Ezekiel 11
BBCEzekiel 11:1
G. The Repudiation of the Counsel of Wicked Princes (11:1-13)11:1-3 The twenty-five men (representing the princes) were advising the people of the city that there was nothing to fear. They could carry on their construction projects as usual. They were as secure as meat encased in an iron caldron. Thus the twenty-five men flatly contradicted the word of the Lord, which said: “The time is not near to build . . . .” God had given orders through Jeremiah (Jer_29:4-11) that the captives would build houses in Babylon because Jerusalem would fall. The men who devise iniquity tried to awaken false hopes among the captives by letters. Despite the fire of God’s judgment, the princes in Jerusalem felt quite safe there. In the same way, many nominal Christians feel safe from God’s judgment despite the sin in their lives, but the Lord will tell them, “I never knew you.” 11:4-12 Ezekiel was told to reinterpret their symbolism quite differently! The city of Jerusalem was the caldron, and the slain people were the meat! They themselves would be taken out of the city and judged at the border of Israel (see 2Ki_25:18-21; Jer_5:24-27). 11:13 When Pelatiah (perhaps the leader of the twenty-five men) dropped dead, seemingly as a result of his evil counsel, Ezekiel interceded to GOD for his people.
Ezekiel 11:14
H. The Preservation of a Remnant Promised (11:14-21)11:14, 15 The LORD answered by telling the prophet what the inhabitants of Jerusalem had been saying, namely, that the exiles had wandered far . . . from the LORD and that the land belonged to those remaining in Judah and Jerusalem. 11:16-21 But the Lord GOD promised that He would be a little sanctuary to the exiles, and that He would regather them to the land of Israel, completely cleansed of idolatry and with a heart to obey the Lord. Yates comments: Ezekiel follows Jeremiah in urging spiritual religion. It is definitely a heart religion that God wants. The heart is beyond repair. A new one will be provided. Formalism must be left behind. The spiritual emphasis will give them touch with Yahweh that will transform their thinking, their worship, their conduct and their loyalty. A new spirit will be their special gift from their God. (Cf. Eze_18:31; Eze_36:26f). The real hope for the exiles is based on the Lord’s promise. The promise of one heart (one of flesh) and a new spirit are unconditional; they are yet to be fulfilled in the New Covenant. Jesus, before Thy face we fallOur Lord, our life, our hope, our all! For we have nowhere else to fleeNo sanctuary, Lord, but Thee! Samuel Medley
Ezekiel 11:22
I. The Removal of the Glory Cloud to the Mount of Olives (11:22-25)At the close of the chapter, the glory cloud rises from the . . . city and goes to the Mount of Olives, to the east side of Jerusalem. George Williams comments: It retired unwillingly. Its throne was the Most Holy Place, Eze_8:4; it then withdrew to the threshold, Eze_9:3; then, above the threshold, Eze_10:4; then it retired to the Eastern Gate, Eze_10:19; and, finally, to the mountain on the east side of the city, Eze_11:23. Thus did the God of Israel in lingering love forsake His city and temple, not to return till Eze_43:2 (still future).