The Bible regularly uses the word picture of a “vine” to depict people, or groups of people. Both the Old Testament and the New do so, involving numerous speakers, particularly our Lord Jesus. (Think John 15:1 here. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.” A good example!)

Well, in Ezekiel’s shortest chapter (Ezekiel 15, with only 8 total verses) the “vine” metaphor is again used. With the little nation of Judah being the “focus.”

(By the way, sometimes the “vine” picture is positive. At other times negative. In Isaiah 5:2 Israel is called God’s “choicest vine!” But in Hosea 10:1 she is an “empty vine!” Wow!)

So … how does Ezekiel (really, the Lord) here characterize Judah?

Let’s see.

We begin with an analogy, a comparison, between grape vines and tree limbs!

“And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, What is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest?” Ezekiel 15:1-2, the beginning of the brief Sermon!

With notes: “And the word of the LORD came unto me (this clause is found 49 times in Ezekiel, I just counted), saying, Son of man (93 times I count God calls Ezekiel by this name), What is the vine tree (the branches of the grape vine) more than any tree (bigger, more substantial trees), or than a branch (limb) which is among the trees of the forest?”

See the comparison? Frail vines to heavy limbs!

Next, God immediately answers His Own question: “Shall wood be taken thereof (of the grape vine) to do any work? or will men take a pin (peg) of it to hang any vessel (pot, pan as in the kitchen) thereon? Behold, it is cast (hurled) into the fire for fuel (for warmth); the fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned. Is it meet (suitable) for any work?” Ezekiel 15:3-4, with an implied response, “No!”

Oh, did you notice this vine is never associated with any “fruit?”

No sweet “grapes!”

This (Judah) is now an unprofitable vine, fruitless vegetation. Fit for nothing but fuel in the fire! (Back to John 15, and Jesus. “If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” Verse 6)

Wow!

Ezekiel, really God, continues: “Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less shall it be meet yet for any work, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned?” When just ashes, verse 5.

Then, the application, divinely spoken: “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; AS the vine tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, SO will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem.” Verse 6 … as the doomed grape vine … so the people in Jerusalem!

(And Ezekiel is not even in Jerusalem. As you know he is being held captive in Babylon, hundreds of miles away. But he is still telling his little congregation about the coming awful judgment on their compatriots in their nation’s precious Capital City! What a burden he had for the children of Abraham.)

In reality, we know that letters were exchanged regularly between the Jews already in Babylon and the hold-outs back in Jerusalem. In fact, we have one such letter Jeremiah wrote (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) to the colony of Jews in Babylon! See Jeremiah 29:1.

Then God continues, verse 7: “And I will set my face against them; they shall go out from one fire (the 606 BC deportation), and another fire (the 597 BC deportation) shall devour them.” But ultimately there were three such disastrous deportations, the last (in 586 BC) being by far the most fierce, most destructive.

I find the chapter’s final verse amazing. What God had to do to the Jews to place them in a position of “knowing” His Glory: And ye SHALL KNOW that I am the LORD, WHEN I set my face against them. And I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass, saith the Lord GOD.” Verse 8, the chapter’s conclusion. If God’s “goodness” will not bring the Jews to repentance … maybe God’s “severity” will do so!

“Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the GOODNESS of God leadeth thee to repentance?” Romans 2:4, Paul to the Jews!

But by Romans 11:22 … “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell (the Jews), severity; but toward thee (Gentiles), goodness!”

Then immediately a warning to us Gentiles: “IF thou CONTINUE in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.” Romans 11:22, the last clause.

God’s judgment, another whole chapter in Ezekiel about that amazing phenomenon! I close today with Psalm 36:6 … “Thy righteousness (God) is like the great mountains; THY JUDGMENTS ARE A GREAT DEEP.”

Deep indeed!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

That’s a strange title for a lesson, “Hypocrites at Church.” But in reality that’s what Ezekiel chapter 14 depicts, in its first paragraph anyway.

Read with me the first five verses. “Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me. And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, these men have SET UP IDOLS IN THEIR HEART, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them? Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that SETTETH UP IDOLS IN HIS HEART, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and COMETH TO THE PROPHET; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols …” And answer, God sure did!

