Eze.19:1-20:17, Enjoy the Rest of Jesus While Singing Lamentations

Eze.19:1-20:17, Enjoy the Rest of Jesus While Singing Lamentations
Ezekiel 19 is a lament(sad song) about the kings of Judah. ​​God makes the prophet Ezekiel sing a lament through the metaphor of the lion(king) and the vine(Judah and the king). 1. The metaphor of the lion (the king of Judah)(19:1-9): In Gn.49:9 and Rev.5:5, the lion symbolizes the tribe of Judah, that is, the kingdom of Judah and the Messiah. Gn.49:9, “Judah is a lion's cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He lies down, he crouches like a lion, like a lioness; who can touch him?” Rev.5:5, “Then one of the elders said to me, "Weep not; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and its seven seals."” The young lions are the two kings of the last days of Judah, Jehoahaz(the 17th king, the son of King Josiah) and Jehoiachin(the 19th king, the grandson of King Josiah). After only three months as kings, the former was taken captive to Egypt(609 BC) and the latter to Babylon(597 BC), where they died. They were strong, brave, and proud like lions, but they fell into corruption and committed sins. They did not govern the country according to God’s will, but carried out evil politics(3, 7, devoured people). The kingdom of Judah gradually declined due to sins and was eventually completely destroyed by Babylon. The lamentations of these kings being taken captive and the destruction of the Judea serve as a warning to the unrepentant people and to us.  2. The allegory of the vine (the king of Judah) (19:10-14): The vine symbolizes Judah and the king of Judah. ​​It was already used in this way in chapters 15 and 17. Gn.49:11, “Binding his donkey to the vine, and his colt to the choice vine, he will wash his garments in wine, and his clothing in the blood of grapes.” The kingdom of Judah was once strong and prosperous, but in the end, it will be judged, uprooted, thrown down, and its branches burned. That is, in the end, King Zedekiah(The last king of Judah) was established by Babylon according to the will of the Lord. However, he also turned away from the will of the Lord and relied on Egypt, and was blinded by the Babylonians, taken captive, and killed (2K.25:1-12), and Judah was destroyed(586 BC). In the end, Chapter 19 is like a sad song(lament) of hopeless destruction. This lament emphasizes God’s righteous judgment. On the other hand, God is the King of kings(Gn.49:9, 11-12, Rev.5:5, Mt.2:2,27:11,29,37, etc.) and shows us the hope of new restoration through Jesus Christ who will come as a(vine) branch (Is.11:1, 53:2). God is the subject of history. We all need to know this God correctly, repent of our sins, and live truly.    3. Repent and enjoy the rest of Jesus (20:1-17): Chapter 20 urges repentance by reminding us of the history of Israel’s constant disobedience despite receiving God’s grace. When the elders of Israel came to God and asked for an answer(1), God pointed out their three past sins and urged them to repent. 1) They worshipped idols. 2) They did not keep the laws. 3) They defiled the Sabbath. However, we learn of God’s faithfulness and patience even in the midst of human disobedience. Even though Israel repeatedly sinned, God did not destroy them immediately but was patient with them. This was to give them a chance to repent. God led Israel out of Egypt and gave them the law and rest, but they rejected it. In particular, He wants them to turn from their sin of defiling the Sabbath (today’s Sunday) that He gave them as a holy sign of walking with God. He emphasizes that God gave the Sabbath as a sign of His covenant with Israel(20:12, 20). However, the Israelites defiled it and turned away from God, and as a result, they were disciplined by love. So what lesson does keeping the Sabbath holy teach us today? Today, we worship on Sunday instead of the Sabbath to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus. Sunday(Lord’s day) is a day to worship God and enjoy rest in the grace of the resurrected Jesus.  1) The Sabbath/Sunday is a holy sign of God(20:12, 20). God made the Sabbath/Sunday a sign between God and Israelites(Saints). In other words, keeping the Sabbath was an act of fearing God and showing that we belong to Him. We must look back and see whether we are enjoying spiritual rest in an intimate relationship with God beyond the formal observance of the Sabbath(Sunday). * It is good for me to be near the Lord(Ps.73:28). * Question: Am I enjoying true rest and satisfaction in my relationship with God?  2) The Sabbath/Sunday is a time to remember God(20:12). Through the Sabbath, God made it known that He is the One who sanctifies Israel. However, Israel forgot God by not keeping the Sabbath. If we do not keep the Sabbath(Sunday) today, we will eventually forget God. We should not simply observe the Sabbath(the day of worship) as a formality, but as a time to deeply meditate on God and remember His work in our lives. In modern society, it is easy to forget God due to busy schedules and worldly things. However, if we do not have time to intentionally remember God and focus on Him, we will become spiritually exhausted. Our faith will also cool down and eventually we will turn away from God.    3) Do not defile the Sabbath/Sunday – Find true rest(20:13, 16, 24).  Israel did not keep the Sabbath holy, so they greatly defile it(13, 16) and blasphemed God. As a result, God was angry and tried to destroy Israel in the wilderness. However, God endured for the sake of His holy name. *Application: Defilement of the Sabbath in our lives is not simply a matter of not observing the Sabbath/the Sunday, but living without God. That is why in the wilderness during the time of Moses, those who gathered wood on the Sabbath were stoned to death. On the Sabbath(Sunday), we must check whether we are losing our rest in God by being caught up in the worries and desires of the world. God wants to give us rest, and true rest is possible in Jesus Christ(Mt.11:28). *Question: Am I enjoying true rest in God amidst the busyness of the world?  Conclusion: True rest is a life of walking with God. In chapter 20, God emphasizes the Sabbath and teaches us that it is not a simple rule, but an important element in maintaining a relationship with God. Today, we worship on Sunday to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus. Sunday is a day to worship God and enjoy rest in God’s grace. By giving thanks to the Lord and offering true worship, we give glory to Him and fully enjoy His comfort and grace. Today, we can discover the true meaning of the Sabbath and Sunday through Jesus. Do we enjoy spiritual rest in an intimate relationship with God? Do we live remembering God amidst the busyness of life? Is the center of my life in God (Jesus)? “The Jews did not keep the Sabbath, but the Sabbath kept the Jews.” (Asher Ginsburg) Today, our saints are not keeping the Sabbath. If we keep the Sabbath, the Sabbath will make us blessed and close to God. Amen.  Dear saints, confess our weakness and worship Jesus, the King of kings, Jesus, the vine(John15:5), and keep Sunday holy, hold on to the Word given, live in obedience for a week, enjoy the rest of Jesus, and become blessed saints who save our neighbors. Amen.  Prayer : Father God, through today’s Word, we look back on our lives as we see Israel declining and being judged due to sin. We realize that when we forget the grace given by the Lord and live according to our own will, we will eventually end up on the path to destruction. God, just as Israel relied on the kings who were likened to lions and were eventually taken captive, please do not let us rely on the power and wisdom of the world. We confess that our true strength lies only in the Lord. God, just as Judah(Jerusalem), which flourished like a vine, was burned and desolate, if we remain in sin, we cannot help but be spiritually dry. Forgive our pride and disobedience, and let us come before you again.  Lord, have mercy on us and grant us the grace of restoration again. Let our lives become fruitful trees in you, and let us live lives that display your glory.  God, thank you for giving us a blessed Sunday. On Sunday, the day we commemorate the resurrection of Jesus, let us also experience the life of resurrection. Let us spend Sunday holy and find true rest. However, there are times when we are led by the worries and desires of the world rather than finding true rest in Jesus. Please turn our hearts to you, Lord, and help us to enjoy true peace and rest in you. Please cherish the time of worship given to us, and let us live a life of walking with you. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.