We now enter another fairly long prophetic picture as another word of the Lord comes to Ezekiel (v.1). In this word the Lord describes two women – daughters of the same mother (v.2). Now when He says they both became prostitutes in Egypt (v.3) – and uses some specific and graphic sexual language to catch our attention – we know that when the prophets spoke of prostitution they were referring to the mingling of the faith of Israel with the false religions of their neighbours, and so now the reference is therefore to the religions of Egypt.

The older is named Oholah (v.4) which means ‘my tent' and her younger sister was Oholibah which means ‘my tent is within her', and the Lord says “They were mine” and goes on to explain that the older is Samaria and the younger, Jerusalem (v.4). Samaria had prostituted herself with the Assyrians (v.5-7) continuing what she had begun in Egypt (v.8) therefore the Lord had handed her over to the Assyrians (v.9) who dealt harshly with her and destroyed her (v.10) in 722-721 B.C.

Having seen that you might have expected Jerusalem to have learned from it but instead became worse than Samaria had been. I cannot help remembering the old adage that “the one thing that history teaches us is that history teaches nothing.” Jerusalem should have learned but didn't. The fact of Samaria being sent into exile had not impacted Judah and they failed to realise that this was the same path that they were taking.

D. Application:

1. Do we learn from what happens in the world around us?

2. God seeks to help us learn.

Chs. 23 & 24

Chapter: Ezek 23

Passage 11: Ezek 23:11-27 - Continuing Prostitution

A. Find Out

1. What was the Lord's assessment of both Samaria and Jerusalem ? v.11-13

2. Yet what did Jerusalem do? v.14-16

3. So what happened? v.17

4. So what did the Lord do? v.18

5. But what happened? v.19-21

6. So what will the Lord do? v.22-27

B. Think:

1. When did the Lord initially turn away from them?

2. What might you have expected their response to be?

3. But what was their response?

4. So what was going to happen?

C. Comment:

In yet another form the story of Israel and God is repeated. There is nothing new here but it comes in a different form. Here the picture is of two sisters who go into prostitution – Samaria and Jerusalem , who committed spiritual prostitution, longing to be like other nations, yearning to be like them and take on their false religions.

Samaria had been carried away in God's judgment (v.10) and with Jerusalem seeing that you might have expected them to be more careful, but they were not, they became worse (v.11). Even more did she yearn after the Assyrians (v.12-14a) and then went after the Chaldeans of Babylonia (v.14b-16) and so they came to her (v.17) but she realised what they were like and sought to turn away from them – but it was too late then; she was set in her ways and continued spiritual prostitution in the same way as she had done from the beginning in Egypt (v.19-21).

Seeing this the Lord turned away (v.18) but as we have seen, it was too late and so she continued. So eventually, as we have seen in previous warnings, the Lord determined that enough was enough and He was sending the Babylonians to strip her and stop all of this spiritual adultery (v.22-27). The language, both in describing her prostitution and what will happen has become more and more explicit, shocking indeed. But will they be shocked into repentance?

D. Application:

1. Before judgement the Lord seeks to do all He can to turn His people back.

2. Sin is the only answer to account for the folly of what happens.

Chs. 23 & 24

Chapter: Ezek 23

Passage 12: Ezek 23:28-35 - Summary-Conclusion

A. Find Out

1. What does the Lord say will happen to Jerusalem ? v.28,29

2. Why? v.30,31a

3. So what will happen? v.32-34

4. Why? v.35

B. Think:

1. What had happened to Samaria ?

2. So will happen to Jerusalem ?

3. Why?

C. Comment:

As we have noted a number of times before, the Lord comes again and again with the same message. Sometimes detailing the sin, sometimes detailing the judgment, and sometimes putting the two together. These verses now provide a short summary almost of what He has already said, but now He puts it in the context of the picture of Samaria and Jerusalem.

He starts with a solemn declaration from “the sovereign LORD” (v.28a). He is going to hand Jerusalem over to its enemies (v.28b) and they will take away everything Jerusalem has (v.29) and leave her naked and the hopelessness of their false religions revealed for what they are. This is going to happen to them because they opened themselves to these other nations and other religions (v.30).

Then He refers back to Israel again (v.31). They have followed the same path as Samaria following false religions and because of that they will go the same way as Samaria (drink from the same cup). Now that really cannot be much more clear and it is something the Lord has already said a number of times already – you will be destroyed just like Samaria was, and taken away, just like Samaria was. They are going to have to fully enter into all that happened to Samaria (v.32-34) and it is all because of what they have done (v.35), pushing God out of their lives and turning to all manner of indecent things as they followed other religions.

This condemnation, yet again, leaves little to the imagination. Samaria was destroyed and now Jerusalem will similarly be destroyed. No one will ever be able to say they were not warned!

