I remember an incident when I was staying in Stephen
Hall (a hostel of St. Anthony’s College, Shillong). The rector of the
institution was our warden. When students wanted to go home, they had to get
his permission. Students would write an application and slip it under the door
of his office. At one hostel gathering, the warden said, “Hello! You guys
are supposed to ask for a permission, not to inform me that you are going
home!”
I am afraid much of our prayers are like that to God,
informing God of our troubles. We want God to know as if He doesn’t know. We
want God to know many things, right? We keep on informing Him every now and
then. What about taking a break, and ask, “What does God want me to know?” “What does God want us to know?” is the most pertinent
question to reflect when one reads through the book of Ezekiel.
The answer is to Know Him that He is the
LORD, Yahweh, the God of the Israelites, the God of the Bible. Why is that important? Because we often have a false
idea of God. We sometimes have “better” ideas than God and want to do our ways.
We would rather be God, and act like God. Ezekiel’s
message is, let God be God and you be His creature. Ezekiel is
always addressed as “Son of Man” in this book – he is a mere man, a mortal, a
creature of God. BTW, that’s Humility 101. Or, look at the following
Scriptures:
Isaiah 1:3 “The
ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's crib, but Israel does not know,
my people do not understand.”
Hosea 4:6 “My
people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected
knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten
the law of your God, I also will forget your children.”
The lack of knowledge of God is dangerous
while knowing God is profitable.
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of
knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
There are over 77 verses in the Bible [NKJV] that says
that God does such and such that we may know that God is God and we aren’t. 63
of them is found in the book of Ezekiel (10x in Exodus, 2x in
1Kings, 2x in Joel):
(Ezek 6:7 [NKJV])
“The slain shall fall in your
midst, and you shall know that I am the LORD.”
(Ezek 6:10 [NKJV])
“And they shall know that I am
the LORD; I have not said in vain that I would bring this calamity upon them.”
(Ezek 6:13 [NKJV])
“Then you shall know that I am
the LORD, when their slain are among their idols all around their altars, on
every high hill, on all the mountaintops, under every green tree, and under
every thick oak, wherever they offered sweet incense to all their idols.”
(Ezek 6:14 [NKJV])
“So I will stretch out My hand
against them and make the land desolate, yes, more desolate than the wilderness
toward Diblah, in all their dwelling places. Then they shall know that I am
the LORD.”
(Ezek 7:4 [NKJV])
“My eye will not spare you,
Nor will I have pity; But I will repay your ways, And your abominations will
be in your midst; Then you shall know that I am the LORD!”
(Ezek 7:9 [NKJV])
“My eye will not spare, Nor
will I have pity; I will repay you according to your ways, And your
abominations will be in your midst. Then you shall know that I am the
LORD who strikes.”
(Ezek 7:27 [NKJV])
“The king will mourn, The
prince will be clothed with desolation, And the hands of the common people
will tremble. I will do to them according to their way, And according to what
they deserve I will judge them; Then they shall know that I am the
LORD!”
(Ezek 11:10 [NKJV])
“You shall fall by the sword. I
will judge you at the border of Israel. Then you shall know that I am
the LORD.”
(Ezek 11:12 [NKJV])
“And you shall know that I am
the LORD; for you have not walked in My statutes nor executed My judgments, but
have done according to the customs of the Gentiles which are all around
you.”
(Ezek 12:15 [NKJV])
“Then they shall know that I am the LORD, when
I scatter them among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries”.
(Ezek 12:16 [NKJV])
“But I will spare a few of
their men from the sword, from famine, and from pestilence, that they may
declare all their abominations among the Gentiles wherever they go. Then they
shall know that I am the LORD.”
(Ezek 12:20 [NKJV])
“Then the cities that are
inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall become desolate; and you
shall know that I am the LORD.”
(Ezek 13:9 [NKJV])
“My hand will be against the prophets who envision
futility and who divine lies; they shall not be in the assembly of My people, nor
be written in the record of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter into the
land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord GOD.”
