Ezekiel

A Brief Introduction 

Global Message for Today 

God brings His people into difficult circumstances, but He is with them. Ezekiel was a priest, ready and of age to enter upon the Lord’s work, but God had ordered the situation so that he had been taken as a captive into Babylon (vv. 1–3). How distressing it must have been for Ezekiel to lose his opportunity to serve in the temple! Yet God had a plan for Ezekiel even greater than he had anticipated. Although Ezekiel was far from Jerusalem, God was not far from His servant. Christians must remember that great trials and pagan neighbors or coworkers cannot separate us from our God or frustrate His purposes for us. He will not waste our lives but will be with us and use us for His glory if we follow Him.

Though Ezekiel’s vision is dazzling and some of its details are hard to interpret, the big picture it presents reveals truths about God that are most encouraging. Behind the visible world of politics, wars, and personal tragedies there sits One upon a throne of glory (vv. 26–28), ruling the world by His power and His servants, the spirits of heaven. Christians must live with their eyes open to the unseen world (2 Kings 6:15–17; Eph. 6:12). Be assured that God’s rule is universal (vv. 15–25). The chariot throne with its complexity and harmony teaches that God’s providence, though hidden in mystery, rules all things through an amazingly wise design (Eph. 1:11). We should learn to look beyond circumstances to the One on the throne. How can you seek a spiritual awareness of the glory of Christ that gives you courage and hope? 

Ezekiel had no supernatural qualities of his own. He was a man, a son of Adam, with all the frailties and fears common to fallen men. However, God called him, filled him with the Spirit, and commissioned him to a great work. His power to preach came from God. God still chooses weak human instruments to serve Him (2 Cor. 4:7). Every servant of the Lord must rely on the Spirit’s empowering to fulfill his task. How often do you pray for your pastor that God’s Spirit would enable him to speak God’s Word boldly?

God’s Word is a hard message, for it is a message to sinners. People have rebelled against God, turned their backs on God, hardened their faces, and become stony-hearted toward Him. God is rightly offended at their rebellion, but in His mercy He calls sinners to repentance through the preaching of the Word. When you hear a hard message against sin from a preacher, do not despise him for his faithfulness. Welcome it and repent.  

The Lord’s instruction to Ezekiel to eat the words He gave him (v. 3) and to receive them in his heart (v. 10) has pointed application for preachers and also for all Christians. To eat something is to receive its nutrients so that it becomes part of the body and fuels its activity. Unless ministers who preach the Word first feed their own souls, they are simply spouting theory. They must preach God’s truth from their hearts. Every Christian should receive the Word of God the same way, whether as they hear it in a sermon or read it in the Scripture. Take time to “chew” on the Word, to prayerfully meditate so that its truths will become a part of your mind and heart and give the necessary strength for spiritual activity. When do you regularly meditate on the Word?

Whenever God gives authority to one person over others, He also holds that leader accountable as a “watchman” over them. This person has a responsibility to promote good, speak against evil, and warn of sin’s consequences. This is especially true of the elders of the church, who “watch for your souls, as they that must give account” (Heb. 13:17). God does not hold His watchmen accountable for how people respond to the truth, but He does require watchmen to faithfully speak the truth to those under their charge. How can we encourage God’s watchmen to serve well in their callings? What would motivate someone to be a good watchman, even when this task is far from popular?  

Why did God send a series of strange signs to the captives? It was to teach by repetition. God was instructing them line by line. He was emphasizing His will, patiently showing them the consequences of sin. God is patient with sinners. How good God is! This gives us all the more reason to listen humbly to His Word.

Although there were many signs, the message they conveyed was the same: Israel’s sin was going to be followed by judgment. When God speaks, we should take note. He has a message for us that is worthy of our attention and reception. He does not change. His warning to Judah of siege and famine was the same warning He had given over 800 years earlier through Moses. Let no one deceive you with empty words. The wrath of God is coming on sinners who do not repent.

One of the most striking truths to emerge from Ezekiel is the severity of the judgment upon the people for their sin. The cutting and division of Ezekiel’s hair portray intense judgment. With emphatic tone God stated, “Behold, I, even I, am against thee, and will execute judgments in the midst of thee” (v. 8). This declaration is supported by the repeated phrase “I the LORD have spoken it” (vv. 13,15,17). In a world that makes light of God’s wrath upon sin, we must remember that by nature we are all sinners under the fury and condemnation of God. His wrath abides upon unbelievers. Only Christ can save from the judgment of God. How does this truth make Christ precious to your soul?  

