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RETURN TO SYLLABUS
EZEKIEL 6 AND 7
LESSON #5
THE CONSEQUENCES OF IDOLATRY
MEMORYVERSE: 1CORINTHIANS 10:7
v THESE 2CHAPTERS ARE 2 SEPARATE PROPHETIC MESSAGES GIVEN TO EZEKIEL CONCERNING ISRAELSCOMING JUDGMENT. BECAUSE GOD HAS LIFTED THE RESTRICTION ON EZEKIELS SPEECH, THEY ARESPOKEN MESSAGES.
v READ EZE 6:1-7 PROPHECY AGAINST THE MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS OF ISRAEL
Ø WHY IS THERE A PROPHECY AGAINST SOME PIECESOF LANDSCAPE?
§ IT IS NOT THE LAND ITSELFTHAT HAS MADE GOD ANGRY. IT IS WHAT THE MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS REPRESENT.
· IN SCRIPTURE MOUNTAINS SOMETIMESSYMBOLICALLY REPRESENT GOVERNMENT. (PSA 72:3ISA 2:2) THE VALLEYS WOULD THEN REPRESENT THE COMMON PEOPLE.
¨ THROUGHOUT MANS HISTORY GOVERNMENT HASALWAYS BEEN CORRUPT. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHETHER THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT IS A MONARCHY OR ADEMOCRACY. IT IS CORRUPT IF MAN IS INVOLVED IN IT. POWER SEEMS TO CORRUPT MAN NO MATTERWHAT STYLE OF GOVERNMENT HE CHOOSES.
¨ ISRAELS GOVERNMENT WAS NO EXCEPTION.WHILE THE SOUTHERN KINGS OF JUDAH WERE BETTER AND MORE GODLY THAN THE NORTHERN KINGS OFISRAEL, THEY, TOO, WERE NOT HIGH EXAMPLES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Ø A GOOD KING WOULD DESTROY PAGAN CENTERS OFIDOLATRY, THEN THE NEXT KING WOULD BE EVIL AND REBUILD THEM. THIS PATTERN OCURRED OVER ANDOVER AGAIN.
§ READ 2KI 21:1-6
· THE LAND BELONGS TO GOD. THEISRAELITES WERE TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF GODS LAND. (LEV 25:23 LEV 18:25-28) IF THE PEOPLE OBEYED THE LAW, GODWOULD BLESS THEM (LEV 26:1-13). IF THEY DID NOT KEEP THE COVENANT, GOD WOULD VOMITTHEM OUT OF THE LAND (LEV 18:24-30 DEU 28:38-42).
¨ THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY WAS EXACTLY THATPROCESS OF CONSEQUENCES FOR CORRUPTION OF THE LAND.
Ø HOW DID THEY CORRUPT THE LAND? IDOLATRY CORRUPTED THE LAND.
§ THE ISRAELITES HAD BUILTPAGAN ALTARS, SHRINES, AND RELIGIOUS GARDENS ON THE TOPS OF MOUNTAINS.
READ DEU 12:1-3
· THIS PASSAGE WAS GODSWARNING TO THE ISRAELITES WHEN THEY FIRST ENTERED THE PROMISED LAND UNDER JOSHUA. THEYWERE SUPPOSED TO DESTROY THE CANAANITE RELIGION THAT EXISTED THERE BEFORE THEY CAME.INSTEAD OF DESTROYING IT ALL, THEY ADDED MORE PAGAN IDOLATRY TO WHAT ALREADY EXISTEDTHERE.
· WHAT WERE THE CHARACTERISTICS OFCANAANITE RELIGION THAT GOD HATED?
¨ POLYTHEISM (MULTIPLE GODS)
¨ HUMAN BLOOD SACRIFICE
¨ CHILD SACRIFICE
¨ PERVERTED SEXUAL RITUALS
¨ SNAKE WORSHIP
¨ SYNCRETISTIC (A WILLINGNESS TO MERGE ITSELFWITH ANY OTHER RELIGION)
¨ HOW DID THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM AND THEBABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY GET RID OF THE IDOLS?
Ø ACCORDING TO EZEKIELS PROPHECY, THEBABYLONIAN ARMY WOULD COME INTO ISRAEL AND DESTROY THE IDOLS, THE TEMPLES, THE SHRINES,AND THE GARDENS.
