A new spirit, a heart of flesh
Text Ezekiel 10, 11 Time 04 06 06 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church
We’ve looked at Ezekiel 1-9 and you will have noticed, if you’ve been here, that Ezekiel has a lot to say about judgement. His messages are full of doom and gloom. We saw it in the first cycle of visions, Chapters 1-7, with its dire warnings of judgement and its message of disaster and the end. We’ve also seen it as we’ve started to consider the first vision in the next cycle, which is found in Chapters 8-11. We looked at Chapters 8 and 9 last week and we saw there firstly the sort of evil that can exist even in the most unlikely places and that such idolatry and sin must expect God’s stern judgement - there will be anger not mercy. Judgement begins with those who profess to serve God but comes eventually to all. Nothing can stop God’s wrath.
However, just as in the first cycle there were words of hope so last week we also saw how in the vision of judgement from the six warriors there is also a seventh man, dressed in linen and equipped with a writing kit, a man who points us to the Lord Jesus Christ who was to come. We said then that God will show mercy through his Son to all who repent. He sends his Son ahead of his wrath and he marks out all who repent. The Son does all God’s holy will.
Now as we come to Chapters 10 and 11 we say the same sort of thing. Yes, there is more about judgement in Chapter 10 and the first part of Chapter 11 but there are also wonderful words of comfort in 11:14-20. These words about the New Covenant come up again later and are rightly famous (11:19, 20) I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.
We’ve looked at Ezekiel 1-9 and you will have noticed, if you’ve been here, that Ezekiel has a lot to say about judgement. His messages are full of doom and gloom. We saw it in the first cycle of visions, Chapters 1-7, with its dire warnings of judgement and its message of disaster and the end. We’ve also seen it as we’ve started to consider the first vision in the next cycle, which is found in Chapters 8-11. We looked at Chapters 8 and 9 last week and we saw there firstly the sort of evil that can exist even in the most unlikely places and that such idolatry and sin must expect God’s stern judgement - there will be anger not mercy. Judgement begins with those who profess to serve God but comes eventually to all. Nothing can stop God’s wrath.
However, just as in the first cycle there were words of hope so last week we also saw how in the vision of judgement from the six warriors there is also a seventh man, dressed in linen and equipped with a writing kit, a man who points us to the Lord Jesus Christ who was to come. We said then that God will show mercy through his Son to all who repent. He sends his Son ahead of his wrath and he marks out all who repent. The Son does all God’s holy will.
Now as we come to Chapters 10 and 11 we say the same sort of thing. Yes, there is more about judgement in Chapter 10 and the first part of Chapter 11 but there are also wonderful words of comfort in 11:14-20. These words about the New Covenant come up again later and are rightly famous (11:19, 20) I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.
Now I want to stress that these words are here because we’re not going to speak about them until the end. Don’t forget that is where we’re heading. We need first, however, to hear the words of judgement here.
1. A further warning of judgement – God’s glory departing
1. A further warning of judgement – God’s glory departing
We look first at Chapter 10. There are really two things to see.
1. The one who marked the people out to be spared will also bring judgement
1. The one who marked the people out to be spared will also bring judgement
At the beginning of this vision (8:4) Ezekiel says And there before me was the glory of the God of Israel, as in the vision I had seen in the plain (see Chapter 1). We can’t go over the details again now but you remember that there were cherubim or heavenly creatures and a great heavenly chariot of God. Here in Chapter 10 our attention is drawn back to this and Ezekiel tells us that as he looked he saw (1) the likeness of a throne of sapphire above the expanse that was over the heads of the cherubim. On the throne, of course, is the LORD. Ezekiel says (2) The LORD said to the man clothed in linen, Go in among the wheels beneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city. And as I watched, he went in. In 6, 7 we read that When the LORD commanded the man in linen, Take fire from among the wheels, from among the cherubim, the man went in and stood beside a wheel. Then one of the cherubim reached out his hand to the fire that was among them. He took up some of it and put it into the hands of the man in linen, who took it and went out. In other words, the very one who marks out the repentant in the city is the same one who will bring judgement on it.
