When God is Silent: Ezekiel 20:1-49

https://www.biblehub.com/bsb/ezekiel/20.htm

Silence between people who are in a covenant relationship is neither confusing nor mysterious; We know exactly what it means…it is a certain sign that something is wrong. When Mali is silent with me, I can be sure she believes I’ve done something wrong. I know this because that’s when I get silent with her; when I believe she’s done something to offend me.

And, silence is not an inappropriate response; it is communicating displeasure. 

It gets complicated in two ways. First, When I ask what’s wrong, and all I get is silence, its difficult to understand what went wrong. Second, when I insist on justifying my actions the silence is extended. The offended party isn’t inclined to speak as long as the partner insists nothing’s wrong.

We are in a covenant relationship with God and…sometimes things go silent. We feel like God is a thousand miles away and we can’t hear Him. We can ignore the silence and the relationship deteriorates or, we can ask the honest question..”what have I done?”

Very simple but, not very easy…

Explanation: Ezekiel 20 opens with God’s declaration, “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: Have you come to inquire of Me? As surely as I live, I will not be consulted by you, declares the Lord GOD.” God is saying “from the beginning of our relationship I’ve made my expectations clear and you ignore me…so I’ll quit talking.”

Ezekiel 20 is not just a history lesson; it is a covenant warning. This is how the problem unfolds:

1. Israel is in exile and they want to know why, so the elders ask Ezekiel to inquire of God. In other words, they know (intuitively) that they must have done something wrong.
2. God says to Ezekiel, “tell them I’m not speaking with them right now.” Which, confirms their fear that something in the relationship has gone wrong.
3. But then God tells Ezekiel to explain why; God details Israel’s long history of rebellion against God and God’s repeated mercy for the sake of His name. The chapter recounts Israel’s disobedience in Egypt, the wilderness, and the Promised Land, showing both God’s justice and His patience.

Idolatry and Sabbath violation are presented as the two primary, repeated sins that define Israel’s rebellion and form the main basis for God’s judgment.

Idolatry is the root problem. God commands them: “Cast away the detestable things your eyes feast on, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt” Idolatry is linked with child sacrifice and other “abominations” as a core evil. Profaning the Sabbath is the covenant marker of rebellion. God repeatedly says they “profaned my Sabbaths” in Egypt, the wilderness, and the Promised Land. The Sabbath is given as a sign that God sanctifies them: “Keep my Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between me and you” (v. 12, 20). God gave the Sabbath for very particular reasons:

1. To commemorate God as Creator - The Sabbath is a reminder that God created the universe in six days and rested on the seventh, so He “blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy” (Exodus 20:8–11). It’s a weekly declaration that God is Creator and has the right to dictate how we live. The Sabbath is tied to the creation pattern: God rested, and we rest to follow His example

2. To remind Israel that God is Redeemer and Provider - The Sabbath also recalls Israel’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt, reminding them that God saved them “with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm” (Deuteronomy 5:12–15).  It’s a day to remember they were slaves, then saved: “You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out”

3. To be a covenant sign between God and Israel - The Sabbath is the “sign” of the covenant between God and Israel: “It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever” (Exodus 31:13). It visibly demonstrates that Israel belongs to God and that He is their Lord and sanctifier

4. To provide regular rest and refreshment - The Sabbath is a gift to the weary: a day to stop anxious toil, rest, and enjoy God’s gifts. It’s about being rather than doing: one day to rest, worship, and enjoy God instead of constantly working. It’s a counter-cultural declaration of trust: ancient societies didn’t take a day off, but Israel did to show they trust God to provide

5. To point to ultimate rest in salvation - The Sabbath signifies rest in salvation that is ultimately found in Christ (Hebrews 4:1–11). It’s a marker of the deeper rest from sin that God offers

So, God says He will not let them inquire of Him while they persist in this defilement. In spite of this, there are things God proclaimed He would not to…to protect His own reputation. God says He would not destroy Israel completely even though they deserved it, to protect His own reputation among the nations. He did this not because they were righteous, but for the sake of His name—so the nations would not say He was:

• Unable to fulfill His promises
• Unjust or hateful
• Profaned or dishonored by His failure to protect His people

But, God doesn’t leave us desolate; He finally says He will bring them into the “wilderness of the nations” and judge them face to face as He judged their ancestors; He will purge those who rebel and revolt, and they will not enter Israel. Ultimately, after judgment, they will remember their evil, loathe themselves, and finally listen to God so His name is no longer profaned. God will finally speak.

