Ezekiel 20

Ezekiel 20:5-9

In this chapter, 1. The prophet is consulted by some of the elders of Israel, ver. 1. 2. He is instructed by God, (1.) To signify God’s displeasure against them, ver. 2, 3. And, (2.) To show them what just could be had for that displeasure, by giving them a history of God’s gracious dealings with their fathers, and their true clerical dealings with him. (1.) In Egypt, ver. 1—9. (2.) In the wilderness, ver. 10—26. (3.) In Canaan, ver. 27—32. 3. He must denounce the judgments of God against them, ver. 33—36. 4. He must tell them that God had mercy in store for them, that he would bring a remnant of them to repentance, re-pleadish them in their own land, and set up his sanctuary among them, ver. 37—44. 5. A word is despised towards Jerusalem, which is explained in the next chapter, ver. 45—49.

1. AND it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to enquire of the LORD, and sat before me. 2. Then came the word of the LORD unto me, saying, 3. Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus faith the LORD God, Are ye come to enquire of me? as I live, faith the LORD God, ‘I will not be enquired of by you. 4. ‘Wilt thou + judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:

2. 1—4. The date of this prophecy is in the seventh year of Jeconiah’s captivity and Zedekiah’s reign, the fifth month, the tenth day; and it was delivered on occasion of the elders of Israel, whether of the captivity, or from Jerusalem, coming to consult the prophet, as some suppose, from v. 32, whether they might not, to engravate themselves with their heathen matters, conform to their heathen worship: certain it is, whatever was the cause of their coming, their hearts were hypocritical, and the answer of God to them is full of wrath.

3. God refuses to be enquired of by them, v. 3, for they who draw near to God hypocritically, can expect no mercy at his hands; their very prayers will be turned into sin.

4. The prophet must arraign and condemn them; no more their advocate, but their accuser, and now constituted their judge to pronounce sentence upon them for all their own and their fathers abominations, v. 4.

5. ¶ And say unto them, Thus faith the LORD God, In the day when I chose Israel, and if lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am the LORD your God, 6. In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt, into a land that I had ejected for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands: 7. Then said I unto them, Call ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and desire our yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your

God. 8. But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. 9. But I wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.

God here begins to recapitulate the provocations of Israel; and they commenced from the day he began to form them into a people.

1. He reminds them of the wonders of his grace shown to them above all nations. He obeys them for a peculiar people, in the time of their deepest affliction, and most abject wretchedness in the land of Egypt; he made himself known to them, by his name Jehovah, and the miracles he wrought for their deliverance; conferring his favour towards them by an oath, and assuring them of the inheritance he had provided for them in a land flowing with milk and honey, the glory of all lands, which he offered for them, singled out with peculiar care, as the happy spot appointed for their abode. Note, (1.) God’s people do not chuse him, he chudes them. (2.) None truly know God, but those to whom he is pleased to reveal himself.

2. The commands he gave them were most reasonable and easy. They were enjoined to cast away every man the abominations of his eyes, and not defile themselves with the idols of Egypt. And this he enforces with the most cogent reason, I am the Lord your God, the only worthy object of worship, and to whom they were bound by unnumbered obligations.

3. They notwithstanding wilfully rebelled, and refused to hearken to God’s commands, continuing in their abominations, and cleaving to the idols of Egypt, not deterred by all the plagues they beheld.

4. By his prophets he threatened to destroy them with the Egyptians. As they had joined in their idolatry, they deserved to share their ruin. But,

5. For his name’s sake he wrought, that the heathen might not blaspheme, as if he was unfaithful to his promises, or unable to accomplish them. Now, All the arguments for God’s favour towards us come not from our desert, but his sovereign grace, and the purposes of his own glory.

6. ¶ Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness. 11. And I gave them my statutes, and I shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them. 12. Moreover also, I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them. 13. But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness to continue them. 14. But I wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out. 15. Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands. 16. Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols. 17. Nevertheless, mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness. 18. But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor desire yourselves with their idols. 19. I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments and do them: 20. And I hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God. 21. Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me, they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness. 22. Never, unless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight

7. I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that ‘I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries; 24. ‘Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my flatutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers idols. 25. Wherefore I gave them also flatutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live. 26. And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeeth the words, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 20:16-26

The mercies of God, and the ingratitude and disobedience of the Jewish people, are here displayed.

1. God’s mercies towards them were amazingly great and singular. He brought them forth from Egypt with a high hand; led them into the wilderness, where they lived by daily miracles; gave them his law, with the flatutes and judgments of his worship, by observance of which they might expect to live long and enjoy the promised inheritance; he gave them also his sabbaths, the weekly sabbath and the sabbatical and jubilee years, a sign of his favour towards them, a memorial of their deliverance from Egypt, a pledge of their entrance into the rest of Canaan, and a figure of the eternal rest which remained for the faithful in a better world: thus God distinguished them from all nations, and intended to make them know that He their Lord fanified them, these holy days, appointed for his immediate service, having them, as they still have, the most blessed influence upon the souls of those who conscientiously sanctify their sabbaths to keep them holy.

