Originally, November 1 was celebrated by western churches as All Saint’s Day, a day to remember the saints who have gone before us. Non-religious traditions combined pagan festivals with the name to celebrate “all hallow’s eve.” Setting aside secular customs for a moment, I do like the notion of remembering saints who have gone before.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2). 
With that thought in mind, let’s continue our reading in Ezekiel as God calls His people to repent, turn away from their idols, and experience the truth that He is the Sovereign Lord. God encouraged them to live and walk with Him, with the promise they would be His people, and He would be their God.
Some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat down in front of me. Then the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all? (Ezekiel 14:1-3).
- Israel’s leaders came to Ezekiel. Why?
- God said the leaders came to inquire of the Lord.
- The Lord told Ezekiel about these men—from His perspective.
- Their idolatry was deep-seated – they set up idols in their hearts.
- Imagine that, they worshiped something in their hearts other than the Lord. 😉
- God called their stumbling blocks “wicked.”
*Why did Israel’s leaders seek the Lord?
*Why did God call their stumbling blocks wicked?
*Why should God listen to these men?
“Therefore speak to them and tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When any of the Israelites set up idols in their hearts and put a wicked stumbling block before their faces and then go to a prophet, I the Lord will answer them myself in keeping with their great idolatry. I will do this to recapture the hearts of the people of Israel, who have all deserted me for their idols’ (Ezekiel 14:4-5).
- God told Ezekiel to speak to them on the Lord’s behalf.
- He began with the situation: these men had lifted up idols.
- Again we remember the word Ezekiel used for “idols” is plural!1
- They set obstacles of “sin that is particularly evil,”2 deliberately perverted, in their lives.
- Then they dared to come before the Lord, seek Him, and inquire of Him.
- In that case, God would respond according to their idolatry.
- God’s answer would recapture the hearts of the people.
- The Lord reminded Ezekiel and the leaders that all the people turned away from God to idols.
- The word “deserted” also means estranged, as a stranger who had been turned aside for lodging.3 They chose to estrange themselves, to turn away from dwelling with God.
*When has God suggested what you might say to someone?
*How might God’s answer reflect their idolatry?
“Therefore say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices! (Ezekiel 14:6)
- God’s message is clear: Repent!
- Turn away from idols.
- Abandon sinful practices.
- In the Old Testament Hebrew Interlinear, the word translated “repent” is used three times in this one verse.4
- Additional meanings that might apply include “change” or “withdraw.”5
*According to the Lord, what does it mean to repent?
*How can we turn away from idols today?
*What does it mean to renounce detestable practices?
“‘When any of the Israelites or any foreigner residing in Israel separate themselves from me and set up idols in their hearts and put a wicked stumbling block before their faces and then go to a prophet to inquire of me, I the Lord will answer them myself. I will set my face against them and make them an example and a byword. I will remove them from my people. Then you will know that I am the Lord’ (Ezekiel 14:7-8).
- The people had separated themselves from God; as if they made themselves strangers to Him.6
- The wording emphasizes the Lord’s would directly answer in person those who dared come before Him in their wickedness.
- God would make them an example by cutting them off completely from His people.
- Their behavior would become repeated as a proverb.
- As a result of God’s actions, then you will know that I am the Lord.
- Their visual experience would lead to greater awareness and knowledge that I AM is the same Lord no matter how people behave or approach Him.
*When and how do we separate ourselves from God?
*Why is it significant that God speaks for Himself against the wicked?
*How does God’s judgment serve as an example today?
“‘And if the prophet is enticed to utter a prophecy, I the Lord have enticed that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand against him and destroy him from among my people Israel. They will bear their guilt—the prophet will be as guilty as the one who consults him (Ezekiel 14:9-10).
- Lest the [wicked] leaders persuade the prophet to speak on God’s behalf…
- Know that the Lord has already spoken to the prophet.
- God would stretch out His might and strength against that prophet.
- God would destroy any prophet who would follow the ways of the wicked.
- If a prophet allowed the wicked to consult him, and if he listened to those whose actions, words, and hearts speak against the Lord…
- The prophet would also be counted as guilty.
*How might the situation in these verses apply today?
“‘Then the people of Israel will no longer stray from me, nor will they defile themselves anymore with all their sins. They will be my people, and I will be their God, declares the Sovereign Lord’” (Ezekiel 14:11).
- God’s actions against the wicked and guilty leaders and prophets would cause the people to know that I am the Lord.
- Then the people would no longer wander away from the Lord.
- They would no longer make themselves unclean “with all their sin.”
- The word here for “sins” is transgressions, or rebellion.
- They will be my people, and I will be their God.
- God extends His theme statement to a deeper, more meaningful promise.
*What is the significance of the word “rebellion” here?
*What is the meaning of God’s promise for those who heard Ezekiel’s message?
*What is the meaning of this promise for us?
*What do we learn about God’s character in the first half of chapter 14?
Repent and turn away from sin, Return to God, and Run with Him. I’m in for this wonderful adventure with God, and I’d love to hear about your journey with Him too!
- Warren Baker, D.R.E., Eugene Carpenter, Ph.D. The Complete WordStudy Dictionary: Old Testament. (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2003). 203
- Ibid., 814
- Ibid.,286
- Warren Baker, D.R.E., General Editor. The Complete Word Study Old Testament (King James Version). (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 1994) 1992
- Warren Baker, D.R.E., Eugene Carpenter, Ph.D. The Complete WordStudy Dictionary: Old Testament. (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2003). 1108
- Ibid., 212, 720