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BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday June 21, 2015

THE SLAUGHTER OF GOG’S ARMY

(Plans for the new Temple area)

Ezekiel 39-40

In Ezekiel 38 GOD tells Ezekiel to prophesy against Gog (the chief prince), the ruler of Meshech and Tubal (Magog), two nations that were located in the area of present-day Russia, and all of her allies. Here the LORD says to tell Gog that after HE has driven him to attack Israel, HE will then cause him and his multi-national army to be defeated and slaughtered by the Israelites in the mountains of Judah (Vs.1-5).

In addition, the LORD says HE will make the hordes of their dead bodies (men and animals), a feast for vultures and wild animals to devour. This direct supernatural intervention by GOD is intended by HIM to both, prove HIS role as the sovereign judge of the universe, and, to show HIS faithfulness to the ancient covenant promise that was given to HIS servant Abraham (Vs.6-8).

GOD will also punish the homeland of those nations who invade Israel, with a devastating military destruction, and those who think they live in safety at home, will be destroyed all the way to the coastlands. And so Magog, the nation who brainstorms the invasion of Judah, will herself be destroyed in the end, along with all of her allies. Through all of this, the Israelites, and all the nations of the world will come to know that GOD is holy, and will not tolerate the profaneness of their sins.

After the destruction of the multi-national army, the people of Israel would walk around and gather up the massive amount of weapons that were once used by the dead soldiers, and store them up, and use them as fuel, for next seven years. The LORD says that they will need nothing else to use as fuel, no wood from the forest, or the fields will be needed, the massive amount of weapons will be enough to satisfy their need for fuel for a period of seven years (Vs.9-10).

In the eschatological sense, this seven-year period represents the “tribulation period” spoken about by JESUS (Matthew 24), and by the Apostle John (Revelation 6). The worldwide catastrophes of the first three and a half years of Daniel’s “seventy week prophecy” are clearly seen in this passage of Ezekiel. Throughout the remainder of the tribulation period, and into the beginning of the Millennium, the nation of Israel will be burning the weapons of Magog, and will not need to cut down a single tree.

Next the LORD says HE will make a vast graveyard for Gog and his army in the “Valley of Travelers” (Valley of Abarim), east of the Dead Sea, the area that is now present-day Jordan. The valley will be so filled with corpses that no one will be able to pass through it, and the name of that place will be changed, and be called the “Valley of Hamon Gog”, which means, “the valley of the hordes of Gog” (v.11).

It would take Israel seven months the clear the area of corpses and bury them, with literally everyone in Israel chipping in to help with the huge task. And at the end of the seven months, special crews would be assigned to search the land for any remaining skeletons so that they too can be buried. Whenever more bones were found, there would be a marker placed beside them so that the burial crew could spot them and take them to be buried in the valley. This “operation clean-up” would be so huge that they will actually set up a town in the valley called “Hamonah” (which is a form of the Hebrew term for “hordes”) to reside in while completing this enormous task (Vs.12-16).

In verses 17-20, GOD calls for the “bird and wild animal feast” on the dead bodies, to begin. The birds and animals “would eat the flesh” and “drink the blood” of all those who were slain in the great battle, including the dead horses that they rode in on. All would be consumed by the vultures and wild animals as a “sacrificial feast” that had been prepared by the LORD.

In verses 25-29 the restoration of Israel begins. There the LORD says that HE will end the captivity of Israel for the sake of HIS OWN holy reputation. There will be a “new order” in Israel after the people return from Babylon, and they will once again experience a restored relationship of friendship with GOD. In fact, in the final nine chapters of this book of Ezekiel, we’ll see exactly how this new order is established. A new temple will be built, and a new service of worship will be established so that the people would again enjoy access to GOD. And then finally, a new division of the land will be established for all the tribes of Israel.

