WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.700 Good evening all, thanks for being in church with us tonight. 00:00:04.660 --> 00:00:09.560 We have been over the last number of weeks looking at the book of Joshua, 00:00:10.560 --> 00:00:16.879 developing the Old Testament and particularly seeing there the gradual conquering of the promised land. 00:00:17.480 --> 00:00:21.000 We're now fast forwarding a fair bit of biblical history 00:00:21.000 --> 00:00:26.800 and we're now seeing how Israel lost that promised land in the book of Ezekiel. 00:00:26.800 --> 00:00:28.940 So let's pray and we'll know him. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.439 Father, we thank you that you are here with us as you promised. 00:00:34.280 --> 00:00:37.219 We ask, Father, that we would not be like your people, 00:00:38.280 --> 00:00:42.740 either passed through the word or learned but hard in their hearts to it. 00:00:43.420 --> 00:00:48.240 Father, we ask that you might give us soft and tender and receptive hearts to your word. 00:00:48.920 --> 00:00:52.519 Help us to see you and your purpose for us, 00:00:52.820 --> 00:00:56.120 that we might love you, we might know you and love you, 00:00:56.659 --> 00:00:59.299 and be with me, truly blessed you all. Amen. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:05.299 Since St Thomas More published his book in 15 and 16, 00:01:05.939 --> 00:01:11.760 the book Utopia has become a word that's used to describe an idealistic place of perfection. 00:01:12.819 --> 00:01:17.740 We all have our utopias, we all have those places 00:01:17.740 --> 00:01:22.780 where we like to escape to our concept of what paradise might be. 00:01:22.780 --> 00:01:28.719 It might, in fact, be an actual place, it might be an activity, it might be a fancy, 00:01:28.719 --> 00:01:31.379 it might be a fancy, it might be a go to that spot, do that thing, 00:01:31.439 --> 00:01:34.599 and everything else kind of switches off for you for a time. 00:01:34.599 --> 00:01:40.919 Imagine having that opportunity to eventually escape a place, 00:01:40.919 --> 00:01:45.439 to go to paradise, to start a life again, to live a new life, 00:01:45.919 --> 00:01:50.639 to a different life, a life that is away from the best, the grind, the chaos, 00:01:50.739 --> 00:01:53.979 and the pain that often comes with life in this world. 00:01:53.980 --> 00:01:56.439 Some people actually do it. 00:01:56.439 --> 00:02:01.780 Back in October 1999, there was a train accident in London 00:02:01.780 --> 00:02:06.760 that, upon investigation, didn't make a whole lot of sense. 00:02:07.460 --> 00:02:11.180 Two commuter trains slammed into each other 00:02:11.180 --> 00:02:15.439 with an incredible amount of carnage and loss of life and confusion 00:02:15.439 --> 00:02:18.879 for a whole heap of people, but particularly the confusion 00:02:18.879 --> 00:02:23.259 in amongst all of that, some people took that opportunity 00:02:23.259 --> 00:02:28.159 to walk away from the accident, go to Heathrow, 00:02:28.840 --> 00:02:31.199 board a flight, an international flight, 00:02:31.259 --> 00:02:33.259 and start a new life somewhere else in the world. 00:02:33.840 --> 00:02:34.620 Just like that. 00:02:36.180 --> 00:02:37.020 Imagine doing that. 00:02:38.060 --> 00:02:40.360 You've got so many issues going on in your life, 00:02:41.000 --> 00:02:43.400 you're involved in an accident like this, 00:02:43.819 --> 00:02:45.060 everyone assumes you're dead, 00:02:45.439 --> 00:02:47.740 you get on a plane and just go somewhere else, 00:02:48.379 --> 00:02:49.000 start again. 00:02:50.560 --> 00:02:52.139 Running from the issues, keep running, 00:02:52.219 --> 00:02:53.319 always looking for something better, 00:02:53.419 --> 00:02:55.699 always hoping that things will be better. 00:02:57.319 --> 00:03:01.379 To a degree, we'd probably all like to do it in moments, 00:03:01.979 --> 00:03:04.979 and some of us do, in fact, do that. 00:03:05.340 --> 00:03:06.139 We escape. 00:03:06.460 --> 00:03:10.439 We might not jump on an international flight and escape, 00:03:10.439 --> 00:03:13.319 but we do escape, escape for some of us, 00:03:13.319 --> 00:03:15.680 into the fantasy world of soap operas, 00:03:16.259 --> 00:03:18.879 into the internet, into magazines, into movies. 00:03:19.680 --> 00:03:23.120 Or maybe utopia is at the bottom of an ice cream bucket. 00:03:23.879 --> 00:03:25.939 We all have our escapes. 00:03:26.620 --> 00:03:27.579 Maybe you are, in fact, 00:03:27.659 --> 00:03:30.639 planning the big overseas trip in search of paradise. 00:03:30.639 --> 00:03:35.939 If you feel like a better place exists, 00:03:37.000 --> 00:03:38.279 a paradise exists, 00:03:39.059 --> 00:03:40.639 then Ezekiel is for you. 00:03:41.919 --> 00:03:46.579 Unfortunately, as we begin Ezekiel in chapter one, 00:03:47.060 --> 00:03:49.560 we see that Ezekiel himself is, in fact, 00:03:49.639 --> 00:03:51.219 a long way from paradise. 00:03:51.759 --> 00:03:53.519 He is captive in Babylon. 00:03:53.819 --> 00:03:56.159 And so we need to just, as we kick off this series, 00:03:56.159 --> 00:04:00.099 take a bit of a step back and fill in some of the details 00:04:00.099 --> 00:04:02.300 of what's happening here in biblical history. 00:04:03.400 --> 00:04:05.500 It's about 600 years before Jesus. 00:04:06.659 --> 00:04:08.780 It's, in fact, 597 BC. 00:04:09.599 --> 00:04:13.560 The Middle East was in turmoil, as it often is. 00:04:14.099 --> 00:04:16.579 And the regional superpower, Assyria, 00:04:17.159 --> 00:04:19.319 had pretty much collapsed. 00:04:19.319 --> 00:04:23.860 And the kingdom of Babylon had taken over as the superpower. 00:04:24.540 --> 00:04:27.480 And all the small states around Palestine 00:04:27.480 --> 00:04:30.019 were spoiling for a fight. 00:04:30.540 --> 00:04:35.079 After 150 years of oppression from Assyria, 00:04:35.219 --> 00:04:36.459 they wanted their freedom. 00:04:37.039 --> 00:04:38.560 They didn't want to be ruled over 00:04:38.560 --> 00:04:41.159 by this new upstart king called Nebuchadnezzar. 00:04:41.899 --> 00:04:43.800 And so in 597 BC, 00:04:44.539 --> 00:04:47.100 the king of Judah, at that time, 00:04:47.199 --> 00:04:48.639 a guy named Jehoiakim, 00:04:49.339 --> 00:04:52.699 decided that he was going to rebel against Nebuchadnezzar. 00:04:54.379 --> 00:04:56.339 Nebuchadnezzar was not going to have any of that. 00:04:56.680 --> 00:04:58.579 And so he attacked Jerusalem. 00:04:59.439 --> 00:05:01.099 Jehoiakim got such a fright 00:05:01.099 --> 00:05:04.439 that he surrendered the city and conveniently died. 00:05:05.479 --> 00:05:07.959 He was replaced as the king 00:05:07.959 --> 00:05:10.419 by the person who is the king 00:05:10.419 --> 00:05:13.439 who's mentioned here in verse 2 of Ezekiel 1, 00:05:14.079 --> 00:05:14.959 Jehoiakim. 00:05:15.560 --> 00:05:17.819 Okay, Jehoiakim, Jehoiakim. 00:05:18.639 --> 00:05:20.419 M comes before N. 00:05:20.620 --> 00:05:21.479 That's how you remember it. 00:05:21.539 --> 00:05:23.919 Jehoiakim, Jehoiahim. 