Text: Ezekiel 20:45–21:32<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I. A parable of the forest – Ezekiel 20:45-49<\/p>\n A. God now returns to dealing with the destruction of Israel. It is a prelude to the\nparable of chapter 21\n
B. Ezekiel is to face south and preach against the forest to the south.<\/p>\n
1. From Babylon, Israel is to the south.<\/p>\n
2. People compared to a forest – Isaiah 9:18-19; 10:15-19; Jeremiah 21:14<\/p>\n
C. God will be sending war (a fire) that will consume them<\/p>\n
1. Both the green and the dry (the righteous and wicked) – Ezekiel 21:3-4<\/p>\n
2. It will be an unstoppable fire<\/p>\n
D. All will understand that this was God’s doing – II Chronicles 7:20-22<\/p>\n E. But the reaction of the elders is that Ezekiel is speaking in an incomprehensible\nparable!\n
1. In other words, why bother listening?<\/p>\n
2. Matthew 13:13-14<\/p>\n
II. A parable of the sword – Ezekiel 20:1-7<\/p>\n A. God responds to the complaint about the parable of the forest with another parable\nset in plainer terms.\n
B. The parable is against Jerusalem, the sanctuaries, and the land of Israel<\/p>\n 1. Sanctuaries (holy places) might refer to the parts of the temple, or indicates\nthat the use of synagogues has already started – Psalm 74:8\n C. God was coming with a sword that would cut off both the righteous and the\nwicked\n
1. Some wonder if this is contradictory to Ezekiel 9:4<\/p>\n
2. Not a literal slaying but a complete judgment from north to south<\/p>\n
3. In this the righteous did suffer along with the wicked.<\/p>\n 4. The sword would not return until it has accomplished God’s will – Jeremiah\n23:20\n
D. Ezekiel is told to deliver the message with tears<\/p>\n
1. Recall that Ezekiel was not to be dismayed by his listeners – Ezekiel 3:4-9<\/p>\n 2. Here he is told to express deep dismay. “Breaking of heart” means literally\nthe breaking of the loins – i.e. the anguish of childbearing or the pain of a\nman being kicked between the legs.- Jeremiah 30:5-7; Isaiah 21:3\n
3. The delivery is to cause curiosity and questions<\/p>\n a. The answer is because the fulfillment of the prophesy is too\ndismaying – Isaiah 13:7; Jeremiah 8:18; Lamentations 5:17\n
b. But it will happen<\/p>\n
III. The second parable of the sword – Ezekiel 20:8-17<\/p>\n A. In the first parable the sword is unsheathed. In this one the sword is described in\ndetail\n
B. It is both polished and sharpened.<\/p>\n 1. God had warned of the danger of His sword of judgment – Deuteronomy\n32:41; Psalm 7:11-13; Jeremiah 12:12\n
2. It flashes like lightening – it is quick in execution.<\/p>\n
C. The people don’t truly believe the prophecy<\/p>\n
1. My son is understood to be Israel – Exodus 4:22<\/p>\n 2. The people are rejoicing in their rulership (the scepter or rod of Israel), but\nGod’s sword thinks nothing of it or any other piece of wood – the other\nnations that fell before it. (Most likely)\n 3. The rod as a symbol of punishment; therefore, the people of Israel are\nmocking the threat of punishment as they do all the forest of other threats\nfrom other nations.\n
4. There is mirth when there should be fear and woe – Isaiah 22:12-13<\/p>\n
D. God’s sword was given to a slayer for the purpose of being used<\/p>\n
1. The threat of Babylon is not one to be ignored – Jeremiah 51:20-23<\/p>\n
2. God doesn’t idly give authority – Romans 13:4<\/p>\n
E. The sword will be wielded against Israel, even the rulers<\/p>\n 1. Strike your thigh – Same as smacking your forehead and exclaiming “How\ndumb could I have been!” – Jeremiah 31:19\n
2. Ezekiel was to cry and wail over the coming slaughter – Jeremiah 25:34<\/p>\n
F. It is a period of trial<\/p>\n
1. It doesn’t matter if Nebuchadnezzar is proud and despises Israel’s king<\/p>\n
2. It doesn’t matter if Israel’s king is overthrown and no longer exists<\/p>\n
3. There will be no sympathy<\/p>\n
G. Ezekiel is to clap his hand, calling for attention (see Ezekiel 6:11; Numbers 24:10)<\/p>\n
1. On the third execution, the sword will do twice the damage.<\/p>\n 2. Nebuchadnezzar struck Israel three times: against Jehoiakim (II Kings\n24:1), against Jehoiachin (II Kings 24:10-16), and against Zedekiah (II\nKings 24:1-7).\n 3. It will seek people out, even in their homes – Jeremiah 9:21; in their hiding\nplaces as in I Kings 20:30; 22:25; Amos 9:2\n
H. The strength of the sword and its swiftness is to cause Israel to be dismayed.<\/p>\n
1. The sword is commanded to ravage in every direction – Ezekiel 14:17<\/p>\n
I. Now God claps His hands and brings an end to His fury – Ezekiel 5:13<\/p>\n
IV. The third parable of the sword – Ezekiel 21:18-32<\/p>\n
A. Ezekiel is instructed to make a map showing two different routes<\/p>\n 1. One route leads to Rabbah, the capital of Ammon(II Samuel 12:26). The\nother route leads to Jerusalem.\n 2. Nebuchadnezzar had decided to destroy both, but had not decided which to\nattack first – Lamentations 4:12\n a. Why Ammon? Because they were in league with Zedekiah –\nJeremiah 27:1-3\n 3. He uses divination: lots (using arrows), idols (Zechariah 10:2), and looking\na livers\n
a. It really doesn’t matter – Proverbs 16:33<\/p>\n b. God declares in advance that the decision will be to attack\nJerusalem first.\n c. Nebuchadnezzar would draw the arrow indicating Jerusalem, and\npreparation for siege and war begins\n B. The leaders of Israel don’t believe they will be destroyed – II Chronicles 36:16;\nIsaiah 28:14-15\n
1. Those who make oaths with Nebuchadnezzar – Ezekiel 17:13-19<\/p>\n 2. But Nebuchadnezzar will bring their sins to remembrance – their breaking\nof their oaths to him\n 3. In a sense, their unfaithfulness to Nebuchadnezzar is representative of their\nunfaithfulness to God\n
C. Zedekiah’s life would end<\/p>\n
1. He is profane (broken his oath) – II Chronicles 36:13<\/p>\n 2. His is wicked (sinned against God – Jeremiah 52:2), but it is brought to an\nend – Jeremiah 24:8\n
3. The turban (mitre) of the High Priest is to be removed – Exodus 28:4<\/p>\n
4. The crown of the king is to be removed – Lamentations 5:16<\/p>\n
5. God is removing those in power to give that power to another – Psalm 75:7<\/p>\n
a. God resists the proud – Luke 1:52; James 4:6<\/p>\n
b. It will go to the lowly – Isaiah 53:2<\/p>\n 6. It would remain overthrown until the one who has the right takes it up –\nGenesis 49:10; Luke 1:32-33\n
D. Turning to the Ammonites, Ezekiel also announces their destruction<\/p>\n
1. Why? – Zephaniah 2:8-10; Ezekiel 25:3, 6<\/p>\n 2. Like the Jews, the Ammonites will not believe that Babylon would really\nattack them. The deceit will be supported by false prophets. – Isaiah 44:25\n