Idolatry is a common sin. However, idolatry is not confined to worshiping before a statue or picture; it is a disposition of the soul that turns away from God to replace Him with created things, what Ezekiel called a “whorish heart.” By nature the human heart is idolatrous (Rom. 1:21–23). It loves itself and this world instead of God and His will (1 John 2:15–17). Idolatry can take many forms and is often a secret sin. God is against all idolatry, for He deserves and demands our worship. He is jealous over our wholehearted love. We are to have no other gods before him, not even the god of self. To what forms of idolatry are you most attracted? How do you need to repent of idolatry?  

The intensity of the language in this chapter and the repetition of the words “the time is come” (vv. 7,12) emphasize the certainty of God’s judgment upon sin. His time for judgment upon all sin will come at His appointed hour (Eccl. 8:11–13). It is imperative to be ready to meet the Lord. Have you turned from sin to the Savior? If not, why not? The time of judgment is coming.

No man will be able to deliver himself from the judgment of God. No amount of gold or human effort will provide safety from the wrath of God (v. 19). If souls do not escape to Christ and find deliverance in Him, they will not be delivered. There is no salvation through riches or “being religious” but only through the Lord Jesus Christ, the only Redeemer of God’s elect. Cast away your idols now, for they cannot save you, and flee to the Lord.  

Even today many people represent divine beings with visible objects, or direct their worship to or through images. Millions still engage in gross idolatry. However, people in secularized nations may have difficulty identifying idol worship in their culture. In such societies, idols may take other forms, such as pornography, captivation by video entertainment, or the love of money, but secular idols no less rule the souls of those who adore them. God sees all idolatry, and He views it with disgust. It is particularly offensive to Him when those who participate in public worship with His people profane His holy presence with their wicked idols. What are the most common idols worshiped by people around you? How does God view these idols? How are you fleeing this idolatry?  

This vision suggests four important truths to consider about God’s judgment. (1) Divine judgment is justified. The text shows that sinners are completely defiled and deluded, being complacent in sin. (2) Divine judgment is comprehensive. None were to be spared, regardless of age or gender, because all have sinned. (3) Divine judgment is infallible. That it began at the sanctuary shows that the religious hypocrites are known by God, who looks through religion to the heart. (4) Divine judgment is escapable. God has marked those who belong to Him, redeeming them through Christ’s blood, sealing them with the Holy Spirit, and enabling them to evidence their salvation in holy grief and repentance for sin.

Christ the Priest is the Mediator charged by God to distinguish between those who will fall under divine judgment and those who will be saved. The central figure described in this vision is the one clothed in linen like a priest, standing beside the altar of burnt offerings in the temple. Christ is the High Priest of His people (Heb. 8:1). He has offered Himself once for all their sins (Heb. 10:12). He alone has the authority to mark people as saved. Whom does He mark? He marks only those who sorrow over sin and cry out to God. Is Christ your priest? Are you looking to Him by faith in His saving death and resurrection? Is your heart broken and contrite over sin, crying out to God for mercy?  

This vision could well have the title “Ichabod,” which means either “there is no glory” or “where is the glory?” (1 Sam. 4:21). The glory of God had descended on the temple at its dedication, overwhelming all those who were there (1 Kings 8:10–11). But now the glory of God departed, and soon the temple would be destroyed. However, God’s purpose of grace cannot be frustrated. The temple would be rebuilt, and that second temple would know a greater glory than the first. God would come to it, not in a mysterious cloud but in the person of the Son (Mal. 3:1). In union with Christ, the church is now the temple of the living God (1 Cor. 3:16–17). How tragic it is for a church today to have “Ichabod” written over it! Nothing is worse than to be a church without His presence, thinking of itself as rich and wise even while Christ is outside knocking to enter and calling it to repent (Rev. 3:17–20). How can a church avoid this tragedy?  

That God promised to be a “sanctuary” for His scattered people is precious and encouraging. God is full of mercy, and that mercy is often seen in the darkest and deepest trials. Fellowshipping with God does not depend on any location or special building. David desired to see the Lord’s power and glory in the dry and thirsty land, just as he had seen it in the sanctuary (Ps. 63:1–2). In Christ, God’s glory is no longer located at a particular building, but with all who worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:21–24). Providence often takes the church to hard places, but God does not abandon her. No matter where you may be, draw near to God through Christ in unity with His people, and through His Spirit the Lord will be your sanctuary (Eph. 2:18).

