Explore the Bible Lesson Preview July 6, 2014 Hope of New Freedom Background: Ezekiel 33:1 35:15 Lesson: Ezekiel 34:2b-6, 11-16, 22-24

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1 Explore the Bible Lesson Preview July 6, 2014 Hope of New Freedom Background: Ezekiel 33:1 35:15 Lesson: Ezekiel 34:2b-6, 11-16, Motivation: Redeemed how I love to proclaim it! So begins the words of a favorite hymn. We often think of redemption as a purely New Testament concept; in our study of Ezekiel, we ll discover some Old Testament antecedents. Examination: I. God Warns About Wickedness (33:1-20) A. Assignment of a Watchman s Role (1-9) 1. Principle of Announcement Son of Man, speak to your people (1) God s precepts must be announced through preaching, teaching, and individual sharing. God expects His people to be available to do the announcing. Paul asks how shall they hear without a preacher? (Rom. 10:14b) Living a good life is not enough; God s good news must be announced (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; 2 Tim. 2:2). (cf 7-11; 2 Pet. 3:11-18; Titus 2:11-14). 2. Principle of Awareness his blood will be on his own head (4b) Once God s watchman has announced the impending judgment and has made people aware of God s announcement, then each person is accountable to God for his/her response. (cf. v. 9) 3. Principle of Accountability I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood 1 / 11

2 (6b) God s people not only have the privilege of announcing God s message, but also the responsibility to do so. If the message is not delivered and tragedy results, God holds the watchman accountable; (cf. v. 8) B. Review of Individual Responsibility (10-20) 1. Fallen trusts in his `righteousness and commits iniquity (13). Clearly stated here in the Old Testament is the insufficiency of one s righteousness. Isaiah said, All our righteous acts are like filthy rags (Isa. 64:6). Anyone who trusts in his own good works for eternal life will always fall short (Rom. 3:23). I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked (11) (Eph. 2:8; 2 Cor. 5:21; Matt. 5:20; Ps. 118:8). 2. Fixed he repents of his sin (14). The only way to fix our relationship with God is to admit our sin, repent, and follow His way through Jesus Christ. none of his righteous works will be remembered (13 3. Fair The Lord s way isn t fair (17). The children of Israel insisted that fair was weighing a person s good works against his/her bad works. While man looks on the outward appearance, God looks at the heart (1 Sam 16:7). God wants to see repentance, a change of heart. (Jer. 17:9-10) II. Some Misread God s Warnings (33:21-33) On January 8, 585 B.C. (21), a survivor of the siege of Jerusalem testified to the captives that indeed the city had fallen. This message vindicated all that Ezekiel had been prophesying: Ezekiel s mute condition ended (3:26), he evidently began to attract a larger following. Unfortunately, the people still did not repent and obey. (32) A. Reasons for God s judgment on Judah 2 / 11

3 1. Arrogance the land has been given to us as a possession. (24b) v. 25 records blatant sins against God s commandments, you eat meat with blood (Lev. 3:17, 7:26, 17:10-11, 19:26), you raise your eyes to your idols (Ex. 20:4-5, 23; 34:17) and shed blood (Ex. 20:13). Should you then possess the land? (25) God s people assumed that His blessing was an entitlement, regardless of their behavior. In v. 28 God says its proud strength will come to an end. 2. Abdication You have relied on your swords, you have committed detestable acts, and each of you has defiled his neighbor s wife. Should you then receive possession of the land? (26) The land was possessed based on a covenant of behavior (Deut. 4:1-40, esp. v. 23). However, God s people abdicated their position of privilege by disobeying God s instructions. 3. Awareness They will know that I am Yahweh, when I make the land a desolate waste because of all the detestable acts they have committed (29). The horrific judgment imposed on God s people (27-28) was as a direct result of their ignoring His ownership. They were aware of God in a theoretical way, but that awareness made no difference in their behavior. Although the judgment seems harsh, it was served on a people who had been chosen by God for special instruction, accountability and relationship. (James 3:1; Luke 12:48). In addition to their sins of commission (idolatry, murder, adultery), the people were accountable for sins of omission, principally ignoring God. James writes, Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. (4:17) (Rom. 14:23). B. Reasons for Ezekiel s Increased Popularity (30-33). In spite of Ezekiel s harsh message, people flocked to hear him, each saying to his brother, Come and hear what the message is that comes from the Lord! (30). The text provides several reasons why crowds increased; interestingly, these same insights apply to people on virtually every church campus today. 3 / 11

