The Fire & Sword of the Lord, Ezekiel 20:45-21:32

 

2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness

So, as we read the Lord’s Words about the Fire and Sword of the Lord, be listening for how this applies to us as a people and a nation.

20:45-49 Consuming Fire

21:1-7 Unsheathed Sword

21:8-13 Scepter Removed

21:14-17 Jerusalem Destroyed

21:18-27 Forked Tongue

21:28-32 Supreme Judge

In the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) Ezekiel 20:45-49 is actually 21:1-5 but in most English translations it’s the end of chapter 20.

The Hebrew text makes more sense because it is a preview of Ezekiel 21. It depicts an all consuming fire that devours both green and dry trees from south to north, then chapter 21 seamlessly transitions to an all consuming sword doing the same.

Before we read verses 20:45-48 here's some definitions:

The “south” mentioned five times in NKJV, is a few different words in the original text, but all refer to Judah. In the Bible Israel is the center of everything. The “south” refers to southern Israel. Southern Israel is Judah.

The Lord, through Ezekiel, makes it abundantly clear that He is talking about Judah.

Because of their ongoing wickedry (wickedness and idolatry) the fire of God’s judgement will soon scorch all of Judah, the green tree and the dry, the Godly and ungodly, the just and the unjust.  

⁴⁵ Furthermore the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ⁴⁶ “Son of man, set your face toward the south; preach against the south and prophesy against the forest land, the South, ⁴⁷ and say to the forest of the South, ‘Hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree and every dry tree in you; the blazing flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be scorched by it. ⁴⁸ All flesh shall see that I, the Lord, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.” ’ ”

Our God is a consuming fire. Dt. 4:24, Heb.12:29

The natural consequences of judgement effects the good and evil.

That’s why it’s vitally important that we pray for those in authority that we may lead quiet peaceable lives. 1 Timothy 2:1.

⁴⁹ Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! They say of me, ‘Does he not speak parables?’ ””

No matter how clear the Word of God is spoken, some people will only hear what they want to hear.

They mockingly said Ezekiel wasn’t prophesying, but just telling stories, talking in riddles.

They thought, God won’t judge us, we’re one nation under God, we’re the chosen children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We have an eternal covenant with God.

For some reason they thought it okay to slaughter their children, perform every kind of sexual perversion, compromise with corruption, refuse to teach their children God’s Word, but instead open their borders and welcome an invasion of every godless religion, thereby committing the obamanation of fundamentally changing the God ordained constitution of their nation.

They should’ve known better, a century earlier, God’s fiery judgement swept through the northern tribes of Israel when the Assyrians took them captive around 722 BC.

But some people only hear what they want to hear.

So, God continues to repeat Himself, throughout HIStory, and into the next chapter.

Ezekiel 21:1-7, The Unsheathed Sword

Now, we hear the same story, only this time instead of the all consuming fire of the Lord, we see the all consuming Sword of the Lord.

 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ² “Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem, preach against the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel;  ³ and say to the land of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I am against you,

Preach against, prophesy against, say to your own people and nation, “The Lord is against you.”

No ear tickling. Just unpolitically correct, unpopular,  Life giving, hard to hear, Rock Solid Truth.

How many pastors today could preach that sermon?

and I will draw My sword out of its sheath and cut off both righteous and wicked from you. ⁴ Because I will cut off both righteous and wicked from you, therefore My sword shall go out of its sheath against all flesh from south to north,

Notice the parallels with the end of chapter 20. Both the green and dry tree, and here, the righteous and the wicked, both cut off (killed), from south to north.   

 ⁵ that all flesh may know that I, the Lord, have drawn My sword out of its sheath; it shall not return anymore.” ’ 

God governs in the affairs of men.

⁶ Sigh therefore, son of man, with a breaking heart, and sigh with bitterness before their eyes. ⁷ And it shall be when they say to you, ‘Why are you sighing?’ that you shall answer, ‘Because of the news; when it comes, every heart will melt, all hands will be feeble, every spirit will faint, and all knees will be weak as water.

Sigh, breaking heart, bitterness... God takes no pleasure in death. Ezekiel 33:11.

Behold, it is coming and shall be brought to pass,’ says the Lord God.”

It will happen. It is coming. Imagine your hometown, your family, your friends, your house where you lived... being invaded, ravaged, looted, raped.

This is not just history, it’s HIStory, which is timeless, therefore ever timely, and relevant all the time, everywhere, even here, even where you’re sitting reading this, right now.

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, the righteous will be gone and what’s left will be hell on earth for those left behind. Pray it’s not you, your hometown, your family, your friends, your house where you lived... being invaded, ravage, looted, raped.

Ezekiel 21:8-13, Scepter Removed

⁸ Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ⁹ “Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord!’ Say:

‘A sword, a sword is sharpened
And also polished!
¹⁰ Sharpened to make a dreadful slaughter,
Polished to flash like lightning!
Should we then make mirth?