Regeneration is a work that we need but only God can do (vv. 19–20). The old heart is stone cold, lifeless, insensitive, incapable of doing anything in the direction of God. God transforms the dead heart into a heart of flesh with vitality and spiritual impulses. This is the new birth (John 3:3–8; Titus 3:3–8) that produces obedience to God’s Word (1 John 2:29; 3:9). Without this new heart man is doomed (v. 21). You must be born again. Are you? If so, rejoice in God’s amazing grace. If not, then feel the danger of your impending damnation and cry out to Jesus Christ to save you from your sins.  

From the beginning of the nation’s existence God had raised up prophets to warn the people of certain judgment if they broke the covenant and did not repent. For hundreds of years prophets were preaching the same message. Those who needed to repent rejected prophet after prophet and denied the threatened judgment because it had not yet happened. That is the same attitude expressed by the generation that would perish in the flood, and it will also be expressed by deniers of the second coming (2 Peter 3:4). Though God’s judgments appear to move slowly, they move certainly. Justice delayed is not justice denied. The judgments of God should cause fear and trembling in the hearts of men. Sinners should take advantage of God’s patience, which is designed to lead to repentance (Rom. 2:4), and flee the wrath to come. If judgment came today, would you be ready? Why or why not?  

It is part of a faithful ministry to expose error (Titus 1:9). Ezekiel’s preaching stood in sharp contrast to the words of many of his fellow ministers in Babylon. Their lying words and empty visions lulled the people into a false sense of security. People naturally seek to hide from truths that expose sin and warn of judgment. But Ezekiel preached in such a way as to expose the false prophets for what they were, regardless of the consequences to his own popularity. False prophets appear in every age, and God is always against them. We must be careful to test what they say and not listen to those who do not speak according to God’s Word. What false prophets does the church need to beware of in our day?  

We must flee from idolatry (1 Cor. 10:14; 1 John 5:21). Yet this is more subtle than we may realize. Although idolatry revolves around objects and images, it is rooted in the human heart (vv. 3–4,7). Therefore it is not enough to get rid of the physical thing we have made into an idol, although this must often be done (Matt. 5:28–29). As John Calvin said, the human heart is an idol factory. To put idolatry to death, we must deal with fears and desires that have grown far larger than any created thing deserves (Col. 3:5). Whenever we love something or someone in a way that is not dominated by love for God, that love has degenerated into a proud and idolatrous lust (1 John 2:15–16). At the heart of the gospel is the call to turn away from all such idols and to give our obedience and hope to the living God (1 Thess. 1:9–10). That is the only way to escape God’s wrath. Trusting in Christ requires us to turn from our deepest idolatry: the false god of our self-righteousness. Why is this so hard? Why is it so good?  

The nation’s description as a wild and useless growth explains why judgment was necessary: sin had left the people spiritually fruitless and consequently suitable only as fuel for the fire. To see the full tragedy, compare this with Isaiah’s song of the vineyard (Isa. 5:1–7). The Lord had planted His people as a noble vine and made every provision for them to produce the fruit of righteousness and justice. However, in spite of all the privileges given and much patience, they produced only the bad fruit of sin. They had spurned their privileges and had become good for nothing but kindling. This sounds a sober warning to all whom God has placed in a position of spiritual privileges, such as a godly home or a gospel-preaching church. Do not despise what God has given you, or your judgment will be all the worse. How can those with such privileges use them well?  

Idolatry is a personal attack upon the honor of God, just as adultery is a personal attack upon the honor of one’s spouse, for in both cases one despises the person to whom one owes great love and wastes that love on one to whom it does not belong. The horrors of “whoredom,” with its disgraceful behavior and betrayal of one’s closest companion, should move us to grieve over our sins against God. Beneath the conflicts and lusts of men is a corrupt heart that should provoke us all to cry out, “We have been spiritual adulterers!” Therefore let us humble ourselves, as James exhorts us, and submit to God with mourning over our unfaithfulness to Him who has loved us most (James 4:1–10).

The solution to spiritual adultery is summed up in the word “remember” (vv. 22,43,61,63). We must remember God’s past acts of love in creating us, sustaining us, and performing great deeds of mercy, supremely the death of His Son, and we must respond to His love with amazed and grateful love. We must remember our horrible sins against God, and we must respond with grief and hatred for sin, along with a sincere desire for new obedience. If we remember these things with faith, love, and repentance, we will discover that God also will “remember” His covenant promises and establish an everlasting relationship with us so that we may truly know Him. Indeed, our gratitude and love will overflow as we realize that our remembering Him was caused by His first remembering us (vv. 60–63).  

