Sermon Tone Analysis

Ezekiel 38,39

!

I.     Introduction

            Every once in a while things that happen in the news make me really upset because I can’t understand the evil of some people and what they do.

The sexual assault and murder of young girls by Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka was one of those things.

How could anyone do that to another person.

Robert Picton has been charged with killing 26 women in BC.

Again we wonder how anyone could do such terrible things.

In the larger political picture, we could speak of Adolf Hitler, Saddam Hussein, Idi Amin and others who have committed and perpetrated horrible atrocities.

How can that be?

Where does this evil come from?

Are these evils being justly dealt with?

Last week Frank talked about the battle we are in and that our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers of evil which have Satan behind them.

We learned that Satan is a roaring lion seeking someone to destroy.

Satan is behind all evil, but there are some who submit to Satan and whose hearts become filled with evil.

Some think that people are basically good and that their environment or upbringing leads them to evil.

The Bible tells us that we are all basically evil.

Most people do not submit to the worst of that evil and try to live good lives, but some submit fully to evil and engage in terrible acts which destroy not only those who do them, but others around them.

That is the source of the evil which I have mentioned above.

Israel had recently experienced some cruel evil.

The message of Ezekiel has been that they were in exile because of their sin and because God was punishing them, but the nations which suppressed them were cruel, evil nations.

The Assyrians, who had destroyed the northern ten tribes, were notorious for their wickedness.

The Babylonians, although quite civilized in many respects, also had some evil ways.

The fiery furnace set up to burn Daniel’s friends because they would not bow down to the king and the lion’s den which was to be used against Daniel because he worshipped God are just two examples of their cruelty.

Israel had experienced their violence and was now subject to them.

They must have wondered how that could be just.

In fact in Habakkuk 1:13 the writer asks God, “Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?”

We also, as Christians, experience some of this evil and cruelty.

We are aware of it in our world and it makes us fearful and angry.

Why do we have to protect all our property so that no one will steal it?

Why would we be afraid to walk in certain parts of the city at night?

Why do we experience injustice at the hands of others?

Why are Christians sometimes marginalized or mocked?

I heard a story of a Christian leader who was involved in a situation with unbelievers who were mocking Christian values.

When I heard the story, it aroused passions in me.

I feel for the brother who was experiencing this.

Why are our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world killed because they believe in Jesus?

How can a loving and holy God allow such evil?

Ezekiel gives an answer to these questions in Ezekiel 38,39.

As we shall see, he speaks in apocalyptic language, that is language that is highly symbolic and speaks of a time that is yet to come.

He gives God’s ultimate answer to these questions, an answer that comforts Israel in exile and also encourages us as we ask the same questions.

A similar message appears in the book of Revelation and we will also refer to it as we discover God’s answer to what will happen to evil.

!

II.

God Answers Evil.

!! A.  God is Sovereign.

The first word of encouragement I would like to point to is the reminder in these verses that God is sovereign.

As Israel experienced the evil they were under and as we see evil in our world, we sometimes wonder where God is.

Does He see?

Does He care?

These two chapters assure us that God does know and care and that nothing is happening without His knowledge and permission.

The sovereignty of God is seen in a number of ways in these passages.

The phrase “Sovereign Lord” appears in 15 verses.

In many of them God is speaking to the prophet and telling him to speak.

For example, in 38:10 we read, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says:” Such a verse and the sheer number of times the phrase is repeated is a reminder to believe that God not only knows, but also is in charge of what is happening.

A second way in which the sovereignty of God is seen is in the fact that the phrase, “I Will” appears in 16 verses.

This phrase is a promise and it is made by one who has the power and authority to carry it out.

Once again, God’s decision to act assures us that he not only knows, but also acts.

Whenever we wonder if God is even aware of the evil that is going on in this world, such passages are an encouragement and a comfort because they remind us that He does.

They give us peace.

!! B.  The Day Of The Lord

But the question that nags us is, “when?”

The answer to that question is also given here.

Although God is always at work and does many things to bring justice to the earth even now, there is an ultimate answer to this question as well.

There is a day coming when God will finally and completely deal with evil.

This is the day which is spoken of in this passage.

In nine verses in these chapters there is reference made to a future day.

In verse 8, it says, “after many days…” and “In future years…” In verse 10 it refers to what will happen “on that day.”

A similar phrase is also found in verses 14, 16, 18; 39:8, 11, 13, 22.

The idea of the “day of the Lord” is encountered frequently in the Bible.

For example in Joel 3:14 it says, “For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.”

Even in the New Testament we have this idea of the coming day.

II Peter 3:10 says, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.”

Sometimes it refers to a day that is near but often it refers to a future day.

Always it refers to a day on which God will act.

The day referred to in these chapters is still coming.

Up until now we have not seen anything like what is described here.

Revelation 18 & 19 contains a similar passage, with a similar promise, which I believe refers to the same event.

The day spoken of is the day on which God will judge and destroy all the evil people and nations in the world.

In Revelation 18 it speaks of the sudden destruction of Babylon, which I believe refers to the destruction of all the evil nations and people who are against God’s people.

In Revelation 19:19 it says, “I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army.”

The outcome is similar in that the evil beings are immediately and completely destroyed by God.

!! C.  The Justice Of God’s Punishment

The specific prophecy in these chapters is addressed against “Gog of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.”

Seven other nations are mentioned which are at the rim of the Middle Eastern world.

Who is this?

Scholars have tried to find an identification and have suggested some, but there is none that make sense in history as it has been up to this time.

I believe that in some ways Gog has always existed.

One writer says, “Gog stands for that arrogant imperialism which, like Pharaoh at the sea, opposes God’s alternative leadership as represented by Israel, a community with a new heart and spirit in a renewed land.”

Another writer identifies Gog as a “symbol of world power structures.”

Gog is mentioned again in Revelation 20:8 as the one who will oppose God’s people in battle.

I have to admit that I do not know who Gog is, but have a suspicion that Gog is, like the writers have said, all the evil leaders and rulers backed by Satan who have opposed God’s people and multiplied evil in the earth.

Gog is Satan and Stalin and Hitler and Saddam Hussein.

Whether in the future there will be a more specific person who will be identified as Gog I do not know, but I do know that there will continue to be people who are under Satan’s influence who act with evil intent against all people and specifically God’s people.

This is not, in my opinion, the important part of the message.

The important part of the message is that God is going to destroy all evil.

In the prophetic message, Ezekiel is told of the arrogance and evil intent of Gog.

God moves Gog to gather against his chosen people, who at this time are living at peace and do not have walled cities.

Although it is God who brings this enemy against His people, Gog is fully evil.

It says in 38:10 “you will devise an evil scheme.”

Other nations, who do not initiate the attack, nevertheless are in favour of it and desire to get something out of it.

They cheer Gog on and also desire to gain plunder from the attack.