Words of Judgement and Hope
Text Ezekiel 15, 16 Time 08 10 06 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church
I want us to return today to the Book of Ezekiel, to chapters 15 and 16. I remind you that Ezekiel had been expecting that when he reached the age of 30 he would begin work as a priest, as his father and grandfather before him had. However, on his thirtieth birthday Ezekiel was not even in the Promised Land. He was far away from the Temple in Babylon along with others who'd been carried off into exile at this time.
However, God was not finished with Ezekiel. Far from it. God appeared to him in an amazing vision of his glory there in Babylon and he learned that though he was not going to be a priest, a representative of the people before God, he was going to be a prophet, speaking to the people on God's behalf.
We've looked at Chapters 1-14 - chiefly words of judgement exposing the wickedness and sin and false teaching characteristic of God's people at this time. Ezekiel has been asked to do some rather strange things to get over to people just how dire the situation is and how vital it is that they repent. It can't have been easy to take a stand in the way that was required but Ezekiel was faithful.
This week I want us to look at one very short chapter and one rather long one. Again it's mostly words of judgement but also as before there are words of hope. I've said to you before that these chapters are not easy to read in some ways, but they're good for us. To help us through there are gems of encouragement every now and again and if you look out for those you won't get discouraged. Let me point out the words of hope now. They are near the end of our reading.
I want us to return today to the Book of Ezekiel, to chapters 15 and 16. I remind you that Ezekiel had been expecting that when he reached the age of 30 he would begin work as a priest, as his father and grandfather before him had. However, on his thirtieth birthday Ezekiel was not even in the Promised Land. He was far away from the Temple in Babylon along with others who'd been carried off into exile at this time.
However, God was not finished with Ezekiel. Far from it. God appeared to him in an amazing vision of his glory there in Babylon and he learned that though he was not going to be a priest, a representative of the people before God, he was going to be a prophet, speaking to the people on God's behalf.
We've looked at Chapters 1-14 - chiefly words of judgement exposing the wickedness and sin and false teaching characteristic of God's people at this time. Ezekiel has been asked to do some rather strange things to get over to people just how dire the situation is and how vital it is that they repent. It can't have been easy to take a stand in the way that was required but Ezekiel was faithful.
This week I want us to look at one very short chapter and one rather long one. Again it's mostly words of judgement but also as before there are words of hope. I've said to you before that these chapters are not easy to read in some ways, but they're good for us. To help us through there are gems of encouragement every now and again and if you look out for those you won't get discouraged. Let me point out the words of hope now. They are near the end of our reading.
For example, 16:53, 60-63
However, I will restore the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters and of Samaria and her daughters, and your fortunes along with them, ... Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you. ... I will establish my covenant with you, and you will know that I am the LORD.It's a little bit like going to the doctor or dentist. No-one wants to be told that they have bad teeth or serious problems with heart or lungs. If there's something wrong it's not nice to sit and hear it. But then when the doctor says 'But we can do something for you. There is hope' you revive. So remember there is some good news tucked away in these chapters but first the bad news
1. Realise how useless we are to God
1. Realise how useless we are to God
Chapter 15 is very brief and uses a very simple picture to emphasise how bad things were for the Jews at this present time. As we often mention, the vine was the symbol of Israel and so just as if you read about a rose you might be expected to think of England so when you read about a vine, think of ancient Israel, the Jews.
1. Consider the picture1 Recognise the uselessness of vine wood
1. Consider the picture1 Recognise the uselessness of vine wood
1-3 The word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, how is the wood of a vine better than that of a branch on any of the trees in the forest? Is wood ever taken from it to make anything useful? Do they make pegs from it to hang things on? Well, no in fact vine wood is pretty useless. You don't grow vines for wood but for grapes. So, though the Jews were rather proud of their emblem the vine, in some respects it stands for being useless.
2. Recognise the even greater uselessness of burnt vine wood
2. Recognise the even greater uselessness of burnt vine wood
4, 5 And after it is thrown on the fire as fuel and the fire burns both ends and chars the middle, is it then useful for anything? Well, that's an easy one. If it was not useful for anything when it was whole, how much less can it be made into something useful when the fire has burned it and it is charred?
