by Paul Apple | Nov 22, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: IMAGES OF A CAPTURED MONSTER CROCODILE AND A BROKEN REED SPEAK TO THE DEMISE OF EGYPT AS GOD REASSURES HIS PEOPLE INTRODUCTION: After finishing his prophecy against Tyre and Sidon, the prophet turns his attention in chapters 29-32 to the fate of the powerful...
by Paul Apple | Nov 20, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD STRIKES DOWN ARROGANT POLITICAL LEADERS (MOTIVATED BY SATAN) WHO BOAST IN THEIR WEALTH AND GLORY WHILE RESTORING ISRAEL TO A SECURE FUTURE IN THE PROMISED LAND INTRODUCTION: This chapter concludes the judgment prophecy against Tyre by focusing on her...
by Paul Apple | Nov 19, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: BOASTING IN PROSPERITY AND PROMINENCE BRINGS GOD’S DEVASTATING JUDGMENT INTRODUCTION: Tyre was the economic hub for worldwide commerce. She boasted in her vast wealth and influence. Here she is pictured as a magnificent vessel constructed from the most...
by Paul Apple | Nov 17, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: WAVES OF INVADING NATIONS (BEGINNING WITH KING NEBUCHADNEZAR) WILL UTTERLY DESTROY TYRE WHO HAD HOPED TO PROFIT BY JERUSALEM’S DESTRUCTION INTRODUCTION: One cannot overstate the magnitude of this prophecy of devastation against the most prominent Gentile...
by Paul Apple | Nov 15, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: MISTREATMENT AND MALICE TOWARDS ISRAEL BY SURROUNDING PROUD PAGAN NATIONS WILL BE PUNISHED BY GOD INTRODUCTION: Here we see the beginning of the second main section of the Book of Ezekiel. The earlier chapters had dealt with the Fall of Jerusalem. Now the...
by Paul Apple | Nov 12, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: DESPITE HER FALSE SECURITY, JERUSALEM EXPERIENCES THE DEVASTATION OF DESERVED JUDGMENT INTRODUCTION: This climactic chapter at the heart of the book of Ezekiel brings us finally to the Day of Reckoning for Jerusalem. After repeated prophecies emphasizing the...
by Paul Apple | Nov 10, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE ABOMINABLE SINS OF PERSISTENT SPIRITUAL HARLOTRY DEMAND SEVERE JUDGMENT INTRODUCTION: Daniel Woodhead: This chapter continues with the Lord’s displeasure of Israel’s sins. It is another long parable of spiritual harlotry similar to that which the Lord...
by Paul Apple | Nov 7, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD WILL UNLEASH DIVINE WRATH UPON HIS CORRUPT HOLY CITYINTRODUCTION:[Outline borrowed from sermon by Michael Crawford. This is the third oracle of judgment from chapter 22.]This is a famous scripture text: “Who will stand in the gap?” The various categories...
by Paul Apple | Nov 7, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: JERUSALEM DESERVED THE FURNACE OF GOD’S JUDGMENT BECAUSE OF HER DOCUMENTED ABOMINATIONSINTRODUCTION:God’s indictment against His people consisted in summary form of two basic categories of violations: shedding blood and making idols. These abominations then...
by Paul Apple | Nov 5, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE SWORD OF THE LORD WILL ACCOMPLISH ITS MISSION OF JUDGMENTINTRODUCTION:The last paragraph in chapter 20 starts a new chapter in the Hebrew bible since it fits with the context of chapter 21. The imagery of a consuming fire transfers over to the imagery of...
by Paul Apple | Nov 2, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: MILLENNAL RESTORATION TRANSFORMS WORSHIP AND GLORIFIES GODINTRODUCTION:Note that the familiar Recognition Refrain marks the end of each of the three segments of this section of the book (vs. 38, 42, 44). Ezekiel now looks ahead to the end times scenario when...
by Paul Apple | Nov 1, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: ISRAEL’S CONSISTENT PATTERN OF SIN DOWN THROUGH HER HISTORY JUSTIFIES GOD’S JUDGMENT AND MAGNIFIES HIS MERCYINTRODUCTION:Once the Lord has the attention of the elders in exile, He turns the table on their desire for some type of new counsel that would answer...
by Paul Apple | Oct 30, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE DAVIDIC DYNASTY HAS GONE DOWN IN FLAMES DUE TO FAILED LEADERSHIPINTRODUCTION:Here we have the sad lament of Judah’s failed leadership and its impact on the nation. The common figures of a lioness and a vine are employed to picture the rapid decline and...
by Paul Apple | Oct 30, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD CANNOT BE ACCUSED OF INJUSTICE BECAUSE HE HOLDS EACH INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTABLE FOR HIS OWN CONDUCTINTRODUCTION:Amidst the blame shifting and complaining of the exiles in Babylon who refused to take responsibility for sin, Ezekiel delivers a clear...
by Paul Apple | Oct 28, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: JUDGMENT ON JERUSALEM JUSTIFIED IN LIGHT OF THE TREACHERY OF ZEDEKIAH BUT ULTIMATELY SUPERSEDED BY MESSIANIC RESTORATIONINTRODUCTION:This parable (or allegory or fable) once again reinforces the certainty of coming judgment against Jerusalem. This time the...
by Paul Apple | Oct 27, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: DESPITE UNPRECEDENTED ABOMINATIONS, PRIVILEGED BUT UNFAITHFUL JERUSALEM WILL BE RESTORED TO COVENANT SECURITY AFTER APPROPRIATE JUDGMENTINTRODUCTION:The guilt of Jerusalem is set against the backdrop of her privileged adoption as God’s chosen nation. The...
by Paul Apple | Oct 16, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: JERUSALEM AS THE WORTHLESS VINE CAN’T ESCAPE THE CONSUMING FIRE OF GOD’S JUDGMENTINTRODUCTION:Constable: This is the first in a series of three parables designed to impress on the overly optimistic exiles that there was no possibility that Jerusalem would...
by Paul Apple | Oct 15, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: JERUSALEM CANNOT ESCAPE JUDGMENT EVEN IF THE MOST RIGHTEOUS MEN INTERCEDEINTRODUCTION:Context: God promising to bring 4 judgments upon Jerusalem – even the intercession of the most godly men could not avert that judgment; yet we want to learn from the...
by Paul Apple | Oct 13, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: HIDDEN IDOLATRY PROVES TO BE A STUMBLING BLOCK FOR SIN AND A RED FLAG IN TERMS OF DIVINE CONFRONTATION AND CONDEMNATIONINTRODUCTION:Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart. These respected Jewish elders living in exile with Ezekiel in...
by Paul Apple | Oct 12, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: FALSE PROPHETS AND PRACTITIONERS OF THE OCCULT MUST BE CONDEMNED FOR THEIR LIES AND EMPTY PROMISES THAT ORIGINATE FROM THEIR OWN CRYSTAL BALLINTRODUCTION:Ezekiel had just finished refuting the false claims of those who either denied the certainty of coming...
