STEMMING THE TIDE-I—Ezekiel 22:23-31
Intervention/Confrontation/Stand against
Standing in the Gap
Attention:
(Memorial Day)Soldiers who have given their all—even their lives— for the sake of their country. Those soldiers of the WWII era we consider(per news anchor, journalist, & author Tom Brokaw) as ‘The Greatest Generation.’ Not because they were any better than anyone else of any generation, but because their generation recognized the prevailing trend of evil & the entire American nation(& others) was polarized & unified in seeking to stop that evil...Many giving their lives in the pursuit!(21 to 25 million[military dead], including deaths in captivity of about 5 million prisoners of war.”—Wikipedia) Why did they do it?...Because it was the right thing to do.
Together they stemmed the tide of sin.
Need:
To be individual & thereby corporate world changers.
YaHWeH(the LORD) sought for a man who would be willing to stand for Him in the midst of apostasy.
YaHWeH is looking for a person to stem the tide of sin.
YaHWeH is looking for a person to stem/thwart/impede/obstruct the rampant onslaught of sin.
Who will stem the tide of sin?
Who will stand for the Lord against sin?
People who stem the tide of sin.
1—A person who stems the tide of sin, Addresses spiritual...
CLEANSING-CLEANLINESS(:23-24)
Explanation:(:23-24)
:23—“And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Ezekiel prophesied from 593(?) BC, after(604BC(?)) the southern kingdom of Judah began to be deported into Babylonian exile.—NICOT 1997
The word of YaHWeH came to Ezekiel. We do not know the manner in which Ezekiel heard YaHWeH’s “word.” Regardless it was undeniably God’s word.
Knowing/Recognizing God’s word could possibly have been like John’s being in the Spirit & hearing a loud voice as a trumpet(Rev. 1:10), or a mere absolute conviction as in the Spirit’s direct communication to the heart(Mk. 13:11; Lk. 1:67; Jn. 5:28-29).
Rev. 1:10—“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, & I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,”
Mk. 13:11—“But when they arrest you & deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.”
Lk. 1:67—“Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, & prophesied, saying:”
Jn. 5:28-29—“Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice[Jesus’] & come forth--those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, & those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.”
“Word”—rbd daw-baw'—Noun Masc.—1) Speech, word, speaking, thing—1a) Speech, 1b) Saying, utterance, 1c) Word, words, 1d) Business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner--by extension. Strong—from rbd[To arrange, speak, subdue]; A word; by implication--A matter(as spoken of) or thing; adverbially--A cause.
“LORD”(See :28)—hwhy Yeh-ho-vaw'—Noun Proper Deity—Jehovah = “the existing One”—1) The proper name of the one true God—1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of ynda Ad-o-noy’. Strong—from hyh[To exist, be, become, come to pass]; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.
“Came”—la ‘el(ale) (but only used in the shortened constructive form—la ‘el)—Prep.—1) To, toward, unto(of motion); 2) Into(limit is actually entered)—2a) In among; 3) Toward(of direction, not necessarily physical motion); 4) Against(motion or direction of a hostile character); 5) In addition to, to; 6) Concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of; 7) According to(rule or standard); 8) At, by, against(of one's presence); 9) In between, in within, to within, unto(idea of motion to). Strong—a primitive particle; properly--denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. Near, with or among; often in general--To.
“Saying”(See :24)—rma aw-mar’—Qal Infinitive—1) To say, speak, utter—1a) (Qal)-To say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend, 1b) (Niphal)-To be told, to be said, to be called, 1c) (Hithpael)--To boast, to act proudly, 1d) (Hiphil)--To avow, to avouch. Strong—a primitive root; To say(used with great latitude).
:24—“Son of man, say to her: ‘You are a land that is not cleansed or rained on in the day of indignation.’”
Ezekiel is always(?) referred to as the “son of man.” It is a reminder to Ezekiel of his simultaneous weakness in flesh as well as his great potential in God’s grace & empowerment.
The “her” here is Israel(cf.-:18ff). Jerusalem being her capital city she too is culpable(cf.-:1-16).
