Ezekiel 8-11: Ezekiel’s Vision of Jerusalem’s Judgment
Introduction
1. In our last study, we noted
some of the bizarre action sermons Ezekiel was sent by God to perform.
2. In this lesson, we see another unusual, but more common,
feature of prophecy: interactive, prophetic visions.
I.
The Defilement of the Temple (8:1-18)
A.
Introduction to the Vision (8:1-4)
1.
Ezekiel is very exact in the dates he supplies; this was the 413th
day of his 430 day mock siege.
2.
The elders had gathered to Ezekiel in his house when a vision came upon
the prophet.
3.
In the vision, Ezekiel saw a theophany, a representation of God in
something like human form.
a)
His lower body was fire; his upper body was bright like gleaming metal.
b)
He extended something like a hand, caught Ezekiel by a lock of hair, and
lifted him up.
4.
The prophet was carried in the vision between earth and heaven to
Jerusalem.
a)
He was set down by the gate to the inner gate on the north side of the
Temple.
b)
The representation of God’s glory that Ezekiel saw in chapter one was
also there.
5.
Prophetic visions were not like typical revelations; these were out of
body experiences.
a)
The prophet could interact in the vision; it was a form of virtual
reality.
b)
Chapters eight thru eleven record this vision given to Ezekiel and later
recorded by him.
B.
Defilement Discovered in the Temple (8:5-16)
1.
The Image of Jealousy (5-6)
a)
God showed Ezekiel four examples of the defilement and sin in the Temple
at Jerusalem.
b)
The first was an image of jealousy, i.e. an idol, located at the altar
gate by the inner court.
c)
The idol’s presence provoked Jehovah to anger, effectively driving Him
out of the Temple.
d)
As great as this abomination was, Jehovah assured Ezekiel that he would
see worse.
2.
The Room of Carved Images (7-13)
a)
At the court entrance there was a hole in the wall which Ezekiel tore
open at God’s order.
b)
The widened hole revealed a door that Ezekiel opened and entered.
c)
Inside the door was a secret room with carvings of abominable beasts and
idols on the walls.
d)
Seventy elders of Israel, including a son of Shaphan, were in the room
offering incense.
e)
These men justified their secret cult believing God had left Israel and
did not know their sin.
f)
These hypocrites resisted Jeremiah claiming God was still with those in
Jerusalem.
g)
As great as this abomination was, Jehovah assured Ezekiel that he would
see worse.
3.
The Mourning for Tammuz (14-15)
a)
Tammuz was a fertility god whose yearly death and resurrection evoked
change in seasons.
b)
Women were gathered in Jehovah’s Temple to weep for and worship a pagan
god!
c)
As great as this abomination was, Jehovah assured Ezekiel that he would
see worse.
4.
The Worship of the Sun (16)
a)
Then Ezekiel was taken to the front of the Temple, between the porch and
the altar.
b)
Twenty-five men stood with their backs to the Temple, worshipping the
sun.
c)
Their location suggests these men are priests, twenty-four orders plus
the high priest.
C.
Disaster Declared by God (8:17-18)
1.
These were but four examples of idolatry and wickedness in Jehovah’s
Temple.
a)
Besides these violations of the covenant, the whole land had been filled
with violence!
b)
They had provoked Jehovah to anger so that He had to bring judgment upon
them.
c)
The meaning of put the branch to their nose is unknown, but it
obviously isn’t good.
2.
God would take action in His wrath.
a)
His eye would not spare; He would punish them without pity.
b)
He would not listen to their cries, no matter how loud.
3.
Jeremiah and Ezekiel were rejected by those who denied God would punish
them.
a)
But this chapter demonstrated how God could bring the awful judgment He
promised.
b)
Their sins had driven Him away from the Temple; the city and Temple were
no longer His!
II.
The Doom of the City (9:1-10:22)
A.
Salvation and Slaughter (9:1-7)
1.
God called for the executioners to come forth, and six men appeared with
battle axes in hand.
2.
With the six slayers was a seventh man, clothed in linen, carrying an
ink-well and quill.
3.
The writer was told to mark the forehead of all in Jerusalem who mourned
over the city’s sin.
4.
The slayers were to follow behind, starting at the Temple, and kill
without mercy everyone else.
B.
Plea and Pronouncement (9:8-11)
1.
As the slaughter began, Ezekiel fell on his face and pled with God for
mercy.
2.
Jehovah responded by justifying His actions to the prophet who was so
stirred by them.
3.
The land was full of blood and injustice; they thought their actions
escaped the Lord’s attention.
4.
God would not overlook their sin but would punish without mercy, bringing
it on their heads.
C.
Filling and Fire (10:1-8)
1.
Having completed his mission, the writer was then told to take fire from
among the cherubim.
2.
This chapter reiterates and further describes the chariot of God seen in
chapter one.
3.
The creatures are identified as cherubim. Remember the fire flashing
among them?
4.
The writer was to take the burning coals from the cherubim and scatter
them over the city.
D.
Deity and Departure (10:9-22)
1.
There are a few differences and additional information in the description
of the chariot/cherubs.
2.
The wheels are described as whirling and their color like a beryl
stone; cherubs are full of eyes.
3.
Whereas the glory of the LORD had filled the Temple, now it lifted up and
went to the east gate.
4.
The glory that had taken up residence in the tabernacle and Temple was
now departing the land.
III.
The Denunciation of the Leaders (11:1-25)
A.
False Hope of the Leaders (11:1-13)
1.
Ezekiel was taken to the east gate of the Temple and saw twenty-five men,
leaders of the people.
2.
These men devised wickedness and gave false hope and false counsel to the
men of the city.
3.
The figure of the cauldron and meat suggested security for the city, but
God would remove them.
4.
The sword they feared would find them. While Ezekiel preached in the
vision, Pelatiah died.
B.
The True Hope of the LORD (11:14-21)
1.
When Pelatiah died, Ezekiel again fell on his face and cried out to the
Lord.
2.
The LORD responded by assuring Ezekiel of His favor on the exiled remnant
that would return.
3.
The inhabitants of Jerusalem dismissed the captives, but God would give
the captives the land.
4.
The remnant would purge the land of evil, be given a new heart and
spirit, and obey the Lord.
C.
Conclusion to the Vision (11:22-25)
1.
The cherubim lifted their wings; God’s glory left Jerusalem and stood on
the Mount of Olives.
2.
The Spirit returned Ezekiel to the captives in Chaldea, and the vision
was over.
3.
Then the prophet proceeded to tell the captives all the things that
Jehovah had shown him.
IV.
Applications
A.
God Sees in Secret
1.
The people thought that God did not see the sin they committed in secret.
8:12; 9:9
2.
But the eyes of Jehovah are in every place, keeping watch on the evil
and the good. (Pr. 15:3)
3.
What does God know about you that has escaped the attention of your
brethren? He knows!
B.
The Terror of God’s Wrath
1.
The God of Ezekiel is the God of the NT, the God of John 3:16 & 1John
4:8, but He is terrifying.
2.
What does Jehovah have to say to get our attention about His wrath and
sin? 8:18; 9:5-7, 10
3.
Behold the goodness and the severity of God! Praise His goodness. Fear
His holy wrath.
Conclusion
1. How could God bring such terrible punishment on His own
people and Temple? They were no longer His.
2. Remember, Ezekiel is supposed to teach us more about
Jehovah. What are we learning in this lesson?