God expects people to keep their word and fulfill their promises, even promises made with unbelievers and pagans (vv. 16–19). While no promise or oath can bind us to commit sin, we must never violate our commitments just because a better opportunity comes alone (vv. 7,17).

“I the LORD have spoken and have done it” (v. 24). God controls all events for His own glory. Nebuchadnezzar was a great eagle from every human perspective; his kingdom was majestic and his power unmatched. Yet he was nothing apart from God. Babylon was the means God used to inflict His purposed judgment on Judah. The God who ordered all the events in the sixth century BC still sits on the same throne governing the affairs of states throughout the world. In His own sovereign way God advances the kingdom of Christ. How does that encourage you today?  

God is the Owner of all men: “all souls are mine” (v. 4). Since God created us, we are accountable to Him. Each individual is responsible before God for his own sin. To ignore personal responsibility to God is to dishonor God and degrade men to the level of beasts. We must not attempt to blame others for our wrongdoings, even if they tempted us (Gen. 3:12) or set an evil example for us, such as the case with wicked parents. Christ will not accept such excuses when He summons each person before Him on the judgment day (2 Cor. 5:10).

This chapter answers three key questions about repentance: (1) Why should sinners repent? They must repent because God owns every person, knows the true condition of every person, and inflicts death on every sinner. (2) How must sinners repent? They must repent by turning from all their sins back to God with their hearts and behavior. (3) What do repentant sinners receive? They receive the forgiveness of sin and life. So the urgent question goes to every unrepentant sinner, “Why will you die?” What reasons and motives hold back sinners from repenting? How would you answer them?  

Pride comes before a fall. The young lions, representing the kings of Israel, felt invincible but were eventually taken in the snare. Their disregard for God paved the way for their downfall. In the parable, the second young lion behaved exactly as the first one and was taken in the pit exactly as the first one had been. Insensitivity to the results of sin betrays a hard and callous heart. Sin has terrible consequences for both individuals and nations. Like Ezekiel, Christians have good cause to take up a lamentation against the sins that plague their nation and pray that God will be favorable and raise up righteous rulers before it becomes too late, as it did for Judah. How are you praying for your nation?  

Do not play games with God. He has no interest in the prayers of those who cling to idols in their hearts (vv. 3,31). He is not impressed with worship on Sunday without faithfulness on Monday through Saturday. He despises the study of the Bible without obedience to the Bible. He welcomes sinners, but only sinners repenting of sin, for He will not save sinners in a way that profanes His holy name (v. 39).

The hinge upon which salvation turns is the glory of God’s name. When Israel’s sins provoked the Lord to anger, He saved them for the sake of His name (vv. 9,14,22,44). His works all aim at the goal that the world may know He is the Lord (vv. 5,9,12,20,26,38,42,44). God does not save believers for anything in them but simply for the praise of His glory (Eph. 1:6,12,14). Why is this a great source of consolation and peace to those broken over their sins? How then should Christians respond to their salvation?  

God sovereignly used the Babylonians to accomplish His purpose of judgment against both Judah and Ammon. The pagan king made the decision by various means of divination. But just as the Lord superintends the disposing of lots (Prov. 16:33), so He does even the pagan’s looking into a liver. There is no such thing as fate or chance. All things operate according to God’s will.

God’s message of judgment contains a word of hope centered on Christ (v. 27). God promised through Jacob that kingship would not depart from Judah until the rightful King would come (Gen. 49:10). For years there was never a scepter belonging to Judah, and then there was David. Then, again, because of the sins of David’s sons there was no king for centuries. But in the fullness of time Jesus, David’s ideal son, appeared and forever reigns. No matter how dark things become for you or for your nation, hope in Christ, for His kingdom will never fail.  

The catalog of corruptions in this chapter teaches that man’s depravity is such that there is no sin he is incapable of committing. Both private sins and public sins flow from wicked hearts. We must not imagine that we are any different. God knows the depth of corruption that belongs to each one of us. God would have us know our sin and therefore the Holy Spirit convinces and convicts. Sin is exposed in order that we might repent of it and that God’s justice would be clearly observed.

The parts played by both the civil and religious leaders in contributing to Judah’s litany of sins remind us of the importance of having godly men in authority, both in the state and in the church. Wickedness at the top drips to the bottom. Christians are often quick to complain about leaders, but how often do they pray for them? How could you cultivate a habit of regularly praying for the leaders of your church and civil government?  

