I want to tell anyone who got behind in Genesis and gave up to jump in at Ezekiel 20 and you won’t be behind anymore! The recap is told in mini-chapters. Ezekiel gives us the date of this speech to the elders. It is EXACTLY 5 years before the captivity. So it is August 591.
1. It begins in verse 5–This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I chose Israel….they rebelled, BUT…
9 But for the sake of my name, I brought them out of Egypt. I did it to keep my name from being profaned in the eyes of the nations among whom they lived and in whose sight I had revealed myself to the Israelites.
Oh that threw me for a moment! It said from “keeping my name from being profaned?”
2. Next, verse 10– they move to the wilderness (the Exodus)- 10 Therefore I led them out of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness…..they rebelled, BUT…14 But for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.
3. Next verse 18– references the 40 years of wandering…But something cool caught my eye…
23 Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries, 24 because they had not obeyed my laws but had rejected my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths, and their eyes lusted after their parents’ idols. 25 So I gave them other statutes that were not good and laws through which they could not live; 26 I defiled them through their gifts—the sacrifice of every firstborn—that I might fill them with horror so they would know that I am the Lord.’
Is this saying that while they were in the Wilderness before even entering the Promise Land that God told them about the Babylonian captivity? Anyone else read it that way?
4. Next verse 27– we are caught up to present day (Ezekiel’s day)- He said that after the captivity He will:
34 I will bring you from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered—
42 Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the land I had sworn with uplifted hand to give to your ancestors. 43 There you will remember your conduct and all the actions by which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil you have done. 44 You will know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for my name’s sake and not according to your evil ways and your corrupt practices, you people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”
OK…so rather than my thoughts after reading that…what are your thoughts on “Keeping my name from being profaned”. (Of course the geek in my made like a Venn Diagram over it) BUT, there is no wrong thought on this…so raise your hand and tell me your thoughts because everyone’s answers are correct. Why does it say…for My name’s sake?
and if I don’t hear from someone on this I will get in my car and find you!! I really want to hear what God said to you!
Chapter 21- Judgement will come upon Jerusalem. First, by a sword, then by an even sharper sword, then by the sword of Babylon (Nebuchadnezzar). Nebuchadnezzar will be faced with a choice of which road to take-which city to destroy. He uses pagan rituals to choose his path (magic)- basically, he drew straws (using arrows), he consulted his idols, and last he examined a liver from a sacrificed animal (think of it like palm reading…but on an organ-the shape of it directed his path). Clearly, God was in control of the answer so he used all three ways to choose the path for him.
24 “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because you people have brought to mind your guilt by your open rebellion, revealing your sins in all that you do—because you have done this, you will be taken captive.
He will then punish the nations around them…but then…an amazing scripture in the midst of this chaos..
25 “‘You profane and wicked prince of Israel, whose day has come, whose time of punishment has reached its climax, 26 this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Take off the turban, remove the crown. It will not be as it was: The lowly will be exalted and the exalted will be brought low. 27 A ruin! A ruin! I will make it a ruin! The crown will not be restored until he to whom it rightfully belongs shall come; to him I will give it.’
Reading the Bible - 2021 