Now this is consistent with what we’ve already suggested in connecting the man in linen with the Lord Jesus. It is important that we get this. We’re familiar with the fact that the same sun that melts wax also hardens clay. So the same Lord Jesus who saves sinners by setting them apart to God is the one who will one day come to judge this world with fire. Today Jesus comes to you as that mild-mannered clerk, a pen pushing man who forces himself on no-one but one day he will come in power and might as your judge. Are you ready? Jesus spoke of how When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory and of how the Father judges no-one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son (Matthew 25:31; John 5:22). Look at Revelation 14:14-16 I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe. So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.
Now this is consistent with what we’ve already suggested in connecting the man in linen with the Lord Jesus. It is important that we get this. We’re familiar with the fact that the same sun that melts wax also hardens clay. So the same Lord Jesus who saves sinners by setting them apart to God is the one who will one day come to judge this world with fire. Today Jesus comes to you as that mild-mannered clerk, a pen pushing man who forces himself on no-one but one day he will come in power and might as your judge. Are you ready? Jesus spoke of how When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory and of how the Father judges no-one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son (Matthew 25:31; John 5:22). Look at Revelation 14:14-16 I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe. So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.
On that day people will call to the mountains and the rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! (Revelation 6:16).
2. God’s glory will one day depart from those who do not repent
2. God’s glory will one day depart from those who do not repent
We also read (4, 5) that the cherubim were standing on the south side of the temple when the man went in, and a cloud filled the inner court. Then the glory of the LORD rose from above the cherubim and moved to the threshold of the temple. The cloud filled the temple, and the court was full of the radiance of the glory of the LORD. The sound of the wings of the cherubim could be heard as far away as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when he speaks. In 6-17 we have another description of God’s chariot as described in Chapter 1 only now the creatures are explicitly referred to as cherubim (20 These were the living creatures I had seen beneath the God of Israel by the Kebar River, and I realised that they were cherubim) and we note the reference in 13 I heard the wheels being called ‘the whirling wheels’. It’s there to remind us of the things we’ve spoken of before – that God is glorious and great; majestic and magnificent; omnipresent and omniscient; omnipotent and gracious; worthy of all worship. Remember how great God is and what it is to know his presence.
The important thing here is that the wheels that assured Ezekiel previously that God would meet with him in Babylon, far from the Temple as he was in Babylon, now point to the great judgement to come on the Temple – the departure of the glory of the LORD. God can come to us. He can also leave us. he has that power. 18, 19 Then the glory of the LORD departed from over the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim. While I watched, the cherubim spread their wings and rose from the ground, and as they went, the wheels went with them. They stopped at the entrance to the east gate of the LORD’s house, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them. This was Ichabod for the Jews – the glory has departed. God was abandoning them, forsaking them. This, as Ezekiel said before, was the end, a disaster. When a marriage is breaking down, it may be very difficult all the way up to the end. Hard things are said. Things may be thrown. But the hardest part is when it is all over, ended, when a partner goes. He leaves for good. So here there is more than wrath and the end of mercy. God actually leaves. He departs. The glory is gone. This is how it will be when the final Day of Judgement comes. All the glory will be gone for those who don’t trust in Christ. It is a terrible thing to fall into God’s hands. Yet even worse is to be abandoned by him. Think of Christ suffering wrath on the cross. That is what it will be like for all who refuse to repent.
2. A further warning again - Do not presume on the presence of God
As we come into Chapter 11 we have a further series of warnings.
1. Be warned of exile and punishment for the proud
The important thing here is that the wheels that assured Ezekiel previously that God would meet with him in Babylon, far from the Temple as he was in Babylon, now point to the great judgement to come on the Temple – the departure of the glory of the LORD. God can come to us. He can also leave us. he has that power. 18, 19 Then the glory of the LORD departed from over the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim. While I watched, the cherubim spread their wings and rose from the ground, and as they went, the wheels went with them. They stopped at the entrance to the east gate of the LORD’s house, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them. This was Ichabod for the Jews – the glory has departed. God was abandoning them, forsaking them. This, as Ezekiel said before, was the end, a disaster. When a marriage is breaking down, it may be very difficult all the way up to the end. Hard things are said. Things may be thrown. But the hardest part is when it is all over, ended, when a partner goes. He leaves for good. So here there is more than wrath and the end of mercy. God actually leaves. He departs. The glory is gone. This is how it will be when the final Day of Judgement comes. All the glory will be gone for those who don’t trust in Christ. It is a terrible thing to fall into God’s hands. Yet even worse is to be abandoned by him. Think of Christ suffering wrath on the cross. That is what it will be like for all who refuse to repent.
2. A further warning again - Do not presume on the presence of God
As we come into Chapter 11 we have a further series of warnings.
1. Be warned of exile and punishment for the proud
Ezekiel tells us that next the Spirit carried him to the gate of the house of the LORD that faces east. There at the entrance to the gate were 25 men, he says, including Jaazaniah son of Azzur who he has mentioned before and Pelatiah son of Benaiah, leaders of the people. The LORD tells him that these are the men who are plotting evil and giving wicked advice in this city. They say, Will it not soon be time to build houses? This city is a cooking pot, and we are the meat. Therefore prophesy against them; prophesy, son of man. The phrase This city is a cooking pot, and we are the meat is cryptic but probably means ‘Just as meat belongs in a pot so we belong in Jerusalem’. It is an arrogant statement. It shows great pride. Are you proud? Then take care.
So in response Ezekiel, in the Spirit, says, in the LORD’s name, (6-11) That is what you are saying, O house of Israel, but I know what is going through your mind. You have killed many people in this city and filled its streets with the dead. Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: The bodies you have thrown there are the meat and this city is the pot, but I will drive you out of it. You fear the sword, and the sword is what I will bring against you, declares the Sovereign LORD. I will drive you out of the city and hand you over to foreigners and inflict punishment on you. You will fall by the sword, and I will execute judgment on you at the borders of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD. This city will not be a pot for you, nor will you be the meat in it; I will execute judgment on you at the borders of Israel.
God knows about their sin and he is about to judge them for it. Soon Jerusalem would fall to the Babylonians and the Temple would be destroyed. Exile would follow. That judgement points forward to the final judgement at the end of time. It will come on all those who do evil.
2. Understand the reason for God’s judgements
So in response Ezekiel, in the Spirit, says, in the LORD’s name, (6-11) That is what you are saying, O house of Israel, but I know what is going through your mind. You have killed many people in this city and filled its streets with the dead. Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: The bodies you have thrown there are the meat and this city is the pot, but I will drive you out of it. You fear the sword, and the sword is what I will bring against you, declares the Sovereign LORD. I will drive you out of the city and hand you over to foreigners and inflict punishment on you. You will fall by the sword, and I will execute judgment on you at the borders of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD. This city will not be a pot for you, nor will you be the meat in it; I will execute judgment on you at the borders of Israel.
God knows about their sin and he is about to judge them for it. Soon Jerusalem would fall to the Babylonians and the Temple would be destroyed. Exile would follow. That judgement points forward to the final judgement at the end of time. It will come on all those who do evil.
2. Understand the reason for God’s judgements
12 And you will know that I am the LORD, for you have not followed my decrees or kept my laws but have conformed to the standards of the nations around you. God is not harsh in his judgement. The Jews knew better than to live as the nations around them yet they have not only been as bad as the nations around them but they have often been worse. What a scandal they had been – and so God judges them. What about us? We ought to be better than those around us who do not profess to know the Lord. Are we?
3. Realise that judgement may come sooner than you think
3. Realise that judgement may come sooner than you think
13 Now as I was prophesying, Pelatiah son of Benaiah died. Then I fell face down and cried out in a loud voice, Ah, Sovereign LORD! Will you completely destroy the remnant of Israel? These men had just been warned about a coming judgement but even before it can come one of them is judged right there then. I am speaking to you about the day of judgement but before then there is death and who knows how soon that may come? Do not presume on another day of life. It may come. It may not.
3. A word of comfort for the people of God
Let’s come finally to this wonderful section 10:14f.
