I ask that . . .
I pause and think how my actions, good and bad will affect others before I act.
Heavenly Father, I am thankful for . . .
the fact that there is a path back to you.
