Ezekiel 6
LORD declares war on false places of worship verse 1- 3
And the word of the LORD came unto me
saying
Son of man – set you face toward the mountains of Israel
and prophesy against them
and say
You mountains of Israel
hear the word of the Lord GOD
Thus says the Lord GOD to the mountains – hills – rivers – valleys
BEHOLD I – even I – will bring a sword upon you
and I will destroy your high places
LORD explains HIS plan for these places verse 4- 7
And your altars shall be desolate – and your images shall be broken
and I will cast down your slain men before your idols
and I will lay the dead carcasses of the children of Israel
before their idols
and I will scatter your bones round about your altars
In all your dwelling places the cities shall be laid waste
and the high places shall be desolate
that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate
and your idols may be broken and cease
and your images may be cut down
and your works may be abolished
and the slain shall fall in the midst of you
and YOU SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD
LORD preserves a remnant verse 8- 10
Yet will I leave a remnant that you may have some that shall
escape the sword among the nations
when you shall be scattered through the countries
And they that escape of you shall remember ME among the nations
whither they shall be carried captives
BECAUSE I am broken with their whoring heart
which has departed from ME – and with their eyes
which go whoring after their idols
and they shall loathe themselves for the evils
which they have committed in all
their abominations
AND they shall KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD
and that I have not said in vain that I would
do this evil to them
LORD will be known by all after disaster verse 11- 14
Thus says the Lord GOD
Smite with your hand – and stamp with your foot
and say
Alas for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel
for they shall fall by the
sword – famine – pestilence
He that is far off shall die of the pestilence
and he that is near shall fall by the sword
and he that remains and is besieged
shall die by the famine
thus will I accomplish
MY fury upon them
THEN shall you KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD
when their slain men shall be among their idols
round about their altars – upon every high hill
in all the tops of the mountain
and under every green tree
and under every thick oak
the place where they did offer sweet savor
to all their idols
SO will I stretch out MY hand upon them
and make the land desolate – yea
more desolate than the wilderness
toward Diblath
in all their habitations
And they shall KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 7 And the slain shall fall in the midst of you, and you shall know that I am the LORD. (3045 “know” [yada‘] means knowledge, notice, hear of, learn, revealed, realize, observe, perceive, or to be cognizant.)
DEVOTION: Throughout the Old Testament God has warned HIS people of judgment if they are unfaithful to HIM. HE will send warnings. HE will send prophets to warn them of their coming judgment. HE used faithful priests to warn the people. Judgment never comes without warning from the LORD.
So we find the children of Israel under the judgment of God which is called evil because it is what the people desire rather than what God wants to give HIS people. HE is longsuffering toward them and us. HE doesn’t want anyone to spend eternity in hell but there comes a time of judgment for the actions of those who refuse to confess their sin and follow HIM.
HE uses the judgment of Israel to help those who remain and also people of other nations that there is a God who is true and holy. The nations around Israel will see what happens to even HIS people when they refuse to follow HIS commandments.
God wants people to know that HE is the ONLY TRUE GOD of the universe. There is no other. HE informs Ezekiel that the reason for the judgment is for both Israel and other nations to know that HE is a God that keeps HIS word regarding judgment.
Now we have time today to become a follower of Jesus Christ but there will be a day when the offer has ended and judgment will come on those who reject HIM as their personal Savior. Then all will understand that HE is the LORD!!
CHALLENGE: Don’t wait for judgment day to come before you realize that you have never made a genuine commitment to the LORD!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 8 Yet will I leave a remnant, that you may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scattered through the countries. (3498 “remnant” [yathar] means remainder, behind, leave, preserve alive, that which is left, spare, make survive, or left behind.
DEVOTION: The children of Judah had many places of false worship. They were worshiping idols. They were making images. They were going to high places to worship false gods. They were making altars to their false gods. The LORD was displeased.
HE was going to break down all of their places of false worship. HE was going to see that the bones of those who worshiped false gods were right there beside their places of worship.