In Ezekiel 40, during the twenty-fifth year of Israel’s captivity in Babylon, and fourteen years after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C., the LORD took Ezekiel up in a vision and placed his mind back in Israel on top of a very high mountain. There HE showed Ezekiel what appeared to be a city just to the south of where he was standing. As GOD brought him closer, he could see a man (an angelic being) whose face shone like bronze, standing next to one of the gateway entrances. The man held a measuring tape and a measuring rod in his hand (Vs.1-3).

GOD then instructs Ezekiel to watch and listen to everything that HE was going to show, and say to him. HE was going to show him many things that he will have to tell the captives when his mind returns to Babylon. GOD had already promised to rebuild HIS sanctuary among HIS people once again, and here in chapter 40, is the onset of those plans for a “Post-exilic Temple” that will literally be built after the exiles return from Babylon.

GOD’s judgment against Israel was assured, when HE removed HIS glory from the temple at Jerusalem which had been constructed, and defiled by King Solomon and the people, bringing to an end, the “United Kingdom” of Israel. The climax of Israel’s restoration, and the reconstruction of the temple, will bring about the occasion when GOD’s glory will re-enter the new sanctuary in the midst of Jerusalem.

Here in this passage Ezekiel gives a detailed description of the measurements done by an angelic being, in accordance with GOD’s plan for the restoration of the temple, starting with the East Gateway Vs.5-16). Then, in verses 17-19 he describes the Outer Courtyard which measured 175 feet from the inner gateway to the outer gateway. Next the North Gateway is measured by the angelic being and all of its measurements matched those of the East Gateway. The windows, the foyer, and the palm tree decorations were also identical to those of the East Gateway (Vs.20-23), and likewise all measurements and decorations were the same at the South Gateway (Vs.24-27). In verses 28-49 we see a measured description of the Gateways to the Inner Courtyard (Vs.28-37), the rooms for preparing sacrifices (Vs.38-43), the rooms for the priests (Vs.44-46), and the Inner Courtyard and Temple (the Temple proper) (Vs.47-49).

Ezekiel is told to write down the details of the Temple plans and worship regulations, and, to inform the Israelites so that they will closely adhere to the design, and follow all of GOD’s directives for worship. It is the same attention to details that GOD has always called for in HIS plans for erecting HIS place of worship, from the construction of the Tabernacle at Shiloh, to the construction of Solomon’s original Temple at Jerusalem. And it is clear here that, at least, Ezekiel understood his instructions in a literal sense, rather than in an allegorical way, as many scholars now seem to suggest.

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

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BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday May 31, 2015

THE VALLEY OF DRY BONES

(A message for Gog)

Ezekiel 37-38

In Ezekiel 37, verses 1-14, GOD gives the prophet Ezekiel a vivid illustration of the things that HE had promised in Ezekiel 36, concerning the restoration of Israel. The vision of “the dry bones revived” accentuates the fact of GOD’s sovereign power and ability to fulfill HIS promises. At that time, Israel was dead as a nation, and could see no way, as to how they could be extricated from their present condition. In their minds, restoration, at that time, seemed impossible.

In Ezekiel 36, verse 26, GOD promised to, first, put a “new (human) spirit”, or “desire” in the people of Israel, and then later (v.27), embody them with HIS HOLY SPIRIT, to help lead and guide those who desire to obey and live by HIS laws and directives, into all righteousness and eternity with HIM in Heaven. There HE was describing an eschatological time, when mankind would be cleansed of his “sin nature”, or desire to rebel against GOD and what is right and true.

Here in Ezekiel 37, GOD explains further, just what that kind of future event of transformation could be likened to. In this chapter, HE gives Ezekiel two signs that illustrate and confirm the promised resurrection and re-uniting of HIS chosen nation. The first is the sign of the “dry bones in the valley (Vs.1-14), and the second is the sign of “the two sticks” (Vs.15-28), the reuniting of northern Israel and Judah.

