Exact Ezekiel; Chapters 12-15
ZADOK PUBLICATIONS - Dr. C. R. OLIVER
June 1, 2017
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ZADOK PUBLICATIONS MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
June 1, 2017 Exact Ezekiel Chapters 12-15 Ezekiel 12:1-2
Again a message came to me from the LORD: 2 "Son of man, you live among rebels who could see the truth if they wanted to, but they don't want to. They could hear Me if they would listen, but they won't listen because they are rebellious. NLT Before the Study Remarks: This opening scripture deserves attention. First, it should cause every believer to pray for their eyes and ears to be open and receiving all God has for them. Unfortunately, not many are aware of the need, and they run the risk of resorting in the camp of the rebellious. Second, this verse generally characterizes the state of Israel from that time to this one. The Jews of modern Israel reject the Lordship of Jesus Christ, just as they did in ancient times. So, they are living in that same state of rebellion; one can only pray their eyes and ears will open in these last days. Third, a strong stand with Paul was needed regarding the Temple folks of his day and the same is needed for the Israel of today. There are not two covenants, one for the Jews and one for the Christian. There is no greater covenant than that which is brought and bought by Jesus. More than ever, there is confusion about Israel. It is necessary to separate the territorial State of Israel from "The Israel of God (spiritual Israel)." Allow me to state up front that support for the nation of Israel is important for two reasons:
I was barely 19 years of age at the time and had been a pastor for 18 months when I rejected that theory then and I still do. Yet, there are huge numbers accepting this premise today, both pastors and their congregations. With the acceptance of Interfaith and their "all faiths" construct, apparently there are climbers from many directions-but only believers in Jesus make it to the top. Yet, there are many congregations who cannot sing the chorus, "One way and only one." There is no doubt the land mass (even though it is short of the total land mass God ordained for Israel) is preserved now for the coming of the Lord and the carrying out of His plan. Truly, Jerusalem (though the target of modern divisionism) is being readied for the coming of the Temple of the New Covenant to come down and occupy its rightful place. NONE of these occurrences are for the building of another man made temple or to honor the Jews in their continued rejection of His Son. The fact that Christian groups across the world support modern Israel is an undeniable fact. If their purpose is to present a Christian witness with one aim: the conversion of the modern Jew to Christ--well and good. However, the modern State of Israel prohibits evangelism of the Jewish population for the purpose of conversion. (They still stand in rebellion.) Up to now, evangelism is not the stated mission of the various support groups. Their reasoning is based on many factors. They cite "those who bless Israel" will be blessed. Many believe the Jews have an ancient covenant with God that operates parallel with Jesus' Covenant. Still others support eschatological doctrines which accommodate their views on Israel, as well as all end time events. (Why should one enter to spar with such thinking? Their minds are made up, even though truth needs to be stated.) It is necessary to say, however, that some of that thinking is diametrically opposed to the teaching of Paul in Romans (which was written for Christians and Jews) as well as the book of Hebrews. Even Peter and the Disciples had to decide the issue early on when Gentiles were grafted in. Believing Jews wanted to impose circumcision on Gentile Christian males in order to satisfy Jewish tradition. They wanted adherence to the Law. The early church ruled against adherence to Judaism. That rule still stands! (Yes, Paul relented and circumcised Timothy.) "Grafted In," is a Pauline term referring to spiritual Israel and their covenant with Jesus. He taught that the gospel was not exclusively for the Jews. As a matter of fact, Paul wished himself cursed if it meant his native nation would come to Christ. This would have been an unnecessary sacrifice if both covenants were operating in parallel form. Paul deemed an unbelieving Jew to be LOST. Unbelievers still are. (Jesus believed this way too. Look at John 3 and Nicodemus.) Personally, I am not against CUFI and other efforts (Messianic groups) advocating for Israel, for they are occupying the land awaiting the day when many of them will openly confess Christ. However, a closer look at Pauline doctrine would help to keep matters clear.
Notice, it was Abraham's family of faith (holy folks) where Gentiles were grafted into. Paul was not talking about being grafted into the Law and the sacrifices and the Temple. He was speaking of spiritual Israel in predating the Law. (Without reciting the whole of Romans, read this chapter and the former chapters and it becomes clear what our Christian interaction ought to be.) Go now to Hebrews.
What did Jesus announce? It is the New Covenant of the Kingdom and the Gospel of it. Verse four tells the story of the early church and its sponsorship, even though persecuted by the Jews.
