The Gospel According to Ezekiel, Chapter 20

Israel's Unfaithfulness in the Promised Land

Last week, we examined the unfaithfulness of Israel during the Exodus wanderings. They had been saved from bondage in Egypt, freed from slavery, and brought into the wilderness to follow Yahweh. Freed from the cares of the world—Egypt, the known world of the 15th century BC—they had the opportunity to live at the disposal of God's grace. Yet, due to the sinfulness and unbelief in their hearts, they tested God negatively, questioning His sovereignty and motives. They claimed God brought them out of Egypt to die in the wilderness, preferring the luxuries of slavery—a self-contradiction born of unbelief.

We saw the first generation's unfaithfulness and how the second generation, warned not to follow their fathers' ways and promised the land, acted faithlessly as well. Now, we turn to an even more shocking unfaithfulness in the promised land itself.

We often view the promised land as the goal: a utopia flowing with milk and honey, transforming slaves into a nation under God's rule. It's hard to imagine unfaithfulness there. Many even see it as an Old Testament picture of heaven or dwelling with God. But Ezekiel reveals what actually happened.

Ezekiel 20:27-29
Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel and say to them, Thus says the Lord God, Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me by acting treacherously against me. When I had brought them into the land which I swore to give to them, then they saw every high hill and every leafy tree, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering. There also they poured out their drink offerings. Then I said to them, What is the high place to which you go? So its name is called Bamah to this day.

"Bamah" means high place—sites of cultic worship where Israel offered sacrifices, drink offerings, and soothing aromas to idols. Interestingly, "bamah" also refers to a Canaanite grave. The Hebrews used the same term for idol worship sites as for pagan burial places.

God asks, "What is the high place to which you go?" This question confronts us too. Ezekiel portrays idolatry as inward imaginings, finding in creation what we should find in God. We may not erect physical idols, but we let others manufacture them for us, bringing them into our homes because they already dwell in our hearts.

A high place is anything not God that claims your devotion, attention, and life. It's a sacred space where you offer celebratory sacrifices—enjoyable activities that provoke God. Idolatry occurs when you find in that enjoyment what you should find in God, making it a necessity for meaningful life.

Modern High Places and the Deceit of Idolatry

Consider daily life. After a "stressful" day—though often not truly stressful—what do you run to for solace? In secular jobs, people unwind with activities like a bubble bath and wine, calling it decompression. Even without drunkenness, if alcohol provides enjoyment God should, it's idolatry.

Stress is a negative response to pressure. If overwhelmed, do you turn to God's Word or Him directly? Pastor Rich notes the contradiction: claiming a terrible day while affirming God's sovereignty. Psalm 118:24 declares, "This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." God ordains every event for our enjoyment of Him, making any day as good as Eden or the eternal kingdom through focus on Him.

The promised land's greatness wasn't milk and honey alone, but God's presence. God provided a land for enjoyment, yet they sought it elsewhere—high places, graves of spiritual deadness. Imagine being raised from the grave (Ephesians 2) only to climb back in. That's idolatry.

Examine your high places: relationships replacing God? Substances, food as "comfort"? The goal isn't harmonizing them with God—that's Israel's error, mixing worship with defiling images. Identify and tear them down with hostility, like Josiah. Be distinct, as Israel's laws set them apart.

Ezekiel 20:30-32
Therefore, say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God, Will you defile yourselves after the manner of your fathers and play the harlot after their detestable things? When you offer your gifts, making your sons pass through the fire, you defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. And shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, declares the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you. What comes into your mind will not come about, when you say, ‘We will be like the nations, like the tribes of the lands, serving wood and stone.’

Defiling yourself degrades you. Sin deceives, promising good while leading to death. It's not satisfied as a mere part of life—it consumes. Temptation is like a drug dealer demanding body parts, not cash—portions of your life until nothing remains.

Contrast with God: He gave Himself fully in Christ, an infinite source of enjoyment. Yet sin enslaves; Proverbs 5:22 says, "His own iniquities will capture the wicked man, and he will be held with the cords of his sin." Hebrews 12:1 likens it to being weighed down, constricted like an anaconda tightening its grip.

Every "no" to sin cuts a cord, loosens chains, brings freedom. Every "yes" ties another. Resist temptation—Satan flees (James 4:7). Sin lies: "Do it to get relief." Temporary relief demands more, viewing helpers as enemies.

God's Judgment and Irresistible Restoration

Ezekiel 20:33-38
As I live, declares the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out, I shall be king over you. I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you are scattered, with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out; and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face, just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt. So I will make you pass under the rod, and bring you into the bond of the covenant. I will purge from you the rebels and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Thus you will know that I am the Lord.

God's judgment in exile irresistibly makes Israel His people—for His name's sake. He displays wrath and power, becoming their King. He purges rebels; be among those who enter the covenant, not excluded.

Ezekiel 20:39
As for you, O house of Israel, thus says the Lord God, Go, serve everyone his idols; but later you will surely listen to Me, and My holy name you will profane no longer with your gifts and with your idols.

This isn't permission to sin—it's forced servitude to idols, slavery revealing sin's grip. You're imprisoned, not free.

Ezekiel 20:40-44
For on My holy mountain, on the high mountain of Israel, declares the Lord God, there the whole house of Israel, all of them, will serve Me in the land; there I will accept them, and there I will seek your contributions and the choicest of your gifts, with all your holy things. When I bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you are scattered, I will be profaned no longer through you in the sight of the nations. And you will know that I am the Lord, when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the land which I swore to give to your forefathers. As you ponder all your abominations which you have committed, you will remember and be ashamed and never open your mouth anymore because of your humiliation, when I have forgiven you for all that you have done, the oracle of the Lord God.

God restores: on His holy mountain, all Israel serves Him. He accepts their worship as soothing aroma. They grieve sin like a funeral—loathing it, beating their chests in mourning. Sin evokes deep grief; God, infinite joy.

A Christian's life: grief over sin like a funeral, joy in God like a wedding. Greater grief shrinks sin's appeal; greater joy in God increases worship. Stagnation—standing still, stinking of disobedience—stems from un-grieved sin, blocking intimacy with God. Godly sorrow leads to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10).

Judgment frees to enjoy God forever, purged of sin. Hate sin violently; let God draw you irresistibly for His name's sake. ```