Ezekiel 11:1-25
Q.1. What truth was God trying to teach His people, by executing judgment on them and their evil leaders? – (Ezk.11:1-13)
The Apostle John was given a vision of future events (Rev.1:10, 19; 4:1). Ezekiel was given visions of both the present and future (Ezk.11:1, 13-21). He was given a vision of twenty-five men, including Judah’s leaders, in the Temple precinct devising evil (Ezk.11:1-2). He likened the people of Jerusalem to flesh in a pot, because of their bloodshed and evil (Ezk.11:3-6). He pronounced judgment on the nations, all the way to the border of Israel (Ezk.11:7-11). One of the ringleaders, Pelatiah, was struck down (Ezk.11:1, 13). This was all to drive home this message – Thus you will know that I am the Lord; for you have not walked in My statutes nor have you executed My ordinances but have acted according to the ordinances of the nations around you (Ezk.11:12 c.f. 10). Even Ezekiel was amazed at the speed with which God had exacted judgment on one of the leaders. He cried out – Alas Lord God! Will You bring the remnant of Israel to a complete end? (Ezk.11:13).
Q.2. How would God accomplish an amazing turn-around in the hearts and conduct of His people? – (Ezk.11:14-21)
Judah would be taken captive by the Babylonians, as surely as Israel was scattered among the nations by Assyria one hundred and fifty years earlier (Ezk.11:14-15). Nevertheless, the Lord would still protect them there (Ezk.11:16). Even more astounding was the change that God would bring through chastisement – 17 … `Thus says the Lord God, “I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries among which you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.”‘ 18 When they come there, they will remove all its detestable things and all its atrocities from it. 19 And I will give them one heart and put a new spirit within them. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and do them. THEN THEY WILL BE MY PEOPLE, AND I SHALL BE THEIR GOD (Ezk.11:17-19). God’s patience is much greater than that of people. All His discipline was intended to bring about restoration. This spiritual heart change will happen after the Great Tribulation, when all Israel will be saved (c.f. Rom.11:25-27).
Q.3. What tragic consequence that God had visited upon His people did Ezekial see? – (Ezk.11:22-25)
The ultimate tragedy was being visited upon God’s people. The light of God’s presence was being removed from their Temple and the city – The glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city and stood over the mountain which is east of the city (Ezk.11:23). Ezekiel told the exiles in Babylon what the Lord had revealed to him (Ezk.11:24-25). The Shekinah glory would not return when the exiles returned to Jerusalem, as recorded in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. The Lord would give a detailed prophecy about the re-establishment of the nation when Christ will reign during the Millennium (Ezk.Chpts.40-48). Ezekiel ended his book declaring – … The Lord is there (Ezk.48:35).