Ezekiel 20

The Rebellion of Israel

12 On August 14,* during the seventh year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, some of the leaders of Israel came to request a message from the LORD. They sat down in front of me to wait for his reply. 2Then this message came to me from the LORD: 3“Son of man, tell the leaders of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: How dare you come to ask me for a message? As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, I will tell you nothing!" 4“Son of man, bring charges against them and condemn them. Make them realize how detestable the sins of their ancestors really were. 5Give them this message from the Sovereign LORD: When I chose Israel—when I revealed myself to the descendants of Jacob in Egypt—I took a solemn oath that I, the LORD, would be their God. 61 took a solemn oath that day that I would bring them out of Egypt to a land I had discovered and explored for them—a good land, a land flowing with milk and honey, the best of all lands anywhere. 7Then I said to them, ‘Each of you, get rid of the vile images you are so obsessed with. Do not defile yourselves with the idols* of Egypt, for I am the LORD your God.’ 8“But they rebelled against me and would not listen. They did not get rid of the vile images they were obsessed with, or forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I threatened to pour out my fury on them to satisfy my anger while they were still in Egypt. 9But I didn’t do it, for I acted to protect the honor of my name. I would not allow shame to be brought on my name among the surrounding nations who saw me reveal myself by bringing the Israelites out of Egypt. 10So I brought them out of Egypt and led them into the wilderness. *' There I gave them my decrees and regulations so they could find life by keeping them. 12And I gave them my Sabbath days of rest as a sign between them and me. It was to remind them that I am the LORD, who had set them apart to be holy. 13“But the people of Israel rebelled against me, and they refused to obey my decrees there in the wilderness. They wouldn’t obey my regulations even though obedience would have given them life. They also violated my Sabbath days. So I threatened to pour out my fury on them, and I made plans to utterly consume them in the wilderness. ‘But again I held back in order to protect the honor of my name before the nations who had seen my power in bringing Israel out of Egypt. ‘But I took a solemn oath against them in the wilderness. I 2ort 5 swore I would not bring them into the land I had given them, a land flowing with milk and 304, honey, the most beautiful place on earth. 16For they had rejected my regulations, refused to Ezek 11:21; 14:3-7 follow my decrees, and violated my Sabbath days. Their hearts were given to their idols. 20:17 17Nevertheless, I took pity on them and held back from destroying them in the wilderness. soe 5:18 18"Then I warned their children not to follow in their parents’ footsteps, defiling them- Beat 4:34 selves with their idols. 19‘I am the Lor your God,’ I told them. ‘Follow my decrees, pay at- 20:19 tention to my regulations, 20and keep my Sabbath days holy, for they are a sign to remind Exod 6:73 20:2 you that I am the LORD your God.’ 20:21 21“But their children, too, rebelled against me. They refused to keep my decrees and fol- Num 25:1-3 low my regulations, even though obedience would have given them life. And they also 20:22. violated my Sabbath days. So again I threatened to pour out my fury on them in the wilder- 99.23 ness. 22Nevertheless, I withdrew my judgment against them to protect the honor of myname Deut 28:64-68 before the nations that had seen my power in bringing them out of Egypt. But I took a sol- 302. emn oath against them in the wilderness. I swore I would scatter them amongall the nations Ezek 6:9 24because they did not obey my regulations. They scorned my decrees by violating my Sab- 20:25 bath days and longing for the idols of their ancestors. 251 gave them over to worthless de- oe Oe -26, 28 crees and regulations that would not lead to life. 261 let them pollute themselves* with the 2 Thes 20-11 very gifts [had given them, and I allowed them to give their firstborn children as offerings to 20:28 0.49 their gods—so I might devastate them and remind them that J alone am the LORD. Rom 11:8