Application: Do we want to break the silence? God has made some things pretty clear, if we’ll listen.

1. Live for God’s name, not our own - The central thrust of Ezekiel 20 is that God acts for the sake of His name. Our life’s purpose is to glorify God’s name, not promote your own. Everything we do—work, marriage, parenting, friendships—should be done “for the glory of God” (1 Cor 10:31). We should ask “How do I love my wife for the glory of God’s name? How do I do my job for His glory?” We should pray “God, use my life to glorify Your name among the nations”

2. Kill hidden idolatry in our heart - Identify and cast away modern idols: money, status, power, approval, comfort, ideology, relationships, self. Don’t let our heart “go after idols” the way Israel did. Confess and repent of any idolatrous attachment that competes with worship of God

3. Honor the Sabbath as a sign of trust and covenant - Though Christians are not under the Old Covenant Sabbath law in the same way, the principle remains:

• Rest regularly as a sign that God is our Provider and Sanctifier, not your own labor
• Use time of rest and worship as a weekly declaration that God is Lord and you trust Him
• Don’t treat God’s gifts (like rest and worship) as burdens to discard; they are means of communion with Him

4. Learn from Israel’s story, don’t repeat it - God rehearsed Israel’s rebellion so His people would learn and turn from sin: Don’t assume we’re immune to the same patterns: rebellion, idolatry, hypocrisy, spiritual apathy. Recognize that sin has consequences, but God’s mercy is also real and purposeful.

5. Rest in God’s grace for His name’s sake - Just as God spared Israel for the sake of His name, He saves and keeps us for the sake of Christ’s name. Our salvation is not because of our righteousness, but because God is faithful to His name. This should produce humility, not pride. It should also produce gratitude and zeal: if God saved us for His glory, live for His glory.

6. The church must be a beacon of holiness among the nations - The church should visibly reflect God’s character: mercy, justice, purity, faithfulness. The church should not conform to the world’s values but stand out as holy. The church should preach repentance, warn against sin, and call people to live for God’s name.

Be certain of this; God will listen and God will speak but, on His terms, not ours. If we think God is kidding around…we will be in for a huge disappointment.

Prayer: “Father God,

I come before You with a humble heart, grateful for Your mercy, Your patience, and Your faithfulness. I confess that I need Your grace every day, and I ask You to shape my heart so that I will honor You in all that I do.

Please forgive me for the times I have drifted from Your ways, chosen my own will, or given my heart to lesser things. Clear away anything in me that competes with You. Help me to love what You love, to hate what is evil, and to walk in obedience with sincerity and joy.

Lord, I commit my life to You again. Teach me to live with integrity in private and in public, to honor You in my thoughts, my words, my relationships, my work, and my decisions. Give me the strength to trust You, the discipline to obey You, and the courage to follow You even when it is costly.

Make my life a reflection of Your holiness and goodness. Let my choices bring glory to Your name, and let my heart find rest in belonging to You. Keep me sensitive to Your voice, quick to repent, and eager to do what is pleasing in Your sight.

Thank You that You do not abandon Your people, but guide, correct, and restore them in love. I place myself in Your hands today and ask that You make me faithful to Your expectations, by Your Spirit and for Your glory.

In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Live boldly out there today…

Resources:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+20&version=NIV

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+20&version=KJV

https://www.bible.com/bible/114/EZK.20.NKJV

https://www.esv.org/Ezekiel+20/

https://bibleproject.com/bible/nlt/ezekiel/20/

https://www.melissabeaty.com/studies/bible-study-ezekiel-201-49

https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/book-of-ezekiel/chapter-20-summary.html

https://www.apostolicfaith.org/daybreak-and-discovery/ezekiel-20-1-29

https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/ezekiel-20/

https://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20.htm

https://versebyverseministry.org/lessons/ezekiel-20

https://www.kfuo.org/2019/02/27/tsw-022719-ezekiel20/

https://radical.net/podcasts/pray-the-word/for-the-sake-of-his-name-ezekiel-209/

https://lifecenter.net/joes-blog/2018/caring-about-gods-reputation/

https://israelmyglory.org/article/profaning-gods-name/

https://bible.ucg.org/bible-commentary/Ezekiel/Israel-punished-for-idolatry-and-Sabbath-breaking

https://thinkhardthinkwell.com/2021/07/25/sermon-shame-rolled-away-ezekiel-201-11/

https://www.fbcthomson.org/post/god-must-judge-sin-a-warning-from-ezekiel-20-1-14

https://www.gotquestions.org/statutes-that-were-not-good.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tCRkvXHxvM 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owwkDdukK2U

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskAChristian/comments/1rcvrzw/ezekiel-20/

 

 The Lament for the Princes of Israel: Ezekiel 19:1-14

https://www.biblehub.com/bsb/ezekiel/19.htm

Several High-Profile Church Scandals have occurred Since my ministry began in 1976. 