00:05:24.560 --> 00:05:25.159 Something like that. 00:05:25.199 --> 00:05:26.939 Anyway, if you ever need to remember that. 00:05:26.939 --> 00:05:33.459 To make sure that it wasn't going to happen again, 00:05:33.600 --> 00:05:37.959 Nebuchadnezzar took a whole bunch of the elite of Israel 00:05:37.959 --> 00:05:40.519 back home with him to Babylon. 00:05:41.319 --> 00:05:42.519 He took them as hostages, 00:05:42.519 --> 00:05:51.299 including the king who ultimately lost the city to Nebuchadnezzar, 00:05:51.359 --> 00:05:52.379 that was Jehoiakim, 00:05:52.759 --> 00:05:53.859 and Ezekiel. 00:05:53.860 --> 00:05:58.220 And he placed on the throne in Jerusalem, 00:05:58.420 --> 00:05:59.980 Zedekiah as a puppet king. 00:06:00.920 --> 00:06:06.020 And Jeremiah was the prophet in Jerusalem at that time. 00:06:06.019 --> 00:06:11.159 So Ezekiel is down in Babylon as a prophet. 00:06:11.599 --> 00:06:14.799 Jeremiah is back in Jerusalem as the prophet. 00:06:15.500 --> 00:06:17.779 That's the political picture. 00:06:18.560 --> 00:06:21.139 But there's a much bigger biblical picture that's going on here, 00:06:21.180 --> 00:06:23.979 which connects really well what we've just been through in Joshua. 00:06:24.740 --> 00:06:26.019 Way back in the Old Testament, 00:06:26.199 --> 00:06:28.279 God made Israel his special people 00:06:28.279 --> 00:06:30.479 by rescuing them from slavery in Egypt. 00:06:30.480 --> 00:06:32.520 And he took them to a new home, 00:06:32.620 --> 00:06:35.400 the place that was called the Promised Land. 00:06:35.620 --> 00:06:38.000 That's what we've been saw through Joshua 00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:39.800 as they conquered the Promised Land. 00:06:40.200 --> 00:06:42.980 And when God gave them their new home, 00:06:43.100 --> 00:06:46.580 he told them that because they were his people 00:06:46.580 --> 00:06:48.240 and he was their God, 00:06:48.600 --> 00:06:50.900 they needed to be obedient to him 00:06:50.900 --> 00:06:52.400 and to love him and to trust him 00:06:52.400 --> 00:06:54.740 and to honour him and worship him. 00:06:55.000 --> 00:06:56.080 And if they did, 00:06:56.300 --> 00:06:57.819 life in the Promised Land 00:06:57.819 --> 00:07:00.280 would just be a life of blessing. 00:07:00.279 --> 00:07:02.319 It would be paradise. 00:07:04.719 --> 00:07:07.019 If, however, they took God for granted 00:07:07.019 --> 00:07:08.299 and they treated him badly 00:07:08.299 --> 00:07:11.039 and lived as if God wasn't such a big deal, 00:07:11.739 --> 00:07:16.079 then it was going to be really, really, really bad for them. 00:07:16.559 --> 00:07:17.699 In fact, you're going to wish 00:07:17.699 --> 00:07:19.639 that your mother never met your father. 00:07:19.739 --> 00:07:21.239 You're going to wish that you were never born. 00:07:22.559 --> 00:07:25.219 And that's exactly what happened. 00:07:25.220 --> 00:07:31.040 In effect, what is happening here in Ezekiel 00:07:31.040 --> 00:07:33.760 with the exile down to Babylon 00:07:33.760 --> 00:07:37.660 is similar to what a parent might do 00:07:37.660 --> 00:07:39.620 in disciplining their child 00:07:39.620 --> 00:07:41.000 by sending them to their room 00:07:41.000 --> 00:07:43.740 or putting them in the time-out chair for a bit. 00:07:44.260 --> 00:07:47.420 The idea is put them away into a spot 00:07:47.420 --> 00:07:50.960 so that they can think about their behaviour for a bit. 00:07:50.959 --> 00:07:58.979 God has moved his people to Babylon 00:07:58.979 --> 00:08:00.219 for 70 years 00:08:00.219 --> 00:08:03.319 so that they might sit there in the time-out chair 00:08:03.319 --> 00:08:05.699 and consider what they have done 00:08:05.699 --> 00:08:09.199 and what's really important 00:08:09.199 --> 00:08:11.159 and why it's important. 00:08:13.839 --> 00:08:15.479 And so Ezekiel's one of these guys 00:08:15.479 --> 00:08:17.199 down there in Babylon. 00:08:19.479 --> 00:08:20.860 What did it feel like 00:08:20.860 --> 00:08:23.519 to be one of the people of God 00:08:23.519 --> 00:08:24.959 in Babylon? 00:08:26.459 --> 00:08:28.300 It was, in fact, a huge shock. 00:08:29.639 --> 00:08:31.279 It was unthinkable 00:08:31.279 --> 00:08:32.799 that such a thing could happen 00:08:32.799 --> 00:08:35.620 to their city and to their country. 00:08:35.620 --> 00:08:38.960 They were physically dislocated 00:08:38.960 --> 00:08:41.019 from their home by force. 00:08:41.879 --> 00:08:45.820 They had been psychologically traumatised. 00:08:45.940 --> 00:08:47.299 They were spiritually hardened 00:08:47.299 --> 00:08:50.740 and they were also theologically baffled. 00:08:52.120 --> 00:08:54.039 Where is God? 00:08:56.279 --> 00:09:00.440 Why has he allowed this to happen to us? 00:09:00.440 --> 00:09:05.700 How did they respond? 00:09:07.540 --> 00:09:09.060 We know from the Old Testament 00:09:09.060 --> 00:09:11.320 that there are at least four different responses 00:09:11.320 --> 00:09:13.480 of the people of God, 00:09:13.720 --> 00:09:14.960 of what had happened to them. 00:09:15.520 --> 00:09:17.040 There was backsliding, 00:09:17.680 --> 00:09:18.840 there was bravado, 00:09:19.260 --> 00:09:20.180 there was bitterness, 00:09:20.900 --> 00:09:22.860 and there was brokenness. 00:09:23.020 --> 00:09:24.600 Four Bs, make it easy. 00:09:25.120 --> 00:09:27.460 Backsliding, bravado, bitterness, and brokenness. 00:09:27.460 --> 00:09:29.420 We read in Jeremiah 00:09:29.420 --> 00:09:30.540 that there was backsliding. 00:09:30.700 --> 00:09:32.080 Some thought, in fact, 00:09:32.400 --> 00:09:35.080 we're much better off without God. 00:09:36.660 --> 00:09:37.920 Serving this Yahweh 00:09:37.920 --> 00:09:39.400 hasn't brought us any favours, 00:09:40.500 --> 00:09:42.700 and so they rejected God altogether. 00:09:44.340 --> 00:09:46.720 There was bravado back in Jerusalem. 00:09:48.220 --> 00:09:49.980 There were the false optimists, 00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:52.019 people like the prophet Hananiah, 00:09:52.900 --> 00:09:55.800 who in Jeremiah 28 says, 00:09:55.799 --> 00:09:56.959 don't worry, 00:09:57.500 --> 00:09:58.399 be happy, 00:09:58.740 --> 00:10:00.199 it's all going to be all over soon. 00:10:01.299 --> 00:10:02.539 It's just a small blip. 00:10:03.919 --> 00:10:05.039 In other words, 00:10:05.439 --> 00:10:08.679 they didn't think that there was a lesson to learn. 00:10:11.240 --> 00:10:13.839 The third response was much more pessimistic. 00:10:13.979 --> 00:10:14.559 It was bitterness. 00:10:14.779 --> 00:10:16.079 There were some who expected 00:10:16.079 --> 00:10:17.939 that or accepted 00:10:17.939 --> 00:10:19.219 that it was in fact God 00:10:19.219 --> 00:10:20.559 who had done this to them, 00:10:21.379 --> 00:10:24.479 but that God was totally unfair. 00:10:24.480 --> 00:10:25.480 He was unreasonable 00:10:25.480 --> 00:10:26.879 in doing this to them. 00:10:29.879 --> 00:10:31.740 And so they just spiraled down into bitterness. 00:10:31.940 --> 00:10:33.700 And the fourth response was brokenness. 