D. Application:

1. Understand it: God warns and warns and warns.

2. Failure to heed the warning brings just judgments.

Chs. 23 & 24

Chapter: Ezek 23

Passage 13: Ezek 23:36-49 - Jerusalem Judged

A. Find Out

1. List the things for which Jerusalem is to be judged? v.36-39

2. What else had she done? v.40-42

3. So what had the Lord given them over to? v.43,44

4. So what will happen to them? v.45-47

5. With what end objectives? v.48-49

B. Think:

1. List again the sins that are exposed here?

2. How does the Lord typify them?

3. And with what end outcome?

C. Comment:

The condemnation of Jerusalem continues and in this picture of two sisters, it seems to go on and on and on. The point is being made again and again. So yet again we find the Lord telling Ezekiel to eyeball this people with their sins, doing it for both Jerusalem and Samaria (v.36) Note again the expression ‘detestable practices' (v.36b) explained as adultery and shedding blood through child sacrifice (v.37). But more than this they had simply disdained the Lord's instructions defiling the Temple and ignoring the Sabbaths (v.38,39). Whatever the detail of these things – and we are not told – the condemnation is clear and strong.

But if that wasn't bad enough they sent to other nations and played the big international people (v.40-42) making themselves to be great and the same as others but in so doing they took on board the false religions of others, spoken of as adultery (v.43) and so the Lord gave them wholly over to it – all right, if that's what you want to do, go all out for it and become like a common prostitute mixing with whoever arrives (v.43b,44) but they will receive the fate of a common adulterer (v.45) which was stoning (v.46,47).

The outcomes of v.48 are more likely to be spiritual rather than literal so ‘women' may refer to other nations and the first outcome will be that others will see and be warned. The second outcome is that disciplinary punishment will come on Jerusalem (v.49a) and that the third thing will be that they will realise that all this has been of the Lord (v.49b). It's the same message being reiterated so that repetition means it sinks in even more!

D. Application:

1. Beware mixing your faith with the worlds views. It won't work!

2. The Lord will hold you accountable.

Chs. 23 & 24

Chapter: Ezek 24

Passage 14: Ezek 24:1-13 - Parable of the Pot

A. Find Out

1. What day did the word come and with what significance? v.1,2

2. What was Ezekiel to tell about what? v.3

3. What was to go in it and what happen? v.4,5

4. How did the Lord apply that? v.6,7

5. So what will the Lord do? v.8-10

6. What will happen to the empty pot and why? v.11-13

B. Think:

1. What happens to the food in the pot?

2. What happens to the empty pot?

3. What do you think this signifies?

C. Comment:

A fourth date is given - Jan. 15, 588 B.C (by some scholars) It is a year before Jerusalem falls, it is the start of the siege of Jerusalem (v.1,2) Then comes yet another prophetic picture to convey to the listeners in yet another form, the same thing that Lord has been saying for some time. It comes in the form of a parable (v.3) and it is about a cooking pot which is to be filled with good meat (v.4) which is to be well cooked (v.5) and then taken out piece by piece (v.6) Now so far this appears quite straight forward, especially in the light of all the previous words that have come. The pot must be Jerusalem and the meat put into it, the rulers and people. The pot will be heated – the siege – and then the people will be taken (into exile).

But there is now another significant aspect that comes to the fore. The Lord picks up on the bloodshed that has been going on in the holy city and it has become like a crust on the inside of the pot (v.6) which refused to be removed, blood that was shed openly and fearlessly (v.7 on rock not in dust) so their blood will be shed by the Lord similarly (v.8). So with Jerusalem , the Lord will put wood against it (v.9 – siege) and the contents burned (v.10) until the pot is emptied and the burning continued (v.11) until the crusty deposit (the bloodshed) is burned off because previously nothing had been able to remove or stop it (v.12). But this crusty deposit was not only bloodshed, it was the lewdness that the Lord had spoken of before, that they had refused to forsake. (v.13)

D. Application:

1. The Lord is persistent in His desire to cleanse and restore His people.

2. Holiness is the Lord's objective for His people.

Chs. 23 & 24

Chapter: Ezek 24

Passage 15: Ezek 24:14-19 - No Mourning for Loss

A. Find Out

1. What did the Lord declare? v.14

2. What was to happen and how was Ezekiel to act? v.15,16

3. How specifically was he to do that? v.17

4. And what happened? v.18

5. What reaction did that provoke? v.19

B. Think:

1. How might you feel over the loss over a loved one?

2. How was Ezekiel to appear at such a loss?

3. How do you think this might be an ‘acting prophecy'?

C. Comment:

Ezekiel, you might remember from earlier chapters in the book, had had on occasion to act out prophecy. Again and again he was to both speak and act out the word of the Lord to the people there in Babylon , so that the word would both change their hearts for the future, and also be conveyed back to Jerusalem to change their hearts. Thus we come to an acting out prophecy that is going to be difficult for Ezekiel.

