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RETURN TO SYLLABUS
EZEKIEL 16:35-63
LESSON #14
THE CONSEQUENCES OF UNFAITHFULNESS
MEMORY VERSE: ISAIAH57:18
v EZEKIEL 16 BEGAN WITH A PARABLE ABOUTAN ABANDONED BABY WHO GREW UP TO BE AN UNFAITHFUL WIFE. IN OUR LAST LESSON WE EXAMINED THEPART ABOUT THE ABANDONED BABY. WE DETERMINED THAT IT REPRESENTED THE CITY OF JERUSALEMINITIALLY AND THEN IN A BROADER SENSE, IT REPRESENTED THE NATION OF ISRAEL.
v GOD MARRIED ISRAEL AT MT. SINAI WHENGOD GAVE THE ISRAELITES THE LAW. THEREFORE, ISRAEL IS THE WIFE OF GOD SPIRITUALLYSPEAKING.
v READ EZE 16:35-43 THE SINS AND PUNISHMENT OF THE UNFAITHFUL WIFE
Ø THE WIFE WAS NOT SIMPLY UNFAITHFUL, BUTSHE BECAME A PROSTITUTE.
§ ISRAEL HAD A WEAKNESS FOR IDOLATRY. SHEADOPTED EVERY IDOL FROM EVERY NATION AROUND HER. THEREFORE, GOD CALLS HER AN UNFAITHFULWIFE WHO BECAME A PROSTITUTE.
· WE CAN SEE THIS SCENARIO PORTRAYED INTHE BOOK OF HOSEA. HOSEA WAS A PROPHET OF GOD. HE MARRIED A WOMAN WHO BECAME A PROSTITUTE.HOSEA ASKED GOD WHAT HE SHOULD DO ABOUT THIS UNFAITHFUL WIFE. GOD TOLD HIM TO GO AFTER HERAND BRING HER HOME.
¨ IN THE SAME WAY, WE SEE GODSMERCY AND FORGIVENESS. HE DOES NOT ABANDON HIS PEOPLE. INSTEAD, HE CONTINUES TO LOVE HISUNFAITHFUL PEOPLE AND DRAW THEM BACK TO HIMSELF.
¨ HOWEVER, FIRST GOD SAYS HE WILL JUDGEISRAELS SIN ACCORDING TO THE LAW. (38)
Ø TO UNDERSTAND GODS PUNISHMENT WENEED TO EXAMINE THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE MOSAIC LAW.
§ WHAT WAS THE PUNISHMENT FOR ADULTERY INTHE OLD TESTAMENT UNDER THE SYSTEM OF THE MOSAIC LAW?
· READ LEV 20:10
¨ THE PUNISHMENT FOR ADULTERY FOR BOTHTHE MAN AND THE WOMAN WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DEATH BY STONING.
Ø JESUS CONFRONTED THIS KIND OFSITUATION.
§ READ JOH 8:3-11
· THAT WAS STILL A PERIOD OF LAW. WHY DIDJESUS NOT HAVE HER STONED? INSTEAD HE BROKE THE LAW OF MOSES WHEN HE LET HER GO. WHY?
¨ JESUS UNDERSTOOD THAT THE PHARISEESBROUGHT HER ONLY TO TEST HIM. HE DID NOT STONE HER BECAUSE THE PHARISEES DID NOT APPLY THELAW EQUALLY AMONG THE PEOPLE. NOTICE THAT THEY DID NOT BRING THE GUILTY MAN WITH HER.THEREFORE, JESUS TURNED THE TEST BACK ON THE PHARISEES INDICATING THAT ALL PEOPLE AREGUILTY.
§ WHAT WAS THE PUNISHMENT FOR PROSTITUTESIN THE OLD TESTAMENT UNDER THE SYSTEM OF THE MOSAIC LAW?
· READ LEV 21:9
¨ THE PUNISHMENT FOR PROSTITUTION WASDEATH BY FIRE.
§ WHAT WAS THE PUNISHMENT FOR IDOLATRY INTHE OLD TESTAMENT?
· READ DEU 13:12-18
¨ THE PUNISHMENT FOR IDOLATRY WAS DEATHBY THE SWORD AND THEN FIRE TO BURN THE IDOLS.
Ø THE CONSEQUENCES OF ISRAEL SINS OFADULTERY, PROSTITUTION, AND IDOLATRY WILL BE EXACTLY ACCORDING TO THE MOSAIC LAW = DEATHBY STONING, DEATH BY FIRE, AND DEATH BY SWORD. THIS PROPHECY WAS FULFILLED WHEN THEBABYLONIAN ARMY DESTROYED JERUSALEM.
v READ EZE 16:44-45 THE PROVERB
Ø THE COMMON PROVERB IS: LIKEFATHER, LIKE SON.
