What actions are described in Ezekiel 18:15 that demonstrate obedience to God? Text of Ezekiel 18:15 “He does not eat at the mountain shrines or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife.” Key Obedient Actions Highlighted • Refuses food offered at pagan mountain shrines • Keeps his eyes—and heart—away from Israel’s idols • Honors marriage by avoiding adultery with his neighbor’s wife Why These Actions Matter • Turning from idolatry affirms that the LORD alone is God (Exodus 20:3-5). • Rejecting pagan meals shows complete separation from false worship (1 Corinthians 10:20-22). • Sexual purity protects the covenant of marriage, a picture of God’s own covenant love (Hebrews 13:4). Echoes Elsewhere in Scripture • Daniel 1:8—Daniel declines defiling food, modeling the same determination. • 1 Kings 15:11-14—King Asa removes idols and pagan altars, mirroring this obedience. • Matthew 5:27-28—Jesus deepens the call to purity, condemning even lustful looks. • 1 John 5:21—“Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” Living It Out Today • Guard what you consume—media, entertainment, or teaching—so it does not pull your heart toward modern “shrines.” • Keep your focus on Christ; refuse even a glance toward anything that rivals His place. • Honor every marriage covenant—your own and others’—by cultivating purity in thought, word, and action. |
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