Ez. 20:49, you think this is a riddle? You think it’s funny?

It (the sword) despises the scepter of My son, (Zedekiah, king of Judah)

 As it does all wood. (idols)

¹¹ And He has given it to be polished,
That it may be handled;
This sword is sharpened, and it is polished
To be given into the hand of the slayer.’ (Nebuchadnezzar)

Remember earlier they mocked Ezekiel for talking in riddles? Now he looks them in the eye and says, “Should we make mirth—you think this is funny?” Go ahead, laugh it off, don’t pay attention. You won’t be laughing long, soon judgement will fall, eternity will come, and you’ll find yourself in a place where there is no laughing, only wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Nebuchadnezzar despised Zedekiah, the king of Judah, for revolting against him.

Thus, Babylon’s third and final siege that destroyed Jerusalem and the temple and all the pagan altars (all wood).

Nebuchadnezzar was the fire, now the sword, in the hand of the Lord to carry out His just judgement.

However, make no mistake, this was not God’s will, He was not pleased. That’s why He had Ezekiel sigh with a breaking heart and bitterness.

Judgement is not pleasant for the Judge or the judged.

But God is just and Divine justice must be served. So, He allowed Zedekiah to be tempted to sin against the oath he made with Nebuchadnezzar.

God allowed Nebuchadnezzar to yield to his anger and attack.

God didn’t tempt either of them. God tempts no one ever of evil.

God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that they turn, turn from their wicked ways and live. Ez. 33:11.

¹² “Cry and wail, son of man;
For it will be against My people,
Against all the princes of Israel.
Terrors including the sword will be against My people;
Therefore strike your thigh.

See, the Lord through His prophet, shows His sorrow.

Remember the story of the inkhorn and the battle-ax in Ezekiel 9. Those who sighed and cried over the wickedry in the city were spared, the rest, green and dry, were all killed, beginning at the Sanctuary, for judgement must begin at the House of God. Ezekiel 9:4-6.

¹³ “Because it is a testing,
And what if the sword despises even the scepter?
The scepter shall be no more,”

says the Lord God.

Zedekiah is dethroned.

How can this be?

The Lord promised the scepter shall not depart from Judah...Genesis 49:10.

It looked like God’s Word had failed.

But HIStory proves God’s Word never fails.

If it ever looks like God’s Word has failed... your looker is broken, look again.

Genesis 49:10. The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people.

Zedekiah was the last king, because there were no more kings... until Shiloh, about 600 years later, in Bethlehem, in a stable, in a manger, in a Baby, one holy, silent night, and you shall call Him Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace, Emmanuel, King of kings, Lord of lords... Jesus our Savior.

Ezekiel 21:14-17, Jerusalem Destroyed

¹⁴ “You therefore, son of man, prophesy,
And strike your hands together.
The third time let the sword do double damage.

It is the sword that slays,
The sword that slays the great men,
That enters their private chambers.

Three times, for Nebuchadnezzar’s the third and final siege of Jerusalem, doing double damage, utter destruction. 586BC.

The intensity of the battle, the clashing of swords can almost be heard in the following words...

¹⁵ I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, (surrounded)
That the heart may melt and many may stumble (terrified).
Ah! It is made bright;
It is grasped for slaughter:

¹⁶ “Swords at the ready!
Thrust right!
Set your blade!
Thrust left—
Wherever your edge is ordered!

¹⁷ “I also will beat My fists together,
And I will cause My fury to rest;
I, the Lord, have spoken.”

Judah rests in ruins.

Ezekiel 21:18-27, Fork in the Road

¹⁸ The word of the Lord came to me again, saying: ¹⁹ “And son of man, appoint for yourself two ways for the sword of the king of Babylon to go; both of them shall go from the same land. Make a sign; put it at the head of the road to the city. ²⁰ Appoint a road for the sword to go to Rabbah of the Ammonites, and to Judah, into fortified Jerusalem. ²¹ For the king of Babylon stands at the parting of the road, at the fork of the two roads, to use divination: he shakes the arrows, he consults the images, he looks at the liver. 

Shakes the arrows: Belomancy. The word comes from the Greek words belos (arrow) and manteia (divination). Like flipping a coin, heads we head to Judah, tails we go to Rabbah. Mark an arrow, shake them in the quiver, pull out the marked arrow we march to Judah, unmarked we go to Rabbah.  

Consults the images: Pray to dumb, idols.

Looks at the liver: Hepatoscopy. They thought the liver was the seat of emotion and where the intentions of the gods were written in the animal sacrifices.

²² In his right hand is the divination for Jerusalem: to set up battering rams, to call for a slaughter, to lift the voice with shouting, to set battering rams against the gates, to heap up a siege mound, and to build a wall. 

In Ezekiel 4 the Lord instructed Ezekiel to make a model depicting this very siege as a warning of things to come.

We tried to do the same.

²³ And it will be to them like a false divination in the eyes of those who have sworn oaths with them; but he will bring their iniquity to remembrance, that they may be taken.

