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RETURN TO SYLLABUS
EZEKIEL 4 AND 5
LESSON #4
THE SERVITUDE OF THE NATION AND THEDESOLATIONS OF JERUSALEM
MEMORY VERSE: PSALMS 121:4
IN CHAPTERS4 AND 5 THERE ARE 3 SYMBOLIC SIGNS THAT GOD TELLS EZEKIEL TO ACT OUT AS A PROPHECY ABOUTTHE COMING DESTRUCTIONS OF JERUSALEM.
v READ EZE 4:1-8 THE SIGN OF THE INSCRIBED TILE (BRICK) = APROPHECY OF THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM AND THE SERVITUDE OF THE NATION:
Ø NOTICE THAT 2 IDEAS ARE PRESENTED BYEZEKIEL:
§ 1. THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM (THE INSCRIBED TILE)
· WE WILL CALL THIS IDEA THE DESOLATIONS OF JERSUSALEM.
§ 2. THE SINS OF THE PEOPLE FOR WHICH THENATION MUST PAY. (2 PERIODS OF LYING ON HIS SIDE)
· WE WILL CALL THIS IDEA THE SERVITUDE OF THE NATION.
Ø REMEMBER THAT EZEKIEL IS NOT ABLE TOSPEAK UNLESS GOD GIVES HIM WORDS TO SAY. THEREFORE, GOD TELLS HIM TO ACT OUT THE MESSAGES.
Ø WHAT DID EZEKIEL SILENTLY ACT OUT?
§ HE TOOK A PIECE OF TILE AND SCRATCHED AMAP OF THE CITY OF JERUSALEM ON THE TILE.
· A TILE (BRICK) WAS A CLAY TABLET ABOUT14 BY 18 INCHES ON WHICH THEY WROTE THEIR BUSINESS AND POLITICAL RECORDS.
§ GOD TOLD HIM TO BUILD A MINIATUREWATCHTOWER, A RAMP, BATTERING RAMS, AND A MINIATURE ARMY.
§ GOD TOLD HIM TO PUT AN IRON PAN BETWEENHIM AND THIS TILE TO REPRESENT THE IRON WILL OF GOD THAT WOULD PUNISH HIS PEOPLE. NOPLEADING OR PRAYERS COULD STOP THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM. THE IRON PAN ALSO REPRESENTSTHE HARDSHIP OF DIVINE JUDGMENT.
§ THEN EZEKIEL LAY ON HIS LEFT SIDE 390DAYS. THE NUMBER OF DAYS ON HIS LEFT SIDE REPRESENTED THE NUMBER OF YEARS REQUIRED TO PAYFOR THE SINS OF THE PEOPLE IN THE NORTHERN KINGDOM OF ISRAEL = 390 YEARS
· FROM THE TIME OF THE DIVISION OF THENATION INTO THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN KINGDOMS IN 975 BC UNTIL THE DESTRUCTION OFJERUSALEM IN 586 BC REPRESENTS 390 INCLUSIVE YEARS OF IDOLATRY FOR WHICH THEY WOULD HAVETO PAY EQUAL TIME.
§ THEN EZEKIEL LAY ON HIS RIGHT SIDE 40DAYS. THE NUMBER OF DAYS ON HIS RIGHT SIDE REPRESENTED THE NUMBER OF YEARS REQUIRED TO PAYFOR THE SINS OF THE PEOPLE IN THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM OF JUDAH = 40 YEARS
· FROM 627 BC TO 588 BC REPRESENTSJEREMIAHS PROPHETIC MINISTRY COVERING THE TIME PERIOD FROM THE 13TH YEAROF KING JOSIAH TO THE FALL OF KING ZEDKIAH.
§ GOD TOLD EZEKIEL TO MAKE HIS ARM BARE(7)
· THIS IS A BIBLICAL SYMBOL OF GODSJUDGEMENT. IT IS LIKE A MAN ROLLING UP HIS SLEEVES TO WORK.
§ GOD BOUND EZEKIEL WITH CORDS SO HECOULD NOT TURN OVER UNTIL THE DAYS WERE COMPLETED.
