God called Israel to be an example of His character to the nations surrounding her. Let’s examine what Ezekiel said and consider how we can apply this message to our own lives.
Thus says the Lord GOD: This is Jerusalem; I have set her in the center of the nations, with countries all around her (Ezekiel 5.5).
How do we see God’s calling of Jerusalem to be a central example to the nations reflected in our lives?
I imagine asking Dallas Willard this question, and his response would be, “Live a Jesus-kind-of-life before everyone, and you will fulfill what God has called you to do.”
If I asked Henry Blackaby the same question, I believe he would say, “Find out where God is working and join Him. Embrace God-sized visions with the power of God.”
Israel failed in her mission. Instead of transforming the nations around her, she conformed to their ways.
But she has rebelled against my ordinances and my statutes, becoming more wicked than the nations, and against my judgments more than the countries all around her; for they have rejected my ordinances and have not followed my statutes (Ezekiel 5.6).
Again, let’s ask ourselves a question: What areas in our personal or community life might be misaligned with God’s purpose, similar to Jerusalem’s rebellion?
We study the prophets to confront the areas of our lives that are out of alignment with God’s plan. As we engage with God’s Word, we identify these areas and are called to repentance—changing both our mindset and our behavior.
The Whole Counsel of God
If we’re honest with ourselves, we know how easy it is to point out someone else’s sin and criticize it while overlooking our own.
Israel may have judged the pagan nations around her, but when her own behavior was measured against God’s standard, she was found to be even worse than those nations.
The surrounding nations may have been ignorant of God’s will, but Israel knew it and chose to ignore it. As a result, their guilt was greater than that of the nations around them.
Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you are more turbulent than the nations that are all around you, and have not followed my statutes or kept my ordinances, but have acted according to the ordinances of the nations that are all around you,
Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: I, I myself, am against you; I will execute judgments in the midst of you in the sight of the nations.
And because of all your abominations, I will do to you what I have never yet done, and the like of which I will never do again (Ezekiel 5.7-9).
Once again, let’s examine our lives and ask: What practices, values, or influences from the culture around us might tempt us to stray from God’s guidance today?
In his book, “American Idolatry,” Andrew Whitehead writes that “self-interested power is the central idol” of some expressions of American Christianity.
Years ago, Richard Foster wrote a book titled “Money, Sex, and Power,” in which he explained how these three powerful forces dominate much of American society. When we align ourselves with these motives, we devote ourselves to things that are disconnected from God’s revealed will as demonstrated through the life and ministry of Jesus.
It would benefit all of us to examine our lives in light of Jesus’ entire ministry. Old preachers used to refer to this as “the whole counsel of God.”
Instead of focusing on individual issues, let’s look at the life of Jesus and ask, “God, how do I measure up? What am I serving instead of You?”
This would be a valuable practice as we study the book of Ezekiel.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 