²⁴ “Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Because you have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are uncovered, so that in all your doings your sins appear—because you have come to remembrance, you shall be taken in hand.

Zedekiah swore an oath to Nebuchadnezzar, then broke the oath by asking for help from Egypt (not help from God).

Even though, it was a bad deal with a bad dude, God takes oaths seriously, and therefore said Zedekiah would not escape, but would die in Babylon. Ezekiel 17:15-16.

Which is exactly what happened. Zedekiah was captured by Nebuchadnezzar, he watched his own sons be killed before his very eyes, then his eyes were taken out and he was hauled to Babylon where he died.

²⁵ ‘Now to you, O profane, wicked prince of Israel, (Zedekiah) whose day has come, whose iniquity shall end, ²⁶ thus says the Lord God:

“Remove the turban, and take off the crown;
Nothing shall remain the same.
Exalt the humble, and humble the exalted.
²⁷ Overthrown, overthrown,
I will make it overthrown!
It shall be no longer,
Until He comes whose right it is,
And I will give it to Him.” ’

He is Jesus, whose right it is.

He is Shiloh who is to come.

Ezekiel 21:28-32, Supreme Judge

²⁸ “And you, son of man, prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God concerning the Ammonites and concerning their reproach,’ and say:

When the Ammonites, (descendants of Lot) heard that Nebuchadnezzar was heading to Judah instead of compassion for Judah, they reproached them, (laughed and mocked and insulted). Zephaniah 2:8, Psalm 83:4-7.

Bad move. God noticed. Now, it’s their turn.

‘A sword, a sword is drawn,
Polished for slaughter,
For consuming, for flashing—
²⁹ While they see false visions for you, (deception)
While they divine a lie to you,  (fake news)

Whenever you turn from Truth, you fall into deception.

To bring you (the sword) on the necks of the wicked, the slain
Whose day has come, (day of reckoning)
Whose iniquity shall end.

³⁰ ‘Return it to its sheath.
I will judge you
In the place where you were created,
In the land of your nativity.
³¹ I will pour out My indignation on you;
I will blow against you with the fire of My wrath,
And deliver you into the hands of brutal men who are skillful to destroy.
³² You shall be fuel for the fire; (foreshadow pretribulation, Ezekiel 38-39 war, when it’ll take seven years to burn the weaponry, when God gets through with them).
Your blood shall be in the midst of the land. (foreshadow of post tribulation war, Armageddon, where blood will flow up to the horses bridle Rev. 14:20).
You shall not be remembered,
For I the Lord have spoken.’ ”

The Ammonites were so utterly destroyed by Babylon, they were never seen or heard from again.

 

Conclusion:

If God did not allow His chosen nation to escape judgement for sin, is there hope for America?

Israel was created by God.

America, by man, with the aid of God, to worship God.

Benjamin Franklin:

I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth- that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that “except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that build it.” I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel

Freedom to worship God is built into the foundation of America.

Colombus journaled that He was led by the Holy Spirit.

The Mayflower Compact, the seedbed of our Constitution, was for the glory of God, the advancement of the Christian faith, and signed solemnly in the presence of God.

Our Founding Fathers declared a National Prayer Proclamation just weeks before finding the wisdom and courage to create our Declaration of Independence.

Our US Constitution likewise followed a National Day of Prayer.

By the 1800s America’s various government entities had issued over 1,400 Prayer Proclamations.

America is foundationally, fundamentally, a Christian Nation.

Time and again, the Hand of Providence has saved US.

Time and time again, it has been in answer to prayer.

Ezekiel 22:29-30
 The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger. ³⁰ So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.

That was Israel... that is not US... not today, because today, there’s us.

 Is there hope of US? It’s up to us. We His people.

2 Chronicles 7:14. If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, we Your people, called by Your name, call upon Your name, we humble ourselves, seek Your face, turn from our wicked ways...thank You, for hearing forgiving and healing our land. Help us do our part, we know You’ll do Yours.

Thank You.

We trust You and love You, forever.

Amen.

Prayer Requests:

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The Building of the Gospel, Mark 1:1-11

 

In the beginning God told us how He built creation. Genesis 1.

Now, in this beginning He tells us how He built the Gospel. Mark 1:1-4.

It is profound in its simplicity.

Foundational Pillars:

Genesis 1:1. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Mark 1:1. The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Hebrews 1:1-2. God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds.

John 1:1, 14. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... 14 and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

The beginning of the Gospel... The word the, is the definite article. Meaning there is only One Gospel. The Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Galatians 1:6-9 Only One Gospel
 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different Gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the Gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other Gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

Any other Gospel, (Book of Mormon, Jehovah Witness Watch Tower and New World Translation, Islamic Quran...) if we or an angel from heaven, if anyone preach any other Gospel, let him be accursed.

Accursed: eternally damned.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Jesus is the One and only Christ, Messiah, Anointed One, Savior of the Word.