00:10:34.960 --> 00:10:35.720 There were some 00:10:35.720 --> 00:10:37.779 who accepted that the exile 00:10:37.779 --> 00:10:39.659 was in fact God's action, 00:10:40.720 --> 00:10:42.259 and that they concluded 00:10:42.259 --> 00:10:43.259 he was right, 00:10:44.080 --> 00:10:45.240 we were wrong, 00:10:46.360 --> 00:10:47.840 but that there was no hope, 00:10:48.759 --> 00:10:49.779 there was no future, 00:10:49.779 --> 00:10:52.139 no future for Israel, 00:10:52.259 --> 00:10:54.339 no future for God's people, 00:10:54.339 --> 00:10:57.039 and that we had brought it upon ourselves. 00:10:57.480 --> 00:10:58.679 We deserve what we got. 00:11:00.240 --> 00:11:01.259 And perhaps that how 00:11:01.259 --> 00:11:04.259 Ezekiel felt in chapter 1, verse 1, 00:11:04.819 --> 00:11:07.039 says that it was the 30th year. 00:11:07.240 --> 00:11:08.039 Most likely, 00:11:08.620 --> 00:11:10.439 it was his 30th year. 00:11:11.439 --> 00:11:12.620 In the Old Testament, 00:11:12.759 --> 00:11:14.279 it says that priests began 00:11:14.279 --> 00:11:15.319 their public ministry 00:11:15.319 --> 00:11:16.299 at the age of 30. 00:11:16.299 --> 00:11:17.740 And perhaps you could imagine 00:11:17.740 --> 00:11:19.359 this 30-year-old Ezekiel 00:11:19.359 --> 00:11:22.120 wandering beside the Kibar River, 00:11:22.679 --> 00:11:24.279 thinking about what could have been. 00:11:24.379 --> 00:11:25.899 If he'd been back in Jerusalem, 00:11:27.039 --> 00:11:28.279 this would have been 00:11:28.279 --> 00:11:30.740 a time of celebration for him. 00:11:31.179 --> 00:11:33.179 As the son of Buzi the priest, 00:11:33.299 --> 00:11:34.479 he too would have been 00:11:34.479 --> 00:11:36.079 a priest in this moment. 00:11:37.179 --> 00:11:38.459 It's his 30th year. 00:11:38.979 --> 00:11:40.259 And no doubt his father 00:11:40.259 --> 00:11:41.159 had taught him 00:11:41.159 --> 00:11:42.979 to look forward to this day 00:11:42.979 --> 00:11:44.679 ever since he was a young boy. 00:11:44.679 --> 00:11:47.379 Now would have been a time 00:11:47.379 --> 00:11:48.159 when he began 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:49.819 his long-life service of God 00:11:49.819 --> 00:11:50.699 in his temple. 00:11:51.859 --> 00:11:52.539 But instead, 00:11:52.799 --> 00:11:53.679 he finds himself 00:11:53.679 --> 00:11:55.439 1,500 kilometres away 00:11:55.439 --> 00:11:56.959 in a foreign land 00:11:56.959 --> 00:11:57.699 as a captive 00:11:57.699 --> 00:11:58.859 in a foreign empire. 00:11:59.399 --> 00:12:01.239 He was a long way from home, 00:12:01.319 --> 00:12:02.979 both physically and spiritually. 00:12:03.539 --> 00:12:04.739 And so perhaps he was 00:12:04.739 --> 00:12:05.759 a little depressed, 00:12:06.500 --> 00:12:08.019 certainly disturbed and bewildered 00:12:08.019 --> 00:12:09.279 as he wandered aimlessly 00:12:09.279 --> 00:12:10.099 along the banks 00:12:10.099 --> 00:12:11.120 of the Kibar River, 00:12:11.120 --> 00:12:13.700 thinking of what could have been 00:12:13.700 --> 00:12:15.200 back in Jerusalem. 00:12:16.600 --> 00:12:18.960 All that he knew of God 00:12:18.960 --> 00:12:20.740 was attached to that land, 00:12:20.899 --> 00:12:21.259 Israel, 00:12:21.580 --> 00:12:22.259 to that city, 00:12:22.419 --> 00:12:22.820 Jerusalem, 00:12:22.980 --> 00:12:23.560 to that temple 00:12:23.560 --> 00:12:24.460 in the middle of the city, 00:12:24.840 --> 00:12:25.320 Jerusalem. 00:12:27.220 --> 00:12:28.480 But without Israel, 00:12:28.600 --> 00:12:29.299 without Jerusalem, 00:12:29.500 --> 00:12:30.220 without the city, 00:12:30.580 --> 00:12:31.360 without the temple, 00:12:32.200 --> 00:12:33.440 what is left? 00:12:33.440 --> 00:12:38.940 All of his expectations 00:12:38.940 --> 00:12:39.720 about God, 00:12:39.800 --> 00:12:40.400 his future, 00:12:40.460 --> 00:12:41.600 and the future of God's people 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:42.740 were up in the air. 00:12:42.860 --> 00:12:44.100 Nothing was clear, 00:12:44.220 --> 00:12:45.380 nothing was certain anymore. 00:12:46.660 --> 00:12:47.760 You can imagine him 00:12:47.760 --> 00:12:49.100 so deep in thought 00:12:49.100 --> 00:12:51.040 that he didn't even notice 00:12:51.040 --> 00:12:52.180 the approaching storm 00:12:52.180 --> 00:12:53.540 until it was right upon him. 00:12:53.580 --> 00:12:54.300 Verse 4, 00:12:54.299 --> 00:12:55.759 I looked, 00:12:57.099 --> 00:12:58.139 I saw a windstorm 00:12:58.139 --> 00:12:59.159 coming out of the north 00:12:59.159 --> 00:13:00.139 and an immense cloud 00:13:00.139 --> 00:13:01.899 with flashing lightning 00:13:01.899 --> 00:13:02.759 and surrounded 00:13:02.759 --> 00:13:04.019 by brilliant light. 00:13:05.599 --> 00:13:06.199 Suddenly, 00:13:06.859 --> 00:13:07.979 he's plunged 00:13:07.979 --> 00:13:09.879 into a ferocious storm 00:13:09.879 --> 00:13:11.039 of thunder and lightning. 00:13:11.839 --> 00:13:12.959 And it's right there 00:13:12.959 --> 00:13:14.019 in that moment 00:13:14.019 --> 00:13:15.839 that Ezekiel sees 00:13:15.839 --> 00:13:18.019 a very strange sight 00:13:18.019 --> 00:13:20.539 in the most unusual of places. 00:13:20.539 --> 00:13:24.599 someone like, 00:13:25.000 --> 00:13:26.439 someone like the experience 00:13:26.439 --> 00:13:28.259 of a Pan Am pilot 00:13:28.259 --> 00:13:29.339 as he was approaching 00:13:29.339 --> 00:13:30.419 Los Angeles airport 00:13:30.419 --> 00:13:33.279 back in the 2nd of July 1982. 00:13:34.199 --> 00:13:35.899 As he approached to land 00:13:35.899 --> 00:13:37.019 his jumbo jet, 00:13:38.059 --> 00:13:40.000 3,000 metres up in the air, 00:13:40.240 --> 00:13:41.659 right in his flight corridor, 00:13:42.439 --> 00:13:43.519 was a man 00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:46.139 lying down on a sun lounge. 00:13:48.139 --> 00:13:50.419 Can you imagine reporting that? 00:13:50.539 --> 00:13:52.259 To air traffic control? 00:13:53.439 --> 00:13:55.639 It turns out Larry Walters 00:13:55.639 --> 00:13:57.240 had always wanted to fly. 00:13:58.039 --> 00:13:59.079 And so one day, 00:13:59.719 --> 00:14:00.719 he packed himself 00:14:00.719 --> 00:14:01.500 some sandwiches, 00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:03.039 grabbed a few beers, 00:14:03.279 --> 00:14:05.199 attached 45 helium-filled 00:14:05.199 --> 00:14:06.099 weather balloons 00:14:06.099 --> 00:14:07.360 to his sun lounge, 00:14:08.059 --> 00:14:08.860 cut the ropes, 00:14:09.099 --> 00:14:09.620 and flew. 00:14:11.699 --> 00:14:14.500 He went as far 00:14:14.500 --> 00:14:16.379 as four and a half kilometres 00:14:16.379 --> 00:14:17.439 in the air, 00:14:17.860 --> 00:14:18.599 straight through 00:14:18.599 --> 00:14:20.519 Los Angeles flight corridor, 00:14:20.539 --> 00:14:23.019 before he eventually 00:14:23.019 --> 00:14:24.439 shot some balloons 00:14:24.439 --> 00:14:25.079 and landed 00:14:25.079 --> 00:14:26.659 his sun lounge 00:14:26.659 --> 00:14:28.679 and was promptly arrested. 00:14:32.039 --> 00:14:33.139 It's somewhat like 00:14:33.139 --> 00:14:34.699 Ezekiel's experience. 00:14:36.179 --> 00:14:37.099 An incredibly 00:14:37.099 --> 00:14:39.179 strange sight 00:14:39.179 --> 00:14:40.019 in the most 00:14:40.019 --> 00:14:41.459 unexpected of places. 