Ezekiel was a prophet who had been exiled out of Judea to the land of Babylonia. He was foretelling of the impending judgement of God against his people, who have turned away from God, giving into their sin. The first part of this this book is what we cover this week. Parts of it are very hard to read; God calls Ezekiel to give his people messages of judgement and coming famine, death, disease, and tells Ezekiel that they will not listen to him because their hearts are hard, and they are completely rebellious. The result of their sin, of all sin, is death. A few things that stuck out for me:
God’s expectation for Ezekiel is only that he obey and relay the message he has been given to tell the people. He is not responsible for their rebellion, only for his own obedience. (p 321)
A message of warning, one of the things God judges the people for is that “you have refused to obey my degrees and regulations; instead, you have copied the standards of the nations around you.” (p 331). God’s desire for us is for our heart to be completely focused on him. How easy is it for us to become engrossed in the world’s standards of good, evil, right, wrong? We need to turn to God’s word regularly to be in tune to His degrees and regulations. God’s law is good, he wants the best for us.
One phrase that is repeated throughout this section is “Then you will know that I am the Lord.” God’s judgement and the fulfillment of the prophecy of Ezekiel will serve as a testament of who God is to the people of Judea.
Ultimately God longs for their repentance: “And the Lord called to the man dressed in linen who was carrying the writers’ case. He said to him, “ Walk through the streets of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of all who weep and sigh because of the detestable sins being committed in their city.” (p328). Only those with the mark are spared from death. Also, on page 331, Ezekiel’s message to the exiles includes a promise for them:
“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: although I have scattered you in the countries of the world, I will be a sanctuary to you during your time in exile. I, the Sovereign Lord, will gather you back from the nations where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel once again. When the people return to their homeland, they will remove every trace of their vile images and detestable idols. And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart, and give them a tender, responsive heart, so they will obey my degrees and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.”
Even in the horrors of being taken from their land and under the rule of the Babylonians, God promises to be a sanctuary for them and bring them back home, giving them a new heart and spirit. Only by God’s love and grace. The same God that made these promises of deliverance to his people so long ago, offers us deliverance and salvation. May we repent and accept this beautiful gift of God. Thanks be to God!