4 1. Some came to feel better about themselves. People began talking among themselves about this prophet Ezekiel. Come and hear (30) was the invitation; they went to church, listened politely and went away unchanged. Luke 9:23 2. Some came to profess their goodness, they express love with their mouths (31) Hypocrites are not weak Christians; hypocrites are lost people pretending to be Christians. Their hearts pursue dishonest profit (31). 3. Some came to be entertained Yes, to them you are like a singer of love songs who has a beautiful voice (32). For many, hearing the preacher was like going to a concert, a mild diversion that had nothing to do with real life. (2 Tim. 4:1-4; James 1:22-25) 4. All came eventually under God s judgment then they will know that a prophet has been among them (33). The chapter closes on its initial theme, accountability to the message of God and the place of a watchman. III. God Acts to Rescue His People (34:1-31) A. The Shepherds 1. Who They Were Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who have been feeding themselves! Shouldn t the shepherds feed their flock? (2) HCSB, p : 34:2 Th e shepherds of Israel is a figurative expression referring to political leaders, perhaps primarily the kings. Kings and other leaders were commonly called Shepherds (2 Sm 7:7; Ps 78:70-72; Is 44:28; 63:11; Jr 10:21; 23:1-6; 25:34-38; Mc 5:4-5; Zch 11:4-17). Sheep are the most frequently mentioned animals in the Bible, and those who take care of them, the shepherds appear in approximately 100 biblical passages. Many of the most prominent individuals in the OT were shepherds, including Abraham (Gn 12:16), Isaac (Gn 26:14), Moses (Ex 3:1), David (2 Sm 7:8), and Amos 4 / 11

5 (Am 1:1). Because sheep are helpless if left to themselves, a person must have qualities such as care and compassion in order to be a good shepherd. Thus both civil and religious leaders are often spoken of as shepherds of the people, the flock. Just as the leaders of Israel were denounced for exploiting the sheep in Ezk 34:2, 8, 10, Peter warned elders against leading the church with self-serving motives (1 Pt 5:2-3). On the positive side, the shepherd metaphor is used in the NT to describe how church pastors and leaders should fulfill their responsibilities (Jn 21:15-17; Ac 20:28-29; 1 Pt 5:1-5). 2. What They Neglected a. Provision Shouldn t the shepherds feed their flock? (2b) A preacher or teacher of the Word of God has a responsibility to feed their flock. Spiritual food is not to be confused with entertainment or simple knowledge; rather, spiritual feeding results in strength and motivation for ministry and evangelism (Eph. 2:10; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; I Pet. 5:2-4). b. Service you eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fattened animals, but you do not tend the flock (3) These shepherds were self-serving. c. Ministry you have not strengthened the weak (4a) These leaders did nothing to improve those around them. d. Healing healed the sick (4) Jesus mentioned ministry to the sick and hurting as a priority (Matt. 25:35-40, In as much as you have done it to the least of these ). e. Restoration brought back the strays (4) Jesus described His mission statement in Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. f. Leadership Instead you have ruled them with violence and cruelty (4) The Christian model of leadership is based on service and love. These bad shepherds used fear and intimidation. 5 / 11

6 g. Unity They were scattered for lack of a shepherd (5) Jesus taught that a hallmark of His church was to be unity (John 17:23; Eph. 4:4-6). h. Protection they became food for all the wild animals when they were scattered (5) Satan is pictured as a predatory lion seeking whom he may devour (I Peter 5:8). Ezekiel earlier used this same imagery to describe Israel s leaders (22:25). i. Direction My flock went astray on all the mountains and every high hill; They were scattered over the whole face of the earth (6) Proverbs records where there is no vision, the people perish (Prov. 29:1,8a, KJV). A fundamental responsibility of leaders is to lead! j. Outreach There was no one searching or seeking for them. (6) When a member of the flock wanders off, the shepherds bear responsibility to search and seek. We cannot lapse into the Little Bo Peep philosophy: leave them alone and they ll come home Phoning absentees, visiting the lost, and keeping track of members are not just good ideas for Life Bible Study teachers; they are Biblical expectations of all church leaders. (Luke 15:3-7) 3. Why They Would be Judged As I live the declaration of the Lord God because My flock has become prey and food for every wild animal since they lack a shepherd, for My shepherds do not search for My flock, and because the shepherds feed themselves rather than My flock, therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Lord God says: Look, I am against the shepherds. I will demand My flock from them and prevent them from shepherding the flock. The shepherds will no longer feed themselves, for I will rescue My flock from their mouths so that they will not be food for them. (34:8-10) The faithless shepherd merits the same judgment as the neglectful watchman. (33:6, 8) B. The True Shepherd (11-24) 1. God as the Good Shepherd For this is what the Lord God says: See, I Myself will search for My flock and look for them. As a shepherd looks for his sheep on the day he 6 / 11