Jesus is God.

John 1:1. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God... 14 and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

Jesus as the Son of God, is the second member of the Trinity. God the Father. God the Son. God the Holy Spirit. Three in One.

NOT three separate entities as Morman’s pervert (the word from Gal. 6:7).

Jesus is the uncreated Creator, NOT our spirit brother born to the Heavenly Father and a Heavenly Mother, as perverted by the Mormons.  

Jesus is NOT an angel. NOT Michal the Archangel. NOT a created being as perverted by Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Jesus is God who became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14), put on skin as a Man; not simply a good man a respected prophet pointing to Muhammad as Islam perverts it.

The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2 As it is written in the Prophets:

“Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,

Who will prepare Your way before You.”

Quoting what was prophesied 400 years prior.

Malachi 3:1.
“Behold, I send My messenger,
And he will prepare the way before Me.
And the Lord, whom you seek,
Will suddenly come to His temple,
Even the Messenger of the covenant,
In whom you delight.
Behold, He is coming,”
Says the Lord of hosts.

3 “The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

‘Prepare the way of the Lord;

Make His paths straight.’ ”

Quoting what was prophesied 700 years prior.

Isaiah 40:3.
The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make straight in the desert
A highway for our God.

What we’re seeing is that even though God is Sovereign, He abides by His own Divine system of justice.

Amos 3:7. Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.

So, over many years, God spoke in various ways, at various times, through various prophets. Hebrews 1:1.

Then, at just the right time, just as promised, the messenger came...

4 John came...

In the beginning God told us how He built creation.

Now, in this beginning He tells us how He built the Gospel.                                                                                                  

First, everything begins with God.

In the beginning God... Genesis 1:1.

The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Mark 1:1.

It all begins with God.

With God everything begins good.

Gospel means good news.

Next comes God’s Word.

God said, “Let there be light...” Gen. 1:3.

In the beginning was the Word... John 1:1.

As it is written... Mark 1:2.

Then comes His messenger.

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.

Behold, I send My messenger... Mark 1:2

Then, as promised, the messenger came...

4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

The promised prophet was John.

Not Muhammad.

Not Joseph Smith.

Just John.

And what did John do?

He came baptizing, signifying the washing away of sin by repentance (transition of the heart) rather than temporarily covering it by works and sacrifice.

He’s the forerunner, the protype, the first preacher pointing directly to Christ.

He’s the one our all-knowing, all wise, Lord picked to begin the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ.

This is the mold; this is the guy I want my preachers to look like.

John. Preaching in the wilderness. Not in a stained glass, crystal cathedral, ivory towers wearing designer clothes, private jets, and $20,000 watches.

John’s, our example.

His method was simple. Baptize in the wilderness.

His message was simple. Repent. Your soul is dirty in need of a bath. Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and cast into the fire. (Matthew 3:2, 10).

Same message Billy Graham preached for over half a century... and changed the world.

That is the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

God’s Divine System of Salvation.

Profound in simplicity.

God

His Word

His Messenger

Romans 10:14. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

1 Corinthian 1:21. For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

That is God’s Divine System of Salvation.

That’s why saints still gathered, at the risk of death by dogs, or lions, or being burned alive.

It didn’t matter. They’d never stop. To stop would be like trying to go on living, but doing it, without breathing.

Hearing God’s Word is the Life Breath for His people.

Did preaching repentance work for John?

5 Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

The people walked to the wilderness.

Waded into the Jordan River.

Confessed their sins.

Were fully emersed under the water, signifying they were all-in, fully committed to repenting, turning from sin.

The water didn’t wash away their sins back then, and it doesn’t today.

It was an outward sign, of an inward commitment to repentance.

For us today it represents our repentance and commitment to Christ.

6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.

Devoted.

Totally dedicated to the cause of Christ.

The camel’s hair reflected the clothes of the prophets, namely, Elijah. 2 Kings 1:8, Zech. 13:4.

John as a Nazarite would not drink any fermented drink, or grape juice or grapes or raisins, not even the seeds or skins. Was not to cut his hair. Would not go near a dead body. John distanced himself from the religious elites and wouldn’t wear soft comfortable clothing like theirs.

Camel’s hair was not just a picture of the prophets of the past but practical, durable, and retained warmth when wet.

7 And he preached, saying, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose.

Humble.

Loosing a sandal strap was the task of slaves.

John said he wasn’t even worthy to be a slave to Christ.

John 3:30. He must increase but I must decrease.

8 I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Focused.

John was totally focused on Christ.  

John 1:29. Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

John: Devoted. Humble. Focused.

We can and should be too.

John Baptizes Jesus

9 It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

Do right, just because it’s right.

Matthew 3:14-15.

John said to Jesus, “I should be baptized by You.”

But Jesus said, “Let it be so. For it is fitting to fulfill all righteousness.”

Jesus didn’t need to be baptized. But He did it just because it was the right thing to do.

