Defiant, blind, and deaf

Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear, but hear not, for they are a rebellious house.  Ezekiel 12:2

The rebellion of Jerusalem is described with two metaphors: blindness and deafness. An overview of Ezekiel’s message shows how judgment came to a rebellious people who were blind and deaf to God’s attempts to call them to repentance.

REBELLION

Idolatry: They worshiped false gods (Ezekiel 8:5-19).

Covenant-breaking: They violated the covenant (Ezekiel 16; 20).

Refusal to repent: Rejected warnings (Ezekiel 3:7; 28:13).

Political alliance: Looking to Egypt and the nations (Ezekiel 17:15; 23:27).

Injustice: Violence, oppression, exploitation (Ezekiel 22:6-12).

Profaned worship: temple corruption (Ezekiel 8; 22:26).

BLINDNESS

to God’s holiness: underestimating sin (Ezekiel 8).

to judgment: Jerusalem falsely believe it would be spared (Ezekiel 12:27-28).

to guilt: blamed circumstances (Ezekiel 18:25).

to God’s presence: “The LORD does not see..” (Ezekiel 8:12).

to false confidence: trust in temple, walls, leaders (Ezekiel 11:3).

DEAFNESS

Ignored prophets: rejecting messengers (Ezekiel 3:2).

Rejected law: failed to listen to statutes (Ezekiel 20:13).

Refused correction: discipline didn’t lead to repentance (Ezekiel 24:13).

Listened to false prophets: this was their preference (Ezekiel 13:1-16).

Hard-heartedness: heard by refused to obey (Ezekiel 33:21-22).

The only way out of this rebellious house was removal, discipline, and God’s provision of a new heart and a new spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27). The ultimate cure to rebellion, blindness, and deafness is the transforming grace of God, fully realized in the work of Jesus Christ.