Ezekiel 21:24
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: 'Because you have drawn attention to your guilt, exposing your transgressions, so that your sins are revealed in all your deeds--because you have come to remembrance--you shall be taken in hand.
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says:
This phrase introduces a divine pronouncement, emphasizing the authority and sovereignty of God. It reflects the prophetic tradition where God directly communicates His will through His prophets. This is a common formula in prophetic literature, underscoring the seriousness and certainty of the message.

Because you have drawn attention to your guilt:
The people of Israel have made their guilt evident, possibly through their actions or lack of repentance. This phrase suggests a self-incrimination, where their behavior has highlighted their own wrongdoing. It reflects the biblical theme of accountability, where individuals and nations are responsible for their actions before God.

Exposing your transgressions:
The transgressions of the people are laid bare, indicating a lack of concealment. This exposure can be seen as a result of their persistent sinfulness and rebellion against God's commandments. The concept of exposure is significant in biblical terms, as it often precedes judgment or the need for repentance.

So that your sins are revealed in all your deeds—
This phrase indicates that the sins of the people are evident in their actions. It suggests a pervasive corruption affecting all aspects of life. The comprehensive nature of their sinfulness is reminiscent of other biblical passages where the totality of sin is acknowledged, such as in Romans 3:23.

Because you have come to remembrance—
This implies that the people's sins have been brought to God's attention, possibly through their own actions or through divine judgment. The idea of remembrance in the Bible often relates to God recalling the covenant or the sins of the people, leading to either mercy or judgment.

You shall be taken in hand.
This phrase suggests that God will take action against the people, likely in the form of judgment or discipline. The imagery of being "taken in hand" can imply being seized or controlled, reflecting the consequences of their actions. This aligns with the biblical principle that God disciplines those He loves, as seen in Hebrews 12:6.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Ezekiel
A prophet during the Babylonian exile, tasked with delivering God's messages to the Israelites.

2. The Lord GOD
The sovereign God of Israel, who speaks through Ezekiel to convey His judgment.

3. Israelites
The people of Israel, who are being addressed due to their rebellion and transgressions.

4. Babylonian Captivity
The event where the Israelites were taken captive by Babylon as a consequence of their disobedience.

5. Jerusalem
The city that symbolizes the heart of Israel's rebellion and the focal point of God's judgment.
Teaching Points
The Consequences of Rebellion
Rebellion against God leads to severe consequences, as seen in the Babylonian captivity. This serves as a warning to remain faithful and obedient to God's commands.

The Importance of Acknowledging Sin
The Israelites' guilt was brought to mind through their actions. Recognizing and confessing our sins is crucial for maintaining a right relationship with God.

God's Sovereignty in Judgment
God's judgment is just and sovereign. Understanding His authority helps us trust in His plans, even when they involve discipline.

The Call to Repentance
While the Israelites faced captivity, the broader biblical account offers hope through repentance. Turning back to God can restore our relationship with Him.

Learning from History
The events of the past, such as the Babylonian captivity, are recorded for our instruction. We should learn from these examples to avoid similar pitfalls.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the rebellion of the Israelites in Ezekiel 21:24 reflect our own tendencies to stray from God's commands?

2. In what ways can we bring our own guilt to mind and seek God's forgiveness, as encouraged in 1 John 1:9?

3. How does understanding the historical context of the Babylonian captivity enhance our comprehension of God's judgment in Ezekiel 21:24?

4. What are some practical steps we can take to avoid the consequences of rebellion as described in Leviticus 26 and Ezekiel 21:24?

5. How can we apply the lessons from Ezekiel 21:24 to our daily lives to ensure we remain obedient and faithful to God?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Leviticus 26
Discusses the blessings of obedience and the consequences of disobedience, similar to the themes in Ezekiel.

Jeremiah 25
Jeremiah also prophesies about the Babylonian captivity, reinforcing the message of judgment for rebellion.