The “land” of Israel is not made clean even in the time of God’s fury/wrath/“indignation” which has already been levied upon them by the hands of foreign pagan nations at God’s command. The land has been torn from[Prj] “cleansing.”
The “land” is targeted for God’s wrath due to their persistence in sin...in separating themselves from the graciousness of Almighty God. Therefore their “land” has not been “cleansed or rained on” during the wrath’s execution. The “land” of Israel is wholly given to sin & is thus undeserving of escape!
Neither has the “land” received “cleansing” or refreshing in response to God’s “indignation.”
Likewise there is no “rain” to bring such “cleansing” & prosperity & fertility to the “land” as needed. For the nation of Israel—as God’s people—“rain” is an assurance of God’s favor(Lev.26:3-12)!
Lev. 26:3-12—[to national Israel]—’If you walk in My statutes & keep My commandments, & perform them, then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, & the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. Your threshing shall last till the time of vintage, & the vintage shall last till the time of sowing; you shall eat your bread to the full, & dwell in your land safely. I will give peace in the land, & you shall lie down, & none will make you afraid; I will rid the land of evil beasts, & the sword will not go through your land. You will chase your enemies, & they shall fall by the sword before you. Five of you shall chase a hundred, & a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall by the sword before you. For I will look on you favorably & make you fruitful, multiply you & confirm My covenant with you. You shall eat the old harvest, & clear out the old because of the new. I will set My tabernacle among you, & My soul shall not abhor you. I will walk among you & be your God, & you shall be My people.”
From a spiritual standpoint there is no invitation on the part of Israel, extended to YaHWeH, in order to heal their land. They are self-satisfied.
NIV—‘You are a land that has had no rain or showers {Septuagint; Hebrew ‘has not been cleansed or rained on’} in the day of wrath.’
The concept of “cleansing” coupled with “rain” may be intended to recall the Noahic Flood.—NICOT
“Say”(See :23)—rma aw-mar’—Qal Imperative—1) To say, speak, utter—1a) (Qal)-To say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend. Strong—a primitive root; To say(used with great latitude).
“Land”(See :29)—Ura eh’-rets—Noun Fem.—1) Land, earth—1a) Earth—1a1) Whole earth(as opposed to a part), 1a2) Earth(as opposed to heaven), 1a3) Earth(inhabitants), 1b) Land—1b1) Country, territory, 1b2) District, region, 1b3) Tribal territory, 1b4) Piece of ground, 1b5) Land of Canaan, Israel, 1b6) Inhabitants of land, 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under)world, 1b8) City(-state), 1c) Ground, surface of the earth—1c1) Ground, 1c2) Soil, 1d) (in phrases)—1d1) People of the land, 1d2) Space or distance of country(in measurements of distance), 1d3) Level or plain country, 1d4) Land of the living, 1d5) End(s) of the earth, 1e) (almost wholly late in usage)—1e1) Lands, countries—1e1a) Often in contrast to Canaan. Strong—from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; The earth(at large, or partitively a land).
“Not”(?)—Prj taw-raf’—?—1) To tear, rend, pluck—1a) (Qal) To tear, rend, 1b) (Niphal) To be torn in pieces, 1c) (Poal) To be torn in pieces, 1d) (Hiphil) To provide food. Strong—a primitive root; To pluck off or pull to pieces; causatively--To supply with food(as in morsels). Used 25X
“Cleansed”(See :26—rwhj taw-howr' OR rhj taw-howr’[Adj.])—rhj taw-haer’—Pual(passive of Piel) Participle—1) To be clean, be pure—1c) (Pual) To be cleansed, be pronounced clean. Strong—a primitive root; properly--To be bright; i.e. by implication--To be pure(physical sound, clear, unadulterated; Levitically, uncontaminated; morally, innocent or holy).
“Rained on”—Mvg go’-shem—Verb—1) (Pual)--To be rained upon. Noun Masc.—2) Rain. Used 1X.
“Day”—Mwy yowm—Noun Masc.—1) Day, time, year. Strong—from an unused root meaning to be hot; A day(as the warm hours), whether literal(from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative--A space of time defined by an associated term, [often used adverb].
