Year 2, Week 19, Day 3 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 19, Day 3

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Ezekiel 20.

Today’s reading continues the Book of Ezekiel. Today’s reading proceeds further into the first segment of Ezekiel (chapters 1-24), which is a series of prophecies about impending judgment on the people of Judah for their persistent disobedience to the LORD. Today’s reading provides a time stamp: “In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and sat before me” (Ezekiel 20:1). This date indicates that it had been about two years since Ezekiel began his prophetic ministry; there was still about five years before Jerusalem would fall in 586 BC. Once again the elders pay Ezekiel a visit as they did previously (see Ezekiel 8 and 14). Ezekiel 20 records what Ezekiel passed on to the elders as the LORD concerning their interest in Ezekiel inquiring the LORD on their behalf: “And the word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD, Is it to inquire of me that you come? As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you. Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them?” (Ezekiel 20:2-4a). The LORD did not want Ezekiel to inquire for them, but to judge them. The elder’s request provoked a long response about their own as well as their ancestor’s unfaithfulness.

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading is the commitment that the LORD declared for His own honor: “But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made myself known to them in bringing them out of the land of Egypt…But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out…But I withheld my hand and acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out” (Ezekiel 20:9,14,22). These comments highlighting the LORD’s commitment to act for the sake of His own name illustrate the depth of how Israel’s actions brought great dishonor to the LORD in the sight of the nations. Israel’s calling was to display before the nations how the LORD was to be honored: “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel” (Exodus 19:5).

Ezekiel provides the elders with a short survey of Israel’s history by looking at three periods of time: the Israelites in Egypt (Ezekiel 20:5-9), the Israelites in the wilderness (Ezekiel 20:10-26), and the Israelites in the promised land (Ezekiel 20:27-29). In each historical period, the Israelites failed to keep their covenant with the LORD. In each period, the LORD revealed Himself afresh: “Thus says the Lord GOD: On the day when I chose Israel, I swore to the offspring of the house of Jacob, making myself known to them in the land of Egypt; I swore to them, saying, I am the LORD your God…So I led them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. I gave them my statutes and made known to them my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live…I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and be careful to obey my rules, and keep my Sabbaths holy that they may be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God” (Ezekiel 20:5,10-11,19-20). But each generation rebelled: “But they rebelled against me and were not willing to listen to me…But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness…But the children rebelled against me” (Ezekiel 20:8a,13a,21a).

In each period, the LORD threatened severe judgment: “Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them and spend my anger against them…Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them in the wilderness, to make a full end of them…Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them and spend my anger against them in the wilderness” (Ezekiel 20:8b,13b,21b). But for the sake of His own name, the LORD relents from judging them to the severity that they deserved. In fact, the LORD would do a great work of not only rescuing them, but also cleansing them: “I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you are scattered, with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm…I will purge out the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against me” (Ezekiel 20:34a,38a). The LORD would transform His people so they become a people who honor His name. And for the sake of His own name, the LORD would not hold their sin against them: “And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I deal with you for my name’s sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt deeds, O house of Israel, declares the Lord GOD” (Ezekiel 20:44). And when He does this by His appointed means, He will show Himself before all the nations: “And I will manifest my holiness among you in the sight of the nations” (Ezekiel 20:41b).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe