What was happening when the elders came to inquire of the Lord?

The elders came during a hard season in exile, when many from Judah had already been taken from their land. They sat before God’s prophet as if they wanted to hear from God and know what to do. But God saw that their hearts were not truly turned to Him. They still clung to idols and sinful plans. So He refused to answer them as they wished, and instead used the moment to expose their sin and remind them of their long history of rebellion against Him.

Why does God say, "I will not be enquired of by you"?

God says this because the elders’ questions were not honest. They wanted God’s help while keeping their idols and their own will. God shows that He will not let people treat Him like a tool while they stay in open rebellion. He does not reject humble seekers, but here He refuses hypocritical inquiry. By turning them away, He calls them first to face their sins, remember their fathers’ abominations, and repent rather than just ask for relief or approval.

What does it mean that God acted "for my name’s sake"?

When God says He acted for His name’s sake, He means He spared and rescued Israel to protect His honor among the nations. Israel’s sin deserved full judgment, even in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet God held back so other nations would not think He was weak or unfaithful. His mercy flows from His own holy character and promises. This shows that salvation does not rest on human goodness but on God’s commitment to His own name, which is good news for sinners who turn back to Him.

Why are the Sabbaths such a big issue in this passage?

God says He gave His Sabbaths as a sign between Him and Israel so they would know that He is the one who makes them holy. Keeping the Sabbath showed trust in God, rest in His care, and loyalty to His covenant. When Israel “greatly polluted” the Sabbaths, it was not just breaking a day of rest, but rejecting God’s rule and the special relationship He offered. Their contempt for His Sabbaths stood as a clear sign of their wider rebellion against His statutes and judgments.

What does it mean that God gave them "statutes that were not good"?

This is a hard line in the passage and has been read in more than one way. In the story being told, the point is that when Israel stubbornly followed idols, God let them go their own way and be handed over to the harmful practices they chose, like child sacrifice. He did not make evil laws, but let them feel the bitter results of rejecting His good commands. Their own twisted worship became their ruin, so that they might finally see their need of Him and know that He is the Lord.

Why does God recount Israel’s history from Egypt to the land?

God walks through their history to show that the current generation is not an exception but part of a long pattern. In Egypt, in the wilderness, and in the promised land, He chose them, gave good laws and Sabbaths, warned them, and spared them. Yet each generation clung to idols and despised His ways. By laying this out, God strips away their excuses, humbles their pride, and shows that His coming judgment is just. At the same time, it sets the stage for His promised mercy and future restoration.

What does "I will cause you to pass under the rod" mean here?

Passing under the rod is a picture taken from a shepherd counting and inspecting his flock. Here, God says He will bring His scattered people into a kind of wilderness again, deal with them face to face, and sort them. He will bring them “into the bond of the covenant” but will also purge out rebels who will not listen. So the rod speaks both of care and discipline. God will not lose His people, yet He will not ignore stubborn sin among them.

What does this passage teach about God’s character?

This passage shows God as holy, patient, and faithful. He hates idolatry and hypocrisy and will not be used by people who only pretend to seek Him. Yet across many generations, He spares, warns, and keeps His promises. He rescues for His name’s sake, not because His people are worthy. He judges sin with scattering and fire, but He also promises to gather His people, renew the covenant, accept their worship again, and lead them to hate their own evil ways.

How can I apply the warning against hypocrisy and idolatry today?

This chapter invites you to ask why you come to God. Do you only want help while holding on to sins or “idols” you refuse to leave, like secret loves or habits you know are wrong? God calls you to come with an honest heart, ready to turn from whatever He shows to be false. It also reminds you not to hide behind family habits or traditions that do not match God’s word. True seeking means listening, repenting, and trusting His mercy, not just going through religious motions.

How does the promise of future gathering and restoration give hope?

After heavy words of judgment, God promises to rule over His people with a strong hand, bring them out from the nations, and bring them into the land again. There He will accept their offerings, be made holy in them before the nations, and cause them to remember their ways and loathe their past sins. This shows that God’s goal is not only to punish but to cleanse and restore. For readers today, it gives hope that God can bring true repentance and a new start, even after long seasons of failure.

Ezek.20.1

Ezekiel 20:1

KJV

And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to enquire of the Lord, and sat before me.

Israel’s Rebellion in Egypt

1 And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to enquire of the Lord, and sat before me.

2 Then came the word of the Lord unto me, saying,

3 Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Are ye come to enquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord God, I will not be enquired of by you.

4 Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:

5 ¶ And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am the Lord your God;

6 In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands:

7 Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

8 But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.

9 But I wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.

Israel’s Rebellion in the Wilderness

10 ¶ Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.

11 And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them.

12 Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them.

13 But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.

14 But I wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.

15 Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;

16 Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.

17 Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.

18 But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols:

19 I am the Lord your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them;

20 And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God.

21 Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.

22 Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth.

23 I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries;

24 Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers’ idols.

25 Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;

26 And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the Lord.

Israel’s Rebellion in the Land

27 ¶ Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.

28 For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings.

29 Then I said unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? And the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day.

30 Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after their abominations?

31 For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord God, I will not be enquired of by you.

32 And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.

Judgment and Restoration

33 ¶ As I live, saith the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you:

34 And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out.

35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face.

36 Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God.

37 And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant:

38 And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the Lord.

39 As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord God; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.

40 For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord God, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.

41 I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen.

42 And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers.

43 And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.

44 And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have wrought with you for my name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord God.

A Prophecy against the South

45 ¶ Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

46 Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;

47 And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein.

48 And all flesh shall see that I the Lord have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.

49 Then said I, Ah Lord God! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?

Cross References

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