Lists of “fallen pastors” grow regularly…Televangelist scandals (e.g., Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Bakker), prominent cases like Bill Hybels, Carl Lentz, Mike Bickle, Robert Morris, and others. The John Jay Report (US, 1950–2002) documented allegations against 4,392 priests and deacons. The Southern Baptist Convention investigations revealed hundreds of leaders accused of sexual abuse over decades, with over 700 victims in one major report. It isn’t an American problem; Germany’s witnessed 1,670 accused clergy and other countries report thousands of cases.

Hundreds to thousands of documented public cases exist in the US alone since 1976, with likely many more unreported or privately handled. Media amplification makes scandals feel more frequent, though the vast majority of church leaders serve faithfully without public disgrace.  Public trust in pastors has declined partly due to these visible failures.

As these tales of tragedy unfolded, I never felt vindictive; thinking these people got what they deserved. Instead, I mourned. 

I’ve always believed Satan works overtime to defeat the mission of Christ’s Church and destroying leadership is a master strategy. We are at war with Satan and war always incurs casualties. Anybody who  enlists to combat Satan puts themselves in harm’s way. And, Satan has some significant weapons.  But, we never cheer; even for those brought down by self inflicted wounds, we mourn…we pray.

This is the Lesson of Ezekiel 19

Explanation: Ezekiel 19 is a funeral song for Judah’s rulers, especially the last Davidic kings. It mourns their downfall while also explaining that their ruin came through their own violence, corruption, and failure to lead rightly;“Mourn for Judah’s leaders, because their reign has been brought to ruin by their own sin, and the kingdom they led is now shattered.” That is why the chapter feels both sorrowful and severe.

The chapter uses two vivid pictures: The first metaphor is a lioness with her cubs: it pictures Judah or Jerusalem as a mother lion raising royal sons who later become fierce, are captured, and are taken away in judgment. The second is a vine by abundant water that grows tall and fruitful but is then uprooted, dried out, and burned, showing the collapse of Judah’s royal line and national strength.

A lamentation was a poetic form used for grief, usually like a funeral dirge. Ezekiel is told to “take up a lamentation,” and the chapter ends by saying, “This is a lamentation,” making clear that the whole passage is meant to be mournful rather than merely accusatory.

The lament says the collapse of Judah’s leadership was tragic and deserved mourning, but it was not random. It served as God’s judgment on leaders who had abused their power, and it also announced that the old royal line had been brought to an end.

Application: The world mocks and sneers when Church Leaders fall. God doesn’t. 

It’s not so much that God judges out anger, Ezekiel 19 suggests sorrow is not a contradiction of God’s character; it flows from it. Because God is holy, sin is serious, and because He is just, He does not ignore it—even when His judgment is painful and tragic. This is why the chapter can grieve the downfall of leaders while still affirming that the judgment is deserved.

So the The chapter is itself a lament, which means the downfall is portrayed as genuinely tragic even though the leaders are being judged for sin. God’s grief and God’s justice are not opposites. Scripture commonly shows that it is right to be sad, even to weep, when leaders fall, while still recognizing that sin has real consequences and may require discipline or disqualification.

Ezekiel 19 teaches the church to mourn sin honestly, lead humbly, and respond to God with repentance and obedience. For the church today, Ezekiel 19 calls us to take sin, leadership failure, and God’s judgment seriously. It also reminds believers to lament over spiritual decline instead of treating it casually. Leaders are accountable to God, and power used badly brings real consequences.

So the application for the church is: do not celebrate a leader’s fall, and do not minimize the sin. Lament, accountability, and repentance can belong together.

The chapter warns against pride and self-confidence, because even strong-looking institutions can be brought low when they drift from God. It also points to God’s mercy in exposing sin so people will repent rather than continue in rebellion. The church should practice biblical lament: grief over sin, brokenness, and the damage sin causes in God’s people.

The lesson: Pray hard for our church leaders. surround them with spiritual power and authority that comes from our faithfulness.

Prayer: “Lord, we come before You with sorrow for the struggles in Your church today. We grieve the sin, division, weariness, and compromise that weaken our witness and wound Your people.

