Read Ezekiel 14.
The elders of Israel paid Ezekiel a visit again at his house near Babylon.
It is not stated what their question was but presumably it must have been
related to the cause and length of the exile. These leaders wanted to
hear a word from God. Their concerns were surface issues. Instead,
the LORD went straight to the heart of the problem.
In Jerusalem, they had openly worshiped false gods and idols. That
brought about the judgment of God and the loss of everything. But after
all they experienced, they still had not let go of their false beliefs.
The idol worship continued privately in their hearts. They
mistakenly thought they could have it both ways--maintain false beliefs and
still expect a relationship with God. The LORD would have none of it.
God accused them in verse 7 of separating themselves from Him and that their
sin had put a "stumbling block" between them and Him. What did
God want from them? First, "Repent and turn away from your idols."
Second, He wanted their wholehearted devotion. "That they may
be my people and I may be their God." (v.11)
The fifth and final sermon in this series dealt with the absolute certainty of
God's judgment. Could not the intercessory prayers of righteous people
stay God's punishment? Four times the LORD stated that "even if
these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, they would deliver but their
own lives." (vv.14, 16, 18, 20) Each of those were known to have
faced extreme circumstances and remained faithful. Each of them
experienced God's miraculous deliverance. Yet, the sin cried out for
justice.
How could a loving God do this? The answer is in the closing verses of
this chapter. Observing the sinful ways and deeds even of the remnant
that survived revealed that the punishment was deserved.
"Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole
heart." (Psalm 119:2)
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