Search The Scriptures —Study 18 — Ezekiel 25 and 26

INTRODUCTORY NOTE TO CHAPTERS 25-32

These chapters are a series of prophetic utterances against seven foreign nations.  They are intended to show that the calamities which were falling on Judah were not arbitrary, nor an evidence of God’s weakness, but that, on the contrary, He is supreme over all peoples and all His acts are governed by fixed moral principles which reveal His holy nature. By their position in the book they separate the prophecies that belong to the period of Ezekiel’s ministry prior to the fall of Jerusalem from those that followed later. (see Introduction.)

Study 18 From the Book of Ezekiel is: Ezekiel 25 and 26

Chapter 25 contains four prophecies directed against Ammon, Moab, Edom and Philistines respectively. Chapter 26 is a prophecy of the approaching destruction of the Tyre through the armies of Nebuchadrezzar, together with a vivid description of far-reaching effects of her overthrow.

1.     In chapter 25, find four ways in which unbelievers and enemies of the truth act towards the people of God when the latter are brought low by calamity. How will such adversaries be dealt with, and why? Cf. Pss. 94:1-5, 21-23; 46:8-10; Is. 26:9b.

2.     What, according to 26:2, was the ground of God’s judgment upon Tyre? As we try to imagine the scenes described in 26:7-14, and measure the fame and worldly greatness of Tyre by the dismay caused by her fall (15-18), what lesson may we learn? Cf. Je. 9:23, 24; Lk. 12:15-21.

Notes

1.     25:10. ‘The people of the East’ are the tribes of the desert. Moab and Ammon were before long overrun by the Nabataeans.

2.     26:2. Jerusalem had been as an open gate, by which commerce had been diverted from Tyre.

3.     26:6. ‘Her daughters’: i.e., towns on the mainland dependent upon Tyre.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 17 — Ezekiel 24

Study 17 From the Book of Ezekiel is: Ezekiel 24

A last picture of Jerusalem before its destruction---a rusted pot set on a fire, with flesh being boiled in it. The flesh is taken out and scattered, symbolizing the dispersion of the people of the city; and the pot is then left on the fire, a symbol of the city lying waste and burned.

1.     Verses 1-14. Compare what the chief men of Jerusalem said in 11:3 (see Study 7, Question 1) with what God says here concerning the city and its people. What may we learn from this?  Cf. 1 Thes. 5:3; 2 Pet. 3:4.

2.     Verses 15-27. How is Ezekiel’s wife described in verse 16? Yet God make this painful experience also a means of ministry. What was it designed to demonstrate? See verses 24 and 27. Can you think of other instances where the sufferings of a servant of God have been made to serve God’s design, no matter at what cost to the sufferer? Cf. Col. 1:24.

Notes

1.     Verse 23. The people would be too stunned by the evil tidings to take any action.

2.     Verse 27. Cf. 3:26, 27.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 16 — Ezekiel 23

Study 16 From the Book of Ezekiel is: Ezekiel 23

This chapter resembles chapter 16. Samaria and Jerusalem are condemned for their unfaithfulness in seeking alliances with foreign nations and their gods. Their conduct is represented in unusually realistic figures to make it appear how loathsome and repulsive it has been.

1.     What is the main content of each of the four divisions of this chapter, namely verses 1-10, 11-21, 22-35 and 36-49?

2.      Trace how Jerusalem walked in the way of Samaria and even exceeded her in wickedness, and therefore must drain to the dregs the same cup of judgment. What were the origins of here idolatrous tendencies, both on the historical and on the religious level (verses 8, 19, 27, 35)? What warning does this contain for God’s people today?

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Search The Scriptures —Study 15 — Ezekiel 22

Study 15 From the Book of Ezekiel is: Ezekiel 22

This chapter falls into three divisions: (a) description of the sins committed within the city (verses 1-16); (b) the certainty of judgment (verses 17:22); and (c) and indictment of all classes of the community (verses 23-31).

1.     Group the sins enumerated in verses 1-12 under the following two heads: (a) religious, and (b) social. Notice how, with the loss of a true conception of God, there follows the loss of filial piety, moral purity, and civic justice. How far are the sins mentioned here prevalent among us today?

