Words of warning and hope
Text Ezekiel 6 Time 14 05 06 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church
As many of you know, I first came to live in London over 20 years ago. One of the things that I had to get used to was the lack of mountains and hills. Now I know that Childs Hill really is a hill but not much of a one. What I grew up with was living on a fairly steep hill – Bryn Hyfryd it’s called ‘beautiful hill’ - and looking out from my bedroom window at a mountain – Mynydd Maen - 'Stone Mountain'. I mention this because living as we do in a city and in a relatively flat part of the world it is important when we read our Bibles to remember that the place where most of it took place is more like Wales or the North of England or Scotland or somewhere like that rather than here. A chain of mountains dominates the central part of the Promised Land, between the coastal plain and the Jordan Valley, from Galilee in the north down to the Negev in the South, divided somewhere in the middle by the Valley of Jezreel.
I mention this particularly this morning because of what we read in Ezekiel 6 especially 1-3. Ezekiel says The word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, set your face against the mountains of Israel; prophesy against them and say: O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Sovereign LORD. This is what the Sovereign LORD says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys: I am about to bring a sword against you, and I will destroy your high places. That may seem a little strange at first. Why is Ezekiel being told to speak to the mountains? In order to understand we need to remember what was going on in those mountains and hills and indeed in the ravines and the valleys too in Ezekiel’s day. The answer is in 13 which speaks of the idols and the pagan altars, on every high hill and on all the mountaintops, under every spreading tree and every leafy oak - places where they offered fragrant incense to all their idols. In the days of the Canaanites people had done this sort of thing but then it had been driven out and Israel worshipped God in Solomon’s Temple but again and again they would turn back to the bad old ways until it became a habit with them. Because of these evil ways God pronounces judgement on the people through Ezekiel.
Now you may say to me ‘But what has all this go to do with us today?’ The truth is that people today also have their high places, their false altars for sacrifice and incense, their idols. The temptation to follow false gods and false teachings is ever present. God is against all who go in such ways. He was against such people then. He is against such people now. Equally, just as in this chapter there is a ray of hope – some will escape the sword and come to the Lord – so today there is hope for all who turn from their sins to know the Lord.
Let’s look at this chapter then under three headings.
1. The sorts of sins condemned by the Lord – are you guilty?
1. Are you guilty of idolatry and false worship?
As many of you know, I first came to live in London over 20 years ago. One of the things that I had to get used to was the lack of mountains and hills. Now I know that Childs Hill really is a hill but not much of a one. What I grew up with was living on a fairly steep hill – Bryn Hyfryd it’s called ‘beautiful hill’ - and looking out from my bedroom window at a mountain – Mynydd Maen - 'Stone Mountain'. I mention this because living as we do in a city and in a relatively flat part of the world it is important when we read our Bibles to remember that the place where most of it took place is more like Wales or the North of England or Scotland or somewhere like that rather than here. A chain of mountains dominates the central part of the Promised Land, between the coastal plain and the Jordan Valley, from Galilee in the north down to the Negev in the South, divided somewhere in the middle by the Valley of Jezreel.
I mention this particularly this morning because of what we read in Ezekiel 6 especially 1-3. Ezekiel says The word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, set your face against the mountains of Israel; prophesy against them and say: O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Sovereign LORD. This is what the Sovereign LORD says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys: I am about to bring a sword against you, and I will destroy your high places. That may seem a little strange at first. Why is Ezekiel being told to speak to the mountains? In order to understand we need to remember what was going on in those mountains and hills and indeed in the ravines and the valleys too in Ezekiel’s day. The answer is in 13 which speaks of the idols and the pagan altars, on every high hill and on all the mountaintops, under every spreading tree and every leafy oak - places where they offered fragrant incense to all their idols. In the days of the Canaanites people had done this sort of thing but then it had been driven out and Israel worshipped God in Solomon’s Temple but again and again they would turn back to the bad old ways until it became a habit with them. Because of these evil ways God pronounces judgement on the people through Ezekiel.