§ IN THE CASE OF ISRAEL, GOD SAYS LIKEMOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER.
· REMEMBER ISRAELS MOTHER,SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING, WAS THE HITTITES WHO PRACTICED IDOLATRY. (45)
§ ISRAEL COULD NOT HELP BUT PRACTICEIDOLATRY. THAT WAS HER PAST HERITAGE. SHE CHOSE NOT TO REMEMBER HOW GOD HAD CHOSEN HER ANDBLESSED HER. INSTEAD SHE HAD DONE ACCORDING TO HER NATURAL TENDENCY.
· IN THE SAME WAY MAN CANT HELP BUTFOLLOW HIS NATURAL TENDENCY TO SIN, BECAUSE WE ALL COME FROM ADAM.
§ HOWEVER, THIS PROVERB IS NOT AN EXCUSEBEFORE GOD. IT IS SIMPLY A STATEMENT OF FACT THAT WE ALL NEED A SAVIOR TO FREE US FROM OURTENDANCY TO SIN. CHRIST DOES THIS BY GIVING US A NEW NATURE WHEN WE ARE BORN AGAIN INJESUS CHRIST.
v READ EZE 16:46-47 THE EXAMPLE OF SAMARIA
Ø IN THE PARABLE, THE UNFAITHFUL WIFESELDER SISTER IS SAMARIA. WHY DOES GOD USE THIS CITY AS AN EXAMPLE?
§ SAMARIA WAS THE CAPITAL CITY OF THENORTHERN KINGDOM WHEN ISRAEL DIVIDED ITSELF INTO 2 NATIONS. IT WAS THE CENTER OF IDOLATRYIN THE NORTHERN KINGDOM, AND THE CENTER OF EVIL GOVERNMENT BY EVIL KINGS.
§ GOD JUDGED THIS CITY WHEN THE ASSYRIANARMY CAME AND TOOK THE PEOPLE CAPTIVE TO BABYLON.
§ THE ARGUMENT IS THAT IF GOD JUDGEDSAMARIA SEVERLY, HE MUST ALSO JUDGE JERUSALEM SEVERLY BECAUSE THEIR SINS ARE GREATER.
v READ EZE 16:48-54 THE EXAMPLE OF SODOM
Ø WHAT WERE THE SINS OF THE CITY OFSODOM?
§ READ GEN 19:4-5
· ACCORDING TO GENESIS, THE SIN IN THISCITY WAS RAMPANT HOMOSEXUALITY.
· HOWEVER, EZEKIEL EXPANDS ON WHAT WE SEEIN GENESIS TO TELL US THAT THEY ALSO WERE PROUD, HAUGHTY, OVERFED, IDLE, UNCONCERNED ABOUTTHE POOR, AND GUILTY OF HORRIBLE ACTS (HOMOSEXUALITY).
§ GOD USES THE EXAMPLE OF THIS CITYBECAUSE IT IS GEOGRAPHICALLY LOCATED IN THE TERRITORY CONTROLLED BY THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM.HE SEVERLY JUDGED THIS CITY FOR ITS SINS.
v READ EZE 16:55-59 THE BREAKING OF THE COVENANT AND THE FUTURE
Ø GOD GIVES A REMARKABLE PROPHECY INVERSE 55 ABOUT THE RESTORATION OF THESE THREE SISTER CITIES, SAMARIA, SODOM, ANDJERUSALEM.
§ WHEN SODOM AND SAMARIA RETURN TO THEIRFORMER EXISTENCE AND WEALTH, GOD WILL FULLY RESTORE ISRAEL. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
· THIS PROPHECY HAS NEVER BEEN FULFILLEDEVEN THOUGH THE ISRAELITES RETURN ED TO THE LAND AFTER THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY. IT WAS NOTFULFILLED WHEN ISRAEL BECAME A NATION IN 1948.
¨ WHEN WILL IT BE FULFILLED?
Ø IN THE MILLENNIUM, GOD WILL FULFILL ALLUNFULFILLED PROPHECIES. THERE WILL BE CITIES AND NATIONS NOT PRESENT TODAY. AND THERE WILLBE CITIES AND NATIONS PRESENT TODAY THAT WILL NOT EXIST IN THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM OFCHRIST. GODS JUDGMENTS AND PROMISES ARE PERFECT.
§ IT IS INTERESTING THAT EVEN TODAY THEREARE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS AROUND THE DEAD SEA TO LOCATE EXACTLY THE CITIES OF SODOMAND GOMORRAH.
v READ EZE 16:60-63 THE FUTURE NEW COVENANT
Ø GOD TELLS THE PEOPLE THAT BECAUSE THEUNFAITHFUL WIFE (ISRAEL) BROKE THE OLD COVENANT, HE WILL MAKE A NEW COVENANT WITH ISRAEL.