Using the power of HIS HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, takes Ezekiel to a valley that was filled with the dry, sun-bleached bones of human remains. Then, GOD asks HIS prophet this question; “Son of man, can these bones become living bodies again?” In other words, is there any way for life and flesh to be restored to these sun-baked bones that you see before you?

Knowing the human impossibility of what GOD was asking him, Ezekiel answered his LORD in the only way that a trusting man of faith could ever answer, when he responded, “Only YOU LORD know the answer to that”. He knew that only GOD could accomplish a task of that magnitude.

God then orders HIS servant Ezekiel to prophesy to the dry bones around him and immediately the transformation from “death to life” had begun. Ezekiel began to hear the rattling of bones all across the valley floor, as the bones of each body began to re-attach themselves as they had been before. Then, he watched in utter amazement as muscle and flesh began to form over the bones, and the skin began to cover the, still lifeless, sinews of the reconstructed human figures.     

Then GOD instructs Ezekiel to speak to the wind that it may breathe life into the restored bodies that lay around him in the valley, and when he did, the great army of humanity, stood to its feet. Then GOD said to Ezekiel, “These bones represent the nation of Israel”. She has become a nation that could be likened to dry bones, as all hope had been sucked from her existence. Her anticipation of ever being released from Babylonian captivity had dried up long ago, like the dry bones in that visionary valley.

And now, GOD would open up their graves of exile, and cause them to rise again into health and prosperity. And so, we see a “physical restoration” symbolizing “the national restoration of Israel”, and we also see in this passage, a return to faith in GOD, which symbolizes a “spiritual restoration”.

These events would occur in such a way, that, all involved would know that it was the LORD WHO was responsible for their revived fortunes. In addition, GOD promised to indwell each of HIS people (the revived bodies), with a HOLY SPIRIT from on high that would cause them to know that HE is sovereign, and, that HE has kept HIS promise to them, alive.

GOD provides “New Life” for all who seek it, and we only need to ask, in faith, to receive it. The vision that GOD showed so vividly to Ezekiel that day, was just the LORD’s way of revealing to us that HE is able, and also willing, to grant us a free pass into an eternity with HIM, all at the expense of CHRIST JESUS, our LORD and SAVIOR, if, we are willing to accept HIS benevolence.

In verses 15-28 we see the second of the two signs featured in this passage, and it is the sign of the two sticks. It is prophecy of the re-uniting of northern Israel and Judah. In verses 15-19 GOD says;

 ^… “Son of man, take a piece of wood and carve on it these words: “This represents Judah and its allied tribes. Then take another piece and carve these words on it: ‘This represents Ephraim and the northern tribes of Israel.’  Now hold them together in your hand as if they were one piece of wood.  When your people ask you what your actions mean, say to them, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will take Ephraim and the northern tribes and join them to Judah. I will make them one piece of wood in my hand”.

After the death of King Solomon, Ephraim, the tribe that made up northern Israel, had torn itself away from southern Israel (Judah), and the remaining tribes. Northern Israel had since been conquered by the Assyrians in 722 B.C., and had been intermixed with Assyrian relations that formed the hated Samaritans people of JESUS’ day. They were half breed Jews who were no longer accepted by their southern counterparts.

Here in this passage GOD promises a re-unification of the two estranged nations into “one nation under GOD”, indivisible, once again. Here, GOD is again speaking of an eschatological time when the “Millennial Kingdom” of CHRIST will be formed here on earth at history’s end. One KING will rule over the whole earth at that time, JESUS CHRIST, of the lineage of David. At that time, all people on earth will only desire to worship CHRIST and obey GOD the FATHER completely. HE will be our GOD, and we will be HIS people, and Israel will hold a special place in that world as GOD’s chosen people forever (Vs.20-28).

Through GOD’s faithfulness and power, we can all enjoy “new life” just for the asking, and HE will always “restore” and “unite” the people who share a common allegiance to CHRIST JESUS. Some believe that this particular passage of scripture does speak of the present Jewish state, and if it does, then the coming of the MESSIAH must be drawing near, however, whenever CHRIST does return, the remainder of these prophesies will find their fulfillment in a great movement toward HIM as the MESSIAH of all mankind. It is then when GOD’s promises of restoration and blessing, can and will, be completely realized, consummated, and fulfilled.