The degrading and defiling nature of sin is vividly portrayed here. The details and language are shocking because sin against God is shocking. One sin leads to another, and wicked habits are formed, thus resulting in a desensitized mind and a readiness to entertain wicked thoughts and engage in wicked actions. That these explicit details are recorded is not without significance. God speaks so as to convince sinners of the dreadfulness of their sin and their misery and the danger on account of that sin. If we find this chapter offensive, how much more offensive does God find our sin! How should this vivid portrayal of idolatry move us to grieve and repent of our own idols?  

Jerusalem’s description as a rusty pot beyond salvage is a tragic picture and a fearful warning. Throughout her history God had given multiple opportunities for the pot to be cleansed, but the people had refused to receive the divine scouring and scrubbing. The time had come to meet the Lord in judgment. This is a warning, particularly to people who hear God’s Word over and over again without responding with genuine faith and repentance. The heart is becoming hard with unrepentant hearing. What are the signs that a person is hardening under the gospel instead of responding rightly?

God is our Maker, and He has the right to take our lives when He sees fit, and even to regulate how we grieve for His glory (Lev. 10:1–3). Ordinarily God permits His people to express their grief in appropriate ways (Gen. 50:10; 2 Sam. 1:17; Acts 8:2), though not as those without hope (1 Thess. 4:13). However, Ezekiel was a sign from God that His wrath would bring bereavement beyond grieving, desolation so absolute that even the healing process of mourning would be denied the people. This sign points to hell itself, where the wicked will never find peace but will weep and gnash their teeth forever (Matt. 8:12; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30), which is their eternal punishment (Matt. 25:46).  

God has a great jealousy for His own glory and worship. He knows when He is mocked and His holiness is profaned. He does not ignore sin, wherever it appears or whoever is guilty. God will cause all men to know that He is the Lord (vv. 5,7,11,17). There is no other God beside Him. He will judge all nations, whether or not they have acknowledged Him as God. He will call every person to account for his sins against His moral law. On judgment day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of the Father (Isa. 45:22–23; Phil. 2:9–11). How should this truth shape our lives? How should it motivate us to support missions?  

Riches offer no security in the day of God’s judgment. Tyre was a wealthy place, full of merchandise and commerce, but none of that was able to deliver it in the days of God’s wrath. Once it rejoiced over Jerusalem’s fall as an opportunity for profit, but its joy turned to horror and destruction. Rich people may look down on the suffering and exploit the weak, but their days are numbered. Their wealth cannot save them (Ps. 49:6– 7). We cannot be redeemed with silver and gold but only by the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18–19). Consider Christ’s searching question of “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36). Losing our wealth and fame is nothing in comparison to losing our soul and facing the wrath of God.  

Tyre was the epitome of pride and stands as a warning to all against the dangers of this sin. The city of Tyre boasted of its own beauty and was convinced of its superiority. Pride is the forerunner of judgment and trouble. God brought the proud city low. “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished” (Prov. 16:5). The cause of pride is irrelevant; God hates it. We must remember that all we are and have we owe to God. He distributes gifts, talents, and abilities according to His sovereign good pleasure. There is absolutely no legitimate cause for boasting, but only for thanksgiving. How can we beware of pride and kill it?  

When God gives honor, ability, or beauty to one of His creations, too often that creature becomes puffed up with wicked and foolish pride instead of lowering himself in grateful worship to God. So it was with Satan, with Adam in the garden, and with many kings and other people since then. We must all be careful because pride is an insidious sin that dwells in the hearts of all men. Natural man seeks to take the place of God. Let us be quick to acknowledge that God sovereignly distributes gifts and abilities according to His will, and that we have nothing apart from what God has given. Whenever we find ourselves in a position of prosperity or prestige, let us resolve to humbly serve God by His grace in Christ for His glory alone.  

We are reminded by this passage not to trust in princes or in human power but in God. Egypt was a mighty nation, and some in Israel had put their confidence in her. But this creature confidence was misplaced. Egypt could no more save Israel than save herself. The people of Egypt gloried in their power and in their self-made prosperity, but their boasting was in vain. All that they had was due to God’s common grace, yet they failed to acknowledge Him. In His time they were shown to be powerless and poor. God raises up nations and brings down nations according to His will. In what powers of man do people commonly trust today? How can you trust in God alone for those concerns?  