You don’t need to be baptized to be saved. But you ought to, because it’s the right thing to do, “to fulfill all righteousness.” Jesus did. You should too.

As far as the Bible records it was customary, after, someone was saved, to be baptized.

Jesus was baptized, just because it was right.

And it pleased God...

10 And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. 11 Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Do right, just because it’s right, and hear God say: “You are My beloved, in whom I am well pleased.”

We see here the Trinity.

God the Son, Jesus being baptized.

God the Holy Spirit, descending like a dove.

 God the Father, speaking from heaven.

Three in one.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, thank You for revealing the profound simplicity of Your Gospel. Help us to walk in it. To seek You first, to love and live by Your Word, and to hear Your messengers, that we may be soul winners and disciple makers, so of all those You’ve given us, none are lost

Thank You.

 We love You, forever.

Amen.

Prayer Requests:

Call or text: 612-554-2522

Email: pray4measap@aol.com

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Books: amazon.com/author/dougspurling

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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Rebel to Reconciled, Ezekiel 20

 

HIStory from Egypt to Eternity.

Revealing God’s Golden Thread of Reconciliation.

OUTLINE:

1-4 ACCOUNT CLOSED
5-9 EGYPT
10-17 WILDERNESS
18-26 CHILDREN
27-29 FATHERS
30-32 YOU
33-44 RECONCILED

Repeated phrases:

My name’s sake. 4 times. Ezekiel 20:9, 14, 22, 44.

I raised My hand in an oath. 7 times. Ezekiel 20:5, 6, 15, 23, 28, 42.

I am the Lord. 9 times. Ezekiel 20:5, 7, 12, 19, 20, 26, 38, 42, 44.

 

It came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, 

What does that mean?

Why is that there?

Whenever God points at the clock in Scripture, we should pause and say, “Thank You.” Because He did it to offer us, undeniable proofs of the accuracy and authenticity of the Bible. He knew that one day, like finding hidden treasure, archeologists would dig up artifacts and say, “Hey, this confirms exactly what the Bible said!”

This is a real date in HIStory, 2,617 years ago, August 14^th, 591 BC.

What we’re reading is Truth. It really happened, and some of what we’ll read will really happen.

The Bible is over 25% prophetic; meaning it predicts what will happen. About 80% (4 out of 5) of all Bible prophecy has already been fulfilled.

Leaving no doubt the remaining 20% will be fulfilled just as written.

Bible prophecy is simply HIStory written in advance.

 

ACCOUNT CLOSED 1-4

¹...that certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the Lord, and sat before me. (Ezekiel).

You might know these folks. They’re the ones that only show up when they want something, need something, have an inquiry. They showed up in chapter 8 and then again in chapter 14.  

² Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ³ “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Have you come to inquire of Me? As I live,” says the Lord God, “I will not be inquired of by you.”’

This is basically the same answer God gave them the last time they showed up wanting to make an inquiry. (Ez. 14:1-2).

ACCOUNT CLOSED!

Yeah, but I have a prob—I need help with—I have a question my account is froze my password doesn’t work my debit card keep getting declined????

I I I my my my—you you you need to help me me me.

God tells Ezekiel to tell them, their account is closed.  

 ⁴ Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Then make known to them the abominations of their fathers. (ancestors).

Literally the original text reads not as a question but a command.

Judge son of man, judge, (make them) know (the) abominations (of their) fathers.

Warning after warning they ignored.

Abomination after abomination they continued, until their cup of iniquity overflowed, their sin account was overdrawn.

To prove it God, through Ezekiel, gives them a HIStory lesson of their abominations; an accounting of their overdrafts of iniquity.

 

EGYPT 5-9

⁵ “Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “On the day when I chose Israel and raised My hand in an oath to the descendants of the house of Jacob, and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt, I raised My hand in an oath to them, saying, ‘I am the Lord your God.’ ⁶ On that day I raised My hand in an oath to them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, ‘flowing with milk and honey,’ the glory of all lands. 

⁷ Then I said to them, ‘Each of you, throw away the abominations which are before his eyes, 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 obey Me. They did not all cast away the abominations which were before their eyes, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said, ‘I will pour out My fury on them and fulfill My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.’

Even though God just threatened to pour out His fury on them, the big picture reveals His extraordinary love.

He chose them, made an oath to them, to deliver them from bondage to freedom.

Then, He expected them to leave the sins of the past and obey Him.

God does not accept victimhood mentality.

He did not say, “Well, they came from a dysfunctional environment, so they can’t help but be irresponsible, despise authority, and act lawlessly.

Nonsense!

God demands righteous living, no matter the circumstance, regardless of emotion.

 And He leads by example:

⁹ But I acted for My name’s sake, that it should not be profaned before the Gentiles among whom they were, in whose sight I had made Myself known to them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt.

Now, it’s not obvious at first but this is an amazing insight into intercession.

God’s  fury and anger wanted to turn Israel to dust...