Note first of all that Israel still had a King! One named “Jehoiachin” who was then in prison in Babylon. And yet again one back in Jerusalem, “Zedekiah!” But God recognized neither of these sinful “failures.” They are basically “out of the picture.” Wicked leadership does NOT favorably impress God!

Instead of “Kings” (Royalty) the “elders” of Israel seem to be her leaders.  (Bureaucrats!) “Zaqen” in Hebrew means “old men, aged ones,” and once “senators.”

And of all things, they (these elders) came to see the Prophet!

Why not consult one of their many new-found gods or goddesses?

Apparently, they wanted the semblance of “going to the Lord,” going to “His Man,” going to “Assembly!” (To Church, we’d say today.)

But look … “Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me. And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, these men have set up their IDOLS in their heart ….”  God certainly knew what was lodged deep within their hearts and minds and spirits!

The clause “put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face” means the idols they love will make them “stumble, fall” any day now!

And these men are “seeking” God? God wondered too! “Should I be enquired of at all by them?”

God is not obligated to hear the prayers of an unrepentant, rebellious wicked man or woman!

Yet, surprisingly, God does (in a way) answer them!

But not with good news! Not with acceptance … until they repent!

Also notice in verse four that God says they have a “multitude” of idols! “Rob” in Hebrew means “many, abundant, plenty.” Lots of them!

Most Preachers in America likely speak each Sunday to some who “ritually” go to Church, “habitually” … but have wicked imaginations in their hearts! I wonder if we make God sick, too?

God to this crowd: ““Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.” Verse 6, where “repent” has the idea of doing a 180 degree reversal!

And if not … “I the LORD will answer him by myself: and I will set my face AGAINST that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will CUT HIM OFF from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.” Wow, verses 7 and 8.

God hates hypocrisy!

But there is another truth I see!

Astounding, too.

“And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.” Verse 9, where clearly a “false prophet” is in view. Some of them had erred so very far from the truth, that God had “turned them over” to accepting lies, to believing the lies they preached! (God doing this to hard-hearted, apostate sinners is seen 3 times in Romans 1, the last half of the chapter!) And remember 2 Thessalonians 2:11, which will (at least) occur during the Tribulation: “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.” Wow!

One translation of “deceive” (“pathah” in Hebrew) is “to make silly!” The root idea behind the verb is “to be spacious, open, wide!” Too liberally minded, willing to accept too many “options” regarding God’s Word? Too “loose” with the Bible?

Frightening!

Look here too! The prophet who misleads a people … will face the very same judgment as the people who have followed his lies!  “The punishment of the prophet shall be EVEN AS the punishment of him that seeketh unto him.” Verse 10, identical!

Lastly today … the Lord uses the name of three of his most faithful prayer warriors! Specifically … “Noah and Daniel and Job!”

In essence God says that things are so bad in Israel (Judah) now … that even these 3 men’s prayers could not spare the people! “Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it (Jerusalem), they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.” Verse 14, amazing!

Then God ends the sad chapter by adding a word of grace! Verse 22, God to Ezekiel: “Yet, behold, therein shall be left a REMNANT that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it.”

Thank God for the “few” who stay faithful!

What a chapter!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Ezekiel chapter 13 consists of 23 verses of “warning!”

Particularly directed at the “clergy!”

Preachers (or so-called preachers) who have drifted far from God.

The chapter divides itself into two halves, against (preaching) men who lie about God. And against (preaching) women who lie about God!

These two sections are demarcated by the word “woe!”

“Thus saith the Lord God; WOE unto the foolish PROPHETS, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!” Ezekiel 13:3, with the exclamation point being in the King James Text!

Then: “Thus saith the Lord God; WOE to the WOMEN that sew pillows to all armholes, and make kerchiefs (veils) upon the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and will ye save the souls alive that come unto you?” Ezekiel 13:18, “tools” of astrology, spiritism!

Every study Bible I have consulted labels this chapter as “Warnings against False Prophets.”

