Read Ezekiel 20
Rebellious Israel Purged
20 In the seventh year, in the fifth month on the tenth day, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the Lord, and they sat down in front of me.
2 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 3 “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Have you come to inquire of me? As surely as I live, I will not let you inquire of me, declares the Sovereign Lord.’
4 “Will you judge them? Will you judge them, son of man? Then confront them with the detestable practices of their ancestors 5 and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I chose Israel, I swore with uplifted hand to the descendants of Jacob and revealed myself to them in Egypt. With uplifted hand I said to them, “I am the Lord your God.” 6 On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands. 7 And I said to them, “Each of you, get rid of the vile images you have set your eyes on, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”
8 “‘But they rebelled against me and would not listen to me; they did not get rid of the vile images they had set their eyes on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in Egypt. 9 But for the sake of my name, I brought them out of Egypt. I did it to keep my name from being profaned in the eyes of the nations among whom they lived and in whose sight I had revealed myself to the Israelites. 10 Therefore I led them out of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. 11 I gave them my decrees and made known to them my laws, by which the person who obeys them will live. 12 Also I gave them my Sabbathsas a sign between us, so they would know that I the Lord made them holy.
13 “‘Yet the people of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not follow my decrees but rejected my laws—by which the person who obeys them will live—and they utterly desecrated my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and destroy them in the wilderness. 14 But for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. 15 Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land I had given them—a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands— 16 because they rejected my laws and did not follow my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths. For their hearts were devoted to their idols. 17 Yet I looked on them with pity and did not destroy them or put an end to them in the wilderness. 18 I said to their children in the wilderness, “Do not follow the statutes of your parents or keep their laws or defile yourselves with their idols. 19 I am the Lord your God; follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 20 Keep my Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.”
21 “‘But the children rebelled against me: They did not follow my decrees, they were not careful to keep my laws, of which I said, “The person who obeys them will live by them,” and they desecrated my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in the wilderness. 22 But I withheld my hand, and for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. 23 Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would disperse them among the nations and scatterthem through the countries, 24 because they had not obeyed my laws but had rejected my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths, and their eyes lusted after their parents’ idols. 25 So I gave them other statutes that were not good and laws through which they could not live; 26 I defiled them through their gifts—the sacrifice of every firstborn—that I might fill them with horror so they would know that I am the Lord.’
27 “Therefore, son of man, speak to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: In this also your ancestorsblasphemed me by being unfaithful to me: 28 When I brought them into the land I had sworn to give them and they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices, made offerings that aroused my anger, presented their fragrant incense and poured out their drink offerings.29 Then I said to them: What is this high place you go to?’” (It is called Bamah to this day.)
Rebellious Israel Renewed
30 “Therefore say to the Israelites: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Will you defile yourselves the way your ancestors did and lust after their vile images? 31 When you offer your gifts—the sacrifice of your children in the fire—you continue to defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. Am I to let you inquire of me, you Israelites? As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will not let you inquire of me.
32 “‘You say, “We want to be like the nations, like the peoples of the world, who serve wood and stone.” But what you have in mind will never happen.33 As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will reign over you with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath. 34 I will bring you from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered—with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath. 35 I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations and there, face to face, I will execute judgment upon you. 36 As I judged your ancestors in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Sovereign Lord. 37 I will take note of you as you pass under my rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant. 38 I will purge you of those who revolt and rebel against me. Although I will bring them out of the land where they are living, yet they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
39 “‘As for you, people of Israel, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Go and serve your idols, every one of you! But afterward you will surely listen to me and no longer profane my holy name with your gifts and idols. 40 For on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord, there in the land all the people of Israel will serve me, and there I will accept them. There I will require your offerings and your choice gifts, along with all your holy sacrifices. 41 I will accept you as fragrant incense when I bring you out from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will be proved holy through you in the sight of the nations.42 Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the land I had sworn with uplifted hand to give to your ancestors.43 There you will remember your conduct and all the actions by which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil you have done. 44 You will know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for my name’s sake and not according to your evil ways and your corrupt practices, you people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”
Prophecy Against the South
45 The word of the Lord came to me: 46 “Son of man, set your face towardthe south; preach against the south and prophesy against the forest of the southland. 47 Say to the southern forest: ‘Hear the word of the Lord. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to set fire to you, and it will consume all your trees, both green and dry. The blazing flame will not be quenched, and every face from south to north will be scorched by it.48 Everyone will see that I the Lord have kindled it; it will not be quenched.’”