Ø WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NUMBEROF DAYS?
§ WE WILL FIRST CONSIDER THE IDEA OF THE SERVITUDE OF THE NATION:
· NOTICE THAT THE SINS OF THE NORTHERNKINGDOM OF ISRAEL WERE GREATER THAN THE SINS OF THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM OF JUDAH.
¨ IT WAS THE NORTHERN 10 TRIBES OF ISRAELTHAT SPLIT THE NATION INTO TWO AFTER KING SOLOMON.
¨ ALL THE KINGS IN THE NORTHERN KINGDOMWERE EVIL KINGS WHO ABANDONED GOD.
· IF WE ADD 390 YEARS AND 40 YEARS = 430 YEARS REQUIRED FOR THE WHOLE NATION OFISRAEL TO PAY FOR SIN.
· READ JER 25:11
¨ THE LENGTH OF THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITYWAS 70 YEARS.
¨ THESE 70 YEARS WERE A PARTIAL PAYMENTTOWARD THE TOTAL 430 YEARS.
¨ THEREFORE, IF WE SUBTRACT THOSE 70 YEARS THAT THE ISRAELITES PAID FROM THE 430 YEARS =360 YEARS THAT REMAIN TO BE PAID.
· READ LEV 26:18
¨ GOD SAID HE WOULD PUNISH ISRAEL 7 TIMES MORE FOR THEIR SINS.
¨ 360YEARS X 7 = 2,520 YEARS OF BEING SCATTERED AROUND THE WORLD WITHOUT AN INDEPENDENTNATION.
· THE SERVITUDE OF THE NATION MUST LAST70 YEARS PLUS 2,520 YEARS.
¨ THEREFORE, ISRAEL WOULD SERVE THE BABYLONIANEMPIRE FOR 70 YEARS AND THEN THEY WOULD BE DISPERSED SERVING OTHER FOREIGN NATIONS FOR2,520 YEARS UNTIL MAY 14, 1948 WHEN ISRAEL AGAIN BECAME AN INDEPENDENT NATION.
§ NOW WE WILL CONSIDER THEIDEA OF THE DESOLATIONS ON JERUSALEM:
· READ DAN 9:2
¨ THE DESOLATIONS ON THE CITY OF JERUSALEMWOULD LAST FOR 70 YEARS PLUS THE 2,520 YEARS
¨ THE DESOLATIONS ON JERUSALEM ENDED ON JUNE 7,1967 IN THE 6-DAY WAR THAT PUT THE CITY OF JERUSALEM UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE NATION OFISRAEL.
Ø GODS TIMING IS PERFECT! HE FULFILLS THEPROPHECIES OF EZEKIEL EXACTLY AND PERFECTLY. YOU CAN SEE IT ON THE FOLLOWING CHART.
v READ EZE 4:9-17 THE SIGN OF THE DEFILED BREAD = POVERTY,FOOD RATIONING, STARVATION.
Ø WHAT ACTIONS DID EZEKIEL ACT OUT?
§ GOD TOLD EZEKIEL TO MAKE BREAD. THEINGREDIENTS GOD TOLD HIM TO USE ARE NOT THEUSUAL INGREDIENTS FOR BREAD. HOWEVER USING THESE INGREDIENTS IS NOT AGAINST THE MOSAICLAW.
§ GOD TOLD HIM TO EAT 20 SHEKELS OF THISBREAD EVERY DAY FOR 390 DAYS. (60 SHEKELS WAS THE STANDARD WEIGHT FOR PROCESSING GOLD ANDSILVER). THEREFORE, THIS SMALL AMOUNT WAS A POOR MANS MEAL. HE SHOULD CONSIDER THISSMALL AMOUNT OF FOOD AS BARLEY CAKES (12). IN OTHER WORDS, THIS POOR MEAL WASA DELICACY.
· EZEKIEL IS ILLUSTRATING THAT THE PEOPLEWILL SUFFER FOOD RATIONING.BECAUSE HE HAD TO MEASURE THIS BREAD EVERY DAY.
