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RETURN TO SYLLABUS
EZEKIEL 23
LESSON #21
PUTTING YOUR TRUST IN THE RIGHT PLACE
v MEMORY VERSE: PSALMS 9:10
v IN SOME WAYS EZEKIEL 23 IS SIMILAR TOEZEKIEL 16. REMEMBER WE DISCUSSED HOW THE NATION OF ISRAEL WAS COMPARED TO A PROSTITUTE?THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL COMMITTED SPIRITUAL ADULTERY (UNFAITHFULNESS TO GOD) WHEN THEY BEGANTO WORSHIP IDOLS. EZEKIEL TOLD US ISRAEL WAS CONSIDERED GODS WIFE. GOD HAD A LEGALRIGHT TO DIVORCE HIMSELF FROM ISRAEL. EVEN THOUGH ISRAEL HAD BROKEN THE MARRIAGE AGREEMENTWHEN SHE BROKE THE MOSAIC LAW, GOD WOULD NOT BREAK HIS PART OF THE AGREEMENT. HE WOULD BEFAITHFUL TO HIS PEOPLE.
v IN EZEKIEL 23, WE SEE THE SAMECOMPARISON SPIRITUAL ADULTERY AND PROSTITUTION. HOWEVER, THE MESSAGE IN CHAPTER 23 ISDIFFERENT FROM THAT IN CHAPTER 16.
v READ EZE 23:1-4 THE PARABLE OF THE TWO SISTERS
Ø THIS PARABLE RELATES THE INTERNATIONAL,POLITICAL INTRIGUES OF THESE TWO CITIES.
Ø THE NAMES OF THE TWO SISTERS:
§ SCRIPTURE SPECIFICALLY TELLS US THESETWO SISTERS ARE SAMARIA AND JERUSALEM (4). WHY DOES GOD GIVE THEM OTHER NAMES? IT IS BECAUSE THE MEANING OF THESE TWO NAMES TELLSUS SOMETHING IMPORTANT.
· AFTER KING SOLOMON, THE NATION OFISRAEL BROKE APART INTO TWO KINGDOMS, THE NORTHERN KINGDOM CALLED ISRAEL OR EPHRAIM, ANDTHE SOUTHERN KINGDOM CALLED JUDAH.
¨ THE CAPITAL OF THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM WASJERUSALEM, AND THE CAPITAL OF THE NORTHERN KINGDOM WAS SAMARIA.
Ø OHOLIBAH = JERUSALEM
§ OHOLIBAH MEANS = MYTENT IN HER
· JERUSALEM, THE CAPITAL OF THE SOUTHERNKINGDOM WAS WHERE GODS PRESENCE DWELT IN THE TABERNACLE AND THEN IN SOLOMONSTEMPLE.
¨ THE MEANING OF THE NAME REFERS TO THETABERNACLE OR TENT, AND GOD TELLS US IT WAS HIS TABERNACLE.
§ OHOLAH = SAMARIA
· OHOLAH MEANS = HEROWN TENT.
¨ IN OTHER WORDS, SAMARIA, THE CAPITAL OFTHE NORTHERN KINGDOM OF ISRAEL DID NOT HAVE GODS TABERNACLE IN HER MIDST. SHEESTABLISHED HER OWN SYSTEM OF WORSHIP. AS SOON AS THE NORTHERN KINGDOM SEPARATED FROM THESOUTHERN KINGDOM, THEY BUILT A TEMPLE AND SET UP A GOLDEN CALF IN IT TO WORSHIP.
§ WE CAN BEST SEE THESE TWO SYSTEMS OFWORSHIP IN JOH 4 WITH JESUS TALKING TO A SAMARITAN WOMAN AT THE WELL.
· READ JOH 4:7-10, 19-22
¨ JESUS OFFERED THIS WOMAN ETERNAL LIFE.SHE WAS CONFUSED BECAUSE HE WAS A JEW. THE JEWS BELIEVED THAT YOU COULD ONLY WORSHIP GODIN THE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM. THIS WOMAN WASFROM SAMARIA. THE SAMARITANS BELIEVED YOU COULD WORSHIP GOD IN THE TEMPLE IN SAMARIA. THISWAS A TEMPLE ESTABLISHED BY THE NORTHERN KINGDOM IN REBELLION AGAINST GOD.
