a sampling of consequences

Again the word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, make known to Jerusalem her abominations…” Ezekiel 16:1-2

God exposes Jerusalem’s sin and consequences through Ezekiel’s prophecies. A sampling:

ABOMINATION / CONSEQUENCE

• Spiritual adultery via idolatry (Ezekiel 16:15-34) / Shame exposed before the nations (Ezekiel 16:32-41)
  
• Worship of foreign gods (Ezekiel 6:1-7; 8:5-18) / Destruction of places of idolatry (Ezekiel 6:3-12)
• Sacrificing children / Severe judgment (Ezekiel 16:38; 23:39)
• Temple defiled with idols (Ezekiel 8:3-18) / God’s glory departed from the temple (Ezekiel 10:18-19; 11:22-23)
• Worship of images, creeping things, beasts (Ezekiel 8:10-12) / “My eyes will not spare” (Ezekiel 8:18)
• Pride (Ezekiel 16:49) / Jerusalem humiliated (Ezekiel 18:52-59)
• Neglect of needy (Ezekiel 16:49) / Removal of God’s favor (Ezekiel 16:50-52)
• Violence; bloodshed (Ezekiel 7:23; 22:3-4) / delivered to enemies (Ezekiel 22:2-5)
• Sexual immorality (Ezekiel 22:10-11; 23:1-49) / Public shame (Ezekiel 23:46-49)

God will act on disobedience and sin. All sin is judged by God, either on His Day or at the cross where Jesus drank God’s cup of wrath. It is sobering to see prophets point this out over and over again. It is comforting to know God will indeed judge evil. It is a relief to find eternal salvation in Christ. Even Ezekiel’s final vision is one of hope where a restored people enjoy God’s presence in a new city named “The LORD is There” (Ezekiel 48:35).