LIFE-STUDY OF EZEKIEL
Read and pray: “Then I looked, and there in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubim there appeared over them something like a sapphire stone, in appearance like the likeness of a throne” (Ezek. 10:1)
THE BASIS OF GOD’S JUDGMENT
In this message we shall consider the judgment of God’s people.
THE BASIS OF GOD’S JUDGMENT
First, we need to see the basis of God’s judgment upon His people. God’s judgment upon His people was based on three things: God’s righteousness, God’s holiness, and God’s glory.
In the first section of Ezekiel (chap. 1), in the vision of the appearance of the glory of the Lord, we saw three main things: the throne, which looked like a sapphire, signifying God’s righteousness; the fire, which signifies God’s holiness; and the glowing electrum, signifying God’s glory.
As we have pointed out, these three things give us three basic colors. The throne with the appearance of sapphire was blue; the fire was red; and the glowing electrum was yellow. When these three basic colors shine and reflect together, they give the appearance of the rainbow. The crucial point here is that God’s righteousness, holiness, and glory are the basis upon which God exercises His judgment upon His people.
God’s Glory Opposed to Idols
In chapters two through twenty-four, there are some negative things that are opposed to God’s righteousness, holiness, and glory. God’s glory is opposed to idols, and in 8:2-4, 10 and in 9:3, God’s glory is opposed to idols.
In a vision, Ezekiel was brought to Jerusalem and entered the temple. Before him, God’s glory and the idols were contrasted. On the walls were images of idols, and over the temple was the glory of the Lord.
The glory of the Lord could not tolerate the images of the idols. These images were called provoking images, because they provoked God to jealousy (8:3). Our God is a jealous God; He will not tolerate idols.
Because of the idols in the temple, God’s glory withdrew step by step, leaving the temple, the city, and the people. In the final stage, the glory of the Lord left the temple and the city, stopping at the Mount of Olives on the east side of the city (11:23), the same place where the Lord Jesus ascended into the heavens.
The glory of the Lord stopped and waited for a time, but eventually it left that mountain and returned to heaven. This was the departure of the glory of the Lord.
God’s judgment upon His people is based first on His glory. Everything that is opposed to God’s glory will surely provoke His judgment. Today’s Christianity is under God’s judgment. The situation of Christianity today is provoking God to jealousy because of the many idols.
The Roman Catholic Church has all kinds of idols, and other so-called churches also have idols. In some of these places there may not be physical idols, but there are other kinds of idols. For some, their work for God is an idol. For others, biblical teaching or evangelism becomes an idol.
If we love our work, activism, or practice more than the Lord, even these things, which are for the Lord, may become idols. Based on this principle, we can realize that the situation of Christianity is filled with idols. This is why I say that the situation of Christianity today is provoking God and is under His judgment.
God’s Holiness Opposed to Dross
God’s holiness is God’s separation and sanctification, and this is opposed to dross. As God’s chosen people, the church should be pure gold, pure silver, and a pure treasure. However, like the people of Israel in Ezekiel’s time, the church has become dross.
Therefore, like Israel, the church needs to be burned by fire. The Lord said that He would put the city of Jerusalem and the people of Israel into a furnace to burn them (22:17-22). This indicates that God’s holiness is opposed to dross. God’s holiness cannot tolerate any kind of dross.
Consider the situation of Christianity today. Where can you find a pure treasure for God? Almost everywhere you look there is only dross. There is surely the need for God’s burning fire to consume the dross.
The same is true regarding the kindness and humility expressed by many Christians. In this kind of love, kindness, and humility there is no pure gold. Instead of something pure and holy, there is mixture, dross. Those who express this love, kindness, and humility are in the flesh, doing good things or expressing something in a good way. Although the expression may be good, nevertheless it is flesh. There is no dealing of the cross nor any dealing of God’s holiness.
Therefore, this kind of love, kindness, and humility needs to be burned and judged; it needs to be placed under God’s judgment by fire. From this we see that not only our hatred needs to be burned, but even our love needs to be burned. In the same way, both our pride and our humility need to be burned by God.
God’s Righteousness Opposed to Injustice and Oppression
God’s righteousness is opposed to Israel’s injustice and oppression. During Ezekiel’s time, the people used to oppress and practice robbery (22:29). Based on His righteous throne, God had to execute His judgment upon all injustices and unrighteous things.
Now we can see that God’s judgment upon His people was based on His glory, holiness, and righteousness. Anything that was not compatible with His glory, holiness, and righteousness had to be judged.
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