7 is among his scattered flock, so I will look for My flock. I will rescue them from all the places where they have been scattered on a cloudy and dark day. I will bring them out from the peoples, gather them from the countries, and bring them into their own land. I will shepherd them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the land. I will ten them with good pasture, and their grazing place will be on Israel s lofty mountains. There they will lie down in a good grazing place; they will feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I will tend My flock and let them lie down. This is the declaration of the Lord God. I will seek the lost, bring back the strays, bandage the injured, and strengthen the weak, but I will destroy the fat and the strong. I will shepherd them with justice. (34:11-16) HCSB, p. 1405: 34:13 This promise of restoration ( I will bring them into their own land ) is mentioned in 11:17 and repeated in 20:34, 41-42: 28:25. The restoration of the nation is especially emphasized in Ezekiel (see also 36:24; 37:21; 38:8; 39:27). These three phrases represent and reflect the exodus from Egypt. Hence, God s rescuing of Israel from Babylon and restoring her to Canaan follows the model of the formative saving event in the OT the exodus from Egypt. 2. Good Sheep and Bad Sheep The Lord God says to you, My flock: I am going to judge between one sheep and another, between the rams and male goats. (34:17) Some view this as a foreshadowing of the sheep and goat judgment of Matt. 25: The One Shepherd of David I will save My flock, and they will no long be prey for you. I will judge between one sheep and other. I will appoint them over them a single shepherd, My servant David, and he will shepherd them. He will tend them himself and will be their shepherd. I, Yahweh, will be their God, and My servant David will be a prince among them. I, Yahweh, have spoken. (34:22-24) HCSB, p. 1406: 34:23 In addition to God becoming the shepherd for Israel, He also promised to appoint a ruler, the Messiah, from the line of David (see 2 Sm 7:12-14a; Ps 89:4, 20, 29). Jeremiah equated the Messiah with the true Shepherd from the line of David, calling him a righteous branch, and The Lord is Our Righteousness. During His reign, Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely (Jr 23:5-6). This identity is also indicated elsewhere in the prophetic literature (Is 55:3-4; Jr 30:9; Ezk 37:24-25; Hs 3:5). David is referred to by name elsewhere in passages that look to the future restoration of Israel (Is 11:1-10; Jr 30:9; Ezk 37:24-25; Hs 3:5). Thus the Lord would be Israel s God; His servant David, the Messiah, would be Israel s ruler on earth after He restored Israel to her land. My servant David was a standing title of King David (1 Kg 11:34, 36, 38; 2 Kg 8:19; Ps 36:1; 78:70; see Is 55:3-4). David was important not just historically but theologically as well. This is evident from the covenant that God established with him (2 Sm 7). This covenant was ultimately fulfilled in the person of Jesus, the Messiah. He is the Good Shepherd (Jn 10:11-18), who descended from the line of David to be King of Israel (Mt 1:1) 7 / 11

