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| Oholibah |
Ezekiel is a contrast with Jeremiah. Jeremiah was very
emotional. Ezekiel was very matter-of-fact.
Chapter 20 – The Word of the Lord instructs Ezekiel
to review Israel’s long history of sins; to warn them of future judgment and to
reassure them of restoration. This is over the black background of their
failure (from Egypt to the Babylonian captivity). When He called Israel He says they rebelled against Him
in the wilderness. This is the generation born in the wilderness. They are
still rebellious.
Verses 1-24 – God writes in letters of light His redeeming
promise and prophecy to judge and restore them to the land in full blessing.
Verse 25 - Paul said the same thing. God gave them the
Word. They rejected it. The good Law became their condemner. If you reject the
gospel, it becomes a saber of death. You will never be able to say that you
hadn't heard it.
Verses 33-38 – Israel, re-gathered from all nations, will
enter into the Great Tribulation. God will bring
them back into the land of Israel. The judgment will determine who of
Israel will enter the Millennium.
Verses 42-44 – A glorious millennial prophecy.
Chapter 21 – The
king of Babylon will remove last king of Davidic line until Messiah comes.
There are consequences to sin. If we die IN our sins, we are doomed to eternity
in Hell. Christ redeems us from our sins and once His Word is written in our
hearts, we will not die IN our sins.
Israel complained about Ezekiel's message. They did not
want to understand. The religious rulers hated Jesus because they DID
understand what He was saying.
Chapter 22 –
Ezekiel reviews the abominations of Jerusalem (the bloody city-a harlot). Jesus
wept over the city – the prophet killers. The same line of religious leaders from Jerusalem had Jesus killed, too.
Chapter 23 –
Verses 1-11 – Here is the Parable of two sisters — Oholah
(Samaria-the Northern Kingdom-Jeroboam’s own tent with 2 golden calves) and
Oholibah (Jerusalem-the Southern Kingdom. God’s tent [Solomon’s temple] is in
them). God would judge Oholah for idolatry. He would judge Oholibah for going
through the ritual of a dead religion. We will be judged, too. We must be
judged by grace through faith in Christ if we are to be saved.
Verses 12-49 – God judged both the Northern and the Southern
Kingdoms. One worshiped idols, the other PRETENDED to worship God. We would do
well to examine our worship. Paul said to examine ourselves to see whether you’re
truly in the faith. Don’t get caught in the insecurity of make-believers. Be
drawn to the person of Christ.
Chapter 24 – This
is the Parable of the boiling pot.
Verses 1-14 – Either Ezekiel was a deliberate deceiver or he
was a true messenger of God.
The pot speaks of the city of Jerusalem (the world). The
scum speaks of the sin of the people in the city. Our sin is the scum of the
earth. Jesus is the only one who can remove our sin.
Verses 15-27 – God is about to take Ezekiel’s wife from him.
Ezekiel is not to weep or mourn. He is to continue with God’s message. Our
circumstances must not dictate our message. Nor should circumstances prevent us
from presenting our message: Sin separates; repentance is required, and
trusting in and only in Christ’s finished work at the cross of Calvary is the
only way to salvation.
Our witness will only be respected when it is consistent
enough to rise above circumstance and fully trust the Lord with everything we
are, have and do.
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