Idolaters Condemned Judgment Inescapable Ezekiel...

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Idolaters Condemned

Judgment Inescapable

Ezekiel 14:1-23



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Idolaters Condemned


Text:

Ezekiel 14:1-23,

1. Some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat down in front of

me.

2. Then the word of the Lord came to me:

3. “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put

wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them

inquire of me at all?

4. Therefore speak to them and tell them, ‘This is what the

Sovereign Lord says: When any Israelite sets up idols in his heart

and puts a wicked stumbling block before his face and then goes to a

prophet, I the Lord will answer him myself in keeping with his great

idolatry.

5. I will do this to recapture the hearts of the people of Israel, who

have all deserted me for their idols.’

6. “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign

Lord says: Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your

detestable practices!

7. “‘When any Israelite or any alien living in Israel separates

himself from me and sets up idols in his heart and puts a wicked

stumbling block before his face and then goes to a prophet to

inquire of me, I the Lord will answer him myself.



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8. I will set my face against that man and make him an example and

a byword. I will cut him off from my people. Then you will know

that I am the Lord.

9. “‘And if the prophet is enticed to utter a prophecy, I the Lord

have enticed that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand against

him and destroy him from among my people Israel.

10. They will bear their guilt—the prophet will be as guilty as the

one who consults him.

11. Then the people of Israel will no longer stray from me, nor will

they defile themselves anymore with all their sins. They will be my

people, and I will be their God, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

12. The word of the Lord came to me:

13. “Son of man, if a country sins against me by being unfaithful

and I stretch out my hand against it to cut off its food supply and

send famine upon it and kill its men and their animals,

14. even if these three men—Noah, Daniel and Job—were in it, they

could save only themselves by their righteousness, declares the

Sovereign Lord.

15. “Or if I send wild beasts through that country and they leave it

childless and it becomes desolate so that no one can pass through it

because of the beasts,

16. as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, even if these

three men were in it, they could not save their own sons or

daughters. They alone would be saved, but the land would be

desolate.



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17. “Or if I bring a sword against that country and say, ‘Let the

sword pass throughout the land,’ and I kill its men and their

animals,

18. as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, even if these

three men were in it, they could not save their own sons or

daughters. They alone would be saved.

19. “Or if I send a plague into that land and pour out my wrath

upon it through bloodshed, killing its men and their animals,

20. as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, even if Noah,

Daniel and Job were in it, they could save neither son nor daughter.

They would save only themselves by their righteousness.

21. “For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: How much worse will

it be when I send against Jerusalem my four dreadful judgments—

sword and famine and wild beasts and plague—to kill its men and

their animals!

22. Yet there will be some survivors—sons and daughters who will

be brought out of it. They will come to you, and when you see their

conduct and their actions, you will be consoled regarding the

disaster I have brought upon Jerusalem—every disaster I have

brought upon it.

23. You will be consoled when you see their conduct and their

actions, for you will know that I have done nothing in it without

cause, declares the Sovereign Lord.” (NIV 1984)

Introduction:

I. Fredenburg noted that both Ezekiel 12:21-28 and Ezekiel 14:1-11

relate to consulting prophets with emphasis on difficulties in

differentiating false and true prophets.



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A. Hindrances centered on problems with the speakers and with

the listeners.

B. Ezekiel 12:21-28, The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of

man, what is this proverb you have in the land of Israel: ‘The

days go by and every vision comes to nothing’? Say to them,

‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am going to put an

end to this proverb, and they will no longer quote it in Israel.’

Say to them, ‘The days are near when every vision will be

fulfilled. For there will be no more false visions or flattering

divinations among the people of Israel. But I the Lord will

speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled without delay. For in

your days, you rebellious house, I will fulfill whatever I say,

declares the Sovereign Lord.’” The word of the Lord came to

me: “Son of man, the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision he

sees is for many years from now, and he prophesies about the

distant future.’ “Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the

Sovereign Lord says: None of my words will be delayed any

longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign

Lord.’” (NIV 1984)

II. Coffman quoting Keil divided this chapter into two parts; viz., verses

1-13 which teach God will not allow idolaters to inquire of him, and

verses 14-23 which teach the righteousness of the godly will not avert

the judgment of the wicked.

III. McGee divides this chapter into two major sections: (1) prophecy

against idolatry and idolaters, and (2) the certainty of the destruction of

Jerusalem.

A. Reasons are given as to why God judged the city of Jerusalem.

B. “Repent and turn to God” is the message of both the Old and

New Testaments.



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Commentary:

Idolaters Condemned

Ezekiel 14:1, Some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat down

in front of me. (NIV 1984)

I. Some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat down in front of me.

A. These elders consulted God’s prophet Ezekiel while harboring

idols in their hearts, affections and minds. (See Hamilton.)

1. These elders were exiles in Babylon.

B. This reminds the reader of a similar previous occasion on which

elders came to consult Ezekiel. (See Smith.)

1. Ezekiel 8:1, In the sixth year, in the sixth month on the

fifth day, while I was sitting in my house and the elders of

Judah were sitting before me, the hand of the Sovereign

Lord came upon me there. (NIV 1984)

C. McGee viewed these elders as appearing to be so pious and

pretending to be intently interested in hearing what Ezekiel had to

say.

D. Clarke wrote these were “bad men” who may have come to

ensnare Ezekiel in his speech.

1. Jesus’ enemies certainly tried hard to ensnare him in his

speech.



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E. Certain elders of Israel exiled in Tel-Abib came to consult

Ezekiel wanting to know what counsels or predictions he had for

them, The Pulpit Commentary advised.

1. The elders of Israel and the elders of Judah could refer to

representatives of different groups of exiles or their

designations could refer to all the exiles regardless of tribal

affiliation. (The Pulpit Commentary)

a. Ezekiel 8:1, In the sixth year, in the sixth month

on the fifth day, while I was sitting in my house and

the elders of Judah were sitting before me, the hand

of the Sovereign Lord came upon me there. (NIV

1984)

b. Ezekiel 20:1, In the seventh year, in the fifth

month on the tenth day, some of the elders of Israel

came to inquire of the Lord, and they sat down in

front of me. (NIV 1984)

Ezekiel 14:2, Then the word of the Lord came to me: (NIV 1984)

I. Then the word of the Lord came to me:

A. The Lord communicated his will, word regarding this matter to

Ezekiel.

Ezekiel 14:3, “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their

hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I

let them inquire of me at all? (NIV 1984)

I. “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and…



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A. Superficially it would appear that these elders were sincerely

seeking the will of God, but the Lord knew this was not the case

and advised Ezekiel of their hypocrisy.

1. An idolatrous heart is a grave sin against God.

B. These elders secretly longed for the old pagan ways, Smith

advised.

1. A false hypocritical front will not save!

2. Their sins and our sins will “find us out!”

3. As McGee wrote, “These men were phonies!”

4. Jesus frequently, knowing the hearts of the people, used

the word, “hypocrites.”

II. put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces.

A. “They put right before their faces ‘the stumbling block of their

iniquity;’ i.e., they were constantly thinking about idols,” Smith

wrote.

1. They stumbled over their own idols. (See Clarke.)

2. Ezekiel 3:20, “Again, when a righteous man turns from

his righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling

block before him, he will die. Since you did not warn him,

he will die for his sin. The righteous things he did will not

be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for his

blood. (NIV 1984)

III. Should I let them inquire of me at all?



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A. Because of their sins, they were unfit to pray to God and/or to

receive a reply from him. (See Fredenburg.)

