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Ezekiel Chapter Twenty

1. The elders of Judah come to Ezekiel once again with their false motives (Ezek. 20:1-3; cf. 14:3).
2. The Lord denies their prayer requests, and commands Ezekiel to judge them (Ezek. 20:4).
3. The Lord reviews a history of Israel’s rebellion against Him (Ezek. 20:5-32).
   1. The Exodus Generation rebelled before they ever left Egypt (Ezek. 20:5-12; Josh. 24:14).
   2. The Exodus Generation rebelled after they left Egypt (Ezek. 20:13-20).
   3. The Wilderness Generation rebelled before they entered the promised land (Ezek. 20:21-26).
4. With each rebellion, the Lord resolved to pour out His wrath (Ezek. 20:8,13,21), but then relented of His wrath for the sake of His own name (Ezek. 20:9,14,22).
5. Throughout their history in the land of promise, Israel has rebelled against the Lord (Ezek. 20:27-32), and thus will be dispersed among the nations (Ezek. 20:23-26 cf. Lev. 26:27-39; Deut. 28:58-68).
6. God then promises that He will put an end to Israel’s rebellion—finally & eternally (Ezek. 20:33-44).
   1. He will do this through the expression of His own wrath (v.33-34).
   2. He will do this through the national judgment in the wilderness (vv.35-38).
      1. The believers pass under the rod of God’s discipline, and enter into the New Covenant (v.37).
      2. The unbelievers are purged from their midst—cast into hell until the Great White Throne judgment (v.38; Rev. 20:11-15).
      3. This is Israel’s private judgment in the wilderness, but notice the similarities with the Gentile judgment (Matt. 25:31-46).
   3. The redeemed nation of Israel will be a witness and testimony to the nations (Ezek. 20:39-41).
   4. The redeemed nation of Israel will have a more intimate, personal knowledge of God than ever before (Ezek. 20:42-44).

Ezekiel Chapter Twenty-One

1. Chapter 21 consists of four rapid-fire messages preached to highlight how imminent the judgment will be.
2. Fire is coming to Teman (Ezek. 20:45-49).
3. A sword is coming to Judah (Ezek. 21:1-7).
4. The “song of the sword” (Ezek. 21:8-17). Follow-up songs will be the “song of the cup” (Ezek. 23:32-34) and the “song of the cooking pot” (Ezek. 24:3-13).
5. A signpost to mark the way (Ezek. 21:18-32).
6. Summary thoughts for the chapter:
   1. God may utilize a pagan nation to inflict His judgment, but ultimately, He is the One Who wields the tool (Isa. 10:5-15; Jer. 51:20-23).
   2. The Lord is slow to anger (Ex. 34:6; Num. 14:18; Ps. 86:15; 103:8; 145:8; Joel 2:13; Jon. 4:2; Nah. 1:3), but once that anger is kindled, it cannot be quenched (Ezek. 20:48; 2nd Kgs. 22:17; Isa. 66:24; Jer. 7:20; 17:27; Heb. 12:29; Mk. 9:43-48), until it is satisfied (Isa. 53:11; Rom. 3:25; Heb. 2:17; 1st Jn. 2:2; 4:10).
   3. The Lord is an effective and powerful swordsman (Dt. 32:41,42; Josh. 5:13-15; Num. 22:23,31; 1st Chr. 21:16,27,30; Isa. 27:1; 31:8; 34:5,6; Matt. 10:34; Heb. 4:12; Rev. 1:16; 2:12,16; 19:15,21).

Ezekiel Chapter Twenty-Two

1. The Lord asks Ezekiel to judge the bloody city (Ezek. 22:1-16).
   1. It is a two-count indictment: blood-shedding & idolatry.
   2. Judah’s lack of positive witness produced a negative witness, and made them the object of reproach & mocking.
   3. The rulers are named as defendants in this judgment (Ezek. 22:6-8).
   4. Particular slanderers are also addressed (Ezek. 22:9-12).

(Chapter Twenty-Two continues tomorrow)