Ezekiel 14:23
They will bring you consolation when you see their conduct and actions, and you will know that it was not without cause that I have done all these things within it,' declares the Lord GOD."
They will console you
The Hebrew word for "console" is "נִחֲמוּ" (nichamu), which conveys comfort and solace. In the context of Ezekiel, this consolation comes from witnessing the righteous remnant's conduct. Historically, the Israelites were often consoled by the presence of the faithful few who remained true to God's commandments, serving as a reminder of God's enduring covenant and mercy.

when you see their conduct and actions
The phrase "conduct and actions" refers to the observable behavior of the righteous remnant. The Hebrew words "דַּרְכָּם" (darkam) for "conduct" and "עֲלִילוֹתָם" (alilotam) for "actions" emphasize the importance of living out one's faith. In the historical context of the Babylonian exile, the conduct of the faithful served as a testimony to God's justice and righteousness, providing hope and a model for others to follow.

for you will know
The Hebrew word "יָדַעְתֶּם" (yada'tem) means "to know" or "to perceive." This knowledge is not merely intellectual but experiential, as the people of Israel would come to understand God's purposes through the unfolding of events. This phrase underscores the biblical theme that true knowledge of God often comes through witnessing His actions in history.

that it was not without cause
The phrase "not without cause" translates the Hebrew "לֹא חִנָּם" (lo hinnam), indicating that God's actions are purposeful and just. This reassures the Israelites that the hardships they face are not arbitrary but are part of God's divine plan. Historically, this reflects the biblical principle that God's judgments are always righteous and serve a greater purpose, often leading to repentance and restoration.

that I have done all that I have done in it
The repetition of "I have done" emphasizes God's sovereignty and active role in the events concerning Israel. The Hebrew "עָשִׂיתִי" (asiti) highlights God's direct involvement in the affairs of nations. This serves as a reminder that God is not distant but is intimately involved in the lives of His people, guiding history according to His will.

declares the Lord GOD
The phrase "declares the Lord GOD" is a translation of the Hebrew "נְאֻם אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה" (ne'um Adonai YHWH). This is a solemn affirmation of God's authority and the certainty of His words. In the prophetic literature, such declarations underscore the reliability and truth of God's promises and judgments. It reassures the faithful that despite current circumstances, God's ultimate plan is for their good and His glory.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Ezekiel
A prophet during the Babylonian exile, tasked with delivering God's messages to the Israelites.

2. The Exiles
The Israelites who were taken captive to Babylon, experiencing God's judgment and awaiting His promises.

3. The Lord GOD
The sovereign deity of Israel, who speaks through Ezekiel to convey His divine purposes and judgments.

4. Jerusalem
The city that faced destruction due to the people's unfaithfulness, serving as a focal point of God's judgment.

5. The Conduct and Actions
Refers to the behavior of the remnant that will demonstrate God's justice and righteousness.
Teaching Points
Understanding Divine Justice
God's actions are always just and purposeful, even when they involve judgment. We must trust in His wisdom and righteousness.

The Role of Conduct
Our actions and behavior can serve as a testimony to God's work in our lives, influencing others and glorifying Him.

Consolation in God's Plan
Even in difficult times, we can find comfort in knowing that God has a reason for everything He allows or does.

Repentance and Restoration
God's judgments are often a call to repentance, leading to eventual restoration and renewal for those who turn back to Him.

Faith in God's Sovereignty
Believers are encouraged to have faith in God's sovereign control over all circumstances, trusting that He is working for our ultimate good.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding the context of the Babylonian exile help us interpret Ezekiel 14:23?

2. In what ways can our conduct and actions serve as a testimony to God's work in our lives today?

3. How can we find comfort in knowing that God's actions are not without cause, especially during challenging times?

4. What parallels can you draw between the message of Ezekiel 14:23 and the teachings in Romans 8 about God's purpose in our lives?

5. How can the themes of repentance and restoration in Ezekiel 14:23 be applied to personal spiritual growth and community life?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Jeremiah 29
This chapter also addresses the exiles in Babylon, emphasizing God's plans for their future and the importance of seeking Him wholeheartedly.

Isaiah 55
Highlights God's thoughts and ways being higher than human understanding, similar to the divine reasoning behind His actions in Ezekiel.

Romans 8
Discusses how God works all things for good for those who love Him, paralleling the idea that God's actions are purposeful and just.

Hebrews 12
Speaks about God's discipline as a sign of His love, which aligns with the corrective nature of His actions in Ezekiel.

Revelation 3
Jesus' message to the churches includes calls to repentance and the promise of restoration, echoing the themes of judgment and hope in Ezekiel.
Waiting for God's VindicationC. R. Henderson, D. D.Ezekiel 14:23
Human Atonement ValuelessJ.D. Davies Ezekiel 14:12-23
The Reasonableness of God's ActionJ.R. Thomson Ezekiel 14:22, 23
The Righteousness of God Doubted and VindicatedW. Jones Ezekiel 14:22, 23
People
Daniel, Ezekiel, Job, Noah
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Actions, Affirmation, Cause, Comfort, Comforted, Conduct, Console, Declares, Doings, Nothing, Nought, Says, Sovereign, Vain, Whatever
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ezekiel 14:22

     7021   church, OT anticipations
     7145   remnant

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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