Tag Archives: Ezekiel

Friday Revelation: Parable of the Forest and the Sword Ezekiel 20:45-49

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I know you probably thought I had totally forgot about my study of Ezekiel but I have not. I needed to finish up the bible study I was teaching at church, because I found I could not do both at the same time.

So if you want to catch up on my past Ezekiel posts they are listed at the end of this post. We left off at Ezekiel 20:33-44. In that passage we were given a glimpse into Israel’s future judgment and restoration. Now in this passage God returns to dealing with the destruction of Israel. This will lead us into the study of chapter 21.

God instructs Ezekiel to face south and preach against the “forest to the south.” If you are in Babylon, Israel is to the south.

In Jeremiah 21:14 we see another passage where people are compared to a “forest.” Ezekiel informs the people that this destruction will be caused by an invading army. This is a fire that was set by God and “will not be quenched.” Once this war begins everyone will understand that this was God’s doing. (II Chronicles 7:20-22)

sword

How do you think you would react if Ezekiel was speaking to you? If it were me I would want to make sure my heart was right before God, unfortunately the elders that Ezekiel is speaking to did not believe him.  Complained that what he said was incomprehensible, grumbled he only spoke in parables, so why even bother listening. The truth was they did NOT WANT to understand Ezekiel.

Sometimes I shake my head at God’s patience, but I also am very thankful for the patience he has shown in my life. When the Parable of the Forest did not sink in to the thick skulls of these Elders God responds to the complaint about the parable of the forest with another parable told in simplified terms.

This parable is against Jerusalem, the holy places, and the land of Israel. Ezekiel warned: God was coming with a sword that would cut off both the righteous and the wicked.

Here God is not talking about a literal slaying but a judgment from north to south. Jeremiah 23:20 tells us the sword (God’s judgment) would not return until it has accomplished God’s will.

God gives Ezekiel a piece of instruction that I would have NO problem following, he tells Ezekiel to deliver this message with tears (aka – express great dismay).

As I study this passage I find it easy to point fingers and wonder “what were they thinking?”  But look at our society are we any different?  God does everything he can to make things simple for us to turn to him.  It is our free choice if we believe or not, but once we turn towards God he does the rest.

My biggest fear is arriving before God and have him shake his head saying, “you thick-skulled person.”  I would rather hear “well done good and faithful servant.”  We will get further into the SWORD during our next study.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.


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
Ezekiel 19
Ezekiel 20:1-32
Ezekiel 20:33-44

Revelation Friday: The Captivity Symbolized Ezekiel 12 – 13

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Did you read the ground rules? Any bible passages can be read by moving your mouse over the passage (I am using ESV). Ok lets get started…. (if you don’t have time to read all of it now, see the note below*)

Last week we ended where Ezekiel was returned to Babylon by the Spirit (Ezekiel 11:24-25) and told to share what he had seen.

Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon (who conquered Judah and Jerusalem and sent the Jews into exile) placed Zedekiah on the throne of Judah (ruling over the ones who did not go into exile). Prophet Jeremiah was Zedekiah’s counselor, yet “he did evil in the sight of the Lord” (2 Kings 24:19-20; Jeremiah 52:2-3). In his ninth year as king, Zedekiah severed relations with Babylon.

God was angry with Zedekiah because he made a covenant with Nebuchadnezzar invoking the name of God. Jeremiah had warned Zedekiah of disaster because he broke his covenant.

Nebuchadnezzar was furious. Jeremiah repeatedly communicated the LORD’s word that resistance (or going back on his covenant he made with Babylon) would result in disaster, but if Zedekiah would surrender, all lives would be saved. (Jeremiah 38:2-3, 17-18) Zedekiah listened, but stubbornly maintained his hopeless rebellion.
604 BC Babylonian year
This man had the opportunity to save everyone, yet was only concerned about saving himself.

Nebuchadnezzar’s siege on Judah lasted three summers. At its end, when the food supply was exhausted, the cowardly Zedekiah gathered his army, opened the city gate, and made a night-time escape. *

Now back to Ezekiel, Israel was a rebellious group of people and God wanted to show them what was going to happen in captivity. God told Ezekiel to follow these instructions as a sign to the house of Israel. (remember Ezekiel is acting this out)

    1. Prepare your belongings for captivity (only what could be carried on your shoulder)
    2. Go into captivity by day in their sight. Go from your place to captivity in another place
    3. In the evening, dig through the wall in their sight and carry your belongings out through it.
    4. Cover your face so that you cannot see the ground.


EZEKIEL OBEYED GOD NOT KNOWING WHAT IT MEANT.

