Ezekiel 11
In Ezekiel 11, Ezekiel continues to convey God’s message to the people through a vision concerning the Jerusalem temple. This chapter can be divided into two main parts. First (verses 1–13) is a message of judgment against the leaders of Jerusalem. They are judged for scheming evil and for being responsible for leading the people astray. Second (verses 14–25) is a message of hope regarding the restoration of Israel, with a promise that God will give new spirit and a new heart to those who were taken captive.
1verseMoreover the Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the east gate of the LORD’s house, which looks eastward. Behold, twenty-five men were at the door of the gate; and I saw among them Jaazaniah the son of Azzur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.
2verseHe said to me, “Son of man, these are the men who devise iniquity, and who give wicked counsel in this city;
3versewho say, ‘The time is not near to build houses. This is the cauldron, and we are the meat.’
4verseTherefore prophesy against them. Prophesy, son of man.”
5verseThe LORD’s Spirit fell on me, and he said to me, “Speak, ‘The LORD says: “Thus you have said, house of Israel; for I know the things that come into your mind.
6verseYou have multiplied your slain in this city, and you have filled its streets with the slain.”
7verse“‘Therefore the Lord GOD says: “Your slain whom you have laid in the middle of it, they are the meat, and this is the cauldron; but you will be brought out of the middle of it.
8verseYou have feared the sword; and I will bring the sword on you,” says the Lord GOD.
9verse“I will bring you out of the middle of it, and deliver you into the hands of strangers, and will execute judgments among you.
10verseYou will fall by the sword. I will judge you in the border of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
11verseThis will not be your cauldron, neither will you be the meat in the middle of it. I will judge you in the border of Israel.
12verseYou will know that I am the LORD, for you have not walked in my statutes. You have not executed my ordinances, but have done after the ordinances of the nations that are around you.”’”
13verseWhen I prophesied, Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then I fell down on my face, and cried with a loud voice, and said, “Ah Lord GOD! Will you make a full end of the remnant of Israel?”
14verseThe LORD’s word came to me, saying,
15verse“Son of man, your brothers, even your brothers, the men of your relatives, and all the house of Israel, all of them, are the ones to whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, ‘Go far away from the LORD. This land has been given to us for a possession.’
16verse“Therefore say, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Whereas I have removed them far off among the nations, and whereas I have scattered them among the countries, yet I will be to them a sanctuary for a little while in the countries where they have come.”’
17verse“Therefore say, ‘The Lord GOD says: “I will gather you from the peoples, and assemble you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.”
18verse“‘They will come there, and they will take away all its detestable things and all its abominations from there.
19verseI will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them. I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh,
20versethat they may walk in my statutes, and keep my ordinances, and do them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.
21verseBut as for them whose heart walks after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will bring their way on their own heads,’ says the Lord GOD.”
22verseThen the cherubim lifted up their wings, and the wheels were beside them. The glory of the God of Israel was over them above.
23verseThe LORD’s glory went up from the middle of the city, and stood on the mountain which is on the east side of the city.
24verseThe Spirit lifted me up, and brought me in the vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to the captives. So the vision that I had seen went up from me.
25verseThen I spoke to the captives all the things that the LORD had shown me.
Summary of Key Content
- Sins and Judgment of the Leaders (Verses 1–13): Ezekiel points out 25 leaders, especially Jaazzaniah and Belaidah. He criticizes them for offering wrong counsel within the city and for leading the people into evil. God says He will shatter their false confidence that Jerusalem is safe and will judge them for their plots. As it turns out, Balaidah reveals the severity of this judgment by dying during his prophecy.
- The Promise of Restoration (Verses 14–25): After the words of judgment, God promises hope of restoration to those who were taken captive. He tells them He will give them a “new spirit” and a “new heart,” leaving them with the hope that someday they will again become God’s people and that God will be their God. This section also shows that God’s care and promises for the future extend even to the exiled people of Israel.
Meditation Points
- You can meditate on the fact that God values the real substance of life and one’s attitude of the heart more than external conditions (the Jerusalem temple and the authority of the leaders) .
- Even in the midst of judgment, you can also pay attention to God’s character, who always leaves behind a message of restoration and hope.
Try Applying It to Yourself
- You can check whether your own life—your inner attitude, your heart, and your actions—are in line with one another.
- Even amid the hardships or failures of life, you will be able to live in trust that God is preparing a new beginning and restoration.
