EZEKIEL 6-8
Recap: Last time, we saw where the Lord instructed Ezekiel to “eat” the scroll, related
to his call (Chapter 3). His ministry was further defined by God as he was appointed a
“watchman” over Israel; In Chapters 4-5:17, the prophet takes on the role of a “street
performer” – warning of the coming destruction of the city of Jerusalem.
In Chapter 6, we see God’s judgment against the “high places” of Israel. The “high
places” were elevated hilltop sites dedicated to the worship of pagan gods (v.1-7).
(v.8-10) Our acts of rebellion “crush” the heart of God. It comes as a “surprise” to
many people that God actually has “feelings” and “emotions.” The Hebrew word for
“crush” is shabar - literally to “burst.” While on the cross Jesus was pierced in His side
by a Roman soldier, immediately blood mixed with water flowed out.
Crucifixion typically resulted in death through one of two ways. The first way was due to asphyxiation. The
second way was hypovolemic shock. The prolonged rapid heartbeat resulting from hypovolemic shock causes
fluid to gather in the area around the heart. This is called pericardial effusion. http://www.compellingtruth.org/blood-
Our Lord could have died from a broken crushed heart! (v.9b)
When we truly realize the impact of our sin upon the heart of God, it should cause us
to “loathe” ourselves, rather than love the sin of our flesh. Notice: The eyes are often
where sin, idolatry begins. For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the
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pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he
To embrace a lifestyle of sin, to carelessly
crush God’s heart, is evidence Christ is of no real value to us! A true believer may
wonder, but will come to “loathe” their sinful condition, and will cry out to God! (1
John 1:9).
who does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:16-17)
Because God is a God of emotion and feelings, we have a “high priest,” in Christ, who is
able to “sympathize” with us in our “weaknesses.” (ttt) Hebrews 4:15, 16. The Greek
word for “sympathize” is sumpatheo; to feel, compassion, to suffer with. People
often say, “I know how you feel.” But the reality is, no one really knows how you feel
but Jesus, because He can actually enter into our pain and suffers with us! And not only
that, He provides a “throne of grace” for our restoration. Look on my right hand and see, For
there is no one who acknowledges me; Refuge has failed me; No one cares for my soul. I cried out to You, O Lord:
I said, "You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living. (Psalm 142:4-5)
(v.11-14) The “slain” around the altar of idols, speaks of those who trusted in their
false gods. It appears that they clung to their gods to the very end. There was no place
in the land they did not worship these false gods: the high hills, mountain tops, under
every green tree, every thicket of oak. They burned “sweet incense,” whispering sweet
nothings in the ear of these demonic lovers, by giving to them that which only belongs
to God: worship! “Diblah” here is probably Riblah, an ancient Syrian town northeast of
Israel’s northern border. (v.14b) It is often after a tragedy when people come to know
the Lord is God! Because of our stiff-necks and hard-heads, God often has to break us
in order to “heal” us! Come, and let us return to the Lord; For He has torn, but He will heal us; He has
stricken, but He will bind us up. (Hosea 6:1)
CHAPTER 7
Here the Lord announces time has run out; the end and doom has come to Jerusalem.
Read: v.1-4, 7, 8. In (v.10) we see the fruit of “pride.” (v.13) Sin strengthens no one! It
only weakens and destroys. (v.14, 15) Their military will not be able to save them; it
has dissolved away in fear. (v.16-18) Mourning and terror has gripped the people.
(v.19) Money has failed them. They bought all the “gold” William Devane
(commercial) told them to; but what they had in their safes could not save them from
the wrath of God! In the same manner “riches” are useless in the Day of Judgment;
only the righteousness of Christ will matter. Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But
righteousness delivers from death. 28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like
foliage. (Proverbs 11:4, 28)
(v.20-22) The Babylonians would destroy the once magnificent Temple of Solomon.
(v.20) One commentator explains: “The once beautiful temple was their highest ornament and God
made it majestic by His presence. But they have taken its riches and made idols, which they have brought into the
very courts of the Lord’s House. Therefore, God has set it (the temple) apart from Him, giving it to plunder.” (Adams
Spiritually speaking, when we take the ornamental beauty, the
“temple” of our lives, and use it for carnal purposes, the beauty which God has
bestowed upon us - will become “refuse” and we are rendered unfit for the Master’s
use! (v.23, 24) “Make a chain” – speaks of “chains of imprisonment.” Aretha Franklin
sang: “Chain, chain, chain…chain of fools.” A result of “crime” and “violence” in the
land – God would give the land to a people “worse” than Israel, the Babylonians. (v.2527) They will “reap” what they have “sown.” Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a
Clarke Commentary).
man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows
to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. (Galatians 6:7-8)
CHAPTER 8
(v.1) The “sixth month” – the Hebrew month Elul – is August and September. The month
of Elul is a time of repentance in preparation for the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) and Yom
According to one rabbinical
interpretation “Elul” also means “search” - a time to search their hearts before God.
