Prediction Of The Fall Of Jerusalem (1-24)

The Fall Of Jerusalem (4-24)

Improper Hopes (12-19)

Signs And Messages (12:1-14:23)

The Third Message (8:1-19:14)

HYPOCRISY AND HOPELESSNESS

EZEKIEL 14:1-23

Reading: Col 3:1-7

Song:

Theme: moral responsibility, avoid idolatry

Discussion

INTRODUCTION

A. We live in a very celebrity-dominated culture in which there are many people who so idolize celebrities that we are able to purchased celebrity dolls, playing cards, clothes etc. Even in congregations of the Lord’s church there are celebrities, personalities, famous teachers, preacher and writers. Frequently, even though many celebrities may offer nothing good to follow or emulate, they remain held up high in the minds of people. We can also idolize things. A woman who kept her car in showroom condition, nearly got killed one night when her garage caught on fire. Her neighbors had to restrain her from rushing into the flames to rescue her car. As it exploded, she realized that she had nearly sacrificed her life over her car. It had become an idol.

B. Spiritually people can also have trouble with idols. Ezekiel was carried off as a captive into exile with other Jews during Nebuchadnezzar's second deportation of Jewish to Babylon . The exile was the result of Israel’s unfaithfulness toward God’s and their apostasy from his word. They had given themselves to idolatry. The exile was necessary to cleanse God’s people of idolatry, the worship of idols. A long time before, God had forewarned of the destruction that would come upon them if they didn’t heed God’s word (Deu 28:15-68; Lev 26:14-15). It began to be fulfilled against the northern kingdom through the Assyrian captivity. During EZEKIEL’s time, with Judah’s exile to Babylon, God was in the process of fulfilling his judgment on the southern kingdom, during the reign of Jehoiachin (Jeconiah or Coniah) king of Judah.

C. EZEKIEL was a prophet to the Jewish exiles. His mission was to reveal to them their sins which had lead to the judgment upon them and to build up their faith with prophecies of their future restoration.

D. Let’s be encouraged to avoid idolatry by examining what God declared about it in his judgments on Israel.

Discussion

I. THE RESULTS OF SPIRITUAL DISHONESTY (14:1-11).

The Communication

A. ... Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart,... and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer ... (14:1-5).

1 ¶ Then came <0935> (8799) certain <0582> of the elders <02205> of Israel <03478> unto me, and sat <03427> (8799) before <06440> me.

2 And the word <01697> of the LORD <03068> came unto me, saying <0559> (8800),

3 Son <01121> of man <0120>, these men <0582> have set up <05927> (8689) their idols <01544> in their heart <03820>, and put <05414> (8804) the stumblingblock <04383> of their iniquity <05771> before <05227> their face <06440>: should I be enquired <01875> (8735) of at all <01875> (8736) by them?

1. The elders of Israel went to the prophet EZEKIEL to make an inquiry of God, probably regarding the future of Israel and their homeland (v1).

2. God declared that the elders of Israel had set up idols in their hearts (cp. 8:7-12).

a. There are two major categories of idol worship - external and internal.

(1) External idol worship are easier to identify.

(a) From the very beginning, the Israelites were idolaters (Act 7:3 8-43 *v 37-43).

(b) After they entered the Promise Land, they set up their idols "in every high hill, and under every green tree" (2 Kings 17:10).

(c) King Solomon built God's Temple and also "an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab.... and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon" (1 Kings 11:7).

(d) Though the Israel did not outrightly reject Jehovah as their God, they said "We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone" (Eze 20:30-32).

(2) Since such idolatry is clearly forbidden in the Bible and so easily identified, few Christians fall into the sin of externally worshiping idols.

(3) In fact such worship usually appears ridiculous to Christians.

(4) Internal (in the heart) idol worship is much more difficult to detect or identify.

(a) Like many of the people of Israel, many Christians are easily deceived into the sin of internal idolatry.

(b) Because no one else knows of it unless the person doing reveals it, internal idolatry often remains undetected by other Christians.

b. Instead of trying to avoid the temptation EZEKIEL wrote that the elders of Israel holding their idols before their face so to speak, they gave themselves to them in service.

c. When God’s people are given to serving idols, they may appear religious on the outside but inside they are spiritually as Jesus later described the Pharisees (Mat 23:27-33; cp. Pro 23:7).

(1) Though men may look to the outside of a person for approval; God looks at the heart (1Sa 16:7).

(2) For the elders of Israel to have gone before God while holding to their idols in their hearts, showed they were spiritually double minded men (Mat 6:24; Jam 1:8).

(3) Are you holding on to any idols in your heart (1Co 11:28)

(4) An idol is anything which replaces God as the center of our lives.

(a) In context the idols set up are those in our hearts.

(b) It could be a loved one whom you’d rather be with and who not seeing any importance in your assembling with the saints, prevents you from so doing.

(d) Possessions, pleasure, popularity and power can all be set up in our hearts as idols.

