Day 245 Reading Schedule: Ezekiel 8-11

Ezekiel 8: Judah's Secret Idolatry

[Overview]

This chapter vividly describes idolatry in the temple. The people were worshiping idols of jealousy, idols in secret places, Tammuz, and the sun god in the temple of Jerusalem, which was built to serve God. This clearly revealed the wickedness of the Israelites and the inevitability of judgment. This chapter consists of the vision of God's glory (verses 1-4) and the temple defiled by idols (verses 5-18). The Israelites defiled society with their wicked actions and even brought abominable idols into the temple, desecrating the temple and despising God. God will no longer show mercy to these people and will punish them even if they cry out and pray.  In this way, we come to realize that the very fact of dwelling in the temple does not guarantee faith. Rather, there is a concern that we will become absorbed in formal worship and become filled with hypocritical false consciousness. 

Ezekiel 9: Prophecy of Judgment on Jerusalem 

[Overview] 

This chapter shows the specific execution of judgment following the previous chapter that sharply denounces idolatry in the temple. God reveals that cruel slaughter will be carried out as a judgment on the sins of the Israelites. This chapter is composed of the part where the executioners are called (verses 1-2), the part where the command and execution of the punishment are described (verses 3-7), the part where the prophet Ezekiel's petition and God's response are revealed (verses 8-10), and the part where the mediating angel reports (verse 11). The first place where Jehovah's slaughter takes place is the temple. This is because the temple is a place to serve and worship God, and true repentance should take place there, but open acts of rebellion were committed.  God strongly emphasizes his intention of judgment by punishing the temple where sin reached its peak. In this chapter, we must remember the coming judgment and be filled with the Holy Spirit internally, and maintain piety externally. 

Ezekiel 10: Judgment by Fire 

[Overview] 

This chapter shows a clear sign of the destruction of Jerusalem in a more specific way than the previous chapter. The act of God's judgment performed in this chapter can be seen as a symbolic one. In fact, the scene of the siege of Jerusalem in chapter 4, although metaphorical, is an example of what will actually happen by the Babylonian army, and the plague, famine, and judgment by the sword in chapter 5 are also described through metaphorical actions, but were historically accomplished by the Babylonian army. However, the act of God scattering fire in this chapter is not something that actually happened, but rather a symbolic expression of God's judgment on Jerusalem as a whole. The first half of this chapter (verses 1-8) depicts the scene of the city of Jerusalem being judged by fire.  It consists of the middle part (verses 9-17) which describes the appearance of the four groups and the principles of their movement, and the latter part (verses 18-22) which mentions the scene of God's glory departing from the temple. 

Ezekiel 11: God's Judgment and Grace 

[Overview] 

This chapter mentions the judgment of the arrogant people who remained in Jerusalem and committed evil and those who were taken captive to Babylon and were in despair. In fact, those who remained in Jerusalem and escaped disaster and captivity despised and looked down on the captives rather than feeling a sense of solidarity and responsibility with those who were taken captive. In this situation, the prophet leads people to reach a new perception of reality and understanding of history by proclaiming the opposite perspective. This chapter consists of the first half (verses 1-13) which foretells the judgment of the sinful rulers of Israel who remained in Jerusalem, the middle part (verses 14-21) that promises the restoration and salvation of the Babylonian captives, and the latter part (verses 22-25) that describes the scene of God's glory departing.  He proclaims hope for those who were taken captive. Even though the Israelites left the temple and wandered in a foreign land, God will always be with them and work to bring them back to the land of Canaan.