Why was HE making this all happen? HE wanted them to realize that that HE was in control. HE wanted them to know that HE was the LORD. LORD means Sovereign over the universe. HE could bring blessing or HE could bring cursing depending on the actions of those who were claiming to be HIS followers.
HE did leave a group behind to show HIS mercy. HE promised to bring the remainder back to the Promised Land in the future. Jeremiah gave this promise to the people from the LORD. HE was never to be without a witness to HIS greatness.
Today we have a group of individuals who are faithful to the LORD that will be kept by HIS power. These individuals will serve the LORD until HE calls them home. They will be faithful.
God wants each of us to be these type of individuals. These are the ones that are obeying HIS commands with the help of the Holy Spirit. This group is not sinless but they will be the ones who keep short accounts with God. Their days will include a time of meditation on the Word of God or Bible. They will have a time of prayer. They will have a time of witness. Those around them will notice a difference.
Do these characteristics represent you as one that is a true follower of the LORD? Does our heart testify that we are serving the LORD in a way that shows spiritual growth on a regular basis?
CHALLENGE: The LORD wants a group who are faithful to HIM. Be a part of this group. Help others to join this group.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 9 And they that escape of you shall remember me among the nations whither they shall be carried captives, because I am broken with their whorish heart, which has departed from me, and with their eyes, which go whoring after their idols: and they shall loathe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations. (7665 “broken” [shabar] means rent violently, destroyed, be smashed, suffer, be grieved, wreck, crush, or quench.
DEVOTION: This is a chapter in which the LORD is speaking of judgment and the reasons for the judgment. A key phrase in this chapter was “they shall KNOW that I am the LORD.” Four times in fourteen verses this phrase is used to inform the people of WHO was in CONTOL.
The children of Israel were setting up false worship every place they could set up altars or images. They thought they could escape the punishment of the LORD but HE states that they will not escape. There will be sword, famine and pestilence. The land will be laid waste. All the images were going to broken and destroyed. All their works would be abolished. Reason: they would KNOW that HE was the LORD. HE was Sovereign. HE was keeping HIS word regarding judgment.
The LORD promised a remnant would escape death and that they would remember the LORD. Those who would be judged had quenched HIM with their wandering heart.
HIS long-suffering with the people had come to an end. HE had given them enough mercy and grace. HE had sent enough warnings. HE had watched as they mistreated HIS prophets. HE had watched as they listened to false prophets. Enough was enough. They were not going to listen. HE gave them over to their evil desires.
They didn’t want to stay true to the LORD because the grass looked greener someplace else. We have the same tendency in our lives. We think that serving ourselves would be better than serving the LORD.
In the end, we will receive the same reaction as the children of Israel, we will loath ourselves. Sin seems good for the moment. Serving self seems good, for the moment, but when we come to our senses we realize that serving the LORD brings greater joy and blessing.
Are we causing the LORD to grieve because of our idolatry? Are we worshiping money instead of HIM? Are we setting up false gods and listening to false prophets today? Are we not heeding the LORD’S warning? We need to wake up and smell the judgment coming!!!
CHALLENGE: Repent and start a REVIVAL!!! Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit with your life.
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: 11 Thus says the Lord GOD; Smite with your hand, and stamp with your foot, and say, Alas for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel! For they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence. (8441 “abominations” [tow’ebah] means a disgusting thing, abhorrence, detestable thing, offensive, idol, wickedness, something that is an abomination which causes horror and disgust in others)
DEVOTION: This is the people of the LORD doing things that should never be done when they are in a proper relationship with the LORD.
The LORD deserves proper worship but the children of Israel were worshiping anyone and anything that was not the Creator of the Universe. They thought they could get away with it because as of yet they were not judged for their actions.
The LORD is longsuffering and not willing that any should perish but there is still a limit for the children of Israel and for believers of today.
Too often we read the Old Testament and see that the LORD doesn’t judge HIS people right away but gives them a chance to repent and then HE judges. However, we need to realize that the LORD sends HIS prophets to warn HIS people that judgment is coming if they don’t turn from their wicked ways and repent.
