What You Delight in Matters to God - A (possible) Sermon Outline for Ezekiel 24:15 – 27

Introduction

1. Losing someone precious is an extremely traumatic event. Mourning is an important part of the grieving process. Tears are needful, and we do well to allow the aggrieved to cry.

2. However, in this case Yahweh tells Ezekiel that his wife will die (verse 16), and he is not to cry but rejoice (verse 16, 17). Was Yahweh being needlessly cruel? What is going on here?

Body

1. This was a “sign-act” where the prophet “acts out” a specific message from God

· “The word of the Lord came to me” (vs. 15) i.e. a specific instance of revelation and not normative.

2. The death of Ezekiel’s wife represented the impending Judgment of God

· The phrase “delight of your eyes” for Ezekiel’s wife in verse 15 is used in verses 21 and 25 Yahweh’s “sanctuary” and the peoples’ “stronghold”. This is the temple in Jerusalem.

3. The 'temple' represented a false sense of security

· The people had sinned against the Lord and still held on to a false security. Yahweh will not have that, and will dismantle it all - from verse 21 “the pride of your (their) power”, “your (their) sons and your (their) daughters”; and verse 25 “their joy and glory”, their soul’s desire”, and again “their sons and daughters”.

· Yahweh’s good gifts had become their delight, their stronghold, their trust, instead of the giver Yahweh Himself. This is idolatry (compare, “delight of your hearts” to how Yahweh describe the Israelites as having “taken their idols into their hearts” in 14:3).

· What are the idols that you have “taken into your heart”? They need not be gross and obvious, but could be anything that we delight in apart from God, even his gifts!

4. Yahweh’s judgment leads to a reckoning of who He really is

· “..and they will know that I am the LORD.” Verse 27.

· In Ezekiel 33:21, the Lord reveals His reluctance to destroy, and appeals to His people to turn from their wickedness - 33: 11. Yet, He is certain to judge if Israel does not turn – 33:20

· The judgment of God can be punitive, or restorative depending on the path they choose.

Conclusion

1. At the heart of human sin, is idolatry “Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images…” (Romans 3:22).

2. All of us are idolatrous in one form or another, thus deserving judgment.

3. Yet God, in his mercy, sent Jesus, the true temple, the His true image to pay for our sin, to receive the judgment of God in our place.

4. Thus, the judgment of God is either punitive or restorative in Christ. Punitive if we will not turn to Him in faith, restorative, if we turn to Him in faith, trust Him in His taking our punishment for our sin - take Him in as the true “delight of our hearts”. Which path will you choose?