A Boomer in the Pew

Contemplating the Destruction of Jerusalem Through the Eyes of God and Ezekiel

Bible in a Year Series - Day #247 - This post is part of a year-long series where we are reading chronologically through the Bible.  Click here to learn more.  You are most welcome to join along at any time.

Today's text from the ESV Study Bible: Ezekiel 24-27.

We now come to the dreadful day of Jerusalem's seige as seen through Ezekiel's eyes.

“Son of man, write down the name of this day, this very day. The king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day." (Ezekiel 24:2)

We have heard about and viewed this scene from a number of different prophet's perspectives.  But here we hear from God's lips his determination to see Jerusalem's destruction through.

"I am the Lord. I have spoken; it shall come to pass; I will do it. I will not go back; I will not spare; I will not relent; according to your ways and your deeds you will be judged, declares the Lord God.” (Ezekiel 24:14)

I suppose to the casual reader this scene must seem to present a horrible picture of God's character.  Only by the careful study of our journey of the past few weeks can we begin to piece together an understanding.

Israel is God's dear bride.  She has become a harlot, and now we will seek him strike against his own.  Not that we can, but try to imagine being perfectly holy, unwilling to be in the presence of evil, and having to slay your own son/bride.

I can't begin to wrap my mind around this.

Then, to help Ezekiel understand the great pain in God's heart, this very night he takes away Ezekiel's precious bride:

“Son of man, behold, I am about to take the delight of your eyes away from you at a stroke;...(Ezekiel 24:16a)

Looking at this only from man's perspective this seems incredibly cruel.  And certainly, at some levels, it certainly is.  Particularly if your worldview constructs our physical death as the complete end of one's existence.  The Christian is going to believe that God has taken her to a better place, and while still very painful to Ezekiel, not hopelessly mournful.

Interestingly, God then instructs Ezekiel how to behave at the news of Jerusalem's fall, and the taking of his dear bride:

"...yet you shall not mourn or weep, nor shall your tears run down. 17 Sigh, but not aloud; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban, and put your shoes on your feet; do not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.” 18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died. And on the next morning I did as I was commanded." (Ezekiel 16a-18)

Whenever great grief comes upon us, a loud and primal scream comes from our souls:  WHY?

It is only with the understanding of thousands of years of Israel's history that we can begin to scratch the surface of understanding.  To the casual observer this answer will seems completely ludicrous.  

Nonetheless, this is that answer that God's gives, and that we must observe in careful, quiet meditation:

"When this comes, then you will know that I am the Lord God.’ (Ezekiel 24:24b)

We must be very careful with our emotions right now.  It is far too easy to look back at this and make judgment from a post-modern view. 

To understand, we need to have traveled through the sandals of Abraham, Isaac, Israel, Samuel, David, Solomon, and now God's many prophets. 

If we will but discipline ourselves, then we too will find ourselves overwhelmed and mute as this unspeakable and very difficult scene.

Jerusalem is no more, and this has been done at the hand of her Husband.

It's time to sit on a bench and contemplate this "Day of the Lord".

Tomorrow, we will start to look upon God's retribution towards the scoffers who would dare open their mouths at this horrific day. 

The mighty arm of Yahweh is far more easily raised against those who are not his own.

Lastly, as we contemplate this horrific scene, we must bring to our minds the promises that lay in the midst of this destruction.  God will once again draw his people from exile, and his holy temple will once again rise from the ashes.

Without God's precious promises, life would be unbearable for these exiles.

But:

“As for you, son of man, surely on the day when I take from them their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes and their soul's desire, and also their sons and daughters, 26 on that day a fugitive will come to you to report to you the news. 27 On that day your mouth will be opened to the fugitive, and you shall speak and be no longer mute. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the Lord.” (Ezekiel 24:25-27)

Ezekiel will no longer be mute, and the coming words from God will be a very soothing balm for Israel during the 70 years of their exile.

Stay tuned! 

There is great joy coming!

 

 

 

 

Ezekiel 23, the Prostitutes Oholah & Oholibah, and God's Sexually Graphic Allegory

Bible in a Year Series - Day #246 - This post is part of a year-long series where we are reading chronologically through the Bible.  Click here to learn more.  You are most welcome to join along at any time.

