What does "statutes that were not good" reveal about God's judgment in Ezekiel? Setting the Scene - Ezekiel 20 recounts Israel’s long history of rebellion in Egypt, the wilderness, and the land. - Each time the LORD delivered them, they rejected His “good statutes and ordinances” (v. 11). - Because they persisted, God responded with judgment that fit their sin. Understanding “Statutes That Were Not Good” (Ezekiel 20:25) “Moreover, I gave them over to statutes that were not good and ordinances by which they could not live.” - “Statutes” here are not God’s own righteous laws but the idolatrous practices Israel craved. - The phrase “I gave them over” echoes God’s sovereign act of allowing sinners to have what they insist upon. - Just as Romans 1:24 says, “Therefore God gave them up in the desires of their hearts…”, so in Ezekiel, God’s judgment includes letting them reap the bitter fruit of false worship. How This Demonstrates God’s Judgment - Judicial Abandonment • Similar to Psalm 81:11-12—“So I gave them up to their stubborn hearts”. • God’s withdrawal of restraining grace is itself a severe form of discipline. - Exposure of Sin’s Futility • Pagan “statutes” promised life, but God calls them ordinances “by which they could not live.” • Their emptiness revealed that only the LORD’s commands give life (Deuteronomy 32:46-47). - Consistent with His Holiness • God does not compromise His holy law; instead, He lets persistent rebels feel the reality of choosing another master (cf. Hosea 4:17). - Warning to the Nation • Ezekiel 20 shows a pattern: rejection → divine “giving over” → devastation → opportunity for repentance (Ezekiel 20:44). Lessons for Believers Today - Persistent sin invites God’s judicial “hand-off.” Refuse to toy with idolatry in any form. - The only statutes that bring life are those revealed in God’s Word (Psalm 19:7-11). - True judgment often looks like unchecked freedom; discern whether “freedom” is actually God’s severe mercy calling you back. - God’s goal remains redemptive: “You will know that I am the LORD” (Ezekiel 20:26, 44). |
    |