1. Ezekiel 2:3, He said: “Son of man, I am sending you to

the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled

against me; they and their fathers have been in revolt

against me to this very day. (NIV 1984)

2. Ezekiel 3:7, But the house of Israel is not willing to

listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me,

for the whole house of Israel is hardened and obstinate.

(NIV 1984)

B. The inferred answer to this question is, “No.”

1. “…men with idols in their hearts have no right whatever to

seek any information from God,” Coffman wrote.

Ezekiel 14:4, Therefore speak to them and tell them, ‘This is what

the Sovereign Lord says: When any Israelite sets up idols in his

heart and puts a wicked stumbling block before his face and then

goes to a prophet, I the Lord will answer him myself in keeping with

his great idolatry. (NIV 1984)

I. Therefore speak to them and tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign

Lord says:…

A. The Lord told Ezekiel exactly what he was to tell these elders of

Israel.

II. When any Israelite sets up (takes) idols in his heart and puts a wicked

stumbling block before his face and…

A. Idols and stumbling blocks can be either literal, mental or both.

(See Fredenburg.)



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1. “They had learned to love the pagan gods and goddesses,”

Coffman wrote.

2. Whatever their overt actions, they were devoted to these

pagan idols in their affections.

B. A major problem was that these elders, et. al. believed God was

inseparably associated with Jerusalem, the Temple, the Promised

Land and the chosen people. (See Fredenburg.)

1. They failed to understand that God was Lord of all the

world and operates without regard to any particular place,

building or people. (See Fredenburg.)

2. Ezekiel 11:16-21, “Therefore say: ‘This is what the

Sovereign Lord says: Although I sent them far away

among the nations and scattered them among the

countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for

them in the countries where they have gone.’ “Therefore

say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will gather

you from the nations and bring you back from the

countries where you have been scattered, and I will give

you back the land of Israel again.’ “They will return to it

and remove all its vile images and detestable idols. I will

give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in

them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and

give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my

decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my

people, and I will be their God. But as for those whose

hearts are devoted to their vile images and detestable

idols, I will bring down on their own heads what they

have done, declares the Sovereign Lord.” (NIV 1984)



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III. then goes to a prophet, I the Lord will answer him myself in keeping

with his great idolatry.

A. God would respond to these hypocrites directly!

1. God will judge! …and treat them as flagrant idolaters.

(Clarke)

B. Sins produce results. We reap what we sow.

1. Leviticus 17:3, 10, Any Israelite who sacrifices an ox, a

lamb or a goat in the camp or outside of it… “‘Any

Israelite or any alien living among them who eats any

blood—I will set my face against that person who eats

blood and will cut him off from his people. (NIV 1984)

2. Leviticus 20:3, I will set my face against that man and I

will cut him off from his people; for by giving his children

to Molech, he has defiled my sanctuary and profaned my

holy name. (NIV 1984)

C. Fredenburg gave these possible meanings of this passage; viz.,

…

1. God will get to the heart of the matter and first attend to

the idolatry rather than their interests.

2. God will repay insincere inquiries with insincere answers.

a. Proverbs 26:5, Answer a fool according to his

folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes. (NIV 1984)

3. God issued a death threat against idolaters.



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a. Deuteronomy 13:6-18, If your very own brother,

or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or

your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, “Let

us go and worship other gods” (gods that neither

you nor your fathers have known, gods of the

peoples around you, whether near or far, from one

end of the land to the other), do not yield to him or

listen to him. Show him no pity. Do not spare him or

shield him. You must certainly put him to death.

Your hand must be the first in putting him to death,

and then the hands of all the people. Stone him to

death, because he tried to turn you away from the

Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out

of the land of slavery. Then all Israel will hear and

be afraid, and no one among you will do such an evil

thing again. If you hear it said about one of the

towns the Lord your God is giving you to live in that

wicked men have arisen among you and have led the

people of their town astray, saying, “Let us go and

worship other gods” (gods you have not known),

then you must inquire, probe and investigate it

thoroughly. And if it is true and it has been proved

that this detestable thing has been done among you,

you must certainly put to the sword all who live in

that town. Destroy it completely, both its people and

its livestock. Gather all the plunder of the town into

the middle of the public square and completely burn

the town and all its plunder as a whole burnt

offering to the Lord your God. It is to remain a ruin

forever, never to be rebuilt. None of those

condemned things shall be found in your hands, so

that the Lord will turn from his fierce anger; he will

show you mercy, have compassion on you, and

increase your numbers, as he promised on oath to

your forefathers, because you obey the Lord your



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God, keeping all his commands that I am giving you

today and doing what is right in his eyes. (NIV 1984)

b. Fredenburg wrote that explanation #3 fits best with

the context of this passage.

c. “Yahweh will (almost) kill off the nation in order to

save it.” (Fredenburg)

D. God did indeed answer these idolaters by the destruction of

Jerusalem! …and the deportation of its people. (See Coffman)

Ezekiel 14:5, I will do this to recapture the hearts of the people of

Israel, who have all deserted me for their idols.’ (NIV 1984)

I. I will do this to recapture the hearts of the people of Israel, who have

all deserted me for their idols.’

A. God’s purpose in everything he did was to restore the Israelites

to his faithful service. (See Coffman.)

1. Israel had grievously sinned. Idolatry was a crime

punishable by death.

a. Exodus 20:3-5, “You shall have no other gods

before me. “You shall not make for yourself an idol

in the form of anything in heaven above or on the

earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not

bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord

your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children

for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth

generation of those who hate me, (NIV 1984)

b. Leviticus 19:4, 26, “‘Do not turn to idols or make

gods of cast metal for yourselves. I am the Lord



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your God. “‘Do not eat any meat with the blood still

in it. “‘Do not practice divination or sorcery. (NIV

1984)

c. Deuteronomy 5:8, “You shall not make for

yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven

above or on the earth beneath or in the waters

below. (NIV 1984)

d. Deuteronomy 12:3, Break down their altars,

smash their sacred stones and burn their Asherah

poles in the fire; cut down the idols of their gods and

wipe out their names from those places. (NIV 1984)

e. Deuteronomy 27:15, “Cursed is the man who

carves an image or casts an idol—a thing detestable

to the Lord, the work of the craftsman’s hands—

and sets it up in secret.” Then all the people shall

say, “Amen!” (NIV 1984)

B. The Pulpit Commentary states that these “words are a threat

rather than a promise.”

Ezekiel 14:6, “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the

Sovereign Lord says: Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce

all your detestable practices! (NIV 1984)

I. “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord

says:…

A. Ezekiel was specifically informed again what he should tell the

house of Israel.

B. We also are to speak exactly what God has revealed to us in the

Bible.



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II. Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable

practices!

A. Only through genuine repentance could their reconciliation with

God be achieved.

1. Repent or perish is the message.

2. The future of the people of Jerusalem-Judah was largely in

their hands. (Fredenburg)

B. This is one of three calls in the book of Ezekiel for the people to

repent, Fredenburg wrote.

1. Ezekiel 18:30, “Therefore, O house of Israel, I will

judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the

Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your

offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. (NIV 1984)

2. Ezekiel 33:11, Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares

the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the

wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and

live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die,

O house of Israel?’ (NIV 1984)

C. Coffman wrote, “The infinite mercy of God is here seen in the

fact that, while in the very act of pronouncing a sentence of death

upon his Chosen People, God here made one last solemn plea for

them to forsake the evil idolatrous ways to which their hearts so

avidly desired to return, in which guilty state they were already

ensnared, and instead to give up all of their evil practices and

return wholeheartedly to the Lord.”



