Feb 14, 2010 Ezekiel 14-17

Tonight we had four for Wordlisteners, we read and discussed Ezekiel 14 -17.  I didn't read my notes because I think maybe my notes are too boring and the Bible should be read as how does this apply to my life. 

After reviewing my notes I found that they were quite well done and that we had discussed most of the points I had made in them.  Its Awesome the way God knits us all together.

Our next meeting will be after Easter. Our church is doing HOF (Hearts on Fire) the next six Sunday nights.

Here are my notes:
Ezekiel 14

Idols in their hearts, leaders came to Ezekiel with something other than God first and foremost in their hearts. Anything that is put before God in our hearts will destroy us - it plainly says that here. These people have idols in their lives and still come to seek the advice of God from one of His known prophets. God's message, He will work on their hearts. They can repent and turn away from their idols, or they can not repent which means they are turning their backs on God- their choice. Choices have consequences - turning your back on God means He will use you as an example for others of what happens when someone turns their back on God. A prophet furthermore can be deceived and seemingly tell these seekers its OK to turn your back on God. When things go awry they then blame God- another data point for having a personal relationship with God, and not relying on another person. The only person we can trust to intercede for us is Christ. The prophet is in trouble, and God will remove him. Furthermore those that use the excuse that "the prophet said" will still be held accountable for their actions. God's desire is for people to put Him first, to not rebel against Him which makes them filthy.

Now we get a glimpse of how God is going to deal with a faithless country, in this case Jerusalem. Since Jerusalem (Judah) isn't mentioned until later then perhaps this might be a general strategy of His. He will start by destroying the food supply. A reference is made to Noah, Daniel, and Job, clearly they followed the Lord and put Him first they would be spared from the famine. Those that follow God will be. If their kids are there then the righteousness of the parent does not save the children (in depth in Chapter 18), we all must make our own decisions as to who to follow (God is preferred). Is following God out of fear of catastrophe in this life a good enough reason to do it, or are you really being selfish and looking out for your own interests? Actions may appear well, but has your heart changed?

Another method is to make wild animals go through the country, driving out the inhabitants. Again He will rescue or protect those that follow Him.

He may allow war to come to that country, again protecting those that are faithful to Him. Lastly He might allow disease to come to the faithless country, always as is His way, protecting those faithful to Him.

These four catastrophes are in store for Jerusalem, and even with all that some will survive, and decide to change. To repent from following idols (placing something before God in their hearts) and turn to follow Him. The destructive nature of lives lived with idols instead of God at the center of your life is far worse than the catastrophes God uses. Its worse than suffering from famine, disease, war, and wild animals. God is serious about this matter, and its absolutely in our best interest as well.

Ezekiel 15

The people in Jerusalem are compared to the wood of a vine. Vine really have no strength and is a soft wood good for burning. The charring reference came from the history that the Assyrian army was within four miles of Jerusalem before God destroyed it. Now God will let the Babylonians destroy the city. Why? The people, His chosen people have been faithless. Jerusalem will become a wilderness for a time.

Ezekiel 16

This is one of those chapters where God outlines His great love for us. It is preserved for us as an example that God loves us. The first part is an example of a helpless baby abandoned by the parents. The umbilical cord wasn't cut, the baby was just discarded in a vacant lot. All of us know that there was a time when we were helpless, and possibly even remember such situations. The abandonment by parents, and yet cared for by God shows His heart not just for nations and peoples but also for us as individuals.

God then chose the people of Israel and cared for them. Bathed them, provided for them, and they grew up. Like a child they got to a point where they could do certain things for themselves. Parents always have mixed feelings at this. We rejoice at the independence but have some sorrow that it will mean the child is less dependent. God came by again and made up Israel into a beautiful bride like nation, stunning to look at, and entered into a marriage like covenant with them. They became His, and He blessed them to become world renown.

Just like a child growing up Israel forgot about what God had done, children often don't realize or remember the sacrifices their parents made for them. Israel and us as individuals took the blessings of God and it went to our heads. We forgot our helplessness, we forgot that what we had had been given to us. This is all very easy to do. They reached and we reach a point of expectation. This will continue forever, and furthermore we fool ourselves into thinking we are in control.