2 Kings 24
Provides a historical account of the events leading to the Babylonian captivity, offering context to Ezekiel's prophecy.

Romans 6:23
Highlights the consequences of sin, which aligns with the message of judgment in Ezekiel 21:24.

1 John 1:9
Offers hope and redemption through confession and repentance, contrasting the rebellion in Ezekiel.
The All-Controlling Providence of GodJ.D. Davies Ezekiel 21:18-27
The Approaching JudgmentW. Jones Ezekiel 21:18-27
The Impartiality of Divine JusticeJ.R. Thomson Ezekiel 21:18-32
People
Ammonites, Ezekiel
Places
Babylon, Jerusalem, Negeb, Rabbah
Topics
Appear, Appear-because, Captive, Caught, Cause, Causing, Deeds, Disclosed, Discovered, Doings, Evil-doing, Evil-doings, Guilt, Iniquity, Memory, Mind, Open, Rebellion, Remembered, Remembrance, Revealed, Revealing, Says, Seized, Sins, Thus, Transgressions, Uncovered, Uncovering, Wrongdoing
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ezekiel 21:24

     7217   exile, in Babylon

Ezekiel 21:24-26

     4925   delay, divine

Ezekiel 21:24-27

     8807   profanity

Library
Scriptures Showing the Sin and Danger of Joining with Wicked and Ungodly Men.
Scriptures Showing The Sin And Danger Of Joining With Wicked And Ungodly Men. When the Lord is punishing such a people against whom he hath a controversy, and a notable controversy, every one that is found shall be thrust through: and every one joined with them shall fall, Isa. xiii. 15. They partake in their judgment, not only because in a common calamity all shares, (as in Ezek. xxi. 3.) but chiefly because joined with and partakers with these whom God is pursuing; even as the strangers that join
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Light for them that Sit in Darkness;
OR, A DISCOURSE OF JESUS CHRIST: AND THAT HE UNDERTOOK TO ACCOMPLISH BY HIMSELF THE ETERNAL REDEMPTION OF SINNERS: ALSO, HOW THE LORD JESUS ADDRESSED HIMSELF TO THIS WORK; WITH UNDENIABLE DEMONSTRATIONS THAT HE PERFORMED THE SAME. OBJECTIONS TO THE CONTRARY ANSWERED. 'Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.'--Galatians 3:13. by John Bunyan--1674 ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. This solemn and searching treatise was first published in 1674, a copy of which is in
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Sundry Sharp Reproofs
This doctrine draws up a charge against several sorts: 1 Those that think themselves good Christians, yet have not learned this art of holy mourning. Luther calls mourning a rare herb'. Men have tears to shed for other things, but have none to spare for their sins. There are many murmurers, but few mourners. Most are like the stony ground which lacked moisture' (Luke 8:6). We have many cry out of hard times, but they are not sensible of hard hearts. Hot and dry is the worst temper of the body. Sure
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Saurin -- Paul Before Felix and Drusilla
Jacques Saurin, the famous French Protestant preacher of the seventeenth century, was born at Nismes in 1677. He studied at Geneva and was appointed to the Walloon Church in London in 1701. The scene of his great life work was, however, the Hague, where he settled in 1705. He has been compared with Bossuet, tho he never attained the graceful style and subtilty which characterize the "Eagle of Meaux." The story is told of the famous scholar Le Clerc that he long refused to hear Saurin preach, on the
Grenville Kleiser—The world's great sermons, Volume 3

Ezekiel
To a modern taste, Ezekiel does not appeal anything like so powerfully as Isaiah or Jeremiah. He has neither the majesty of the one nor the tenderness and passion of the other. There is much in him that is fantastic, and much that is ritualistic. His imaginations border sometimes on the grotesque and sometimes on the mechanical. Yet he is a historical figure of the first importance; it was very largely from him that Judaism received the ecclesiastical impulse by which for centuries it was powerfully
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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