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Ezekiel 14:7, “‘When any Israelite or any alien living in Israel

separates himself from me and sets up idols in his heart and puts a

wicked stumbling block before his face and then goes to a prophet to

inquire of me, I the Lord will answer him myself. (NIV 1984)

I. “ ‘When any Israelite or any alien living in Israel separates himself

from me and sets up idols in his heart and puts a wicked stumbling block

before his face and…

A. Those who profess faith in Christ today can set up idols in their

hearts. They will find that God’s face is against them as well.

B. In this verse both Israelites and any aliens living in Israel are

identified as being subject to God’s wrath if they set up idols in

their hearts. (See Fredenburg.)

C. God does not separate himself from us without our first

separating ourselves from him!

1. This is true of everyone worldwide!

D. These “aliens” were proselytes living among the exiles at Tel

Abib. (The Pulpit Commentary)

1. Ezekiel 47:22-23, You are to allot it as an inheritance

for yourselves and for the aliens who have settled among

you and who have children. You are to consider them as

native-born Israelites; along with you they are to be

allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. In

whatever tribe the alien settles, there you are to give him

his inheritance,” declares the Sovereign Lord. (NIV 1984)

II. then goes to a prophet to inquire of me, I the Lord will answer him

myself.



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A. God’s answer, Coffman wrote, would not be through “words of

any true prophet, but by the summary execution of terrible

penalties upon the idolaters.”

1. Clarke concluded the prophet here was a false prophet.

2. “While their false prophets were assuring them of peace

and prosperity, God’s prophets were predicting the calamities

that afterwards fell upon them,” Clarke wrote.

a. The people believed the false prophets.

b. Another tragic example of believing a false prophet

involved Ahab, Micaiah and Zedekiah.

i. 1 Kings 22:10-38, Dressed in their royal

robes, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king

of Judah were sitting on their thrones at the

threshing floor by the entrance of the gate of

Samaria, with all the prophets prophesying

before them. Now Zedekiah son of Kenaanah

had made iron horns and he declared, “This is

what the Lord says: ‘With these you will gore

the Arameans until they are destroyed.’” All

the other prophets were prophesying the same

thing. “Attack Ramoth Gilead and be

victorious,” they said, “for the Lord will give it

into the king’s hand.” The messenger who had

gone to summon Micaiah said to him, “Look,

as one man the other prophets are predicting

success for the king. Let your word agree with

theirs, and speak favorably.” But Micaiah said,

“As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him only

what the Lord tells me.” When he arrived, the

king asked him, “Micaiah, shall we go to war



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against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?”

“Attack and be victorious,” he answered, “for

the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.” The

king said to him, “How many times must I

make you swear to tell me nothing but the

truth in the name of the Lord?” Then Micaiah

answered, “I saw all Israel scattered on the

hills like sheep without a shepherd, and the

Lord said, ‘These people have no master. Let

each one go home in peace.’” The king of Israel

said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you that he

never prophesies anything good about me, but

only bad?” Micaiah continued, “Therefore

hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord

sitting on his throne with all the host of heaven

standing around him on his right and on his

left. And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab

into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his

death there?’ “One suggested this, and another

that. Finally, a spirit came forward, stood

before the Lord and said, ‘I will entice him.’

“‘By what means?’ the Lord asked. “‘I will go

out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his

prophets,’ he said. “‘You will succeed in

enticing him,’ said the Lord. ‘Go and do it.’

“So now the Lord has put a lying spirit in the

mouths of all these prophets of yours. The

Lord has decreed disaster for you.” Then

Zedekiah son of Kenaanah went up and

slapped Micaiah in the face. “Which way did

the spirit from the Lord go when he went from

me to speak to you?” he asked. Micaiah

replied, “You will find out on the day you go to

hide in an inner room.” The king of Israel then

ordered, “Take Micaiah and send him back to



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Amon the ruler of the city and to Joash the

king’s son and say, ‘This is what the king says:

Put this fellow in prison and give him nothing

but bread and water until I return safely.’”

Micaiah declared, “If you ever return safely,

the Lord has not spoken through me.” Then he

added, “Mark my words, all you people!” So

the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of

Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead. The king of

Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will enter the

battle in disguise, but you wear your royal

robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself

and went into battle. Now the king of Aram

had ordered his thirty-two chariot

commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small

or great, except the king of Israel.” When the

chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they

thought, “Surely this is the king of Israel.” So

they turned to attack him, but when

Jehoshaphat cried out, the chariot

commanders saw that he was not the king of

Israel and stopped pursuing him. But someone

drew his bow at random and hit the king of

Israel between the sections of his armor. The

king told his chariot driver, “Wheel around

and get me out of the fighting. I’ve been

wounded.” All day long the battle raged, and

the king was propped up in his chariot facing

the Arameans. The blood from his wound ran

onto the floor of the chariot, and that evening

he died. As the sun was setting, a cry spread

through the army: “Every man to his town;

everyone to his land!” So the king died and was

brought to Samaria, and they buried him

there. They washed the chariot at a pool in



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Samaria (where the prostitutes bathed), and

the dogs licked up his blood, as the word of the

Lord had declared. (NIV 1984)

Ezekiel 14:8, I will set my face against that man and make him an

example and a byword. I will cut him off from my people. Then you

will know that I am the Lord. (NIV 1984)

I. I will set my face against that man and make him an example (sign)

and a byword.

A. God would set his face against such sinful hypocrites; that is, he

would become their adversary. (See Smith.)

1. Ezekiel 4:3, Then take an iron pan, place it as an iron

wall between you and the city and turn your face toward

it. It will be under siege, and you shall besiege it. This will

be a sign to the house of Israel. (NIV 1984)

2. Leviticus 26:21-26, “‘If you remain hostile toward me

and refuse to listen to me, I will multiply your afflictions

seven times over, as your sins deserve. I will send wild

animals against you, and they will rob you of your

children, destroy your cattle and make you so few in

number that your roads will be deserted. “‘If in spite of

these things you do not accept my correction but continue

to be hostile toward me, I myself will be hostile toward

you and will afflict you for your sins seven times over.

And I will bring the sword upon you to avenge the

breaking of the covenant. When you withdraw into your

cities, I will send a plague among you, and you will be

given into enemy hands. When I cut off your supply of

bread, ten women will be able to bake your bread in one

oven, and they will dole out the bread by weight. You will

eat, but you will not be satisfied. (NIV 1984)



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B. Such sinners would be ridiculed and disdained by all who

learned of their waywardness and punishment.

C. Signs, examples reinforced the veracity of an event, promise, or

threat and can serve as a warning. (Fredenburg)

1. Genesis 4:15, But the Lord said to him, “Not so; if

anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times

over.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one

who found him would kill him. (NIV 1984)

2. Numbers 17:10, The Lord said to Moses, “Put back

Aaron’s staff in front of the Testimony, to be kept as a

sign to the rebellious. This will put an end to their

grumbling against me, so that they will not die.” (NIV

1984)

D. A “byword” has a broad range of meanings including figure of

speech, proverb or proof. (Fredenburg)

1. These people will become entrenched in popular lore and

mention of them will speak volumes as does the name “Judas

Iscariot.” (Fredenburg)

a. “They will be remembered as examples of what not

to do.” (Fredenburg)

i. Deuteronomy 13:11, Then all Israel will hear

and be afraid, and no one among you will do

such an evil thing again. (NIV 1984)

E. Coffman stated the setting of God’s face against these sinners

involved the penalties of (1) spiritual death, (2) separation from

God’s people, and (3) some earthly calamity.