But Moses interceded. Exodus 32:7-14.

Moses was on the mountain with God.

Israel was at the bottom with golden calf.

God, about to pour His fury and anger, said to Moses, “let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them. And I will make of you a great nation.” Exodus 32:10.

But Moses interceded asking the Lord, what will become of Your great name if You deliver Your people only to kill them? And what about Your promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; to multiply them as the stars of heaven, and give them all this land, forever? Exodus 32:11-13.

So, the Lord relented. Exodus 32:14.

God’s Divine Justice says, smoke ‘em, turn them to dust. The wages of sin is death. Rom. 6:23a.

God’s heart look for a Way to extend mercy. The Gift of God is Eternal Life. Rom. 6:23b.

James 2:13b
...mercy triumphs over judgement.

Moses interceded. He stood in the gap between God’s wrath and the people.

Ezekiel 22:30
So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.

Our text in Ezekiel tells us God did not pour out His fury and anger for His name’s sake. However, behind the scenes we see the change was in response to intercession. Which of course is a type and shadow of Christ, who ever lives to make intercession for us. Hebrews 7:25.

God loves to help us, work with us, and through us, but expects us to do our part, to know His will and pray it into existence.

Now, how in the world did Moses have the courage and desire to stand in front of God’s fury and say, “STOP!”

This is key to the effectual fervent power of intercession. It’s a simple principle from the man after God’s own heart, King David.

Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.

David was delighted when they said let us go to the house of the Lord. Psalm 122:1.

Moses delighted in the Lord, spoke with Him as a friend, longed to know His way, see His glory, and prayed they’d never leave His Presence. Exodus 33:11-15.

If you delight in the Lord (do things the Lord delights in), the Lord will give you the desires He wants you to desire.

It’s a beautiful and powerful and joyful way to live. You pursue your heart’s desire, and the Lord helps you achieve them because He directed the desire.

You pray your desires with effective fervency and faith, because God planted the desire and will fulfill it. James 5:16-18.

 

WILDERNESS 10-17

¹⁰ “Therefore I made them go out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. ¹¹ And I gave them My statutes and showed them My judgments, ‘which, if a man does, he shall live by them.’ ¹² Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them.

 ¹³ Yet the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness; they did not walk in My statutes; they despised My judgments, ‘which, if a man does, he shall live by them’; and they greatly defiled My Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out My fury on them in the wilderness, to consume them. ¹⁴ But I acted for My name’s sake, that it should not be profaned before the Gentiles, in whose sight I had brought them out. ¹⁵ So I also raised My hand in an oath to them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, ‘flowing with milk and honey,’ the glory of all lands, ¹⁶ because they despised My judgments and did not walk in My statutes, but profaned My Sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols. ¹⁷ Nevertheless My eye spared them from destruction. I did not make an end of them in the wilderness.

Sanctifies, sets apart for the Lord.

Sabbath, a day of rest, set apart for the Lord. A beautiful sign of trust and obedience.

Manna. Exodus 16:14-31. Each day they’d gather their daily bread, (manna). If they gathered more than they needed and tried to keep it overnight, it bred worms and stank.

Except on Friday, they gathered enough for two days, to cover the next day, Sabbath. That day, the manna did not go bad but would last through the Sabbath.

God’s beautiful sign of protection and provision between Him and His people, even in the wilderness.

If only they would trust and obey...

Which they wouldn’t.

They rebelled, once again.

So, again, God said I will pour out My fury on them in the wilderness, to consume them.

But then, like before, God contained His fury for His name’s sake among the gentiles. Six times in this chapter gentiles are mentioned. This is not just a HIStory lesson of Israel’s iniquity, but a lesson in God’s love for all humanity.  

But make no mistake, His Divine Justice is not ignored.

He raised His hand in an oath saying justice would be served on the guilty, they would die in the wilderness; all but Joshua and Caleb, who remained faithful.

His mercy was extended to the children. They would enter the Promise Land flowing with milk and honey.

 

CHILDREN 18-26

¹⁸ “But I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers, nor observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols. ¹⁹ I am the Lord your God: Walk in My statutes, keep My judgments, and do them; ²⁰ hallow My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God.’

²¹ “Notwithstanding, the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, and were not careful to observe My judgments, ‘which, if a man does, he shall live by them’; but they profaned My Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out My fury on them and fulfill My anger against them in the wilderness. ²² Nevertheless I withdrew My hand and acted for My name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the Gentiles, in whose sight I had brought them out. ²³ Also I raised My hand in an oath to those in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the Gentiles and disperse them throughout the countries, ²⁴ because they had not executed My judgments, but had despised My statutes, profaned My Sabbaths, and their eyes were fixed on their fathers’ idols.

²⁵ “Therefore I also gave them up to statutes that were not good, and judgments by which they could not live; ²⁶ and I pronounced them unclean because of their ritual gifts, in that they caused all their firstborn to pass through the fire, that I might make them desolate and that they might know that I am the Lord.” ’

God told the children in the wilderness, (then and now) to follow His ways, not the ways of their worldly fathers.