First the Lord declares that the time for Him to act has come (v.14) and so He will no longer hold back, His judgment will come. But then His word comes afresh to Ezekiel (v.15) and initially it is quite strange. He simply warns Ezekiel not to mourn when something painful is about to happen, for Ezekiel is about to lose something that is dear to him (v.16). We might have wondered did the Lord mean the destruction and loss of Jerusalem which was precious to Him and would have been precious to Ezekiel. He is told how to act in this ‘not-mourning' (v.17); he is to dress quite normally, not as a mourner might, and he is not to give verbal or facial indications of mourning, nor restrict his eating as a mourner might do. Specific instructions.

Then next day he carries on as normal, perhaps wondering what is coming. He speaks to the people and then later in the die his wife dies (v.18). This is the loss he is not to mourn! And so he carries on as if nothing has happened and people start asking questions (v.19). They know Ezekiel and know he can act strangely but if he does, he is being prophetic, so what is this all about, how does it affect them? Watch this space!

D. Application:

1. Prophets, especially, are called to obedience in conveying God's word.

2. Sometimes that may be difficult.

Chs. 23 & 24

Chapter: Ezek 24

Passage 16: Ezek 24:20-27 - Sanctuary to be Destroyed

A. Find Out

1. What had the Lord told Ezekiel? v.20,21

2. And how will they react? v.22,23

3. What will they realise? v.24

4. What will happen to who, and when? v.25,26

5. So what will Ezekiel do? v.27a

6. With what consequence? v.27b

B. Think:

1. How was Ezekiel's wife linked to what will happen in Jerusalem ?

2. What was the point of Ezekiel's behaviour?

3. Why do you think there was to be no mourning over the destruction?

C. Comment:

The present verses must be seen in the light of the verses that precede them. Remember Ezekiel had been warned not to mourn at a coming loss, and then his wife had died. The people had questioned why he was not mourning (v.19) and he replies that he has a word from the Lord for them (v.20) and that it is to do with the destruction of the Temple (sanctuary) in Jerusalem (v.21a) and also of the next generation back there in Jerusalem (v.21b).

When this happens they will act as he has done in respect of his wife (v.22) and they will not show mourning over Jerusalem (v.22,23a) because they will be so taken up with their own plight (v.23b). They will “waste away” or just die in a foreign land, all because of their sin and they will anguish because of this. So great will be their own plight, as they see it, that mourning over the destruction of the Temple will almost not exist.

You are going to be just like Ezekiel was, the Lord continues, (v.24), not mourning and then it will dawn upon you, that indeed this all was of the Lord. In the face of calamity, it often takes time to realise the import or significance of what is happening.

Then the Lord speaks to Ezekiel (v.25) that on the day when the Lord destroys the Temple , a fugitive from Jerusalem will come to him with the news (v.26) and then he will be free to speak (v.27). Until then, it appears, he will remain silent, and then starting to speak again when that news comes will vindicate him in their eyes. It WAS the Lord!

D. Application:

1. Self-concerns often blind us to other realities.

2. With the Lord, events sometimes move slowly.

Chs. 23 & 24

RECAP No.2 "The Sins of Judah & Jerusalem (2)" Ch. 23 & 24

SUMMARY :

In this second group of 7 studies we have seen :

Study No. 10 : Two Sisters (1) : Ezek 23:1-11

Study No. 11 : Continuing prostitution: Ezek 23:11-27

Study No. 12 : Summary-Conclusion : Ezek 23:28-35

Study No. 13 : Jerusalem Judged : Ezek 23:36-49

Study No. 14 : Parable of the Pot : Ezek 24:1-13

Study No. 15 : No Mourning for Loss : Ezek 24:14-19

Study No. 16 : Sanctuary to be Destroyed : Ezek 24:20-27

COMMENT :

The words against Jerusalem and Judah continue coming. Again be aware of the great variety of ways that the Lord seeks to communicate with this community of His in the Promised Land. Remember also that at this time Jeremiah was also speaking the same word to God's people in Jerusalem – come to your senses, return to the Lord and avoid the coming disaster.

In chapter 23 we saw a length word using the illustration of two sisters who represent Samaria and Jerusalem . Samaria had already been carried off into exile and been replaced by foreigners but still stood as an object lesson for Jerusalem . The word comes strongly and persistently about their unfaithfulness to the Lord, their turning to ‘other religions' and the awfulness of that conveyed in terms of adultery and prostitution. So much for a ‘holy city'! From verse 22 on the judgment is made – she will be handed over to her enemies.

In chapter 24 the word comes that Nebuchadnezzar has laid siege to Jerusalem and another word, in the form of a parable, sees Jerusalem as a pot used for cooking meat that is gradually heated and the meat taken. Then comes an instruction to Ezekiel not to mourn and within 24 hours his wife dies. His failure to grieve openly has the people questioning and he warns them that with what is to come, they too will have no time to mourn Jerusalem . It is a sobering word

PRAY :

Thank the Lord that when He plans judgment, he warns and warns and warns to give plenty of opportunity for repentance.

PART 3 : "Against the Neighbours" Ch.25-28

In this next Part we will see God's word come against neighbouring nations who He holds accountable. Watch for the reasons why.