Signs of Judgment Part II

Signs of Judgment Part II

Over the last several weeks we have faithfully studied the prophet Ezekiel, a prophet whose chapters are dark and disturbing.

While there are plenty of hopeful and joyous chapters and passages in the Bible, it is important that we balance them out with those passages that make us flinch and squirm in discomfort.
There are times in our own lives and in the life of our nation that we should be discomforted about the sinfulness of our society.

Last week we began a series of chapters in which there are signs of judgment.
God had given Ezekiel the singular and difficult task of playing out a charade of coming doom and destruction for the nation of Israel.
In this prophetic play Ezekiel pointed out specific sinful conditions and then he laid out specific coming judgments.
In Chapter 4 it began with:

I. A Model of Judgment (Verse 1,2)
> In which the people of God's affection are the objects of God's wrath.
> In which the fall of the judged is inevitable.
II. A Wall of Separation (Verse 3)
> Which effectively separates the people from the presence of God.
> Which effectively separates the people from the protection of God.
III. A Bed of Iniquity (Verse 4-8)
> Which God has mercifully endured for an extended period of time.
> Which in later years had spread and incurred the imminent judgment of God.
IV. A Feast of Corruption (Verse 9-17)
> Which can never satisfy the hunger of a man.
> Which is disgusting and filthy instead of pure and holy.

The horrific pictures that Ezekiel has painted in the preceding chapter are not without a singular purpose.
God wants this nation, whose purpose was to show forth His glory to see the degradation and shame into which they have fallen.
They have abandoned the greatest purpose of all to embrace the basest of all.
Now we can move on to Chapter 5, where God speaks of Measured Judgment.
READ TEXT 5:1-9
PRAY

V. A Measured Judgment (Chapter 5)

> Which is to shame and humiliate the judged. (1)
God would shear away all of which Israel boasted to prove it was nothing without Him.

> Which is well-thought-out and balanced to fit the sin. (2)
1/3 part would be destroyed in the conquering of the city.
1/3 part would be destroyed in the wars to follow.
1/3 part would be scattered to the four corners of the earth where they would be persecuted by the nations around the world.

> Which spares a scant few from judgment. (3,4)
A very small remnant would be preserved, and even they would suffer in this judgment.

> Which will show God's holiness to the surrounding nations. (5-9)
Israel's place was to be an example of God's blessing to the nations.
Israel would, by obedience or by judgment, show God's holiness to the nations.

> Which is exactly what God has promised in His covenant. (10-17)
The text of these horrific judgments is familiar because it is word for word what God had promised would happen in Leviticus 26 if Israel fell away from him.
Our God is not unjust, nor does He fly into uncontrolled reactions that do not match the sin He is judging.
Every move is exactly what He has promised should a nation for which He has affection fall away from Him.

VI. A Proclamation of Lordship Chapter 6 & 7

> In which the high places are torn down to prove that God is Lord alone. Verses 1-7

> In which God fulfills His promises of judgment to prove that He is a Lord Who keeps his word. Verses 8-10

> In which the delivery of the message is passionate and animated to prove that He is the Lord Who cares deeply about justice. Verse 11-13a

> In which the landscape becomes desolate to prove that He is the Lord they need. Verse 13b-14

> In which the sin itself brings its own judgment to prove that He is The Lord. Verse 1-4

> In which final judgment is come to prove that He is the Lord that smiteth. Verses 5-9

> In which complete national disaster shall be fulfilled to prove that God is the LORD. Verses 10-27
Pride has grown into utter rebellion and senseless violence. verse 10,11
Military strength fails completely. Verse 14
Shame and reproach is widespread. Verse 18
Financial ruin makes money worthless. Verse 19
Foreigners and heathen tramp through the streets as conquerors. Verse 24
The Word of God is scarce. Verse 26
Leadership will be helpless. Verse 27

The preceding chapters should bring us to our knees in repentance before all this befalls our own nation, for indeed she was a land of great glory for God and has become a land of wickedness and compromise.

Let us pray for our country and repent of our sins that God might bless us again.