Ezekiel: For His GlorySample

Ezekiel’s prophecies of God’s judgment continue but again there is also hope. 

First, God’s judgment is against the secretly idolatrous elders and Israelites (vv. 1–11). Just like the elders who worshipped idols in secret in the temple vision (8:9–13), these elders and others in exile worship idols in their hearts (vv. 3–4). They come to seek a word from God via the prophet, but God answers rhetorically: ‘Should I let them enquire of me at all?’ Yet He still seeks to restore the relationship with His people (v. 4). To this end, He urges them to repent, and this counsel is not just for the Israelites but also, somewhat surprisingly, for any others sojourning in Israel (vv. 6–7). But if there is no repentance, there will be ex-communication and death, for false prophet and inquirer alike (vv. 8–9). Since both have turned away from God, He confirms them in their choice by enticing the prophet to utter a prophecy (v. 9). Nonetheless, God’s judgment aims to restore the covenant relationship (v. 11). 

Second, God’s judgment is against Jerusalem (vv. 12–23). Perhaps some of the exiles thought, ‘If a righteous element could be found in the city, God might spare the city’ (cf. Gen. 18). They held this hope especially since some probably had family there (vv. 16, 18, 20). Yet God responds several times to the effect that, ‘Even if Noah, Job, and Daniel were in the city, they would only save their own lives, not those of anyone else.’ These three were known for their righteousness and obedience, in contrast to those around them. But even these heroes would not be able to save any others because of the utter depravity of Jerusalem. So God’s classic ‘disastrous acts of judgment’ will descend upon the people (vv. 15–21). God’s mercy prevails again, however: some survivors will come out to prove that God’s judgment is fair and deserved. How will this be demonstrated? By seeing how wicked the saved are, people will know how righteous God’s punishment is (vv. 22–23).

Reflection

At one time we were just as wicked as those in Jerusalem. But praise God! We are also survivors, not because of our righteousness, but because of His mercy shown to us in Christ Jesus (Tit. 3:3–7).