2. Understand the meaning
2. Understand the meaning
The meaning comes in verses 6-8. God says: As I have given the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest as fuel for the fire, so will I treat the people living in Jerusalem. I will set my face against them. Although they have come out of the fire, the fire will yet consume them. And when I set my face against them, you will know that I am the LORD. I will make the land desolate because they have been unfaithful, declares the Sovereign LORD. Already Israel has suffered. Fire had come out from Babylon and burned many and there was worse to come. For 70 years the land was going to lie desolate. The cause of all this is Israel's unfaithfulness.
Here's the situation then. By nature his people are useless. God didn't choose them because they were anything special, because they were greater than other nations. By nature they're as useful as vine wood. And we're all the same. We're as useful to God as a bucket with holes, a car without wheels, sandpaper with no sand on, a gun without bullets. He does not need us. But God is eager to take us and use us and make us useful in his service so he blesses us. He gives us Bibles and preachers and many other good things. Yet what do we then do? We are unfaithful and so his judgements come upon us and if we were useless before then we are made even more useless. The handle is broken on the bucket with holes, the car without wheels has no steering wheel either, the sandpaper is charred and the gun with no bullets has a faulty trigger. It's not easy to think of ourselves in such terms but better to face up to the truth than go on in ignorance. We're useless, indeed so often less than useless. Left to ourselves we are without hope.
2. Consider how unfaithful God's people can be
Here's the situation then. By nature his people are useless. God didn't choose them because they were anything special, because they were greater than other nations. By nature they're as useful as vine wood. And we're all the same. We're as useful to God as a bucket with holes, a car without wheels, sandpaper with no sand on, a gun without bullets. He does not need us. But God is eager to take us and use us and make us useful in his service so he blesses us. He gives us Bibles and preachers and many other good things. Yet what do we then do? We are unfaithful and so his judgements come upon us and if we were useless before then we are made even more useless. The handle is broken on the bucket with holes, the car without wheels has no steering wheel either, the sandpaper is charred and the gun with no bullets has a faulty trigger. It's not easy to think of ourselves in such terms but better to face up to the truth than go on in ignorance. We're useless, indeed so often less than useless. Left to ourselves we are without hope.
2. Consider how unfaithful God's people can be
Chapter 16 is much longer and more elaborate but again a picture is used. It's really an allegory that gives the history of Israel in brief under the figure of a woman whose birth, upbringing, marriage, success and conduct are described to show how wicked and ungrateful God's people have been. We can divide it into several sections. Ezekiel is to listen to what the LORD says in it and so confront Israel with their detestable practices.
1. Consider how God's people were neglected and despised at the beginning
1. Consider how God's people were neglected and despised at the beginning
So first we go back to the time of Abraham and the Patriarchs. Your ancestry and birth were in the land of the Canaanites; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. Abraham was actually from Chaldea but God called him to live in the land of Canaan, the land of the Amorites and Hittites and so that is where it all began. Ezekiel says (4, 5) they lay like a baby with the cord uncut, unwashed and bloody, not rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths (as was the norm for babies). No one looked on you with pity or had compassion enough to do any of these things for you. Rather they were thrown out into the open field, for on the day you were born you were despised. This sums up the general attitude people had to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They were despised nobodies. They were unimportant as far as the world was concerned. They were nothing special. Nobody cared about them. Yet God chose them. Remember, God chooses nobodies. There is an encouragement in that.
2. Consider how God took care of them and brought them up
2. Consider how God took care of them and brought them up
Next we come to the period when they went down into Egypt for safety in Jacob's time. It is put like this - God says (6, 7) Then I passed by and saw you kicking about in your blood, and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, Live! He made them grow like a plant. They grew up and developed as it were, becoming like a beautiful jewel, all grown up and beautiful, despite their origins. It was God who saved them from famine in Canaan and took them down to Egypt where they grew in size under his care. He provided for them there. When God takes hold of people he starts to work on them and he keeps on working. He transforms them.
