Exceedingly Wicked

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 16:44-59

 

Matthew 9:37-38

Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. ³⁸ Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

(NKJV)

 

Last week I took my son to have a medical procedure done. It was standing room only in the waiting room with many there for the same procedure indicating there might be a problem. At the root of the issue was there was only one doctor there that could do the procedure and he was only there at that office on Fridays, visiting other offices during the other days of the week. Thankfully, my son was able to have his procedure done and is doing fine but this illustrates the shortage of workers prevalent in many industries today. Jesus observed a similar shortage of harvesters to bring in the harvest of souls needing salvation in Matthew 9:37-38 and why we must continue to pray for revival in the Church and a return to the mission of the Church (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20)

 

The text for this posting begins with saying that everyone who quotes proverbs will use the proverb that says like mother like daughter against the people of Jerusalem (Ezekiel 16:44). The text continues by telling them they are their mother’s daughter, loathing their husband and children, the sister of their sisters who loathed their husbands and children. It tells the people of Jerusalem that their mother was a Hittite and their father an Amorite (Ezekiel 16:45).

 

The text compares the people of Jerusalem with Samaria, their elder sister, and Sodom their younger sister (Ezekiel 16:46). The text tells them that they did not walk or act in accordance with the ways of their sisters but were more corrupt in their ways and actions (Ezekiel 16:47). This is not a commendation for the people of Jerusalem but condemnation because they have done worse (Ezekiel 16:48). Sodom was full of pride, full of food, with an abundance of idleness, who never sought to strengthen the poor (Ezekiel 16:49). Sodom was haughty and committed abomination before the Lord, so the Lord took them away (Ezekiel 16:50; Genesis 19:12-29).

 

As for Samaria, they did not commit half of the sins of the people of Jerusalem with the people of Jerusalem multiplying their abominations, justifying their sisters with their abominations (Ezekiel 16:51-52). When God brings back the captives of Sodom and Samaria, he will also bring back the captives of Jerusalem so they can bear their shame along with Sodom and Samaria (Ezekiel 16:53-54). Jerusalem will return to its former state when Sodom and Samaria returning to their former state (Ezekiel 16:55). Sodom was not a byword in the mouth of the people of Jerusalem during the commission of their abominations (Ezekiel 16:56). The former state, before the uncovering of the wickedness of the people of Jerusalem was like the time of the reproach of Syria and the Philistines who despised Jerusalem (Ezekiel 16:57). The people of Jerusalem have paid for the lewdness of their abominations because they have despised the oath and broke their covenant with the Lord (Ezekiel 16:58-59).  

 

The Lord wants to illustrate the vileness of the sins of Jerusalem by comparing them to Samaria and Sodom. However, even though the sins of Sodom (Genesis 19:1-11) and Samaria (1 Kings 16:31-32) were vile, they pale in comparison to the even greater vileness of the sins of Jerusalem, who broke their oath and covenant with God (Exodus 24:3; Ezekiel 16:59). God compares Jerusalem to Sodom, a city they would have heard about from their youth in the Tora and the wicked northern tribes who separated from Israel and set up their capitol of worship in Samaria to worship Baal (1 Kings 16:31-32). While the people of Samaria are descendants of Israel and made the same oath to obey God, the people of Jerusalem are worshipping Baal in the City of Jerusalem, the city where God dwells in the Temple and where the ark is (Zechariah 8:3).

 

The Church has a clearly stated commission from God (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20) with the success of the early Church demonstrating its commitment to fulfilling that mission (Acts 17:6). Unfortunately, many churches today resemble the lukewarm Church at Laodicea which made Jesus sick (Revelation 3:14-22). Many modern Churches no longer speak out against vile sins in society like abortion and homosexuality out of fear of losing members and contributors. The theology of many modern Churches is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ but instead, a prosperity gospel teaching that one living by faith in Jesus Christ will have prosperity and a life free of trouble going against what Jesus said in John 16:33.

 

With modern technology, the Bible has never been easier to find, and its truth is more available than ever. The Church of today that claims to teach the Bible while using God’s grace to compromise with the world and its sin is guilty of the abominable sin of knowing the truth and going against it. They are no different from the people of Jerusalem who went into the Temple of God and worshiped Baal. Even though there are numerous Churches today, the few Churches declaring the truth of God’s Word indicate the lack of workers for the harvest (Matthew 9:37-38). Oh, Lord, bring an outpouring of the Holy Spirit and revival to the Church today to bring in the harvest of souls perishing in their sins.

 

If you are reading this post and have not yet prayed for God to forgive your sins and to confess Him as Lord of your life, I invite you to do so now by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God challenge, convict, and bless everyone reading this post.