a. On the neck – Triumphing over them<\/p>\n E. After Nebuchadnezzar’s victories, he will return to his own land where God will\njudge him (referring to his seven years of insanity – Daniel 4:4-37)\n 1. God will turn His wrath on His sword (Babylon). Or, could be continuing\nhis wrath against Ammon.\n
2. Blow on the fire – stir up the flames – Isaiah 54:16<\/p>\n
3. The Babylonians were God’s weapon of destruction – Habakkuk 1:6-10<\/p>\n 4. Either way, the Ammonites (Ezekiel 25:10) and the Babylonians were\ndestroyed.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPrior Lesson\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEzekiel\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNext Lesson\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Parables of the Forest and the Sword Text: Ezekiel 20:45–21:32 I. A parable of the forest – Ezekiel 20:45-49 A. God now returns to dealing with the destruction of Israel. It is a prelude to the parable of chapter 21 B. Ezekiel is to face south and preach against the forest to the south. 1. From Babylon,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":14352,"menu_order":15,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-64885","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":14352,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/a-study-of-ezekiel\/","url_meta":{"origin":64885,"position":0},"title":"A Study of Ezekiel","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 27, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"A Study of Ezekiel by Jeffrey W. Hamilton The following are my class notes for teaching Ezekiel here in La Vista. They are presented here in hopes of helping you with your own study of Ezekiel. Contents Background to Ezekiel The Vision of Jehovah (Ezekiel 1) Ezekiel's Call to Preach\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/EzekielPreaching-239x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":22561,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/survey-of-the-bible\/survey-of-the-bible-ezekiel\/","url_meta":{"origin":64885,"position":1},"title":"Survey of the Bible: Ezekiel","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 18, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Survey of the Bible: Ezekiel Text: Ezekiel 18:20-32 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Daniel were all prophets during the same period of time. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jeremiah stayed Judah and witnessed the collapse. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ezekiel was taken into captivity and lived among the captive Israelites \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Daniel was taken as a boy to Babylon and became\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":64942,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/a-study-of-ezekiel\/a-new-land-and-a-new-people\/","url_meta":{"origin":64885,"position":2},"title":"A New Land and a New People","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 23, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"A New Land and a New People Text: Ezekiel 45-48 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Division of the land surrounding the temple - Ezekiel 45:1-8 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0500 x 500 rods for the temple (just over a square mile) \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0An additional 50 cubits all around for open space (75 feet) \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Then land for the sanctuary 25,000\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":64897,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/a-study-of-ezekiel\/parable-of-two-sisters\/","url_meta":{"origin":64885,"position":3},"title":"Parable of Two Sisters","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 23, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Parable of Two Sisters Text: Ezekiel 23 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Two sisters from one mother \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Same imagery used in Jeremiah 3:7-10 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Named - Ezekiel 23:4 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Oholah - Her tent (Samaria) \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0a.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0She had her own temple (tabernacle) \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Oholibah - My tent is\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":64761,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/a-study-of-ezekiel\/the-parable-of-the-eagles\/","url_meta":{"origin":64885,"position":4},"title":"The Parable of the Eagles","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 18, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The Parable of the Eagles Text: Ezekiel 17 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0God now turns his attention to the king of Israel, Zedekiah. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0He offers a riddle and a parable - Ezekiel 17:1-2 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This is not to obscure, but to help fix the point in their minds. II.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Parable - Ezekiel 17:3-10 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":64937,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/a-study-of-ezekiel\/vision-of-the-new-temple\/","url_meta":{"origin":64885,"position":5},"title":"Vision of the New Temple","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 23, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Vision of the New Temple Text: Ezekiel 40-44 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Once again we have a dated prophecy \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Day 10, Month 1, Year 25 or October 2, 574 BC \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It was on this day that Ezekiel was inspired to speak again \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ezekiel is taken is spirit to Israel where he saw to\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/64885","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=64885"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/64885\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14352"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64885"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}