The word “woe” (“hoy” in Hebrew) means “Alas, Ah!” Words expressing surprise, shock … at coming judgment! (Jesus Himself used this term many times.)

I find verse 8 typical, especially depicting God’s Attitude toward this crowd. “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord GOD.”

Particularly note those words, “I AM AGAINST THEE.”

Contrast with this Paul’s great statement: “If GOD BE FOR US, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31

Wow!

Why is God this angry? “Because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace.” Verse 10, where “seduced” means “to cause to go astray.”

One of the main messages of these lying prophets was that Jeremiah was wrong, and Ezekiel. God was NOT going to allow Babylon (or any other Nation) to attack Israel. Only PEACE was in her future!” So they said. (No wonder they are held in ridicule now! Babylon did attack, within six years of their “ministries.”)

Then the girls, women: “Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the DAUGHTERS of thy people, which PROPHESY out of their own heart; and prophesy thou against them.” Verse 16, ever notice how many times in the Bible women preachers lead God’s people astray? Often!

Preaching “out of their own hearts!”

Not preaching “the Word of the Lord!”

The “pillows” and “kerchiefs” both deal with “spells” and “incantations” and “ritual worship.” Bluntly, worshipping the devil! “Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls of men.”

They are a very long way from worshipping Almighty God “in spirit and in truth!”

God here says He is going to STOP this crowd!

“Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, BY PROMISING HIM LIFE (NO ATTACK FROM ANY ENEMY): therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand.” Verses 22-23, they have produced exactly the “opposite” effect God’s true Servants desire!

God wants the righteous to be “joyful!”

And God desires the “hands of the wicked” to weaken and fail!

Plus … the verb “deliver” (“snatch, rescue”) means God is going to intervene and expose these liars for what they actually are. These last two verses imply God can “cut off” even their false visions!

Yes, God is indeed Lord over all!

Even the demons!

What a chapter.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Anytime I study a Book of the Bible, or write a new Series of Studies on the Website … I look for “outstanding” portions of Scripture, “remarkable.” Maybe a better word is “unique.”

Well, to me, Ezekiel chapter 12 fits that category.

So much happens in those 28 verses!

If I ever preach a week of Revival Sermons from the Book of Ezekiel, chapter 12 will be one of the target “texts!”

We are back to the Prophet’s “action sermons.”

“Acted-out Presentations of God’s Truth.” (All being the Lord’s idea, I might add!)

First … Ezekiel was told to pack a small amount of bare necessities and tie them in a bundle! (Like captives are told to do by an invading, fierce army!) Ezekiel did that and (with crowds watching) marched out of the city, as if under arrest by an invading horde! Well, I said “marched,” but really God told him “to dig” his way out! Right through the city wall!

Illustrating the effects of the coming Babylonian advance (attack) on Jerusalem, an event that happened in finality no more than six years later! Nearly everyone brutally taken … and force marched hundreds of miles to Babylon! With a pitiful knapsack on their backs or heads. (Containing all their earthly possessions!)

Wow!

This act was also partly directed against the (illegitimate) King Zedekiah, wicked ruler of Judah, who tried to escape the city exactly as Ezekiel foretold by his actions! (Ezekiel even refuses to acknowledge Zedekiah as “King,” merely calling him “prince!” See verse 12.)

This could be labeled “Ezekiel’s knapsack Sermon.”

Then …

God later in chapter 12 tells Ezekiel “how” to eat! “Eat thy bread with quaking, and drink thy water with trembling and with carefulness (worry).” Verse 17, further predicting the looming disaster about to fall on Jerusalem! Famine, dearth, a siege that lasted months and months! They even (history tells us now) ate the flesh of other citizens, neighbors, who had died in the conflict! Their water source was eliminated, too!

Next …

God has Ezekiel “tackle” a (false) proverb that had made its way into Jewish life. “Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying … THE DAYS ARE PROLONGED, AND EVERY VISION FAILETH?” Verse 22, “much time has passed, many years are gone … and no sermon (vision) yet has been fulfilled!”

In other words, “God is NOT going to do what He says!”