§ IN OTHER WORDS, GOD USEDPAGAN PEOPLE TO DO HIS WORK AND DESTROY IDOLATRY IN ISRAEL.
§ GOD CONSIDERED THE BODIESOF THE PEOPLE KILLED IN ISRAEL AS AN OFFERING TO THE IDOLS.
v READ EZE 6:8-10 THE REMNANT
Ø EZEKIEL WILL MENTION THIS REMNANT MANY MORETIMES IN THIS BOOK. WE FIRST SAW THEM IN HIS MESSAGE ABOUT THE RAZOR AND THE HAIR.(REMEMBER THE FEW HARIS THAT HE HID IN HIS ROBE? EZE 5:3) HOWEVER, THE REMNANT IS NOT ANEW IDEA. GOD GAVE A PROPHECY MANY YEARS BEFORE THAT THERE WOULD BE A REMNANT OF FAITHFULPEOPLE.COME OUT OF THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY.
§ READ LEV 26:40-46
§ THIS REMNANT WOULD BE THE ONES TORETURN TO THE LAND AFTER THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY, REBUILD THE TEMPLE AND THE CITY OFJERUSALEM, AND PROVIDE THE GENEALOGY TO JESUS CHRIST.
Ø A REPENTANT EXILED REMNANT WILL KNOWTHAT THE ATTACK OF THE ENEMY IS GODS JUDGMENT. (10)
§ NOTICE HOW MANY TIMES THE PHRASE,THEN SHALL YE KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD APPEARS IN THIS CHAPTER.
· (VSS. 7, 10, 13, 14)
§ WHAT WILL THIS REMNANT DO IN FOREIGNLANDS?
· THEY WILL REMEMBER GOD. THOSE WHOREPENT AND TURN TO HIM WILL BE SAVED AND WITNESS ABOUT HIM.
Ø THE ADULTEROUS HEART (9)
§ THE BIBLE OFTEN USES THEIDEA OF ADULTERY AS AN EXAMPLE OF IDOLATRY.
· GOD CONSIDERED ISRAEL HIS WIFEFROM THE TIME OF THE 10 COMMANDMENTS. (ISA 54:5) WHEN ISRAEL WAS UNFAITHFUL TO GOD ANDWORSHIPPED IDOLS, IT WAS LIKE A WIFE WHO BECAME A HARLOT.
¨ TO ILLUSTRATE THIS IDEA TO THE PEOPLE, GODSENT THE PROPHET HOSEA. HOSEA WAS MARRIED TO A HARLOT WHO KEPT LEAVING HIM FOR OTHER MEN.HOSEA REMAINED FAITHFUL TO HER AND CONTINUALLY WENT AFTER HER TO BRING HER HOME. (SEE THEBOOK OF HOSEA).
· IDOLATRY BROKE GODS HEART(9)
¨ THEREFORE GOD WOULD BREAK THEIR HEART.
Ø THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY DESTROYED IDOLATRYIN THE HEART OF THE PEOPLE.
§ WHEN THE ISRAELITESRETURN ED TO THE LAND OF ISRAEL AFTER 70 YEARS, THEY NEVER AGAIN HAD A PROBLEM WITH PAGANIDOLATRY. THEY LEARNED THEIR LESSON. (EZE 6:8-10)
v READ EZE 6:11-14 GODS INSTRUMENT
Ø EZEKIELS ACTIONS (11)
§ CLAPPING HANDS AND STAMPINGFEET
· THESE ACTIONS REPRESENTED THEMARCHING OF THE SOLDIERS AS WELL AS GODS RESPONSE TO THE INVASION. (EZE 21:14,17)
Ø GOD USES 3 WEAPONS TO CHASTEN THE ISRAELITESAND FREE THEM FROM THEIR IDOLATRY (11):
§ 1. THE ARMY OF THEBABYLONIANS WHO SLAUGHTERED MANY OF THE PEOPLE WITH THEIR SWORDS.
§ 2. THE FAMINE THAT OFTENACCOMPANIED WAR.
§ 3. THE PESTILENCE (ORDISEASE) THAT USUALLY ACCOMPANIES FAMINE AND WAR.
v READ EZE 7:1-9 THE FINAL DESTRUCTION: GODS RECOMPENSE
Ø THIS CHAPTER IS WRITTEN IN HEBREWPOETRY.
