Questions for thought:
1. Why is it important for each of us to study and compare what the preacher says to what the Bible says?
2. In Ezekiel 34, God promised a new shepherd for the people. Why is it important for us to understand to whom God was referring?
3. To what did the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37 refer?
God gave Ezekiel a very strong warning for the people in the beginning of Ezekiel 33. God said if when the people set one up as a watchman and he does his job in warning the people of danger but they fail to heed him, if they are harmed by the sword, their blood would be upon themselves. But if the watchman failed to warn them when trouble was near and they were harmed, the watchman would be guilty of their blood.
This passage in Ezekiel 33 is a very interesting passage as it reminds me of preachers today who are expected to warn the people concerning where their sins will take them. Note what Paul said in Acts 20:26 when he was speaking to the elders in Ephesus. He told them in verse 20 he had kept back nothing from them that was profitable for them and in verse 26, he declared his innocence from their blood if they chose to not hear and obey. James said in James 3:1 teachers of the word will be judged with stricter judgment than others. In Hebrews 13:17 it says to obey those who have the rule over you because they watch for your souls as they that must give account. So just as God warned the people in Ezekiel, we too need to hear and heed those who teach us God’s word. If they teach us and we fail to heed, then we are the ones who will be punished. If they refuse to teach what they know is the truth, they will be held accountable. It is so important we study for ourselves to be sure we are getting the whole counsel of God and then we need to obey.
In the second part of Ezekiel 33, God made it clear each person is responsible for his or her own sins. The people in verse 10 were asking how they could manage since their sins were upon them. God said in verses 11-20 each person would live or die based upon his or her own actions. You probably remember chapter 18 was devoted to this same idea. There is great comfort knowing one who is in sin can be converted and forgiven and not have those previous sins remembered again.
In the last part of Ezekiel 33 beginning in verse 21 Ezekiel found out Jerusalem had been smitten. The destruction had most likely taken place 18 months before the messenger got to Ezekiel to tell him. From verse 22 we see Ezekiel’s mouth had been closed so his prophecies must have been in writing, but once he heard of the calamity, he was again able to speak. Now God told him what those who were inhabiting the ruins of Israel were saying. They were claiming the land as theirs by inheritance. Ezekiel was to tell them of their many sins in idolatry, shedding blood, eating blood, and adultery and to let them know they would not inherit the land but would fall by the sword. Once it was all over, they would know, “I am the Lord” verse 29 and “a prophet hath been among them” verse 33.
There were false shepherds in Ezekiel’s time just as we are warned of false prophets in the New Testament. These false shepherds in Ezekiel 34 were accused of feeding themselves rather than feeding the sheep of the flock or the house of Israel. They were not taking care of the needs of the sheep; thus, the sheep had become scattered (verses 4-6). In verses 8-10 God pronounced His wrath upon those false shepherds. Then beginning in verse 11, He promised deliverance to the true flock. He promised to seek them out and feed them again as they should have been fed in the past. He promised a new shepherd over them; a new shepherd like David had been. Of course, we understand the fulfilment of this prophecy in the church and Jesus Christ as the shepherd like unto David. If we fail to understand to whom God was referring in this passage, we may think it is to someone who will physically rule in Jerusalem at the end of times. In verse 25, God promised a covenant of peace and safety in the wilderness. We in the church have that covenant of peace as Jesus said in John 14:27, and we are in the wilderness awaiting the coming of the Lord to take us home. These promises are happening now and are not something for the future.
Judgments against Edom begin again in chapter 35 and continue through the first part of chapter 36. Then in chapter 36 verse 8, promises are made to Israel for a renewal. While God had previously poured out His fury upon them (verse 18), He would have pity for His holy name and the people would know He is God. He promised in verses 25-26 to cleanse them with water and give them a new heart and a new spirit. This renewal would come about as described in chapter 37.
Ezekiel saw a valley of dry bones in chapter 37. These bones represented Israel which had turned away from God and had no life left within her. In verse 5 God promised to cause breath (spirit) to enter into the bones and they would live. Ezekiel saw in the vision the bones coming together and once there was flesh upon them, God sent the breath of life upon them and they became an exceeding great army (verse 10). Then in chapter 37 beginning in verse 15, Ezekiel was given another prophecy. Here God told him to write “For Judah” on one stick and “For Joseph” on the other representing Israel and Ephraim. Then he was to join them together and they would become one stick in his hand. In verse 22 God explained how this represented the two becoming one nation with one king. David would be their king and they would have one shepherd. This too was accomplished in the establishment of Christ’s church where all nations can dwell under one king, Jesus Christ. Again, here it is so important to realize this was a prophecy concerning the church of which we can all be members now.
Next time, we will consider the attack by Gog and the new temple. Then we will be finished with Ezekiel.
Christian Women's Responsibility in Sharing God's Word 