00:14:41.699 --> 00:14:42.199 Let's read it 00:14:42.199 --> 00:14:42.779 from verse 4. 00:14:42.779 --> 00:14:44.459 The centre of the fire 00:14:44.459 --> 00:14:45.939 looked like glowing metal 00:14:45.939 --> 00:14:47.120 and in the fire 00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:48.399 was what looked like 00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:49.839 four living creatures. 00:14:50.519 --> 00:14:51.100 In appearance, 00:14:51.220 --> 00:14:52.159 their form was that 00:14:52.159 --> 00:14:52.779 of a man, 00:14:52.939 --> 00:14:53.860 but each of them 00:14:53.860 --> 00:14:54.839 had four faces 00:14:54.839 --> 00:14:56.019 and four wings. 00:14:58.100 --> 00:14:59.600 There is an incredible 00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:00.639 amount of detail 00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:04.139 in chapter 1 00:15:04.139 --> 00:15:06.740 that we just do not 00:15:06.740 --> 00:15:07.740 have time to go into 00:15:07.740 --> 00:15:09.240 what all the little details mean. 00:15:09.240 --> 00:15:11.879 verse 1 tells us 00:15:11.879 --> 00:15:13.120 what Ezekiel saw. 00:15:13.779 --> 00:15:14.720 The heavens 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:15.560 were opened 00:15:15.560 --> 00:15:17.399 and I saw 00:15:17.399 --> 00:15:18.320 visions 00:15:18.320 --> 00:15:19.299 of God. 00:15:20.440 --> 00:15:21.460 That's what he saw. 00:15:22.919 --> 00:15:23.639 That's 00:15:23.639 --> 00:15:24.940 the unexpected 00:15:24.940 --> 00:15:25.299 bit. 00:15:26.580 --> 00:15:27.299 On the 00:15:27.299 --> 00:15:28.060 Kibar River, 00:15:29.060 --> 00:15:30.200 1500 kilometres 00:15:30.200 --> 00:15:30.879 from Jerusalem 00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:31.639 with no temple, 00:15:31.779 --> 00:15:32.419 no priests, 00:15:33.220 --> 00:15:33.940 God shows up. 00:15:33.940 --> 00:15:36.440 God shows up. 00:15:37.620 --> 00:15:38.180 Everything 00:15:38.180 --> 00:15:39.560 up to this point 00:15:39.560 --> 00:15:41.240 led Ezekiel 00:15:41.240 --> 00:15:42.000 to conclude 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:43.120 that God 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:43.860 had in fact 00:15:43.860 --> 00:15:44.440 abandoned 00:15:44.440 --> 00:15:45.200 his people. 00:15:46.260 --> 00:15:47.680 It's five years 00:15:47.680 --> 00:15:48.720 into the exile. 00:15:50.680 --> 00:15:51.720 Five years 00:15:51.720 --> 00:15:52.500 of questions, 00:15:52.760 --> 00:15:53.400 five years 00:15:53.400 --> 00:15:54.420 of depression, 00:15:54.680 --> 00:15:55.220 five years 00:15:55.220 --> 00:15:56.000 of uncertainty 00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:57.580 and then God 00:15:57.580 --> 00:15:58.040 shows up. 00:16:01.660 --> 00:16:02.560 So this is 00:16:02.560 --> 00:16:03.720 a very surprising 00:16:03.720 --> 00:16:04.399 but also 00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:05.019 an incredibly 00:16:05.019 --> 00:16:06.000 encouraging sight. 00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:07.600 What Ezekiel 00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:08.300 saw was a very 00:16:08.300 --> 00:16:09.160 strange sight 00:16:09.160 --> 00:16:09.920 of four beasts 00:16:09.920 --> 00:16:10.700 with odd faces 00:16:10.700 --> 00:16:11.460 and wings and hands. 00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:11.920 Let's pick it up 00:16:11.920 --> 00:16:12.500 in verse 10. 00:16:13.379 --> 00:16:13.960 Their faces 00:16:13.960 --> 00:16:15.000 looked like this. 00:16:15.139 --> 00:16:16.000 Each of the four 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:16.860 had the face 00:16:16.860 --> 00:16:17.360 of a man 00:16:17.360 --> 00:16:18.019 and on the right 00:16:18.019 --> 00:16:18.460 side each 00:16:18.460 --> 00:16:18.920 had the face 00:16:18.920 --> 00:16:19.320 of a lion, 00:16:19.420 --> 00:16:19.660 the left 00:16:19.660 --> 00:16:20.019 the face 00:16:20.019 --> 00:16:20.440 of an ox 00:16:20.440 --> 00:16:20.779 and each 00:16:20.779 --> 00:16:21.740 also had 00:16:21.740 --> 00:16:22.120 the face 00:16:22.120 --> 00:16:22.680 of an eagle. 00:16:23.259 --> 00:16:23.580 Such 00:16:23.580 --> 00:16:24.500 were their 00:16:24.500 --> 00:16:25.160 faces. 00:16:26.620 --> 00:16:27.060 Ezekiel 00:16:27.060 --> 00:16:28.540 saw God 00:16:28.540 --> 00:16:29.779 but it's 00:16:29.779 --> 00:16:31.000 pretty clear 00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:31.600 that what he 00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:32.040 saw 00:16:32.040 --> 00:16:32.920 was weird 00:16:32.919 --> 00:16:33.319 and pretty 00:16:33.319 --> 00:16:34.319 scary stuff. 00:16:36.219 --> 00:16:37.099 Note though 00:16:37.099 --> 00:16:38.000 that in this 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:39.179 vision of God 00:16:39.179 --> 00:16:40.500 it isn't a 00:16:40.500 --> 00:16:41.199 description of 00:16:41.199 --> 00:16:42.079 what God 00:16:42.079 --> 00:16:43.360 actually looks 00:16:43.360 --> 00:16:43.799 like. 00:16:45.099 --> 00:16:46.339 God is strange, 00:16:46.459 --> 00:16:46.879 God is not 00:16:46.879 --> 00:16:47.399 like us, 00:16:47.419 --> 00:16:47.959 he's entirely 00:16:47.959 --> 00:16:48.459 different than 00:16:48.459 --> 00:16:49.019 we are 00:16:49.019 --> 00:16:51.379 but as Ezekiel 00:16:51.379 --> 00:16:52.139 describes what 00:16:52.139 --> 00:16:52.699 he sees, 00:16:52.819 --> 00:16:53.579 he uses words 00:16:53.579 --> 00:16:54.779 like appearance 00:16:54.779 --> 00:16:56.959 and likeness. 00:16:57.599 --> 00:16:58.659 It was like 00:16:58.659 --> 00:16:59.279 a throne of 00:16:59.279 --> 00:16:59.779 sapphire, 00:16:59.919 --> 00:17:00.620 it looked as 00:17:00.620 --> 00:17:01.000 if it were 00:17:01.000 --> 00:17:01.340 full of 00:17:01.340 --> 00:17:01.659 fire. 00:17:03.799 --> 00:17:04.539 He tries 00:17:04.539 --> 00:17:04.960 to use 00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:05.819 the things 00:17:05.819 --> 00:17:06.160 of this 00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:06.640 world to 00:17:06.640 --> 00:17:07.180 describe the 00:17:07.180 --> 00:17:07.559 things which 00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:07.839 are not 00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:08.119 of this 00:17:08.119 --> 00:17:08.460 world. 