I AM is the Lord

Let’s review Ezekiel’s travels in the Spirit, in Jerusalem.

The Spirit lifted Ezekiel and carried him to the entrance to the north gate of the inner court (8:3).

Later the Spirit instructed Ezekiel to go in (to the court) to see the detestable things Israel’s elders were doing within the temple (8:9).

Throughout chapter 8, Ezekiel moves between the north gate and the inner court and then back to the entrance of the temple (8:14, 16).

In chapter 9, Ezekiel was lifted again and able to view the threshold of the temple (9:8).

At the beginning of chapter 10, Ezekiel saw

• the throne above the expanse (10:1)
• the south side of the temple
• the temple threshold
• the movements of the cherubim, who then stopped at the entrance to the east gate of the Lord’s house (10:19).

At this point, the Spirit lifted Ezekiel up once again and took him to the temple’s east gate.

Ezekiel had been shown the temple from all sides.

“Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the gate of the house of the Lord that faces east. There at the entrance of the gate were twenty-five men, and I saw among them Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiah son of Benaiah, leaders of the people. The Lord said to me, ‘Son of man, these are the men who are plotting evil and giving wicked advice in this city. They say, “Haven’t our houses been recently rebuilt? This city is a pot, and we are the meat in it.” Therefore prophesy against them; prophesy, son of man’” (Ezekiel 11:1-4).

• In the original, chapter 11 begins with “behold,” a word that means look now in expectation.¹
• Something more will happen in the Lord’s unfolding judgment against Israel’s corrupt leaders.
• It’s important to remember that not only were these men evil, they were officials with authority—the power to sway a group of people.
• There are twenty-five men at the east gate.
• Ezekiel identified two leaders by name; he had a closer look.
• Based on the Lord’s words, these are likely the same twenty-five men mentioned in Ezekiel 8:16.
• They plotted and planned evil and offered wicked counsel.
• God gave His Word, divine insight, to Ezekiel to speak against the elders.

*What can those who plot evil and lead others astray into wickedness expect?

*What is significant about the role of Israel’s elders in these chapters?

*What might we learn about God and His character in these passages?

“Then the Spirit of the Lord came on me, and he told me to say: ‘This is what the Lord says: This is what you are saying, you leaders in Israel, but I know what is going through your mind. You have killed many people in this city and filled its streets with the dead.

‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: The bodies you have thrown there are the meat and this city is the pot, but I will drive you out of it. You fear the sword, and the sword is what I will bring against you, declares the Sovereign Lord. I will drive you out of the city and deliver you into the hands of foreigners and inflict punishment on you. You will fall by the sword, and I will execute judgment on you at the borders of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord’” (Ezekiel 11:5-10).

• God reminded the evil leaders that He knows their thoughts and their deeds.
• When God said He knew their thoughts and what was on their mind, He said He knew their spirit, emotions, mind, and will.²
• Hundreds of years earlier, King David charged Solomon,

“And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever” (1 Chronicles 28:9).

• The Lord left no room for doubt as He interpreted and confirmed the leaders’ claim about a pot and meat.
• That might be true, but God would drive them out of the city.
• God would bring their worst fears against them: sword, captive to foreigners, punishment, and judgment.
• Their punishment was the outworking of God’s active role in judging evil.
• Then they will know who is the One True God: the Lord Almighty.

*Why is it important to realize and remember God knows our thoughts, mind, heart, desires, plans, and actions?

*Why do you think God chose to bring their worst fears against them in judgment?

*How did their punishment lead them to know I AM is the Lord?

 “This city will not be a pot for you, nor will you be the meat in it; I will execute judgment on you at the borders of Israel. And you will know that I am the Lord, for you have not followed my decrees or kept my laws but have conformed to the standards of the nations around you” (Ezekiel 11:11-12).

• I AM is the Lord, not the gods in the east they chose to worship in chapter 8.
• God would not leave them in Jerusalem for their destruction in the pot.
• He would execute them at Israel’s borders—He would carry them where he willed.
• Their lives were no longer in their hands.
• They lived according to the laws and religious standards of pagan nations.
• God’s judgment was a legal decision meting out judgment because they followed the pagan’s “legal” ways instead of keeping God’s holy laws.
• Therefore, I AM clearly showed them He is the Lord.

*What does it mean to say I AM is the Lord?

*In what ways might we conform to the standards of pagan people today?

*How can we demonstrate that we follow God’s laws and decrees instead?

“Now as I was prophesying, Pelatiah son of Benaiah died. Then I fell facedown and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Alas, Sovereign Lord! Will you completely destroy the remnant of Israel?’” (Ezekiel 11:13).

• As Ezekiel spoke, one of the named leaders died.
• It’s implied he was killed—by God?
• Ezekiel fell facedown and cried out in alarm in the face of immediate danger.
• He pleaded with the Lord to save His remnant, those who remain faithful to God.

One of the promises we see in Ezekiel is God’s remnant—setting aside a portion of His faithful people for Himself.

*What danger might Ezekiel believe he faced?

*Why did Ezekiel plead with God to save a remnant?

*What is the significance of God’s remnant for us today?

 

Bible verses from YouVersion. https://www.bible.com/bible/111/EZK.11.NIV

1. Warren Baker, D.R.E., General Editor. The Complete Word Study Old Testament (King James Version). (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 1994) 269
2. Ibid., 1040