Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Succinct Summation

Outline

Ezekiel 1-24 - Oracles against God’s People

Ezekiel 1:1-3 - Ezekiel the Priest

Ezekiel 1:4-28 - The Glory of the Lord

Ezekiel 2:1-3:15 - Ezekiel Commissioned

Ezekiel 3:16-27 - Ezekiel the Watchman

Ezekiel 4:1-5:4 - The Dramatization of Jerusalem’s Siege

Ezekiel 5:5-17 - The Dramatization Explained

Ezekiel 5:5-6 - The Accusation

Ezekiel 5:7-12 - Yahweh Against Jerusalem

Ezekiel 5:13-17 - Yahweh’s Anger Spent

Purpose of Book

The purpose of Ezekiel is Yahweh rebukes His people for their sinfulness and He promises to restore His glory so all nations will know He is the one true Lord.

In short, the purpose of Ezekiel is the glory of God.

Main Point

Ezekiel reveals the meaning of the dramatization: Yahweh is against Jerusalem and will spend His anger against the city because of their unholiness

Ezekiel 5:5-6 - The Accusation

5 “Thus says the Lord God: This is Jerusalem.

5 “Thus says the Lord God:

Ezekiel reveals the dramatization and begins a formal oracle of prophetic judgment on behalf of the Lord

This is Jerusalem.

Jerusalem has been summoned to trial and introduced as the offender

If there is confusion over which city is on the brick, that confusion is gone now

Yet this goes beyond the city: It includes the leaders and citizens of the city

I have set her in the center of the nations, with countries all around her.

I have set her in the center of the nations

Per the Davidic Covenant, God made Jerusalem the home of His temple - this is the place He chose to specifically dwell

Jerusalem is the divinely ordained city where the redemptive purpose of God was supposed to flow from - Jerusalem is not just another city to God

With countries all around her.

The nations surrounded Jerusalem and what where they supposed to see? Holiness!

The nations did not see the holiness of God in Israel - remember their judgment was because of the 390 year disobedience starting when Solomon completed the temple

6 And she has rebelled against my rules by doing wickedness more than the nations, and against my statutes more than the countries all around her; for they have rejected my rules and have not walked in my statutes.

6 And she has rebelled against my rules

Jerusalem has failed to live up to the high standards of God

Instead of being a city that radiated God’s holiness and His glory, Jerusalem was known for rebellion, wickedness, and rejecting God

The laws that the Israelites were to hold to were not manmade rules, but the very covenant of God

By doing wickedness more than the nations, and against my statutes more than the countries all around her

No other nation had this wonderful gift and instead of treasuring the Sinai Covenant as a beautiful gift of grace, the house of Israel became wicked

Not like the wickedness of the other nations, BUT MORE THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY

For they have rejected my rules and have not walked in my statutes.

The connection to Leviticus is clear in the language - a trial is at hand, Jerusalem is guilty, and they will be sent to exile

Why have they become more wicked?

They’ve rejected the very law of God that was intended for their good

Furthermore, the law was meant to help Israel be a LIGHT to the nations - thus the judgment given to them will be entirely just

Christ Connection - Like Yahweh, Christ Expects His People to Live in Holiness

We are divinely chosen like Jerusalem was chosen

Like Jerusalem we are called a life of holiness

Ezekiel 5:7-12 - Yahweh Against Jerusalem

7 Therefore thus says the Lord God: Because you are more turbulent than the nations that are all around you, and have not walked in my statutes or obeyed my rules, and have not even acted according to the rules of the nations that are all around you, 8 therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, even I, am against you.

7 Therefore thus says the Lord God: Because you are more turbulent than the nations that are all around you, and have not walked in my statutes or obeyed my rules, and have not even acted according to the rules of the nations that are all around you

The house of Israel has violated the covenant with Yahweh for a very long time

Once again, the charges are read against Jerusalem

Israel has become more wild than the nations around her

8 Therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, even I, am against you.

Thus God being against Israel is not unfair or unjust - He will preserve His holy name among the nations

The challenger of Israel has stepped forward and it is none other than God Himself

He has postured Himself against His people and He is intent on destroying them - there is intensity behind this

And I will execute judgments in your midst in the sight of the nations.

And I will execute judgments in your midst

The punishments exacted upon Israel perfectly fit their crimes against Yahweh

In the sight of the nations.

Yahweh’s challenge, duel, and destruction of Jerusalem will not be a private manner - it will be evident for all to see

9 And because of all your abominations I will do with you what I have never yet done, and the like of which I will never do again.

9 And because of all your abominations I will do with you what I have never yet done

Abominations here speak to Israel giving herself over to idolatrous worship and has become disgusting and repulsive to Yahweh

The response of Yahweh’s wrath upon the rebellious house is unprecedented - this type of hostility has never occurred previously

And the like of which I will never do again.

10 Therefore fathers shall eat their sons in your midst, and sons shall eat their fathers.

10 Therefore fathers shall eat their sons in your midst

And sons shall eat their fathers.

And I will execute judgments on you, and any of you who survive I will scatter to all the winds.

And I will execute judgments on you

The city of Jerusalem will face the judgments of God

And any of you who survive I will scatter to all the winds.

Those who survive the siege will still face the judgment of Yahweh as they are sent into exile

11 Therefore, as I live, declares the Lord God, surely, because you have defiled my sanctuary with all your detestable things and with all your abominations, therefore I will withdraw.

11 Therefore, as I live, declares the Lord God, surely

Yahweh has declared and thus it will occur - the faithfulness of judgments rest upon the very character of Yahweh Himself

Because you have defiled my sanctuary with all your detestable things and with all your abominations

The house of Israel has desecrated that which is holy - the temple

Ezekiel 8 and Ezekiel 11 give details on how they defiled the temple

Therefore I will withdraw.

I will do the shaving

Yahweh Himself will enact the judgment and punishments

My eye will not spare, and I will have no pity.

My eye will not spare

Yahweh is resolved to bring destruction upon the city of Jerusalem

And I will have no pity.

The judgment has been cast - there is no going back as Yahweh has made His decree

Though God will not spare and have no pity, the wording here shows God’s motivation towards Israel is not based off law, but LOVE - His manner to spare and pity them is put aside due to the level of covenantal breach

12 A third part of you shall die of pestilence and be consumed with famine in your midst; a third part shall fall by the sword all around you; and a third part I will scatter to all the winds and will unsheathe the sword after them.

12 A third part of you shall die of pestilence and be consumed with famine in your midst

The result of the siege will be plagues and famine

A third part shall fall by the sword all around you

And a third part I will scatter to all the winds and will unsheathe the sword after them.

An allusion to the deportation of Jerusalem

The city and the citizens are totally decimated - there is no hope found here

Christ Connection - Christ will Judge the Heart with Righteousness