Ezekiel 6:1-14: Israel Will Know the Lord

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 6:1-14 - Israel Will Know the Lord

Ezekiel 6:1-2 - Word Given to Ezekiel

Ezekiel 6:3-7 - The Mountains of Israel will Know the Lord

Ezekiel 6:8-10 - The Remnant will Know the Lord

Ezekiel 6:11-14 - The House of Israel will Know the Lord

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

The Lord will destroy most of the house of Israel because of their idolatrous worship, but a repentant remnant will be saved

Ezekiel 6:1-2 - Word Given to Ezekiel

1 The word of the Lord came to me:

1 The word of the Lord

The Word of the Lord is central to Ezekiel’s ministry

Remember, he is not allowed to speak what he wants, but only what Yahweh specifically tells him to say

Came to me:

A divine prophetic message is given to Ezekiel to speak to his audience the exiles

2 “Son of man, set your face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them

2 “Son of man, set your face toward the mountains of Israel

The death oracle of God moves beyond just Jerusalem - the mountains run through all of Israel

Yet there is also a theological point being made - Israel was given to idolatrous worship

Once again, Ezekiel is to set his face against the nation symbolizing the Lord’s anger towards them

And prophesy against them

Ezekiel’s prophecy is not against literal mountains, but against the rebellious nation including the exiles who would hear this

Ezekiel is commanded to set his face and prophecy against the rebellious nation

Ezekiel 6:3-7 - The Mountains of Israel will Know the Lord

3 and say, You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God!

3 and say, You mountains of Israel

Hear the word of the Lord God!

The exiles are commanded to hear the oracle of judgment that Ezekiel is to give because it comes from the Lord Himself

Thus says the Lord God to the mountains and the hills, to the ravines and the valleys:

Thus says the Lord God to the mountains and the hills

To the ravines and the valleys:

The whole land of Israel is identified, not simply Jerusalem

Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places.

Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you

Notice who is set upon destroying Jerusalem - YAHWEH

Yahweh will bring the sword of destruction upon the city through the nation of Babylon

Leviticus 26:25 ESV

25 And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall execute vengeance for the covenant. And if you gather within your cities, I will send pestilence among you, and you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.

And I will destroy your high places.

Deuteronomy 12:1–3 ESV

1 “These are the statutes and rules that you shall be careful to do in the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you to possess, all the days that you live on the earth. 2 You shall surely destroy all the places where the nations whom you shall dispossess served their gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree. 3 You shall tear down their altars and dash in pieces their pillars and burn their Asherim with fire. You shall chop down the carved images of their gods and destroy their name out of that place.

In Israel’s history, high places were used for animal/human sacrifices

At various times, Israelite leaders attempted to rid Israel of the high places and their idolatrous worship

2 Kings 23:19 ESV

19 And Josiah removed all the shrines also of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which kings of Israel had made, provoking the Lord to anger. He did to them according to all that he had done at Bethel.

Though Josiah removed them the shrines were put back in place upon his death

4 Your altars shall become desolate, and your incense altars shall be broken, and I will cast down your slain before your idols.

4 Your altars shall become desolate

Altars were manmade structures used for sacrificing to deities

The idolatrous altars would be entirely destroyed by the fierce anger of God

And your incense altars shall be broken

And I will cast down your slain before your idols.

Idols here would have referred to a cylinder like shape - “human excrements” god

The focus shifts from the altars/idols to those who worship at them - they will be slaughtered

Deuteronomy 7:1–5 ESV

1 “When the Lord your God brings you into the land that you are entering to take possession of it, and clears away many nations before you, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations more numerous and mightier than you, 2 and when the Lord your God gives them over to you, and you defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. You shall make no covenant with them and show no mercy to them. 3 You shall not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons, 4 for they would turn away your sons from following me, to serve other gods. Then the anger of the Lord would be kindled against you, and he would destroy you quickly. 5 But thus shall you deal with them: you shall break down their altars and dash in pieces their pillars and chop down their Asherim and burn their carved images with fire.