2.     What four classes are mentioned in verses 24-29, and what charges are made against them? What is the saddest feature of the situation, as stated in verse 30? Cf. verse 19 (‘all become dross’) and Je. 5:1-5.

Notes

1.     Verse 4. ‘Your day’: i.e., the day of your judgment.

2.     Verse 13. Striking the hands was an expression of honour. Cf. 21:14, 17.

3.     Verse 30. ‘Build up the wall’ i.e., act as a bastion against the inroads of wickedness.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 14 — Ezekiel 20: 45 – 21:32

Study 14 From the Book of Ezekiel is: Ezekiel 20: 45 – 21:32

The prophet is bidden to prophesy (a) against the south (of Palestine) 20:45-49), and (b) against Jerusalem and the land of Israel (21:1-17). The sword of the Lord is drawn from its sheath (21:1-7), sharpened and polished (21: 8-13), and smites repeatedly in its deadly work (21:14-17).  In 21:18-27, the explanation is given.  The king of Babylon is seen, standing at the parting of the ways, seeking guidance by divination----Ammon or Jerusalem? The decision falls for Jerusalem, the city is taken, and the king (Zedekiah) slain.  The closing verses of the chapter (verses 28-32) are a short prophecy of utter doom upon Ammon as well.

1.     Who kindles the fire? Whose sword is drawn? Yet it was by a heathen king that the judgment was effected. What does this teach us concerning God’s methods of accomplishing His purposes of judgment in the world? Cf. Je. 25:9 (‘my servant’); Is. 25: 1-4.

2.     When human leaders and confidences all fail and are overthrown, where can we still look for the establishment of a reign of peace? See 21:25-27; cf. Ps. 2:6-9; Lk. 21:25-28.

Notes

1.     21:21 refers to three well-known forms of divination practiced by the Babylonians: drawing marked arrows from a quiver (or throwing them in the air to see how they fall); consulting the teraphim, the ancestral household gods, in some form of necromancy; and studying the marks on the entrails of sacrificial victims.

2.     21:27. ‘Whose right is’: i. e., the Davidic Messiah who is entitled to the kingship. Cf. Gn. 49:10

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Search The Scriptures —Study 13 — Ezekiel 20: 1-44

Study 13 From the Book of Ezekiel is: Ezekiel 20:1-44

This section is a review of Israel’s history (verses 5:31), with a prophecy of what God will yet do (verses 32-44).  The review of history covers (a) the time in Egypt (verses 5-9); (b) in the wilderness (verses 10-17 and 18-26); and (c) in the land of Canaan (verses 27-31). With verses 1-3, cf. 14:1, 2.

1.     Analyze the repeated poetical pattern found in verses 5-9, 10-14, 15-17, 18-22. What restrained God from pouring out His wrath? What does this reveal of God’s character? How does it show what is the one and only guarantee of our salvation? Cf. 1 Sa. 12:22.

2.     To what tow conclusions does God say He will ultimately bring His people Israel (verse 42-44)? Has a like conviction been wrought in us?

Notes

1.     Verse 25 is a Hebrew way of saying, ‘I gave them good statutes but they had a bad effect; I thereby condemned those who were disobedient and I defiled those who performed human sacrifices.’ Cf. Rom. 5:20.

2.     Verse 37. ‘Pass under the rod’: the eastern shepherd makes his sheep pass one by one under his staff, held horizontally, to count and examine them.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 12 — Ezekiel 18 and 19

Study 12 From the Book of Ezekiel is: Ezekiel 18 and 19

The teaching of national retribution in chapter 16 and other passages seems to have raised doubts as to the justice of God’s dealings with individuals (18:2, 29). This is the subject of chapter 18. Chapter 19 is a lament.

1.     Two fundamental principles are stated in 18:4 in answer to the people’s complaint in 18:2. How would you express these in your own words? What verses in the New Testament can you think of which emphasize the same ideas?

