Following God

In these passages from Ezekiel’s message to Israel, God pursues His people in judgment. God’s fire refines, purifies, and judges. But we know from His relationship with Ezekiel that God also considers His people’s righteousness and their hearts.

“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: This is Jerusalem, which I have set in the center of the nations, with countries all around her. Yet in her wickedness she has rebelled against my laws and decrees more than the nations and countries around her. She has rejected my laws and has not followed my decrees” (Ezekiel 5:5-6).

• God judged Israel because they sinned against Him.
• They rebelled.
• They rejected His laws.
• They refused to follow God’s decrees.
• Not only that, they despised God’s laws and decrees.²
• God’s statutes and decrees are everlasting.³
• They did all these things, more than the surrounding Gentile nations!
• The basic meaning of the Hebrew word for “rebel” is “change.”¹
• There are two possible implications:
• Their sin changed them and their hearts toward God.
• They refused to change and follow God.
• “Follow” means more than a simple act of obedience, as when one obeys a command.
• It refers to behavior and way of life, walking a specific pathway in life.⁴
• Their wickedness spanned a wide range of evil.⁵
• Either way, this type of rebellion—provoked God to act.¹

*How have you experienced the everlasting nature of God’s statues?

*How does sin change us?

*What happens when we refuse to change and follow God?

*What specific pathway in life is God guiding you on currently?

 “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: you have been more unruly than the nations around you and have not followed my decrees or kept my laws. You have not even conformed to the standards of the nations around you” (Ezekiel 5:7).

• First God pointed out Israel’s rebellion to Ezekiel.
• In this verse, He accused Israel directly, pointing the finger of God straight at them.
• Different translations shed nuances of meaning on this verse.

“… you have multiplied more” (KJV, basic Hebrew meaning)

“… you have more turmoil” (NASB)

“… you have been more unruly” (NIV)

• Have the Israelites simply multiplied more as a nation?
• If so, how does this relate to their rebellion?
• Did Israel multiply more in their sin?
• If so, that would certainly cause more turmoil!
• Were the Israelites more unruly, like disobedient children?
• Possibly the answer is “yes” to all of the above.
• They had not even kept or observed the ordinances of other nations!⁶

*What happens when sin multiplies?

*How does sin create turmoil?

*How are disobedient children unruly?

*How does all this relate to our spiritual lives today?

Such a cheerful place to leave off. Next week we’ll read about God’s judgments.

We take heart in these truths from Ezekiel.

• God’s Word and His laws are everlasting.
• We always have a choice to change for the good and turn toward God.
• He will guide us on His pathways in life if we follow Him.

 

1. Warren Baker, D.R.E., Eugene Carpenter, Ph.D. The Complete WordStudy Dictionary: Old Testament. (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2003). 667
2. Ibid., 562
3. Ibid., 372
4. Ibid., 265
5. Ibid., 1080
6. Study Bible > Bible versions > Interlinear Hebrew Old Testament > Ezekiel

https://studybible.info/strongs/H4941