00:17:09.099 --> 00:17:09.740 He sees a 00:17:09.740 --> 00:17:10.299 weird side 00:17:10.299 --> 00:17:10.839 of creatures 00:17:10.839 --> 00:17:11.200 that were a 00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:11.519 mix of 00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:11.960 human and 00:17:11.960 --> 00:17:12.339 beasts and 00:17:12.339 --> 00:17:13.039 each creature 00:17:13.039 --> 00:17:14.119 had faces 00:17:14.119 --> 00:17:15.019 made up of 00:17:15.019 --> 00:17:15.880 beasts made 00:17:15.880 --> 00:17:16.559 by God. 00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:18.460 And these 00:17:18.460 --> 00:17:19.480 faces were 00:17:19.480 --> 00:17:20.400 pointing in 00:17:20.400 --> 00:17:21.460 four different 00:17:21.460 --> 00:17:22.680 directions all 00:17:22.680 --> 00:17:23.099 at the same 00:17:23.099 --> 00:17:24.279 time and they 00:17:24.279 --> 00:17:24.960 were all looking 00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:25.579 to the four 00:17:25.579 --> 00:17:26.440 corners of the 00:17:26.440 --> 00:17:27.720 earth and a 00:17:27.720 --> 00:17:29.620 representative of 00:17:29.620 --> 00:17:30.279 all the 00:17:30.279 --> 00:17:31.720 creatures that 00:17:31.720 --> 00:17:32.180 God has 00:17:32.180 --> 00:17:32.579 made. 00:17:36.460 --> 00:17:37.440 Later on we 00:17:37.440 --> 00:17:39.420 see that these 00:17:39.420 --> 00:17:40.900 creatures are in 00:17:40.900 --> 00:17:41.839 fact carrying the 00:17:41.839 --> 00:17:42.700 throne, that is 00:17:42.700 --> 00:17:44.360 these creatures that 00:17:44.360 --> 00:17:45.579 God has made are 00:17:45.579 --> 00:17:46.980 servants of God. 00:17:48.200 --> 00:17:49.839 This vision is 00:17:49.839 --> 00:17:50.600 meant to represent 00:17:50.600 --> 00:17:51.839 very simply that all 00:17:51.839 --> 00:17:52.660 creatures come under 00:17:52.660 --> 00:17:53.660 his rule, the 00:17:53.660 --> 00:17:54.759 rule of this God, 00:17:54.980 --> 00:17:56.000 and all creatures 00:17:56.000 --> 00:17:57.140 serve this God that 00:17:57.140 --> 00:17:57.960 Ezekiel saw. 00:17:58.880 --> 00:17:59.900 We also see for 00:17:59.900 --> 00:18:00.620 this vision that 00:18:00.620 --> 00:18:01.900 this throne on 00:18:01.900 --> 00:18:02.480 which the God of 00:18:02.480 --> 00:18:03.220 the universe sits 00:18:03.220 --> 00:18:03.800 is slightly 00:18:03.800 --> 00:18:04.380 different too. 00:18:04.480 --> 00:18:05.220 Verse 15, 00:18:05.640 --> 00:18:06.440 as I looked at 00:18:06.440 --> 00:18:07.180 the living creatures 00:18:07.180 --> 00:18:08.480 I saw a wheel on 00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:09.400 the ground beside 00:18:09.400 --> 00:18:10.400 each creature with 00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:11.259 its four faces. 00:18:12.200 --> 00:18:12.840 This was the 00:18:12.840 --> 00:18:13.840 appearance and the 00:18:13.840 --> 00:18:14.420 structure of the 00:18:14.420 --> 00:18:14.720 wheels. 00:18:15.120 --> 00:18:16.200 They sparkled like 00:18:16.200 --> 00:18:17.100 crystallite and all 00:18:17.100 --> 00:18:18.160 four looked alike. 00:18:18.620 --> 00:18:19.480 Each appeared to 00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:20.380 be made like a 00:18:20.380 --> 00:18:21.520 wheel intersecting a 00:18:21.520 --> 00:18:21.780 wheel. 00:18:22.100 --> 00:18:23.020 As they moved 00:18:23.020 --> 00:18:24.440 they would go in 00:18:24.440 --> 00:18:25.440 any one of the 00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:26.420 four directions and 00:18:26.420 --> 00:18:27.320 the creatures face 00:18:27.320 --> 00:18:28.019 and the wheels did 00:18:28.019 --> 00:18:29.259 not turn about as 00:18:29.259 --> 00:18:30.140 the creatures went. 00:18:32.400 --> 00:18:33.340 I think what we're 00:18:33.340 --> 00:18:34.320 meant to do here is 00:18:34.320 --> 00:18:35.740 to take off our 00:18:35.740 --> 00:18:37.340 engineering mind and 00:18:37.340 --> 00:18:38.259 put it to one side 00:18:38.259 --> 00:18:38.880 and try and work out 00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:39.539 how this works. 00:18:40.600 --> 00:18:41.640 But the vision, the 00:18:41.640 --> 00:18:42.740 overall vision here, 00:18:42.900 --> 00:18:44.800 the king who sits on 00:18:44.800 --> 00:18:47.300 the throne spreads 00:18:47.300 --> 00:18:49.720 his rule wherever this 00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:50.600 throne goes. 00:18:50.599 --> 00:18:58.439 throne goes in all 00:18:58.439 --> 00:19:00.000 four directions that 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:00.679 the creatures are 00:19:00.679 --> 00:19:01.099 facing. 00:19:01.259 --> 00:19:02.980 That is to all four 00:19:02.980 --> 00:19:04.539 corners of the globe. 00:19:09.919 --> 00:19:12.139 There is nothing that 00:19:12.139 --> 00:19:13.699 is not under this God's 00:19:13.699 --> 00:19:15.039 rule that is under his 00:19:15.039 --> 00:19:15.639 control. 00:19:16.199 --> 00:19:17.419 Notice too the many 00:19:17.419 --> 00:19:18.219 eyes on the throne. 00:19:18.220 --> 00:19:19.299 In verse 18 their 00:19:19.299 --> 00:19:20.880 rims were high and 00:19:20.880 --> 00:19:21.960 awesome and all four 00:19:21.960 --> 00:19:23.360 rims were full of eyes 00:19:23.360 --> 00:19:24.039 all around. 00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:27.039 This mobile throne from 00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:29.100 which God rules is 00:19:29.100 --> 00:19:30.460 covered in eyes which 00:19:30.460 --> 00:19:31.759 are pointing in all 00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:32.299 directions. 00:19:33.940 --> 00:19:35.220 This God who rules this 00:19:35.220 --> 00:19:37.480 world, all creatures in 00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:38.700 this world, who oversees 00:19:38.700 --> 00:19:39.839 everything in this world, 00:19:40.420 --> 00:19:42.400 he sees everything. 00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:44.019 There is nothing that is 00:19:44.019 --> 00:19:44.880 hidden from him. 00:19:45.180 --> 00:19:46.079 There is nothing that he 00:19:46.079 --> 00:19:46.819 does not see. 00:19:46.819 --> 00:19:47.599 There is nothing that he 00:19:47.599 --> 00:19:48.460 does not know. 00:19:48.919 --> 00:19:49.759 Nothing takes him by 00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:50.279 surprise. 00:19:50.399 --> 00:19:51.099 There is nothing that is 00:19:51.099 --> 00:19:52.419 outside of his control. 00:19:55.960 --> 00:19:59.179 Now, the real surprise 00:19:59.179 --> 00:20:01.419 for Ezekiel was that he 00:20:01.419 --> 00:20:02.939 was seeing God at all 00:20:02.939 --> 00:20:05.659 behind enemy lines in 00:20:05.659 --> 00:20:06.000 Babylon. 00:20:06.899 --> 00:20:08.480 The wings, the eyes, the 00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:09.319 wheels, that is the 00:20:09.319 --> 00:20:11.639 straitness of the sight and 00:20:11.639 --> 00:20:14.399 the unexpected place of the 00:20:14.399 --> 00:20:16.500 sight, the vision that he 00:20:16.500 --> 00:20:19.640 got only strengthens the 00:20:19.640 --> 00:20:21.460 point that God rules all, 00:20:22.859 --> 00:20:23.680 including Babylon. 00:20:26.019 --> 00:20:28.500 What a comforting vision 00:20:28.500 --> 00:20:31.480 for a young man and a 00:20:31.480 --> 00:20:33.619 nation under the rule of a 00:20:33.619 --> 00:20:34.680 foreign power, 1,500 00:20:34.680 --> 00:20:36.799 kilometers from home, who 00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:38.079 at this point had no hope 00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:38.779 for a better future 00:20:38.779 --> 00:20:39.359 whatsoever. 00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:40.359 God can do anything. 00:20:40.359 --> 00:20:43.339 This God can do anything. 