Without "Jesus holiness," no one will see the Father. Fourth, Ezekiel was witnessing an almost unbelievable situation. How could the people of God go through the tribulation of captivity, and the awesome shame of being slaves to a pagan nation, and still hold to their rebellion? Similarly, "How could a people endure the awful Nazi regime and come out holding their unbelief?" Ezekiel understood, from this moment forward, why God made his forehead like flint. (I will not pursue the issues of Ashkenazim and their persecution of Sephardic Jews today. The leadership of both religion and government regularly discriminate against "blood line Jews.") Conclusion: This treatise is not advocating a replacement theology, but a sharing of early church theology. This view was upheld by the church until the opening of the 1800's.
Introduction: Chapters 12-15 are a closely knit treatise addressing three basic groups:
CHAPTER 12:
Ezekiel was to faithfully carry out a very strange exhibition in the eyes of the general public, depicting the eventual fate of those remaining in Jerusalem. Perhaps those already captured and carried off to Babylonian slavery felt abused because some were allowed to remain in the holy land. The demonstration was comprised of two parts. The first part featured a daylight loading of clothing, into a small container, to show how little of their goods would be carried with them.
The second part was a nighttime event.
Notice the exactness he employed in doing all that he was instructed. Such obedience and concentration to detail is a much needed attribute for pulpit and pew today! Let me assure the deepest skeptic-there is a great reward for such exactness. Also, allow me to say that disobedience and half- hearted compromises have a reward as well. God is speaking this very hour and few are listening. Hear now, "Obedience is better than sacrifice."
Duty to these "strange pickings" would invariably be answered by local authorities, as one's mental acuity being questioned, if it were our "advanced society." Is it any wonder these rebels sought a logical reason for such activity, and Ezekiel gave them more than they wished to hear? Singling out Zedekiah, Ezekiel prophesies that he will do exactly as the drama had conveyed. He would leave (trying to escape) by night through a hole in the wall, and would be captured and the entourage with him would be slaughtered. Then Ezekiel details what will happen to Zedekiah as he is carried into Babylon. (History records the prophet's words were true.) Zedekiah watched as his two sons were beheaded and then the guards put his eyes out, so the last thing he ever saw was this event. Tears flowing out of sockets are too late. Next, Ezekiel addressed the general public huddling with their King. They had been told by false prophets that Jeremiah was a liar and nothing hugely bad would come to them. They had been encouraged by elders to "go ahead and plan your futures with buildings and enterprise" for those speaking of capture were insane and not to be trusted. What now?
Pay special attention to the underlined sentence, for after each judgment (see the verse before), this phrase appears. Sometimes the NLT will use "they" instead of "you." "You" is plural in form as is "they or them." "You" is used like "each one of you." The previous verse points to another group which I will cover at the end of this newsletter; it is those who survive. One encounters them scattered throughout the study, just as they are here.
The prophet foretells about those who survive and are taken into Babylon. Some of those who escape into the mountains are eventually scattered about the earth (similar to those in Samaria). Nonetheless, those who are joined to the captive groups in Babylon are different. Ezekiel says the others will see their attitude toward the things of God and be prone to repent of their own rebellious spirit. Finally, the Lord returns to generalizations pertinent to the whole population-the newcomers and those who have been there in earlier immigration-they share the same judgment. It centers around their mouths and what their confession reveals about their hearts. Just as the eye and ear stigmata, they share a common mouth.
What characterizes the confessions of our day? What is spewing out of mouths in leadership in the realms of politics and religion? Are we held responsible for our mouths? (Study that in the home groups.) CHAPTER 13: (Group Two: The false prophets, both male and female)
"In your face" judgment was the commission God gave Ezekiel. Confrontational approaches are rare in clergy circles. Most certainly, Ezekiel had a raw task to carry out. The question arises, "Are there any false prophets today and does the criteria set forth in these verses apply?" Should they be confronted?
Is it not one thing to prophesy a lie and another to demand God carry it out? Audacious behavior suits the pride-filled prophet who wallows in his claimed "authority." Behold, they are called "these prophets of yours" implying they are not His. Their sin was multiple. They stood guilty of Omission: they saw the holes in the walls of safety and daubed them instead of repairing them. They stood guilty of Commission-willfully lying about their intimacy with the Lord. Dare one question the clergy of today? Ezekiel burst upon these false prophets with a word that ripped away their façade of religious piety and stood before those "many allied clergy" and cried out the equivalent of: "Traitor! Fraud! Miscreant!" I am sure it was for this audience he was given a forehead of flint. Here, we get from Ezekiel the term, "Whitewash," meaning to cover up something. It is the term Jesus used on the Pharisees when He called them "whitewashed sepulchers full of dead men's bones." Those theologs of His day knew the implication. False prophets have a common thread-their prophecies don't stand. The Lord said when the storms of life come, the whitewash will not remain-neither will those who depended on it. Descriptors abound in this chapter, such as False Prophets are like Jackals. They are deceivers. They are liars! (They will one day answer to their people.)