1. A word of comfort for the people then that applies today
3. A word of comfort for the people of God
Let’s come finally to this wonderful section 10:14f.
1. A word of comfort for the people then that applies today
God’s word comes to Ezekiel again. The LORD remarks on how people in Jerusalem think of Ezekiel and others who are already in exile in Babylon as far away from the LORD whereas they are sitting pretty in the Promised Land. But God says (16) Therefore say: This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone. Oh no, says God, they are not at a disadvantage because I am with them. Indeed no matter what a true believer may suffer in this life while he knows the presence of God then all is well. He is safe. God’s presence is not a matter of being in a certain place – Jerusalem, Mecca or somewhere. It is a matter of God coming to you and being your sanctuary. Do you know this?
2. A word of comfort for the future, which is now here in part
2. A word of comfort for the future, which is now here in part
The LORD goes on to give Ezekiel some four promises about the future. These promises have reference both to the near and the more distant future. It reminds us of what Jeremiah had to say about the New Covenant in his prophecy.
1 Gathering and Restoration
1 Gathering and Restoration
17 I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again. Some 70 years after the exile God did indeed restore the people to the Promised Land and the Temple was rebuilt in Jerusalem. More than that, God is one day going to gather all his people together in heaven. Meanwhile even here on earth there is a sense of unity among God’s true people that speaks of their oneness in Christ. We should be thankful for every sign of it. God is gathering people to himself – first by conversion, then by death. Be thankful it is so. Are you among the number?
2 The end of idolatry
2 The end of idolatry
18 They will return to it and remove all its vile images and detestable idols. It is true that after the return from the exile things were never the same again. After years and years of falling back into idolatry again and again once they came back to the Promised Land the people were determined never to fall into idolatry again. Of course, the coming of the gospel has been the thing that more than anything else has sounded the death knell of idolatry as such. Some of you know that only three or four generations back idolatry was still a going concern in your families. For some of us it is many generations since idolatry of the more obvious sort was seen in our families. There’s always the danger of its return in more subtle forms. We need to take care. But idolatry itself is vanquished in Christ. Give thanks it is so.
3 An undivided heart of flesh and a new spirit
3 An undivided heart of flesh and a new spirit
19 I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Now this applies in general to the restored people after the exile but it pictures what, under the New Covenant, God does for each individual. He removes the hard heart of stone that we all possess by nature and gives us a softened heart of flesh, an undivided heart, one devoted to him. He sends the Holy Spirit to renew a person so that person is born again and can live to the glory of God. Do you know what I am talking about? Has it happened to you? If not, ask God to take away your heart of stone and to give you that fleshy heart which he alone can give. Ask him to send his Spirit to renew your soul.
4 Covenant obedience
4 Covenant obedience
It is that change of heart that must come first. Once it comes Then (20) they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God. It is when our hearts have been changed that we begin to obey. If you asked a mother to stab her baby she could not do it. It is against her nature. So when we are called to obey God we cannot do it. It is against our nature. It is only when God changes our hearts that we begin to live as we ought. Has God changed you? Then you can obey him. Do so. Be careful to keep his laws. The last phrase (They will be my people, and I will be their God) sums up what the covenant is all about. Are you in a covenant relationship with God? Seek it.
Lastly, note the final warning in 21 But as for those whose hearts are devoted to their vile images and detestable idols, I will bring down on their own heads what they have done, declares the Sovereign LORD. Be warned. No-one will escape God's judgement.
22-25 Then the cherubim, with the wheels beside them, spread their wings, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them. The glory of the LORD went up from within the city and stopped above the mountain east of it. Then Ezekiel was taken back to Babylon where he told the exiles everything the LORD had shown him.
Lastly, note the final warning in 21 But as for those whose hearts are devoted to their vile images and detestable idols, I will bring down on their own heads what they have done, declares the Sovereign LORD. Be warned. No-one will escape God's judgement.
22-25 Then the cherubim, with the wheels beside them, spread their wings, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them. The glory of the LORD went up from within the city and stopped above the mountain east of it. Then Ezekiel was taken back to Babylon where he told the exiles everything the LORD had shown him.