We lament the pride that blinds us, the failures of leaders, the hurt caused by careless words and broken trust, and the way many have grown cold in love. Have mercy on us, O God.

Search us and expose what is hidden. Where we have drifted from Your truth, call us back. Where we have treated holiness lightly, awaken us. Where we have become fearful, distracted, or divided, restore us by Your Spirit.

Grant comfort to the wounded, repentance to the straying, courage to the faithful, and humility to those who lead. Teach us to mourn sin without despair, and to trust that You are still at work even in our weakness.

Lord Jesus, heal Your church, purify Your church, and make Your church beautiful again for Your glory. Amen.”

Live boldly out there today…

Resources:
https://radical.net/podcasts/pray-the-word/practicing-lament-well-ezekiel-191/

https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/ezekiel-19/

https://writtenexposition.org/2025/07/25/a-lament-for-the-princes-of-israel-ezekiel-191-14/

https://www.apostolicfaith.org/daybreak-and-discovery/ezekiel-19-1-14

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/mhc/Eze/Eze_019.cfm

https://www.gotquestions.org/God-of-justice.html

https://biblehub.com/topical/g/god’s_holiness_and_justice.htm

https://billmuehlenberg.com/2019/04/24/sproul-on-gods-holy-justice/

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/how-respond-church-leaders-fall/

https://www.russellmoore.com/2016/04/15/what-to-do-when-a-pastor-falls/

https://credomag.com/2019/09/it-takes-theology-to-lament/

https://au.thegospelcoalition.org/article/learning-to-lament-a-guide-to-praying-in-our-hardest-moments/

https://www.gracedupage.org/journal/2017/9/28/reflections-on-lamentation

 “The Devil Made Me Do it!”: Ezekiel 18:1-32

https://www.biblehub.com/bsb/ezekiel/18.htm

The phrase “The devil made me do it” is a well-known English idiom used to deflect blame for one’s own actions by attributing them to external satanic influence. 

The catchphrase was coined and made famous by American comedian Flip Wilson in the early 1970s. On his hit variety show The Flip Wilson Show (1970–1974), Wilson portrayed the sassy character Geraldine Jones, who would do something mischievous or impulsive (like buying an expensive dress) and then exclaim, “The devil made me do it!” with a grin. 

It became a national meme and cultural staple. Wilson even won a Grammy for his 1970 comedy album titled The Devil Made Me Buy This Dress! 

While Flip Wilson popularized the exact phrasing as comedy, the underlying idea of blaming the devil (or a serpent) for sin is much older. The first biblical example appears in Genesis 3:13, where Eve tells God after eating the forbidden fruit: “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” This is essentially the original “the devil made me do it” excuse. 

The phrase is almost always used humorously or ironically today, but it carries deeper theological and moral weight, especially in the context of original sin, Ezekiel 18, and personal responsibility: It implies a denial (or minimization) of personal agency. Scripture consistently teaches that while the devil (or temptation) can influence or deceive, he does not force people to sin. Humans retain moral responsibility for their choices. In Genesis, God holds Adam and Eve accountable despite the serpent’s role. He doesn’t accept the excuse. This aligns directly with Ezekiel 18: God rejects the idea that people can fully blame others (ancestors, circumstances, or external forces) for their own wrongdoing. Each person is called to repent of their own actions.

Explanation: The ancient Israelites had their own “Flip Wilson.” Ezekiel 18 addresses a proverb popular among the exiled Israelites: “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge” (Ezekiel 18:2). The literal physical allusion is to the reaction of biting into a sour grape or unripe fruit, which makes the teeth feel “set on edge” because of the sharp, puckering sensation. The proverb originated among the people of Israel during the Babylonian exile, when they were questioning why judgment was falling (and whether prophetic warnings would ever come true)…which places it in the early- to mid-6th century BC. Ezekiel’s rebuke suggests it was a current, familiar saying rather than something he invented. The people were blaming their current suffering (exile in Babylon) on the sins of previous generations rather than repenting of their own sins. 

God responds through Ezekiel: “The soul who sins shall die.” The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.” (Ezekiel 18:20, ESV)

•  The chapter repeatedly emphasizes repentance and personal accountability: “A wicked person who turns to righteousness will live; a righteous person who turns to wickedness will die. God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked but urges them to change” (Ezekiel 18:21-32).

This is a call to individual moral responsibility within the covenant community, countering fatalism or generational blame-shifting. It echoes Deuteronomy 24:16 (fathers and children not put to death for each other’s crimes under Mosaic law). It does not address the origins of human sinfulness or Adam’s role. 

