Chuck Smith expounds on Ezekiel chapters 16-20, revealing God's judgment on Jerusalem's spiritual unfaithfulness and the call to repentance.
In this sermon, Chuck Smith provides an expository commentary on Ezekiel chapters 16 through 20, focusing on God's message to Jerusalem. He unpacks the historical and spiritual context of Jerusalem's inhabitants and highlights the seriousness of their spiritual failings. Through vivid illustrations and biblical explanations, Smith calls listeners to recognize God's judgment and embrace repentance.
Text
Shall we turn in our Bibles at this time to the sixteenth chapter of Ezekiel. The prophecy of Ezekiel, chapter 16.
Ezekiel declares,
Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations (Eze 16:1-2),
So God is speaking out against Jerusalem. But, of course, a city is always made up of inhabitants. A city as itself is not good or evil. It all depends on what the people are that live within that city. So it is against those who are inhabiting Jerusalem that God speaks.
And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto Jerusalem; Thy birth and thy nativity is in the land of Canaan; thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother a Hittite (Eze 16:3).
Now, before the children of Israel came to dwell in the land, the first inhabitants of the land of Palestine were the Hittites and then also the Amorites. And so Jerusalem... well, first of all, rather the Amorites followed by the Hittites. But thy father was an Amorite, thy mother a Hittite, referring to the nations that inhabited the land prior to the coming in of Abraham.
And as for thy nativity, in the day in which you were born thy naval was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all (Eze 16:4).
Evidently in those days when a child was born, of course, the first thing you do is you wash the child, and then evidently they salted the child. This, no doubt, would be to kill bacteria, because salt is a tremendous antiseptic as far as killing bacteria.
We were out in a group that were exploring for the lost Virgin Guadalupe mine, and we were blasting away some boulders. And one of the fellows that was with us, working with us, got hit by a piece of rock that had cut off from the boulder when we were blasting it out, and cut his hand. And the old miner that was with us reached in and got out a little pack of salt and poured it all over. Of course, the guy winced like everything. But he said, "I never go out without my bag of salt." He said, "It\
Sermon Outline
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I
- Introduction to Ezekiel's prophecy against Jerusalem
- Historical context of Jerusalem's inhabitants
- God's indictment of Jerusalem's spiritual state
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II
- Symbolism of birth and nativity in Ezekiel 16
- Explanation of ancient customs like washing and salting newborns
- Illustration of salt as a preservative and antiseptic
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III
- Application of God's judgment to the people of Jerusalem
- The consequences of spiritual neglect and unfaithfulness
- Call to repentance and restoration
Key Quotes
“So God is speaking out against Jerusalem. But, of course, a city is always made up of inhabitants.” — Chuck Smith
“Salt is a tremendous antiseptic as far as killing bacteria.” — Chuck Smith
“Thus saith the Lord GOD unto Jerusalem; Thy birth and thy nativity is in the land of Canaan.” — Chuck Smith
Application Points
- Recognize the seriousness of spiritual unfaithfulness and its consequences.
- Embrace repentance as a path to restoration with God.
- Understand the importance of spiritual cleansing and preservation in your walk with God.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the primary audience of Ezekiel's prophecy?
The prophecy is directed against the inhabitants of Jerusalem, addressing their spiritual condition.
What does the reference to salt signify in the sermon?
Salt is used as an antiseptic and preservative, symbolizing cleansing and protection.
Why does Chuck Smith emphasize the historical inhabitants of Jerusalem?
To show the spiritual heritage and context of Jerusalem before Israel's arrival.
What is the main message of Ezekiel 16 according to the sermon?
It reveals God's judgment on Jerusalem's abominations and calls for repentance.