(e) Consider that they next time you might choose recreation, entertainment or some other pleasure over assembling with the saints.

(f) Consider that the next time you choose work, not because you have to but because your want to, rather than assembling with the saints.

(g) As God told the elders of Israel, we can’t seek God while keeping and idol in our hearts (cp. Isa 59:1-2; Joh 9:1-34 * v 31; 1Pe 3:7).

d. God asked EZEKIEL a rhetorical question as to whether the elders deserved an answer, given their spiritual condition.

e. It is a question we all might ask ourselves.

4 Therefore speak <01696> (8761) unto them, and say <0559> (8804) unto them, Thus saith <0559> (8804) the Lord <0136> GOD <03069>; Every man <0376> of the house <01004> of Israel <03478> that setteth up <05927> (8686) his idols <01544> in his heart <03820>, and putteth <07760> (8799) the stumblingblock <04383> of his iniquity <05771> before <05227> his face <06440>, and cometh <0935> (8804) to the prophet <05030>; I the LORD <03068> will answer <06030> (8738) him that cometh <0935> (8804) according to the multitude <07230> of his idols <01544>;

5 That I may take <08610> (8800) the house <01004> of Israel <03478> in their own heart <03820>, because they are all estranged <02114> (8738) from me through their idols <01544>.

3. EZEKIEL told the elders of Israel that those people of Israel who had set up idols in their hearts, were not going to have to wait for an answer form the prophet for God was going to answer them himself.

a. The answer from God was going to come to them through the action of his judgment upon them.

b. The same will be true for any person who sets up idols in his heart.

c. God has always been against false worship.

d. God will one day judge all people according to their works (2Co 5:10).

4. The text declares that those who had set up idols in their hearts had become estranged from God “through their idols” (v 5).

a. estranged, Strong’s - 02114. rwz zuwr zoor; a primitive root; to turn aside (especially for lodging); hence to be a foreigner, strange, profane; specifically (active participle) to commit adultery:— (come from) another (man, place), fanner, go away, ( e-)strange(-r, thing, woman).

AV-stranger 45, strange 18, estranged 4, stranger + 0376 3, another 2, strange woman 2, gone away 1, fanners 1, another place 1; 77 1) to be strange, be a stranger 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to become estranged 1a2) strange, another,stranger, foreigner, an enemy (participle) 1a3) loathsome (of breath) (participle) 1a4) strange woman, prostitute, harlot (meton) 1b) (Niphal) to be estranged 1c) (Hophal) to be a stranger, be one alienated

08738 Stem - NiphalSee 08833

Mood - Perfect See 08816

Count-1429

b. Their false worship had led them away from God and made them to be as strangers to God (cf. v 7; Mat 7:21-23).

The Command

B. ... say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent ... (14:6-11).

6 Therefore say <0559> (8798) unto the house <01004> of Israel <03478>, Thus saith <0559> (8804) the Lord <0136> GOD <03069>; Repent <07725> (8798), and turn <07725> (8685) yourselves from your idols <01544>; and turn away <07725> (8685) your faces <06440> from all your abominations <08441>. {yourselves: or, others}

1. They were to remove the idols from their hearts and put them away from them before going to God.

a. Without repentance of sin there is no approach to God.

b. It is notable that God defined repentance as turning away from the sin.

(1) If one has not turned from sin, submitting to baptism will not wash away the sin.

(2) To have one’s sits forgiven one must stop doing the sin.

c. With repentance God makes himself available to the prayers of those who call upon him (cp. 2Ch 7:14; cp. Gal 6:7-8).

7 For every one <0376> of the house <01004> of Israel <03478>, or of the stranger <01616> that sojourneth <01481> (8799) in Israel <03478>, which separateth <05144> (8735) himself from me <0310>, and setteth up <05927> (8799) his idols <01544> in his heart <03820>, and putteth <07760> (8799) the stumblingblock <04383> of his iniquity <05771> before <05227> his face <06440>, and cometh <0935> (8804) to a prophet <05030> to enquire <01875> (8800) of him concerning me; I the LORD <03068> will answer <06030> (8737) him by myself:

8 And I will set <05414> (8804) my face <06440> against that man <0376>, and will make <08074> (8689) him a sign <0226> and a proverb <04912>, and I will cut him off <03772> (8689) from the midst <08432> of my people <05971>; and ye shall know <03045> (8804) that I am the LORD <03068>.

2. God said of those with idols in their hearts, he would:

a. set his face against them and

b. make them “a sign and a proverb” - make their punishment such that others would view it as a warning.

c. The purpose was so that they would learn that God almighty is “the Lord;” to bring them to repentance and to restore them back to God.

C. ... they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as ... him that seeketh unto him... (14:9-11).

9 And if the prophet <05030> be deceived <06601> (8792) when he hath spoken <01696> (8765) a thing <01697>, I the LORD <03068> have deceived <06601> (8765) that prophet <05030>, and I will stretch out <05186> (8804) my hand <03027> upon him, and will destroy <08045> (8689) him from the midst <08432> of my people <05971> Israel <03478>.

