Ezekiel 22:8
You have despised My holy things and profaned My Sabbaths.
You have despised
The Hebrew root for "despised" is "בָּזָה" (bazah), which conveys a sense of contempt or disdain. In the context of Ezekiel, this word indicates a deliberate rejection and undervaluing of what is sacred. Historically, Israel's leaders and people had turned away from God's commandments, showing a lack of reverence for His laws. This attitude reflects a heart hardened against divine instruction, a theme prevalent throughout the prophetic books. The call here is for introspection and repentance, urging believers to hold God's commands in the highest regard.

My holy things
The phrase "My holy things" refers to the sacred objects, rituals, and practices that were set apart for worship and service to God. In the Hebrew context, "holy" (קָדוֹשׁ, qadosh) signifies something consecrated and dedicated to the Lord. The Israelites were entrusted with the stewardship of these holy things, which included the temple, sacrifices, and priestly duties. By despising these, they not only disrespected the physical symbols of their faith but also the covenant relationship with God. This serves as a reminder for Christians to honor and preserve the sanctity of their worship and relationship with God.

and profaned
The Hebrew word for "profaned" is "חָלַל" (chalal), meaning to defile or treat something sacred as common. This term underscores the severity of Israel's actions, as they took what was meant to be holy and treated it with irreverence. Profaning the sacred is a direct violation of God's commands and reflects a spiritual decay. For believers today, this is a caution against allowing secular influences to dilute the purity of their faith and practices.

My Sabbaths
The Sabbath, or "שַׁבָּת" (shabbat) in Hebrew, is a day of rest and worship instituted by God as a sign of His covenant with Israel. It is a time set apart for spiritual renewal and reflection on God's creation and deliverance. By profaning the Sabbaths, the Israelites neglected this divine ordinance, choosing instead to pursue their own interests. This disregard for the Sabbath highlights a broader neglect of God's law and a failure to trust in His provision. For Christians, the principle of Sabbath rest remains a vital practice, encouraging a rhythm of work and rest that honors God and nurtures spiritual well-being.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Ezekiel
A prophet during the Babylonian exile, tasked with delivering God's messages to the Israelites, often focusing on their sins and the need for repentance.

2. Israelites
The people of God who are being addressed in this passage, specifically those living in Jerusalem, who have turned away from God's commandments.

3. Jerusalem
The city where the Israelites are committing the sins mentioned, including the desecration of holy things and the Sabbath.

4. God
The speaker in this passage, expressing His displeasure with the Israelites' actions.

5. Sabbath
A holy day of rest and worship, instituted by God, which the Israelites have profaned.
Teaching Points
Reverence for the Holy
Recognize the importance of treating God's holy things with respect and reverence. This includes places of worship, sacred practices, and the observance of the Sabbath.

Sabbath Observance
Reflect on the significance of the Sabbath as a day set apart for rest and worship. Consider how you can honor this day in your own life, focusing on spiritual renewal and connection with God.

Consequences of Disobedience
Understand that disregarding God's commandments leads to spiritual and communal consequences. Reflect on areas in your life where you may be neglecting God's instructions.

Call to Repentance
Acknowledge the need for repentance when we fall short of God's standards. Seek forgiveness and strive to realign your life with His will.

Holiness in Daily Life
Strive to incorporate holiness into everyday actions, recognizing that all aspects of life can be an act of worship when done in accordance with God's will.
Bible Study Questions
1. What are some modern-day "holy things" that we might be tempted to despise or neglect, and how can we guard against this?

2. How does the observance of the Sabbath in your life reflect your relationship with God, and what changes might you consider to honor it more fully?

3. In what ways can the community of believers support each other in maintaining reverence for God's commandments?

4. How do the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament help us understand the true purpose of the Sabbath?

5. Reflect on a time when you experienced the consequences of neglecting God's instructions. What did you learn, and how did it change your approach to obedience?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 20:8-11
This passage provides the original commandment to keep the Sabbath holy, highlighting its importance in the covenant between God and Israel.

Leviticus 19:30
Reinforces the command to respect God's Sabbaths and sanctuary, emphasizing the sacredness of these observances.

Isaiah 58:13-14
Discusses the blessings associated with honoring the Sabbath, contrasting with the consequences of profaning it.

Nehemiah 13:15-22
Describes Nehemiah's efforts to restore the sanctity of the Sabbath, showing the importance of community adherence to God's laws.

Matthew 12:1-8
Jesus addresses the true spirit of the Sabbath, providing insight into its intended purpose and the heart of worship.
The Reproach of JerusalemJ.R. Thomson Ezekiel 22:1-12
An Appalling Indictment and a Just JudgmentW. Jones Ezekiel 22:1-16
The Prophet on the Judgment-SeatJ.D. Davies Ezekiel 22:1-16
People
Ezekiel
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Desecrated, Despised, Hast, Holy, Polluted, Profaned, Sabbaths, Unclean
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ezekiel 22:8

     7429   Sabbath, in OT

Library
God Seeks Intercessors
"I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night. Ye that are the Lord's remembrancers, keep not silence, and give Him no rest till He make Jerusalem a praise in the earth."--ISA. lxii. 6, 7. "And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor."--ISA. lix. 16. "And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered, and there was none to uphold."--ISA. lxiii. 5. "There is none that calleth upon Thy name, that
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession

The Life and Death of Mr. Badman,
Presented to the World in a Familiar Dialogue Between Mr. Wiseman and Mr. Attentive. By John Bunyan ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. The life of Badman is a very interesting description, a true and lively portraiture, of the demoralized classes of the trading community in the reign of King Charles II; a subject which naturally led the author to use expressions familiar among such persons, but which are now either obsolete or considered as vulgar. In fact it is the only work proceeding from the prolific
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

How those who Fear Scourges and those who Contemn them are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 14.) Differently to be admonished are those who fear scourges, and on that account live innocently, and those who have grown so hard in wickedness as not to be corrected even by scourges. For those who fear scourges are to be told by no means to desire temporal goods as being of great account, seeing that bad men also have them, and by no means to shun present evils as intolerable, seeing they are not ignorant how for the most part good men also are touched by them. They are to be admonished
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

The Wrath of God
What does every sin deserve? God's wrath and curse, both in this life, and in that which is to come. Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire.' Matt 25: 41. Man having sinned, is like a favourite turned out of the king's favour, and deserves the wrath and curse of God. He deserves God's curse. Gal 3: 10. As when Christ cursed the fig-tree, it withered; so, when God curses any, he withers in his soul. Matt 21: 19. God's curse blasts wherever it comes. He deserves also God's wrath, which is
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

The Holy City; Or, the New Jerusalem:
WHEREIN ITS GOODLY LIGHT, WALLS, GATES, ANGELS, AND THE MANNER OF THEIR STANDING, ARE EXPOUNDED: ALSO HER LENGTH AND BREADTH, TOGETHER WITH THE GOLDEN MEASURING-REED EXPLAINED: AND THE GLORY OF ALL UNFOLDED. AS ALSO THE NUMEROUSNESS OF ITS INHABITANTS; AND WHAT THE TREE AND WATER OF LIFE ARE, BY WHICH THEY ARE SUSTAINED. 'Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God.'-Psalm 87:3 'And the name of the city from that day shall be, THE LORD IS THERE.'-Ezekiel 48:35 London: Printed in the year 1665
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

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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