Jesus says in, Matthew 10:34-36, Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. ³⁵ For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; ³⁶ and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.

Dear Saint, our family is those who do the will of our Father. Matthew 12:50.

Follow God. Even if it goes against your fathers, your families, your traditions, your religion, your political party. Follow God.  

That’s what God told the children in the wilderness to do, but they rebelled.

Then, as before, God said He would pour out His fury and fulfill His anger.

But, yet again, mercy triumphed over judgement and He held back His hand, for the sake of His name in the sight of the gentiles.

But make no mistake, His Divine Justice was not ignored.

This time He raised His hand in an oath to scatter them throughout the nations of the gentiles.

The scattering was long lasting, we still see remnants of it to this day.

Around 722 BC the Assyrians took the northern tribes captive.

605 BC began the Babylonian captivity.

70 AD the Romans sent them scattering for nearly 2,000 years.

In 1948 we saw God bring an official end to this prophecy. From that day to this He’s calling them back home to Israel.

DANGER ZONE.

Notice this time God gives them no commands.

Before He told them to get rid of their abominations and idols. Then, He said, to follow His statutes and judgements and Sabbaths. Then, He said to follow Him, not your fathers... but this time, He doesn’t give a command, He simply says, “I gave them up.”

When God stops chasing you, when He stops knocking, you’re headed toward hell in a hurry.

Whenever it happens to anyone it’s easy to trace.

They resist God long enough until He gives them up, and they go nuts, with a debased mind and a strong delusion.

Romans 1:28
They did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;

2 Thess. 2:11
And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie.

They call evil good and good evil and resist all that is right and just and Holy.

They don’t know if they are male or female, they can’t say if a man can have a baby, or if a boy may need tampons. They think law and border are evil. They defend criminals and lock up citizens. They ban Bible reading in schools while promoting men in high heels and dresses reading about perverted sex to our children.

That’s just the beginning.     

God justifies judging them, scattering them, making them desolate by condemning the worst of their wickedness: “causing their firstborn to pass through the fire.” Ez. 20:26.

They burned their children alive, as an offering to a demon they called molech.

Today they do the same in a different way to the same demon, but he wears a doctor’s coat and calls himself Planned Parenthood.

God’s chosen people, were scattered, left desolate, for doing what America has done over seventy million times and rising by over 3,000 innocent souls a day.

God’s mercy is amazing, but His judgment is not ignored.

God’s people in America are humbling themselves, praying, seeking His face, turning from their wicked ways. 2 Chronicles 7:14 promises if we do, then, He will heal our land. Intercessors, standing in the gap, may be the only reason, America still stands. One day we will be taken out of the way, and then, all hell will break loose, until the Prince of Peace returns to rule and reign.  

  

FATHERS 27-29

²⁷ “Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “In this too your fathers have blasphemed Me, by being unfaithful to Me. ²⁸ When I brought them into the land concerning which I had raised My hand in an oath to give them, and they saw all the high hills and all the thick trees, there they offered their sacrifices and provoked Me with their offerings. There they also sent up their sweet aroma and poured out their drink offerings. ²⁹ Then I said to them, ‘What is this high place to which you go?’ So its name is called Bamah to this day.” ’ 

Now the HIStory is hitting closer to home. He’s not just talking about distant ancestors, but their very fathers.

Notice for the first time, God does not say they rebelled. Rebels pull against the yoke that is upon them, the authority that is over them. Now these are completely outsiders, enemies of God. He calls them blasphemers.  

God does not talk about His fury and anger, He does not raise His hand in an oath.

As Judge He simply states the charges against them.

By this time their conscience is seared, every imagination of their hearts is only evil continually. Genesis 6:5.

Even in the midst of the Promise Land, with purple mountain majesties, from sea to shining sea, where God shed His grace on thee, rather than seeing God’s blessings, all they saw were places to practice sin and worship evil.

Generation after generation ignored God’s warnings, until they were too far gone. Destruction of Jerusalem was imminent; Ezekiel and Daniel and thousands of others were already taken captive. Jeremiah in Jerusalem was persecuted for speaking Truth.

This picture is not so different from where we sit today in America. If you are a Christian, please intercede for our country, daily.

Now, the HIStory lesson becomes a personal lecture.

 

YOU 30-32

³⁰ Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Are you defiling yourselves in the manner of your fathers, and committing harlotry according to their abominations? ³¹ For when you offer your gifts and make your sons pass through the fire, you defile yourselves with all your idols, even to this day. So shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live,” says the Lord God, “I will not be inquired of by you. ³² What you have in your mind shall never be, when you say, ‘We will be like the Gentiles, like the families in other countries, serving wood and stone.’

The Lord returns to His original question. “So, shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel?”

Then He calls them out for the inquiry they never made, but He could read the thoughts and intents of their heart.