10 And they shall bear <05375> (8804) the punishment of their iniquity <05771>: the punishment <05771> of the prophet <05030> shall be even as the punishment <05771> of him that seeketh <01875> (8802) unto him;

1. Both the inquirer of the false prophets and the false prophet were to be punished.

2. We might say that both the teacher of false worship and those that follow him into false worship will be judged.

11 That the house <01004> of Israel <03478> may go no more astray <08582> (8799) from me <0310>, neither be polluted <02930> (8691) any more with all their transgressions <06588>; but that they may be my people <05971>, and I may be their God <0430>, saith <05002> (8803) the Lord <0136> GOD <03069>.

3. Again EZEKIEL pointed out the purpose of God’s judging them was that they might be his people and he their God.

Transition: We cannot doubt the results of spiritual dishonesty toward God. Now let’s consider

II. THE IMPORTANCE OF SPIRITUAL HONESTY (14:12-23).

When The Righteous Are No Benefit

A. ... when the land sinneth ... Though these three men, ... were in it , they should deliver but their own souls ... (14:12-21).

12 ¶ The word <01697> of the LORD <03068> came again to me, saying <0559> (8800),

13 Son <01121> of man <0120>, when the land <0776> sinneth <02398> (8799) against me by trespassing <04603> (8800) grievously <04604>, then will I stretch out <05186> (8804) mine hand <03027> upon it, and will break <07665> (8804) the staff <04294> of the bread <03899> thereof, and will send <07971> (8689) famine <07458> upon it, and will cut off <03772> (8689) man <0120> and beast <0929> from it:

14 Though these three <07969> men <0582>, Noah <05146>, Daniel <01840>, and Job <0347>, were in it <08432>, they should deliver <05337> (8762) but their own souls <05315> by their righteousness <06666>, saith <05002> (8803) the Lord <0136> GOD <03069>.

1. The Lord described Israel’s situation as one in which even if they were surrounded with righteous people, the righteousness of those people would not deliver the sinful of their guilt.

a. Each of us is responsible for our own righteousness (Eze 3:17-21;18:19-24).

(1) The society we live in have moved ever closer to doing away with personal responsibility. We hear things such as, “If such and such didn’t happen, the person would have ....”

(2) When God confronted Adam in the garden over his sin, Adam blamed the Eve, and the Eve blamed the serpent.

(3) As we look around we see all to frequently, the same blame game as people, backed by lawyers, bringing suit against some copy for something the person personally did. Though every person who smokes cannot help but know it is unhealthy, the tobacco industry was successfully sued for people using their product and developing diseases from it. Gun manufacturers have been sued because criminals misuse weapons. Fast food restaurants have been sued because people have gotten fat eating fast food.

b. People can claim they were forced into sin because of some reason but in the end, God will hold each person responsible for his or her own sins.

c. God made it clear that though the righteous were in the land, their righteousness would not deliver the unrighteous from punishment.

d. The apostle Paul wrote of a sin unto death” (1Jo 5:6).

(1) It was any sin of which a person would not stop in order to seek repentance.

(2) If the unrighteous will not turn from the unrighteousness back to God, they will not be forgiven of the unrighteousness, nor will their righteousness they may have once given themselves to, help them.

15 If <03863> I cause noisome <07451> beasts <02416> to pass through <05674> (8686) the land <0776>, and they spoil <07921> (8765) it, so that it be desolate <08077>, that no man may pass through <05674> (8802) because <06440> of the beasts <02416>: {spoil: or, bereave}

16 Though these three <07969> men <0582> were in it <08432>, as I live <02416>, saith <05002> (8803) the Lord <0136> GOD <03069>, they shall deliver <05337> (8686) neither sons <01121> nor daughters <01323>; they only shall be delivered <05337> (8735), but the land <0776> shall be desolate <08077>. {in it: Heb. in the midst of it}

2. The righteousness of the righteous would not deliver the unrighteous from “noisome beasts.”

17 Or if I bring <0935> (8686) a sword <02719> upon that land <0776>, and say <0559> (8804), Sword <02719>, go through <05674> (8799) the land <0776>; so that I cut off <03772> (8689) man <0120> and beast <0929> from it:

18 Though these three <07969> men <0582> were in it <08432>, as I live <02416>, saith <05002> (8803) the Lord <0136> GOD <03069>, they shall deliver <05337> (8686) neither sons <01121> nor daughters <01323>, but they only shall be delivered <05337> (8735) themselves.

3. The righteousness of the righteous would not deliver the unrighteous from the “sword.”

19 Or if I send <07971> (8762) a pestilence <01698> into that land <0776>, and pour out <08210> (8804) my fury <02534> upon it in blood <01818>, to cut off <03772> (8687) from it man <0120> and beast <0929>: