Ezekiel 19:1-14 & Ezekiel 20:1-20
Q.1. Why did God lament over the destruction and removal of Israel from the land? – (Ezk.19:1-14)
This was Ezekiel’s lament, picturing Judah’s fate. He pictured Judah as a captured lioness losing two cubs – they brought him to the king of Babylon; they brought him in hunting nets so that his voice would be heard no more on the mountains of Israel (Ezk.19:9 c.f. Ezk.19:1-9). He also described the demise of a vine – planted by the waters; it was fruitful and full of branches because of abundant waters. It had strong branches fit for sceptres of rulers … but it was plucked up in fury … (Ezk.19:1-12). The destruction of God’s people broke His heart – … This cry has become a lamentation (Ezk.19:14).
Q.2. What made God refuse to respond to the inquiries of the elders of His Covenant people? – (Ezk.20:1-20)
The visit by the elders to Ezekiel asking him ‘to inquire of the Lord’ was an insult, because they had repeatedly rejected the Lord’s warnings (Ezk.20:1). God had told Ezekiel – Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, `Thus says the Lord God’, Do you come to inquire of Me? As I live, declares the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you (Ezk.20:3). God had chosen Israel, revealed Himself to them, located them in the best of lands, given them life-giving rules, and had spared them time and again. However, they had repeatedly rebelled (Ezk.20:5-13). He poured His grace on them – I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, before whose sight I had brought them out … My eye spared them rather than destroying them … (Ezk.20:14 & 17). He continually appealed to the nation, saying – I am the Lord your God; Walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and observe them (Ezk.20:19). Each succeeding generation acted treacherously until there was no remedy (Ezk.20:27-32).