In Ezekiel 38, we see the sixth and final series of prophesies uttered by the prophet Ezekiel prior to the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. Here he prophesies against “Gog” (ro’sh – “the chief prince”) and the land of “Magog (the area of modern-day Russia, eastern Turkey, and Iran) where he ruled. He foretells an event in the distant future when Gog will invade Israel while she is at peace. GOD tells Ezekiel in verses 3-9, to announce to the chief prince;

“… Gog, I am your enemy! ⁴ I will turn you around and put hooks in your jaws to lead you out with your whole army—your horses and charioteers in full armor and a great horde armed with shields and swords. ⁵ Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya will join you, too, with all their weapons. ⁶ Gomer and all its armies will also join you, along with the armies of Beth-togarmah from the distant north, and many others.

⁷ “Get ready; be prepared! Keep all the armies around you mobilized, and take command of them. ⁸ A long time from now you will be called into action. In the distant future you will swoop down on the land of Israel, which will be enjoying peace after recovering from war and after its people have returned from many lands to the mountains of Israel. ⁹ You and all your allies—a vast and awesome army—will roll down on them like a storm and cover the land like a cloud.”

The LORD further states that, at that time evil thoughts will come into the mind of Gog and cause him to devise an evil scheme against Israel that involves several allies (v.10). And while GOD does not cause this hostility toward Israel to happen, HE does seem to create the conditions which will lead Gog to outwardly express his hostility against Israel.

This passage presents the picture of a scenario where Gog will be joined in his attack by other nations who will come from different directions to ascend upon Israel. In verse 5 Ezekiel identifies those nations that will ally with Meshech and Tubal (Russia) as Persia (Iran), Cush (Ethiopia), and Put (Libya). And so, these territorial references at least suggest that parts of Russia, eastern Turkey, and Iran will likely be involved.

And so Gog, feeling that Israel is quite vulnerable at that time, will seize the opportunity to pounce upon this peaceful and confident, revived nation, and attempt to capture its now vast amounts of plunder and take the surviving populace back to their own countries as slaves.

However, little does Gog know that this attack will be used by GOD, to show HIS sovereignty, and power in the world. By going against Israel, all those nations will come to know GOD, and as a result of their failed attack, Israel will be empowered further, and GOD HIMSELF will be even more glorified (Vs.14-16).

When all those armies reached Israel, GOD interrupted their charge with a massive earthquake that spread fear and confusion throughout their military ranks. During this confusion, all communications broke down between the four invading nations, causing them to actually begin attacking each other. In addition to disease, heavy rainfall, hail, and burning sulfur (probably volcano ash) added to their problems, all of which were forms of “natural disasters” that can only be controlled by the hand of GOD (Vs.17-23). 

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

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BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday May 10, 2015

A MESSAGE FOR EDOM

(Restoration for Israel)

Ezekiel 35-36

In Ezekiel 35, the prophet Ezekiel presents yet a second prophecy of doom against Edom (the first was Ezekiel 25:12-14), or, Mount Seir, and the whole geographical region where Edom is located. Therefore, this particular prophecy is against all people living in that area, including Edom, one of Israel’s oldest enemies.

Seir is the name of the valley and mountain range of Aravah, from the Dead Sea to the Elanitic Gulf. It is also where the Horites lived, who were conquered by King Kedorlaomer before he himself was defeated by Abraham (Genesis 14:6), and, where Jacob sent messengers in an attempt to soften his brother Esau’s expected rage against him for swindling him out of his inheritance (Genesis 32:3). Esau is the father of the Edomite nation.