2.     In the remainder of chapter 18 two questions are answered: (a) Is each man responsible to God for his own acts, and for these alone (see verses 5-20)?  (b) If a man turn from his past way of life, will that past affect God’s judgment upon him (see verses 21-29)? How does this teaching reveal not only God’s justice, but also His mercy? Why does it lead on immediately to the call to repentance of verses 30-32?

3.     Chapter 19 is a lament over three of the kings of Judah.  Try to identify these by comparing verses 3 and 4 with 2 Ki. 23:31-34; verses 5-9 with 2 Ki. 24:8-15; and verses 10-14 with 2 Ki. 25:4-11. What did they all have in common?

Notes

1.     18:6, 11, 15. ‘Eat upon the mountains’: i.e., join in idolatrous forms of worship. Cf. 6:1-4.

2.     19:14. The fire which brought destruction sprang from the ruler himself, i.e., Zedekiah.  See 17:19-21.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 11 — Ezekiel 17

Study 11 From the Book of Ezekiel is: Ezekiel 17

In 588 BC Zedekiah rebelled against Nebuchadrezzar who, nine years previously, had installed him as puppet-king of Judah, at the time when Jehoiachim had been taken captive to Babylon.  His rebellion encouraged false hopes among the exiles of a speedy end to their captivity, but Ezekiel silenced these with this parable about the eagle, the cedar and the vine.  The first eagle (verse 3) was Nebuchadrezzar, removing the Davidic King Jeha Johoiachin (the cedar twig, verse 4). Those who remained in Jerusalem under Zedekiah (the vine, verse 6) flourished for a time, but then turned towards the king of Egypt (the second eagle, verse 7), whose influence caused them to wither away.

1.     What sin is the prophet specifically rebuking here?  With verses 13-16, cf. 2 Ch. 36:13; and with verses 7 and 15, cf. Je. 37:5-8.

2.     How do verses 22-24 show that neither the ambitious designs nor the perfidies of men can frustrate the purposes of God? Notice the emphatic and repeated ‘I’. Cf. Pr. 19:21; Is. 46:8-13.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 10 — Ezekiel 16

Study 10 From the Book of Ezekiel is: Ezekiel 16

In this vivid allegory the prophet seeks to break down the pride of Jerusalem. She appears as the bride of the Lord God, who loved her from infancy, and did everything for her, but whose love she had required with persistent and shameful idolatry. The chapter falls into four sections (i) Jerusalem as a child and as a bride (verses 1-14); (ii) her sin (verses 15-34) (iii) her judgment (verses 35-52); (iv) her restoration (verses 53-63).

1.     What was God’s complaint against Jerusalem?  With verse 22 and 32, cf. Dt. 32:15-18. Notice also that God regards her sin as greater than that of Samaria and of Sodom. Verse 46-52 and cf. Mt. 11:23, 24.

2.     How may the teaching of this chapter be applied to one who has been truly converted, but has backslidden? What can we learn here for our warning of the peril and folly of the sin of unfaithfulness? Cf. Je. 2:13, 19; Jas. 4:4-10.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 9 — Ezekiel 14 and 15

Study 9 From the Book of Ezekiel is: Ezekiel 14 and 15

1.     14:1-11. (a) If men whose hearts are inwardly alienated from God come professing to seek guidance from Hi, will God answer them? What must they first do? If they do not so do, what will be their end? (b) If a prophet should fail to follow this rule, and attempt to give guidance, how will God deal with him?

2.     People might ask, ‘Will not the presence of righteous men among a sinful nation save it from destruction’? Cf., e.g., Gn. 18:23-26. How does God in reply show that in the present instance the righteous will be saved out of the destruction, but will not be able to save others? Cf. 9:4-6; Je. 15:1. If any should escape, what purpose will this accomplish (see 14:22, 23)?

Notes

1.     Noah, Daniel and Job are probably all three patriarchal characters. It is not likely that Ezekiel would be thinking of his contemporary in exile, Daniel the prophet. We know of a Daniel from the Ras Shamra tablets of 1400 BC, and this is a more likely identification.

2.     15:2. For another example of Israel as God’s vine, see Is. 5:1-7

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