00:20:43.500 --> 00:20:44.939 He is everywhere and he 00:20:44.939 --> 00:20:45.359 knows everything. 00:20:46.619 --> 00:20:47.719 It's the picture that we 00:20:47.719 --> 00:20:49.119 see right throughout the 00:20:49.119 --> 00:20:50.339 Bible of God. 00:20:50.839 --> 00:20:52.179 The Bible calls God 00:20:52.179 --> 00:20:52.619 holy. 00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:54.439 It's not that he possesses 00:20:54.439 --> 00:20:55.659 holiness, but that he 00:20:55.659 --> 00:20:57.699 actual fact is holy. 00:20:57.959 --> 00:20:59.899 It signifies everything about 00:20:59.899 --> 00:21:02.559 God that sets him apart as 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:04.199 being different to us and 00:21:04.199 --> 00:21:05.039 what he made. 00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:06.399 And that makes him an 00:21:06.399 --> 00:21:08.899 object of awe, makes him 00:21:08.899 --> 00:21:11.220 an object of adoration and, 00:21:11.559 --> 00:21:12.639 in fact, of dread. 00:21:13.819 --> 00:21:18.940 The word holy covers every 00:21:18.940 --> 00:21:21.460 part of his total greatness 00:21:21.460 --> 00:21:22.899 and moral perfection. 00:21:24.779 --> 00:21:26.819 It's the sum total of his 00:21:26.819 --> 00:21:27.539 attributes. 00:21:28.299 --> 00:21:30.399 Every part of his nature and 00:21:30.399 --> 00:21:33.039 his character is holy because 00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:35.019 of course he is God. 00:21:37.700 --> 00:21:39.879 At the core of its concept 00:21:39.879 --> 00:21:43.399 is his purity, which cannot 00:21:43.399 --> 00:21:47.799 tolerate sin or wrong or evil 00:21:47.799 --> 00:21:50.019 or impurity in any form. 00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:53.000 And so what happens when a 00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:54.980 sinful, imperfect, dweeb of a 00:21:54.980 --> 00:21:56.399 human being like me gets 00:21:56.399 --> 00:21:57.700 confronted with a God like 00:21:57.700 --> 00:21:58.139 this? 00:21:59.399 --> 00:22:00.839 Verse 28. 00:22:00.839 --> 00:22:02.799 This was the appearance of 00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:04.119 the likeness of the glory of 00:22:04.119 --> 00:22:04.559 the Lord. 00:22:04.819 --> 00:22:06.699 And when I saw it, I fell 00:22:06.699 --> 00:22:08.179 face down. 00:22:10.379 --> 00:22:11.559 That's the response. 00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:13.859 That's the response that God's 00:22:13.859 --> 00:22:15.159 been wanting from his people 00:22:15.159 --> 00:22:16.859 the whole time that they're in 00:22:16.859 --> 00:22:17.859 the promised land. 00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:21.079 And the reason that they're 00:22:21.079 --> 00:22:22.319 here in Babylon is because 00:22:22.319 --> 00:22:24.939 that's not what they did when 00:22:24.939 --> 00:22:26.099 they were in the promised land. 00:22:26.859 --> 00:22:28.339 They took him for granted. 00:22:28.339 --> 00:22:30.639 It's the position of 00:22:30.639 --> 00:22:31.179 submission. 00:22:31.639 --> 00:22:33.480 Humble submission is the only 00:22:33.480 --> 00:22:33.819 option. 00:22:33.919 --> 00:22:36.259 The vision, the God of God 00:22:36.259 --> 00:22:38.759 didn't make Ezekiel any more 00:22:38.759 --> 00:22:40.480 casual about God. 00:22:42.379 --> 00:22:44.059 This is the lesson that Israel, 00:22:44.199 --> 00:22:45.179 in fact, had to learn. 00:22:45.699 --> 00:22:47.240 We see a similar thing with John, 00:22:47.339 --> 00:22:48.539 as Chris read out to us in 00:22:48.539 --> 00:22:50.259 Revelation chapter 1. 00:22:50.679 --> 00:22:52.639 When he saw the glorified Lord 00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:57.440 Jesus, like Ezekiel, bear in 00:22:57.440 --> 00:22:59.780 mind that John is Jesus' best 00:22:59.780 --> 00:23:01.840 mate when he was here on earth. 00:23:02.600 --> 00:23:05.160 John was exiled, the island of 00:23:05.160 --> 00:23:07.860 Patmos, a prisoner, just like 00:23:07.860 --> 00:23:09.980 Ezekiel, when he received a 00:23:09.980 --> 00:23:10.759 vision of Jesus. 00:23:12.100 --> 00:23:13.480 And it was a strange and 00:23:13.480 --> 00:23:14.460 terrifying sight. 00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:17.920 Jesus was there, even in the 00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:19.140 island of Patmos. 00:23:19.140 --> 00:23:20.759 It was there in the most 00:23:20.759 --> 00:23:21.759 unexpected place. 00:23:21.860 --> 00:23:23.160 He saw the all-conquering and 00:23:23.160 --> 00:23:23.800 ruling Jesus. 00:23:24.280 --> 00:23:25.380 And what did John do? 00:23:25.680 --> 00:23:28.140 Exactly what Ezekiel did when 00:23:28.680 --> 00:23:29.860 confronted with the glory and 00:23:29.860 --> 00:23:30.780 holiness of God. 00:23:31.580 --> 00:23:33.620 He fell face down as if dead. 00:23:35.320 --> 00:23:37.020 That's the response that he's 00:23:37.020 --> 00:23:38.400 been calling from his people all 00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:38.800 along. 00:23:41.200 --> 00:23:43.620 He was Jesus' best mate. 00:23:43.619 --> 00:23:47.019 But he knew that the glorified 00:23:47.019 --> 00:23:48.399 Jesus was not to be treated 00:23:48.399 --> 00:23:49.839 lightly or carelessly or 00:23:49.839 --> 00:23:50.319 recklessly. 00:23:51.799 --> 00:23:54.339 The vision of Ezekiel reveals 00:23:54.339 --> 00:23:58.459 how terrifying, but also how 00:23:58.459 --> 00:24:00.179 good God is. 00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:03.959 God's people might be in the 00:24:03.959 --> 00:24:06.039 time-out chair in Babylon, but he 00:24:06.039 --> 00:24:07.619 was not done with his people 00:24:07.619 --> 00:24:08.779 despite their failure. 00:24:09.459 --> 00:24:11.779 And so this vision told Ezekiel 00:24:11.779 --> 00:24:13.839 that God is in fact up there, 00:24:14.660 --> 00:24:16.960 that God is in fact out there 00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:20.420 in control, but also that God is 00:24:20.420 --> 00:24:21.680 right here with them right now. 00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:26.960 Notice right at the very beginning 00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:29.799 of the prophecy in verse 3. 00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:33.899 By the Kibai River, in the land of 00:24:33.899 --> 00:24:37.639 the Babylonians, there the hand of 00:24:37.640 --> 00:24:39.340 the Lord was upon him. 00:24:41.620 --> 00:24:45.680 Right there, in that place, God 00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:46.820 was with his prophet. 00:24:47.720 --> 00:24:49.380 If you've got your Bibles open, flick 00:24:49.380 --> 00:24:53.540 over 48 chapters later to the very 00:24:53.540 --> 00:24:54.340 end of Ezekiel. 00:24:57.520 --> 00:24:59.040 Right at the end of the chapters, we're 00:24:59.040 --> 00:25:00.360 going to get to this in a few weeks, 00:25:01.100 --> 00:25:04.120 the final chapters of Ezekiel are that 00:25:04.119 --> 00:25:06.599 there's this wonderful description 00:25:06.599 --> 00:25:11.799 of paradise that God has prepared 00:25:11.799 --> 00:25:12.659 for his people. 