8 C. Security for God s People (34:25-31) The themes of this peace Covenant are also listed in Isaiah 11:1-10 and more fully developed in the following chapters. Note four provisions: A. Peace and Safety I will make a covenant of peace with them that they may live securely in the wilderness and sleep in the forest (25) One result of God s judgment was that His scattered people became prey for wild beasts (5:17; 14:15; 29:5; 32:4). In this new age, God s people would be able to sl eep in the forest. B. Showers of Blessings I will make them and the area around My hill a blessing; I will send down showers in their season, showers of blessing. ( 26) We still call for these showers of blessing today! C. Abundance Then the trees of the field will give their fruit, and the land will yield its produce; My flock will be secure in their land (34:27) Another part of God s judgment was famine resulting in starvation (5:12, 16-17; 6:11-12; 7:15; 12:16; 14:13, 21). D. Return to Their Land They will live securely (29) At the time of Ezekiel s prophecy, God s people were either in captivity or scattered. He depicts a day when they would return to their land. This prophecy began to be fulfilled under Ezra; we are seeing further fulfillment today in the land of Israel. Ultimate fulfillment will only come with Christ s return. (Amos 9:12-15) E. Devotion to God You are My flock, the human flock of My pasture; and I am your God (31). Of all these prophecies, this is the one yet to be fulfilled for the Jewish people. (Rev. 21:3) IV. God Acts to Protect His People (35:1-15) 8 / 11

9 Because you maintained an ancient hatred and handed over the Israelites to the power of the sword in the time of their disaster, the time of final punishment, therefore, as I live this is the declaration of the Lord God I will destine you for bloodshed, and it will pursue you. Since you did not hate bloodshed, it will pursue you. I will make Mount Seir a desolate waste and will cut off from it those who come and go. I will fill its mountains with the slain; those slain by the sword will fall on your hills, in your valleys, and in all your ravines. I will make you a perpetual desolation; your cities will not be inhabited. Then you will know that I am Yahweh. (35:5-9) Mount Seir was the area south of the Dead Sea, home to the Edomites. Their most famous city, Petra is today an uninhabited tourist attraction. Edom is representative of God s judgment on Israel s enemies. HCSB, p. 1407: 35:4 This curse (I will turn your cities into ruins) echoes the covenant curse against Israel for its continual disobedience (Lv 26:31). Jacob s deception of Isaac for Esau s blessing (Gn 27). The phrase ancient hatred occurs elsewhere in the Bible only in 25:15 in reference to the actions of the Philistines. The theological significance of the word hatred (Hb ebah ) is clear from its use in Gn 3:15 in reference to the perpetual hostility that exists between the serpent and Eve s descendants. Hatred here refers to the hostility between Jacob and Esau, as their personal rivalry (Gn 27:41) spilled over into a national conflict (Nm 20:14-21; 2 Sm 8:13-14). When Nebuchadnezzar leveled Jerusalem, the Edomites stood by clapping their hands with joy at this disaster (Ps 137; Lm 4:21; Jl 3:19; Ob 1-14; Mal 1:2-5). Application: 1. God has assigned us as watchmen; with that assignment comes responsibility. 2. God holds each individual responsible for sin. 9 / 11

10 3. God provides redemption through faith in Jesus Christ s finished work of substitutionary atonement. (Rom 4:24-25). Leader Pack Item 1: Unit 2 Poster Illustrator: p. 95 David: a Model Ruler? **You may access David s Lesson Preview in MP3 format at: Dates: 6/4-7/30 SPF Summer Nights on Wednesdays; 6/5 8/7 MetroLIVE Thursdays; 7/4 Independence Day Holiday, Offices closed; 7/6-10 Houston 1:8; 7/12-18 Rushmore; 7/13 Lord s Supper/Deacon Mtg./Church Conf.; 7/14 Pastor begins Sabbatical, returns 8/11; 7/19-26 Rushweek; 7/20 David Self preaching; 7/22 8/2 Choir Mission Trip to Africa; 7/25-26 FP4Health Summit; 7/27 John Sorenson preaching; 7/30 RUSH Summer Celebration; 8/3 Justin Holcombe preaching; 8/10 Afshin Ziafat preaching; 8/15 - Daycation ends; 8/24 10 / 11

11 Next Gen Back to School Sunday; 8/22 ReCreate Date Night; 8/24 - Back to School Sunday; 8/24 Deacon s mtg./ Church conference; 8/27 Midlink Kickoff; 8/29 HFBC Minute Maid Park; 9/1 - Labor Day Offices closed; 9/3 Milestone Classes start; 9/7 Adult 2 Rally; 9/12 Pastor s Anniversary Event; 9/14 LBS Leadership Luncheon; 9/17-19 Ed D6 Conf; 9/21 MIYCO; 9/25 Summit Celebrates; 10/3-4 Women s Retreat. 11 / 11