title for my name
Contents
Ezekiel 20:1-9 / For my name
* Several of the elders of Israel, who were in urgency,
& To ask the future of Jerusalem - I came here
& God refuses to answer.
- Instead of answering // by rejecting the covenant we made with God...
& points to the history of Israel's rebellion - worshiping idols / committing abominations.
** But, nevertheless, / God saved us to the end leading us to Canaan.
& not because Israel deserved the promised land of Canaan
& God's name - says / that he did so not to defile it.
* Through today's text / What kind of God is... What are the lessons he gives me...
& Let's think about a few things.
1. Verses 1-3
* Several elders of Israel - to inquire of God / came to Ezekiel.
- With the destruction of Jerusalem imminent...
& Ezekiel the prophet - like other false prophets
& He seems to have come to us with hope / that he will tell of the salvation and restoration of Israel.
** By the way, / our God - if we ask today...
& Even though He is a very kind God who responds...
& God's response is apathetic.
- In fact, the elders of Israel - refuse / to ask God.
** Why would you?
- In spite of our prayers / there are times when God is silent... / When is that?
1) First, if it is not yet time to respond - you are silent.
2) Second, if it's not worth responding - don't say it.
* When I was in graduate school - There was a professor named Mok Chang-gyun in systematic theology
& Seminar courses are only for high-ranking students.
& a few of the lower rank students came in
& even if we listen - they ask stupid questions.. //
** Then / the professor must be like that.
- (This isn't even worth arguing about, right?) / "Well, it could be!!"
* The elders of Israel today / for a second reason - are rejecting it.
- About their sin of betraying God...
& there was no true repentance or conversion.
- And the very fact of coming to God and asking about [Israel's restoration] is /
& it doesn't make any sense at all.
- Without true repentance // a prayer to escape from their difficult situation!!
& God is not pleased - it is not.
<Apply> Dear friends!
- When I go before the Lord - With what kind of heart am I going?
- What is the quality and content of my prayer today?
** When you come before the Lord // you must first come with a broken spirit and a contrite heart.
- So - That's what God accepts / He answers.
* When you come before the Lord - always with the spirituality of repentance
& humble, honest-minded people - people of such faith! // Hope it's all over.
2. God remembers the covenant he made with Abraham in the past
& Delivered Israel into Egypt / and led them into the land of Canaan flowing with milk and honey.
* And, he makes a covenant with the Israelites who were saved from Egypt...
Verses 7-8
** God makes two covenants / with the Israelites.
1) Throw away the abomination that catches your eye!
2) Do not defile yourself with Egyptian idols!
** But, what do the Israelites / do?
- They rebel against the God who saved them.
- Thou shalt not do / take detestable things - worship idols.
- As a result, / it causes the wrath of God.
* By the way / in this verse - the verse at the center...
- [Rebelled against me - He did not listen to me...] / I did.
** So / the people of Israel - rebelled against God
& What was the underlying reason for committing the sin of idolatry / and committing an abomination?
- Because I don't enjoy listening to God's word... //
& Because we were separated from God's Word... // I rebelled against God - and it happened.
* So / what is your faith? - Measure / the distance between the Word and me.
- The closer you are to the Word and me, the more healthy your faith is.
- But, I'm working hard on something right now...
& I'm far from the Word... / Then your faith is bound to get sicker.
* Dear friends!
- Please be closer to the Word.
- The moment you distance yourself from the Word of God!
& Another sound creeps in between them.
3. Verse 9
* Israel from Egypt to now /
& Continuing - History of rebellion against God.
** Nevertheless / why did God save Israel?
& Did you lead them to Canaan?
- Because Israel is good / qualified. - No.
** For what?
- Because of my name!!
- Just because the people of Israel rebelled - if they were to be annihilated
& when the Gentiles saw this, they said, ?쏥od has no power to save Israel.??& because you would mock / defile God's name - you saved / led him.
** [God?셲 heart that has no choice but to lead!]
- How sick/bitter were you? - I think so.
* Dear friends!
- Today we are - God is pleased, / God is pleased...
& that saves / guides us - be that kind of life.
- Also, it is not that God himself acts ?쐄or the name and glory of God?╈?& because of us today - Glory to God
& the name of the Lord will be exalted - may you have such grace.