(Ezek 13:14 [NKJV])
“So I will break down the wall
you have plastered with untempered mortar, and bring it down to the
ground, so that its foundation will be uncovered; it will fall, and you shall
be consumed in the midst of it. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.”
(Ezek 13:21 [NKJV])
“I will also tear off your
veils and deliver My people out of your hand, and they shall no longer be as
prey in your hand. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.”
(Ezek 13:23 [NKJV])
“Therefore you shall no longer
envision futility nor practice divination; for I will deliver My people out of
your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.”
(Ezek 14:8 [NKJV])
“I will set My face against
that man and make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the
midst of My people. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.”
(Ezek 15:7 [NKJV])
“And I will set My face against
them. They will go out from one fire, but another fire shall
devour them. Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I set My face
against them.”
(Ezek 16:62 [NKJV])
“And I will establish My
covenant with you. Then you shall know that I am the LORD,”
(Ezek 20:12 [NKJV])
“Moreover I also gave them My
Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am
the LORD who sanctifies them.”
(Ezek 20:20 [NKJV])
“Hallow My Sabbaths, and they
will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD
your God.”
(Ezek 20:26 [NKJV])
“And I pronounced them unclean
because of their ritual gifts, in that they caused all their firstborn to pass
through the fire, that I might make them desolate and that they might
know that I am the LORD.””
(Ezek 20:38 [NKJV])
“I will purge the rebels from
among you, and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the
country where they dwell, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you
will know that I am the LORD.”
(Ezek 20:42 [NKJV])
“Then you shall know that I am
the LORD, when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for
which I raised My hand in an oath to give to your fathers.”
(Ezek 20:44 [NKJV])
““Then you shall know that I am
the LORD, when I have dealt with you for My name’s sake, not according to your
wicked ways nor according to your corrupt doings, O house of Israel,” says the
Lord GOD.”
(Ezek 22:16 [NKJV])
“You shall defile yourself in
the sight of the nations; then you shall know that I am the LORD.”
(Ezek 23:49 [NKJV])
“They shall repay you for your
lewdness, and you shall pay for your idolatrous sins. Then you shall know that
I am the Lord GOD.”
(Ezek 24:24 [NKJV])
“Thus Ezekiel is a sign to you;
according to all that he has done you shall do; and when this comes, you shall
know that I am the Lord GOD.”
(Ezek 24:27 [NKJV])
“On that day your mouth will be
opened to him who has escaped; you shall speak and no longer be mute. Thus you
will be a sign to them, and they shall know that I am the LORD.”
You see, we better know God in
His beauty or we shall know Him in His wrath. He is talking to His people, the
Israelites, His people of eternal covenant (chapters 1-24). From chapters
25-32, Ezekiel (and God) shifted the oracles towards the nations of the world.
He used the same formula as it was for Israelites to the nations of the world,
revealing the purpose of God’s doing. Especially His judgment.
(Ezek 25:5 [NKJV])
“And I will make Rabbah a
stable for camels and Ammon a resting place for flocks. Then you shall know
that I am the LORD.”
(Ezek 25:7 [NKJV])
“Indeed, therefore, I will
stretch out My hand against you, and give you as plunder to the nations; I will
cut you off from the peoples, and I will cause you to perish from the
countries; I will destroy you, and you shall know that I am the LORD.”
(Ezek 25:11 [NKJV])
“And I will execute judgments
upon Moab, and they shall know that I am the LORD.”
(Ezek 25:17 [NKJV])
“I will execute great vengeance
on them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the LORD,
when I lay My vengeance upon them.”
(Ezek 26:6 [NKJV])
“Also her daughter villages
which are in the fields shall be slain by the sword. Then they shall
know that I am the LORD.”
(Ezek 28:22 [NKJV])
“and say, ‘Thus says the Lord
GOD: “Behold, I am against you, O Sidon; I will be glorified in your
midst; And they shall know that I am the LORD, When I execute
judgments in her and am hallowed in her.”’”
(Ezek 28:23 [NKJV])
“For I will send pestilence
upon her, And blood in her streets; The wounded shall be judged in her midst
By the sword against her on every side; Then they shall know that I am
the LORD.”
