Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

Still in the vision, Ezekiel is brought to the East gate of the Temple where twenty-five men were – including Pelatiah, son of Benaiah. They were all prominent men in their tribes. The Lord told Ezekiel that these men were men who devised iniquity and gave wicked council in the city. They were NOT godly men. Instead of listening to and agreeing with the words of the prophets of God, they were instead telling the people that it was about time they started building houses again. They claimed that they – the residents of Jerusalem – were like meat protected in an iron pot, safe from spoil. The Lord told Ezekiel the people WERE like meat: meat in an iron cook pot. He would cook them away. In fact, as He was speaking, Pelatiah collapsed dead.

Ezekiel cried out, wondering if anyone would survive to be a remnant, but the Lord told Him that they were falsely claiming things in the Lord’s name. He knew what was in their hearts. He knew what they were saying and why. He would deliver them to Babylon and give the people what they had chosen. He also told Ezekiel that a remnant would be saved. Scattered, but saved. He would be their sanctuary in the nations to which they were scattered. And then, in the fullness of His time, He would gather them together and give them to the Land of Israel again. He would replace their hearts of stone with soft hearts toward Him. He would write His Law on their minds and hearts and they would walk in His statutes and judgments. They would be His people, and He would be their God. The vision ended with the cherubim lifting their wings and the glory of the Lord lifting with them, removing itself from the city completely, and coming to rest nearby on the Mount of Olives. Then Ezekiel was returned to himself in captivity and he told what he had seen to his fellow exiles.

Things weren’t really changing in people’s hearts. They were refusing to see – rebellious people that they were. So the Lord spoke to Ezekiel and told him to act out a prophesy. Perhaps THEN they would listen to the words of the Lord. He was to pack up his belongings in their sight as if he was being taken into captivity. Then he was to wait until evening, dig a hole in the wall in plain sight, and climb through. He was to cover his face so that he could not see the ground. In all of this he was to be a sign to the people of Israel. He did it exactly as the Lord said. In the morning, the Lord told him that since the people asked what he was doing, he was to answer them. He was to say that it was a prophesy against the king of Judah (Zedekiah). That he would be assailed in Jerusalem, would attempt an escape, be captured, be brought to Babylon, but not see it. It all came true (2 Kings 24-25). Zedekiah tried to escape, got captured, had his eyes put out, and was dragged to Babylon in chains.

In these pronouncements of judgment, people would see that the Lord WAS God because all HIS words would come true exactly as He said them. To make sure that knowledge was shared, He would spare some people from the sword, famine, and pestilence so that they could declare exactly what had happened, who had done it, and how He had showed judgment to the people for very good reasons. False prophets were saying that these prophesies of Ezekiel’s wouldn’t take place for a long time, but God said they were near. VERY near. [spoiler: they were]

God did NOT like people lying in His name. Speaking their own ideas, concepts, and opinions instead of His words. It is a HUGE honour to speak God’s words. It is a HUGE mistake to speak your own opinions and claim that the Lord said them. He does NOT take kindly to them, and since they were under a covenant of condemnation (the Law) He was going to condemn them. They would be punished in full. Everyone would see their prophecies were futile. Everyone would see by the fulfillment of the others that God IS God. He would tear down their false security. He would destroy the false – whether men or women. Those that spiritually prostituted themselves for gain would perish with nothing but rags and dust because of what they had made to happen. They would bear responsibility for the deaths they helped to bring about with hardhearted rebellion.

“Because you disheartened the heart of the righteous by deception, and I have not caused him pain, and strengthened the hands of the wicked so that he did not turn from his wicked way to save his life. Therefore falseness you will not see, and divination you will not practice any longer, and I will rescue my people from your hand, and you will know that I am Yahweh!’” (Ezekiel 13:22-23)

There were still righteous people who did NOT want to be in the situation they were in. Even though they were surrounded by ungodly behaviour, they were grieved for the people because they knew the joy and deliverance only possible in the Lord. I suspect these were part of the remnant the Lord saved from the judgment coming upon them (Ezekiel 9:4-6; 14:14).

Then some of the elders of Israel came to consult Ezekiel. But Ezekiel walked with God and was always on the lookout for the words of the Lord. The Lord spoke to Ezekiel and told him these elders were idolaters in their hearts. They had prostituted themselves with idols, committing adultery. Why should He (the Lord) give them ANY kind of answer? So the Lord told Ezekiel how to answer. He told Ezekiel to tell them that anyone who came to inquire of a prophet but had idols in his heart, would be answered to the FULLEST according to the idolatry that he practised. He warned them again to turn from their idolatry. To turn away from their abominations. That anyone who did NOT turn back would be answered in full for their rebellion. They would bear their iniquity.

The Lord told Ezekiel that when a land CHOSE to rebel against the Lord KNOWINGLY. When they grieved Him with their actions and idolatry, they would get punished. The Lord was going to send four severe judgments against Jerusalem. The sword, famine, wild beasts, and pestilence. It would be so bad that even if Daniel, Job, and Noah were there ministering, they would only be able to save themselves – not even their families. That is the level of rebellion that was going on and the level of judgment heading to Jerusalem. But the remnant would be preserved. Yes, it would be terrible, but they would hear the stories and meet the remnant and everyone would know that God had done NOTHING without JUST CAUSE.

The Lord explained it like this. A vine is only good when bearing fruit. It wasn’t hardwood. it wasn’t even softwood. You couldn’t build a house with it. You couldn’t build furniture from it. It was ONLY good for growing fruit. And if you had a vine that was no good for growing fruit while planted, watered, and cared for; how much LESS would it be useful when burnt at both ends and scorched in the middle? The only thing it was good for then was being burnt in a fire (compare with John 15:1-17). Jerusalem and its inhabitants were just such a vine. They would be incinerated. Because the people had been persistent in their unfaithfulness, the land would be made desolate.

Summary

Key Players: God, Ezekiel, Pelatiah,

Key Verse(s): Ezekiel 11:1-6, 22-25; 12:3-7, 21-28; 13:8-12, 20-23; 14:1-6, 21-23; 15:1-8 (John 15:1-8)