Last time we looked at the first half of Ezekiel 20, and there God was showing us a review of Israel’s long history of sins. We read about the leaders who were worshiping idols, but they wanted the benefit of God’s provisions. God expected them to worship Him and and Him alone. We also listed 5 oaths the Lord swore to them. (see here for review)
As we look at the rest of chapter we will see Israel’s future judgment and restoration.
Ezekiel 20:33-38 “As I live, declares the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out I will be king over you. 34 I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you are scattered, with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out. 35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face. 36 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. 37 I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant. 38 I will purge out the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against me. I will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”
-
1. God will rule over Israel. (vs. 33)
2. He has the right, the power, and the will to do so
3. Even though they are scattered among the nations, God can still reach them.
4. God will separate the good from the bad. (vs 37)
5. Those kept, the remnant, will be brought into God’s covenant.
In Ezekiel 20:39 God tells them to make a clean break:
“As for you, O house of Israel, thus says the Lord God: Go serve every one of you his idols, now and hereafter, if you will not listen to me; but my holy name you shall no more profane with your gifts and your idols..
-
6. A day will come when God will accept the offerings on His holy mountain.
Ezekiel: 20:40-41 “For on my holy mountain, the mountain height of Israel, declares the Lord God, there all the house of Israel, all of them, shall serve me in the land. There I will accept them, and there I will require your contributions and the choicest of your gifts, with all your sacred offerings. 41 As a pleasing aroma I will accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you have been scattered. And I will manifest my holiness among you in the sight of the nations.
-
7. God will bring a remnant out. Jeremiah 23:3
8. They will be disgusted at their own sins. Ezekiel 6:9
9. They will acknowledge that God dealt with them for His own sake. Psalms 79:9
Israel, regathered from all nations, will enter into the Great Tribulation. The judgment will determine who of Israel will enter the Millennium.
This is still to come. Next week we will review the Parable of the Forest that Ezekiel begins to cover in Ezekiel 20:45-49
All proceeds go to charity! Order your copy today!
