Ezekiel 14:18
then as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, even if these three men were in it, they could not deliver their own sons or daughters. They alone would be delivered.
as surely as I live
This phrase is a solemn oath, underscoring the certainty and seriousness of God's declaration. In Hebrew, the phrase is "חי אני" (chai ani), which translates to "I live." This expression is often used by God in the Old Testament to affirm the truth of His words, emphasizing His eternal and unchanging nature. It serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and the absolute reliability of His promises and judgments.

declares the Lord GOD
The Hebrew for "Lord GOD" is "אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה" (Adonai Yahweh), a combination that highlights both the authority and the covenantal relationship of God with His people. "Adonai" signifies God's lordship and mastery, while "Yahweh" is His personal, covenant name, revealing His faithfulness and eternal presence. This declaration assures the reader of the divine origin and authority of the message.

even if these three men
The reference to "these three men" points back to the context of the chapter, where Noah, Daniel, and Job are mentioned as paragons of righteousness. These individuals are renowned for their faithfulness and integrity in the face of adversity. Their mention serves to illustrate the point that even the most righteous individuals cannot intercede for a sinful nation beyond God's determined judgment.

were in it
The phrase "were in it" refers to the presence of these righteous men within a city or nation facing divine judgment. The implication is that their presence alone would not be sufficient to avert God's wrath. This underscores the personal responsibility of each individual before God and the limits of intercessory righteousness.

they could not deliver
The Hebrew root for "deliver" is "נצל" (natsal), meaning to rescue or save. This highlights the theme of personal accountability and the insufficiency of relying solely on the righteousness of others for salvation. It emphasizes that each person must seek their own relationship with God and cannot depend on the merit of others for deliverance from judgment.

neither sons nor daughters
This phrase emphasizes the extent of the judgment and the principle of individual responsibility. In ancient Near Eastern culture, family ties were of utmost importance, and the well-being of one's children was a primary concern. The statement that even sons and daughters would not be delivered underscores the severity of the judgment and the necessity for each person to stand on their own before God.

They alone would be saved
The emphasis on "they alone" reiterates the personal nature of salvation. It reflects the biblical principle that righteousness and salvation are individual matters, not transferable or inheritable. This serves as a call to personal faith and repentance, highlighting the need for each person to seek God earnestly.

but the land would be desolate
The desolation of the land signifies the comprehensive nature of God's judgment. In the biblical context, the land often represents the blessings and promises of God to His people. Its desolation is a stark reminder of the consequences of sin and rebellion against God. This serves as a sobering warning of the seriousness of turning away from God's ways and the inevitable result of such actions.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Ezekiel
A prophet during the Babylonian exile, Ezekiel was called by God to deliver messages of judgment and hope to the Israelites.

2. The Lord GOD
The sovereign and righteous God who speaks through Ezekiel, emphasizing His authority and the certainty of His declarations.

3. The Three Men
Refers to Noah, Daniel, and Job, who are mentioned earlier in the chapter as paragons of righteousness. Their presence in a sinful land would not be enough to save others, only themselves.

4. Israel
The primary audience of Ezekiel's prophecies, who were experiencing God's judgment due to their persistent idolatry and disobedience.

5. Babylonian Exile
The historical context of Ezekiel's ministry, where the Israelites were taken captive due to their unfaithfulness to God.
Teaching Points
Personal Responsibility in Faith
Each individual is accountable for their own relationship with God. Righteousness cannot be transferred or inherited from others.

The Limits of Intercession
While intercessory prayer is powerful, there are times when God's judgment is set, and personal repentance is necessary.

The Importance of Righteousness
The examples of Noah, Daniel, and Job remind us of the importance of living a life of integrity and faithfulness to God.

God's Sovereignty and Justice
God's declarations are certain and just. His judgments are based on His perfect knowledge and righteousness.

Hope in Personal Salvation
Even in times of widespread judgment, God provides a way of salvation for those who are faithful to Him.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the example of Noah, Daniel, and Job challenge us to live righteously in our own generation?

2. In what ways can we take personal responsibility for our spiritual growth and relationship with God?

3. How does understanding God's sovereignty and justice affect our view of His judgments in the world today?

4. What role does intercessory prayer play in our lives, and how do we balance it with the understanding of personal accountability?

5. How can we find hope and assurance in God's promise of personal salvation amidst a world that often seems to be under judgment?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 6-9
The account of Noah, who was righteous in his generation and saved from the flood, illustrating the theme of individual righteousness.

Daniel 1-6
The life of Daniel, who remained faithful to God in a foreign land, exemplifying personal integrity and divine deliverance.

Job 1-2
The account of Job, a man of unwavering faith amidst suffering, highlighting the concept of personal righteousness and endurance.

Jeremiah 15:1
Similar to Ezekiel 14, this passage emphasizes that even the presence of Moses and Samuel would not avert God's judgment on a sinful nation.
Human Atonement ValuelessJ.D. Davies Ezekiel 14:12-23
People
Daniel, Ezekiel, Job, Noah
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Affirmation, Alone, Daughters, Declares, Deliver, Delivered, Either, Midst, Safe, Save, Saved, Says, Sons, Sovereign, Themselves, Though
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ezekiel 14:14-18

     1652   numbers, 3-5

Library
Education of Jesus.
This aspect of Nature, at once smiling and grand, was the whole education of Jesus. He learned to read and to write,[1] doubtless, according to the Eastern method, which consisted in putting in the hands of the child a book, which he repeated in cadence with his little comrades, until he knew it by heart.[2] It is doubtful, however, if he understood the Hebrew writings in their original tongue. His biographers make him quote them according to the translations in the Aramean tongue;[3] his principles
Ernest Renan—The Life of Jesus

"Thou Shalt Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother. "
From this Commandment we learn that after the excellent works of the first three Commandments there are no better works than to obey and serve all those who are set over us as superiors. For this reason also disobedience is a greater sin than murder, unchastity, theft and dishonesty, and all that these may include. For we can in no better way learn how to distinguish between greater and lesser sins than by noting the order of the Commandments of God, although there are distinctions also within the
Dr. Martin Luther—A Treatise on Good Works

"All Our Righteousnesses are as Filthy Rags, and we all do Fade as a Leaf, and Our Iniquities, Like the Wind, have Taken us Away. "
Isaiah lxiv. 6, 7.--"All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags, and we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." Not only are the direct breaches of the command uncleanness, and men originally and actually unclean, but even our holy actions, our commanded duties. Take a man's civility, religion, and all his universal inherent righteousness,--all are filthy rags. And here the church confesseth nothing but what God accuseth her of, Isa. lxvi. 8, and chap. i. ver.
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

"And There is None that Calleth Upon Thy Name, that Stirreth up Himself to Take Hold on Thee,"
Isaiah lxiv. 7.--"And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold on thee," &c. They go on in the confession of their sins. Many a man hath soon done with that a general notion of sin is the highest advancement in repentance that many attain to. You may see here sin and judgment mixed in thorough other(315) in their complaint. They do not so fix their eyes upon their desolate estate of captivity, as to forget their provocations. Many a man would spend more affection,
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Ezekiel
To a modern taste, Ezekiel does not appeal anything like so powerfully as Isaiah or Jeremiah. He has neither the majesty of the one nor the tenderness and passion of the other. There is much in him that is fantastic, and much that is ritualistic. His imaginations border sometimes on the grotesque and sometimes on the mechanical. Yet he is a historical figure of the first importance; it was very largely from him that Judaism received the ecclesiastical impulse by which for centuries it was powerfully
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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