· HE MUST BAKE THIS BREAD USING HUMANWASTE FOR FUEL. THIS WAS CONTRARY TO THE MOSAIC LAW. THEREFORE, THIS BREAD WOULD BECONSIDERED DEFILED.
§ GOD TOLD HIM TO DRINK WATER (LESS THAN¼ OF A PINT).
Ø WHAT WAS EZEKIELS RESPONSE? (14)
§ HE OBJECTED TO GOD BECAUSE HE DID NOTWANT TO EAT ANYTHING NOT KOSHER. BECAUSE HE GREW UP THINKING HE WOULD BE A PRIEST, HEALWAYS ATE ONLY THOSE THINGS THAT WERE PERMITTED BY THE MOSAIC LAW.
· GOD MODIFIED HIS INSTRUCTIONS TOEZEKIEL. INSTEAD OF HUMAN WASTE, HE COULD USE COWS WASTE. HOWEVER, THAT IS STILLCONTRARY TO THE MOSAIC LAW.
Ø THE MESSAGE:
§ THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL WILL SUFFER A LACKOF FOOD DURING THE TIMES THEY ARE DISPLACEDUNDER FOREIGN DOMINATION.
· THE 390 REFERS TO THE SAME TIMESEQUENCE OF THE SINS OF THE NORTHERN KINGDOM IN THE ABOVE SIGN. (5). THEREFORE, THE SAMECHART REGARDING THE SERVITUDE OF THE NATION ALSO REFERS TO POVERTY AND LACK OFPROPER FOOD.
§ NOTICE THAT THE CITY OF JERUSALEM ISALSO MENTIONED AS SUFFERING A LACK OF FOOD. (16) THEREFORE, THE PERIOD OF DESOLATIONSON JERUSALEM WILL ALSO BE ACCOMPANIED BY POVERTY AND A LACK OF PROPER FOOD.
v READ EZE 5:1-4 THE SIGN OF THE RAZOR AND THE HAIR = DEATHAND DESTRUCTION BY WAR
Ø WHAT ACTIONS DID EZEKIEL ACT OUT?
§ GOD TOLD HIM TO CUT HIS HAIR WITH AKNIFE AND THEN SHAVE HIS HEAD WITH A RAZOR.
· GOD DID NOT CONSIDER A PRIEST WHOSHAVED HIS HEAD TO BE HOLY. IN FACT TO SHAVE IN PUBLIC WAS A HUMILIATION, A SYMBOL OFGREAT SORROW AND MOURNING.
§ GOD TOLD HIM TO DIVIDE AND WEIGH THEHAIR TO MAKE 3 EQUAL PARTS.
§ HE MUST BURN 1/3 OF THE HAIR IN THECITY. IN OTHER WORDS ON TOP OF THE CLAY MAP OF JERUSALEM.
§ HE MUST CUT UP 1/3 OF THE HAIR WITH ASWORD.
§ HE MUST THROW 1/3 OF THE HAIR IN THEWIND.
· FROM THIS 1/3 HE MUST HIDE A FEW HAIRSIN HIS GARMENT.
· THEN HE MUST GATHER THE 1/3 THROWN INTHE WIND AND BURN IT.
Ø WHAT DOES THE MESSAGE MEAN?
§ THE ISRAELITES KNEW THEY WERE GODSPEOPLE. BECAUSE OF THAT AND BECAUSE OF GODS PROMISES, THE PEOPLE THOUGHT GOD WOULDNEVER PUNISH THEM FOR THEIR SIN. FALSE PROPHETS SAID THAT THE NATION WOULD NEVER FAIL ANDJERUSALEM WOULD NEVER SUFFER DESTRUCTION. HOWEVER, GOD SAYS IN VERSE 11, THEREFOREWILL I ALSO DIMINISH THEE. IT CAN ALSO BE TRANSLATED, THEREFORE, WILL I ALSOSHAVE THEE.
· GOD SAYS THE NATION OF ISRAEL IS LIKETHE PRIEST WITH A SHAVED HEAD. IT IS NOT HOLY.