¨ JESUS PLAINLY TELLS HER THAT SALVATIONCAME THROUGH THE JEWS. AND, OF COURSE, HE SPEAKS MORE SPECIFICALLY WHEN HE TELLS HER THATSALVATION COMES THROUGH HIM, WHO IS A JEW. THEREFORE, THE JEWISH WORSHIP IN THE TABERNACLEAND THEN LATER IN THE TEMPLE WAS A WORSHIP THAT GOD ORDAINED FROM THE TIME OF MOSES UNTILTHE CRUCIFIXION. WORSHIP IN SAMARIA AND THE NORTHERN KINGDOM WAS NOT A WORSHIP OF JEHOVAH.IN FACT, IT WAS A WORSHIP OF IDOLS.
v READ EZE 23:5-10 THE PROSTITUTION OF OHOLAH (SAMARIA)
Ø EZEKIEL TELLS US THAT SAMARIA BECAME APROSTITUTE WITH ASSYRIA. (5) AND ALSO WITH EGYPT (8).
§ WHAT DOES HE MEAN?
· THE SMALL NORTHERN KINGDOM SAW GIANTKINGDOMS RISE AROUND THEM. THESE KINGDOMS HAD LARGE ARMIES. INSTEAD OF TRUSTING IN GOD,THEY DID WHAT MANY POLITICIANS DO TODAY. THEY BEGAN TO DEAL IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS.THEY SIGNED NON-AGRESSION TREATIES AGREEING TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THESE GREAT NATIONS IF THESENATIONS AGREED NOT TO ATTACK.
¨ THE NORTHERN KINGDOM DEALTINTERNATIONALLY FROM A POSITION OF FEAR AND WEAKNESS. THEY FAILED TO CONSIDER THAT GOD WASTHE ALMIGHTY IN CONTROL OF ALL THE EARTH AND THEY WERE GODS PEOPLE.
· THESE TWO NATIONS, ASSYRIA AND EGYPT,HAVE A SYMBOLIC MEANING IN SCRIPTURE.
¨ ASSYRIA = MILITARY POWER
Ø ASSYRIA HAD A VERY LARGE ARMY. THEYWERE CONSIDERED THE ULTIMATE FIGHTING FORCE OF THAT DAY. THEIR UNIFORMS WERE STUNNING.THEIR SOLDIERS WERE WELL TRAINED, CRUEL, AND RAPID. THEY WERE EXPERTS IN ARCHERY. ARCHERSON HORSEBACK AND TWO ON CAMELS WERE THE TERROR OF THE MIDDLE EAST.
¨ EGYPT = WORLDLINESS
Ø EGYPT HAD DEVELOPED A VERY ADVANCEDSOCIETY OVERFLOWING WITH WEALTH AND PLEASURE. EGYPT EXPORTED AND IMPORTED THE BEST OFEVERYTHING AROUND THE WORLD. THEY WERE EVEN OBSESSED WITH PRESERVING THE PLEASURES OF THISWORLD IN THE LIFE AFTER DEATH.
Ø WHAT WAS THE GREATEST POLITICAL FAILUREOF SAMARIA?
§ THEY FAILED TO TRUST IN GOD. INSTEADOUT OF FEAR OF THE ENEMY, THEY COMPROMISED THEMSELVES AND PUT THEIR TRUST IN INTERNATIONALPOLITICS. MILITARY POWER AND WORLDLINESS APPEARED TO BE MORE POWERFUL THAN GOD.
v READ EZE 23:11-21 THE PROSTITUTION OF OHOLIBAH (JERUSALEM)
Ø GOD SAYS THE SINS OF JERUSALEM WEREGREATER THAN THOSE OF SAMARIA. (11)
§ EZEKIEL TELLS US THAT JERUSALEM BECAMEA PROSTITUTE WITH ASSYRIA (12), WITH THE BABYLONIANS (CHALDEA) (14), AND WITH EGYPT (19).
· JERUSALEM ALSO PAID TRIBUTE TO THESENATIONS AND MADE NON-AGRESSION TREATIES WITH THEM.
¨ KING SOLOMON WAS THE FIRST KING INISRAEL TO DEAL IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS. KING DAVID TRUSTED GOD TO PROTECT THE NATION.HOWEVER, SOLOMON USED INTERNATIONAL MARRIAGES TO ENSURE THE KINGDOMS SAFETY. WHEN ANATION THREATENED ISRAEL, SOLOMON ARRANGED TO MARRY THAT NATIONS MOST ELIGIBLE WOMENOF HIGH POSITION. HE THOUGHT THAT THE NATIONS LEADERS WOULD NEVER ATTACK ISRAELBECAUSE OF THESE WOMEN.
¨ EVEN GOOD KING HEZEKIAH HAD A WEAKNESSFOR INTERNATIONAL POLITICS.
