DBG - September 3 - Ezekiel 14-16

In this chapter we see half-hearted repentance and the limits of a righteous remnant.

vs. 1-11 – A half-hearted attempt to repent is seen as certain elders approach the prophet.  God sees the heart of man.  He knows that while they may not have physical idols in their homes, they certainly have not purged idols from their hearts.  These must be removed before God will restore them.

vs. 12-23 – The principle here is that God will not withhold judgment on a nation because of the presence of a few righteous men.  He will preserve the righteous, but this does not mean that judgement will not fall.  It is interesting to note the three men that are used as examples: Noah, Daniel, and Job.  Noah and Job make a lot of sense, as they were righteous men that were preserved through judgment and chastisement.  Daniel is an intriguing addition, mainly because he was living at that time!  These words were penned about 14 years after Daniel’s arrival in Babylon and seem to take place between Daniel Chapters 2 and 3.

In this chapter Jerusalem is compared to a vine.

vs. 1-8 – Jerusalem is compared to a vine.  Many plants, especially trees, have many uses for their branches and trunks.  Vines do not.  They were burned like refuse.  So was the sad state of Jerusalem.  Since it did not produce the spiritual fruit the Lord expected, it would be consumed in the fires of judgment. 

In this chapter Judah’s unfaithfulness to God is exposed.

vs. 1-14 – Judah is compared to a foundling child.  God chose them and blessed them far beyond what they deserved.  He showered them with gifts and blessings.  He took them as it were a bride to Himself.

vs. 15-34 – In spite of all that God had done to elevate Judah, they had turned to other gods like an unfaithful spouse.  They forgot where they came from and Who had brought them to the place of blessing which they enjoyed.  They sought attention from the surrounding nations and their gods, all of which despised them.

vs. 35-59 – Judgment would come against unfaithful Judah and the nations she chased after.  They are compared to Sodom and Samaria, both of which were judged for their sins in their time.

vs. 60-63 – Hope of restoration beyond judgment.

Sometimes it is good to take the time to realize how much people knew at the time a passage of Scripture was being written.  We saw a great example of this in Ezekiel Chapter 14 with the reference to Daniel.  Certainly this is the Daniel whose book we will shortly be reading.  But for Ezekiel, this was not the aged Daniel that was thrown in the lion’s den or interpreted the hand writing on the wall.  Those things had not happened yet.  Daniel was a captive that had taken a stand to maintain his Jewish identity and that God had blessed.  He had interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel 2 and had been elevated to a very high position in the government.  His fame was surely noteworthy among his contemporaries like Ezekiel.  Our reading today proves that, but most of his famous prophecies and adventures had yet to occur.  God and men had already taken note of him, though.  These words only increased in power through the years as Daniel remained faithful.   

Our hymn today was written by John Newton and first appeared in 1799.  The original heading for it was “Mercy Prevailing” with a scripture reference of Ezekiel 16:63.

Once perishing in blood I lay,
Creatures no help could give;
But Jesus pass'd me in the way,
He saw, and bid me live.

Tho' Satan still his rule maintain'd
And all his arts employ'd;
That mighty word his rage restrain'd,
I could not be destroy'd.

At length the time of love arriv'd,
When I my Lord should know;
Then Satan of his pow'r depriv'd,
Was forc'd to let me go.

O, can I e'er that day forget,
When Jesus kindly spoke!
"Poor soul, my blood has paid thy debt,
And now I break thy yoke.

"Henceforth I take thee for my own,
And give myself to thee;
Forsake the idols thou hast known,
And yield thyself to me."

Ah, worthless heart! it promis'd fair,
And said it would be thine;
I little thought it e'er would dare,
Again with idols join.

Lord, dost thou such back-slidings heal,
And pardon all that's past?
Sure, if I am not made of steel,
Thou hast prevail'd at last.

My tongue, which rashly spoke before,
This mercy will restrain;
Surely I now shall boast no more,
Nor censure, nor complain.