Title: Ezekiel’s Redemptive History (Part 2) –Purpose
- To foretell the destruction of Judah (Ezekiel 1-31)
All the prophecies with regards to the destruction of Judah were given before the actual destruction. The only exception is Ezekiel 29:17-21 because it is recorded in 571BC.
- The content of the destruction
- Unprecedented destruction
The Bible says that the fathers will eat their sons and the sons will eat their fathers. How miserable and dismal destruction it would be (Ezekiel 5:9-10)
- The destruction scattering people to all nations (Ezekiel 22:15-16)
- The destruction that the king’s eyes will be taken out. God prophesied that the king will be taken to Babylon and he will not see it. This prophecy was fulfilled by the incident that Zedekiah’s eyes were put out before he was taken to Babylon (Ezekiel 12:13; 2 Kings 25:7)
- The reasons for the destruction
- Idol worshipping (Ezekiel 6:9; Ezekiel 7:20)
- Play the harlot (Immorality)
The reason why they fell into playing the harlot is because they trusted their beauty and their fame. (Ezekiel 16:15; James 4:4)
King David was the greatest king ever in the history of Israel. However, this greatest king like to spend time in the temple of God more than anything else. He could move thousands people at a word. He could have the most luxurious meal with the most noble friends but after achieving great victory from battle, King David didn’t want to stay in that position easily become arrogant but wanted to come down to his very self as a humble worshipper (Psalms 84:10).
Trusting and chasing after the worldly success or fame is the first reason why we fall into playing the harlot. The second reason is because we forget about God and cast Him behind our back. (Ezekiel 23:35)
- Arrogance (Pride) (Ezekiel 7:10)
- To give the promise of the restoration of Israel (Ezekiel 32-40)
There are 8 restorations God promised. Especially Ezekiel 42-48 describes about the Ezekiel’s temple.
Ezekiel 32:1 In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, on the first of the month, the word of the Lord came to me saying
In the 12th year refers to the 12th year from Ezekiel’s (Jehoiachin’s) exile, which is 585BC. So, the revelation and visions showed from Ezekiel 32 were given after the destruction of Judah in 586BC. After the destruction of Judah, God was giving a hope to the Israelites that God will restore. Today, we may encounter failure and loss but God won’t let us experience failure so that we may remain as the failure for the rest of our lives. We may encounter failure today but God will surely restore us. As the sign of God’s promise of restoration, God showed the vision of the dried bones in the valley. But God opened the graces and let them come to their own land. (Ezekiel 37:12-14) It is the promise of God will revive the people who lost faith and bring them back to the land of Canaan. But what it means to us is that God will bring us out from the power of death and bring us back to the land we are supposed to belong to, that is the kingdom of God.
- To present the Ezekiel’s temple, Everlasting New Temple (Ezekiel 40-48)
Rev Abraham Park said that Ezekiel 40-48 is like the conclusion of 66 books of the Bible.
What kind of place is the Everlasting New Temple?
- There is the blessing of Jehovah Shammah (Ezekiel 48:35)
It indicates God’s everlasting presence.
The Ezekiel’s Temple has three gates on each side. Each gate has one name of 12 tribes. But if we look at New Jerusalem in the book of Revelation, New Jerusalem also has 12 gates and 12 names (Ezekiel 48:31-35; Revelation 21:13-14).
So, if New Jerusalem is the place where God eternally dwells, Ezekiel’s temple is also the place where God will dwell eternally.
2) The covenant of peace will be fulfilled (Ezekiel 37:26)
3) The place where holy people will enter (Ezekiel 44:23)
There are 3 levels:-
The Holy – Kadesh
The common/profane – Hol
The unclean – Tumea
Many times, we think the profane or the common is unclean but there is a word signifying the unclean separately. Thus, the profane or the common is not unclean by itself. It is the place or the thing God allowed us to work with so that we can earn things and get food to live. For example, our business is the holy but the common. It is not a sin to work hard in the common place but if we sin against God in the common place, that place becomes the unclean. On the other hand, if we use the common place to glorify God, the common belongs to the holy. The holy city is called the common. Yet, God proclaimed the blessing of Jehovah Shammah upon the holy city. God will be there in the common place (Ezekiel 43:10).
No matter how unclean and unholy you think you may be. God is saying that God has already chosen us and made us holy. If the Supreme Court declares that you are not guilty, it means you are not guilty. God already has proclaimed that we are holy therefore we will become holy eventually and surely. Why? Because our Father is with us. Amen!
The Lord's Covenant Church Malaysia 