Today's text from the ESV Study Bible: Ezekiel 22-23.

For weeks now, we have been reading of God's contempt for the behavior of Samaria and Jerusalem. 

We have seen the brokernhearted husband Hosea, and we have heard of the coming fire and brimstone of a great many prophets.

But, nowhere have I seen God's displeasure displayed in such sexually graphic ways.

Here God's allegory likens Oholah (Samaria), and Oholibah (Jerusalem) as two prostitute sisters.  In this chapter, God describes the graphic horror of their behavior, and even recounts of their sexual longing for men with genitals like donkeys and horses.

I must admit, I was taken back by God's forthrightness in this allegory.  In fact, as I was reading through this chapter, I felt dirty and like I was reading/seeing something that I shouldn't.

God doesn't need to defend his actions regarding Samaria and Jerusalem to you and me.  However, in his desire to answer the many questions we would have, he makes it crystal clear how completely sordid and apart from God these people were.

Tomorrow, we shall again witness the destruction of Jerusalem, but his time through Ezekiel's eyes.  Only this time, we are going to witness not only the destruction of God's bride, but God is also going to take Ezekiel's bride, the apple of Ezekiel's eye.

Ezekiel is going to feel the same pain as God.

I can't even begin to image such a day.

I'll say it again, it is impossible to read and attempt to understand this book without a great deal of wrestling with God in the mind.

 

God to Judah's Elders: I Will not be Inquired of by You!

Bible in a Year Series - Day #245 - This post is part of a year-long series where we are reading chronologically through the Bible.  Click here to learn more.  You are most welcome to join along at any time.

Today's text from the ESV Study Bible: Ezekiel 20-21.

We are now in August of 591 BC.  For some reason, the elders of Judea have trekked north to visit the prophet Ezekiel who has been forced into exile in Babylon.

Here are the thoughts from the IVP Bible Background Commentary - Old Testament:

"It may be that the elders hoped to demonstrate their trust in Yahweh by this act. However, there is also evidence in Jeremiah of representatives of the king (Jer 21:1–2) seeking out the prophet and virtually ordering him to speak an oracle of salvation for Jerusalem. There is no indication in the text of what may have motivated this visit to the prophet. Since the speech of Ezekiel goes back to the wilderness situation and makes frequent reference to Israel’s early history with Egypt, it may well be a potential agreement between Egypt’s pharaoh, Psammeticus II, and Judean king Zedekiah that prompted concern among the elders. It is believed that Psammeticus made overtures to Zedekiah in 592."

Whatever the reason, God spanks them hard through Ezekiel's words:

"And the word of the Lord came to me: 3 “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God, Is it to inquire of me that you come? As I live, declares the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you." (Ezekiel 20:2-3)

God then goes on to describe Israel's long history of idolatry, proclaims that he has a sword in store for Israel, and that he fully intends to once again scatter Israel among the nations.

I don't know for sure, but I suspect the elders sought out Ezekiel because of deep seated fears they had about the international politics of the day.  And now, back to Jerusalem they go with a proclamation of certain doom for Judah.

God is sick and tired of Israel's syncretism, and is going to act:

"As I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you, declares the Lord God. 37 I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant. 38 I will purge out the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against me. I will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord." (Ezekiel 20:36-38)

I remember as a child being chided by my mother for some oft offense, and being told, "wait until your father gets home".

The interim waiting was horrible. 

Imagine how these elders must have felt having been told by God that he was going to destroy them.

Talk about a bad day!

Is America a Wild Vine Soon to be cut off by the Pruning Shears of God?

Bible in a Year Series - Day #244 - This post is part of a year-long series where we are reading chronologically through the Bible.  Click here to learn more.  You are most welcome to join along at any time.

Today's text from the ESV Study Bible: Ezekiel 18-19.

Note:  the post contains a question (found at the very bottom) to discuss in the comments section of this article.

When you see a wild vine, what is your likely response?

I have a few wild vines growing right now on a fence in my back yard.  I have been putting up with them for a few days, but their future is certain.  I will get my pruning shears, cut them off, and dispose of them forever.

