Our Redeemer

What a cheery way to start the new year—we’ve slogged through Israel’s sin, spiritual adultery, and depravity through Ezekiel’s descriptions. God compared unfaithful Jerusalem to her pagan neighbors, declaring the city more depraved than surrounding nations. The Lord even destroyed Sodom for its inhabitants’ sins. Through Ezekiel’s message, God continued His comparison between Israel and the pagans by restoring Sodom and Samaria.

But God…! In our faithfulness to show up and read His Word together, He shows up to shine the light of His Spirit on our reading.

* Spoiler alert: Read to the end of the chapter for the happy-ever-after ending!

“‘However, I will restore the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters and of Samaria and her daughters, and your fortunes along with them, so that you may bear your disgrace and be ashamed of all you have done in giving them comfort. And your sisters, Sodom with her daughters and Samaria with her daughters, will return to what they were before; and you and your daughters will return to what you were before. You would not even mention your sister Sodom in the day of your pride, before your wickedness was uncovered. Even so, you are now scorned by the daughters of Edom and all her neighbors and the daughters of the Philistines—all those around you who despise you. You will bear the consequences of your lewdness and your detestable practices, declares the Lord’ (Ezekiel 16:53-58).

Sometimes it’s helpful to read a verse in more than one translation to glimpse the original meaning.

“Nevertheless, I will restore their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, and along with them your own captivity” (Ezekiel 16:53 NASB).

In the original, the word meaning “captive” is used four times, and a word meaning “captivity” is used once. This reflects one of Ezekiel’s themes: Israel would experience exile, and then be restored to their land and relationship with God.

As used here, the word declares the Lord’s power in releasing His people from banishment.¹

• God “promised to restore Sodom, Samaria, and Jerusalem to what they were before in order to bring shame on Jerusalem.”²
• He intended to highlight Jerusalem’s disgrace and shame them for inviting pagan nations in, as we read earlier in this chapter.
• Israel would bear and endure shame.
• God didn’t specify when this restoration would happen.
• In the midst of their wickedness, Israel believed they were better than their neighbors, so much so they didn’t speak of Sodom.
• God reminded Jerusalem how the pagan nations scorned them for their sinful actions.
• He reminded Israel they would bear the consequences for their detestable practices.
• Last week we learned their behavior included plans and purposes of the heart that led to evil actions.

Why do you think God restored Sodom, Samaria, and Jerusalem’s fortunes?

What consequences do people experience today for wicked practices?

“‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will deal with you as you deserve, because you have despised my oath by breaking the covenant. Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you’ (Ezekiel 16:59-60).

• They would receive appropriate punishment and consequences for their unrighteousness.
• Israel broke their faith covenant with God.
• They didn’t show proper respect for God and their covenant relationship with Him.

“But you [Israel’s priests] have turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble; you have violated the covenant with Levi,” says the Lord Almighty.

Judah has been unfaithful. A detestable thing has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem: Judah has desecrated the sanctuary the Lord loves by marrying women who worship a foreign god (Malachi 2:8, 11).

• God pointed out their underlying heart attitude in breaking the covenant.
• But God…!
• The Lord promised to remember the covenant He made with them.
• The word “remember” may also mean acknowledge and make known.³
• God would establish an everlasting covenant with them.
• Always God reminds His people of His redemptive plan.

How would you describe God’s everlasting covenant with His people?

How have we seen glimpses of God’s redemptive plan in Ezekiel?

How does God remind His people today of His redemptive plan?

‘Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you receive your sisters, both those who are older than you and those who are younger. I will give them to you as daughters, but not on the basis of my covenant with you’ (Ezekiel 16:61).

• When they realized what God did for them, they would remember their evil ways.
• They would experience shame, but God’s words sound as if they would again receive pagan nations.
• God would give them to Israel as daughters, separate from His covenant with Israel.

How does awareness of God’s promises lead us to acknowledge our sin and shame?

‘So I will establish my covenant with you, and you will know that I am the Lord’ (Ezekiel 16:62).

• God restated His promise: He would establish His covenant with them.
• Ezekiel restated his theme: you will know that I AM the Lord.
• God’s theme is like a breath of fresh air at the end of this long chapter:
• The vile and terrible judgments against Israel had purpose.
• All who hear and read of these events will know the Lord Almighty is I AM.
• God was the Lord before Israel’s descent into greater wickedness and depravity.
• God was Sovereign Lord and an active participant in Israel’s judgment and punishment.
• God would be the Lord Almighty and ever-present in Israel’s future covenant relationship with

What does the fact God is the Sovereign Lord, the Lord Almighty, the I AM, mean for us today?

How can we apply God’s promises to our daily walk with Him?

‘Then, when I make atonement for you for all you have done, you will remember and be ashamed and never again open your mouth because of your humiliation, declares the Sovereign Lord’” (Ezekiel 16:63).

• God promised He would make atonement for Israel—not an individual who resided in Jerusalem, not a priest, not a sacrificial animal, but ⁴
• He would forgive their sins and offer reconciliation.⁵

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! (Romans 5:8-11)

• He snuck in a glimpse of His future plan: Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us (1 John 3:16).

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him (1 John 4:9).

• When God’s people look back on His redeeming love, atonement for sin, and unbroken covenant, they would experience a different kind of shame.
• Their shame would strike down their pride.

But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame” (Romans 10:8-11).

What response should we have to God’s redeeming love, atonement for sin, and everlasting covenant?

What is one possible scenario in which a person caught in shame and humiliation for their sin might open their mouth to God?

A man who many scholars believe lived before Moses, described his confidence in God as our redeemer.

I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.

I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!

(Job 19:25, 27)

At the end of a song in which he praised God’s glory and precious Word, David wrote,

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight,

Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14).

At the end of this (long!) chapter, we can write our own songs of praise for God’s gift of redemption and reconciliation through Jesus Christ.

 

 

1. Warren Baker, D.R.E., Eugene Carpenter, Ph.D. The Complete WordStudy Dictionary: Old Testament. (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2003) 1090-1091
2. Ibid., 978
3. Ibid., 289
4. For more about Jesus’ atoning sacrifice once for all, read Hebrews 9.
5. Baker, 521