“Indignation/Wrath”(See :31)—Mez zah’-am—Noun Masc.—1) Anger, indignation. Strong—strictly--Froth at the mouth, i.e. figuratively--Fury(especially of God's displeasure with sin). Used 22X.
Argumentation:
Num. 19:9, 11-13, 17-20—[regulations regarding purity/cleansing]’Then a man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, & store them outside the camp in a clean place; & they shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for the water of purification; it is for purifying from sin.”.....“‘He who touches the dead body of anyone shall be unclean seven days. He shall purify himself with the water on the third day & on the seventh day; then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on the third day & on the seventh day, he will not be clean. Whoever touches the body of anyone who has died, & does not purify himself, defiles the tabernacle of the LORD. That person shall be cut off from Israel. He shall be unclean, because the water of purification was not sprinkled on him; his uncleanness is still on him.”.....“‘And for an unclean person they shall take some of the ashes of the heifer burnt for purification from sin, & running water shall be put on them in a vessel. ‘A clean person shall take hyssop & dip it in the water, sprinkle it on the tent, on all the vessels, on the persons who were there, or on the one who touched a bone, the slain, the dead, or a grave. ‘The clean person shall sprinkle the unclean on the third day & on the seventh day; & on the seventh day he shall purify himself, wash his clothes, & bathe in water; & at evening he shall be clean. ‘But the man who is unclean & does not purify himself, that person shall be cut off from among the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD. The water of purification has not been sprinkled on him; he is unclean.”
Water of Purification was used by the priest for ceremonially cleansing from sin.
“Cleansing” in the Mosaic Law was all about picturing God’s holiness & recognizing our unholiness, & thereby recognizing & accepting our need to be made holy aside from ourselves...by forgiveness from God Himself.
Rev. 21:6-8—“And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha & the Omega, the Beginning & the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, & I will be his God & he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, & all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire & brimstone, which is the second death.”
2Chron. 7:14—“if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, & pray & seek My face, & turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, & will forgive their sin & heal their land.”
Rom. 7:22-25—“For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, & bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.”
Jn. 13:3-17—“Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, & that He had come from God & was going to God, rose from supper & laid aside His garments, took a towel & girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin & began to wash the disciples’ feet, & to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?” Jesus answered & said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands & my head!” Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; & you are clean, but not all of you.” For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.” So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, & sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? “You call me Teacher & Lord, & you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord & Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”
2Cor. 6:16--7:1—“And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons & daughters, Says the LORD Almighty.” Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh & spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
Illustration:
Pull in at the New Carrabelle Beach/Park the car but before you can get out, there is a constant terrible booming sound coming from the stereo of a car where a group of people is picnicking/Not very appealing for a leisurely relaxing time at the beach! & Not very welcoming to tourists!/CLEANSING-CLEANLINESS
Same day/At the Old Carrabelle Beach/Walking with chairs, cooler, books, & umbrella, etc./You smell rotten fish—some fisherman had obviously cleaned their fish at the beach & thrown the remains in the dunes!/Not very appealing for a leisurely relaxing time at the beach!/Not very welcoming to tourists/CLEANSING-CLEANLINESS
What has God done in your life?
What is God doing in your life?
Is your life a setting in which God is readily or instantly glorified.
Application:
?Are you continually Addressing spiritual CLEANSING-CLEANLINESS?
?Are you Stemming the Tide of sin?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
WWII soldiers killed in the line of duty—recognized the prevailing trend of evil & unified in seeking to stop that evil...Gave their lives in the pursuit!(21 to 25 million[military dead], including deaths in captivity of about 5 million prisoners of war). Why?...Because it was the right thing to do.
Together they stemmed the tide of sin.
Action:
A person who stems the tide of sin, Addresses spiritual...
1. CLEANSING-CLEANLINESS(:23-24)
Pts. 1 only! presented 05/29/2016am to:
FBC Cbelle
206 Storrs Ave. SE(Ave. A SE)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