Israel didn’t repent and sad to say many people who attend good churches don’t repent of their sins and follow the LORD and still think that they can get away with more sinning without judgment. They are wrong.
The LORD is longsuffering but HE is still going to judge those who claim to be HIS people. HE will not allow them to go to far before judgment comes and they realize that if they don’t repent SOON they will not see heaven.
Too many people think they are going to heaven just because they attend church once in a while and pray once in a while but never really turn their life around for the LORD. If there is no genuine repentance than there is no genuine salvation.
CHALLENGE: To many people today that attend even a good church have never genuinely repented and turned from their sinful ways and followed the LORD. These individuals will be surprise in eternity!
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Word of the LORD verse 1
Prophesy verse 2
Word of the Lord GOD verse 3
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1, 7, 10, 13, 14
Lord – Adonai (Master, Owner) verse 3, 11
GOD – Jehovah verse 3, 11
Lord GOD verse 3, 11
Speaks to the mountains, hills and rivers
and valleys
I, even I, will bring a sword upon you
and I will destroy your high
places
I will cast down your slain men before
your idols verse 4
I will lay the dead carcases of the children of
Israel before their idols verse 5
I will scatter your bones round about
your altars verse 5
I am the LORD verse 7, 14
I will leave a remnant verse 8
They that escape shall remember ME verse 9
I am broken with their whorish heart verse 9
Judgment of the LORD verse 10- 12
they shall know that I am the LORD
I have not said in vain that I will do
this evil
I will accomplish MY fury upon Israel verse 12
Know I am the LORD verse 13
I will stretch out MY hand upon Israel
and make the land desolate verse 14
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Countries verse 8
Nations verse 9
Wilderness toward Diblath verse 14
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
High places verse 3, 6, 13
Altars to false gods – desolate verse 4- 6, 13
Images of false gods – broken verse 4, 6
Idols verse 4- 6, 9, 13
Whoring heart verse 9
Departed from the LORD verse 9
Departed with their eyes verse 9
Evils verse 9, 10
Abominations verse 9
Evil abominations verse 9, 11
False worship upon every high hill,
In all the tops of the mountains,
And under every green tree
And under every thick oak
Offer swee savor to all their idols verse 13
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Hear word of the LORD verse 3
Know that I am the LORD verse 7, 10, 13, 14
Remnant verse 8
Remember the LORD verse 9
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Son of man = Ezekiel verse 2
Set your face and prophesy
Mountains of Israel verse 3
Hear the word of the Lord God
Israel verse 2, 3, 5- 12, 14
All your dwelling places the cites
Shall be laid waste
High places shall be desolate
Your altars may be laid waste
and made desolate
Your idols may be broken and cease
Your images may be cut down
Your works may be abolished
Your slain shall fall in the midst
of you
You shall know that I am the LORD
You shall be scattered through the
countries
Carried away captive
They shall lothe themselves for the evils
Evil abominations of the house of Israel
Fall by the sword
Fall by the famine
Fall by the pestilence
They shall KNOW that I am the LORD
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
6:3–7 The words of 6:3 were used in the later message of 36:4 to describe the devastation of Israel’s pagan shrines. These high places, called bāmôt in Hebrew, characteristically consisted of several basic elements. First, there was an altar for offering sacrifices. These usually were built of stone or mud brick. Second, there was a wooden pole to represent the female goddess of fertility called Asherah. Third, there was at least one stone pillar called a maššebâ to represent the male deity Baal. Fourth, there was a smaller incense altar with a tent for use in eating sacrificial meals, practicing sacred prostitution (1 Kgs 14:24; 2 Kgs 21:3; Isa 57:3–12), and storage of cultic vessels.
Ezekiel forecasted the systematic destruction of these worship centers, which attempted to combine Yahweh worship with pagan practices. What they had made was to be “wiped out” (v. 6). This was significant because Ezekiel was not describing judgment of the heathen but judgment of God’s own people. He rejected their pagan altars as idolatrous and unclean (cf. chap. 8). As a result they would know by experiencing judgment that he, Yahweh, is God and that he does not accept adulterated worship (v. 7).