That Egypt’s judgment is called the day of the Lord (v. 3) is a reminder of God’s control of all the affairs of time. From the perspective of history, Babylon’s invasion and subjection of Egypt in the sixth century BC could be explained by political and military causes. However, there is more to history than meets the eye. God’s providence rules and orchestrates all things to achieve His glory through judgment and salvation.

The day of the Lord against Egypt and every other declaration of it in the Old Testament points to that final day when Christ will come and bring ultimate judgment and salvation. That time is set, and it will display perfect justice. All who have trusted in idols or mere men will be put to shame. All unforgiven sin and unrepentant sinners will be punished. How can we prepare for the day of the Lord so that we can greet it with joy?  

The sight of a great tree being cut down reminds us of how the high and lofty can quickly become firewood. Great men are nothing without God. The king of Assyria was noted for his stature and splendor. His kingdom was vast, and he was filled with pride, but God humbled him and judged him according to his wickedness. In the time of judgment his greatness counted for nothing. No man, however great, can stand against the power and wrath of God. The proud sinner will be brought to shame and ruin, but God gives grace to the humble. What men and women are commonly viewed as great ones or celebrities? How will it go for them on judgment day if they do not follow Christ?  

The powers of this world can seem like massive dragons and beasts that can never be overcome (Rev. 13). However, the Lord will slaughter them when He pleases, just as He broke Egypt at the Red Sea and again by the Babylonians. Many mighty empires have had their day in history, but when God had fulfilled His purposes for them they fell. With their fall, great leaders have joined the vast crowd of spirits of the damned in hell, powerless to do anything on earth and consigned to wait until the judgment day. How very different is the path of the righteous! Death brings them to peace (Isa. 57:1–2), and the judgment day will bring them to unspeakable honor and joy (Dan. 12:3). Which path are you walking, the path of worldly glory and hell or the path of Christ and heaven?  

The Lord sincerely calls sinners to repent and come back to Him (v. 11). God is good and kind, even to those who hate Him. Through His preachers He urges and even pleads with His enemies so that they might escape His righteous judgment (2 Cor. 5:20). What amazing grace and mercy to wicked sinners! We should marvel at His gospel, run into His open arms, and seek to be His voice by spreading the gospel to whomever we can. How does the gospel call reveal the loving heart of Christ?

Sinners hear God’s Word but respond out of their hatred for God. In some cases, instead of repenting of their sins they accuse God of sin (v. 17). People are sometimes offended when God welcomes sinners who turn back to His ways and when He judges seemingly good people who commit sin and refuse to repent. In other cases, people rejoice in the Word but only because they find it interesting or entertaining. They give it no more credence or obedience than a beautiful love song (vv. 30–33). We must repent of our sin and our self-righteousness and believe God’s Word with total submission.  

Of all the analogies to describe God’s saving work, the shepherd image is one of the most precious. Christ alluded to this chapter in His teaching on the good shepherd (John 10). As the good shepherd He loves, cares for, guides, guards, and feeds His sheep. He willingly laid down His life to save His sheep. Consider the good shepherd as He revealed Himself in this chapter of Ezekiel. The Lord God is the shepherd (v. 11). And yet the Son of David is the one and only shepherd (v. 23). Thus the good shepherd is the incarnate Lord, the God-man, the Son who is one with His Father (John 10:30).

Consider too the condition of His sheep. They are scattered (v. 12), lost, and sick (v. 16). They have suffered much from the wicked (v. 21). They cannot save themselves but depend entirely upon their shepherd to rescue, provide for, and protect them. 3. Consider finally the work of the shepherd. He seeks and saves the lost (v. 12). He heals them and feeds them (vv. 14,16). He also judges them (vv. 17,20), so that they will be rescued from the wicked hidden among them. How do these truths show us the beauty of Jesus Christ? How do they attract people to desire to be a sheep of this shepherd?  

The law of the harvest is an inviolable law. We reap what we sow (Gal. 6:7–9). The people of mount Seir had lived by the sword and were going to die by the sword. They had scorned Israel for her desolation, but they also would be brought to desolation. God’s justice always gives what is deserved. This is why the gospel is such good news, for Christ took the full guilt and penalty of the sins of His people. He took what His people deserved, and His people receive what He deserves. Justice is served, and His people are saved. Be warned not to be like Edom, who stood before God on its own.  

Sinners cannot save themselves. Salvation is all of God’s grace and for His glory (Eph. 1:3–14). Repeatedly God said “I will” in this chapter. The Lord changes filthy idolaters into cleansed worshipers. He makes stubborn enemies into submissive servants and takes estranged outsiders and draws them into covenant friendship. Salvation is begun by God’s initiative, is effective by His power, and is completed by His determination. What is impossible with man is possible with God. While we should despair of saving ourselves, we should hope confidently in the Lord’s salvation.

