Scripture

“But I will let a few of my people escape destruction, and they will be scattered among the nations of the world. Then when they are exiled among the nations, they will remember me. They will recognise how hurt I am by their unfaithful hearts and lustful eyes that long for idols.”

Observation

The Lord tells Ezekiel to prophesy against the mountains.

The Lord is going to bring war to the mountains and destroy all the pagan shrines there. All of the altars, idols and places of worship will be destroyed, and all the worshippers of the idols will be killed.

He will let a few of his people escape the destruction, and they will be exiled amongst the nations. In exile, they will remember the Lord and repent of their idol worship. They will know that He alone is the Lord.

Application

It seems strange that the Lord tells Ezekiel to prophesy against the mountains, but this is where the shrines and altars to the false gods were located. Not even the rugged wilderness will escape God’s punishment for the sin and rebellion of his people.

Amongst all of the prophecy of destruction and mass killing, there is a ray of hope. The Lord does not hurt His covenant people to extract revenge. He is looking for repentance and turning back of His people from their sin.

The Lord is saying, “I will spare some of my people and send them into exile. While they are there, they will turn back to me.” The Lord’s punishment is intended to open our eyes and get us back on track.

God’s love for us is so strong that he will go to extreme lengths to pull us back. The most extreme of these is in becoming flesh and letting human sin nail him to the cross. The death of Jesus Christ pays for our sins, reconciles us to the Father and transforms our hearts.

Listen

Lord, that phrase “among the nations” is repeated here. What does it mean?

Keith, I provided the sanctuary of a nation for my covenant people. They were to live for me, be separate to the nations, and show my light to the world. Sadly too many of them were like the nations. And so I sent them to live among the nations that they seemed to love.

To be among the nations was to be away from my sanctuary. It also revealed to them just what the nations were really like.

Scripture

“Because of your detestable idols, I will punish you like I have never punished anyone before or ever will again.”

Observation

The Lord tells Ezekiel to take a sharp sword and use it as a razor to shave his head and his beard. He is to use a scale to divide the hair into three parts. The first third he is to put on his model of Jerusalem under siege where he will burn it. Another third he is to scatter across hismap and then chop into pieces with his sword. The last portion is to be scattered into the wind.

The first portion represents people who will be killed by famine in the siege. A third of the people will die by the sword, and a third will be scattered and sent into exile.

The Lord says this is because the people have worshipped vile images in the temple. The Lord’s anger will rage against his own people, and they will know that the Lord is angry with them.

Application

The Lord was angry with the people because they abandoned his covenant with them to worship idols, just like the nations around them.

A nation that is formed by God, protected and nurtured by Him will experience disaster when the people abandon God for other idols. This happened to Israel in the past and it is happening to the USA, the UK and Australia now. Politicians and bureaucrats try to juggle multiple economic, social and political issues, but they ignore the real solution — turn back to the Lord. The Lord will not reject a humble and contrite spirit,

As Christians, we need to repent of the idols we hold dear and turn to God with total devotion.

Listen

Lord, what would you say to me regarding idols in the church?

Keith it is true that satan constantly seeks to distract and corrupt the church with false gods.

The drive to be relevant to the community, to be acceptable by the world is the worst. Those ministers and denominations that proclaim a gospel that welcomes sexual perversion are no ministers and no denominations of mine. They are an abomination.

Wealth is an idol for many churches. To get the gospel preached into the world is a noble goal, but it can become an excuse for getting and accumulating wealth.

Your treasures are to be gathered in heaven not on earth.