(Ezek 28:24 [NKJV])
“And there shall no longer be a pricking brier or a
painful thorn for the house of Israel from among all who are around
them, who despise them. Then they shall know that I am the Lord GOD.”
(Ezek 28:26 [NKJV])
“And they will dwell safely
there, build houses, and plant vineyards; yes, they will dwell securely, when I
execute judgments on all those around them who despise them. Then they shall
know that I am the LORD their God.”
(Ezek 29:6 [NKJV])
“Then all the inhabitants of Egypt Shall know that I
am the LORD, Because they have been a staff of reed to the house of
Israel.”
(Ezek 29:9 [NKJV])
“And the land of Egypt shall
become desolate and waste; then they will know that I am the LORD,
because he said, ‘The River is mine, and I have made it.’”
(Ezek 29:16 [NKJV])
“No longer shall it be the
confidence of the house of Israel, but will remind them of their
iniquity when they turned to follow them. Then they shall know that I am
the Lord GOD.”
(Ezek 29:21 [NKJV])
“In that day I will cause the
horn of the house of Israel to spring forth, and I will open your mouth to
speak in their midst. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.”
(Ezek 30:8 [NKJV])
“Then they will know that I am
the LORD, When I have set a fire in Egypt And all her helpers are destroyed.”
(Ezek 30:19 [NKJV])
“Thus I will execute judgments
on Egypt, Then they shall know that I am the LORD.”
(Ezek 30:25 [NKJV])
“Thus I will strengthen the
arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh shall fall down; they
shall know that I am the LORD, when I put My sword into the hand of the
king of Babylon and he stretches it out against the land of Egypt.” [This happened in 605 BC. BTW]
(Ezek 30:26 [NKJV])
“I will scatter the Egyptians
among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries. Then they shall
know that I am the LORD.”
(Ezek 32:15 [NKJV])
“When I make the land of Egypt
desolate, And the country is destitute of all that once filled it, When I
strike all who dwell in it, Then they shall know that I am the LORD.”
Chapter 1-3 is the Commission of Ezekiel to be a Watchmen. Chapter 4-32
is the Proclamation of Judgment on Israelites and the Nations. Chapter 33-48 is
the Restoration of the Israelites. The purpose of restoration (also), and in
restoring them, they will know that God is the LORD.
(Ezek 33:29 [NKJV])
“Then they shall know that I am
the LORD, when I have made the land most desolate because of all their
abominations which they have committed.”
(Ezek 34:27 [NKJV])
“Then the trees of the field
shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase. They shall be
safe in their land; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I have
broken the bands of their yoke and delivered them from the hand of those who enslaved
them.”
(Ezek 35:4 [NKJV])
“I shall lay your cities waste,
And you shall be desolate. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.”
(Ezek 35:9 [NKJV])
“I will make you perpetually
desolate, and your cities shall be uninhabited; then you shall know that I am
the LORD.”
(Ezek 35:12 [NKJV])
“Then you shall know that I am
the LORD. I have heard all your blasphemies which you have spoken against the
mountains of Israel, saying, ‘They are desolate; they are given to us to
consume.’”
(Ezek 35:15 [NKJV])
“As you rejoiced because the
inheritance of the house of Israel was desolate, so I will do to you; you shall
be desolate, O Mount Seir, as well as all of Edom—all of it! Then they shall
know that I am the LORD.”
(Ezek 36:11 [NKJV])
“I will multiply upon you man
and beast; and they shall increase and bear young; I will make you inhabited as
in former times, and do better for you than at your beginnings. Then you
shall know that I am the LORD.”
(Ezek 36:23 [NKJV])
“And I will sanctify My great
name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in
their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD,” says the
Lord GOD, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes.””
(Ezek 36:38 [NKJV])
“Like a flock offered as
holy sacrifices, like the flock at Jerusalem on its feast days, so shall
the ruined cities be filled with flocks of men. Then they shall know that I am
the LORD.”