Real salvation cannot be separated from practical holiness of life. Grace does not enable hypocrisy. If God saved a person but did not make that person holy, then salvation would not glorify God but would pollute His holy name. Real, saving grace produces a new heart and a new spirit. Obstinate clinging to idols gives way to brokenhearted repentance over sin. Everyone in whom the Spirit dwells will show it by a life of obedience to God’s moral law. This is the great test of whether a person is born again. No emotional experience or rational belief can take the place of a new heart that produces new obedience. What is the evidence that God gave you a new heart toward Him?  

Man’s hopeless state without God is clearly portrayed in this passage. The picture of death and desolation highlights the devastating results of man’s fall into sin. Satan has slaughtered the human race, and all mankind is dead in sin, utterly without spiritual life. Preachers can preach with all their heart, and we can move bones around, but until the Spirit of the Lord comes there will be no life. How should this move us to pray for the lost? How should it move us to praise God for our salvation?

Christ’s kingdom will flourish despite every apparent obstacle. He is the servant-king (v. 24) who perfectly does His Father’s will and rules with omnipotent power in heaven and on earth. His church shall be built and His people shall all be eternally saved. This truth should fill even the most troubled believer with hope and confidence. The church should never have a defeatist mindset. Christ reigns and will reign forever and forever!  

After revelations of resurrection from spiritual death to serve the Christ (36:1—37:28), Ezekiel prophesied of the worldwide opposition that would come against the peaceful kingdom of the Messiah, and its ultimate victory by supernatural, divine intervention. This vision finds partial fulfillment whenever the wicked attack the church of Christ and the gospel triumphs. Its ultimate fulfillment will arrive when Christ returns. Christians should not be surprised when the world declares war on them; this is an ancient battle. However, Christians should also be optimistic: all the world will know that our God is the Lord!  

The Lord God’s victory over the enemies of His people will be total. The wicked will be judged in overwhelming numbers, as is clear from the graphic references to their slaughter and the disposal of their bodies and equipment. All nations will know that King Jesus is Lord (vv. 13,21; Phil. 2:10). Even now God has poured out the Spirit of Christ upon His people (v. 29). Therefore, the great question is where you will stand on that great day. Will you be among His enemies or His people? The answer to that question about the future resolves into a question about the present. Do you have His Spirit working faith and obedience in you today?  

As a godly man of the priestly line, Ezekiel must have been deeply distressed at his vision of the departure of God’s glory from the temple (8:1—11:25) and the news that the holy city had been destroyed (33:21). God’s special presence with Israel distinguished them from all other nations (Ex. 33:15–16) and was the life and joy of the godly (Pss. 46; 84). This vision of measuring out a new temple would have filled him with hope, for it was a pledge that God would see to everything necessary so that His presence would remain forever with His people (37:26–27). However, God was not concerned about buildings, for He had revealed that His presence would dwell by the Spirit in a transformed heart (11:16,19–20; 36:26–27; 37:14; 39:29). The meaning of the vision lies in its symbolism of God’s restored presence with His worshipers. What does it mean to hope in and seek after God’s spiritual presence?  

The symbolism of the holy places in the new temple would have reminded Ezekiel that the God who dwells with His people is the holy King (v. 4), whose servants are mighty spirits (vv. 18,20). His presence inspires fear and awe and commands reverence. Yet the images of palm trees frequently appearing in this vision (v. 18) imply that His holiness does not bring death to His people but abundant life. This is the hope of believers: that the Lord God will so dwell among them by the Spirit that they will rejoice with trembling. How will this hope be gloriously fulfilled when Christ returns?  

The temple, including its courts, was a holy space that was separated from the common (vv. 14,20). Yet this was a place of human activity, requiring “chambers” for God’s servants to work and to eat the holy food of their portion of the offerings (v. 13). These aspects of Ezekiel’s vision would have assured him that God would not only give His presence but would also provide for the needs of the ministers who would serve Him there. This reminds us that the church must provide for the physical needs of its pastors (1 Cor. 9:13–14). It also reminds us that God provides for His priesthood. The priests of Aaron’s line had largely failed to honor the Lord (7:26; 22:26), but in Christ God’s people have all become priests who eat from the benefits of Christ’s sacrifice (Isa. 61:6; Heb. 13:8–9). How does God feed His people with His holy things as they worship Him today?  

