The Rebellions of Israel
January 19, 2021
Commentary
In this passage Ezekiel gave a panoramic view of Israel’s history (vv. 1-4). The Lord refused to be inquired of by the leaders because of their insincerity. Had they forsaken their sins and come to Him in true repentance, He would have listened. Instead, Ezekiel was to judge them in the sense of pointing out their sins to them. He gives the message that the people alone are responsible for the troubles and judgments they have experiences.
The day when I chose Israel, referred to here, was in Egypt (v. 5). Even before Israel was a nation, God had chosen them when He chose Abraham (Ex. 6:6-8). Israel had become an actual nation of people by this time. At the same time, He had selected, for them a land, a land belonging to Israel by sovereign choice. The frequent use of the phrase flowing with milk and honey is proverbial of great abundance and plenty (v.6). That Israel had already been worshiping idols in Egypt is explicitly stated only here, though it is intimated by such occasions as the golden calf incident in the wilderness (vv. 7-8). God first had thoughts of judgment against Israel in Egypt because of her idolatry. God very dramatically proved Himself greater than the gods of Egypt in the contest of the ten plagues (vv. 9-11)
The observance of the Sabbath began at Sinai, and it served as a special sign between the people and the Lord (vv. 11-16). It showed their dependence on Him to supply their need by not working on the seventh day. In turn, God had promised to care for them. This day of rest was a gift from a loving God, not a difficult obligation. But the people repeatedly desecrated the Sabbath and ignored their God. God’s purpose for the Sabbath was that He wants us to rest, to refocus and to remember Him.
Application
Sunday has always been a special day in our family and I want to always honor the Lord on that day.
Ezekiel 20:1– 16 (NET)
1 In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth of the month, some of the elders of Israel came to seek the Lord, and they sat down in front of me. 2 The Lord’s message came to me: 3 “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and tell them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Are you coming to seek me? As surely as I live, I will not allow you to seek me, declares the Sovereign Lord.’ 4 Are you willing to pronounce judgment on them? Are you willing to pronounce judgment, son of man? Then confront them with the abominable practices of their fathers, 5 and say to them:
6 On that day I swore to bring them out of the land of Egypt to a land that I had picked out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands. 7 I said to them, “Each of you must get rid of the detestable idols you keep before you, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.” 8 But they rebelled against me and refused to listen to me; no one got rid of their detestable idols, nor did they abandon the idols of Egypt. Then I decided to pour out my rage on them and fully vent my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. 9 I acted for the sake of my reputation, so that I would not be profaned before the nations among whom they lived, before whom I revealed myself by bringing them out of the land of Egypt.
10 “‘So I brought them out of the land of Egypt and led them to the wilderness. 11 I gave them my statutes and revealed my regulations to them. The one who carries them out will live by them! 12 I also gave them my Sabbaths as a reminder of our relationship, so that they would know that I, the Lord, sanctify them. 13 But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness; they did not follow my statutes and they rejected my regulations (the one who obeys them will live by them), and they utterly desecrated my Sabbaths. So I decided to pour out my rage on them in the wilderness and destroy them. 14 I acted for the sake of my reputation, so that I would not be profaned before the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. 15 I also swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them to the land I had given them—a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands. 16 I did this because they rejected my regulations, did not follow my statutes, and desecrated my Sabbaths; for their hearts followed their idols.
Illustration: Results of the Rest of a Locomotive on Sunday
Years ago, I read about a railroad that conducted an experiment. It purchased two new locomotives. One was kept in constant service, regardless of Sunday. In the use of the other, late each Saturday they pulled its fire and released the steam. On Sunday it was allowed to cool down, thus retempering its metal. Then it was fired up again on Monday. Over the years they found that they had less maintenance and trouble with the latter than with the former. If rest one day each week was so beneficial to a piece of machinery, how much more does the fragile, delicate human body and spirit need it! (Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations – 12510).