Judgment and Restoration

2727" Therefore, son of man, give the people of Israel this message from the Sovereign LORD: Your ancestors continued to blaspheme and betray me, 28for when I brought them into the land I had promised them, they offered sacrifices on every high hill and under every green tree they saw! They roused my fury as they offered up sacrifices to their gods. They brought their perfumes and incense and poured out their liquid offerings to them. 291 said to them, ‘What is this high place where you are going?’ (This kind of pagan shrine has been called Bamah—high place’—ever since.) 30“Therefore, give the people of Israel this message from the Sovereign LORD: Do you plan 30:30 3 to pollute yourselves just as your ancestors did? Do you intend to keep prostituting your- vag ® selves by worshiping vile images? 31For when you offer gifts to them and give your little chil- 20:31 dren to be burned as sacrifices,* you continue to pollute yourselves with idols to this day. 5,4:57°7°° Should I allow you to ask for a message from me, O people of Israel? As surely as J live, says Ezek 16:20 the Sovereign LORD, I will tell you nothing. 32You say, ‘We want to be like the nations all around us, who serve idols of wood and 20:92 a4:t7 stone.’ But what you have in mind will never happen. 33As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Ezek 16:20 LORD, I will rule over you with an iron fist in great anger and with awesome power. 34Andin 20:34 anger I will reach out with my strong hand and powerful arm, and I will bring you back* ine from the lands where you are scattered. 351 will bring you into the wilderness of the nations, 12 Cor 6:17 and there I will judge you face to face. 21 will judge you there just as I did your ancestorsin Beurso-10 the wilderness after bringing them out of Egypt, says the Sovereign Lor. 371 will examine 1 Cor 10:5-10 you carefully and hold you to the terms of the covenant.

35I will purge you of all those who 20:38 11rebel and revolt against me. I will bring them out of the countries where they are inexile, but Ezek 34:17-22they will never enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD. Amos 9:9-1020:25-26 Or / gave them worthless decrees and regulations.... I polluted them. 20:31 Or and make your littlechildren pass through the fire. 20:34 Greek version reads / will welcome you. Compare 2 Cor 6:17.Sa E ESEdren, as a justification for child sacrifice to the Canaanite godMolech. God gave them over to this delusion to get them toacknowledge him, to jar their consciences, and to revitalize theirfaith (20:26).20:35-38 When the Israelites disobeyed God by refusing toenter the Promised Land the first time, God chose to purify hispeople by forcing them to wander in the wilderness until thatentire generation died (Numbers 14:26-35). Here he promisedto purge the nation of its rebellious people again as they crossedthe vast wilderness from their captivity in Babylon. Only thosewho faithfully followed God would be able to return to their land.The purpose of this wilderness judgment would be to purge outail those who worshiped idols and to restore all those faithfulto God.

39” As for you, O people of Israel, this is what the Sovereign Lor» says: Go right ahead and worship your idols, but sooner or later you will obey me and will stop bringing shame on my holy name by worshiping idols. 40For on my holy mountain, the great mountain of Israel, says the Sovereign LORD, the people of Israel will someday worship me, and I will accept them. There I will require that you bring me all your offerings and choice gifts and sacrifices. 41When I bring you home from exile, you will be like a pleasing sacrifice to me. AndI will display my holiness through you as all the nations watch. 42Then when I have brought you home to the land I promised with a solemn oath to give to your ancestors, you will know that I am the LORD. 43You will look back onall the ways you defiled yourselves and will hate yourselves because of the evil you have done. 44You will know that I am the LORD, O people of Israel, when I have honored my name by treating you mercifully in spite of your wickedness. I, the Sovereign Lor», have spoken!”

Judgment against the Negev

45*Then this message came to me from the LORD: 46“Son of man, turn and face the south* and speak out against it; prophesy against the brushlands of the Negev. 47Tell the southern wilderness, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Hear the word of the LORD! I will set you on fire, and every tree, both green and dry, will be burned. The terrible flames will not be quenched and will scorch everything from south to north. 48And everyone in the world will see that I, the LORD, have set this fire. It will not be put out.’” 49Then I said, “O Sovereign LORD, they are saying of me, ‘He only talks in riddles!”