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1. The worst thing that could happen to a person is to have

God set his face against him.

F. The Pulpit Commentary defines astonishment as “to make him

amazed, the punishment being public knowledge and notorious, so

as to strike terror into others.”

1. Ezekiel 32:10, I will cause many peoples to be appalled

at you, and their kings will shudder with horror because

of you when I brandish my sword before them. On the

day of your downfall each of them will tremble every

moment for his life. (NIV 1984)

2. Deuteronomy 28:37, You will become a thing of horror

and an object of scorn and ridicule to all the nations

where the Lord will drive you. (NIV 1984)

II. I will cut him off from my people.

A. The people who rejected God would be cut off, separated from

God’s chosen people with all the attendant blessings shared by

God’s people.

1. Ezekiel 5:11, Therefore as surely as I live, declares the

Sovereign Lord, because you have defiled my sanctuary

with all your vile images and detestable practices, I

myself will withdraw my favor; I will not look on you

with pity or spare you. (NIV 1984)

2. Ezekiel 13:9, My hand will be against the prophets who

see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will not

belong to the council of my people or be listed in the

records of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land



23

of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign

Lord. (NIV 1984)

B. Fredenburg associated this being cut off from God’s people

with circumcision.

1. Genesis 17:14, Any uncircumcised male, who has not

been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his

people; he has broken my covenant.” (NIV 1984)

III. Then you will know I am the Lord.

A. To this point in Ezekiel people have come to know Yahweh was

Lord by way of punishments rather than blessings.

1. What is there about human nature that makes punishment

more persuasive that blessings in effecting a change in

conduct?

2. Or, is this not always true?

B. When rational people saw what God did to these hypocritical

sinners, they “would come to have the correct understanding of the

nature of God.” (Smith)

Ezekiel 14:9, “‘And if the prophet is enticed to utter a prophecy, I

the Lord have enticed that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand

against him and destroy him from among my people Israel. (NIV

1984)

I. “ ‘And if the prophet is enticed to utter a prophecy, I the Lord have

enticed (deceived) that prophet, and…

A. Smith wrote, “The Old Testament frequently does not

distinguish between primary and secondary causation. What God



24

permits to happen, he sometimes is said to have caused to happen.

That the enticement of the false prophets was the permissible and

not the active will of God is indicated here in the context. That

God would directly entice a prophet to speak falsely and then

punish him for that act would be inconceivable.”

1. 1 Kings 13:7-25, The king said to the man of God,

“Come home with me and have something to eat, and I

will give you a gift.” But the man of God answered the

king, “Even if you were to give me half your possessions, I

would not go with you, nor would I eat bread or drink

water here. For I was commanded by the word of the

Lord: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water or return

by the way you came.’” So he took another road and did

not return by the way he had come to Bethel. Now there

was a certain old prophet living in Bethel, whose sons

came and told him all that the man of God had done there

that day. They also told their father what he had said to

the king. Their father asked them, “Which way did he

go?” And his sons showed him which road the man of

God from Judah had taken. So he said to his sons,

“Saddle the donkey for me.” And when they had saddled

the donkey for him, he mounted it and rode after the man

of God. He found him sitting under an oak tree and

asked, “Are you the man of God who came from Judah?”

“I am,” he replied. So the prophet said to him, “Come

home with me and eat.” The man of God said, “I cannot

turn back and go with you, nor can I eat bread or drink

water with you in this place. I have been told by the word

of the Lord: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water

there or return by the way you came.’” The old prophet

answered, “I too am a prophet, as you are. And an angel

said to me by the word of the Lord: ‘Bring him back with

you to your house so that he may eat bread and drink

water.’” (But he was lying to him.) So the man of God



25

returned with him and ate and drank in his house. While

they were sitting at the table, the word of the Lord came

to the old prophet who had brought him back. He cried

out to the man of God who had come from Judah, “This

is what the Lord says: ‘You have defied the word of the

Lord and have not kept the command the Lord your God

gave you. You came back and ate bread and drank water

in the place where he told you not to eat or drink.

Therefore your body will not be buried in the tomb of

your fathers.’” When the man of God had finished eating

and drinking, the prophet who had brought him back

saddled his donkey for him. As he went on his way, a lion

met him on the road and killed him, and his body was

thrown down on the road, with both the donkey and the

lion standing beside it. Some people who passed by saw

the body thrown down there, with the lion standing

beside the body, and they went and reported it in the city

where the old prophet lived. (NIV 1984)

2. 1 Kings 22:19-23, Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear

the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne

with all the host of heaven standing around him on his

right and on his left. And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice

Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his

death there?’ “One suggested this, and another that.

Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the Lord and

said, ‘I will entice him.’ “‘By what means?’ the Lord

asked. “‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths

of all his prophets,’ he said. “‘You will succeed in enticing

him,’ said the Lord. ‘Go and do it.’ “So now the Lord has

put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of

yours. The Lord has decreed disaster for you.” (NIV

1984)



26

3. Jeremiah 20:7-10, O Lord, you deceived me, and I was

deceived; you overpowered me and prevailed. I am

ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me. Whenever I

speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So

the word of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach

all day long. But if I say, “I will not mention him or speak

any more in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire,

a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in;

indeed, I cannot. I hear many whispering, “Terror on

every side! Report him! Let’s report him!” All my friends

are waiting for me to slip, saying, “Perhaps he will be

deceived; then we will prevail over him and take our

revenge on him.” (NIV 1984)

4. 2 Thessalonians 2:10-11, and in every sort of evil that

deceives those who are perishing. They perish because

they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this

reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they

will believe the lie (NIV 1984)

5. Fredenburg defined “enticed” as used in this passage to

mean “misled, show up as foolish.”

B. Prophets were to speak nothing without God’s approval!

(Fredenburg)

C. Fredenburg wrote, “Verse 9 is not necessarily about divine

deception. Instead, this text may be paraphrased, ‘And if the

prophet is naïve enough to be fooled by the insincere inquiries, I,

Yahweh, will show up that prophet as a fool,…”

D. Coffman wrote that this deceiving or enticing the false prophets

was in no sense an evil act upon God’s part.



27

1. The deceiving or enticing was the result of things such as

the false prophets own evil desires, etc.

2. In a similar way we say of a deceased friend, “The Lord

called him home,” by-passing the immediate causes of his

death.

3. Clarke wrote, “…it is common in the Hebrew language to

state a thing as done by the Lord which he only suffers or

permits to be done; for so absolute and universal is the

government of God, that the smallest occurrence cannot take

place without his will or permission.”

II. I will stretch out my hand against him and destroy him from among

my people Israel.

A. This is what happens to prophets and preachers who do not

speak God’s truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

1. God hardened Pharaoh’s heart in a manner similar to the

way the sun hardens concrete and melts butter.

2. 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12, For this reason God sends

them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie

and so that all will be condemned who have not believed

the truth but have delighted in wickedness. (NIV 1984)

3. “No man can possibly become a false prophet (or sinner)

without criminal blame upon himself.” (See Coffman.)