“Original Sin” means, (drawn from passages like Romans 5:12-21, Psalm 51:5, Ephesians 2:1-3), all people are born with this fallen condition (often called “concupiscence”), so “we sin because we are sinners” by nature, not merely by choice. Through Adam, sin entered the world, bringing death to all of God’s creation…including a corrupted human nature inclined toward sin.

“Death” is a cosmological fact that insinuated itself into a perfect world through Adam and Eve’s decision to “be their own boss,” contrary to God’s command. It is not an immediate physical phenomenon where life ceases; it is an insidious infection in the cosmos that slowly kills everything. It’s called “entropy.” Science recognizes it:  “A certain property of a body, expressed as a measurable quantity, such that when there is no communication of heat the quantity remains constant, but when heat enters or leaves the body the quantity increases or diminishes.” Sometimes called the thermodynamic function, in laymen’s terms it means creation (and everything in it) is slowly dying.

That’s the irreversible curse…

The salient points in chapter 18 are as follows:

• God rejects the sour-grapes proverb as a false excuse for blame-shifting.
• He asserts that every life belongs to him, so he judges each person directly.
• He gives examples of three generations to show that a righteous man may live, a wicked son may die, and a righteous grandson will not be punished for his father’s sin.
• He adds that repentance matters: the wicked who turns from sin will live, while the righteous who turns to wickedness will die. The main point; The chapter teaches moral accountability: present conduct matters, and God is not unjust in judging individuals according to their own deeds. It also holds out mercy, because repentance can interrupt judgment and lead to life.—it counters excuse-making.

We might ask how Christ can bear others’ sins if Ezekiel applies. Answer: Ezekiel addresses human-to-human generational guilt in judgment, not God’s sovereign provision of a voluntary substitute (the innocent for the guilty) as an act of mercy. Ezekiel 18 combats fatalism and promotes repentance, while original sin explains why repentance and a Savior are universally needed.

Application: A fitting personal response is to let Ezekiel’s message move us from blame-shifting to self-examination before God. The chapter calls for honest repentance, because God deals with each 0f us according to our own ways, not as an excuse for inherited guilt.

• Confess where we have been tempted to justify ourself by pointing at family, culture, leaders, or circumstances.
• Believe the chapter’s warning seriously: present faithfulness matters, and repentance is not optional.
• Take hope in the chapter’s mercy: God calls the wicked to turn and live, so the door to restoration is real.
• Pray for a clean heart and a steady obedience that matches your profession of faith.
• The text invites humility rather than defensiveness. A good response is, “Lord, search me, make me responsible, and keep me from hiding behind the sins of others.”

Prayer: “Heavenly Father,

I come before You with a humble and open heart. Your Word through Ezekiel confronts me with the truth that each person stands responsible before You for his or her own ways. I confess that I have too often tried to blame my family, my past, my circumstances, or even the sins of others for my own failures. Turn my heart from this excuse-making and make me truly responsible before You.

Lord, I repent of every hidden and open sin. I turn away from unbelief, pride, and disobedience. By Your Spirit, give me the courage to face my own heart honestly and to humble myself under Your hand. I commit myself to walk in Your statutes and keep Your ordinances, not to earn favor, but out of love and gratitude for Your grace.

Keep me from hardening my heart when You speak. Where I am tempted to say, “The fathers ate sour grapes, and our teeth are set on edge,” remind me that I am called to face my own sin and to live faithfully now. Grant me a watchful heart that examines my ways daily, that repents quickly, and that persists in faithfulness.

Lord, I commit to heeding this warning. I choose to live for You, to obey Your Word, and to guard my heart against the deceit of sin. May my life honor You, and may I not be ruined by my own iniquity, but be found faithful in Your sight.

In Jesus’ name, amen”

Live boldly out there today…

Resources:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+18&version=NIV

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+18&version=KJV

https://www.bible.com/bible/114/EZK.18.NKJV

https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/ordinary-26/commentary-on-ezekiel-181-4-25-32-6

https://joelkime.com/2021/09/28/are-you-avoiding-taking-responsibility-ezekiel-18-part-2/

https://929chapters.com/2010/08/22/ezekiel-18-%E2%80%9Cindividual-responsibility%E2%80%9D/

https://www.biblestudytools.com/ezekiel/12-22.html

https://mypastoralponderings.com/2020/09/26/no-more-sour-grapes-my-sermon-on-ezekiel-181-4-25-32/