Ezekiel 20

Ezekiel 20:1

R. Vindication of God’s Dealings with Israel (20:1-32)1. Idolatry in Egypt (20:1-9)When the elders . . . came to Ezekiel to inquire of the LORD, He refused to be inquired of by them. Instead He recounted their repeated rebellions against Him. The elders were quite conservative and orthodox; they did inquire of the Lord, but their hearts were far from Him. Idols keep us from getting God’s answers to our questions. When God recounts our sins and shows us His grace by leading us to repentance, many of us get bored: “We’ve heard that so often.” “The Bible is just full of do’s and don’ts.” “Is there nothing else but judgment in it?” Instead of reacting properly to God’s Word, we are in danger of staying lukewarm. In spite of their idolatry in the land of Egypt (vv. 4-8a), God did not punish them there so that the Gentiles would not mock (vv. 8b-9).

Ezekiel 20:10

2. Defiling God’s Sabbaths (20:10-17)Israel profaned God’s Sabbaths . . . in the wilderness (vv. 10-13a). Again the Lord restrained His wrath and spared them from destruction lest the heathen should laugh (vv. 13b-17).

Ezekiel 20:18

3. Rebellion in the Wilderness (20:18-26)The rebellion of the children of the original generation in the wilderness is recalled (vv. 18-21a); again God held back His anger against them (vv. 21b-26).

Ezekiel 20:27

4. Idolatry (20:27-32)Their terrible idolatry in the land of promise even included making their sons pass through the fire, that is, offering them as human sacrifices.

Ezekiel 20:33

S. God’s Promise of Eventual Restoration (20:33-44)20:33-38 In spite of their efforts, God would never let them become permanently like the Gentiles . . . serving wood and stone (v. 32). He would regather them from the peoples of captivity, set them in judgment before Him, receive the righteous (v. 37), and purge the rebels from among them (v. 38). 20:39-44 When the nation is restored to the land of Israel, they will no longer worship idols, but they will worship the LORD in holiness (vv. 39-44). The Apostle John’s admonition is timeless: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.”

Ezekiel 20:45

T. Pictures of the Imminent Invasion (20:4521:32)

1. The Sign of the Forest Fire (20:45-49)Verse 45 marks the beginning of chapter 21 in the Hebrew Bible, a more logical place to break, as our outline indicates. In verses 45-49, we have a prophecy against the South (Heb. Negev, part of Judah); it will be destroyed by the forest . . . fire (Babylonian invasion).