As I stated in an earlier commentary, Edom’s conflict with Israel dates all the way back to the time when Edom refused to allow Israel to cross its border when they were wandering in the desert following their exodus from Egypt (Numbers 20:14-21). Ezekiel said in chapter 25 that Edom’s sin was that she “took revenge on the house of Judah”, and that she saw Judah’s conflict with Babylon as a grand opportunity to strengthen her own position of power in the region. Edom believed that, if Judah were destroyed, she would be able to gain a foothold in the area south of the Dead Sea. And so they aided Babylon in her efforts to destroy Jerusalem.

Here in Ezekiel 35, the LORD says that Edom’s continued hatred for Israel led her to butcher them when they were helpless (under duress from Babylon). Their actions against Israel came at a time when GOD was already punishing Israel for their sins against HIM. In this passage GOD hurls four accusations at Seir, as reasons for HIS judgment on that region.

·         The first accusation was that they were always hostile toward HIS chosen people (v.5).

·         Secondly, they maintained a desire to take possession of, and own the land that GOD had already given to HIS people, Israel (v.10).

·         Thirdly, they harbored an ongoing disrespect for GOD HIMSELF (v.10).

·         And finally, they refused to submit to GOD, and boasted proudly against HIM, which is the general reason for the fall of all mankind (v.13).

And so Edom became somewhat of “an object lesson” for all nations in general, who are hostile to Israel. In the day when GOD restores Israel, HE will also judge the nations of the world, based on how they treated Israel, GOD’s “original representative nation” here on earth.

Ezekiel 36 is the exact antithesis to Ezekiel 35. After GOD judges Israel’s enemies, HE will, at a future date, bless HIS chosen nation with complete restoration. Here Ezekiel contrasts GOD’s plan of judgment, and Israel’s present condition, with GOD’s plan of restoration, and Israel’s future blessings.

In this passage GOD tells Ezekiel to prophesy to Israel’s mountains, which were soon to be cleansed of all of the shrines and altars, along with all of their demonic influences that could currently be found there. Israel had become possessed by the demonic forces of many nations while worshipping those nations many idol gods. As a result of their poor spiritual choices, they now suffered physical defeat, and they were now mocked and slandered by those same nations (Vs.1-3).

The LORD’s anger was kindled against the pagan nations, especially Edom, because of her utter contempt against HIM, by happily taking Israel’s land for themselves, as a reward after Judah’s destruction. GOD’s intent in this chapter, however, is to encourage HIS down-throdden people of Israel, and assure them that HE had not abandoned them. This, all in light of the fact, that, none of the exiles would ever live to see this prophecy fulfilled. GOD wanted them to know that Israel would rise from its shame, and that her mountains would once again produce abundant crops, and its land would again be filled with people, flocks and herds (Vs.5-15).

When the Israelites were living in their own land they defiled it with evil deeds, and to GOD, those acts were utterly detestable. They had polluted the land with murder, idolatry, and adultery, and so GOD poured out HIS anger on them, and scattered them abroad to many distant lands, as one of HIS forms of punishment. Even after they were scattered abroad, they still brought dishonor to GOD’s holy name. The pagan nations began to mock them by saying, “These are the people of the LORD, and HE couldn’t keep them safe in their own land” (Vs.16-20).

Being concerned for HIS OWN name and reputation, GOD sent this message to the exiles through the prophet Ezekiel (Vs.22-27) (NLT):

 “Therefore, give the people of Israel this message from the Sovereign Lord: I am bringing you back, but not because you deserve it. I am doing it to protect my holy name, on which you brought shame while you were scattered among the nations.  I will show how holy my great name is—the name on which you brought shame among the nations. And when I reveal my holiness through you before their very eyes, says the Sovereign Lord, then the nations will know that I am the Lord.  For I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again to your land.

Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols.  And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.”