Now you may say to me ‘But what has all this go to do with us today?’ The truth is that people today also have their high places, their false altars for sacrifice and incense, their idols. The temptation to follow false gods and false teachings is ever present. God is against all who go in such ways. He was against such people then. He is against such people now. Equally, just as in this chapter there is a ray of hope – some will escape the sword and come to the Lord – so today there is hope for all who turn from their sins to know the Lord.
Let’s look at this chapter then under three headings.
1. The sorts of sins condemned by the Lord – are you guilty?
1. Are you guilty of idolatry and false worship?
In this chapter we have references to the people’s high places where they made sacrifices on altars to their false gods. 3c-6 I am about to bring a sword against you, and I will destroy your high places. Your altars will be demolished and your incense altars will be smashed; and I will slay your people in front of your idols. I will lay the dead bodies of the Israelites in front of their idols, and I will scatter your bones around your altars. Wherever you live, the towns will be laid waste and the high places demolished, so that your altars will be laid waste and devastated, your idols smashed and ruined, your incense altars broken down, and what you have made wiped out. We also read about incense altars on which incense was offered to false gods. Now idolatry of this grosser sort has been in retreat for many years although it still exists in many parts of the world. In some places such as India they are very open about it. In other places, such as parts of Africa, it lies just below the surface. Yet even in countries like our own where you might be tempted to think that idolatry was a thing of the past it still exists in various forms.
In 1 Samuel 15:23 Samuel says to Saul Rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Arrogance and pride may not be idolatry in the formal sense but it shows the same rejection of God and trust in what is not God. A very common motto today is 'believe in yourself'. In Colossians 3:5 Paul calls on believers to Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Greed is simply a form of idolatry where our appetite for God is replaced by our appetite for material things.
Notice that what you have made in 6. We can make an idol of almost anything – it can be a hobby or recreation; it can be your family or your children – people sometimes come out and say it without realising ‘He idolised those children’ ‘She idolised her children’; you can idolise a church, your religion, etc. Sing ‘The dearest idol I have known, whate’er that idol be, Help me to tear it from Thy throne and worship only Thee.’
Have you set up idols in you heart – false gods, alternatives to the truth? What about your time and money? What does it go on? It is a good idea sometimes to sit down and work it out. What are we doing with our time and money? Is it sacrificed on the altar of idolatry? What about your hopes and aspirations? Are they centred on God? What is your ambition? Your desire? What makes you tick?
2. Are you guilty of spiritual adultery or syncretism?
In 1 Samuel 15:23 Samuel says to Saul Rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Arrogance and pride may not be idolatry in the formal sense but it shows the same rejection of God and trust in what is not God. A very common motto today is 'believe in yourself'. In Colossians 3:5 Paul calls on believers to Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Greed is simply a form of idolatry where our appetite for God is replaced by our appetite for material things.
Notice that what you have made in 6. We can make an idol of almost anything – it can be a hobby or recreation; it can be your family or your children – people sometimes come out and say it without realising ‘He idolised those children’ ‘She idolised her children’; you can idolise a church, your religion, etc. Sing ‘The dearest idol I have known, whate’er that idol be, Help me to tear it from Thy throne and worship only Thee.’
Have you set up idols in you heart – false gods, alternatives to the truth? What about your time and money? What does it go on? It is a good idea sometimes to sit down and work it out. What are we doing with our time and money? Is it sacrificed on the altar of idolatry? What about your hopes and aspirations? Are they centred on God? What is your ambition? Your desire? What makes you tick?