2. Their ingratitude and undutifulness were most provoking. In the wilderness, where they were surrounded with mercies and miracles, they rebelled, cast off God’s government, despised his ordinances, polluted his sabbaths, and sunk into idolatry, v. 16.

3. Offended with such baseness, God threatened utterly to conform them in his fury, v. 13. But for his own glory, that the heathen might not dishonour his name, as if he was unable to bring his people into the land of Canaan, he relished to fulfil his promise: yet, not to leave such wickedness without a mark of his severe displeasure, he swore in his wrath, concerning the men of that generation, that they should never enter into his rest, v. 15. and, in consequence thereof, their carcasses fell in the wilderness. Let us therefore fear less, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of us should come short of it, and perish after the same example of unbelief and disobedience.

4. God did not make an utter end of them, but spared their children, and solemnly warned them, by their fathers ruin, against their sins, not to walk in their flatutes, or copy their worship or manners, but to flee from idolatry, to know the Lord to be their God, to worship him according to his own prescription, observant of his sabbaths, and obedient to his laws. Note, Children should take warning by their parents ill example, and be more careful to defrain from their sins.

5. They notwithstanding rebelled against God, and tend in the shape of their ungodly fathers, sabbath-breakers, disobedient, idolaters; standing their own mercies, they provoked that wrath which would have destroyed them, had not God for his own glory relished his arm, after making them feel from heavy strokes of his displeasure in the wilderness. And though, according to his promise, he brought them into the land of Canaan, he foretold the fearful dispersion to which at last they were doomed for their transgressions. Note, (1.) Sinners are self-incidences: they might have lived if they would have been obedient; but they praise sin and death. (2.) They who walk in the ways of their wielded ancestors must expect their judgments.

6. He gave them up to their own inventions, v. 25. Wherefore I gave them also flatutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live. He gave them up to the idolatrous customs of the nations, and suffered them to follow the vain traditions of their apostles forefathers. Though some interpret this of the judgments he sent upon them; others of the rites of the ceremonial law, on which depending for represented, they became a flumbling-block to them, infested of leading them to Christ. And I polluted them in their own gifts, suffering them to offer sacrifices to idols, even the inhuman oblations of the first-born to Mose, to make them desolate: thus weakened by their own more than savage edulads, they became an other prey to their enemies: to the end that they might know that I am the Lord, right now in the punishment inflicted upon them. Note, (1.) A greater curse cannot fall upon the sinner than to be left of God to the wickedness of his own heart. (2.) God will make himself known to sinners: if they will not receive him as their Lord and Saviour, they shall prove him to be God the wronger.

7. ¶ Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the LORD God, Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me. 28. For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet favour, and poured out there their drink-offerings. 29. Then I I laid unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? and the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day. 30. Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the LORD God, Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after their abominations? 31. For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols even unto this day: and ‘shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel’ do I live, saith the LORD God, I will not be enquired of by you. 32. And that which cometh into your mind ‘shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.

Ezekiel 20:27-32

Their provocations erased not in the wilderness; but when they came into the land of Canaan the same abominations were practised.

1. When God had fulfilled his promise to them, and brought them into the good land, they trespassed yet more and more. Instead of confining themselves to God’s altar, in conformity to the customs of the heathen, they chose hills and groves for their places of worship, and offered there their sacrifices, incense and libations, which, if offered to the God of Israel, were contrary to his precept: but probably they rather there served their idols, which made the provocation of their offering greater. And, tho’ warned of the folly and sin of their idolatrous services, when they had God’s altar to go to, they perished in their perversion, and the high places were to the last frequented: it is called Bamah to his day. So inveterately rooted in the love of sin in the heart of the sinner.

2. Even after all the judgments executed upon them, the present generation committed the same abominations, polluting themselves with idols, and causing their children to pass through the fire to Mose, with the folly and wickedness of which God justly upbraids them; and how then could they dare enquire of him? or what answer of peace could they expect from him? he favors by himself, v. 31. neither their persons nor petitions should be regarded; and their schemes of carrying favour with their heathen matters, by compliances with their worship, and incorporating with them by unremarriages, he will blush: either they shall refuse to admit them to you with them, or despise them for their perish. Note, (1.) Little is ever got by sinful compliances: the very enemies of religion will honour those who shew the same and integrity; which they treat apostates with contempt. (2.) They who by a religious profession have once forfeited the world’s favour, may despair of ever recovering it again.