"Your mother was like a vine in a vineyard
planted by the water,
fruitful and full of branches
by reason of abundant water.
11 Its strong stems became
rulers' scepters;
it towered aloft
among the thick boughs;
it was seen in its height
with the mass of its branches.
12 But the vine was plucked up in fury,
cast down to the ground;
the east wind dried up its fruit;
they were stripped off and withered.
As for its strong stem,
fire consumed it.
13 Now it is planted in the wilderness,
in a dry and thirsty land.
14 And fire has gone out from the stem of its shoots,
has consumed its fruit,
so that there remains in it no strong stem,
no scepter for ruling." (Ezekiel 19:10-14)

Ezekiel's lament recalls Israel's glory days (fruitful and full of branches) with the wild vines (strong stems towering aloft) representing the haughty, evil kings of Israel's last days.

There existed a national attitude in Israel that God would never act against them because they were God's chosen people, and were ruled by God's appointed kings under the covenant that he (God) made with King David.

Over, and over, and over God warned that he was about to prune the wild vine (Israel and their evil kings), but they rested in the comfort of their past glories and continued further and further down the path of iniquity.

Then, in 587 BC, God cut the wild vine and discarded it in the fire.  Israel was no more, and no more was there a Davidic king (a scepter for ruling).

Further, as we have clearly seen in the oracles against foreign nations, God is also willing and able to prune foreign nations as well. 

So, a few questions beg to be asked:  Is America becoming a wild vine in the eyes of God?  Will God continue to avert his eyes to our national sins (Abortion, Pride, Love of Money, Sexual Immorality)?  Have some Americans developed a false sense of security in the founding of our "Christian nation"?  Do we think that God is any more tolerant of America's sins than ancient Israels?

The answers to these questions are clear, and God's answer to all these questions is found in the same word he sent to Israel:  Repent.

“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.” (Ezekiel 18:30-32)

Oh, how the post-modern mind hates the word repent.

Nonetheless, our desire to continue to live against God's ordinances, and our hatred of turning from our ways (repenting) does nothing to diminish God's pronouncements.

The question now is this:  will we listen, or will we too be cut off and disposed of?

Something to think about.

What are your thoughts?

 

 

Ezekiel: Jerusalem's Unspeakable Whorings and Yahweh's Wrath Followed by His Grace-Filled Covenant Remembrance

Bible in a Year Series - Day #243 - This post is part of a year-long series where we are reading chronologically through the Bible.  Click here to learn more.  You are most welcome to join along at any time.

Today's text from the ESV Study Bible: Ezekiel 16-17.

Today's narrative was perhaps one of the most disturbing sections I have read.

Although is was certainly disconcerting to have Israel's most heinous sins brought again before us, it was absolutely forbidding to read God's graphic, and sexual first person metaphor.

As we read this, we must remember that Israel had become so twisted that they were offering their children as live sacrifices to Molech, there were female prostitute "priests" in God's holy temple, people had sexual intercourse with idols, and the wealth given to Israel was the great seductress that eventually lead the would be whore (Israel) completely away from her Husband (God).

Here's this from the InterVarsity Press New Bible Commentary:

"Israel is depicted as a wildly adulterous wife, engaging in prostitution with the Egyptians, Assyrians and Babylonians. Her retribution would come at the hands of the very lovers she had pursued.
The imagery may seem strong for modern tastes, but the choice of metaphor was quite appropriate. In her international dealings Israel had readily absorbed other religions, beliefs and practices. Her social intercourse had exposed her to many pagan ideas. Some of these included child sacrifice and idol worship (20, 21), but another important strand included cultic sex practices. Sexual activity was not included in worship rituals purely for the gratification of the participants but was linked to fertility, and fertility, when applied to the land, meant food and survival. Nevertheless, lust and promiscuity must still have had a presence in the cult activities.
The practices condemned in this chapter include sex acts with idols (17) and cultic prostitution (16, 24, 25, 31). It seems that the cultic prositution which had been part of the ritual ‘in the high places’, i.e. the mountain shrines (16) came to be practised openly in the streets of Jerusalem itself (24, 25).
An interesting twist to the sexual theme of the chapter is that Sodom and Samaria are cited as sisters in sin to Jerusalem (46-47). Yet the sin of Sodom that is emphasized is her arrogance and lack of social concern for the poor and helpless (49-50). Jerusalem is cited as being more committed to iniquity than her sisters. Furthermore, both Sodom and Samaria would be restored, compounding Jerusalem’s shame (53-55). Yet there is hope. After Jerusalem’s downfall and punishment the same suitor who rescued her at birth (4-7), took her in marriage (8), and clothed her in finery, would still remember his promise to her (59-62).
The love of God towards his people is often likened to the love of a husband for his wife, but where a mortal husband might reject, despise, even hate a promiscuous unfaithful wife, God is patient and just and will remember his promises to his people even when they stray."

