Ezekiel 11:1-13 - Wicked Leadership Leads to Death
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction
Introduction
Succinct Summation
Succinct Summation
Diagnosing the Problem
Diagnosing the Problem
Outline
Outline
Ezekiel 1-24 - Oracles against God’s People
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 7:1-9 - The Land of Israel will face Judgment
Ezekiel 7:10-27 - The Day of Destruction
Ezekiel 8:1-18 - Abominations Upon Abominations
Ezekiel 9:1-11- Idolaters Killed and the Righteous Saved
Ezekiel 10:1-8 - Jerusalem’s Destruction Prophesied
Ezekiel 10:9-22 - The Presence of God Prepares to Leave the Temple
Ezekiel 11:1-13 - Wicked Leadership Leads to Death
Ezekiel 11:1-4 - Wicked Leaders
Ezekiel 11:5-13 - A Hopeless Future
Purpose of Book
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.
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
Main Point
The wicked leadership of the city leads to death and destruction for themselves and their people.
The wicked leadership of the city leads to death and destruction for themselves and their people.
Ezekiel 11:1-4 - Wicked Leaders
Ezekiel 11:1-4 - Wicked Leaders
Exegesis
Exegesis
1 The Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the east gate of the house of the Lord, which faces east. And behold, at the entrance of the gateway there were twenty-five men.
1 The Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the east gate of the house of the Lord, which faces east. And behold, at the entrance of the gateway there were twenty-five men.
Ezekiel is lifted to the place where the glory of the Lord went - In the inner court near the east gate
As the glory of the Lord resides there, there are also 25 men
16 And he brought me into the inner court of the house of the Lord. And behold, at the entrance of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men, with their backs to the temple of the Lord, and their faces toward the east, worshiping the sun toward the east.
And I saw among them Jaazaniah the son of Azzur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.
And I saw among them Jaazaniah the son of Azzur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.
Princes who were in charge of leading the people and were most likely members of Zedekiah’s council NOT Jehoiachin
Pelatiah means “Yahweh has rescued” - Benaiah means “Yahweh has built” THE LONGING OF THE PEOPLE
2 And he said to me, “Son of man, these are the men who devise iniquity and who give wicked counsel in this city; 3 who say, ‘The time is not near to build houses. This city is the cauldron, and we are the meat.’
2 And he said to me, “Son of man, these are the men who devise iniquity and who give wicked counsel in this city; 3 who say, ‘The time is not near to build houses. This city is the cauldron, and we are the meat.’
Not only do they worship falsely, but their sins have affected the entire city
They were expected to provide godly leadership and sound, wise, biblical counsel to the city, but instead they are EVIL and plot evil
Houses - We have no need to build houses as inhabitants
Cauldron - solid - Jerusalem would provide them protection
Meat - the good food within - they believed they are the righteous
You unrighteous exiles will build houses in Babylon, but we are the righteous who are protected within the holy city
We as the new leaders are the true great leaders who have nothing to worry about
4 Therefore prophesy against them; prophesy, O son of man.”
4 Therefore prophesy against them; prophesy, O son of man.”
What is God’s response to them? Commanding Ezekiel to prophesy AGAINST THEM!
Double command signifying intensity
The Conscience
The Conscience
Leaders
5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Sitting under leaders
17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Application
Application
Ezekiel 11:5-13 - A Hopeless Future
Ezekiel 11:5-13 - A Hopeless Future
Exegesis
Exegesis
5 And the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and he said to me, “Say, Thus says the Lord: So you think, O house of Israel. For I know the things that come into your mind.
5 And the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and he said to me, “Say, Thus says the Lord: So you think, O house of Israel. For I know the things that come into your mind.
12 Then he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in his room of pictures? For they say, ‘The Lord does not see us, the Lord has forsaken the land.’ ”
The Spirit leaps upon Ezekiel as he is the mouthpiece for Yahweh
Not only does God see them, but he knows their very thoughts
6 You have multiplied your slain in this city and have filled its streets with the slain.
6 You have multiplied your slain in this city and have filled its streets with the slain.
The slain are multiplied because of the evil rulers
The slain are those who have been killed by wicked/corrupt courts
7 Therefore thus says the Lord God: Your slain whom you have laid in the midst of it, they are the meat, and this city is the cauldron, but you shall be brought out of the midst of it.
7 Therefore thus says the Lord God: Your slain whom you have laid in the midst of it, they are the meat, and this city is the cauldron, but you shall be brought out of the midst of it.
God turns the leaders words on them
They are not choice meat after all
The leaders are the butchers who have killed their own citizens
Jerusalem is not safe, but is a cauldron that will be heated
8 You have feared the sword, and I will bring the sword upon you, declares the Lord God.
8 You have feared the sword, and I will bring the sword upon you, declares the Lord God.
Destruction comes from the hands of God alone
9 And I will bring you out of the midst of it, and give you into the hands of foreigners, and execute judgments upon you.
9 And I will bring you out of the midst of it, and give you into the hands of foreigners, and execute judgments upon you.
8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord.
10 You shall fall by the sword. I will judge you at the border of Israel, and you shall know that I am the Lord.
10 You shall fall by the sword. I will judge you at the border of Israel, and you shall know that I am the Lord.
Reversal of the Promised Land given in Joshua 12-19 to the Israelites
They trusted in the boundaries of the alloted promised territories and the temple
11 This city shall not be your cauldron, nor shall you be the meat in the midst of it.
11 This city shall not be your cauldron, nor shall you be the meat in the midst of it.
I will judge you at the border of Israel, 12 and you shall know that I am the Lord. For you have not walked in my statutes, nor obeyed my rules, but have acted according to the rules of the nations that are around you.”
I will judge you at the border of Israel, 12 and you shall know that I am the Lord. For you have not walked in my statutes, nor obeyed my rules, but have acted according to the rules of the nations that are around you.”
Statutes and rules are covenantal words
Israel has failed to live in covenant relationship with Him and He will judge them as the pagans they are
13 And it came to pass, while I was prophesying, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then I fell down on my face and cried out with a loud voice and said, “Ah, Lord God! Will you make a full end of the remnant of Israel?”
13 And it came to pass, while I was prophesying, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then I fell down on my face and cried out with a loud voice and said, “Ah, Lord God! Will you make a full end of the remnant of Israel?”
Remember the name of Pelatiah son of Benaiah - Yahweh has rescued the son of Yahweh has built
The Conscience
The Conscience
Application
Application
Main Point
Main Point