How to Live with Hope and Reconcile Relationships
Ezekiel 43:1-12
Introduction: Ezekiel records the activity of a prophet during the exile in Babylonia. His message was directed to his fellow captives and also the Hebrew people that were left in Palestine.
Both groups were obstinate and impenitent even after capture of Jerusalem by the Babylonian King, Nebuchadrezzar in 597 BC
Therefore, God assigned Ezekiel the task of denouncing the rebellious house of Israel and of foretelling the destruction of Jerusalem and the deportation of even greater numbers of Israelites into captivity
Six years after Ezekiel began to preach, his words came true. In 586 BC Nebuchadrezzar destroyed Jerusalem and brought all but a few of the survivors to Babylonia.
However, Israel’s unfaithfulness did not exhaust God’s mercy. HE began to give Ezekiel messages of hope and restoration
The book of Ezekiel is different from other prophets in that it is a very systematic arrangement of the contents. The first part 24 chapters set forth Israel’s condemnation and the terrifying consequences.
The last section, Chap. 33-48 is a consistent portrayal of a bright future that God has in store for his people.
Another unique thing about Ezekiel is how the forms of threat and promise are expressed. Some say that Ezekiel was Schizophrenic as the visions are mysterious, hard to interpret; some are grotesque and graphic in nature. However, they are all in keeping with other visions and prophecies found in the Bible.
Ezekiel prophecies great thing for God’s people
However, dark times can cause us to lose hope. How do we get and keep hope?
We hope for our country, our children our families. Especially in times of great sickness or accidents, we hope for the best.
There are steps we must follow:
Recognize the Presence of God. Ezekiel Chap. 43:1-7b 1 Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh toward the east: 2 And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory. 3 And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face. 4 And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east. 5 So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house. 6 And I heard him speaking unto me out of the house; and the man stood by me.
In an earlier vision, Chapter 8-11, Ezekiel saw Israel’s sinful conditions and also saw the Lord’s glory, or presence departing from the temple. He now sees that glory returning.
His glory came from the East.
Christ’s star was seen in the east
Christ is the angel in scriptures that ascends of the east in Revelation
The word Glory comes from the Hebrew word meaning “to be heavy” or “to give weight to” or “to honor”.
His departure meant judgment now His return meant God’s covenant love
There was power in God’s word
It was like many waters—heard from afar.
The gospel is to be proclaimed out loud, for all to hear
Note: Nothing drives us to depression faster than hearing nothing but our own voice
V2. His appearance was very bright. None can look at God’s brightness; the glory of God shines throughout the world through His churches.
The new vision reminded Ezekiel of the same brightness that left the temple.
God is unchanging, he has no variables.
His judgment is as intense has His forgiveness
The new vision foretold forgiveness in the form of a new temple.
Ezekiel fell on his face in this presence.
Note: We have forgotten how to fall on our faces in the presence of God and so we wonder why we do find Him when we need him. Its seems only we look down are we able to see help come from above.
The vision affirmed God would never leave His people again once He entered the new temple.
To date this temple that Ezekiel saw has not been built.
Some suggest it is the temple of the believer, symbolizing the indwelling of the Holy Spirit
Ezekiel was taken up to see the glory of God in the new temple.
The Results of God’s Presence V. 7 And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places. 8 In their setting of their threshold by my thresholds, and their post by my posts, and the wall between me and them, they have even defiled my holy name by their abominations that they have committed: wherefore I have consumed them in mine anger. 9 Now let them put away their whoredom, and the carcases of their kings, far from me, and I will dwell in the midst of them for ever.
God tells Ezekiel the things that angered him. He puts in mind the former things that provoked Him
NOTE: This is how we begin to reconcile differences between us---tell what the problem actually is, what has angered us or drove us apart.
The leaders, Kings, had brought contempt on the religion they claimed to be profess by their idolatry and worshipping images they called their kings (Baal and Moloch)
This rebelliousness put a wall between God and His people. He could no longer bless them.
The Kings houses were built beside the first temple to give them an air of respectability and credence….yet they did not act neighborly towards God by bring their false Gods and pagan ways right beside the temple of the Lord.
They had defiled the temple of God by the proximity of their sins.
God’s presence brought with it Israelis just deserts for their sins…their captivity and enslavement.
Redemptive Purpose of Gods Presence. V 9 Now let them put away their whoredom, and the carcases of their kings, far from me, and I will dwell in the midst of them for ever. 10 Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern. 11 And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them. 12 This is the law of the house; Upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house.
He calls upon them to repent and be ashamed of their sins
We try to rationalize our sins; no one likes to be told they are wrong, especially this day and time.
When we look at the glory and righteousness of God, it helps us see the unrighteous things we do….we need to always look to the standard, not the excuse.
V.11 If they are ashamed of what they have done they can appreciate the righteousness and mercy of God
Note: It is only when we are humbled by our own follies that we are qualified to receive God’s blessings
The temple would be visible reminder of God’s holiness, love and redemptive purpose.
IF we are to worship and live in God’s temple then we must obey the rules of it.
Conclusion: The Holy Spirit is not comfortable by the proximity of our sins and strange things. Tell about living in your own home and very comfortable, we are familiar with what is ours. But in someone else’s home, we are not familiar, we cannot live in someone else’s home…its strange. It’s not ours, has foreign things in it. Only when the Sprit is comfortable and can call it His home, does he completely dwell and bring that peace that passes all understanding.
Comments