I suppose what really drives the dagger of this metaphor into my heart is that I too have played the whore at various times in my life.

Now, let's be clear.  I certainly haven't participated in the montrous crimes depicted here.  Nonetheless, there have been times in my life where the wealth given to me from God has indeed seduced me away from my Creator.  As I was reading the section where the wife turns from God to play the whore, I deeply felt the sting of that great sin.

As we read this section, and feel the stinging shame from our own "nakedness", it is only then that we can appreciate perhaps God's greatest attribute:  grace!

How thankful then must we be for the last four verses of this chapter:

“For thus says the Lord God: I will deal with you as you have done, you who have despised the oath in breaking the covenant, 60 yet I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish for you an everlasting covenant. 61 Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you take your sisters, both your elder and your younger, and I give them to you as daughters, but not on account of the covenant with you. 62 I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the Lord, 63 that you may remember and be confounded, and never open your mouth again because of your shame, when I atone for you for all that you have done, declares the Lord God.” (Ezekiel 16:59-63)

In the comings weeks and months, we are going to gaze upon the atonement that God here speaks of, and then we will weep at the indescribable beauty, and sacrificial love of the husband Yahweh.

Ezekiel, False Prophets, Post-Moderns, and a Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

Bible in a Year Series - Day #242 - This post is part of a year-long series where we are reading chronologically through the Bible.  Click here to learn more.  You are most welcome to join along at any time.

Today's text from the ESV Study Bible: Ezekiel 13-15.

In today's narrative, we find God speaking strong words against the false prophets of Jerusalem who were contradicting the words of his true prophets.

These false prophet's messages brought confusion, defied Yahweh, and seemingly would relegate Yahweh to the blind, speechless, and mindless pieces of wood (idols) that so many worshiped.

Here God makes this clear to Ezekiel:

"The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear, but hear not, for they are a rebellious house." (Ezekiel 12:1-2)

and...

"The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel, who are prophesying, and say to those who prophesy from their own hearts: ‘Hear the word of the Lord!’ 3 Thus says the Lord God, Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! 4 Your prophets have been like jackals among ruins, O Israel. 5 You have not gone up into the breaches, or built up a wall for the house of Israel, that it might stand in battle in the day of the Lord. 6 They have seen false visions and lying divinations. They say, ‘Declares the Lord,’ when the Lord has not sent them, and yet they expect him to fulfill their word. 7 Have you not seen a false vision and uttered a lying divination, whenever you have said, ‘Declares the Lord,’ although I have not spoken?”

8 Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Because you have uttered falsehood and seen lying visions, therefore behold, I am against you, declares the Lord God. 9 My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and who give lying divinations. They shall not be in the council of my people, nor be enrolled in the register of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord God." (Ezekiel 13:1-9)

False prophets have been here to confuse and destroy for millennia.  We saw them in the days of Messiah, and we continue to see them today.  In general, whether overtly or unknowingly, the false prophet's job is to confuse, or deny the person of God.

When Messiah was with his disciples, he asked them:

... “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:13-16)

Even today, there are those who falsely profess that Jesus is:

• a myth
• a spirit person
• a wisdom sage
• a prophet

God desires that we know that he is who he is:  the great I AM, the Creator, Yahweh, the One, and the Only.

Sr. Pastor Jamie Rasmussen (Scottsdale Bible Church) spoke yesterday about this very topic in his message entitled:  Who Do People Say That I Am?  Who Do YOU Say That I Am?

I would encourage you to take some times to listen to this message so that you can learn to identify the wolves who hide themselves in sheep's clothing.