Ezekiel 12

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Judah’s Captivity Portrayed

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. The fate of King Zedekiah was dramatized by Ezekiel.

  2. The fear of the coming siege was dramatized by Ezekiel.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Don’t let delay turn into denial or doubt.

QUESTIONS

  1. Ezekiel accomplished his prophetic ministry through signs, s_________ and v________.

  2. From chapter 12 on to chapter 24, prophetic signs are given by Ezekiel to emphasize the certainty and causes of the coming judgment on J_______ and J____________. Here in chapter 12 are two of Ezekiel’s signs; the sign of the baggage and tunneled wall and the sign of the ___________ ______.

  3. The sign dramatized by Ezekiel tunneling through the wall especially illustrated the attempted escape from Jerusalem by whom?

  4. The people of Israel were relying on the false teaching of two proverbs (vs 22, 27). What was this false teaching, and how did the Lord respond to it?

ANSWERS

  1. Ezekiel accomplished his prophetic ministry through signs, sermons and visions. As with Jeremiah, Ezekiel was known for his use of object lessons or dramatic signs to illustrate and drive home the Lord’s message(s) to the people.

  2. Ezekiel emphasized the certainty and the causes of the coming judgment on Judah and Jerusalem. Here in chapter 12, he used the sign of the baggage and the tunneled wall and the sign of the trembling hands. Ezekiel acted out this object lesson before the people to illustrate the fear and trembling that would come upon them when the Babylonian army would surround them and cut off any escape.

  3. Ezekiel’s dramatization of tunneling through the wall illustrated the attempted escape of King Zedekiah from Jerusalem. He is called the prince in the verses of this chapter. Read Jeremiah 52:1-11 in regard to Zedekiah’s attempted escape.

  4. The false teaching of the two proverbs here in chapter 12 was that the Lord’s judgment against Judah and Jerusalem was to be delayed until the distant future or perhaps not occur at all. The Lord responded clearly and forcefully, as He called the people a “rebellious house,” and declared to them through Ezekiel that His judgment would be certain and soon (vs 23-28).

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. It is difficult to understand how the people of Israel could ignore the prophets of that day regarding their sinful and wicked living and the warnings of judgment to come. Is it not just as hard to understand how the people of our day ignore the warnings of Scripture? Discuss the possible reasons people today “have ears but do not hear and have eyes but do not see” (Ezekiel 12:2), and why there are so many “scoffers” in our midst. (See 2 Peter 3:3.)

CHALLENGE

  1. How would your thinking, behavior and service to the Lord change if you were keenly aware that Jesus could come at any moment to take all believers to be with Himself? We do not know when He will come, but we do know He could come at any moment. Rather than living with denial, doubt and apathy toward your kingdom service, live today with anticipation, hope and zeal for the Lord’s work. Jesus could come today!

KEY VERSES

  • “Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, which has eyes to see but does not see, and ears to hear but does not hear; for they are a rebellious house.” Ezekiel 12:2

  • “I am the Lord. I speak, and the word which I speak will come to pass; it will be postponed no more; for in your days, O rebellious house, I will say the word and perform it.” Ezekiel 12:25



Ezekiel, Old Testament, TalksDeb HarmsEzekiel 12