God’s grace does not diminish His holiness. Ezekiel’s vision depicts God’s presence returning to His people, a work of amazing grace to those guilty of idolatry and other horrible sins. Yet His presence did not return in a soft or mild way but as “glory” that cast the prophet upon his face (vv. 2–3). The most glorious and holy place on earth was still a mere footstool for the feet of the heavenly King (v. 7). The gospel still shines with glory, the glory of grace (2 Cor. 4:6; Eph. 1:6). The Lord’s presence will always require us to humble ourselves and repent of our sins with appropriate shame (vv. 7–11). Why do people resist this and prefer another approach to worship, whether it be casual or formal? How can we cultivate a deeper sense of God’s glory in our worship?  

The presence of the king (“prince”) in the temple was another symbol of great hope for Israel (v. 3). The Lord had shattered the monarchy of David’s line because it had been corrupted through idolatry. However, the Lord promised through this vision that not only would He give Israel a king again but that this king would be a true worshiper with special intimacy with God. Jesus Christ in His mediatorial office is both the supreme worshiper and the great worship leader of the church (Ps. 22:22–27; Matt. 11:25; Heb. 2:12). How does He lead His people in worship as their king?

The Lord reasserted the necessity that His priests serve in purity and obedience to His Word, excluding the unfit from the privileges of His worship. Though the ceremonies of the old covenant have ceased, the Lord remains zealous for His worship. How must the church, especially its elders, guard the purity of God’s worship?  

The symbolism of the division of the land (vv. 1–7) reinforces again the promise that God’s holy dwelling place would be with His people and would be closely connected to the king (“prince”). The future king would not be a greedy and unjust oppressor but a ruler of impeccable righteousness and truth (vv. 8–10). Jesus Christ is the King of His people, God’s incarnate presence with them, and He leads them in justice and holiness.

Ezekiel’s vision of the temple portrayed the offering of sacrifices for sin in order to accomplish “reconciliation” between God and His sinful worshipers (vv. 15,17). Christ offered Himself as the sacrifice for sin once and for all, abolishing all other sacrifices for sin (Heb. 10:10,12,14,18). Therefore, this vision cannot depict a literal future sacrifice. The Lord was symbolically promising Ezekiel that, though God destroyed the temple, He would still provide for the necessary sacrifice for sins through His king (v. 17). If the Jews in exile could hope in God’s promise of atonement, how much more can Jews and Gentiles today trust in Christ’s finished work upon the cross?  

The King worships God (v. 2), walking with His people in all their feasts of worship (vv. 9–10) and leading them in offering voluntary sacrifices of praise to God (v. 12). Christ is the Mediator of the church’s worship. Whenever even the smallest congregation gathers in His name, He is there with them (Matt. 18:20). Through Him believers offer to God sacrifices of praise, thanksgiving, and financial gifts (Heb. 13:15–16). In response to His great sacrifice, Christians offer themselves as living sacrifices to God (Rom. 12:1). How can knowing that Jesus Christ is directly involved in your church’s worship change the way you participate in the service?  

The vision of the river flowing from the temple promises that the Lord’s holy presence will come to His people as a supernatural source of life. He will bring them healing and transform them from a salty wasteland to a people of flourishing life. The images of this chapter take us back to the garden of Eden. That this vision leads into a description of the boundaries of Israel’s inheritance implies that God’s people will inherit nothing less than paradise. How beautiful is this picture! Yet the giving of the marshes “to salt” reminds us that not all people will enjoy its fulfillment. Jesus said that we must come to Him with spiritual thirst and ask for the living water (John 4:14; 7:37–39). Why must we have the Spirit of Christ in this life if we would enjoy the river of His delights forever?  

The inheritance of God’s people centers around being with God. Already Christians have a foretaste of God’s presence in the Spirit of God. Still, the best is yet to come. Too often we think of heaven in terms of the absence of pain, but the essence of heaven is the presence of Christ. When God fulfills all His covenant promises, the true children of Abraham will dwell with Him and see His glory. Even if someone could come back from heaven to earth, the best he could do to describe its wonders would boil down to the statement “The Lord is there.” This is what gave the apostle Paul the courage to face death, indeed the joy to call it gain (2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:21–23). This is what makes the second coming of Christ the great hope of believers, because then they will be with the Lord (1 Thess. 4:17). How does your hope of being with Christ compare with your desires for the things and relationships of this world? This is the test of your heart.