Kippur (Day of Atonement-highest holy day). (Judaism 101).
(v.2, 3) “A likeness” – the likeness of a man. This is a theophany an appearance of
Christ in the Old Testament. Ezekiel has an out-of-body experience while sitting
amongst the elders. (v.5) The north gate to the inner court is also called the “gate of
the altar,” leading to the brass (brazen) altar where burnt sacrifices were offered. The
“image of jealousy” is the image of a false god, set up in the entrance to the altar.
Satan always sets up an idol - a diversion - at the entrance to the knowledge of God’s
perfect sacrifice: Christ, the altar of His divine forgiveness. It’s an “image of jealousy,”
because God is jealous over His worship, and anything which keeps His people from
giving Him the “glory” He rightly deserves! “Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must
come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!” (Matthew 18:7)
(v.6) God will not share a room with the devil. Because the people had chosen to
serve darkness the light of God’s presence was not be found there. When a believer
“sins” he or she does not lose his or her salvation, due to the exhortation in 1 John 2:1
– “…if anyone sins we have an Advocate with the Father.” However, if we allow sin to
fester, a sense of disconnect with the presence of God will envelope us. Intimacy with
God will be replaced with a spiritual dryness and heaviness of spirit, as if God has
vacated His temple; and we are His temple (1 Cor. 3:16). When I kept silent, my bones grew old
Through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was turned
The remedy is always repentance whereby
restoration with God is immediate! I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I
into the drought of summer. (Psalm 32:3-4)
said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord," And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. (Psalm 32:5)
(v.7-11) In this vision, Ezekiel saw “abominable” things kept in the House of God. As
the nation decayed spiritually, the religious leaders incorporated in the sacred Temple
rituals the worship of “pagan” gods. We see that happening today. They even
worshipped “creeping things” - the creation, rather than the “creator” (Romans 1:25).
The “seventy elders” are representatives of Israel. God instructed Moses to appoint
“seventy elders” (Exodus 24:9-10; Numbers 11:16ff) as representatives of the people.
Shaphan was a scribe during the reign of King Josiah (2 Kings 22:3-14); he was the
comptroller of the temple - a royal household official who examines and supervises
expenditures. Jaazaniah, his son, probably succeeded him in this office – he was the
leader of these idolaters. Judas was also a comptroller. Where money is the object of
worship, you will find all manner of evil!
(v.12-14) “Tammuz” was a Syrian pagan god. The worship of Tammuz correlates with the worship of the
Greek god Adonis. Adonis in Greek mythology, was a beautiful youth, beloved by Aphrodite and Persephone (per-
sef-uh-nee). He was born, according to mythology, as the result of an incestuous. As the story goes, Aphrodite left
Adonis in the care of Persephone (per-sef-uh-nee), who raised him and made him her “lover.” Aphrodite later
demanded the youth for herself, but Persephone was unwilling to relinquish him. When Adonis was gored to
death by a boar, both Persephone and Aphrodite claimed him. The mythological god “Zeus” settled the dispute by
arranging for Adonis to spend half the year (the summer months) above the ground with Aphrodite and the other
half in the underworld with Persephone. Adonis' death and resurrection, (a satanic counterfeit of Christ’s
resurrection), was symbolic of the yearly cycle of vegetation. Thus, as with Adonis, an annual feast was kept to
Tammuz in June. The Syrian women tore out their hair in wild grief, and gave themselves to prostitution,
consecrating the money they earned to Venus, the goddess of love, beauty and fertility. The feast was a
celebration of (summer), Tammuz’s return to the earth. (Fausset's Bible Dictionary).
Here the women of God are “weeping,” like the other pagan women, for “Tammuz,”
rather than repenting before the creator of the heavens and the earth! Lesson: Sisters
do not weep for that which is a “counterfeit” and an “abomination” to God! He left
me. But why “weep” if he was a “dog?” Tammuz can keep you from the treasure God
has for you!
(v.15-18) They lived a life of rebellion and violence outside the temple; but when they
came to “temple” (church), their backs were turned to God, serving God with their
mouths, but denying Him in their hearts. They were so used to doing this, it became a
“trivial” thing!” (v.17) “Branch to the nose” speaks of their insolence – this branch
mentioned here was used in the worship of idols, It possibly had a fragrant smell. But
the aroma of their gods could not cover the stench of their sin against the Lord! The
fragrance of Christ is the only acceptable “aroma” to God! For we are to God the fragrance of
Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of
death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. (2 Corinthians 2:15-16)