Scripture

“Should I allow you to ask for a message from me, O people of Israel? Surely as I live,” says the sovereign Lord, “I will tell you nothing.”

Observation

Some of the elders of Israel come to Ezekiel to seek a word from the Lord. The message they get is that there will be no message from the Lord,

The Lord goes through the history of Israel. He starts at the captivity in Egypt and the Exodus. The people never trusted God to give them a good land. They rebelled and refused to let go of the gods of Egypt.

The Lord brought them out of Egypt and led them through the wilderness. He warned the children to not follow their parents in idolatry and to pay attention to the laws. But they did not do this.

When they came to the land, they offered sacrifices to other gods on every high place and under every green tree. They sacrificed their children to be burnt.

As long as they continue to worship other gods, the Lord will not speak to them.

Application

It seems odd that the leaders of Israel would be sacrificing to foreign gods but also seeking God’s word.

This tendency towards syncretism, that is mixing and matching different beliefs, is very common. We might be used to a binary view of all or nothing, but many people prefer a religious buffet where they can pick and choose their beliefs.

The message of this chapter is that God will not speak to people who do this. he must be Lord of every part of our lives and not just Sunday mornings.

The Old Testament describes God as a jealous God. He will not tolerate people who worship Him and also worship idols.

Listen

Lord, what do you want to say to me about this chapter?

Keith, many people approach me with a consumer mindset. They want a word from the Lord. They want a message to soothe their souls. They want music that they like and people that they approve of.

You must submit to me in everything. If your heart is focused on what you want, then there will be no word for you.

Yield it all to me. Focus on what I instruct and on your not on your own preferences. Then you will hear my voice and understand my words.

Scripture

Now the vine is transplanted to the wilderness, where the ground is hard and dry.

Observation

This chapter is in the form of a funeral song for the leaders of Israel,

Two lion cubs are described, referring to two of the kings towards the end of the dynasty ruling over Judah.

The first cub grows to be a strong young lion who hunts prey but becomes a man-eater. He is trapped in a pit and taken to Egypt.

The lioness takes another cub who also grows strong. He also becomes a man-eater, demolishing fortresses and destroying towns. The nations attack him and take him in a cage to Babylon,

Judah was a strong and fruitful vine growing tall. But it was uprooted in fury and transplanted to the desert where the ground is hard and dry. Its remaining limbs are not strong enough to be a ruler’s sceptre.

Application.

Judah had been a strong and fruitful vine planted in a fertile place. But its people had failed to obey God. They rebelled against him over and over. So he uprooted them and planted them in a foreign land where they would struggle to maintain their identity.

The discipline of the Lord never feels good at the time, but it is always positive. God leads us away from places and relationships that are bad for us. It feels like we have been uprooted and transplanted to hard, dry ground. But it is always for our good. He protects us from sins or a lifestyle that is leading to death.

A vine must be pruned to bear better fruit and more fruit. The Lord will prune us to see us bear more fruit for His kingdom.

Listen

Lord, is there more you would say to me about this chapter?.

Keith, leaders are like lions. If they do their job properly and take their calling seriously, they will protect my people from other predators,

Sometimes they themselves become the man eaters who pray on the flock, whether that is a nation or a church. They will face even greater punishment than others, because they know what they have done is wrong, but they use people for their own indulgence. I hate all who do this.

Scripture

” And all the trees will know that it is I, the Lord, who cuts the tall trees down and makes the short trees grow tall. It is I who makes the green tree wither and gives the dead tree new life. I, the Lord, have spoken and I will do what I have said.”

Observation

Ezekiel tells a parable about an eagle covered with many-coloured plumage. He seized the top of a cedar tree and plucked off its highest branch. He planted it in fertile soil beside a broad river. It took root and grew into a low spreading vine.

Another eagle came, and the vine grew towards him for water even though it already had plenty. The Lord will pull up this vine and cut off its fruit.

Ezekiel reveals that this parable is about the king of Israel. He and his officials rebelled against Babylon and sought help from Egypt. But Pharaoh will not step in when Babylon besieges Jerusalem. The Lord will punish the king, his soldiers and his officials for turning away from the Lord’s covenant.

Application

The Lord raises up kings and governments and the Lord pulls them down. Although this chapter is about kings and kingdoms, it applies to all people.

Often it seems to us that the powers and empires of the world are unshakable. After the Second World War communism in eastern Europe seemed permanent. But then, in the 1980’s, it all came crashing down almost overnight.

Individuals similarly can seem to be of high regard in a community. But then truth is exposed about their previous crimes or misdeeds and their reputation crumbles.

This is ultimately true of everyone who refuses to acknowledge and obey the Lord.

Listen

Lord, what do you want to say to me about this?

Keith, make sure you walk with me each and every day. I raise people up and I pull people down.

There are business men in your community who seem successful. They have built good businesses, but they are built on personal charisma, human wisdom and unethical practices,

I will destroy every business not built on the foundation of my word, I will raise up men and women who are faithful to me in their beliefs and in their actions.

