Threads Of Hope Part II (Who has your heart?)

Ezekiel

Who has your heart? Part II

Deut. 6:4, 5

Two weeks ago, we started to take a look at the book of Ezekiel and even though it mostly relates to Israel and Jerusalem, we asked the question, how would this book be relevant for us today?  What can we learn since “all scripture is God breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness?”  The book was written over a 20-year period while the Israelites were in Babylonian captivity and God will ask Ezekiel to do some strange things to illustrate how the Israelites had departed from Him and of the judgment to come and the destruction of Jerusalem.  We shared how that “sin is a serious matter and bears consequences.”  We learned that God is loving, patient and just, but God will discipline his people in order to bring them back into a loving relationship with Him.

Ezekiel was a Levite and destined to be a priest in the temple of the Lord.  He had been training for his work but at the age of 25, he was taken into captivity into Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar.  A Levite would train for his work until the age of 30, then at that age they would start their priestly duties.  It was five years into the captivity and at the age of thirty that God would begin to give Ezekiel visions and prophetic words for Israel.  

So, this morning, let’s take a look at the first 11 chapters of Ezekiel.  We are simply going to highlight some images that God’s gives to Ezekiel to illustrate the condition of Israel and Jerusalem and what is taking place in the temple.  Before we go there, I want us to take a look at the heart of God’s command for the children of Israel and for us as well.  Deut. 6:4, 5: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”  Matthew 22:36-40: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”  37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

1. Ezekiel 1 – 3 “Vision and Commissioned”

1. Relationship begins with revelation of God: God initiates, and we respond.  Romans 1 makes it clear that even in creation itself is a revelation of God so that all are without excuse.

2. God sends Ezekiel to communicate his message of discipline to Jerusalem and is told to ingest the scroll (word of God).  2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

3. Gives Ezekiel a resolve to share God’s word even if they will not listen.  (3:8)

1. Ezekiel 4 – 7 “Siege of Jerusalem Symbolized”

1. Builds a model of the city of Jerusalem and sets up siegeworks against it.

2. Commanded to lie on his left side for 390 days representing the 390 years of their sin.

3. Commanded to lie on his right side for 40 days representing a day for each year for Judah’s sin.

4. Cook food over a fire of poop (representing how they will no longer eat what they are accustomed under the Law, but they will be eating food that is defiled.

5. The city of Jerusalem will experience famine.

6. Commanded to cut his hair and beard: burn 1/3 of hair inside the city, strike 1/3 with sword, and scatter 1/3 to the wind representing what is going to happen to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.  But notice he is commanded to tuck away a few strands in the fold of his garment representing a remnant will be saved.

7. Prophecy against the mountains – places of altar idolatry outside the city away from temple (God + other gods)

8. Then they will know that I am the Lord!

1. Ezekiel 8 – 11 “Temple and other God’s”

1. Spirit takes Ezekiel to the temple in Jerusalem.

2. See’s all the detestable idols of the house of Israel in the temple.  It is the leaders who are leading the people into idolatry

3. Women are sitting at the north gate of temple mourning for Tammuz - The cult of Tammuz promised rich provision in the form of grain and sheep, but it is only Jesus who gives life and gives it to the full (John 10:10). It is said that Tammuz was a shepherd. But only Christ, the Good Shepherd, willingly laid down His life for His sheep (John 10:11, 18). Whatever modern-day idols we chase in the desire to have plenty, it is only God who can provide what we need (James 1:17).  The Israelites wanted security, comfort and prosperity.  So, they were looking to other gods for that which only God himself could provide.  Luke 12:16 – 21

4. Glory of God departs from the temple, but God promises restoration – 11:17 – 19.

Going back to the verses in Deut. and Matthew, we see what God really wanted from the Israelites and even from you and I, is a heart that is devoted to him out of love.  He never desired a rigid people with a checklist to refer, to see how well one behaved.  What God really desires is our heart!  2 Corinthians 13:5  “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?”  So, I feel like it would be wise for us to ask ourselves some questions. Do we have a heart of stone or a heart of flesh?  Do we have a heart after God?  Are there things in our hearts that have crept in?  Could it be that our heart has become hard and resistant to the things of God?  I believe that God is calling us back to the place of his presence and for us to have a new heart.  What part of your heart is God wanting to call back?  He desires all of us; our passions that drive us!  Today could be the day we come back!  Hebrews 4:7 “God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”

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