Here in this passage we see one of scripture’s earliest revelations of GOD’s plan for us through CHRIST JESUS and the HOLY SPIRIT. GOD would not only give us a new “human spirit”, or, “desire to obey HIM” (v.26). After we have been cleansed by the blood of CHRIST, which was shed as a sacrifice for our sins and uncleanness, GOD would also allow us to be embodied by HIS HOLY SPIRIT. The HOLY SPIRIT would be paramount in helping steer us and guide us into all righteousness and obedience, based on our own personal choice, and “saving faith” in HIM (v.27).

In GOD’s Mosaic Law (Leviticus 16:30-31), a ritually unclean person would not be able to participate in worship services. And so the idea of being “clean” or “unclean” could have a significant impact on one’s personal relationship with GOD. This law also carried over to “moral and immoral acts” as it is emphasized in Psalm 106:36-39. Men of GOD saw in this concept of ritual uncleanness, a powerful image of “the inner defilement” that is caused by sin.

The whole nation of Israel had defiled itself through their forbidden practices of idolatry, adultery, and murderous sacrifices of children in the fire to Mollech. GOD’s holiness absolutely required that the Israelites vacate from HIS holy land, which would continue to exist long after that generation of people, had expired. The land had to cleansed of the “demonic defilement” that comes with worshipping people, places, and things other than GOD HIMSELF. And the people themselves had to be cleansed by allowing their sins to “run its course” for seventy years in Babylon, after which, GOD would be ready to hear their prayers once again, and be willing to also, grant their special requests (v.37).

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

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BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday April 19, 2015

EZEKIEL AS ISRAEL’S WATCHMAN

(The Shepherds of Israel)

Ezekiel 33-34

In Ezekiel 33, verses 1-20, GOD once again reminds Ezekiel that he has been appointed as “a watchman” over his people in Israel (the Church). HE had given Ezekiel this assignment a few years back (Ezekiel 3:16-27), when HE first called him to his ministry, shortly after he had been taken captive by the Babylonians in 597 B.C.

The traditional role of “the watchman” is much like the role of a “security guard” in today’s society. He is given the job of watching over and protecting those people, places, or things that are most important to his employer. He is to always remain at his post, keeping alert for the event of any danger that might threaten the security of that, or those whom he is assigned to protect.

While the watchman’s duty may be limited, it is, nevertheless, extremely important. He is responsible to give an alarm to make those whom he is duty-bound to protect, aware of their impending danger. However, if those, whom he seeks to protect does not take heed to his warning, he cannot be held responsible for their injury or demise.  Here in the opening lines of this chapter (Vs.2-9), the LORD once again gives this message to HIS faithful prophet;

 “Son of man, give your people this message: ‘When I bring an army against a country, the people of that land choose one of their own to be a watchman.  When the watchman sees the enemy coming, he sounds the alarm to warn the people.  Then if those who hear the alarm refuse to take action, it is their own fault if they die.  They heard the alarm but ignored it, so the responsibility is theirs. If they had listened to the warning, they could have saved their lives.  But if the watchman sees the enemy coming and doesn’t sound the alarm to warn the people, he is responsible for their captivity. They will die in their sins, but I will hold the watchman responsible for their deaths.’  “Now, son of man, I am making you a watchman for the people of Israel. Therefore, listen to what I say and warn them for me.  If I announce that some wicked people are sure to die and you fail to tell them to change their ways, then they will die in their sins, and I will hold you responsible for their deaths.  But if you warn them to repent and they don’t repent, they will die in their sins, but you will have saved yourself.” (NLT)

In Ezekiel 18 GOD emphasized that each individual is responsible for their own moral and spiritual choices, but here, and in Ezekiel chapter 3, GOD is saying that we, as believers, are also our brother’s keeper. It is up to each of us to warn and witness to others of the dangers of the consequences of sinful behavior, and to urge others to reform, as we ourselves surrender to the call of GOD to reform our lives under HIM. It is a principle that permanently and irrevocably binds us to a limited responsibility to each other, as human beings operating under GOD.