2. Are you guilty of spiritual adultery or syncretism?
What made things worse in the midst of all this false worship and idolatry was the syncretism that was going on. Syncretism occurs when you try to follow more than one religion at once. Often the Israelites would claim to be worshipping the true God but they would do it in pagan ways. Verse 9 speaks of their adulterous hearts. Adultery is when a man or wife cheats on the other person. The Israelites were cheating on God. Often, like the Israelites of old, people today can fall into that sin. There is a lot of pressure for ecumenism and inter-faith practices that deny the fundamental distinction between the truth and all false teaching. We live in an age of relativism – everything is relative; there is no true truth. ‘You show me your truth, I’ll show you mine’. There is also a temptation for the professing Christian to compartmentalise his life so that he is one thing on Sunday in church and another on Monday at work.
What sort of a religion is yours? A 24/7 one or one just for Sundays or just when you’re reading your Bible? An American businessman once said, I’m told, that his order of priorities was God, family, work but the moment he went to work he reversed them! That is the sort of attitude that is being condemned here.
3. Are you guilty of wicked and detestable practices?
3. Are you guilty of wicked and detestable practices?
The other thing that Ezekiel condemns is the wicked and detestable practices that went with idolatry. Verse 9 speaks of the evil they have done and … all their detestable practices. See 11 Strike your hands together and stamp your feet and cry out Alas! because of all the wicked and detestable practices of the house of Israel …. The idolatry of that time was closely connected with all sorts of other wicked and detestable activity. The mountain shrines were centres not only for false worship but also for prostitution and for other vile acts. Again and again this is the case. Idolatry leads to depravity, false religion leads to immorality. That is the problem in this country at present. There is no end of adultery and sexual perversion, stealing and cheating, lying and greed. Why is that? Because the underlying philosophy of most people (even though they may claim to be Christian in some cases) is anything but Christian. The false beliefs that abound are leading to evil of all sorts.
If idolatry is in your life it will lead to sinning against God’s Law. Is that happening to you? Are you guilty of dishonesty, greed, pride, neglecting the Lord’s Day? Take care. Run from such sins.
2. Such sins will be judged by the Lord – are you awake to the fact?
2. Such sins will be judged by the Lord – are you awake to the fact?
The reason that we must run from such sins is because God is going to judge those who are guilty of them. Two things here
1. See that he has declared it plainly in his Word
1. See that he has declared it plainly in his Word
Ezekiel is left in no doubt that this is God speaking here. We should be in no doubt either. 1 The word of the LORD came to me: he says. He is told to prophesy against the mountains that is to speak the Word of God. Listen to what he is to say - O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Sovereign LORD. This is what the Sovereign LORD says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys. All the way through the prophecy it is God who is speaking. 5 I will lay the dead bodies of the Israelites in front of their idols, and I will scatter your bones around your altars. 11 This is what the Sovereign LORD says. Of course, some may be tempted to think that these are not God’s words but he warns in 10 that after the judgement they will know that I am the LORD; I did not threaten in vain to bring this calamity on them.
Be in no doubt. This is God’s Word. He is speaking to you today and warning you. In 1 Peter 4:11 it says to preachers If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. I am speaking to you this morning not in my own name but in God’s name. I am his messenger, his servant. I am like a herald or an ambassador. It’s as though God were making his appeal through me. I implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. See your danger and run to him.
2. Hear his dire warnings of judgement for all who sin
Listen to them. Those engaged in false worship and the detestable practices that go with it - God is against you. He will demolish your false altars and smash your false ambitions. He says 5-7 I will lay the dead bodies of the Israelites in front of their idols, and I will scatter your bones around your altars. Wherever you live, the towns will be laid waste and the high places demolished, so that your altars will be laid waste and devastated, your idols smashed and ruined, your incense altars broken down, and what you have made wiped out. Your people will fall slain among you, and you will know that I am the LORD. He threatens (11) sword, famine and plague. 12 He that is far away will die of the plague, and he that is near will fall by the sword, and he that survives and is spared will die of famine. So will I spend my wrath upon them. 14 And I will stretch out my hand against them and make the land a desolate waste from the desert to Diblah - wherever they live. Then they will know that I am the LORD.