Scripture

“You will remember your sins and cover your mouth in silent shame when I forgive you of all that you have done.”

Observation,

The Lord gives Ezekiel a parable about Israel.

He tells him that Jerusalem was like an abandoned baby left in its own blood. The Lord spoke life to the baby and it grew to into a healthy girl and then a beautiful woman. He rubbed fragrant oils into her skin, gave her expensive clothes and jewellery. She looked like a queen and her fame spread through the world.

Jerusalem thought her fame and beauty were her own doing. She gave herself as a prostitute to every man. This is adultery against the Lord.

So now the Lord will punish her for her adultery and idolatry. He will hand her over to those who were her allies and they will turn on her and destroy her.

The Lord will give her what she deserves but he will remember his covenant with her. He will forgive her and reaffirm his covenant with her. She will remember her sins and cover her mouth with silent shame when the Lord forgives her.

Application

Although our sins are terrible in the sight of the Lord, he will forgive us unconditionally,

We might recall our shame, but the Lord does not hold our sins against us. They no longer count.

Although the people of Ezekiel’s day had no knowledge of the cross of Christ, they did have the promise that God would forgive them and restore them.

Now, because of the blood that Christ shed on the cross, we can all know the awesome grace of Christ covering every sin.

We do have to receive this grace, though, and believe that in him we are forgiven of all unrighteousness.

Listen

Lord, is there more that you want to say to me about this chapter?

Keith, the leaders of Jerusalem were not content to worship other so called gods, they actually set up idols and worshipped them in my house

The adultery of this people, my own people, was beyond measure in every way possible. They trampled all that was holy.

I will not tolerate my chosen people, those who were called by my name chasing the world and not me. Every church that embraces the gods of the world will die. Even denominations that trample my holy name will be destroyed.

Scripture

“Since they are useless, I have thrown them onto the fire to be burned.”

Observation

The Lord asks Ezekiel a rhetorical question about the worth of grapevine. It isn’t strong enough to be used as a peg for hanging pots and pans. It isn’t useful as a fuel, as it burns too quickly.

The people of Jerusalem are like a grapevine growing in a forest. They are useless and the Lord will throw them onto the fire to be burned. The Lord will make the land desolate, because His people have been unfaithful to Him.

Application

A grapevine is good for just one thing, growing grapes. Unlike wood from trees, which is strong and can be fashioned into many objects, grapevine fibre is weak and twisted. It doesn’t even give much heat when it is burned in a fire,

So, a grapevine that produces no fruit is useless. It doesn’t even do the one thing that it was created for.

Jesus tells us that we are the branches of a grape vine. We must stay connected to him to be fruitful. Any branch that does not produce fruit will be cut off and thrown away.

The exact fruit that God is looking for varies from person to person. He wants each of us to be faithful in serving him and doing the things that he shows us to do.

Listen

Lord, is there more that you would like to say to me about this passage?

Keith, the majority of people in Israel were not fruitful. Israel was intended to be the light of the world, but they chose to be like the nations. They wanted to be of the world and not of me. I always had a faithful few who loved me, but as a whole, Israel preferred the way of sin.

It can be the same in the church when Christians love the world more than they love me.

Let the grace of my Spirit and the power of my love keep your flame for me burning.

Scripture

This is what the sovereign Lord says, “I am against all your magic charms which you use to entangle my people like birds. I will tear them from your arms, setting my people free like birds set free from a cage.”

Observation

Ezekiel prophesies against false prophets. They do not hear or see from the Lord but prophesy from their own imaginations. They say, “This message is from the Lord,” even though the Lord never sent them. These false prophets will be banished from the community of Israel and they will never again set foot in their own land.

The false prophetesses are also condemned by the Lord. They tie magic charms to the wrists of God’s people and provide them with magic veils. They trap the souls of these people and speak lies to them.

The Lord hates the magic charms and magic veils. He will tear them off the people and set them free. The Lord will rescue his people from their grasp.

Application

Every so-called magic charm, spell or false prophecy is from Satan. Attempting to control other people is witchcraft and it is evil.

What is particularly bad is when people dress themselves up in Christian images and use Christian terminology while mixing in magic or occultic practices. This makes the Lord angry, because it is attacking the faithful, the elect, the church.

Sadly this is all too common in parts of the Pentecostal and charismatic churches. You can buy prayer shawls and holy oil that are supposed to make your prayer more effective. This is deception and it is from Satan.

Beware of men and women who claim to speak on behalf of God, but use ungodly methods, charms and mantras.

Listen

Lord, in what other ways may christians be misled by those who claim to speak for you but are really agents of satan?

Keith, there are many preachers who claim to speak on my behalf, but are really just preaching their own ideas. The so-called progressive preachers just copy the values of the world and then claim they speak for me. The extreme Pentecostal preachers sell trinkets at huge markup and claim it is all from me.

I made the world and everything in it. I have no need of trinkets to entice me to answer prayers.

I love all my people. I will work out all of their lives for good if they will trust me and not their TV preacher.

The test of every ministry is this. Do they draw people to me or to themselves?