§ READ EZE 5:12-17 GOD EXPLAINS THE SYMBOLS
· 1/3 OF THE HAIR BURNED IN THE CITYREPRESENTS THE DEATH OF 1/3 OF THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM THAT WOULD BE KILLED BY FAMINEAND DISEASE WHEN THE CITY WOULD FALL TO THE BABYLONIANS IN 586 BC. THOSE WHO WERE NOTKILLED WERE TAKEN CAPTIVE IN THE FINAL DEPORTATION TO BABYLON.
¨ HISTORY PROVES THAT THIS PROPHECY WASLITERALLY FULFILLED. (2KI 25:3,9)
· 1/3 OF THE HAIR THAT WAS CUT WITH ASWORD REPRESENTS WAR ON THIS SECOND GROUP DURING THE TIME OF THE FALL OF JERUSALEM.AND THESOUTHERN KINGDOM. (2KI 25:18-21a)
· 1/3 OF THE HAIR THAT WAS THROWN IN THEWIND REPESENTS THE 2,520 YEARS OF DISPERSION UNDER FOREIGN DOMINATION. (2KI 25:11, 21b)
¨ THE FEW HAIRS HIDDEN IN HIS GARMENTFROM THIS 1/3 REPRESENT A FAITHFUL REMNANT OF JEWS WHO ARE PROTECTED BY GOD BECAUSE THEYTRUST HIM NO MATTER HOW HARD LIFE BECOMES.
¨ THE REST OF THIS 1/3 THROWN TO THE WINDWILL DIE BY WAR AND FIRE.
Ø THE OVENS OF HITLERS HOLOCOST AREA FULFILLMENT OF THIS PROPHECY.
v READ EZE 5:5-11 JERUSALEM AND GODS REASONS FOR SUCH A SEVEREPUNISHMENT:
Ø GOD SAYS HE WILL MAKE THE CITY OFJERUSALEM THE SYMBOL THAT REPRESENTS THE JEWS AROUND THE WORLD.
§ THAT WHICH HAPPENS TO JERUSALEM IS THATWHICH WILL HAPPEN TO ALL THE JEWS.
· IT IS BECAUSE OF THIS PROPHECY THATJERUSALEM IS SO IMPORTANT TO WORLD PEACE AND THE CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST TODAY.
¨ READ ZEC 12:2-3
Ø VERSE 2 IS A PROPHECY ABOUT THE FALL OFJERUSALEM IN 586 BC.
Ø VERSE 3 IS A SECOND FULFILLMENT IN THELAST DAYS WHICH WE WILL STUDY LATER.
Ø GOD SAYS THAT THE PEOPLE HAD GODSLAW BUT THEY CHANGED IT INTO LEGALISM (6) SO THEY WOULD NOT HAVE TO KNOW GOD PERSONALLY.THAT MAKES THEIR SIN GREATER THAN THE PAGAN NATIONS THAT DID NOT HAVE GODS LAW.
Ø BECAUSE OF GODS BLESSINGS UPONISRAEL, THEIR POPULATION GREW LARGER THAN OTHER NATIONS. (7) THEREFORE, GOD WILL ALLOWFOREIGN NATIONS TO KILL HIS PEOPLE. THIS LEVEL OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION ON ISAREL ISSOMETHING GOD HAD NEVER PERMITTED BEFORE. (9)
§ LIFE WILL BECOME SO DESPERATE THATCANNIBALISM WILL BE THE RESULT OF A FAILURE TO TRUST GOD. (10)
· GOD HAD PREVIOUSLY WARNED THEM THISWOULD HAPPEN IN DEU 28:49-57 AND DEU 29:22 28.