This was a clear indication that the reform measures Josiah initiated in 621 b.c. had failed. After Josiah’s death the people reverted to their former practice of worshiping idols. Ezekiel used his favorite word (thirty-nine times; nine times elsewhere) for idols, gillûlîm (v. 4), which may have been created to sound like šiqqûṣîm, “detestable things” (cf. Hos 9:10; Deut 29:17 [Heb. 16]. It also has been associated with gēl/ gālāl (“dung”; cf. Ezek 4:12, 15). This term indicates the derision in which he held idol worship.
Judgment was described in graphic terms depicting the destruction of the sacrificial altars, incense altars, and idols (vv. 4, 6). Whereas these worship centers usually had animal bones scattered about, Ezekiel said, “Your bones” (v. 5) will be scattered around these pagan altars. Through the passage the emphasis shifted from the mountains, to the worship centers, and then to the people who were directly responsible. The message of judgment reaffirmed the sovereignty of God by his rejection of pagan worship. (Cooper, L. E. (1994). Ezekiel (Vol. 17, pp. 107–108). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
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1–7 Ezekiel began his first major judgment oracle with an introductory formula he often used throughout the book: “The word of the Lord came to me” (v.1). God interrupted Ezekiel’s muteness to announce judgment on Judah’s mountains, hills, ravines, and valleys (vv.2–3). Ezekiel set his face against these four geographical features of the land, for it was in them that the pagans normally established their religious shrines (cf. 2 Kings 23:10). Syncretistic Canaanite religion—with its perverted emphasis on sex, war, cults of the dead, snake worship, and idolatry—preferred high places and groves of trees for its place of worship. Manasseh, king of Judah (695–642 b.c.), had led in the resurgence of these pagan cults that had engulfed the people by Ezekiel’s day.
The Lord pronounced judgment on the heathen shrines and their cultic practices that had been adopted by his people. He would remove the temptation facing his people by destroying all the “high places,” “altars,” “incense altars” (vv.3–4), and “idols” (v.6), thus eliminating their pagan practices. These shrines would become desecrated by the scattering of bones of the dead around them (v.5). The “scattering of bones” is a phrase used for judgment in which uncleanness and shame are conveyed (cf. Pss 53:5; 141:7). The bones would be those of the Israelites who had become engrossed in these pagan practices (v.7; cf. 2 Kings 23:20; Jer 8:1–2). The Lord was faithful to his promise in Leviticus 26:30: “I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars and pile your dead bones on the lifeless forms of your idols, and I will abhor you.” God refused to allow anything to take his rightful place (cf. Exod 20:1–3). Through this discipline Judah would know that he was the only God (v.7; of: v.14 (Alexander, R. H. (1986). Ezekiel. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel (Vol. 6, pp. 774–775). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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God’s judgment would be swift and sure. Both the false places of worship and those who built them and worshiped at them were to be destroyed. God vowed to intervene so that the high places … altars … idols, and incense altars would all be wiped out. Also people who built them would be killed, and their dead bodies would be strewn beside their crushed idols and altars (v. 5). Then the nation would realize that its gods were false. The people would know, God said, that I am the Lord. This phrase occurs 63 times in Ezekiel; by using Yahweh, God’s covenant name, Ezekiel was focusing attention on the contrasting unfaithfulness and apostasy of the people. (Dyer, C. H. (1985). Ezekiel. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1239). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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6:7 you will know that I am the Lord. This clause recurs in vv. 10, 13, 14 and 60 times elsewhere in the book. It shows that the essential reason for judgment is the violation of the character of God. This is repeatedly acknowledged in Lv 18–26, where the motive for all obedience to God’s law is the fact that He is the Lord God. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Eze 6:7). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
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Ver. 7. And the slain shall fall in the midst of you, &c.] The word for slain is in the singular number, which perhaps is put for the plural; and so the Septuagint render it; unless it should design some principal person that should be slain; but, as King Zedekiah was not slain when the city was taken, only his sons and his princes, it seems best to understand it of the multitude that were slain in the midst of the land, not only in Jerusalem, but in all the cities of Judea; and denotes how general and public the destruction would be: and ye shall know that I am the Lord; the only true God, and Governor of the world; who only is to be worshipped, feared, and served, and not idols. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 6, p. 27). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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The Israelites choose 12 stones to erect as a memorial to God’s faithfulness.