These are specific prophecies for Israel but don’t they suggest that all who sin against God can expect the same sort of treatment? He is a God of wrath, a God who punishes. We need to face up to the fact and, fearing God, humble ourselves before him and seek forgiveness. I urge you to it. It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God.
3. Hope for all who turn back to the Lord – are you repenting?
These are specific prophecies for Israel but don’t they suggest that all who sin against God can expect the same sort of treatment? He is a God of wrath, a God who punishes. We need to face up to the fact and, fearing God, humble ourselves before him and seek forgiveness. I urge you to it. It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God.
3. Hope for all who turn back to the Lord – are you repenting?
Such words of judgement are typical of the Old Testament prophets. I think that we need to hear words like these today. Again and again in the prophets, however, we find that in the midst of all the wrath and judgement there are words of mercy. It is certainly so here.
See 8-10 But I will spare some, for some of you will escape the sword when you are scattered among the lands and nations. Then in the nations where they have been carried captive, those who escape will remember me - how I have been grieved by their adulterous hearts, which have turned away from me, and by their eyes, which have lusted after their idols. They will loathe themselves for the evil they have done and for all their detestable practices. And they will know that I am the LORD; I did not threaten in vain to bring this calamity on them.
1. Realise that God spares some
1. Realise that God spares some
But I will spare some. What wonderful words! It’s like a proclamation of condemnation on a town. You must all die ... – but I will save some. That’s the first big idea to get hold of. God spares some. It is not that most people are okay but God condemns some. No, all are condemned for their sin but in his mercy God spares some. He has an elect, a remnant, a chosen few. Here it is that some of you will escape the sword when you are scattered among the lands and nations. Not all would die at the hands of the enemy. Some, like Ezekiel and Daniel and others, were spared and taken into exile. And so God spares some in this day also. Not all bow the knee to Baal. Not all are licked up in the fury of his wrath.
2. Therefore do these things
2. Therefore do these things
What marks out these elect, these who God spares? Three things. Here is a pattern for us to follow.
1 Remember the Lord
1 Remember the Lord
Then in the nations where they have been carried captive, those who escape will remember me - how I have been grieved by their adulterous hearts, which have turned away from me, and by their eyes, which have lusted after their idols. Imagine a child growing up in these islands then, while still young, he is snatched away and grows up in another country far away. He speaks that language, he has that culture. There is no way out. He almost forgets his roots, for his own peace of mind he does not think about it - but then, when he is older, someone comes and reminds him all about it. He recalls things. It all comes back to him.
Are you remembering the Lord? Here we are in London. It may not be where we would have chosen to spend our lives but here we are. We are alive. Now, remember the Lord. What adulterous hearts we have by nature. We turn from the Lord so easily. How that grieves the Lord. It hurts him. It upsets him. Hate your sins, which have so grieved him. And what a lust for idols we have sometimes. We can’t stop thinking about them. How this grieves him and pains him too. How saddened he is by our behaviour. Remember him! Young people – Remember your Creator in the days of your youth. 2 Timothy 2:8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel.
2 Loathe yourself
2 Loathe yourself
They will loathe themselves for the evil they have done and for all their detestable practices. Everyone is telling us today that we need to be positive about ourselves. We need greater self-esteem, more love for ourselves. No, says the Bible. Learn to loathe yourself. Ask God to show you your real self. It is not a pleasant sight but is a very necessary one. Recognise the evil you have done, confess your detestable deeds. Abhor yourself for those deeds.
3 Acknowledge the Lord
3 Acknowledge the Lord
And they will know that I am the LORD; I did not threaten in vain to bring this calamity on them. Lastly, acknowledge the Lord. Stop pretending there is no God or living as though that is what you believed. Accept that he does not threaten in vain. There is a judgement. There is a hell. There is also a heaven and a way through judgement through Jesus Christ. Repent now and look only to him. One day we will all know that God is the Lord. The sooner we acknowledge it the better.