· THIS PROPHECY WAS LITERALLY FULFILLEDDURING THE FALL OF JERUSALEM IN 586 BC WHENTHE BABYLONIANS HAD THE CITY SURROUNDED AND CUT OFF. IT WAS FULFILLED A SECOND TIME IN 70AD WHEN THE ROMANS HAD JERUSALEM SURROUNDED AND CUT OFF. (A PROPHECY WITH A DOUBLEFULFILLMENT)
Ø THE JEWS EVEN BROUGHT IDOLS INTO THETEMPLE FOR WORSHIP (11)
§ KING SOLOMON MARRIED MANY FOREIGN WOMENWHO WORSHIPPED OTHER GODS. HE ALLOWED THEM TO BRING THEIR IDOLS INTO THE PALACE AND INTOTHE TEMPLE. TO MAKE HIS WIVES HAPPY HE BUILT PAGAN ALTARS, TEMPLES, AND GARDENS FOR THEPRACTICE OF IDOLATRY.
v SUMMARY AND APPLICATION:
Ø THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST PORTRAYED INCHAPTER 4 IS THAT CHRIST IS A JUST JUDGE.IN WHAT WAYS DO WE SEE THIS CHARACTER QUALITY DEMONSTRATED IN CHAPTER 4?
§ HE JUDGES A LACK OF FAITHFULNESS.
· THE CONSEQUENCES FOR CONTINUEDDISOBEDIENCE CAN REACH FAR INTO TIME.
§ HE JUDGES IDOLATRY.
· WAS THIS A JUST JUDGMENT UPON THE JEWS?
¨ YES, BECAUSE GOD HAD WARNED THEM MANY,MANY TIMES AND THEY WOULD NOT REPENT AND TRUST IN HIM BY FAITH.
Ø A LACK OF FAITHFULNESS LEADS TOIDOLATRY IN SOME FORM.
Ø THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST PORTARYED INCHAPTER 5 IS THAT CHRIST IS A RIGHTEOUS JUDGE. IN WHAT WAYS DO WE SEE THISCHARACTER QUALITY DEMONSTRATED IN CHAPTER 5?
§ GOD ESTABLISHED HIS STANDARD OFRIGHTEOUSNESS AND GAVE IT TO THE JEWS IN THE FORM OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. (5:6) THEY KNEWWHAT GODS STANDARD WAS. THAT HIGH STANDARD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WAS MEANT TO BRING THEMTO THEIR KNEES IN REPENTANCE ASKING GOD FOR MERCY. (GAL 3:24)
· GOD JUDGES THEM BY THE STANDARD THEYHAVE CHOSEN.
Ø HOW DO WE APPLY THESE CHAPTERS TO OURPERSONAL LIFE TODAY?
§ 1. WE SEE THAT GOD VALUES FAITHFULNESSAND JUDGES WHEN HIS PEOPLE ARE UNFAITHFUL.
§ 2. TODAY GOD CHASTIZES HIS REBELLIOUSCHILDREN FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING US RIGHTEOUS.
· READ HEB 12:5-11
§ 3. WE MUST NOT BE LIKE THE ISRAELITESOF EZEKIELS DAY AND THINK THAT GOD WILL NOT PUNISH HIS OWN PEOPLE. THE JEWS ARE AVIVID ILLUSTRATION OF GODS PUNISHMENT. GOD IS MERCIFUL WHEN WE REPENT. (1JO 1:9)
· THE HISTORY OF THE JEWS TELLS US WHATTO AVOID IN ORDER TO REMAIN IN GODS PERFECT WILL.
HOMEWORK
EZEKIEL 6 AND 7
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORKANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FOR CORRECTION.
v APPLICATION OF EZE 4 AND 5
§ IS YOUR LIFE LIKE THE HISTORY OF THEJEWS: UNFAITHFULNESS TO GOD, A LACK OF TRUSTIN GOD, IDOLATRY?
¨ EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER.
§ WHAT CHANGES DO YOU NEED TO MAKE INYOUR LIFE TO REMAIN IN GODS PERFECT WILL?
v PREPARATION FOR EZE 6 AND 7
§ READ EZE 6:1-14
· THE REPENTANT EXILED REMNANT WILL KNOWTHAT THE ATTACK OF THE ENEMY IS GODS JUDGMENT. THEREFORE, WHAT WILL THEY DO INFOREIGN LANDS?
§ READ EZE 7:1-27
¨ LOOK FOR THE THREE TIMES IN THISCHAPTER THAT EZEKIEL USES THE PHRASE, YE SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD.
§ WHAT DOES GOD DO TO CAUSE THEM TO KNOWHIM?
v MEMORY VERSE: 1CORINTHIANS 10:7