Scripture

“For I am the Lord! If I say it, it will happen. There will be no more delays, you rebels of Israel. I will fulfil my threat of destruction in your own lifetime. I, the sovereign Lord, have spoken!”

Observation

The Lord tells Ezekiel to enact an exile. He is to bring a few items such as an exile would bring. He is to leave the house through a hole in the wall. As he walks away, he is to cover his face so he cannot see the land he is leaving.

Then Ezekiel is to explain this to the people. The people even Zedekiah will leave Jerusalem to go into exile. Even Zedekiah will leave through a hole in the wall carrying a pack. He will cover his face and not see the land he is leaving. He will be captured and taken away, but he will not see the land of the Babylonians.

People say that time passes and prophecies come to nothing. The Lord will change this proverb because whatever the Lord says will come to pass. There will be no delay. The time has come for every prophecy to be fulfilled.

Application

Whenever the Lord gives a prophetic message, it will come to pass. In fact, this was one of two tests that God gave to Moses to determine if a prophecy was really from the Lord.

There were many prophecies about the coming exile. These had not yet come to pass, so people were thinking the Lord was not going to act.

But the Babylonians did come and with them came famine, disease and death.

Everything the Lord does comes at the right time. If we believe God has said something and it seems to be delayed, it will happen at a time we do not expect and in a way that we could never have imagined.

Even when there is a prophetic word that is given, we must wait in faith, knowing that God will do what He says.

Listen

Lord, what do you want to say to me about this passage?

Keith, the key is to trust me and to know that I always keep my promises.

In its time I will do it swiftly. What seems to be slow and delayed is not. Every good thing that I have promised will come to pass.

Be patient and trust me.

Scripture

“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.”

Observation

The Spirit takes Ezekiel to the eastern gate of the temple, where he sees the 25 most prominent men in Jerusalem,

The Spirit tells Ezekiel to prophesy against these people. They have been saying that inside the city they are like meat kept safe in a pot. They keep telling people they should build houses and invest there,

The Lord says that he will scatter the leaders from their pot. The Lord will judge them wherever they go, because they have refused to obey God’s commands and have instead copied the nations around them.

God tells Ezekiel to speak to the people in exile in Babylon. The Lord has scattered them to the nations, but he will bring them back. The Lord will give them the land of Israel. He will also give them a new heart and a new spirit. They will obey the Lord’s regulations because they are tender and responsive to the Lord.

Application

The Lord promises to give his people singleness of heart and to put a new spirit in them.

“Singleness of heart” means an undivided loyalty to the Lord. Instead of worshipping images and idols, they will worship only the Lord.

“A new spirit” means that they will no longer be attracted to false gods, false worship and the ways of the flesh.

When we yield ourselves to the Lord, he renews our hearts and spirits. The things that once seemed so attractive to us lose their appeal.

Listen

Lord, what would you say to me about this new heart and new spirit?

Keith, when I promise a new heart and a new spirit, I mean what these words say. As you surrender yourself to me, I am able to send my Spirit through you and to wash away everything that is not of me. This takes time. Sin is so deeply ingrained in every human heart that you often do not recognise it as sin. Keep surrendering to me.

Scripture

Then the glory of the Lord moved out from the door of the Temple and hovered above the cherubim. And as I watched, the cherubim flew with their wheels to the East Gate of the Lord’s Temple and the glory of the God of Israel hovered above them.

Observation

Ezekiel has a vision of the throne of God. He sees the throne and the cherubim in the same vision as earlier in Babylon.

The Lord speaks to the man in linen clothing and tells him to take a handful of burning coals from between the wheels under the cherubim. He is to take these coals and scatter them over the city.The man does this and leaves the temple.

The cherubim move to the end to the East Gate of the Temple and the glory cloud of the Lord now hovers over them. The cherubim and the Lord’s presence leave the temple and the city.

Application

What a terrible state the temple and the city of Jerusalem have come to. The Lord’s presence has left them.This meant that there was no hope for the city because the Lord had removed his protection from it. It also meant that the temple was a God forsaken shadow of what it should have been. The entrenched sin in the nation and the corruption of the priesthood had caused the Lord to flee.

The worship continued, but it was empty ritual. A few years later the Babylonians would destroy the temple,

The picture is very similar to that of the time following Jesus’s death.The curtain of the temple was torn in two. The Lord abandoned the temple because there was a new temple, the followers of Jesus. But temple worship continued for almost 40 years until it was all destroyed by the Romans.

Listen

Lord, this passage makes me think about true worship and false worship, between Spirit led worship and empty ritual,

Keith, my temple is now in the corporate heart of my people. Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in their midst.

Even when an apostate worship seems empty and devoid of my Spirit, as long as there is at least one person there who loves me and is devoted to following me, then I am there with them.

I will never abandon my true followers. Even those who worship in an apostate gathering will know my presence and my blessing.

“Even the Catholics, one of your colleagues used to say. Yes, and even the Uniting Church and the Anglicans and so on.

I do not judge by the outward appearance or by the forms of worship. I look at the hearts of the worshipers