Ezekiel 20:4 Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:
Here, we have a question posed to the Prophet from God and a command. The Elders of Israel have come before Ezekiel to inquire of the Lord, but before the Lord speaks to them, He first has a word for the Prophet. The message for Ezekiel is two-fold: a question and a command.
The question He asks is, “Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them?” To judge someone or something is to set them alongside one another, examine them, and point out the differences. Perhaps you remember those childhood puzzles where two similar pictures were shown, and your task was to find the differences and circle them. That is as down-to-earth a definition of the word "judge" as I can think of.
For us preachers, like Ezekiel, we are called to judge men—not the world, mind you, for that is God’s domain—but we are called to judge among ourselves (1 Cor 5:11-12, 6:1-5). We are not called to judge God’s people by our own standards, but to compare them against the law of God and point out the differences. This is what Ezekiel is about to do, and it is what every preacher is called to do when the people are “set before” him. The question remains: “Wilt thou?”
What will we do when the world comes before us, seeking a word from the Lord? What will we do when our family comes and inquires of us? Will we fill their heads with nice words, sending them on their way to hell more comfortably? Will we impose our own standards and preferences on them? Will we say, "peace, peace" when there is no peace? Or will we set the Word of God beside them and show them their sin?
It is not pleasant work, but it has pleasant ends. How can a man repent if he does not know his sin? How can a man seek forgiveness for what he hasn’t been convicted of, and how can he seek a Savior if he doesn’t know he needs saving? What will you do when they come before you? Wilt thou judge them?
Notice how He addresses Ezekiel: "Son of Man"—in Hebrew, "Ben Adam," or "Son of Adam." It seems to me that God acknowledges our weakness in judgment with this phrase, anticipating our natural response: "Lord, who am I to judge these people?" But the Lord acknowledges this reality and still calls us to the work of judgment. It is amazing how God uses imperfect men to carry out His perfect will. Ezekiel was a man like you and me, and despite his own weaknesses and failures, he was called to judge the nation of Israel. In fulfilling your calling, guard yourself so as not to become a hypocrite, but don’t let your weaknesses become an excuse for avoiding what God has called you to do. God knows who you are, what you are capable of, and everything you have done or ever will do. Will you let your weaknesses become excuses, or “Wilt thou judge them?”
If you will, then “cause them to know the abominations of their fathers.” As we said, it is unpleasant work. For the next 27 verses, Ezekiel makes known their abominable past, their present sinfulness, and the dreadful judgment they are headed toward. This is the bad news. But in verse 33, he brings the good news. Here is an example for us New Testament preachers: give them the bad news first—tell them of their sin, their shortcomings, and the judgment that is coming. But don’t close your Bible until you have taken them to the Gospel—the good news! That despite all their sin and failures, God still loves them, and there is a covenant they can partake in, one not based on their faithfulness, but on His! (And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have wrought with you for my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD. Vs.44) What will you do today when your co-workers, children, parents, neighbors, or employees come before you? “Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them?”
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