His answer totally turns the trajectory of the conversation from judgement to reconciliation.

No, you cannot inquire about being like the other nations. I created you to be My people.

There is no negotiation regarding your identity.

You may see yourself as someone or something other than how I created you, but that doesn't change who you are in My eyes.

I have not and will not give up on you. Even if you’ve given up on yourself.  

I will not give up on My covenant with you. Even if you do.

I will remain faithful to you, even if you’re not.

Which brings us from prophecy already fulfilled in our past, to prophecy to be fulfilled in our future.

 

RECONCILED 33-44

³³ “As I live,” says the Lord God, “surely with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out, I will rule 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, with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out. 

We saw this largely fulfilled in 1948, when Jews flocked to Israel with the rebirth of the nation, and they’re still flocking there in ever increasing numbers.

The persecution of Israel only helps further fulfill this prophecy. What the devil means for harm, God uses for good.

God has this prophetic magnet in the heart of the Jew calling them home.

We’re witnessing prophecy being fulfilled right before our very eyes.

³⁵ And I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will plead My case with you face to face. ³⁶ Just as I pleaded My case with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will plead My case with you,” says the Lord God.

Isaiah 1:18
Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

³⁷ “I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant; 

This is a picture of the Shepherd, raising His rod, to allow His sheep into His fold. But this Shepherd is interested in more than just owning a flock of sheep, He is committed to building a family relationship, a bond of covenant, with His people.

³⁸ I will purge the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the country where they dwell, but they shall not enter the land of Israel.

The same Shepherd who allows the sheep into His fold, also keeps out the rebels, the wolves, the thieves, the goats.

After the tribulation there will be a purging process, the Sheep and Goat Judgement. Matt. 25:31-36.  

Then you will know that I am the Lord.

The beautiful phrase the Lord loves and repeats over seventy times in Ezekiel.

³⁹ “As for you, O house of Israel,” thus says the Lord God: “Go, serve every one of you his idols—and hereafter—if you will not obey Me; but profane My holy name no more with your gifts and your idols.

Serve your idols if you choose, but don’t come to me with your hypocritical nonsense.

Joshua 24:15. And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

1 Kings 18:21. How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.

 ⁴⁰ For on My holy mountain, on the mountain height of Israel,” says the Lord God, “there all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, shall serve Me;

Romans 11:26, all Israel will be saved.

 there I will accept them, and there I will require your offerings and the firstfruits of your sacrifices, together with all your holy things. ⁴¹ I will accept you as a sweet aroma when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you have been scattered; and I will be hallowed in you before the Gentiles. 

During the Millennial Reign there will be required feasts in Jerusalem. If they don’t attend, their land will have no rain.

Feast of Tabernacles, Zechariah 14:16-17.

Feast of Passover, Ezekiel 45:21.

⁴² Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for which I raised My hand in an oath to give to your fathers. 

Isaiah 11:6. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

⁴³ And there you shall remember your ways and all your doings with which you were defiled; and you shall loathe yourselves in your own sight because of all the evils that you have committed

At the end of the tribulation, Jesus will return, the Jews who are alive will recognize Him as the One they pierced and they will remember their wickedness and mourn as one mourns over the loss of an only son.

Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.

We will not lose our memory; we will not get amnesia regarding evil. We will know the Truth with exceptional clarity, and by God’s grace we will be able to handle it. We will know Jesus died and rose again. We’ll know He did it for sinners. We’ll know some sinners, probably even some from our own family, that didn’t make it to heaven.

With a deep understanding we will walk through eternity with wise and solemn joy, not ignorant bliss.

 ⁴⁴ Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have dealt with you for My name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways nor according to your corrupt doings, O house of Israel,” says the Lord God.’ ”

There it is again for the ninth time in this chapter, God’s heart’s desire:

“Then you shall know that I am the Lord.”

Do you see the depth of God’s love for you?

He repeatedly raised His hand in an oath.

We repeatedly rebelled.

Which warranted His fury and anger.

But for His name’s sake, He came in our place and followed all His statutes and judgements and Sabbaths.

Then He raised both hands and took His fury and anger in our place.  

Reconciling our overdrawn account with His as He said...

Tetelestai!

Translated, “It is finished” but means, Paid in Full.

 

Isaiah 59:16

He saw that there was no man,
And wondered that there was no intercessor;
Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him;
And His own righteousness, it sustained Him.

 

2 Corinthians 5: 17-21
 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. ¹⁸ Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, ¹⁹ that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

²⁰ Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. ²¹ For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

 

Let’s intercede.

Lord Jesus, we have rebelled, individually, and as a nation, please forgive US.

Please search our hearts, convict us of any wicked way, cause us to despise iniquity, draw us to delight in You, as intercessors in tune to Your desires, that our prayers are powerful and effective, for Your glory. We pray You use us a soul winners and disciple makers, so of all You’ve given us, none are lost.

Thank You.

We love You, forever.

Amen.  

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