And even though each of us retains wills that are free, those who know the truth about GOD are responsible to share it so that no one will be able to say that they were not informed. Here, if Ezekiel had failed to inform the people of GOD’s warnings, he himself would have been guilty of being disobedient, and thereby, he himself would be subject to death, as well as being guilty of causing the death of those whom he could have informed, but didn’t.

The thought of GOD being unjust is a stupid, stupid thought (v.20). Man has always deservingly suffered for his iniquities through no fault of GOD’s, but rather, by our own doing. Even in the secular world, it is not the fault of “the law” that we break it. We pay the cost for our violations of man’s law simply because we are guilty of not complying with the laws that are established by man. And so certainly we will suffer in life any time we violate the laws that were established by GOD, even before man ever had laws of his own.

Taking up at verse 21, Ezekiel says that during his twelfth year of captivity in Babylon, a man came to him with the news that Jerusalem had been destroyed. A day earlier the LORD had unlocked Ezekiel’s lips so that he would be able to speak again when the man arrived. Then the LORD gave Ezekiel this message to deliver to the scattered remnants of Judah now living in the ruined Israelite cities;

 “Son of man, the scattered remnants of Israel living among the ruined cities keep saying, ‘Abraham was only one man, yet he gained possession of the entire land. We are many; surely the land has been given to us as a possession.’  So tell these people, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: You eat meat with blood in it, you worship idols, and you murder the innocent. Do you really think the land should be yours?  Murderers! Idolaters! Adulterers! Should the land belong to you?’

 “Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: As surely as I live, those living in the ruins will die by the sword. And I will send wild animals to eat those living in the open fields. Those hiding in the forts and caves will die of disease.  I will completely destroy the land and demolish her pride. Her arrogant power will come to an end. The mountains of Israel will be so desolate that no one will even travel through them.  When I have completely destroyed the land because of their detestable sins, then they will know that I am the Lord.” (Vs.24-29) (NLT).

The remnant, who survived the great destruction of Jerusalem, were clinging to the hope that was presented in their knowledge that GOD had promised the land of Canaan to their ancestor, Abraham. However, they at no time ever thought of that promise as being fulfilled in an eschatological era at history’s end. They also never truly realized that, in order to enjoy GOD’s promised blessings continually, it would be a “must” that each generation hold tight to their faith in, and obedience to, GOD. Here GOD points out the reasons for their troubles and suffering, and announces that HE will remove them from the land completely, and leave it desolate for the next seventy years, in order that HE might purge it of the long-term effects of their sinful behavior. GOD’s promises of blessings are always “conditional”, and based upon our obedience.

In verses 30-33, the LORD lets Ezekiel know how he is being mocked behind his back by the very people who come to him to hear HIS words of wisdom;

 “Son of man, your people talk about you in their houses and whisper about you at the doors. They say to each other, ‘Come on, let’s go hear the prophet tell us what the Lord is saying!’  So my people come pretending to be sincere and sit before you. They listen to your words, but they have no intention of doing what you say. Their mouths are full of lustful words, and their hearts seek only after money.  You are very entertaining to them, like someone who sings love songs with a beautiful voice or plays fine music on an instrument. They hear what you say, but they don’t act on it!  But when all these terrible things happen to them—as they certainly will—then they will know a prophet has been among them.”

Like many churchgoers today, the Israelites would make it a habitual practice to go to the temple to be entertained by music, church talk, and eloquent sounding preachers who really aren’t saying anything that is spiritually productive to the congregation. Few come to hear and put into practice, those things that are life-changing and pleasing to GOD. And sadly, in today’s Church, such spiritual help and growth is not even available to those who do come with the right motive. Even in churches that are trying to do the right thing by GOD, the people may come to hear, but they have absolutely no intention of actually doing what they hear. GOD says terrible things will come to those who come to HIS House under the guise of worshipping HIM, but in reality, only wants to be entertained by those who are supposed to be leading the service to praise GOD, instead of glorifying themselves in the process.