“Thus saith the Lord GOD; I WILL MAKE THIS PROVERB TO CEASE, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, THE DAYS ARE AT HAND, and THE EFFECT (IMPACT) OF EVERY VISION (SERMON).” Verse 23, God just informed them: “The waiting is over! The time (for judgment) is now!” And sure enough, within a few months nearly all Judah was in Babylon!

Here’s a Preacher attacking a “false truth” floating in a land! (Reminds me of Paul’s great words “Casting down strong holds, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God.” Amazing!)

Again, God in verse 28: “There shall none of my words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken SHALL (IMMEDIATELY) BE DONE, saith the Lord GOD.”

The judging Hand of God!

The world will see it again, folks. Mark my words.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

*

I have not today “detailed” every movement in the chapter. Too much there! But I have given you the “essence” of its material. I would suggest (if time allows) that you read all 28 verses thoroughly … to get the “feel” of the entire context.

 

Granted, “in the Spirit,” but Ezekiel (since chapter 8, verse 3) has been “preaching” in Jerusalem, observing the depths of sin into which its citizens had fallen! “And he (the Lord) put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate (of the Temple) that looketh toward the north.” Proof, Ezekiel 8:3.

Now, at least at the end of chapter 11, Ezekiel is “transported” back “home,” back to Babylon where he is being held in captivity. “Afterwards the spirit took me up, and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea (Babylon), to them of the captivity. So the vision that I had seen went up (left) from me.” Verse 24, what a ministry Ezekiel was given!

But what he experienced in chapter 11 is unforgettable! It’s today’s Bible Study Lesson as well.

In the first paragraph Ezekiel is shown 25 of the city’s “leaders,” all given to contradicting God’s Word! God to Ezekiel: “Son of man, these are the men that devise mischief, and give wicked counsel in this city: which say, It (the destruction God foretells) is not near; let us build houses.” Verses 2-3, bold talk, “Nothing bad is going to happen!”

Ezekiel even names two of these city elders: “Jaazaniah the son of Azur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah.” Jeremiah would have known them too. He is also preaching in and around Jerusalem at this very time!

Thus Ezekiel prophesies (preaches) against their lies, these “princes” of Jerusalem! “Ye (these 25 men) shall fall by the sword; I will judge you in the border of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.” Verse 10, it’s clear Who is talking, our Lord.

And even as Ezekiel preached that day: “And it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died.” Dropped dead, instantly! (Something similar happened to Paul once.)

God has spoken!

Then get this, pride at its extreme! These vile “inhabitants of Jerusalem” also planned to take over the land (the homesteads) of the Jews (Ezekiel’s crowd, compatriots) already “deported” to Babylon! They said of them “Get you far from the LORD.” In other words: You all are not living right, in deep sin, that being the reason God has “ripped” you from the Land! Verse 15 I have partially quoted here.

So … God “defends” that already captive “minority,” that small “remnant.” Here’s a great Message of Grace: “Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Although I have cast them (that little group of Jews) far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come. Therefore (Ezekiel) say (to them in Babylon), Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel. And they (the returning “remnant”) shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence. And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: that they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.” Verses 16-20, what hope, what promises, sure as granite, solid as rock! Yet to be fulfilled, mostly, I might quickly add.

Sounds “Millennial,” to me.

But for those stiff-necked backsliders in Jerusalem … God continues: “But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord GOD.” Verse 21, certain judgment.

Then, as we saw yesterday: “Did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above. And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city.” Departing even further from town! God is withdrawing His presence, His protection, due to their mountains of sin!

One Preacher said: “God is gone!”

Another: “God turned them over to their iniquity!”

Then the chapter ends: “Afterwards the spirit took me up, and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God (back) into Chaldea (Babylon), to them of the captivity.” Verse 24, as I said earlier.

Did Ezekiel immediately “tell” the captives there by the riverside God’s “news” to them? “Then I spake unto them of the captivity ALL the things that the LORD had shewed me.” Good News, verse 25!

Ezekiel, ever the faithful preacher!

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Do ya’ll think these lessons are becoming too long?