Ø ASSYRIA ATTACKED THE SOUTHERN KINGDOMAND GOD MIRACULOUSLY STOPPED THEM BY SENDING AN ANGEL OF THE LORD TO KILL THEM. (ISA 36-372KI 18-19) THEN IN WEAK FAITH, KING HEZEKIAH MADE A TREATY WITH EGYPT AND BABYLON (ISA 39)
Ø WHAT WAS THE GREATEST POLITICAL FAILUREOF JERUSALEM?
§ THEY FAILED TO TRUST IN GOD. INSTEADOUT OF FEAR OF THE ENEMY, THEY COMPROMISED THEMSELVES AND PUT THEIR TRUST IN INTERNATIONALPOLITICS. MILITARY POWER AND WORLDLINESS APPEARED TO BE MORE POWERFUL THAN GOD. IN THISWAY, THEY WERE JUST LIKE SAMARIA.
· HOWEVER, EZEKIEL TELLS US THEIR SINSWERE GREATER THAN SAMARIA. WHY?
¨ THEY ALSO PROSTITUTED THEMSELVES WITHBABYLON.
Ø BABYLON IN SCRIPTURE IS SYMBOLIC OF ALLPAGAN RELIGIONS AND IDOLATRY PERPETUATED, PROMOTED, AND CONTROLLED BY SATAN FROM THE TIMEOF THE TOWER OF BABEL TO MYSTERY BABYLON IN THE TRIBULATION. (REV 18-19)
§ IT IS TRUE THE NORTHERN KINGDOM ALSOWAS HEAVILY EMERSED IN IDOLATRY. HOWEVER, THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM HAD THE TRIBE OF JUDAHTHROUGH WHICH JESUS CHRIST WOULD COME. THEY HAD GODS PRESENCE IN THE TEMPLE AND THEYVIOLATED THE TEMPLE WITH IDOLS. THEY HAD GODS PRIESTS WHO WERE SUPPOSED TO TEACHPEOPLE THE TRUTH OF GODS WORD.
· WE LEARNED PREVIOUSLY IN EZEKIEL THISBIBLICAL TRUTH: WITH GREATER PRIVILEGE COMESGREATER ACCOUNTABILITY.
v EZE 23:22-49 JUDGMENT OF THE TWO SISTERS
Ø THERE IS MUCH IN THIS PASSAGE THAT ISREPETITIOUS OF CHAPTER 16 AND OF WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY LEARNED IN EZEKIEL.
§ HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS PASSAGE:
· READ EZE 23:22-26 JUDGMENT BY GOD ON JERUSALEM FOR POLITICALINTRIGUES
· GOD WILL USE ATTACKS BY THESE 3NATIONS, ASSYRIA, EGYPT, AND BABYLON, TO JUDGE THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM.
¨ THEY SHALL TAKE AWAY THY NOSE ANDTHINE (TWO) EARS. (25)
Ø FACIAL MUTILATION OF A WOMAN CAUGHT INADULTERY WAS A COMMON PRACTICE IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
Ø SYMBOLICALLY THIS REFERS TO THE 3SEPARATE DEPORTATIONS GOD USED TO TAKE THE PEOPLE FROM THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM TO BABYLON.
¨ THEY SHALL TAKE AWAY THYFAIR JEWELS. (26)
Ø THIS REFERS TO THE TEMPLE TREASURESTAKEN BY THE ASSYRIANS AND THE BABYLONIANS.
· THOU SHALT DRINK OF THY SISTERSCUP (32)
¨ THIS REFERS TO A CUP OF JUDGMENT ANDSORROW.
Ø IN OTHER WORDS THEY WILL REAP WHAT THEYSOWED. WHY?
§ GOD WILL PUNISH THEM THAT THEY MIGHTKNOW THAT HE IS THE LORD. (49)
v APPLICATION:
Ø WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS CHAPTERTHAT WILL HELP US WITH OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH?
§ ALTHOUGH THIS CHAPTER CONCERNS ITSELFWITH NATIONAL AND WORLD POLITICS, GOD DEALS IN THE SAME WAY WITH INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE AS HEDOES WITH NATIONS.
· THEREFORE, ON A NATIONAL LEVEL, WE SEETHAT IF A NATION TRUSTS IN GOD, GOD WILL PROTECT THAT NATION. A NATION IS VERY FOOLISH TOTRUST IN MILITARY STRENGTH, THE WEALTH OF WORLDLINESS, OR OTHER RELIGIONS FOR PROTECTION.
¨ DOES THAT MEAN A NATION SHOULD NOT HAVEAN ARMY? DOES THAT MEAN A NATION SHOULD NOT SIGN FOREIGN TREATIES? DOES THAT MEAN A NATIONSHOULD NOT SEEK A STRONG ECONOMY? NO. IT MEANS THAT A NATION SHOULD DO WHAT IS PRACTICAL,BUT ITS FAITH SHOULD BE IN GOD. IN THAT WAY GOD WILL GUIDE A NATION IN ITSINTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS.
