THE opening verse with its reference to a new date marks the beginning of a fresh series of communications (chapters 20-23) from God to His servant Ezekiel.
Some of the elders are a third time visiting the prophet (verse 1), to inquire of Jehovah through him. The revelation given in chapters 8-11 should have shut off any further inquiry as to the early restoration of the nation to God’s favor, nevertheless “certain of the elders” were before Ezekiel again in chapter 14, learning that their hearts and minds, where idolatry was enthroned, were fully known to God. He would indeed answer their inquiry, but by cutting off the inquirers in judgment. Judgment was impending, but a remnant would be preserved through it.
Chapter 20, in verses 5-29, takes up the history of Israel and reveals that idolatry had always characterized them from the years of their sojourn in Egypt. How marvelous is the forbearance of God, that He would go on with a people so perverse in heart! The answer to be given the elders, still hopeful that the captivity of the nation would soon end in restoration to the former state of Israel in the land of their fathers, is “As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, I will not be inquired of by you”, with direction to Ezekiel to cause the elders to know the abominations of their fathers. “Abominations” in the Old Testament, in general, relates to idol worship and what was associated with it.
The house of Israel was alike in Egypt, in the wilderness journey of forty years, and in the land, the ornament of all lands, flowing with milk and honey, They rebelled against their God , walked not in His statutes, despising, His ordinances and greatly profaned. His sabbaths, for their heart went after their idols. The prophet Amos bore testimony to the idolatry from Egypt onward (chapter 5:25, 26), and the martyr Stephen repeated his word in Acts 7:42, 43.
The righteous anger of God should have been poured out upon the guilty in the midst of Egypt (verse 8), in the wilderness after the law was given (verse 13), and again when the generation that left Egypt were dead, and their children were grown (verse 21); but instead of wielding the sword of judgment, He had wrought for His name’s sake, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt, that it should not be polluted before the heathen.
Verses 23 and 24 find their reflection in Leviticus 26:33, and Deuteronomy 4:16-28. Verses 25 and 26 relate to the oppressors of Israel in the land, both in the times from Joshua to Samuel (see Judges 2:11-15), and after the division of the kingdom when idolatry was openly sanctioned by Solomon’s son. (See 1 Kings 14:22-26; 2 Chronicles 12:1-9; 2 Kings 17:6-23, and the later history of Judah.)
Verses 33-38 pass on to the day now near at hand when God will bring back Israel to their land; the promised dealing is with the lost ten tribes who were not guilty of the rejection of the Lord. The two tribes we know as the Jews will pass through the fearful tribulation of which Matthew 24:15-30, and many other passages tell, and will suffer under the Antichrist; but the ten tribes, whose whereabouts are unknown today, will be led into a wilderness and there be purged of the rebels, the transgressors, only a remnant being permitted to enter the land of Israel. This is evidently to be accomplished after the Lord’s appearing on earth to deliver the believing Jews from their enemies, to execute judgment upon all who reject Him., and to establish His kingdom here.
Thus (verse 40) shall all Israel, every tribe, be gathered again in the land of their forefathers, serving God as never before.
Verses 45-49 we shall look at with chapter 21.
ML-10/20/1935