Ø THE IDEA OF RECOMPENSE IS REPEATED 5TIMES IN SOME FORM IN THIS CHAPTER.
Ø THE WORD END APPEARS 5TIMES IN THIS CHAPTER.
§ THIS DESTRUCTION IS THE END OF THENATION OF ISRAEL UNTIL 1948 AD.
· GOD SAYS HIS JUDGMENT ON ISRAEL ISACCORDING TO HER WAYS (3)
¨ A FAILURE TO LET THE LAND REST EVERY 7YEARS.
Ø THE 70 YEAR BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY WAS TOPAY GOD THE YEARS THEY OWED WHEN THEY DID NOT LET THE LAND REST FROM CULTIVATION AS HECOMMANDED. (2CHR 36:14-21)
§ FOR 490 YEARS OF A FAILURE TO LET THELAND REST, THEY OWED TO GOD AND THE LAND 70 YEARS OF REST FOR THE LAND = 70 YEARS DURATIONOF THE CAPTIVITY.
§ WHAT IS SELFISHLY HOARDED IS EVENTUALLYLOST.
¨ TO CLEANSE THE LAND FROM IDOLATRY. (EZE6)
Ø VSS. 7 AND 10 HAVE AN INTERESTING WORDTHAT IS TRANSLATED MORNING IN THE KING JAMES, AND DOOM IN THE NEWKING JAMES AND THE NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION BIBLES.
§ THE HEBREW WORD IS A BRAIDED WREATHMADE OF FLOWERS. IT IS USED HERE TO MEAN = SOMETHINGTHAT COMES AROUND.
· IN OTHER WORDS THE SINS OF GODSPEOPLE WOULD COME AROUND TO HAUNT THEM. THEY WOULD REAP WHAT THEY SOWED. THAT IS GODSRECOMPENSE.
v READ EZE 7:10-15 FINAL DESTRUCTION: GODS WRATH BECAUSE OF THE FULLNESS OF SIN.
Ø NOTICE HE SAYS IN VERSES 10 AND 11 THATPRIDE HAS BUDDED. VIOLENCE AND HAS GROWN TO WICKEDNESS.
§ THE IDEA IS THAT GOD IS PATIENTLYWAITING FOR MAN TO REPENT. IT IS CALLED GODS LONG-SUFFERING MERCY.
· BECAUSE OF THIS CHARACTERISTIC OF GODSNATURE, MAN ASSUMES GOD WILL NEVER BRING JUDGMENT. HOWEVER, THERE COMES A TIME WHENINIQUITY HAS REACHED ITS FULLNESS. MAN DOES NOT KNOW WHEN THAT TIME WILL BE. WE CANONLY KNOW THAT JUDGMENT WILL COME WITHOUT A DOUBT.
Ø THE TIME IS COME, THE DAY DRAWETHNIGH (12-13)
§ THE REFERENCE IS TO THE YEAR OFJUBILEE.
· EVERY 50 YEARS THE ISRAELITES WERESUPPOSED TO FREE ALL SLAVES, CANCEL ALL DEBTS, AND RETURN LOST LAND TO ITS ORIGINAL OWNER.(LEV 25)
¨ THE ISRAELITES FAILED TO OBEY THISJUBILEE COMAND.
¨ EZEKIELS MESSAGE SAID THAT THEISRAELITES WOULD THEREFORE NOT CELEBRATE THE YEAR OF JUBILEE IN THEIR OWN LAND. THEY WOULDBE IN CAPTIVITY.
Ø THEY HAVE BLOWN THE TRUMPET, EVENTO MAKE ALL READY; BUT NONE GOETH TO THE BATTLE. (14)
§ THE ISRAELITES WERE HESITANT TO FIGHTTHE ENEMY EVEN WHEN THE ENEMY WAS AT THE DOOR. THEY THOUGHT GOD WOULD MIRACULOUSLY SAVETHEM.
· GOD EXPECTED HIS PEOPLE TO FIGHTAGAINST EVIL. THEY WERE TO FIGHT TO POSSES THE PROMISED LAND UNDER JOSHUA. THEY WERE TOFIGHT TO KEEP THE LAND.