00:25:12.839 --> 00:25:14.319 It is a perfect place. 00:25:15.739 --> 00:25:18.239 The last word of this prophecy, 00:25:18.519 --> 00:25:21.439 it's a picture of this paradise, 00:25:21.819 --> 00:25:22.959 of this city of perfection. 00:25:23.659 --> 00:25:26.079 The last words of this prophecy is 00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:27.719 the name of that city. 00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:31.159 The Lord is there. 00:25:31.160 --> 00:25:34.400 Right there in Babylon, 00:25:35.600 --> 00:25:38.019 and right at the end in paradise, 00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:40.060 after God has brought his people 00:25:40.060 --> 00:25:41.720 into their glorious future, 00:25:42.220 --> 00:25:45.080 the city, paradise, is called 00:25:45.080 --> 00:25:46.920 the Lord is there. 00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:48.779 He's there in Babylon. 00:25:49.259 --> 00:25:50.500 He's there in paradise. 00:25:52.340 --> 00:25:53.960 You see, Israel thought that the 00:25:53.960 --> 00:25:55.300 promised land was paradise. 00:25:55.460 --> 00:25:57.240 They thought that the Davidic kingdom, 00:25:57.360 --> 00:25:58.519 the kingdom under David, was 00:25:58.519 --> 00:25:58.940 paradise. 00:25:59.140 --> 00:26:00.279 They thought Jerusalem was 00:26:00.279 --> 00:26:00.759 paradise. 00:26:00.940 --> 00:26:02.059 They thought the temple in 00:26:02.059 --> 00:26:03.420 Jerusalem was paradise. 00:26:05.779 --> 00:26:07.440 But strangely, they found real 00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:09.200 paradise while in exile in Babylon. 00:26:11.160 --> 00:26:12.680 It wasn't Babylon that was 00:26:12.680 --> 00:26:13.039 paradise. 00:26:14.379 --> 00:26:15.440 It was the Lord. 00:26:16.819 --> 00:26:18.379 It was the Lord coming to his 00:26:18.379 --> 00:26:18.740 people. 00:26:19.839 --> 00:26:22.000 Paradise is not so much a place. 00:26:22.779 --> 00:26:24.319 Paradise is where God is. 00:26:25.859 --> 00:26:26.660 That's paradise. 00:26:26.660 --> 00:26:26.879 Paradise. 00:26:26.880 --> 00:26:35.800 It is relationship with God. 00:26:37.480 --> 00:26:39.560 It's a relationship of trust and 00:26:39.560 --> 00:26:40.120 obedience. 00:26:41.420 --> 00:26:42.940 This relationship with him is the 00:26:42.940 --> 00:26:44.680 only way that we'll ever find true 00:26:44.680 --> 00:26:45.120 paradise. 00:26:45.380 --> 00:26:47.520 We can pursue everything in this 00:26:47.520 --> 00:26:49.140 world, but we'll only ever find it 00:26:49.140 --> 00:26:50.460 in him. 00:26:50.460 --> 00:26:54.000 Jesus made it pretty explicit for his 00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:54.480 disciples. 00:26:55.500 --> 00:26:57.140 When we as Christians think about 00:26:57.140 --> 00:26:58.700 paradise, we automatically say 00:26:58.700 --> 00:26:59.019 heaven. 00:26:59.740 --> 00:27:00.460 That's paradise. 00:27:03.160 --> 00:27:04.819 We think of eternal life in heaven. 00:27:05.700 --> 00:27:07.720 Jesus said this in John 17, verse 3. 00:27:07.900 --> 00:27:09.759 This is eternal life. 00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:15.339 That they may know you, the only true 00:27:15.339 --> 00:27:17.759 God and Jesus Christ whom you have 00:27:17.759 --> 00:27:18.039 sent. 00:27:20.400 --> 00:27:21.920 What Jesus is saying there is that 00:27:21.920 --> 00:27:23.720 paradise isn't so much a destination 00:27:23.720 --> 00:27:26.299 as it is a relationship. 00:27:27.900 --> 00:27:29.720 Eternal life is to know God through 00:27:29.720 --> 00:27:30.539 Jesus Christ. 00:27:30.700 --> 00:27:34.759 Heaven is paradise only because God is 00:27:34.759 --> 00:27:35.119 there. 00:27:35.119 --> 00:27:41.459 The purpose of the prophecy of Ezekiel 00:27:41.459 --> 00:27:43.879 is, and Chris has mentioned this at 00:27:43.879 --> 00:27:46.819 the beginning, was to reintroduce God 00:27:46.819 --> 00:27:48.819 to his people, to reestablish that 00:27:48.819 --> 00:27:49.459 relationship. 00:27:50.599 --> 00:27:52.619 Again and again throughout the 48 00:27:52.619 --> 00:27:56.259 chapters, God says to Ezekiel to speak 00:27:56.259 --> 00:28:00.179 to his people that you may know that I 00:28:00.179 --> 00:28:01.319 am the Lord. 00:28:01.319 --> 00:28:07.099 The exile, all the judgments which 00:28:07.099 --> 00:28:09.500 are executed, and we're going to get 00:28:09.500 --> 00:28:12.559 into that next week, and all the mercy 00:28:12.559 --> 00:28:16.460 that's promised, the whole prophecy has 00:28:16.460 --> 00:28:21.079 that one end in mind that they may know 00:28:21.079 --> 00:28:24.700 that he is the Lord of all that is. 00:28:28.059 --> 00:28:30.720 Ezekiel discovered on that day by the 00:28:30.720 --> 00:28:33.380 Kibar River, in all his pain and anguish 00:28:33.380 --> 00:28:36.579 and confusion, that paradise was in fact 00:28:36.579 --> 00:28:37.319 not lost. 00:28:38.480 --> 00:28:41.620 God was there, right there in pagan, 00:28:42.200 --> 00:28:43.980 unclean Babylon. 00:28:44.680 --> 00:28:46.079 God was there. 00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:49.180 He was there for Ezekiel. 00:28:49.819 --> 00:28:52.339 He was there for his exiles in Babylon. 00:28:52.519 --> 00:28:55.799 He was there for John on Patmos, and he's 00:28:55.799 --> 00:28:57.000 right here for you right now. 00:28:57.000 --> 00:29:02.279 This, I believe, is a word of comfort and 00:29:02.279 --> 00:29:04.299 purpose for Christians living in a rapidly 00:29:04.299 --> 00:29:05.380 changing society. 00:29:06.700 --> 00:29:09.640 The people of God, in Ezekiel's time, 00:29:09.799 --> 00:29:12.299 found themselves in a society not unlike 00:29:12.299 --> 00:29:15.160 ours, a society that's not shaped by a 00:29:15.160 --> 00:29:15.859 biblical worldview. 00:29:16.220 --> 00:29:18.339 It's not shaped by biblical values. 00:29:18.740 --> 00:29:21.240 Not that long ago, in the Western world, 00:29:21.880 --> 00:29:23.980 a whole bunch of people, most people, 00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:25.620 would have called themselves Christian. 00:29:26.579 --> 00:29:29.180 Other religions existed, and yes, there 00:29:29.180 --> 00:29:31.220 were sceptical philosophers and there were 00:29:31.220 --> 00:29:33.880 atheists, but they were kind of regarded as 00:29:33.880 --> 00:29:36.620 more bizarre, sometimes even scandalous. 00:29:38.940 --> 00:29:40.839 Those were the days of Christendom. 00:29:40.839 --> 00:29:45.279 But that is how it used to be. 00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:46.939 Christendom's gone. 00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:49.179 It's over. 00:29:51.619 --> 00:29:54.879 The 20th century saw an incredible reversal. 00:29:55.799 --> 00:29:59.079 Tolerance of all ideas is the new idol. 00:30:00.179 --> 00:30:02.379 The world has become a global village. 