B. God’s true prophets were forbidden to provide God’s word to

idolaters and any found speaking with an idolater was considered

an evil doer himself. (See Coffman.)



28

Ezekiel 14:10, They will bear their guilt—the prophet will be as

guilty as the one who consults him. (NIV 1984)

I. They will bear their guilt (iniquity) – the prophet will be as guilty as

the one who consults him.

A. Both the false prophet and the one who consulted him would be

equally guilty and both would bear the punishment for their sins.

B. Both are equally guilty of having left the Lord and will be

equally punished. (Clarke)

Ezekiel 14:11, Then the people of Israel will no longer stray from

me, nor will they defile themselves anymore with all their sins. They

will be my people, and I will be their God, declares the Sovereign

Lord.’” (NIV 1984)

I. Then the people of Israel will no longer stray from me, nor will they

defile themselves anymore with all their sins.

A. The time would come, having seen the conduct and subsequent

punishment administered to sinners, that the people of Israel would

no longer stray from the Lord.

1. This is “a gleam of light through the darkness,” The Pulpit

Commentary reads.

2. A better day was coming!

B. The promises of God to Israel were conditioned upon their

faithfulness, not, as other people of Jerusalem thought, upon their

imagined promise of an inalienable possession regardless of their

faithfulness or lack thereof. (See Coffman.)



29

II. They will be my people, and I will be their God, declares the

Sovereign Lord.’ ”

A. Those who turned from their sins and truly returned to the Lord

would again be the Lord’s people and he would be their God. (See

Smith.)

B. The prime purpose of the things which befell Jerusalem and

Judah was to bring them to repentance.

1. Ezekiel 14:6, “Therefore say to the house of Israel,

‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Repent! Turn

from your idols and renounce all your detestable

practices! (NIV 1984)


Note: Ezekiel now is charged with the responsibility of convincing his

hearers that God’s punishment against the city (Jerusalem) is justly

deserved. (Fredenburg)

Ezekiel 14:12, The word of the Lord came to me: (NIV 1984)

I. The word of the Lord came to me:…

A. As surely as God lives, the word of the Lord will be fulfilled.

(See Ezekiel 14:16, 18, 20)

Ezekiel 14:13, “Son of man, if a country sins against me by being

unfaithful and I stretch out my hand against it to cut off its food

supply and send famine upon it and kill its men and their animals,

(NIV 1984)

I. “Son of man, if a country sins (trespasses) against me by being

unfaithful and…



30

A. God would send famine (Ezekiel 14:13), wild beasts (Ezekiel

14:15), the sword (Ezekiel 14:17) and plague (Ezekiel 14:19)

against the unfaithful of Israel and Jerusalem.

1. Ezekiel 5:17, I will send famine and wild beasts against

you, and they will leave you childless. Plague and

bloodshed will sweep through you, and I will bring the

sword against you. I the Lord have spoken.” (NIV 1984)

2. Joel 1:4, What the locust swarm has left the great

locusts have eaten; what the great locusts have left the

young locusts have eaten; what the young locusts have left

other locusts have eaten. (NIV 1984)

B. Coffman defined “trespasses” or sins here as high treason or the

crime, felony of acting treacherously, not in misdemeanors.

II. I stretch out my hand against it to cut off its food supply and send

famine upon it and kill its men and their animals,…

A. These sinners had been frequently warned, had consistently

refused to repent of their sins and would be severely punished.

(Clarke)

B. Leviticus 26:26, When I cut off your supply of bread, ten

women will be able to bake your bread in one oven, and they

will dole out the bread by weight. You will eat, but you will not

be satisfied. (NIV 1984)

Ezekiel 14:14, even if these three men—Noah, Daniel and Job—were

in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness,

declares the Sovereign Lord. (NIV 1984)

I. even if these three men – Noah, Daniel, and Job – were in it,…



31

A. The inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judah had the mistaken idea

that just a few righteous people among them would make them all

secure.

1. Besides that, there were no righteous people in Jerusalem

at that time, Coffman observed.

2. Jeremiah 15:1-4, Then the Lord said to me: “Even if

Moses and Samuel were to stand before me, my heart

would not go out to this people. Send them away from my

presence! Let them go! And if they ask you, ‘Where shall

we go?’ tell them, ‘This is what the Lord says: “‘Those

destined for death, to death; those for the sword, to the

sword; those for starvation, to starvation; those for

captivity, to captivity.’ “I will send four kinds of

destroyers against them,” declares the Lord, “the sword

to kill and the dogs to drag away and the birds of the air

and the beasts of the earth to devour and destroy. I will

make them abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth

because of what Manasseh son of Hezekiah king of Judah

did in Jerusalem. (NIV 1984)

B. McGee suggested that if Noah, Daniel and Job had all three

been preaching these things in Jerusalem, the people would still

not have listened to them!

1. Clarke wrote that even if all of these holy men had prayed

for Jerusalem to be spared God would not have granted their

petitions.

II. they could save only themselves by their righteousness, declares the

Sovereign Lord.



32

A. The destruction of Jerusalem had been irrevocably divinely

decreed.

1. Any righteous people in the city could only save

themselves, not even their families.

a. Genesis 18:16-33, When the men got up to leave,

they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham

walked along with them to see them on their way.

Then the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham

what I am about to do? Abraham will surely become

a great and powerful nation, and all nations on

earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen

him, so that he will direct his children and his

household after him to keep the way of the Lord by

doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will

bring about for Abraham what he has promised

him.” Then the Lord said, “The outcry against

Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so

grievous that I will go down and see if what they

have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached

me. If not, I will know.” The men turned away and

went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained

standing before the Lord. Then Abraham

approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the

righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty

righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it

away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty

righteous people in it? Far be it from you to do such

a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked,

treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it

from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do

right?” The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous

people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole

place for their sake.” Then Abraham spoke up



33

again: “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to

the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes,

what if the number of the righteous is five less than

fifty? Will you destroy the whole city because of five

people?” “If I find forty-five there,” he said, “I will

not destroy it.” Once again he spoke to him, “What

if only forty are found there?” He said, “For the

sake of forty, I will not do it.” Then he said, “May

the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if

only thirty can be found there?” He answered, “I

will not do it if I find thirty there.” Abraham said,

“Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the

Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?” He

said, “For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it.”

Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let

me speak just once more. What if only ten can be

found there?” He answered, “For the sake of ten, I

will not destroy it.” When the Lord had finished

speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham

returned home. (NIV 1984)

2. Smith wrote, “Righteousness is not inherited.”

B. The people of Jerusalem were so wicked and corrupt that, even

if such renowned servants of God as Noah, Job and Daniel lived

there they would be able to save only themselves by their

righteousness!

1. Ezekiel and Daniel were contemporaries. Ezekiel having

been taken to Babylon in 597 B.C. and Daniel having been

taken to Babylon in 605 B.C.

2. Daniel, Ezekiel’s contemporary, was truly an outstanding

man of God who may well be the Daniel mentioned in

Ezekiel 14.



34

a. Daniel 1:1-7, In the third year of the reign of

Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of

Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the

Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his

hand, along with some of the articles from the

temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of

his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house

of his god. Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of

his court officials, to bring in some of the Israelites

from the royal family and the nobility— young men

without any physical defect, handsome, showing

aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed,

quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the

king’s palace. He was to teach them the language

and literature of the Babylonians. The king assigned

them a daily amount of food and wine from the

king’s table. They were to be trained for three years,

and after that they were to enter the king’s service.