Ø THE FIRST TWO GENERATIONS THAT ENTEREDTHE PROMISED LAND OBEYED GOD AND KEPT THE COVENANT. BY THE THIRD GENERATION, THEY BEGAN TOPRACTICE IDOLATRY. (JDG 2:10-13)
§ GOD FIRST PUNISHED THEM IN THE LANDBY ALLOWING ENEMIES TO INVADE. (THE BOOK OF JUDGES)
§ NOW HE MUST TAKE THEM OUT OF THELAND BECAUSE THEY FAILED TO LEARN THE LESSON.
v READ EZE 7:16-22 FINAL DESTRUCTION: ECONOMIC FAILURE
Ø DOVES MOURNING (16)
§ THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO SURVIVE THEBABYLONIAN ATTACK. THEY FLEE TO THE MOUNTAINS AND WATCH THE DESTRUCTION. HOWEVER, THEY ARETHE ONES TAKEN CAPTIVE AND SENT TO BABYLON.
Ø THE STUMBLINGBLOCK OF THEIRINIQUITY (19)
§ THE PEOPLE THOUGHT THEIR WEALTH WOULDSAVE THEM.
· GOLD AND SILVER HAD BECOME ASTUMBLINGBLOCK THAT CAUSED THEM TO STUMBLE INTO SIN.
¨ IT IS INTERESTING THAT THE JEWS DID NOTLEARN THIS LESSON THROUGH HISTORY. AS A RESULT THEY WERE DOOMED TO REPEAT IT IN THE SECONDWORLD WAR. THE WEALTH OF EUROPEAN JEWS BECAME A FALSE SECURTIY TO THEM AS WELL AS ANENTICEMENT TO THE NAZI REGIME.
· THE PEOPLE USED THEIR WEALTH TO MAKEPAGAN IDOLS OF GOLD. (20)
· EVEN THE WEALTH OF THE TEMPLE OF GODWAS NOT GOING TO BE SECURE FROM DESTRUCTION. (22)
¨ THE PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT SURELY GODWOULD NOT PERMIT THE DESTRUCTION OF HIS TEMPLE. HOWEVER, THE PEOPLE HAD POLLUTED THETEMPLE WITH IDOLS.
§ THERE WILL BE ANOTHER TIME OF SEVEREECONOMIC FAILURE. (REV 18 AND 19) IN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD. IT WILL BE A WORLD WIDEECONOMIC COLLAPSE, A JUDGMENT UPON THOSE WHO LOOK TO WEALTH FOR SECURITY.
v READ EZE 7:23-27 FINAL DESTRUCTION: A CHAIN OF BONDAGE
Ø THE BABYLONIANS TOOK THE CAPTIVEISRAELITES TO BABYLON CHAINED TOGETHER.
Ø THE LAND IS FULL OF BLOODY CRIMES THECITY IS FULL OF VIOLENCE.(23)
§ GOD CANNOT BLESS A NATION WHEREVIOLENCE AND CRIME RULE THE STREETS.
Ø THE PRIESTS AND THE PROPHETS WOULD NOTAVOID THE CAPTIVITY.
Ø THE KINGS WOULD NOT BE SAFE FROM THEDESTRUCTION.
§ THE KING IN VERSE 27 WAS JEHOIACHIN ANDTHE PRIEST WAS ZEDEKIAH. THESE WERE THE LAST 2 KINGS OF THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM OF JUDAH.
· JEREMIAH PROPHESIED TO THESE KINGS THATTHEY SHOULD SURRENDER TO THE BABYLONIANS AND SAVE THE CITY OF JERUSALEM AND THE TEMPLE.HOWEVER, THESE KINGS REFUSED.
v CONCLUSION:
Ø YE SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD.
§ THIS PHRASE IS USED 4 TIMES IN CHAPTER6 AND 3 TIMES IN CHAPTER 7 = 7 TIMES (REMEMBERTHAT NUMBER 7 IS A PROPHETIC NUMBER MEANING COMPLETENESS.
· WHAT DOES GOD DO TO CAUSE THEM TO KNOWHIM?
¨ JUDGMENT: GODS JUDGMENT IS JUST AND PERFECTLYCOMPLETE. IT IS TO CAUSE HIS PEOPLE TO REPENT AND SEEK TO KNOW HIM.
Ø THIS PLAN IS SUCCESSFUL FOR SOME PEOPLEIN THE CAPTIVITY SUCH AS DANIEL, NEHEMIAH, ZERUBBABEL, ETC.