Leviticus 26:30 ESV

30 And I will destroy your high places and cut down your incense altars and cast your dead bodies upon the dead bodies of your idols, and my soul will abhor you.

The idols they thought had power had no power to save them - Yahweh is superior to the gods they were worshipping

5 And I will lay the dead bodies of the people of Israel before their idols, and I will scatter your bones around your altars.

5 And I will lay the dead bodies of the people of Israel before their idols

The dead bodies of these sinners will be before the idols they worshipped

There is no chance of a resurrection for them contrary to the vision in Ezekiel 37 speaking of the exiles in Babylon who are the remnant

And I will scatter your bones around your altars.

6 Wherever you dwell, the cities shall be waste and the high places ruined, so that your altars will be waste and ruined, your idols broken and destroyed, your incense altars cut down, and your works wiped out.

6 Wherever you dwell, the cities shall be waste and the high places ruined

It will not simply be the high places ruined, but cities in Israel too

So that your altars will be waste and ruined

Your idols broken and destroyed

Your incense altars cut down, and your works wiped out.

Genesis 7:23 ESV

23 He blotted out every living thing that was on the face of the ground, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens. They were blotted out from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those who were with him in the ark.

Everything devoted to the worship of idols will be absolutely destroyed, blotted out, and wiped out

The false securities of their idolatrous worship will be laid bare before them and they will clearly see their error

7 And the slain shall fall in your midst, and you shall know that I am the Lord.

7 And the slain shall fall in your midst

And you shall know that I am the Lord.

They will know that the Lord is with them because he has sent them a prophet to give judgment

Ezekiel 2:5 ESV

5 And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them.

This phrasing is used in the Old Testament in other places as well

Exodus 14:4 ESV

4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.

As the apostate, surviving Israelites survey the land they will understand their deities were utterly powerless AND they will know the punishment, power, holiness, glory, and presence of Yahweh - this is His ultimate purpose

Christ Connection - Salvation is a Narrow Door

Luke 13:22–30 ESV

22 He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ 28 In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. 29 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

Ezekiel 6:8-10 - The Remnant will Know the Lord

8 “Yet I will leave some of you alive.

8 “Yet I will

Again, all of this is comes at the hand of Yahweh

Leave some of you alive.

Though most will fall to the Babylonian army, a few/a remnant will live by the Lord’s providence

Ezekiel 5:3–4 ESV

3 And you shall take from these a small number and bind them in the skirts of your robe. 4 And of these again you shall take some and cast them into the midst of the fire and burn them in the fire. From there a fire will come out into all the house of Israel.

When you have among the nations some who escape the sword, and when you are scattered through the countries, 9 then those of you who escape will remember me among the nations where they are carried captive, how I have been broken over their whoring heart that has departed from me and over their eyes that go whoring after their idols.

When you have among the nations some who escape the sword, and when you are scattered through the countries

There will be a small remnant who will escape the onslaught of the Babylonian army, yet they will be driven from their homes as slaves

Spiritual revival will occur amongst the house of Israel, but not on their own soil - on foreign ground which they believed to be unholy and defiled, yet this is where the holy remnant will take place

9 Then those of you who escape will remember me among the nations where they are carried captive

“Remembering” for a Hebrew is not like an American - it is an active process

The Jerusalem exiles will vividly recall their grotesque sins before the Lord and how they caused Him great pain, repent, and confession once again that Yahweh is their covenant Lord

How I have been broken over their whoring heart that has departed from me and over their eyes that go whoring after their idols.

Yahweh, the true/faithful husband, is vexed to His very heart over His people

Yahweh will absolutely not tolerate any idol/deity interfering with His wife

The hearts and the eyes of the house of Israel were unfaithful and devoted to rival gods who did not represent Yahweh

And they will be loathsome in their own sight for the evils that they have committed, for all their abominations.

And they will be loathsome in their own sight for the evils that they have committed

Remembering Yahweh as their Lord will lead them to loathing - repulsive feeling towards themselves because they’ve come to terms with the depths of their sinfulness

Those who will be sent into exile will repent because they are the remnant

They will hate their earlier works and turn to the holiness and glory of God

For all their abominations.

The harsh reality will set in - we have caused this to come upon ourselves

10 And they shall know that I am the Lord. I have not said in vain that I would do this evil to them.”

10 And they shall know that I am the Lord.

Remembering leads to loathing and loathing leads to knowing God is the Lord

I have not said in vain that I would do this evil to them.”

This is a direct link back to the warnings in Leviticus 26 that Yahweh has already stipulated

The consequences in Leviticus 26 are not a veiled threat - God will act on them

Evil does not refer to spiritual or moral evil, but to great calamity - the destruction of the city of Jerusalem

Christ Connection - Christ Searched the Hearts of the Seven Churches and Continues to do so Today

Revelation 1:12–13 ESV

Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.

Revelation 3:14–22 ESV

“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”

Ezekiel 6:11-14 - The House of Israel will Know the Lord

11 Thus says the Lord God: “Clap your hands and stamp your foot and say, Alas, because of all the evil abominations of the house of Israel, for they shall fall by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence.

11 Thus says the Lord God:

“Clap your hands and stamp your foot and say, Alas

God has summoned the rebellious house and will pour out His wrath upon the disobedient

Deuteronomy 28:63 ESV

63 And as the Lord took delight in doing you good and multiplying you, so the Lord will take delight in bringing ruin upon you and destroying you. And you shall be plucked off the land that you are entering to take possession of it.

Because of all the evil abominations of the house of Israel, for they shall fall by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence.

The focus moves away from the remnant to he disobedient house of Israel

12 He who is far off shall die of pestilence, and he who is near shall fall by the sword, and he who is left and is preserved shall die of famine.

12 He who is far off shall die of pestilence

Far off - scattered citizens

And he who is near shall fall by the sword

Near - Near and in Jerusalem

And he who is left and is preserved shall die of famine.

Thus I will spend my fury upon them.

13 And you shall know that I am the Lord, when their slain lie among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, on all the mountaintops, under every green tree, and under every leafy oak, wherever they offered pleasing aroma to all their idols.

13 And you shall know that I am the Lord

When their slain lie among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, on all the mountaintops, under every green tree, and under every leafy oak, wherever they offered pleasing aroma to all their idols.

14 And I will stretch out my hand against them and make the land desolate and waste, in all their dwelling places, from the wilderness to Riblah.

14 And I will stretch out my hand against them and make the land desolate and waste

Leviticus 26:32–33 ESV

32 And I myself will devastate the land, so that your enemies who settle in it shall be appalled at it. 33 And I will scatter you among the nations, and I will unsheathe the sword after you, and your land shall be a desolation, and your cities shall be a waste.

In all their dwelling places, from the wilderness to Riblah.

From the Negeb in the south to Riblah, the northern border of Israel

All Israel will know the wrath of God

Then they will know that I am the Lord.”

Christ Connection - Christ Removes Workers of Lawlessness

Matthew 7:21–23 ESV

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

How Should we Live in Light of Ezekiel 6:1-14?

The rebellious house of Israel gave itself over to a syncretistic form of religion. We can also give ourselves over to idolatrous worship and need to take the warning Paul gave to the Philippians seriously.

Philippians 2:12–13 ESV

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Like the repentant Jerusalem exiles, we can experience a revival, but the Holy Spirit must drive renewal as He pierces our hearts, confronts our idolatrous sin, and conforms us to holy living in such a way that has yet to occur in our lives

A Quest for Godliness - J.I. Packer - Marks of Revival

An awesome sense of the presence of God and the truth of the Gospel

A profound awareness of sin, leading to deep repentance and heartfelt embrace of the glorified, loving, pardoning Christ

An uninhibited witness to the power and glory of Christ, with a might freedom of speech expressing a mighty freedom of spirit

Joy in the Lord, love for his people, and fear of sinning

From God’s side: an intensifying and speeding-up of the work of grace so that men are struck down by the Word and transformed by the Spirit in short order

Main Point

The Lord will destroy most of the house of Israel because of their idolatrous worship, but a repentant remnant will be saved.