After Ezekiel obeyed, God revealed to him the meaning.

Zedekiah would be the one carried off into captivity. Ezekiel was displaying a sign of events to come in Zedekiah’s life. Zedekiah was blinded and carried off to captivity and imprisoned.

    *Babylon’s army made chase, and soon captured Zedekiah. Tried for treason, his sentence was cruel. Zedekiah’s sons and best friends were killed, right before his eyes — and then his eyes were gouged out. He was taken to Babylon to die of old age in prison, thereby unwillingly fulfilling the prophecy (Ezekiel 12:13) that he would go to Babylon and die there.

Then God shares in Ezekiel 12:15-16 what will happen to those who were helping Zedekiah. These are the “bad figs” that did not go into captivity. So, when Zedekiah is taken to Babylon the others who associated with him are dispersed among other countries, they will be spared (the remnant), so they can declare all the wrong they have done and other nations will know “I Am the Lord.”

If you remember back from last week, Prophet Jeremiah was in this mix that was dispersed, but he was not a “bad fig” God used him in the midst of the “bad figs” to have them turn their heart towards God. But in the end they killed Jeremiah.

In Ezekiel 13 God declares judgment on the false prophets.  If you recall during our study of Ezekiel 4-7, there were false prophets telling the people there would be peace, but God tells the people that disaster is coming.  In Ezekiel 13:1-7  God calls these false prophets, “foxes in the deserts.”  These false prophets will be destroyed and not allowed to return.  God compares them to a “flimsy wall covered in white wash.”

    Characteristics of a false prophet:
    1. Divination (attempting to gain knowledge, such as the future, by using other means other than God.)
    2. They give people what they want to hear. (Ezekiel 13:10-11)
    3. They are unstable, but look good on the outside.
    4. They preach a peace that will not come.
    5. God will expose their lies when times of distress comes.
    6. They are willing to go against God for monetary gain.

God declared,

“I will tear down the wall you have covered with whitewash and will level it to the ground so that its foundations will be laid bare.  When it falls, you will be destroyed in it; and you will know that I am the Lord.” (Ezekiel 13:14)

God tore down the wall with a mighty wind, flooding rain and great hailstones.  (Ezekiel 13:14)  God also declares judgment on “the women who sew magic charms on all their wrists and make veils of various lengths for their heads in order to ensnare people.”

This was fulfilled when the “good figs” were in Babylonian captivity.  2 Chronicles 36:19-21

Oh boy, many lessons to learn here. More thoughts in my BlogFrog Community.

Past Posts on Ezekiel:

Ezekiel 1-3
Ezekiel 4-7
Ezekiel 8-10
Ezekiel 11

* In my BlogFrog community I have uploaded a copy of this post along with questions to respond to. This makes it possible to print out this post to read at another time or use it as your devotional. In the BlogFrog community I will try to add some time lines and additional information that you can print out and save. It is my understanding you don’t need to sign-up for the community to be able to print the information out, it is just if you want to leave a comment you need to be signed in (it is free). Feel free to leave comments either here or in the community forum. I look forward to your thoughts.

Revelation Friday: Ezekiel 11 God Hears Ezekiel and Gives Hope

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Did you read the ground rules? Any bible passages can be read by moving your mouse over the passage (I am using ESV). Ok lets get started…. (if you don’t have time to read all of it now, see the note below*)

Last week we studied how God’s glory departed from the temple and idolaters were killed beginning with the elders of the church.  Ezekiel fell down upon his face and begged God to save a remnant.

Chapter 11

The Spirit now takes Ezekiel over to the sun worshipers.  There were 25 men at the East Gate, who felt they were protected by the city.  God said these are the men that devise iniquity and gave wicked counsel to the people of the city.  (Ezekiel 11:1-4)  Among the 25 men were Jaazaniah the son of Azzur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people. In Ezekiel 11:7-11 it states Jerusalem is the cauldron, then they (the 25 men) believe that they – as the meat – would remain until “done”.  They did not believe they would be removed prematurely into captivity. They assumed they were the ones to be protected by the city….BUT THEY WERE SO WRONG.

What the 25 men did not understand was that their injustice is what is causing Jerusalem to boil and the meat are the innocent – Micah 3:1-3; 7:2; Zephaniah 3:3 Lamentations 4:13 I know this can be a bit confusing, but it boils down to the Lord protecting the innocent. The Kings and elders thought their position would protect them, but God’s wrath came upon them.

