We saw in Ezekiel 19 a lament for the death of Judah. As we move into Ezekiel 20 we will be looking at a review of Israel’s history. This week we will cover Ezekiel 20:1-32 and then will continue Ezekiel 20:33-49 next week.
In Ezekiel 20 it is August 14, 591 BC (according to our calendar). Jerusalem fell in 586 B.C, so this is five years before the destruction of Judah. One thing to keep in mind the book of Ezekiel is not in chronological order.
Leaders came to “consult the Lord” about Ezekiel’s judgment messages. Unfortunately they have forgotten what the Lord told them before: The last time God told them they won’t get an answer because of their idolatry – Isaiah 29:13.
- And the Lord said:
“Because this people draw near with their mouth
and honor me with their lips,
while their hearts are far from me,
and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,
But yet here they are again, inquiring of God. We don’t know what questions they asked, but I don’t think it was important. Hindsight is 20/20 I know but if God said he is not going to listen to you while you are disobeying him, in my humble opinion it takes these leaders a lot of nerve to try to approach God without purifying their hearts. So the Lord responded through Ezekiel that he will not be inquired of by them and he told Ezekiel what to tell these leaders.
- 31 When you present your gifts and offer up your children in fire, you defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. And shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, declares the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you.
32 “What is in your mind shall never happen—the thought, ‘Let us be like the nations, like the tribes of the countries, and worship wood and stone. (Ezekiel 20:31-32)
The Lord swore 5 oaths to these leaders:
- 1. Sworn to be their God and deliver them from Egypt (Ex 20:2), but they and their fathers responded with rebellion.
2. The Lord swore to them in the wilderness that He would not let them enter the promised land unless they were obedient. God’s faithfulness was repaid by their repeated rebellion.
3. The Lord swore to disperse the people because they persisted in their rebellion.
4. The Lord vowed to give them the land, but the people came under judgment because, once in the land they built idols.
5. Exile was a divine judgment to purge the nation of sin.
These leaders were worshiping idols, but they wanted the benefit of God’s provisions also. God expected them to worship Him and and Him alone. In God’s oaths above he is reminding the leaders all He has done for them, reminding them of His faithfulness and their faithlessness. God is also showing them that the situation they find themselves in…in exile is totally their own doing; it was through their disobedience. Holy God can not over look sin, he needed to punish them so they will know HE IS LORD.
How many times do we come before the Lord with our requests and desires, but don’t spend time first asking for forgiveness, seeking purification, and releasing the sin in our own lives?
Past Posts on Ezekiel
Ezekiel 1-3
Ezekiel 4-7
Ezekiel 8-10
Ezekiel 11
Ezekiel 12-13
Ezekiel 14-15
Ezekiel 16
Ezekiel 17
Ezekiel 18
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