What happened to Israel? They at this point abandoned God and started doing their own thing, and this can happen to us as individuals as well. They then took the blessings God had given them and used them in a manner that grieved God. What He desired that they do they ignored, and yes this can apply to individuals. They sacrificed their children, the ones God had given them, this I believe is a clear indicator of a nation or a person that has sunk to a very low level. Willing to kill their own children to preserve what they think is their desire for the way life should be. The helplessness of the Israel initially was forgotten, and that we are all helpless before God we often forget. Instead they did and we do things that displease God.

Then escalation happened, it was no longer just within their borders or personal lives, but they spread their ways to other nations and peoples. They involved them in their wickedness (displeasing of God). Not just one person either but multiples, and over time. Whoever came along. The chapter compares it to adultery, and putting something before God after claiming to be a Christian or one of His people is the same act. In a marriage adultery is putting someone before your spouse. The example is clear. In adulterous relationships often the adulterer is paid for the relationship, in the case of Israel, that is reversed. They take the blessings of God and give them away to those that they are putting first before God. As individuals this can happen too.

God wants to bless us greatly, and yet we are willing to "give it away" to settle for less. Give away steak to eat a hot dog.

God will respond by removing His blessings, effectively stripping them down to what they really are. Really not even that far, for life itself is a gift from God. Otherwise we would be a bucket of dust. All we have is really God's - make no mistake , and it is His to let us enjoy, or to take away.

People are often only nice to us because we have something they want, or would like to use. What we actually are is not very valuable, and reduced to something close to our true value we would not be very desirable. At that point we would appear very needy as Israel did, and it would then make logical sense to kill them and put them out of their misery, rather than support them. How many of us have ever had a "fair weather friend", same idea.

Samaria (Israel) is the older sister, Sodom is the younger sister. This address is to the kingdom of Judah, and since it is long preserved, it has application today. Haven't we lived as them in regards to our relationship with God? Judah has actually done worse than Israel or Sodom. The sin of Sodom in God's eyes is that they lived in the lap of luxury, proud, gluttonous and lazy and ignored and oppressed the poor. Their lives were obscene and they thought they were better than they actually were. God's verdict destruction- no righteous left.

Judah actually makes Sodom and Israel look righteous. Look- or appear - not are. Judah will have to accept their shame, we will need to accept our shame and shortcomings as well. We need to realize that apart from God we are a bucket of dust, and live accordingly.

Just like the chapter began with God showing His great love for us, it ends. Even with our shortcomings, our openly and actively displeasing Him, He loves us. He made a covenant with us (Judah). He'll make a new covenant with us when we remember our shortcomings, our place as it were. We will remember with shame our former life and bad decisions, and yet God will make it right. We will be speechless.

Ezekiel 17

The great tree, a symbol of the king of Babylon coming and taking the leader of Judah and all the best of Judah into exile. He then appoints another member of the royal family who makes a covenant of allegiance to Babylon. The Lord is very serious about covenants, Zedekiah the appointed king breaks the covenant by trying to form an alliance with Egypt. His thinking is that an alliance with a strong country would allow him to remain king and get out of his covenant.

In modern times we make treaties to prevent wars, as a deterrence, but it really caused the last two world wars.

A covenant is important to God, He wants us to keep our word even if its to our own detriment, so in one sense one must be careful of the promises one makes, even if its one that would allow you to be king. Did the Egyptian Pharaoh not aid Zedekiah because he knew him to be untrustworthy? God said it would happen, but there was a mechanism in the Egyptians' minds that prevented it in real terms.

God expects us to keep our word, and not give it lightly. This is also His heart towards us. He will keep His word, and He doesn't give it lightly. Zedekiah when making his oath to Nebuchadnezzar probably swore on the name of the Lord. Breaking his oath will mean he will die in Babylon- which happened.

Chapter 17 ends with a glimpse forward, a leader (Christ) that the world will recognize that God had planted. The world will also realize that God keeps His word.