The “shepherd” metaphor that is often used to describe the function and role of a “leader” in the Church, is one of the most endearing analogies that can be found, anywhere in all of Scripture. Ezekiel 34, and many other passages, help us to understand that role in regards to GOD’s people who are called to, or, who wish to serve, in the leadership capacity.

In Ezekiel 34:1-6, each “negative accusation” by the LORD, actually implies those “opposite”, “positive traits” that one should look for in any person who functions as a leader in a Christian church, family, community, or government. However, by presenting us with these contrasting negatives traits of the condemned leader, the LORD is actually showing us what the ideal leader should contain, and maintain in his or her character.

Here in this passage, several examples of “negative leadership” are highlighted, and they include;

·         Those who take care of themselves only, and could not care less for those who GOD assigned to them to shepherd.

·         Those who profit in an ungodly manner off of those who are being shepherded. 

·         Those who “actually physically, emotionally, or spiritually harm those who follow

them in the wrong direction.

·         Those who fail to strengthen the weak, by correctly teaching (feeding) them the word of GOD, and prayer.

·         Those who fail to seek the lost, and, “rule harshly and brutally over the flock that they do have.

These kinds of leaders are in sharp contrast to the “ideal spiritual leadership” we find in CHRIST JESUS, the ultimate GOOD SHEPHERD (Vs.11-16). GOD is seeking leaders who are willing to pattern themselves after the example of CHRIST, and we, as Christians, have a right to expect human spiritual leaders to commit to doing just that (1 Peter 5:1-4). And while each individual is responsible for his or her own moral and spiritual choices (Vs.17-19), it is the leaders who set the tone for the Christian community, who are most accountable to GOD.

GOD has taken a stand against bad leadership, and ultimately, HE will remove such leadership from their positions. HE will not hold blameless, those government, church, community, and family leaders who fail to pattern themselves in accordance with the vivid picture of leadership, that CHRIST JESUS has presented to us already, during HIS three-year earthly ministry (Vs.9-10).

GOD charged the prophet Ezekiel to prophesy against the leadership of Israel in the sixth century B.C. because HE wanted them to be strong, caring shepherds who would guard the spiritual safety of their flock with all diligence, and here in the twenty-first century, HIS desires for us to embody those leadership qualities, like all things concerning GOD, has not changed.

Then and now, too many shepherds have neglected their sheep and, as a result, the sheep were, and are, scattered away from the fold. It is time to call the shepherds to judgment for their actions and hold them accountable for the neglect and abuse of those who were entrusted to their leadership, by GOD.

As Christians, we thoroughly understand that Ezekiel wasn’t just speaking about the return of the Jews to their homeland from Babylon, as he closed this particular chapter of his prophesy. He was, indeed, also foretelling something far into the future regarding the blessings that await all earnest Christians when the LORD JESUS comes upon the scene for a second time.

In the Greek, the word New Testament writers often use for “earnest expectations”, or, “hope for the future” is “apokaradokia”. It describes the attitude of a man who scans the horizon, with his head stretched forward, as he eagerly anticipates the first signs of the coming of the glory of GOD.  Life for the Christian should always be a throbbing and vivid expectation of the joy that awaits them at the end of their Christian race.

When the GOOD SHEPHERD returns, HE will already know how HE will separate the “wheat from the tare”, and the “sheep from the goat”. And the bad shepherds, who did not serve in the manner of which GOD called them to serve, will all be judged in a manner preserved especially for them, because they failed in their positions of higher responsibility to GOD. And this goes also for the “false shepherd”, or “wolf” that just showed up wearing sheep’s clothing, and was not sent by GOD, but rather, made himself a “hireling”.

But let us also remember that, even if we don’t have an official title in the church, we are still leaders as parents, or, as the only Christian in our workplace, or, as the only Christian in our family, extended family etc. And so we still have to set a good example of Christian servant-hood and leadership, at all times, wherever we are, and, wherever we go.

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

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