Judgment on Idolatrous Israel

Ezekiel 6:1–14
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Throughout Israel people had erected altars to worship pagan gods. The Lord was about to destroy these altars and liter the pagan shrines with the carcasses and bones of those who worshiped there.

Ezekiel addressed the mountains of Israel because it was there the “high places” of idolatrous worship were found (vv. 1-2). The ravines and valleys were also included in the pronouncement of judgment (vv. 3-7). When the Jews first entered Canaan and took over the worship sites their religious ceremonies were, no doubt, pure. Canaan’s customs, however, became incorporated into Jehovah worship. The pagan religion appealed to the baser part of man’s nature. Israel’s moral life began to decay. Ezekiel makes his fierce condemnation of this type worship.

From north to south the land would be devastated. However the Lord would preserve a remnant and scatter them among the nations (vv. 8-10). These survivors would some day acknowledge the Lord’s sovereignty and confess their sin of idolatry. There brings some hope for the people. A few will be left alive and will remember their God. The wickedness of their sin will cause remorse even to their own eyes. God’s work shall not have been in vain. They shall return to him.

A tremendous punishment, however, must come to Israel. The last section of this sermon begins with God instructing Ezekiel to strike his hands together, stamp his feet and cry out because of all the wicked and detestable practices of the house of Israel (vv. 11-14). The pestilence, sword, and famine shall take their toll. The dead bodies and the desolate land will convince the people God will not tolerate sin in the lives of his people. Israel will know that He is the Lord.

Application

It is easy to forget that the Lord alone is the supreme authority and the only source of eternal love and life. God may use difficulties in my life to teach me that He alone is God.