Ezekiel

Ezekiel 15: God judges unfaithful Jerusalem

Begin in prayer

Before considering God's picture of vine wood, let us come humbly before the One who judges unfaithfulness. Ask God to quiet our thoughts, meet with this household and open our eyes to Christ in Ezekiel 15.

My God will cast them away, because they did not listen to him; and they will be wanderers among the nations.

Hosea 9:17

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Help us receive the warning about Jerusalem and see Jesus, the faithful Savior for unfaithful people. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

God asks Ezekiel whether vine wood can be used for work or made into a peg for hanging a vessel. Once its ends and middle have burned, it is even less useful. The LORD says He will give Jerusalem's inhabitants to the fire like this wood. He will set His face against them, and leaving the fire will not prevent it from devouring them. God will make the land desolate because they have acted unfaithfully toward Him.

As you read Ezekiel 15, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God will judge Jerusalem because its people have acted unfaithfully toward Him.

A vine's value lies in its fruit, while its wood lacks the strength needed for ordinary work. God asks about even a small peg, showing how little useful timber it supplies beside the trees of the forest. Burning its ends and middle leaves it less useful still, removing any reason to expect better wood after the fire. He applies this damaged wood directly to Jerusalem's inhabitants, whose unfaithfulness has brought His judgment upon them. Their honored place among His people cannot turn trespass into useful service or make His warning harmless. His face is set against them, and escaping a fire does not cancel the fire He says will devour them. Desolation will make them know the LORD by the judgment their own unfaithfulness has brought.

How does Ezekiel 15 show us that God will judge Jerusalem because its people have acted unfaithfully toward Him?

God shows Jerusalem what its sin deserves.

God asks whether vine wood is useful for making anything, even a peg (verses 1 to 5). Fire leaves it less useful still. He gives this picture to explain the judgment Jerusalem faces.

God gives the unfaithful city to judgment.

God says He will give Jerusalem's inhabitants to the fire as He gives vine wood for fuel (verse 6). He will set His face against them. Their position cannot keep His judgment away.

God names unfaithfulness as the cause.

God will make the land desolate because its people have committed a trespass (verses 7 and 8). Those who leave the fire still face it. The coming ruin has a cause in their unfaithfulness to the LORD.

Memorize

I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass,” says the Lord Yahweh.

Ezekiel 15:8

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, where am I unfaithful to the Lord? Have I looked to Jesus, who was faithful?

The LORD explains the ruin with these words, “because they have committed a trespass.” Jerusalem's inhabitants face judgment for their unfaithfulness. The picture of wood given to the fire strips away reasons for false confidence. We must also face what our sin deserves.

Jesus remained faithful and gave His life to rescue His unfaithful people. On the cross He bore God's anger against their sins and died the death they deserved. That death accomplished their salvation once for all and supplies all they need to be received by God. He rose again, alive forever as their Savior.

Please come to Him, turning from your sin and believing in His saving work. His forgiveness is for every repentant sinner who trusts Him. Ask Him to make you faithful in the duties and relationships He gives. The warning about Jerusalem directs us to seek mercy and obey the holy Lord.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God judges unfaithfulness, and Jesus died and rose to rescue sinners from the judgment they deserve. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for warning us about unfaithfulness, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Therefore since all these things will be destroyed like this, what kind of people ought you to be in holy living and godliness,

2 Peter 3:11

Father, thank You for speaking truth about our sin and for sending the faithful Savior. Forgive our unfaithfulness, and help each one turn from sin and believe in Jesus. Please teach us to keep Your Word in the duties You give us this week. Amen.