49 Then I said, “Sovereign Lord, they are saying of me, ‘Isn’t he just telling parables?’”
Go Deeper
Ezekiel 20 starts off with the elders of Israel coming to Ezekiel, ready to inquire of the Lord once again. What happens next is a long, winding recounting of Israel’s history. The word of the Lord comes to Ezekiel and he walks them through the pattern of Israel’s unfaithfulness to God, dating back to the time when they left slavery in Exodus up to the present day. They’re reminded of the oath and covenants God had established with them and how Israel’s tendency of creating and worshiping idols of their own creation had led to their impending judgment.
As the chapter goes on, it reaches a tipping point. God promises that he will restore Israel (v. 33-36) and that there will be some (but not all) who return back to their land in Israel (v. 38). But God also makes it really clear that this continued unfaithfulness cannot continue. David Guzik in the Enduring Word commentary describes it this way:
“God called His people to a decision point. If they wanted to serve their idols, then they might as well make up their minds and do it. Let them become Babylonians in every regard now that they were in Babylon. What God did not want from Israel was a divided heart. When they brought Yahweh worship from hearts also given to idols, it profaned God and His name.”
This passage can help us today as we live here on earth, all while being citizens of another kingdom (Philippians 3:20). Will we worship and surrender to God alone, or will we assimilate into culture and become just like everyone else? In this modern-day Babylon we find ourselves in, we must remember that there is a distinct call on our lives to live differently.
This passage ends with a parable of judgment directed towards Judah, the southern kingdom (v. 45-48). Based on Ezekiel’s plea at the end of the chapter (v. 49), it seems as though the elders of Israel were quick to dismiss Ezekiel’s message because they claimed it was hard to hear or understand. As we read it today, it’s a helpful reminder to us to ask God each day for ears to hear and eyes to see what it is that He has for us each day.
Questions
- What stuck out to you the most as you read through this chapter? Why?
- Why is it helpful to look back at the past? What point was God trying to make through Ezekiel?
- How can you ensure you have ears to hear as you go about your day today?
By the Way
Ezekiel points to the times the Israelites rebelled against God in the wilderness in verse 13. While this happened multiple times, perhaps the most well known is the story of the golden calf in Exodus 32.
3 thoughts on “Ezekiel 20”
Blasphemy, betrayal, defilement, idolatry, rebellion—
The Sovereign Lord is calling the wickedness into account. The great purge is imminent as his chosen people have slipped into worship of all sorts of gods and forsaken the one true God, who explicitly said, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). Are we that different today, probably not. We cannot please God and pursue the pleasures of sin at the same time. We have been warned of the consequences of disobedience, may we come to our senses and repent to our merciful God before it is too late. Praying for an undivided heart that pursues Christ above anything this world can offer.
Ms. Ella, I always look forward to reading your comment. Please don’t ever stop:) God bless you!
I was reading Galatians 4 and thinking about how different but the same we are from the Israelites. We want our cake and eat it too. God in a box. We take Him out when we need Him for what ever and then go back to doing our idolistic ways by serving the world. He tells us multiple times over NO, NO!! It is ME the great I AM or your idols. THE END.
Paul says in Gal 4:19 my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! Having Christ formed in us is a process that the Holy Spirit will walk through with us. Hopefully we have a “lifegroup” or someone who is praying (anguishing) over us as we pursue Christ daily. Gal 4:8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?
Paul lets us know it is not easy BUT GOD has a plan and will take us through. There will be conviction but there is repentance. Hopefully we will have growth and fruit. There is sanctification even among those who stumble in their sin. Coming back to God with a repentant heart, listening, obeying, talking with Him. I pray that we are not lukewarm but hot and on fire for THE God who loves us beyond comprehension.
God thank You for eyes to see You, ears to hear You, a mouth that speaks about Your greatness, and a mind that endeavors to stay on You and Your word. God thank You for the folks that read this that they are able to fight against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.(Eph6:12). God thank You for me and them putting You first to love You with all our hearts, soul, mind and strength and our neighbor as ourselves. God thank You for HC and the leadership that You have put in place at this time to assist with guidance. God again there are not enough adjectives to offer You praise, thanksgiving, adoration, love, honor, goodness, majesty, glory, HOLY HOLY HOLY are You Lord God Almighty in Jesus name amen
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!