Read your Bible through in a year: Ezekiel 18, 19, 20: Yesterday we recapped the life of Jerusalem as in a parable or analogy. Today we look at a false proverb which God refutes. God came to Ezekiel and asked why the people say, “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, / And the children’s teeth are set on edge.” All souls belong to God and a person will die for their own sins. Yet, the people say that it is right for the son to die for the father’s sins; but God says it is not so. Also, if a wicked man turns from his wicked ways and follows God’s law, then God will let that man live for his choice to turn away from iniquity and sin. God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked, but wants all men to turn to Him and live. On the other hand, if a righteous man turns and does wickedness then the wickedness will be remembered and he will die for his choices. The people call God not fair for this, but God turns their words back to them, telling them that they are not fair; He tells them to turn from their wickedness and iniquities so they may not be ruined by them. Get a new spirit and a new heart. Next up, God has Ezekiel take up a lamentation for the princes of Israel. The princes of Israel are like lions whose mother, a lioness, taught them to kill men. They were taken to Egypt in chains. When the lioness mother saw that her hope had been taken in chains, she raised up another lion and taught him the same way. Then he was taken in chains to Babylon so that his voice was no longer heard on the mountains of Israel. Also, God likens the princes of Israel to fruits on a vine where the vine is their mother. She was plucked up and replanted in a dry and thirsty land so that her fruit withered and she no longer has a strong branch or scepter for ruling. God caused this to be a lamentation. At another time, the elders of Israel came before Ezekiel to seek God’s word. God told Ezekiel that He would not be inquired of by them because of their abominations and sins. Then God recaps the time when He chose Israel and made a covenant with them, that He should be their only God and they should not have anything that goes against His will, but they did not obey and God punished them, though not severely for His name’s sake, bringing them out of Egypt. God gave His law and showed His judgements to the people, which they again did not obey. Again, for His name’s sake, He showed them mercy and brought their next generation into the promised land, but even then His people would not obey Him. Then He scattered His people because they would not turn from their wicked ways, which is where they are now. God will not honor those who have continually turned away from Him, following idols and burning their first born children alive to foreign gods. In prophecy, God promises to restore Israel, but all the rebels against God would not return to their native land so that the people would know that God is truly God. So God sent them away to do what they will, reminding them that He will sift through His people and bring back to Israel only those who have chosen Him and He will require them to follow the law, the sabbaths, and the statues He has set up. Further, God told Ezekiel to prophecy against the forests to the south that they would be consumed by fire and everyone would know that God had kindled it because it would not be quenched. Read this section for yourself!
Posted on: Mon, 09 Sep 2013 17:58:32 +0000