3. Consider how God made them his covenant people
3. Consider how God made them his covenant people
Next comes the Exodus and the giving of the Ten Commandments at Sinai. Verse 8 Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, Israel was now a large community I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness a typical way of speaking of their rescue from their troubles in Egypt. He brought them out into the desert and gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Sovereign LORD, and you became mine. It is really at Sinai that they formally become the people of God, his old covenant people. Covenant is a very important idea in the Bible – an agreement between two or more persons. It is his way of working with men. First under the Old Covenant then under the New but always by a covenant of grace.
4. Consider how God showed kindness to them and blessed them
4. Consider how God showed kindness to them and blessed them
Next they come into the Promised Land. (9) I bathed you with water and washed the blood from you and put ointments on you is a very clever allusion to the crossing of the Red Sea and the Jordan and what accompanied it. The Lord goes on (10-13) about how he clothed them with an embroidered dress and good sandals and linen and garments as well as jewellery – bracelets, necklace, a nose ring, earrings and a beautiful crown. Gold, silver, fine linen, costly fabric, embroidered cloth – only the best. And they ate fine flour, honey and olive oil. All the blessings of the Promised Land are thus summed up. At the end of verse 13 we read You became very beautiful and rose to be a queen. And your fame spread among the nations on account of your beauty, because the splendour I had given you made your beauty perfect. By this time we are thinking chiefly of the age of King David and King Solomon. What glorious days they were! When God begins to bless a people what blessings there are!
5. Consider how they descended into increasing idolatry
5. Consider how they descended into increasing idolatry
But then we read (15-19) how they trusted in their beauty and used their fame to become a prostitute that is to go after other gods. They lavished favours on anyone who passed by .... It speaks of them using their garments for gaudy high places where they prostituted themselves. Such things should not happen, nor should they ever occur. They took gold and silver given to them by God and used it to make idols to bow down to and used their embroidered clothes to put on them and offered God-given oil and incense before them. The food God provided - fine flour, olive oil and honey – they offered as fragrant incense before them. This refers to their pride and their turning to idols. It is not something that happened just in the time of David or Solomon or after but something that was a recurring temptation for Israel and one they often fell into, though it got worse in many ways as time went on. We must always watch out for pride.
In 20, 21 there is specific reference to the worship of Molech which involved child sacrifice - you took your sons and daughters whom you bore to me and sacrificed them as food to the idols. Was your prostitution not enough? You slaughtered my children and sacrificed them to the idols. What made it all so bad was (22) that in all their detestable idolatry they did not remember the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, kicking about in your blood. They refused to go back to God. Indeed they forgot him. Sometimes we just have to stop and remind ourselves who we are. It is like the parable of the Prodigal Son.
It goes on (23-26) Woe! Woe to you .... They also built a mound for themselves and made a lofty shrine in every public square. At the head of every street they had these shrines where they could prostitute themselves with increasing promiscuity. They did not care which gods they went to – even Egyptian gods, for example. They thus provoked God's wrath with their increasing promiscuity. Such things happen today. People who profess to be Christians end up chasing after all sorts of false gods – money, fame, enjoyment, etc.
6. Consider how God gave them over to their enemies
In 20, 21 there is specific reference to the worship of Molech which involved child sacrifice - you took your sons and daughters whom you bore to me and sacrificed them as food to the idols. Was your prostitution not enough? You slaughtered my children and sacrificed them to the idols. What made it all so bad was (22) that in all their detestable idolatry they did not remember the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, kicking about in your blood. They refused to go back to God. Indeed they forgot him. Sometimes we just have to stop and remind ourselves who we are. It is like the parable of the Prodigal Son.
It goes on (23-26) Woe! Woe to you .... They also built a mound for themselves and made a lofty shrine in every public square. At the head of every street they had these shrines where they could prostitute themselves with increasing promiscuity. They did not care which gods they went to – even Egyptian gods, for example. They thus provoked God's wrath with their increasing promiscuity. Such things happen today. People who profess to be Christians end up chasing after all sorts of false gods – money, fame, enjoyment, etc.
6. Consider how God gave them over to their enemies
27-29 So God stretched out his hand against them and they lost territory to enemies. I gave you over to the greed of your enemies, the daughters of the Philistines, who were shocked by your lewd conduct. There were Philistine invasions later in time as well as earlier on. In their insatiable lust they pursued Assyrian gods too and still not satisfied the gods of Babylonia too. The temptations are sometimes too much for the professing people of God. So often they are just like the rest.
3. Consider these words of judgement against the wicked
3. Consider these words of judgement against the wicked
So in the light of this we have the understandable words of judgement found here. Verse 30 How weak-willed you are, declares the Sovereign LORD, when you do all these things, acting like a brazen prostitute! They were, the Lord suggests, worse than prostitutes as they didn't even do it for profit! They scorned payment. They were supposed to belong to God – in covenant with him but they utterly failed. He calls Israel an adulterous wife! They prefer strange gods to the true God. Like so many today they run after any old god they see – any old false idea.
35, 36 Therefore, you prostitute, hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Sovereign LORD says: because of all their detestable idols, etc therefore I am going to gather all your lovers, with whom you found pleasure, those you loved as well as those you hated. I will gather them against you from all around. Then God's people would be stripped bare and exposed. He is referring to the way the very gods and ideas they worshipped will be turned against them in the form of the nations where the false gods were invented.
35, 36 Therefore, you prostitute, hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Sovereign LORD says: because of all their detestable idols, etc therefore I am going to gather all your lovers, with whom you found pleasure, those you loved as well as those you hated. I will gather them against you from all around. Then God's people would be stripped bare and exposed. He is referring to the way the very gods and ideas they worshipped will be turned against them in the form of the nations where the false gods were invented.
It is going to be like the way an adulteress or a murderer was supposed to be dealt with then. The blood vengeance of my wrath and jealous anger is going to come on you he says. They will be handed over to their lovers who will tear down their idol shrines. They will strip you of your clothes and take your fine jewellery and leave you naked and bare. A mob will come and stone them and hack them to pieces with their swords. Houses will burn. There will be punishment. Their idolatry will end. Why? Note this (43) Because you did not remember the days of your youth but enraged me with all these things, I will surely bring down on your head what you have done, declares the Sovereign LORD. Did you not add lewdness to all your other detestable practices? What a warning the history of Israel is! Turn from idols, turn from sin before God's wrath comes. Run from sin!
Have you ever watched a boxing match? It's not a nice sport in many ways. Sometimes you'll see a man hit another one forty, fifty a hundred times but he's still standing. What the boxer who is going to win has to have then is what we call a killer instinct. He's got to carry on fighting until his opponent either gives in or drops to the canvas. Ezekiel is a bit like a boxer here. He's thrown several punches already but now he moves in for the kill with one more powerful move.
He says (44, 45) Everyone who quotes proverbs will quote this proverb about you: Like mother, like daughter. You are a true daughter of your mother, who despised her husband and her children; and you are a true sister of your sisters, who despised their husbands and their children. What daughter? Who is Israel's daughter? Who is her sister? We've already established that her mother was a Hittite and her father an Amorite (45) but then he says (46) Your older sister was Samaria, who lived to the north of you with her daughters; and your younger sister, who lived to the south of you with her daughters, was Sodom! This is the connection – 47, 48 - You not only walked in their ways and copied their detestable practices, but in all your ways you soon became more depraved than they. God solemnly declares that they are worse even than Sodom was. It reminds us of Jesus's words about the day of judgement being easier for Sodom than for the places where he preached. We would have to admit to our shame that this is true of our own society. It is worse than Sodom.
And so Ezekiel reminds us of the sin of Sodom - arrogance, smugness and complacency. They did not help the poor and needy. They were proud and guilty of detestable sins. That is why Sodom was destroyed, of course. The Jews were much worse than Sodom, much worse than the Samaritans who they so despised. 52 Bear your disgrace, for you have furnished some justification for your sisters. Because your sins were more vile than theirs, they appear more righteous than you. So then, be ashamed and bear your disgrace, for you have made your sisters appear righteous.Later on he says (56) how they would not even mention Sodom at one time but now they also are under God's judgement. It is their turn to be scorned now - by the daughters of Edom and all her neighbours and the daughters of the Philistines, etc. They must bear the consequences of their lewdness and detestable practices. Verse 59 I will deal with you as you deserve, because you have despised my oath by breaking the covenant. If we sit here thinking we're not as bad as Sodom or Samaria or the Jews - how foolish! Isn't the same weak will in us? Aren't we also prone to wander into idolatry? Worse, are we covenant breakers? We must repent then. What hope is there otherwise?
