This is our second of three weeks in only the book of Ezekiel. The remaining four weeks after Ezekiel will take us through the remaining smaller books of the Old Testament to finish the year. As a reminder, Ezekiel is an exile in Babylon who God chose to be a prophet. The focus of Ezekiel chapters 20-24 is the conclusion of God’s case against Israel and why they are being judged. Several different illustrations are used to show Israel’s disobedience and disregard for their covenant with the Lord. Chapters 25 - 32 go on to prosecute the case against the nations around Israel who have treated themselves as “gods” and contributed in some way to the downfall of Israel. The two most powerful nations mentioned are Tyre and Egypt, which is why they are addressed in length. Repeated throughout these sections is the phrase, that they or you “will know that I am the Lord.” Israel and the nations around Israel have served idols and God is out to vindicate His name before them, and that’s the Big Picture.
Each week, as you take in the Bible, find some friends to talk it out. You can follow this simple guide to help. First, R.E.A.D. and P.R.A.Y. on your own. Then, meet with friends to share what you've learned.
R - Repeated words
E - Examine and mark
A - Ask what you learn about God
D - Do if there is anything to do
P - Praise
R - Repent
A - Ask
Bible Plan Reading Links - Week 47
START IT.
We're reading the Bible together in 2024. Specifically, we're taking a journey into how the story of the Bible unfolded in the Old Testament, starting with the beginning. How do we understand so many stories and lessons while trying to stick to the "sacred timeline"? The answer is the big picture. If we get the big picture, we get the story the Bible is trying to tell. From Sunday's message or The Big Picture Bible Reading Plan this week in the book of Ezekiel, what is impacting you the most? Was there a word, phrase, Bible verse, or theme that impacted you?
STUDY IT.
Read Deuteronomy 28:1. What was the requirement to be set above the nations of the earth identifying themselves with the Glory of God? Read Deuteronomy 29:24-28. What instead happened that was also an example to the nations that showed the Glory of God?
Read Ezekiel 20:6-7. What did God require? Read Ezekiel 20:8. What did Israel do? Read Ezekiel 20:9-10. For what did God act?
Read Ezekiel 20:11-12. What did God give His people? Read Ezekiel 20:13. How did the house of Israel respond? Read Ezekiel 20:14-17. For what did God not destroy them?
Read Ezekiel 20:18-20. What did God command to the next generation of His people? Read Ezekiel 20:21. How did the next generation respond? Read Ezekiel 20:22-24. For what did God act and withhold His hand?
Read Ezekiel 20:42-44. What will God do for His people for His name’s sake?
SHARE IT.
Read Deuteronomy 29:14-15. Read Acts 2:38-39. How do Moses’ and Peter’s words show both the radical inclusiveness and exclusiveness of the Gospel? How does this encourage you?
Read Ezekiel 28:5-9. What did Tyre trust in, and what did this lead them to believe? How might your circumstances overwhelm the truth of God’s word?
Read Ezekiel 29:3, 9. What was Egypt claiming when they said they made the Nile? How might your accomplishments tempt you to become self-sufficient? Read John 15:5.
Read Ezekiel 24:16-18. What does this say about God’s sovereignty over our lives? Why would you trust a God like that?
Read Ezekiel 20:39 and 23:39. What does this say about the devotion God expects from His people? What in your life are you tempted to find satisfaction in as much as or more than God?
FINAL THOUGHT
Twenty-plus times the phrase “know that I am the Lord” has been used throughout Ezekiel. Did the Israelites not know the Lord? The reality is they knew of the Lord, however they did not know the Lord as their Lord. They rejected the Lord’s commands, and only followed in a way that put the Lord on par with wood and stone idols. God says in Ezekiel 20:32 that Israel will never be like the other nations worshiping wood and stone. How can this be with all the rebellion? God continues on that he will remove the rebels from their mix (Ezekiel 20:38). This can be confusing because there is an ethnic Israel that has rebels, and there is the true Israel that is God’s redeemed people. This is similar to the church. There are many that claim to be followers of Christ, yet their lives bear the same fruit as the rebel Israelites who worshiped other gods by sacrificing their children and sexual promiscuity. This is also shown in a parable in Matthew 13 about the weeds sown among the wheat. The weeds are allowed to remain until harvest when they will be bundled and burned. The Lord Jesus himself said in Matthew 7 that many will claim allegiance to Him, however, He will reject them because they had no relationship with Him despite doing ‘good’ deeds. This shows the radical inclusiveness and exclusiveness of the Gospel. People from every tribe, tongue, and nation will worship around the throne of Jesus. That every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that ONLY Jesus Christ is Lord.
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