If the first 23 chapters of Ezekiel feel repetitive, it’s important to remember that Ezekiel delivered these messages over a span of five years, from his calling in 593 BC to the imminent destruction of Jerusalem in 587 BC.
A new phase in Ezekiel’s preaching begins at the end of chapter 24, and the book concludes with a powerful message of hope. However, before reaching that point, we must explore the challenges faced by the exiles in Babylon and the residents of Jerusalem.
Ezekiel’s goal was to jolt the exiles out of their spiritual complacency. To capture their attention, he used vivid and graphic language to describe both Israel’s sin and the coming judgment.
I would have found it challenging to use such language and imagery in my own preaching during my ministry.
However, for a prophet like Ezekiel, these expressions were entirely appropriate, as they were aimed at leading the people to recognize and restore their proper relationship with God.
Ezekiel succinctly summarized the people’s sins in a single verse. After repeatedly addressing their wrongdoing from chapter 3 through chapter 22, he condensed his message into one powerful and concise statement.
Therefore thus says the Lord God: Because you have forgotten me and cast me behind your back, therefore bear the consequences of your lewdness and prostitutions (Ezekiel 23:35).
God Was Forgotten
God’s first grievance was that His people had forgotten Him. Imagine how you would feel if someone you deeply loved treated you the way these verses describe God’s covenant people behaving toward Him.
You were unmindful of the Rock that bore you;
you forgot the God who gave you birth. (Deuteronomy 32:18)
They forgot God, their Savior,
who had done great things in Egypt. (Psalm 106:21)
Can a girl forget her ornaments,
or a bride her attire?
Yet my people have forgotten me,
days without number. (Jeremiah 2:32)
When I fed them, they were satisfied;
they were satisfied, and their heart was proud;
therefore they forgot me. (Hosea 13:6)
Forgetting God in 2024 may look different than it did in 590 BC, but the core issue remains the same. Here are some ways we might demonstrate that we have forgotten God.
Take a moment to reflect on these examples and conduct a spiritual inventory to evaluate where you stand in your relationship with Him.
(1) Neglecting Prayer and Worship – When people stop prioritizing prayer, attending worship services, or engaging with Scripture, it reflects a life where God has taken a backseat to other concerns.
(2) Bigger Priorities than Spiritual Values – The pursuit of wealth, success, or possessions often overshadows a commitment to God.
(3) Ignoring Moral and Ethical Standards – Choosing self-interest over God’s commandments, such as engaging in dishonest behavior, fostering broken relationships, or disregarding the well-being of others, reveals a heart that has forgotten God’s ways and values.
(4) Turning to Self-Reliance Instead of Trusting God – When people rely on their own strength or wisdom to navigate life’s challenges without seeking God’s guidance, it reflects how we have forgotten our place in His kingdom.
(5) Treating Faith as Secondary in Daily Decisions – When faith is compartmentalized—limited to Sundays or certain “religious” aspects of life—while decisions about work, relationships, and priorities are made without reference to God, it shows that He is no longer the center of one’s life.
God – Out of the Picture
God revealed four examples of idolatry to Ezekiel (see chapter 8). In one of these examples, the people physically turned their backs on God and worshiped another deity instead.
And he brought me into the inner court of the house of the Lord; there, at the entrance of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs to the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the east, prostrating themselves to the sun toward the east (Ezekiel 8.16).
The temple was God’s designated meeting place, where He connected most deeply with His people.
Instead of seeking Him there in prayer for direction, guidance, power, and help, the people turned their backs on Him and worshiped the sun god, who falsely promised justice.
As I meditated on Chapter 8, I was struck by the idol of jealousy mentioned in verses 4 and 5. This idol stood in the pathway between the entrance to the temple area and the altar.
As I prayed about this, I reflected on my own life and realized how my self-will has often stood in the way of a deeper relationship with God, acting as a barrier between the opening of my heart and true communion with Him.
How do we turn our backs on God? By placing our own needs, desires, and plans above our connection with Him.
Not Minor Issues
The issues Ezekiel preached to the exiles in Babylon were far from minor. They were not simply about an offended God upset with the disobedience of the people who were supposed to serve Him. Instead, these were matters of profound importance.
The way people serve their god—whether the true God or idols—directly impacts how they treat others. We inevitably become like the gods we serve.
The Babylonians were ruthless because they worshiped ruthless gods. In contrast, God’s people were called to be different. They were to reflect His justice, mercy, and compassion in the world. And, so are we.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, Rus Wisner, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 