Promise and Judgement here in Ezekiel 11. Let’s see if we can learn something from it. I’m certain we can if we but study. So join me.
Let’s pray:
Lord Jesus, I am so glad You never abandon us. I am so grateful for your continued presence. Lead us through this and help us change the way we behave based on what we learn from You. Thank You, Lord.
Please read Ezekiel 11:1-4
Evil Rulers to Be Judged
1 Moreover, the Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the gate of the Lord’s house, which faced eastward. And behold, at the entrance of the gate there were twenty-five men; and I saw among them Jaazaniah the son of Azzur and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people. 2 Then the Spirit said to me, “Son of man, these are the men who devise evil and give wicked advice in this city, 3 who say, ‘Is not the time near to build houses? This city is [secure just like] the pot and we are the meat [in it].’ 4 Therefore, prophesy against them; prophesy, son of man!”
The Spirit lifted him up and brought him… oh Lord, there’s something wonderful it does in my heart to see all the times the Spirit relocated people. Yet this time it is to see and prophecy against the evil devisors of wicked advice.
Please read Ezekiel 11:5-12
5 Then the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and He said to me, “Say, ‘Thus says the Lord, “This is what you think, house of Israel, for I know your thoughts. 6 You have multiplied your slain in this city, and you have filled its streets with the corpses [of righteous men].” 7 Therefore, thus says the Lord God, “Your dead whom you have laid in the midst of your city are the meat and this city is the pot; but I shall force you out of [the security of] it. 8 You have feared the sword; so I will bring a sword upon you,” says the Lord God. 9 “And I will bring you out of the midst of the city and hand you over to strangers and execute judgment against you. 10 You will fall by the sword; I will judge and punish you [in front of your neighbors] at the border of [the land of] Israel; and you will know [without any doubt] that I am the Lord. 11 This city will not be a pot for you, nor will you be meat [safe] in it, but I will judge you at the border of Israel. 12 And you will know [without any doubt] that I am the Lord; for you have not walked in My statutes nor have you executed My ordinances, but you have acted in accordance with the ordinances of the nations around you.”’”
Know without any doubt, He is the Lord. King of Kings, Lord of Lords, in complete control. We can even see the judgment as a promise because evil will one day be eliminated. Blessed is He and blessed are we when we walk in His statues and execute His ordinances.
Please read Ezekiel 11:13
13 Now it came about while I was prophesying, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then I fell face downward and cried out loudly, “Alas, Lord God! Will You bring the remnant of Israel to a complete end?”
Familiar question. Many prophets have that question, worded differently, but that same question.
Lord, Your will be done.
Please read Ezekiel 11:14-16
Promise of Restoration
14 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 15 “Son of man, your brothers, your relatives, your fellow exiles and the whole house of Israel, all of them, are those to whom the [present] inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, ‘Go far away from the Lord; this land has been given to us as a possession.’ 16 Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Though I had removed Israel far away among the nations and though I had scattered them among the countries, yet I have been a sanctuary for them for a little while in the countries to which they had gone.”’
Sanctuary. Yes, He is a Sanctuary. Do you remember to thank Him and praise Him for His care of you every day?
Please read Ezekiel 11:17-21
It’s a Promise!
17 Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give [back] to you the land of Israel.”’ 18 When they return there, they will remove from it all [traces of] its detestable things and all its repulsive things (remnants of paganism). 19 And I will give them one heart [a new heart], and put a new spirit within them. I will take from them the heart of stone, and will give them a heart of flesh [that is responsive to My touch], 20 that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and do them. Then they shall be My people, and I will be their God. 21 But as for those whose heart longs for and follows after their detestable things and their repulsive things [associated with idolatry], on their own head I will repay [them in full for] their [vile] conduct,” says the Lord God.
What amazing promises. Restoration to the land and healing of their hearts and the ability to walk in His ways. Yet look, what you long for, if it be evil, you will get. So long for Him and His return.
Please read Ezekiel 11:22-25
22 Then the cherubim lifted up their wings with the wheels beside them, and the [Shekinah] glory of the God of Israel hovered over them. 23 Then the glory and brilliance of the Lord went up from the midst of the city and paused over the mountain, [the Mount of Olives] which is east of the city. 24 And the Spirit lifted me up and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God to the exiles in Chaldea (Babylonia). Then the vision that I had seen left me. 25 Then I told the exiles everything that the Lord had shown me.
More traveling via the Spirit. God took him to Babylonia and then look, the vision left him. But he knew, he was to tell what the Lord had shown him; to share the promise of restoration.
Glory and brilliance is what God looks like. Light. So much light. One day…‘And the city has no need of the sun nor of the moon to give light to it, for the glory (splendor, radiance) of God has illumined it, and the Lamb is its lamp and light.’ Revelation 21:23 Amazing promise.
Blessed be the “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29