Among these were some from Judah: Daniel,

Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. The chief official

gave them new names: to Daniel, the name

Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael,

Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. (NIV 1984)

b. Daniel 1:8-16, But Daniel resolved not to defile

himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked

the chief official for permission not to defile himself

this way. Now God had caused the official to show

favor and sympathy to Daniel, but the official told

Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has

assigned your food and drink. Why should he see

you looking worse than the other young men your

age? The king would then have my head because of

you.” Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief



35

official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah,

Mishael and Azariah, “Please test your servants for

ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and

water to drink. Then compare our appearance with

that of the young men who eat the royal food, and

treat your servants in accordance with what you

see.” So he agreed to this and tested them for ten

days. At the end of the ten days they looked

healthier and better nourished than any of the

young men who ate the royal food. So the guard

took away their choice food and the wine they were

to drink and gave them vegetables instead. (NIV

1984)

c. Daniel 6:1-24, It pleased Darius to appoint 120

satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three

administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel.

The satraps were made accountable to them so that

the king might not suffer loss. Now Daniel so

distinguished himself among the administrators and

the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king

planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this,

the administrators and the satraps tried to find

grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of

government affairs, but they were unable to do so.

They could find no corruption in him, because he

was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.

Finally these men said, “We will never find any

basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it

has something to do with the law of his God.” So the

administrators and the satraps went as a group to

the king and said: “O King Darius, live forever! The

royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and

governors have all agreed that the king should issue

an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who



36

prays to any god or man during the next thirty days,

except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions’

den. Now, O king, issue the decree and put it in

writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance

with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which

cannot be repealed.” So King Darius put the decree

in writing. Now when Daniel learned that the decree

had been published, he went home to his upstairs

room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem.

Three times a day he got down on his knees and

prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had

done before. Then these men went as a group and

found Daniel praying and asking God for help. So

they went to the king and spoke to him about his

royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that

during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any

god or man except to you, O king, would be thrown

into the lions’ den?” The king answered, “The

decree stands—in accordance with the laws of the

Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”

Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the

exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king,

or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays

three times a day.” When the king heard this, he

was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue

Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save

him. Then the men went as a group to the king and

said to him, “Remember, O king, that according to

the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict

that the king issues can be changed.” So the king

gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw

him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel,

“May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue

you!” A stone was brought and placed over the

mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own



37

signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that

Daniel’s situation might not be changed. Then the

king returned to his palace and spent the night

without eating and without any entertainment being

brought to him. And he could not sleep. At the first

light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the

lions’ den. When he came near the den, he called to

Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the

living God, has your God, whom you serve

continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”

Daniel answered, “O king, live forever! My God sent

his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They

have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in

his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before

you, O king.” The king was overjoyed and gave

orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel

was lifted from the den, no wound was found on

him, because he had trusted in his God. At the

king’s command, the men who had falsely accused

Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’

den, along with their wives and children. And before

they reached the floor of the den, the lions

overpowered them and crushed all their bones. (NIV

1984)

d. Ezekiel 28:3, Are you wiser than Daniel? Is no

secret hidden from you? (NIV 1984)

3. Some scholars, however, identify this Daniel as a king

Daniel and not the biblical prophet of similar name. (See

Fredenburg.)

4. In either case, the thing being emphasized was the

righteousness of these three men and its lack of efficacy to

save others.



38

5. Coffman strongly held that this Daniel was the one for

whom the Biblical book of Daniel was named. The Pulpit

Commentary strongly agrees with Coffman.

6. Job could not save his own children and Noah saved only

eight. And how many was Daniel able to save?

Ezekiel 14:15, “Or if I send wild beasts through that country and

they leave it childless and it becomes desolate so that no one can pass

through it because of the beasts, (NIV 1984)

I. “Or if I send wild beasts through that country and they leave it

childless and it becomes desolate so that no one can pass through it

because of the beasts,…

A. The removal of exiles to Babylon can be dated to 597 B.C.

1. This reduction in population contributed to the increase of

wild beasts in the land.

2. These wild beasts attacked and killed children and were

instrumental in causing people to be afraid to pass through,

travel about in the land.

Ezekiel 14:16, as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, even if

these three men were in it, they could not save their own sons or

daughters. They alone would be saved, but the land would be

desolate. (NIV 1984)

I. as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, even if these three

men were in it, they could not save their own sons or daughters.

A. The truth God is here speaking is as certain as is the fact that

God lives, exists!



39

B. If righteous Noah, Job, and Daniel lived in Jerusalem they could

not save even their own children because of the terrible wickedness

of the city.

1. Noah did save his family.

2. Job could not save the lives of his children.

3. Daniel was a eunuch and evidently had no family, but he

was a mighty influence for righteousness.

II. They alone would be saved, but the land would be desolate.

A. These wonderfully righteous people, had they lived in

Jerusalem at that time, would have been able to save themselves

only.

1. They could not have changed the people nor the situation

of Jerusalem.

2. The land would have remained desolate.

Ezekiel 14:17, “Or if I bring a sword against that country and say,

‘Let the sword pass throughout the land,’ and I kill its men and

their animals, (NIV 1984)

I. “Or if I bring a sword against that country and say,…

A. Famine, wild beast, sword and plague (pestilence) were

awaiting the sinners of Jerusalem and Judah.

1. Ezekiel 14:13, 15, 17, 19, “Son of man, if a country sins

against me by being unfaithful and I stretch out my hand

against it to cut off its food supply and send famine upon



40

it and kill its men and their animals, “Or if I send wild

beasts through that country and they leave it childless

and it becomes desolate so that no one can pass through it

because of the beasts, “Or if I bring a sword against that

country and say, ‘Let the sword pass throughout the

land,’ and I kill its men and their animals, “Or if I send a

plague into that land and pour out my wrath upon it

through bloodshed, killing its men and their animals,

(NIV 1984)

2. Jeremiah 15:2-9, And if they ask you, ‘Where shall we

go?’ tell them, ‘This is what the Lord says: “‘Those

destined for death, to death; those for the sword, to the

sword; those for starvation, to starvation; those for

captivity, to captivity.’ “I will send four kinds of

destroyers against them,” declares the Lord, “the sword

to kill and the dogs to drag away and the birds of the air

and the beasts of the earth to devour and destroy. I will

make them abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth

because of what Manasseh son of Hezekiah king of Judah

did in Jerusalem. “Who will have pity on you, O

Jerusalem? Who will mourn for you? Who will stop to

ask how you are? You have rejected me,” declares the

Lord. “You keep on backsliding. So I will lay hands on

you and destroy you; I can no longer show compassion. I

will winnow them with a winnowing fork at the city gates

of the land. I will bring bereavement and destruction on

my people, for they have not changed their ways. I will

make their widows more numerous than the sand of the

sea. At midday I will bring a destroyer against the

mothers of their young men; suddenly I will bring down

on them anguish and terror. The mother of seven will

grow faint and breathe her last. Her sun will set while it is

still day; she will be disgraced and humiliated. I will put



41

the survivors to the sword before their enemies,” declares

the Lord. (NIV 1984)

3. Amos 2:4-8, This is what the Lord says: “For three sins

of Judah, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath.

Because they have rejected the law of the Lord and have

not kept his decrees, because they have been led astray by

false gods, the gods their ancestors followed, I will send

fire upon Judah that will consume the fortresses of

Jerusalem.” This is what the Lord says: “For three sins of

Israel, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath. They

sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of

sandals. They trample on the heads of the poor as upon

the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed.

Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy

name. They lie down beside every altar on garments

taken in pledge. In the house of their god they drink wine

taken as fines. (NIV 1984)

II. ‘Let the sword pass throughout the land,’ and I kill its men and their

animals,…

A. To punish wicked Jerusalem, God would use military invasion

(the sword), then pestilence (mass death due to disease), wild

beasts and famine (starvation).


these three men were in it, they could not save their own sons or

daughters. They alone would be saved. (NIV 1984)

I. as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, even if these three

men were in it, they could not save their own sons or daughters.

A. This attests to the unspeakable wickedness of Jerusalem.



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B. These people were so evil that three of God’s mightiest servants

could not lead even one sinner to repentance.

II. They alone would be saved.

A. At least they would have remained faithful.

1. The evil companions in Jerusalem would not have

corrupted the good morals of these men, Noah, Job, and

Daniel.

Ezekiel 14:19, “Or if I send a plague into that land and pour out my

wrath upon it through bloodshed, killing its men and their animals,

(NIV 1984)

I. “Or if I send a plague into that land and pour out my wrath upon it

through bloodshed, killing its men and their animals,…

A. Ezekiel 5:17, I will send famine and wild beasts against you,

and they will leave you childless. Plague and bloodshed will

sweep through you, and I will bring the sword against you. I

the Lord have spoken.” (NIV 1984)

B. Ezekiel 38:22, I will execute judgment upon him with plague

and bloodshed; I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones

and burning sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many

nations with him. (NIV 1984)

C. Ezekiel 28:23, I will send a plague upon her and make blood

flow in her streets. The slain will fall within her, with the sword

against her on every side. Then they will know that I am the

Lord. (NIV 1984)

D. These pestilences were deadly and resulted from the sins of the

people.



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Noah, Daniel and Job were in it, they could save neither son nor

daughter. They would save only themselves by their righteousness.

(NIV 1984)

I. as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, even if Noah, Daniel

and Job were in it, they could save neither son nor daughter.

A. The statement, “as surely as I live,” makes this statement

absolutely true, as true as God exists.

B. The righteousness of the fathers cannot overcome the treachery

of their children.

II. They would save only themselves by their righteousness.

A. This phrase is essentially the same as that found in verse 18 and

carries the same meaning.

Ezekiel 14:21, “For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: How much

worse will it be when I send against Jerusalem my four dreadful

judgments—sword and famine and wild beasts and plague—to kill

its men and their animals! (NIV 1984)

I. “For this is what the Sovereign Lord says:…

A. God makes another pronouncement, this one showing his

righteousness in destroying Jerusalem and its wicked people.

II. How much worse will it be when I send against Jerusalem my four

dreadful judgments – sword and famine and wild beasts and plague – to

kill its men and their animals!



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A. Leviticus 26:21-26, “‘If you remain hostile toward me and

refuse to listen to me, I will multiply your afflictions seven

times over, as your sins deserve. I will send wild animals

against you, and they will rob you of your children, destroy

your cattle and make you so few in number that your roads

will be deserted. “‘If in spite of these things you do not accept

my correction but continue to be hostile toward me, I myself

will be hostile toward you and will afflict you for your sins

seven times over. And I will bring the sword upon you to

avenge the breaking of the covenant. When you withdraw into

your cities, I will send a plague among you, and you will be

given into enemy hands. When I cut off your supply of bread,

ten women will be able to bake your bread in one oven, and

they will dole out the bread by weight. You will eat, but you

will not be satisfied. (NIV 1984)

B. Famine accompanied by drought, sword (war), plague

(pestilences, epidemic diseases) and wild beasts would all be

divinely sent against Jerusalem, it’s people and its livestock.

Ezekiel 14:22, Yet there will be some survivors—sons and daughters

who will be brought out of it. They will come to you, and when you

see their conduct and their actions, you will be consoled regarding

the disaster I have brought upon Jerusalem—every disaster I have

brought upon it. (NIV 1984)

I. Yet there will be some survivors – sons and daughters who will be

brought out of it.

A. Hamilton wrote, “…when Jerusalem is punished, some children

of the exiles will unexpectedly survive, but not because of their

righteousness. Instead, they will serve to vindicate Yahweh’s

decision: Jerusalem must be destroyed.”



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B. These survivors would be exiled to Babylon when Jerusalem

fell in 597 B.C. and would prove to these exiles in Babylon that

“God’s judgment against Jerusalem was just.” (See Smith.) in view

of their sinfulness.

1. Ezekiel 5:3, But take a few strands of hair and tuck

them away in the folds of your garment. (NIV 1984)

2. Ezekiel 11:16-21, “Therefore say: ‘This is what the

Sovereign Lord says: Although I sent them far away

among the nations and scattered them among the

countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for

them in the countries where they have gone.’ “Therefore

say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will gather

you from the nations and bring you back from the

countries where you have been scattered, and I will give

you back the land of Israel again.’ “They will return to it

and remove all its vile images and detestable idols. I will

give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in

them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and

give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my

decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my

people, and I will be their God. But as for those whose

hearts are devoted to their vile images and detestable

idols, I will bring down on their own heads what they

have done, declares the Sovereign Lord.” (NIV 1984)

C. Coffman wrote that these survivors were not the “righteous

remnant” because they were wicked.

1. They would serve as evidence that God was righteous in

all his dealings with Jerusalem and that these evil survivors

were examples of the wickedness which led God to destroy

Judah and Jerusalem.



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II. They will come to you, and when you see their conduct and their

actions, you will be consoled regarding the disaster I have brought upon

Jerusalem – every disaster I have brought upon it.

A. Isaiah 10:20-22, In that day the remnant of Israel, the

survivors of the house of Jacob, will no longer rely on him who

struck them down but will truly rely on the Lord, the Holy One

of Israel. A remnant will return, a remnant of Jacob will

return to the Mighty God. Though your people, O Israel, be

like the sand by the sea, only a remnant will return.

Destruction has been decreed, overwhelming and righteous.

(NIV 1984)

B. When exiles from Jerusalem arrived in Babylon, the previous

exiles would see these people for what they were, gross sinners!

1. Those already in Babylon would now realize that God had

no choice but to destroy Jerusalem and its people.

Ezekiel 14:23, You will be consoled when you see their conduct and

their actions, for you will know that I have done nothing in it

without cause, declares the Sovereign Lord.” (NIV 1984)

I. You will be consoled when you see their conduct and their actions,…

A. Related Scriptures:

1. Ezekiel 6:9-10, Then in the nations where they have

been carried captive, those who escape will remember

me—how I have been grieved by their adulterous hearts,

which have turned away from me, and by their eyes,

which have lusted after their idols. They will loathe

themselves for the evil they have done and for all their

detestable practices. And they will know that I am the



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Lord; I did not threaten in vain to bring this calamity on

them. (NIV 1984)

2. Ezekiel 12:16, But I will spare a few of them from the

sword, famine and plague, so that in the nations where

they go they may acknowledge all their detestable

practices. Then they will know that I am the Lord.” (NIV

1984)

3. Ezekiel 16:48-52, As surely as I live, declares the

Sovereign Lord, your sister Sodom and her daughters

never did what you and your daughters have done. “‘Now

this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her

daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they

did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and

did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away

with them as you have seen. Samaria did not commit half

the sins you did. You have done more detestable things

than they, and have made your sisters seem righteous by

all these things you have done. Bear your disgrace, for

you have furnished some justification for your sisters.