Ø PRESIDENT GEORGE WASHINGTON SAID ITBEST:
§ THE GREAT RULE OF CONDUCT FOR US,IN REGARD TO FOREIGN NATIONS IS, IN EXTENDING OUR COMMERCIAL RELATIONS TO HAVE WITH THEMAS LITTLE POLITICAL CONNECTION AS POSSIBLE.
§ IT IS OUR TRUE POLICY TO STEERCLEAR OF PERMANENT ALLIANCES, WITH ANY PORTION OF THE FOREIGN WORLD.
§ ON AN INDIVIDUAL AND PERSONAL LEVEL,THIS CHAPTER TELLS US THAT WE SHOULD TRUST GOD FOR OUR PROVISION AND PROTECTION.
· WHEN ISRAEL LOOKED AROUND AND SAW THESEMONSTER KINGDOMS ON THE HORIZON, SHE BECAME AFRAID. WHEN WE LET EXTERNAL CIRCUMSTANCESAROUND US CAUSE US TO FEAR, WE ARE NOT LIVING BY FAITH.
¨ WE MUST REMEMBER THAT GOD IS GREATERTHAN EXTERNAL CIRCUMSTANCES.
Ø THE ISRAELITES HAD A HABIT OF LOOKINGTO EGYPT (WORLDLINESS) EVERYTIME LIFE BECAME DIFFICULT IN THE PROMISED LAND. ABRAHAM ANDJACOB WENT TO EGYPT IN TIME OF FAMINE. THIS RESPONSE ALWAYS LED TO BONDAGE.
§ TODAY PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY RUN TOCREDIT CARDS WHEN LIFE GETS DIFFICULT. THE RESULTS IS ALWAYS BONDAGE TO WORLDLINESS. (PRO22:7)
· WHEN WE ARE NOT LIVING BY FAITH, WEHAVE A TENDENCY TO TRUST IN OUR OWN STRENGTH (THE MILITARY POWER OF ASSYRIA), OR IN THEWEALTH OF THE WORLD (THE WORLDLINESS OF EGYPT), OR IN IDOLS OR OTHER RELIGIONS (THEIDOLATRY OF BABYLON).
¨ PETER WALKING ON THE WATER IS A GOODNEW TESTAMENT EXAMPLE. WHEN PETER TOOK HIS EYES OFF OF JESUS AND LOOKED AROUND AT THEEXTERNAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE WATER AND THE WAVES, HE BEGAN TO SINK. (MAT 14:29-30)
Ø THE CHRISTIAN MUST FOCUS HIS SPIRITUALEYES ON JESUS TO MAINTAIN A STRONG FAITH AND REMAIN FREE FROM BONDAGE.
HOMEWORK
EZEKIEL 24
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORKANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FOR CORRECTION.
v APPLICATION OF EZE 23
Ø FROM THIS CHAPTER, WHAT HAVE YOULEARNED ABOUT TRUSTING GOD?
Ø WHAT CHANGES DO YOU NEED TO MAKE INYOUR LIFE TO FREE YOURSELF FROM THE FOLLOWING 3 BONDAGES MENTIONED IN THIS CHAPTER?
§ YOUR OWN POWER AND STRENTH (BONDAGE TOASSYRIAN MILLITARY POWER):
§ THE SYSTEMS OF THE WORLD (BONDAGE TOTHE WORLDLINESS OF EGYPT LIKE DEBT AND CREDIT CARDS):
§ MAKING IDOLS OF OTHER THINGS OR PEOPLE(BONDAGE TO THE PAGAN RELIGIONS OF BABYLON):
v PREPARATION FOR EZE 24
Ø READ EZE 24:1-14 THE PARABLE OF THE IRON POT
§ EXPLAIN IN YOUR OWN WORDS THE MEANINGOF THE PARABLE OF THE IRON POT.
Ø READ EZE 24:15-27 THE DEATH OF EZEKIELS WIFE
§ WHY DO YOU THINK GOD TOLD EZEKIEL NOTTO MOURN FOR HIS WIFE?
§ WHAT IS THE PROPHETIC MESSAGE GODINTENDED IN THE DEATH OF EZEKIELS WIFE?
§ WHY IS THE CHRISTIAN NOT TO MOURNINTENSLY FOR A LOVED ONE WHO HAS DIED? (1TH4:13-14)
v MEMORY VERSE: 1CORINTHIANS 15:20