Let me stop right here: How many people are going to die thinking they are ‘Christians’ but yet they are so wrong? I don’t care what denomination you are, there is only one way to God and that is through Christ his son. Christ died on the cross and defeated death three days later when he rose again. “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised  Him from the dead, you will be saved.”  Romans 10:9 (NIV). If you have not stood before God in prayer and confessed your sins and invited Jesus Christ to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit.  Please stop NOW and do so, I don’t know when Christ is returning but I know when he does I will be with him.  Do you have that confidence?

Let me take a side trip to discuss Good Figs & Bad Figs in Jeremiah 24:1-10, this is how Jeremiah describes the people in a vision God gave him.

Good Figs:figs

1. God announces they will be exiled for 70 years.

2. Judah will not be alone in experiencing God’s wrath

3. These are Civil servants. craftsmen, metal workers. Persons useful to the conquerors.

God gives the GOOD FIGS a promise:

Jeremiah 24:6-7 I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down; I will plant them, and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, or they shall return to me with their whole heart.

rotten figs Bad Figs:

1. The Kings.

2. People who stayed in Judah.

3. People who fled to Egypt to escape the invasion.

God gives the BAD FIGS a promise also:

Jeremiah 24:10 And I will send sword, famine, and pestilence upon them, until they shall be utterly destroyed from the land that I gave to them and their fathers.

I like how my bible study teacher described it, basically God is telling everyone in Judah you have sinned against me.  But those of you who will take the punishment and be allowed to be put into “time out” (meaning they will be exiled from their land for 70 years), I will bless you in return.  But those who have sinned and refused to be placed in ‘time-out’ you will be destroyed.  For I am a HOLY GOD.

Ok now back to the 25 men Ezekiel saw in his vision. Pelatiah the son of Benaiah was struck dead while Ezekiel was prophesying and once again Ezekiel fell on his face weeping, asking God again to save a remnant.  Ezekiel took Pelatiah’s death hard because Pelatiah name means “Yahweh’s remnant.” Ezekiel may have assumed by Pelatiah’s death God was going to kill the whole remnant.  Remember Ezekiel is physically in Babylon, but in the spirit in Jerusalem. While the prophecy is made, Ezekiel sees someone die and it was a leading man in Israel.

But we find God gives Ezekiel hope.  God showed Ezekiel he will indeed save a remnant, even though they will be scattered among the Gentiles.  God promises to return them (the last remnant) to their own land from all the nations in which He has scattered them.

Side Note: God never leaves his people without a leader and God never gives us surprises. At the same time God was speaking to Ezekiel who was in Babylon he was also leading Jeremiah.  Jeremiah is part of the remnant. He saw the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian captivity, and was permitted to remain in the land by the captain of the Babylonian forces. When the remnant wanted to flee to Egypt, Jeremiah prophesied against it (Jeremiah 42:15-43:3), but in the end was forced to go with the remnant to Egypt (Jeremiah 43:6, 7), and died there. Jeremiah has been described as, “God chose this man, who had a mother’s heart, a trembling voice, and tear-filled eyes, to deliver a harsh message of judgment. The message that he gave broke his own heart.” Tradition says that he was stoned by the remnant.

God in his mercy promises to gather them back and restore the land to them, BOTH Judah and Israel.

The change in the people

1. They will remove idolatry

2. A unity in purpose – Jeremiah 32:38-39

3. They will eliminate their stubborn ways – Psalm 51:10; Jeremiah 31:33

4. They will follow God – Jeremiah 24:7

Ezekiel is returned to Babylon by the Spirit (Ezekiel 11:24-25) and told to share what he has seen.

I had originally planned to cover both chapters 11 and 12, but chapter 11 has profoundly effected me I want to give you the opportunity to let it sink in also.  They did not fear God, they defiled God in every way, yet God saved a remnant.  This remnant was still evil, they did not listen to Jeremiah (whose heart was broken in more ways than we can imagine).  It is thought the remnant ended up killing Jeremiah.

YET GOD IS GOING TO RESTORE THEM.

Does that make you weep like it does me?  I weep for the sins of our nation, I weep because God gives and gives, and still we lack the proper fear of God (fingers pointing my way).

Past Posts:

Ezekiel 1-3

Ezekiel 4-7

Ezekiel 8-10

* In my BlogFrog community I have uploaded a copy of this post along with questions to respond to. This makes it possible to print out this post to read at another time or use it as your devotional. In the BlogFrog community I will try to add some time lines and additional information that you can print out and save. It is my understanding you don’t need to sign-up for the community to be able to print the information out, it is just if you want to leave a comment you need to be signed in (it is free). Feel free to leave comments either here or in the community forum. I look forward to your thoughts.