2. Ezekiel 18 Individual Responsibility Before God

3.  In Babylonia – in exile  Time (592-570 / 22 yrs)  National & Political Situation “The period in which Ezekiel lived was one of national and international turmoil, and moral and political decay in Judah” (Homer Hailey, Hailey’s Comments, Vol. I, p. 187). Setting of Ezekiel

4.  The Need For It They Shall Know That I Am Jehovah Message of the Book

5. “These exiles, also, were permeated by the delusive idea that their captivity would soon be ended, and that Jehovah could never allow Jerusalem, His chosen city to be ruined. There were false prophets among them, as there were at far ‑ away Jerusalem, who were all the while inculcating this (xiii. 16, 19)...It is certainly clear that there was a need for such a prophet as Ezekiel among the exiles, and it is equally clear his task was a very difficult one. His first task was to disabuse them of their false hope, which required much courage” (J. Sildow Baxter, Explore The Book, Vol. 4, p. 12). Message of the Book

6. “The mission of Ezekiel was to save from complete apostasy the group in Babylon that had been carried away in 597 B.C. Also he labored to prepare them against the corruptions of those left in Jerusalem when they should be brought to Babylon. At this point one should read carefully Jeremiah 24. The good figs were the captives taken to Babylon in 597; the bad figs those taken in 586. Out of the first group God would find the remnant that should return to Jerusalem. It was Ezekiel’s work to preserve this remnant” (Hailey, p. 188). Message of the Book

7.  The Need For It  Found 63 Times They Shall Know That I Am Jehovah When Jerusalem was destroyed and the people taken captive (6:7, 10, 13, 14; 7:4, 9, 27; 11:10, 12; 12:15, 16, 20; 13:9, 14, 21, 23; 14:8; 15:7; 16:62; 20:12, 20, 26, 38, 42, 44; 22:16; 23:14; 24:24, 27; 33:29). When judgment upon the nations (25:5, 7, 11, 17; 26:6; 28:22, 23, 24, 26; 29:6, 9, 16, 21; 30:8, 19, 25, 26; 32:15; 35:4, 9, 12, 15). When remnant restored (34:27; 36:11, 23, 38; 37:6, 13; 38:23; 39:7, 22, 28).

8. Outline of Ezekiel I. Judgment on Jerusalem (1 ‑ 24) A. Call of the prophet (1 ‑ 3) B. A Disobedient nation (4 ‑ 7) C. Glory departs (8 ‑ 11) D. Disciplined nation (12 ‑ 24) II Judgment on the Gentile Nations (25 ‑ 32) III. Restoration of God’s People (33 ‑ 48) A. Return to their land (33 ‑ 36) B. New life and unity (37) C. Protected from their enemies (38 ‑ 39) D. Worship the Lord acceptably (40 ‑ 48) ‑ Outline adapted from Baxter & Weirsbe

9. Ezekiel 18 Individual Responsibility Before God I. Popular Proverb Puts All Blame On Fathers (1-4)

10. Ezekiel 18 Individual Responsibility Before God I. Popular Proverb Puts All Blame On Fathers (1-4) II. God Deals With Each According to Works (5-20) A. Righteous man shall live (vv. 5-9) B. Righteousness of father does not protect son (10-13) C. Wickedness of father does not condemn son (14-18) D. Each reaps as he sows (19-20)

11. Ezekiel 18 Individual Responsibility Before God I. Popular Proverb Puts All Blame On Fathers (1-4) II. God Deals With Each According to Works (5-20) III. Each Man Can Change His Way & God Will Deal Accordingly (21-29) A. A wicked man can become righteous (21-23) B. A righteous man can become wicked (24) C. How can anyone say God is unfair (25-29)

12. Ezekiel 18 Individual Responsibility Before God I. Popular Proverb Puts All Blame On Fathers (1-4) II. God Deals With Each According to Works (5-20) III. Each Man Can Change His Way & God Will Deal Accordingly (21-29) IV. A Call To Repentance (30-32)

13. Lessons We Need  Sin has consequences  Individual responsibility  Can’t blame others for your sin  People can change (either direction)  Those who turn first consider (v. 28)  The call is for repentance  Losing soul is so needless (v. 31)