3. ¶ do I live, saith the LORD God, surely with a mighty hand, and ‘with a flareched-out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you. 34. And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a flareched-out arm, and with fury poured out. 35. And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. 36. Like as ‘I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the LORD God. 37. And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant. 38. And ‘I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sippurn, and ’they shall not enter into the land of Israel,’ and ye shall know that I am the LORD. 39. As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the LORD God, Can ye serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter do it, if ye will not horken unto us: but pollute ye my holy white do none with your gifts, and with your idols. 40. For ‘in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the LORD God, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them to the land, save me, there will I accept them, and there will I depose your offerings, and

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the firft-fruits of your obliations, with all your holy things. 41. I will accept you with your sweet favour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered, and I will be landfished in you before the heathen. 42. And ‘ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers. 43. And there ‘shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings wherein ye have been defined, and ye shall ’loche yourselves in your own fights, for all your evils that ye have committed. 44. And ‘ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have wrought with you for my name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye houle of Israel, faith the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 20:33-44

Since they would not bow to the fceptre of his righteous government, God here threatens,

1. To rule them with a rod of iron, disappointing their schemes, and pouring out his fury upon them, v. 33. They shall not be suffered so mingle with the heathen, whether they are scattered; but from thence will God collect them, when the Babylonian shall have fuddled their nations, they shall be brought into the wilderness of the people, be carried captives into Chaldea, and there God will judge and punish them, as he had punished their fathers in the wilderness, after they came out of Egypt. Note, They strive in vain, who seek to frustrate God’s decrees.

2. There is mercy in reserve for a remnant, when the rebels are purged out by his judgments.

[1.] The rebels shall be for ever cut off from the congregation of the Lord; shall never more enter the land of Israel, v. 38, given up to their idolatries, and totally excluded from God’s worship; so that they shall pollute his holy name in more, by joining him with their idols, and at the same time that they pretended to honour him with their gifts, still continuing in their idolatry. Note, (1.) The rebellious sinner will be eternally separated at last from the congregation of the jaff, and never enter the rest of glory. (2.) That soul is completely miserable whom God abandons. (3.) Pretences to religion, when the heart is enslaved by idol lulls, do but add profanacels and hypocrisy to iniquity.

[2.] The chosen shall be separated, and hled with God’s regard. They shall pass under the rod, visited with corrections, and recovered in the furnace of affliction; or they shall be marked and distinguished as God’s people, as the shepherd marks the sheep as they pass under the rod. They shall be brought again into the head of the covenants, be acknowledged as God’s peculiar people, be restored again from their dispersion to their own land, v. 41. and serve God in his Zion, his holy mountains, ver. 40. Their obliations and their worship shall be accepted; experience given them to acknowledge, bewail, and abhor themselves for their former transgressions; God will be landfished in them before the heathen, who will confide his faithfulness to his penumites, his power and grace displayed in their recovery; and they shall know that he is the Lord, by experience of these his dispositions of mercy towards them, wrought out for their fakes, who deserved nothing but to perish in their iniquities, but for his own name’s sake, most eminently to display his glory, as the promise-keeping and sin-pardening God, v. 44. Note, (1.) Afflictions are the most blessed means of good to God’s people. (2.) They who are marked in God’s eternal purposes, shall be preferred for the heavenly inheritance, amidst all the changes of this perishing world. (3.) When God accepts our persons in Christ Jesus, then our poor and imperfect services become a sweet favour through the Beloved. (4.) The sinner that returns to God and finds favour, sees in the glands of God’s love the baker, malignity, and ingratitude of sin, and leads himself for all his abominations. (5.) We never know God truly, till by experience coming to him as loft sinners, we prove the wonders of his pardoning love. (6.) All our salvation flows not from our defects, but God’s rich mercy; and as he designs his own glory herein, to the praise of the glory of his grace it must be wholly afcribed.

45. ¶ Moreover, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 46. ‘Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south-field.’ 47. And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD, Thus faith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour ’every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all stems from the spoth to the north shall be burnt therein. 48. And all flesh shall for that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not

be quenched. 49. Then said I, Ah Lord GOD, they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?

Ezekiel 20:45-49

This paragraph begins a new prophecy, and would most properly have begun the next chapter, the subject of both being the same, the threatened ruin of Judah and Jerusalem.

1. The forest of the south field, towards which the prophet is commanded to set his face and drop his word, is the cup of Jerusalem, full of inhabitants, unfruitful as the trees of the wood, and the knunts of wicked men fierce and ravenous as the beasts of the forest.

2. God threatens to kindle a fire in it, a fire of wrath; and the conflagration shall be universal, devouring and destroying all ranks, young and old without distinction, from one end of the land to the other, and none can quench it; a distinction so terrible shall mark the finger of divine vengeance, and even the surrounding heathens shall acknowledge that this is God’s doing, v. 48.

3. Ezekiel makes his complaint to God. ¶! Lord God, they say of me, Doth he not speak parables? they scoffed at the message he brought them, as unintelligible, and counted it not worth their attention. Note, They who have no inclination to profit by the word of God, will always have some fault to find with the delivery of it.