Special Message To Women False Prophets: Especially odious are women false prophets. Why? They introduce to the scene witchcraft and their Jezebel spirit. They influence the whole range of age groups and social divisions. They play to the crowd who love to hear their lies.
(When God sets the "captive free (Luke 4:18ff)," they are free from religious diatribe and are reinforced in righteousness. THEN YOU WILL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD!) CHAPTER 14: (Elders and their constituents) Turning now to group three, the reader becomes aware of the unfolding revelation as it relates to all parts of the structure of society. No stone is left unturned. One sees the depth of corruption that has operated under cover and now is uncovered. Sometimes it is necessary to uncover the termites before the structure can be put right! Here, Ezekiel is directed to two segments of one indices. Elders and their constituents are inseparable because of the influence of the Elders on the general population. Leaders of the people are in every aspect of government and religion. Therefore, a directive to the Elders would trickle down normally to the people if accepted by the leadership. The Lord knew they would not accept Ezekiel's message; hence, Ezekiel fired across their bow and turned directly to the people. Here is a perfect example of gatekeeping on the part of the Elders. Sometimes it is not what Elders choose to inform or regulate or impose on the society, but what they keep from the public. Societal "dams on information" need to be uncovered and allow the supporting citizens to realize just who and what they sustain. The Elders:
Notice first, the Elders gathered in the prophet's home to inquire of him various matters. This message was to them and was to apply to those in his presence as well as those still in Jerusalem under the hand of Jeremiah. Once again, Ezekiel is given the task of confrontation-this is no bed of roses. Their sin was simple to state: They had embraced idols in their hearts that facilitated sin. Embrace is such a wonderfully intimate word. The Word of God is filled with warnings about the need to be mindful of what one embraces. (Can a man take fire to his bosom and his clothes not be burned? Proverbs 6:27) It pays to observe how they "raised up the stumbling block of their iniquity, which caused them to fall." Should one pursue modern day leadership with these criteria, would such a matter be found? God says, "They are on their own." They will not hear anything from Me. They are cut off from my direction and Presence. The People:
God offers the people something He did not include in the report to the Elders: A way to come back to the Lord, Repent! Notice their sin is the same as the Elders. They had learned well and absorbed the culture of the day. The sin of the Elders gave license for the sin of the public. "They do it, so can we." Church, does this apply today? Government does this apply now? God promises to punish those who continue in their sin and rebellion. He will destroy them. He will make a terrible example of them. In Isaiah it says the world will hiss at them. Observe, if a prophet dare come to them with a "word from The Lord," God will "cut them off from the community of Israel." These false prophets must wander about in the deserts outside the territory of God's boundaries. "Cut off" is tantamount to being a living dead person. Verse eleven continues the theme of repentance with a promise: "stop polluting yourselves" and you will be "My people." Not the elders or societies' people, they will be My people. That is what God wants today! The amount of religious and societal pollution is enormous in these times. Repent is still the offer. Supposition Time: Interesting suppositions are proposed by the Lord. They are used to deflect the idea of "is there another way of escape?" "What alternatives do we the people have?" "What if we could come up with some righteous folks, would that stay the punishment (like Sodom)?"
The Last Word on this subject is an answer to the unasked question: "Will there be any survivors?" The answer was, "Yes."
CHAPTER 15: Trees and Vines An interesting study in the Bible centers around the use of vines and trees. Mostly, when God represents His blessing, it involves trees. "Trees of righteousness planted by the Lord." "Tree planted by the waters." "Prosper like the palm tree." "Trees planted by the river of life in heaven." On and on, the study will take you into the most wonderful arrangements from the Lord; they are like an oasis in the desert. Here, God calls the people of Israel vines and not trees. They grew up wild and not of His planting. He then characterizes the attributes of each. Trees can be hewn and dried and cut into workable sturdy materials-vines are worthless in respect to usable products. Yet, Jesus likens Himself to the true vine and His saints the branches-the planting of the Lord. It is to this vine we are engrafted, not the wild rebellious non fruit bearing mockery. If Israel is the unusable vine which only can be burned, then why are thousands advocating their ways?
By citing Jerusalem, God is using Israel's principle city to represent the whole nation, just as news media cite "the White House" to represent the USA or the Kremlin for Russia. Being symbolized as "worthless," God's judgment is increased in intensity. Religion and Government is denigrated beyond its citizenry's worst image. Repentance perhaps seems more appealing under these circumstances. Until Next month, Dr. Cosby R. Oliver, PhD. |
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