(Ezek 37:6 [NKJV])
“I will put sinews on you and
bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall
live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.”
(Ezek 37:13 [NKJV])
“Then you shall know that I am
the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from
your graves.”
(Ezek 38:23 [NKJV])
“Thus I will magnify Myself and
sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they
shall know that I am the LORD.”
(Ezek 39:6 [NKJV])
“And I will send fire on Magog and on those who live
in security in the coastlands. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.”
(Ezek 39:7 [NKJV])
“So I will make My holy name
known in the midst of My people Israel, and I will not let them profane
My holy name anymore. Then the nations shall know that I am the LORD,
the Holy One in Israel.”
(Ezek 39:22 [NKJV])
“So the house of Israel shall
know that I am the LORD their God from that day forward.”
(Ezek 39:28 [NKJV])
“then they shall know that I am
the LORD their God, who sent them into captivity among the nations, but also
brought them back to their land, and left none of them captive any longer.”
Chapter 1-3: It’s the Vision of the Glory of God
that strengthened Ezekiel to be a Watchman, living a God-pleasing life in the
world of rebellious people.
Chapter 4-33: It’s the Departure of the Glory of God
that brought Judgment upon the people.
Chapter 33-48: It’s the Appearing of the Glory of God
that will Restore the Israelites.
Indeed, God does everything for His glory.
This is the theme of Ezekiel. God wants to be known. God wants to be popular. We must live for
His glory (1 Cor. 10:31). Our boast, glory, joy, satisfaction must be
that we know God. Indeed, Jeremiah 9:24 says, ““But let him
who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am
the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.
For in these I delight,” says the LORD.”
The other times this statement occurs in the
Bible:
(Exod 6:7 [NKJV])
“I will take you as My people,
and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God
who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.”
(Exod 7:5 [NKJV])
“And the Egyptians shall know
that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out
the children of Israel from among them.”
(Exod 7:17 [NKJV])
“Thus says the LORD: “By this
you shall know that I am the LORD. Behold, I will strike the waters
which are in the river with the rod that is in my hand, and they
shall be turned to blood.”
(Exod 8:22 [NKJV])
“And in that day I will set
apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies
shall be there, in order that you may know that I am the LORD in the
midst of the land.”
(Exod 10:2 [NKJV])
“and that you may tell in the
hearing of your son and your son’s son the mighty things I have done in Egypt,
and My signs which I have done among them, that you may know that I am
the LORD.”
(Exod 14:4 [NKJV])
“Then I will harden Pharaoh’s
heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over
all his army, that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD.” And they
did so.”
(Exod 14:18 [NKJV])
“Then the Egyptians shall know
that I am the LORD, when I have gained honor for Myself over Pharaoh,
his chariots, and his horsemen.”
(Exod 16:12 [NKJV])
“I have heard the complaints of the children of
Israel. Speak to them, saying, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the
morning you shall be filled with bread. And you shall know that I am the
LORD your God.’”
(Exod 29:46 [NKJV])
“And they shall know that I am
the LORD their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt, that I may
dwell among them. I am the LORD their God.”
(Exod 31:13 [NKJV])
“Speak also to the children of Israel, saying:
‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you
throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD
who sanctifies you.’”
(1Kgs 20:13 [NKJV])
“Suddenly a prophet approached
Ahab king of Israel, saying, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Have you seen all this great
multitude? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand today, and you shall know
that I am the LORD.’””
(1Kgs 20:28 [NKJV])
“Then a man of God came and
spoke to the king of Israel, and said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Because the
Syrians have said, “The LORD is God of the hills, but He is not
God of the valleys,” therefore I will deliver all this great multitude into
your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.””
(Joel 2:27 [NKJV])
“Then you shall know that I am
in the midst of Israel: I am the LORD your God And there is no other.
My people shall never be put to shame.”
(Joel 3:17 [NKJV])
“So you shall know that I am the LORD your
God, Dwelling in Zion My holy mountain. Then Jerusalem shall be holy, And no
aliens shall ever pass through her again.”
