We've arrived at the final section of the book of Ezekiel: Prophecies of Israel's Restoration.
For all intents and purposes, this era is over. God's people were brought to the Promise Land, but now that season has ended. There will be one last gasp when He sends the remnant back; but Jerusalem has fallen, the Temple has been defiled and torn down, both the north and south kingdoms have been carried off by instruments of judgment by the Lord.
We now start the new era of restoration, which will, symbolically, start with Israel, and eventually end with Israel when her King returns for the royal wedding.
Come, Lord Jesus, Come.
The Lord asked Ezekiel to speak to the sons of the people, the next generation.
Reminder of the message of the watchman from chapter 3.
- The watchman has the responsibility to announce the coming danger, as announced by God. But each person is responsible for their response to the warning call.
- if a man ignores the warning trumpet, his blood is on his own head
- but this man could have saved his own life
- if the watchman doesn't blow the trumpet and a man dies in his iniquity unwarned, his blood will be on the watchman.
- Ezekiel is about to hear a warning for Israel and has to share it
I had forgotten about this, since so much has happened since then; but no wonder Ezekiel was so willing to do anything the lord says. His job carries significant consequences for everyone involved. Even though these people are captive in Babylon, HOW they personally respond to these messages sets their path. You don't have to be in Jerusalem to be accountable for what's going on.
- Ezekiel is warned that even if someone is wicked, if he doesn't warn them, their blood is on him.
- If he does warn the wicked and they don't listen, Ezekiel is saved.
There's a lot here to contemplate for evangelizing.
“Now as for you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus you have spoken, saying, “Surely our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we are rotting away in them; how then can we survive?”’ Ezekiel 33:10
He is suppose to emphasize that the Lord does not take pleasure, even in the destructive of the wicked. He would rather that they turn from their evil ways. Which makes sense, since we were all wicked until saved by the blood of Jesus. He applies this to Israel and asks them why they are choosing to die.
Verse 12 points out that there isn't enough righteousness to offset when sin comes. And the unrighteous have accumulated too much sin even if they turn things around. Don't count on your own deeds. But if a wicked man is warned and turns his life around, he can find forgiveness.
God wants to restore relationship, but all of these examples point to the heart, not the overall works.
The Lord points out that some citizens actually accuse God of being wrong in His ways, when they are the ones doing wrong. Boy, does that sound familiar in this day and age as well. They want God to change so they can be affirmed in what they want. But He is the same today, yesterday, and tomorrow. The Lord responds that He will be the one to judge according to people's ways.
Starting in verse 21, we learn that, 12 years into his exile, refugees from Jerusalem show up with the news that Jerusalem has been take. Ezekiel had been speechless, but the night before the refugees showed up, the Lord healed his speechlessness. Despite everything they heard from the lord, via Ezekiel, some still held to their hope of winning the war. They reasoned that if Abraham alone could live in the land, how much easier it would be with the large numbers they currently had. They would not listen to warning or indictment. And they credit Abraham and not the God for the land. Truly clueless. So God, once again, has Ezekiel catalogue why they can't have the land like when Abraham had it.
- Eating meat that not kosher.
- Worshiping idols why committing bloodshed.
- rely on their sword
- commit abominations
- defiling neighbors' wives
Then He actually asks, "Should you possess the land?" I love that.
He reiterates that people fleeing will die by sword, beats, and pestilence, just as He foretold. If they had repented, they could have changed His mind; but instead they just claimed the entitlements without any reverence to their Protector and Provider. Additionally, the land will be laid waste and the holy mountain desolate.
The Lord points out that many have been gossiping about Ezekiel and only see him as entertainment. They haven't been listening to him as the voice of the Lord at all. They come and listen to Ezekiel politely, pretending to be believers, while letting the lusts burning in their heart be their true guide. They love listening to Ezekiel like a song but do not heed his message.
No wonder God silenced Ezekiel.
God consolation to Ezekiel must have been a healing salve and a disappointment in their failure to heed the warnings:
So when it comes to pass—as surely it will—then they will know that a prophet has been in their midst.” Ezekiel 33:33
It's such a good encouragement that faithfulness to God is where the real results happen. We may feel ignored or silenced in this life, but He is listening.
It does make me ponder if there is more I should be saying to those around me.
Something to really consider. It has to be His message; but if we get His message, we have a responsibility to open our mouths.