§ OTHER PROPHECIES ABOUT THIS NEWCOVENANT:
· READ JER 31:31-34
· READ HEB 8:7-13
¨ ACCORDING TO THE BOOK OF HEBREWS, THISNEW COVENANT IS THE COVENANT MADE BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST. IT IS THE COVENANT THATGOVERNS THE AGE OF GRACE IN WHICH WE NOW LIVE. IT IS NOT A COVENANT JUST FOR THE GENTILESWHO BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST AS THEIR MESSIAH. IT IS ALSO FOR THE JEWS. NOTICE THAT BOTHJEREMIAH AND HEBREWS TELL US THAT FACT.
Ø WHEN WILL THE JEWS RECOGNIZE JESUSCHRIST AND BE PART OF THE NEW COVENANT?
§ AT THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST.(ZEC 12:10-13:1)
Ø WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS OF THE NEWCOVENANT?
v NEW COVENANT (OPERATIONAL DURING THE AGEOF GRACE)
Ø HEB 8:7-13
| GOD’S PROMISES | MAN’S RESPONSIBILITIES |
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LAW IN THE MIND A MORE ACTIVE CONSCIENCE (SOUL) |
NO CONDITIONS EXCEPT FAITH IS REQUIRED |
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LAW IN THE HEART AT THE NEW BIRTH EXPERIENCE, GOD BRINGS TO LIFE MAN’S (SPIRIT) |
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A RELATIONSHIP BASED ON PERSONAL REVELATION HE MAKES THE HOLY SPIRIT ACTIVE IN YOUR LIFE AND IN YOUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH |
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ALL SHALL KNOW ME THE WAY TO GOD IS OPEN TO GOD WITHOUT A HUMAN PRIEST MEDIATING THE WAY |
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MERCY FOR OUR FAILURES |
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CLEANSING FROM SIN A TOTAL REMOVAL OF SIN AND NOT JUST A REMISSION FROM PUNISHMENT |
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| A SYMBOL OR SIGN OF THE COVENANT: JESUS’ BLOOD | |
| COVENANT DURATION: AN UNCONDITIONAL COVENANT IN FORCE FOREVER | |
v APPLICATION:
Ø GOD DESIRES THAT HIS PEOPLE BE FAITHFULTO HIM. AS OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, HE WOULD RATHER NOT HAVE TO PUNISH US FOR UNFAITHFULNESSIN THE WAY HE HAD TO PUNISH THE ISRAELITES.
HOMEWORK
EZEKIEL 17
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORKANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FOR CORRECTION.
v APPLICATION OF EZE 16:35-63
Ø BECAUSE ALL PEOPLE ARE SINNERS, WE NEEDA SAVIOR. THE ISRAELITES BY FAITH LOOKED TO THE FUTURE COMING OF JESUS CHRIST, THEMESSIAH. TODAY WE LOOK BACK THROUGH TIME TO THE CRUCIFIXION WHEN JESUS CHRIST CAME ANDPAID FOR OUR SINS WITH HIS BLOOD.
§ IF YOU ARE A BELIEVER IN JESUS CHRISTAND HIS SACRIFICE FOR YOUR SINS, REJOICE AND GIVE GOD THANKS THAT HE CALLED YOU TO BE PARTOF HIS FAMILY.
§ IF YOU NEVER INVITED JESUS TO COME INTOYOUR HEART AND SAVE YOU FROM YOUR SINS, YOU CAN DO THAT TODAY.
§ YOU ONLY NEED TO PRAY AND ASK HIM TOFORGIVE YOU OF YOUR SINS AND GIVE YOU A NEW LIFE.
· IF YOU JUST DID THAT, YOU NEED TO TELLSOMEONE WHAT YOU JUST DID. (ROM 10:9-10) YOUNEED TO FIND A CHURCH WHERE THERE ARE OTHER BORN-AGAIN BELIEVERS. (HEB 10:24-25) AND YOU NEED TO PRAY AND READ THE BIBLE EVERY DAY.
v PREPARATION FOR EZE 17:1-24
Ø READ EZE 17:1-24 THE PARABLE OF THE 2 EAGLES
§ THE FIRST EAGLE = BABYLON
§ THE SECOND EAGLE = EGYPT
§ THE CEDAR TREE = THE ROYAL LINEAGE OFKINGS FROM KING DAVID
§ WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE CENTRALMESSAGE OF THIS PARABLE?
§ WHO DOES THE TENDER ONEREPRESENT IN VERSES 22 AND 23 (SEE ISA 53:2)?
v MEMORY VERSE: PSALMS 2:6