00:30:02.519 --> 00:30:04.919 The new society has emerged in the West. 00:30:05.319 --> 00:30:08.919 Church spires still exist, but they are dwarfed by the 00:30:08.920 --> 00:30:11.740 skyscrapers of contemporary commerce. 00:30:12.220 --> 00:30:14.240 Christians are in positions of power, but they are 00:30:14.240 --> 00:30:15.100 less influential. 00:30:15.680 --> 00:30:17.680 The Christian church has virtually no political 00:30:17.680 --> 00:30:18.620 power whatsoever. 00:30:19.420 --> 00:30:23.400 And for us, in our own context, SRE is under fire. 00:30:23.560 --> 00:30:24.880 Marriage is being redefined. 00:30:24.960 --> 00:30:27.600 There's no moral compass in our society. 00:30:28.440 --> 00:30:29.800 Christendom is over. 00:30:29.799 --> 00:30:42.659 So are we asking ourselves why as the church? 00:30:44.879 --> 00:30:49.279 Has God put his church in the West in the time-out chair? 00:30:49.279 --> 00:30:56.859 There is a lesson here. 00:30:58.680 --> 00:31:00.619 There is no place for bravado. 00:31:02.279 --> 00:31:06.200 We are a minority under fire, and there is a temptation, 00:31:06.379 --> 00:31:08.619 I believe, for the Christian church to bunker down, 00:31:09.000 --> 00:31:11.039 to retreat into a Christian subculture, 00:31:11.399 --> 00:31:15.000 take on a siege mentality, wait for Jesus to return, 00:31:15.180 --> 00:31:16.559 and to hell with the rest of you. 00:31:16.559 --> 00:31:26.399 What did God require his people in exile in Babylon? 00:31:28.039 --> 00:31:29.899 Jeremiah 29 tells us. 00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:35.799 29 verses 4 to 7, this is God's instruction for his people 00:31:35.799 --> 00:31:37.019 living in a foreign land. 00:31:37.839 --> 00:31:39.859 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, 00:31:40.039 --> 00:31:43.579 says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 00:31:43.579 --> 00:31:50.159 Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. 00:31:50.720 --> 00:31:55.439 Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper. 00:31:58.240 --> 00:31:59.339 Don't we treat? 00:32:01.279 --> 00:32:01.759 Bless. 00:32:01.759 --> 00:32:10.180 And I believe that it's absolutely impossible for us to do that 00:32:10.180 --> 00:32:15.099 unless we are totally convinced that God is here with his people, 00:32:15.500 --> 00:32:20.359 on his throne, and he's ruling not just us, our lives and our church, 00:32:20.460 --> 00:32:26.700 but he rules all of Australia, all this world, governments, people, everyone. 00:32:26.700 --> 00:32:31.740 Let me just leave that as a side thought. 00:32:33.360 --> 00:32:35.740 Bring it down to something personal. 00:32:36.160 --> 00:32:38.100 I think there's a personal word of comfort for us. 00:32:39.940 --> 00:32:43.799 Some of us who might be feeling something of the fourth response of the exiles, 00:32:44.340 --> 00:32:45.700 and that is the brokenness. 00:32:46.480 --> 00:32:51.380 Those who feel that God right now seems just so far away from you. 00:32:51.380 --> 00:32:57.620 Maybe you feel that there is no possible hope or future in your life or in your family. 00:32:57.860 --> 00:33:00.240 There is, just seems like God's not there. 00:33:02.180 --> 00:33:05.020 If God feels a long way from you right now, 00:33:05.180 --> 00:33:08.120 take this word as hope and promise. 00:33:09.100 --> 00:33:12.780 God is with his people wherever they are. 00:33:12.779 --> 00:33:16.240 As Jesus promised, 00:33:17.000 --> 00:33:20.660 surely I am with you always to the very end of the age. 00:33:23.299 --> 00:33:26.139 God doesn't promise that he will always 00:33:26.139 --> 00:33:31.160 take away the difficulty that we're facing immediately. 00:33:32.240 --> 00:33:35.440 Ezekiel is about to face another five years 00:33:35.440 --> 00:33:37.220 of the most uncomfortable message 00:33:37.220 --> 00:33:39.940 that any prophet ever had to bring to the people of God. 00:33:39.940 --> 00:33:45.740 But there's also comfort and hope and reassurance of forgiveness. 00:33:46.019 --> 00:33:46.320 Why? 00:33:47.980 --> 00:33:49.440 Because God was there. 00:33:50.059 --> 00:33:51.240 And he was in it. 00:33:52.080 --> 00:33:53.840 And when God is there, 00:33:55.220 --> 00:33:57.519 paradise is always there. 00:34:00.420 --> 00:34:01.480 There is hope. 00:34:02.580 --> 00:34:04.200 Our God is still on his throne. 00:34:04.880 --> 00:34:06.900 And our God is still in charge of the world. 00:34:06.900 --> 00:34:10.500 And our God is right here where we are, 00:34:10.559 --> 00:34:13.200 with us in this place, 2015, 00:34:13.700 --> 00:34:15.980 and fulfilling his purpose amongst his people. 00:34:18.380 --> 00:34:19.500 But personally, 00:34:20.539 --> 00:34:24.079 he's not just here in this church where we gather right now, 00:34:24.660 --> 00:34:27.480 but he is there with you tomorrow 00:34:27.480 --> 00:34:30.160 and the next day and the day after that, 00:34:30.240 --> 00:34:31.300 wherever you go 00:34:31.300 --> 00:34:35.300 and whatever circumstances you find yourself in, 00:34:36.980 --> 00:34:37.600 trust him. 00:34:39.380 --> 00:34:40.100 Trust him. 00:34:42.420 --> 00:34:43.300 Submit to him. 00:34:44.420 --> 00:34:45.019 Obey him. 00:34:45.860 --> 00:34:46.340 Love him. 00:34:47.220 --> 00:34:47.740 Worship him. 00:34:48.380 --> 00:34:48.780 Honor him. 00:34:49.600 --> 00:34:50.060 Let's pray. 00:34:50.059 --> 00:34:56.799 Father God, 00:34:57.960 --> 00:34:58.900 I pray that 00:34:58.900 --> 00:35:01.820 we would learn the lesson of the exile 00:35:01.820 --> 00:35:03.920 as your people. 00:35:04.679 --> 00:35:06.699 We pray that our response to you, 00:35:07.039 --> 00:35:09.500 regardless of the circumstances that we face day by day 00:35:09.500 --> 00:35:10.900 or even the church collectively, 00:35:11.059 --> 00:35:12.079 might indeed be one 00:35:12.079 --> 00:35:14.639 of total submission to you. 00:35:14.639 --> 00:35:18.480 Change our hearts, Lord, 00:35:18.839 --> 00:35:21.799 so that we would not be like your people, Israel. 00:35:22.440 --> 00:35:24.759 Help us not to be hardened to your word, 00:35:25.900 --> 00:35:29.299 where they took on all kinds of forms of religion. 00:35:30.299 --> 00:35:31.440 They were apathetic. 00:35:32.119 --> 00:35:33.239 They took you for granted. 00:35:35.019 --> 00:35:35.779 Father God, 00:35:35.859 --> 00:35:36.400 I pray 00:35:36.400 --> 00:35:39.319 that you would change us 00:35:39.319 --> 00:35:40.779 and that you would comfort us 00:35:40.780 --> 00:35:42.660 and that we might indeed 00:35:42.660 --> 00:35:44.040 seek the blessing of many 00:35:44.040 --> 00:35:45.900 because you are right here with us. 00:35:47.080 --> 00:35:47.700 Father God, 00:35:47.760 --> 00:35:48.840 we're tempted in this world 00:35:48.840 --> 00:35:51.360 to chase all other kinds of paradises. 00:35:52.240 --> 00:35:53.180 Help us to see it. 00:35:53.600 --> 00:35:54.420 It is with you 00:35:54.420 --> 00:35:56.380 and in relationship with you 00:35:56.380 --> 00:35:58.120 that we might indeed find 00:35:58.120 --> 00:35:59.360 that place of security 00:35:59.360 --> 00:36:00.320 and hope and future. 00:36:00.920 --> 00:36:01.140 Amen. 00:36:01.140 --> 00:36:01.220 Amen.