Ø THIS PLAN IS NOT SUCCESSFUL FOR SOMEPEOPLE BECAUSE THEY BECOME EVEN MORE BITTER AGAINST GOD.
¨ THESE SAME TWO OPPOSITE REACTIONS OCCURTODAY WHEN PEOPLE GO THROUGH SEVERE TRIALS.
v SUMMARY AND APPLICATION:
Ø A MESSAGE FOR THE LAST DAYS:
§ THERE WILL BE A TIME OF IDOLATRY IN THELAST DAYS. WE ARE ALREADY BEGINNING TO SEE IT HAPPEN.
· AN INCREASE IN A REVIVAL OF OLD PAGANTYPE RELIGIONS.
· CHRISTIAN CHURCHES FALLINGAWAY FROM THE TRUTH OF GODS WORD AND SUBSTITUING ANOTHER GOSPEL.
§ THERE WILL BE A TIME OF WORSHIP TO ANIDOL IN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
· A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLDWILL WORSHIP AN IDOL OF THE ANTICHRIST (REV 13:12-15)
¨ GOD WILL JUDGE IT JUST AS SEVERELY INTHE FUTURE AS HE DID IN THE PAST.
Ø A MESSAGE FOR US PERSONALLY:
§ IDOLATRY COMES IN MANY FORMS. YOU DONTNEED A STONE IDOL ON A SHELF TO PRACTICE IDOLATRY. THE DEFINITION OF AN IDOL IS ANYTHINGTHAT MAN CONSISTENTLY PUTS BEFORE GOD IS AN IDOL.
· IT CAN BE MONEY, HOUSES, CARS, SPORTS,TELEVISION, PARTIES, PERSONAL POWER, PRESTIGE, PEOPLE, ALCOHOL, DRUGS, SEX, ETC.
§ NOTICE THAT A FAITHFUL REMNANT DOES NOTTOTALLY ESCAPE HARDSHIP. THERE IS A DEGREE OF PROTECTION AND PROVISION BY GOD. HOWEVER, INSOCIETY, THE FAITHFUL SUFFER ALONG WITH THOSE WHO TURN THEIR BACK ON GOD. IT IS ACONSEQUENCE OF LIVING IN A SOCIETY THAT DOES NOT FOLLOW GOD. ALL THE PEOPLE BEAR THERESPONSIBILITY FOR THE NATURE OF THEIR SOCIETY.
§ GODS JUDGMENT IS ACCORDING TO MANSWAYS. (7:3)
· THAT PRINCIIPLE IS TRUE OF THENON-BELIEVER AS WELL AS THE CHRISTIAN. GOD CHASTENS THE BELIEVER ACCORDING TO HIS WAYS.
¨ THE REASON GODS JUDGMENT WASSEVERE ON THE JEWS WAS BECAUSE OF THEIR PRIVILEGE.
Ø THEY HAD GODS WORD.
Ø THEY HAD GODS PROPHETS
Ø THEY HAD GODS PRESENCE
Ø THEY HAD GODS BLESSINGS
¨ THEY KNEW THE TRUTH AND PERVERTED IT.THEY BECAME HIPOCRITS. THEREFORE, GOD JUDGED THEM ACCORDING TO THE LIGHT THEY HAD.THEJUDGMENT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SO SEVERE IF THEY DID NOT HAVE THE TRUTH.
· THE CHRISTIAN HAS GODS WORD,PASTORS AND PREACHERS, HIS PRESENCE, AND HIS BLESSINGS. ARE WE NOT JUST AS ACCOUNTABLE TOGOD FOR THE LIGHT WE HAVE?
HOMEWORK
EZEKIEL 8
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORKANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FOR CORRECTION.
v APPLICATION OF EZE 6-7
Ø WHAT PART OF THIS LESSON MOST CLOSELYRELATES TO THE CONDITIONS IN YOUR LIFE?
§ IDOLATRY
§ LACK OF FAITHFULNESS
§ DISOBEDIENCE
§ HYPOCRISY
§ FAITH IN WEALTH
Ø EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER.
Ø WHAT CORRECTIONS WILL YOU MAKE TO AVOIDGODS CHASTISEMENT?
v PREPARATION FOR EZE 8
Ø READ EZE 8:1-18
§ WHAT ARE THE FOUR ABOMINATIONS OFWORSHIP IN THE TEMPLE?
MEMORY VERSE: PSALMS 29:2