INSIGHT
Memorials help us preserve important memories. God memorializes many important things in the Old Testament, often through feasts and ceremonies. Now He uses a monument built of stones so that in the future the Israelites can tell their children: “Here, the God of miracles was faithful.”
What things has God done in your life that you ought not to forget? Think of ways to memorialize them. You might have ceremonies, anniversaries of important events, or a physical memorial. Either way, foster the memory of God’s work on your behalf. (Quiet Walk)
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THOMAS
Except I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. John 20:25
As long as you reason and argue, you will never be satisfied. But the moment you see Him, your troubles will be resolved, and your answers will be given to you. The apostle Thomas is a perfect example of this.
We are familiar with the story of Thomas. After the death of Christ, the apostles were scattered. Then they met together, and when they were in an upper room, Christ appeared to them. Thomas was not with them then, but he joined the company later. They told him that the Lord had appeared among them, but Thomas would not believe it. He kept to the realm of reason and understanding. “No,” he said, “I can’t believe it, I cannot accept it—I must see Him for myself. I must put my hand into the print of the nails; I cannot believe this story.”
But then later the Lord appeared in the room and said, “Where is that finger of yours, Thomas? Put it into My side.” And Thomas broke down, as it were, and said that it was unnecessary. He fell at His feet and said, “My Lord and my God.” Had he come to understand the resurrection? Of course he had not—he just knew that it was a fact. So it is not a question of understanding—it is a question of the facts.
A Point to Ponder: The moment you see Him, your troubles will be resolved, and your answers will be given to you. (From The Heart of the Gospel, pp. 24-25, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Enoch and the Second Coming
“And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints.” (Jude 1:14)
There are two Enochs in the First Age of the world. One is a son of Cain (Genesis 4:17), and the other is a seventh-generation descendant of Adam through his son Seth (Genesis 5). Jude makes very clear which one he means. Luke references Enoch in his genealogy of the Lord Jesus (Luke 3:37), also indicating that this Enoch is important to remember.
Enoch was the father of Methuselah, who was the grandfather of Noah. Although the Bible does not mention it, several of the early church scholars allude to a Book of Enoch and cite passages from it about the awful days before the world was destroyed by the great Flood.
Perhaps the most startling fact recorded about Enoch is that he “was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God” (Hebrews 11:5). There is not much biblical data to study about Enoch. The Genesis record simply notes, “And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him” (Genesis 5:23-24).
Enoch’s “walk with God” and the lifestyle that “pleased God” are the apparent motives for Jude’s short reference. Jude announces (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) that Enoch preached about the second coming of Christ! That is remarkable. Before the Bible was written, before the first world was destroyed for its universal evil, before the promise of “the seed” to Abraham and the centuries of God’s preparation for the Messiah, Enoch was proclaiming that Jesus would come—again! (HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
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Patience does not just grin and bear things, stoic-like, but accepts them cheerfully as therapeutic workouts planned by a heavenly trainer who is resolved to get you up to full fitness. (p. 191)
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Puritan Thomas Watson wrote, “There are no sins God’s people are more subject to than unbelief and impatience; they are ready, either to faint through unbelief and impatience; they are ready, either to faint through unbelief, or to fret through impatience. (p. 191)
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As long as Paul knew God was doing something – and when is God not doing something? – he was able to find contentment. (p. 193)
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If patience, longsuffering, and perseverance are so critically important, why then are they so difficult for us? I believe the reason is that this pattern of faithful response can only be learned through tribulation. (p. 193)
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We’re talking about a solid, foundationally positive outlook on life; an absolute persuasion that God has already won any conceivable battle that this day might concoct, and therefore we can smile confidently no matter what. (p. 196)
Living With Confidence in a Chaotic World by Dr. David Jeremiah
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