Ezekiel 20

CHAPTER 20THEME: Review of Israel’s long history of sins; future judgment and restorationChapters 20-24 contain the final predictions concerning the judgment of Jerusalem. There are two things to which I would like to call your attention in this section. First, notice how long and drawn out is God’s message to these people. Right down to the very day that Nebuchadnezzar besieged the city, God was willing to spare them. God would have removed Nebuchadnezzar from the city as He had done previously to the Assyrians and would not have permitted him to destroy it. However, the people did not turn to God, and the judgment came.

Right down to the last moment there was mercy extended to them. Second, the very day that the siege of Jerusalem began, the wife of Ezekiel died, and God told him not to mourn or weep for her at all. I consider this man Ezekiel a sharp contrast to the prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah had a woman’s heart, and he wept; the message he gave broke his own heart. Because He wept, the Lord Jesus was compared to Jeremiah. I’ll be honest with you though; Ezekiel is almost like an actor playing a part.

He goes through his part, but he is not moved by it. He seems to be pretty hardboiled all the way through. Ezekiel was simply a mouthpiece for God.

Ezekiel 20:1

REVIEW OF ISRAEL’S LONG HISTORY OF SINS; FUTURE JUDGMENT AND RESTORATIONIn chapter 20 we have a retrospect of the nation’s sins. Again, it is Ezekiel giving not his word, but God’s Word. He was very much like a Western Union boy who brings you a message. It may be a message of joy, it may be a message of sorrow, but the Western Union boy just delivers the messageyou are the one who is moved by it. More and more they are beginning to turn to this man Ezekielthey come now to get a word. This occurred in approximately 590 B.C. The destruction of Jerusalem took place shortly after, somewhere around 588-586 B.C. I do not think we can be dogmatic about these dates.

Ezekiel 20:2

He is not giving his word, he is giving God’s Word.

Ezekiel 20:3

These people are coming to complain and to criticize God. They say He is unfair to judge them and unfair to destroy Jerusalem. It is beginning to penetrate their thinking that it is really going to happen. Ezekiel is going to go over this ground again with them because God does not mind stating His charge or reviewing His reasons for the judgment He is to bring.

Ezekiel 20:5

God goes back to the very beginning when He called these people out of the land of Egypt, delivered them out of their slavery there, and brought them into the wilderness.

Ezekiel 20:13

The generation that went into the wilderness rebelled against God, and He let them die in the wilderness.

Ezekiel 20:21

The next generation was rebellious also.

Ezekiel 20:25

This is a strange passage of Scripture, and there is a difference of opinion among commentators as to what it means. I feel that the thought here is the same thought Paul had in 2Co_2:15-16"For we are unto God as a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life…." When God gave these people His Word and they rejected it, He gave them over to their own way. The very law that was good became bad because it condemned them and judged them. The same thing is true of the gospel today. If you listen to the gospel and reject it, it would actually be better if you had never heard it. If you reject it, the gospel becomes a savor of death unto you. You can never go before God and say that you had not heard it. Considering this tremendous condemnation, you would think God was through with these people. But tucked in here and there throughout the Book of Ezekiel we find marvelous, wonderful passages of promise. At the darkest time in their history, the light of prophecy shone the brightest.

Ezekiel 20:33

God tells them that He intends to bring them back into the land. God’s purpose with Israel will yet be fulfilled. He will someday be declared right by those who had said He was not right.

Ezekiel 20:45

“Prophesy against the forest of the south field"some commentators feel this refers to Judah, and others think it means the Negeb. At least, it is south. If you were to see the Negeb, you would wonder what happened to the forest. Well, my friend, God judged it; He said He would remove it. That land was once the land of milk and honey, but you cannot come to that conclusion when you look at it today. Not only is it not the land of milk and honey, they do not even have enough water there. This is a remarkable prophecy. God is not through with these people or with that land.