1 Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me.
2 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
3 Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be inquired of at all by them?
4 Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;
5 That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.
6 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn [yourselves] from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.
7 For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to inquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer him by myself:
8 And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD.
9 And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.
10 And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh [unto him];
11 That the house of Israel may go no more astray from me, neither be polluted any more with all their transgressions; but that they may be my people, and I may be their God, saith the Lord GOD.
12 The word of the LORD came again to me, saying,
13 Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it:
14 Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver [but] their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.
15 If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts:
16 [Though] these three men [were] in it, [as] I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate.
17 Or [if] I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it:
18 Though these three men [were] in it, [as] I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves.
19 Or [if] I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast:
20 Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, [were] in it, [as] I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall [but] deliver their own souls by their righteousness.
21 For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?
22 Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, [both] sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, [even] concerning all that I have brought upon it.
23 And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings: and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord GOD.
Overview of Ezekiel Chapter 14
Ezekiel Chapter 14 addresses the issue of idolatry among the people of Israel and the consequences of their actions. The chapter emphasizes God’s judgment and the importance of true repentance. It also highlights the role of individual responsibility in the face of collective sin.
Key Themes
- Idolatry: The chapter opens with the leaders of Israel approaching Ezekiel, demonstrating their desire for guidance while still clinging to their idols.
- Divine Judgment: God warns that He will not listen to those who approach Him while maintaining their idols.
- Individual Responsibility: The text emphasizes that each person is accountable for their actions, regardless of the collective behavior of the community.
- Hope for Remnant: Despite the judgment, there is a promise of preservation for those who are faithful to God.
Detailed Analysis
Verses 1-5: The Inquiry of the Elders
The chapter begins with the elders of Israel coming to Ezekiel to seek guidance from God. However, God reveals that these leaders have set up idols in their hearts. This indicates a disconnect between their outward appearance of seeking God and their inner spiritual condition.
- God’s response emphasizes that He will not be consulted by those who harbor idols.
- The phrase “set up their idols in their hearts” illustrates the internal nature of idolatry, suggesting that it is not merely external actions but also internal affections that lead to separation from God.
Verses 6-8: Call to Repentance
God calls the people to repentance, urging them to turn away from their idols and to seek Him sincerely. The consequences of not repenting are severe, as God declares that those who refuse to turn will face judgment.
- This section highlights the necessity of genuine repentance, not just a superficial seeking of God.
- The phrase “I will set my face against that man” underscores the seriousness of God’s judgment against those who persist in idolatry.
Verses 9-11: False Prophets and Deception
God warns that if a prophet is deceived while speaking in His name, it is because He has allowed it to happen. This serves as a caution against false prophets and the dangers of being led astray by their messages.
- God’s sovereignty is emphasized, as He controls the narrative even among false prophets.
- The importance of discernment is highlighted for the people, as they must be aware of the true nature of their spiritual leaders.
Verses 12-23: The Judgment of the Land
The chapter concludes with a stark warning about the impending judgment that will come upon the land due to the people’s sins. God states that even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in the land, they would only save themselves by their righteousness.
- This illustrates the principle of individual accountability before God.
- The mention of these three righteous figures serves to emphasize the severity of the situation, as even the most righteous would not be able to save others.
- The promise of a remnant is also present, indicating that God will preserve a faithful few amidst the judgment.
Conclusion
Ezekiel Chapter 14 serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers of idolatry and the necessity of sincere repentance. It emphasizes individual responsibility in the face of collective sin and the importance of seeking God with a pure heart. The chapter ultimately points to the hope of a remnant who will remain faithful to God amidst judgment.