4. Consider these words of hope for sinners
Have you ever watched a boxing match? It's not a nice sport in many ways. Sometimes you'll see a man hit another one forty, fifty a hundred times but he's still standing. What the boxer who is going to win has to have then is what we call a killer instinct. He's got to carry on fighting until his opponent either gives in or drops to the canvas. Ezekiel is a bit like a boxer here. He's thrown several punches already but now he moves in for the kill with one more powerful move.
He says (44, 45) Everyone who quotes proverbs will quote this proverb about you: Like mother, like daughter. You are a true daughter of your mother, who despised her husband and her children; and you are a true sister of your sisters, who despised their husbands and their children. What daughter? Who is Israel's daughter? Who is her sister? We've already established that her mother was a Hittite and her father an Amorite (45) but then he says (46) Your older sister was Samaria, who lived to the north of you with her daughters; and your younger sister, who lived to the south of you with her daughters, was Sodom! This is the connection – 47, 48 - You not only walked in their ways and copied their detestable practices, but in all your ways you soon became more depraved than they. God solemnly declares that they are worse even than Sodom was. It reminds us of Jesus's words about the day of judgement being easier for Sodom than for the places where he preached. We would have to admit to our shame that this is true of our own society. It is worse than Sodom.
And so Ezekiel reminds us of the sin of Sodom - arrogance, smugness and complacency. They did not help the poor and needy. They were proud and guilty of detestable sins. That is why Sodom was destroyed, of course. The Jews were much worse than Sodom, much worse than the Samaritans who they so despised. 52 Bear your disgrace, for you have furnished some justification for your sisters. Because your sins were more vile than theirs, they appear more righteous than you. So then, be ashamed and bear your disgrace, for you have made your sisters appear righteous.Later on he says (56) how they would not even mention Sodom at one time but now they also are under God's judgement. It is their turn to be scorned now - by the daughters of Edom and all her neighbours and the daughters of the Philistines, etc. They must bear the consequences of their lewdness and detestable practices. Verse 59 I will deal with you as you deserve, because you have despised my oath by breaking the covenant. If we sit here thinking we're not as bad as Sodom or Samaria or the Jews - how foolish! Isn't the same weak will in us? Aren't we also prone to wander into idolatry? Worse, are we covenant breakers? We must repent then. What hope is there otherwise?
4. Consider these words of hope for sinners
It's all pretty bleak in many ways. But now before we close, let's looks at these words of hope that are also there.
1. The end of wrath
1. The end of wrath
The first is in 42 Then my wrath against you will subside and my jealous anger will turn away from you; I will be calm and no longer angry. God is not only slow to anger but it is true to say that as far as this world is concerned his wrath does pass. Because of his mercy his anger lasts only a moment, but his favour lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5)
2. Restoration
2. Restoration
Then in 53-55 there is a wonderful However - However, I will restore the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters and of Samaria and her daughters, and your fortunes along with them, so that you may bear your disgrace and be ashamed of all you have done in giving them comfort. And your sisters, Sodom with her daughters and Samaria with her daughters, will return to what they were before; and you and your daughters will return to what you were before. The promise is of restoration not only for Israel but for Samaritans and Gentiles too. This is pointing us forward to the coming of Messiah and the salvation that he brings. Whether your background is religious or not, no matter how far you've strayed, there is yet hope if you will turn to the Lord again. He will restore.
3. Covenant renewal
3. Covenant renewal
Finally, 60-63 Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you. Here we are pointed to the new covenant in Christ. Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you receive your sisters, both those who are older than you and those who are younger. The vision is of worldwide growth. I will give them to you as daughters, but not on the basis of my covenant with you not by Sinai but by the new covenant in Christ. So I will establish my covenant with you, and you will know that I am the LORD. Then, when I make atonement for you for all you have done, (as Jesus has now done on the cross) you will remember and be ashamed and never again open your mouth because of your humiliation. Being a Christian involves shame. We have to confess our sins. We cannot deny them. How prone to wander we are. But there is hope too, covenant hope in Christ. Look to Jesus Christ.
