Questions for thought:
1. The Spirit of God told Ezekiel in Ezekiel 12:4-5 to tell the people the Lord knew their every thought. What should knowing the Lord knows our every thought cause us to do?
2. We sometimes hear people who say they don’t believe the Lord is coming back because it has been so long since the Bible was written and nothing has happened. What should be our response?
3. Many today are preaching false doctrines. You can know it is false if it is not found in scripture. What should our response be to these false teachers?
We saw in Ezekiel 10 the glory of the Lord departing from the temple. Now in chapter 11, the prophecy of Ezekiel is against those in the city of Jerusalem. Ezekiel is given a view of the east gate of the temple where he saw 25 men including Pelatiah, the son Benaiah. God said they were the men who devised mischief and gave wicked counsel in the city. They seemed to think they were safe in the city, but remember, it was God who said for them to go on into captivity and not try to fight against Babylon. Ezekiel was told by God in verse 4 to prophecy against them. In verse 5, God let it be known He knew their thoughts. Imagine that. He knew their thoughts without them even expressing them. God also knows our thoughts even without us expressing them. That is why it is so important we keep clean thoughts. Recall in Philippians 4:8 Paul said to think on whatever is honest, just, pure, and lovely.
Although the people thought they were saving themselves, the Lord would soon bring them out and according to Ezekiel 11:9 deliver them into the hands of strangers who would execute judgments against them. They would fall by the sword and God would judge them; then, they would know He was the Lord. As Ezekiel was prophesying, Pelatiah died. Ezekiel fell to his face asking God if He would make a full end to the remnant of Israel.
At that point, God made it clear to Ezekiel those in Jerusalem were not the chosen remnant. The chosen remnant had been scattered among the nations and would at some point be restored to Israel. God would give to them one heart and would put a new spirit within them taking out the stony heart and giving them the desire to walk in His ways and to keep His ordinances and they would be His people and He would be their God. While some do not realize the meaning of this, Jesus made it clear when speaking to Nicodemus. He told him in John 3:3 in order to see the kingdom of God one must be born again. In 2 Corinthians 6:16, when Paul explained to the Corinthians how they were the temple of the living God, he reminded them God had said “I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Thus, those who are born again are the new temple of God where that glory that was taken away earlier in Ezekiel now dwells. The remnant which was scattered was gathered together in Acts 2 on the Day of Pentecost when the first gospel sermon was preached. Those who accepted the word were born again by water and Spirit in baptism for the remission of sins and thus began the church, the chosen among whom God dwells.
In Ezekiel 12, God again reminded Ezekiel of how rebellious the house of Israel was and He instructed Ezekiel to prepare another sign for the people. Ezekiel was to gather his “stuff” and prepare it for removal. He was to bring his stuff out in the daytime so they could see what he was doing. He was to dig through the wall and at even, he was to go out through the hole he made carrying his stuff. Then he was to tell them what he had done. He was their sign indicating they too would be taken into captivity to Babylon. According to verse 12, their prince would also go forth, not seeing the ground, but he would be taken to Babylon and die there. Of course, their prince was King Zedekiah we learned about in Jeremiah 39 who saw his sons killed and then had his eyes put out; thus was the prophecy fulfilled.
Another sign begins in verse 17 of chapter 12. This time Ezekiel was to eat bread and drink water but it was to be with shaking and trembling. This was a sign to the people of how they would soon be eating and drinking. Apparently, the people had been saying things about the prophecies not coming to pass (verse 22), but God said the days were at hand and it was time for fulfilment of the many visions. In the New Testament Peter warned of similar situations. In 2 Peter 3:4-6 he said there would be people in the last days who would ask, “where is the promise of His coming?” People today do the same thing. They doubt Jesus is coming back and they make no preparations for eternity. Peter went on in 2 Peter to affirm Christ’s return in 2 Peter 3:8-10 and then in verse 11 he asked the reader since all we see out here is going to perish, what kind of people should we be? Something to really think about.
The false prophets both men and women were given judgment against them in chapter 13. God accused them of following their own spirit and saying things the Lord had not said. He accused them of seeing vain or false visions and attributing them to the Lord. In 13:8 God said He was against them. God said His hand would be upon them and they would know He is the Lord God. The people were listening to the false prophets according to verse 10 just like they listen to false teachers today. Likewise, to the women who were prophesying falsely were given judgments in verses 17-23. It seems these women were lying for pay according to verse 19 just like false preachers do today.
We have warnings in the New Testament concerning false teachers. Paul warned Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:1-3 concerning how some would depart from the faith in the latter times and would speak lies. Timothy was to warn the brethren of what was coming. Peter warned in 2 Peter 2:1-3 there would be false teachers just like there were in the old days who will bring in false teaching and many will follow their ways. We have been given warning and a solution. We are not to even invite false teachers into our homes and we are definitely not to bid them a blessing from God. In 2 John verses 7-11 John first warned about false teachers and in verses 10-11 he said if one came not bringing the doctrine they had been taught, they were not to invite him in and not to bid him God speed for if they did, they were partakers with them. We certainly do not want to be partakers of such false teachings.
In Ezekiel 14, judgments continue. This time they are upon the elders or leaders of the people. God accused them of setting up idols in their hearts and then going to the false prophets to hear what they had to say. God told Ezekiel to tell them unless they repented and turned from their idols, He would set His face against them and cut them off from the midst of His people.
Finally in chapter 14, God told Ezekiel Jerusalem would be destroyed and even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, they would only be able to save themselves. God would send four severe judgments upon Jerusalem including the sword, famine, wild beasts, and pestilence, but He would leave a remnant who would come to Ezekiel and provide comfort to him as he watched the disasters strike.
Next time, we will begin by looking at the parable of the vine tree. Then we will continue with God’s mercy and punishment toward Jerusalem.
Christian Women's Responsibility in Sharing God's Word 