Because your sins were more vile than theirs, they appear

more righteous than you. So then, be ashamed and bear

your disgrace, for you have made your sisters appear

righteous. (NIV 1984)

II. for you will know that I have done nothing in it without cause,

declares the Sovereign Lord.”

A. Ezekiel will come to know that God’s destruction of Jerusalem

was just.

B. God’s every act toward mankind is just, right, fair and equal,

merciful without caprice. (See Clarke.)



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1. God does all things well!

2. Genesis 18:25, Far be it from you to do such a thing—

to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the

righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will

not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (NIV 1984)

Conclusion:

I. When we come to hear the word of the Lord, we must listen with open

minds, a pure heart and a penitent spirit.

II. The Lord has spoken to us in the Holy Bible.

A. We must read, study and live by its teachings.

III. God does not grant the prayers of unrepentant sinners.

A. God punishes unrepentant sinners with a view to leading them

to repentance.

B. Toward that end we must rid our hearts and lives of all “idols”

of every kind.

1. Our “idols” are things which come between us and God.

IV. God tells us, “Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your

detestable practices!”

V. We must not put stumbling blocks in the paths of others either by

words or deeds.

VI. Sooner or later, in one way or another, we will come to know the

Lord, he is God!



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A. Let us learn this by faithfully serving him in this life, not at the

final judgment.

VII. Unforgiven sinners will bear their guilt and its consequences in this

life and the life to come.

VIII. Each person is responsible for his own sins.

A. Even if Noah, Daniel and Job were our next door neighbors and

sat next to us in church every Sunday, that would not save us!

B. God punishes the wicked in many ways including sword, wild

beasts, pestilence, famine, and the fires of hell!

IX. God does all things well, justly!

X. Repent or perish!



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Questions

on

Ezekiel 14:1-23

(Questions based on NIV text.)

1. How can we differentiate between preachers who speak the

truth and those who don’t? ______________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

2. How did Keil divide chapter 14? _______________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

3. How did McGee divide chapter 14? ____________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________



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4. Who were the elders that went to Ezekiel and sat down before

him? Why did they go to Ezekiel? ________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

5. How did the word of the Lord come to Ezekiel in chapter 14?

How does God speak to us today? ________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

6. What idols did these elders have in their hearts? ___________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

7. What idols, if any, do you have in your heart? ____________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________



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8. What wicked stumbling blocks did these elders put before

their faces? __________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

9. Should God have let these elders inquire of him? Why or why

not? Did he permit them to inquire of him? _________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

10. A _______________ _______________ was that these

_____________, et. al. _____________ _____________ was

________________ associated with ________________, the

_____________, the _____________ _____________ and the

_____________ _____________.

11. They ________________ to ________________ that

______________ was ______________ of ______________ the

_______________ and operates without regard to any

_______________ _______________, _______________ or

_____________.

12. When any ______________ sets up ______________ in his

_____________ and puts a _____________ _____________

_____________ before his _____________ and then goes to a



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_____________, I the _____________ will _____________ him

personally in keeping with his _____________ _____________.

13. What answer did God give these people? _______________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

14. What did God do to recapture the hearts of the people of

Israel? ______________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

15. What was the purpose in everything God did? ___________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

16. How many times in Ezekiel 14 is the word of the Lord

referenced? What is the significance of this frequent repetition?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________



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____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

17. _____________! Turn from your _____________ and

_____________ all your _____________ _____________! Only

through ________________ ________________ could their

_______________ with _______________ be ______________.

_____________ or _____________.

18. Who were the aliens who lived in Israel? How did some of

them separate themselves from God? _____________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

19. How would God respond to these aliens who separated

themselves from him? _________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

20. ______________ does _______________ ______________

himself from _____________ without over _____________

_____________ _____________ from _____________!

21. What idols do those who profess faith in Christ sometimes

set up in their hearts? __________________________________



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____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

22. How did God answer those aliens who separated themselves

from him? ___________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

23. While _____________ _____________ were assuring the

people of ________________ and ________________,

_____________’s _____________ were _____________ the

_____________ that _____________ _____________ upon

them.

24. What happened to Ahab because he believed a false

prophet? ____________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

25. What does “I (God) will set my face against that man”

mean? ______________________________________________

____________________________________________________



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____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

26. What are the meaning and significance of God’s making the

sinners of verse 8 examples (signs) and a byword

(astonishment)? ______________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

27. Explain how a person can be cut off from God’s people?

What are the results of being cut off from God’s people. Who

does the “cutting off”? _________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

28. What did it take for the people to know Jehovah is Lord?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________



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29. How does/did God entice people? How can this enticement

be justified? _________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

30. What happens to prophets and preachers who do not speak

God’s truth? _________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

31. What is involved in a person’s bearing his guilt? What

punishment can such a person expect? ____________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

32. When will/did the people of Israel no longer stray from

God? (See Ezekiel 14:11.) Give biblical support for your

answer. _____________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________



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____________________________________________________

33. Give proof that God’s punishment of Jerusalem was justly

deserved. ___________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

34. As _____________ as the _____________ _____________,

the ________________ of the ________________ will be

_____________.

35. God would send ______________, ______________

______________, the ______________ and ______________

against the _______________ of _______________ and

_____________.

36. Define trespasses and sins as used in verse 13. (Compare the

NIV with the AKJV.) __________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

37. These _______________ had been _______________

______________, had ______________ ______________ to

______________ of their ______________ and would be

_____________ _____________.



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38. If ten righteous residents could have saved wicked Sodom

(Genesis 18:16-33), why couldn’t Noah, Daniel and Job, had

they lived in Jerusalem, save that city from destruction? ______

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

39. Provide descriptive information attesting to the godly

character of Noah, Daniel and Job. _______________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

40. To _____________ _____________ _____________,

_____________ would use _____________ _____________

(the ________________) then ________________ (mass

______________ due to ______________), ______________

_____________ and _____________ (_____________).

41. How does God punish people today? ___________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________



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42. How many times is it said in Ezekiel 14 that the presence of

Noah, Daniel and Job in Jerusalem would not have saved the

city from destruction? What purpose did these repetitions serve?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

43. How many times in Ezekiel 14 is the fourfold dreadful

judgment (wild beasts, sword, plague and famine) of Jerusalem

mentioned? What purposes were served by these repetitions?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

44. Who would survive the destruction of Jerusalem? Give all

the information you can about these people, their character, how

they escaped, what later happened to them, why God allowed

them to survive, what purpose their survival served. __________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________



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45. Why would Ezekiel be consoled when he saw the conduct

and actions of these survivors? __________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

46. When we come to hear the word of the Lord, we must listen

with _____________ _____________, a _____________

_____________ and a _____________ _____________. The

Lord has _______________ to us in the _______________

_____________. We must _____________ and _____________

and _____________ by its _____________.

47. God does not grant the prayers of unrepentant sinners. True

or False? Give biblical support for your answer. _____________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

48. God tells us, _____________! Turn from your

_____________ and _____________ all your _____________

_____________! _____________ _____________ will bear

their _____________ and its _____________ in this

_____________ and in the _____________ to _____________.

49. Give biblical truth to support the fact that each person is

responsible for his own sins. ____________________________



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____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

50. Judgment is inescapable! What can we do to prepare for it?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

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