◄ Ezekiel 12:20 ►
The inhabited cities will be laid waste, and the land will become desolate. Then you will know that I am the LORD.'" Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Ezekiel 12:20? 2. How does Ezekiel 12:20 illustrate consequences of ignoring God's warnings today? 3. What does "cities...laid waste" teach about God's judgment and mercy balance? 4. How can Ezekiel 12:20 encourage repentance in our personal spiritual lives? 5. Connect Ezekiel 12:20 with other biblical instances of divine judgment and restoration. 6. How should Ezekiel 12:20 influence our understanding of God's sovereignty over nations? 7. What does Ezekiel 12:20 reveal about God's judgment on Jerusalem? 8. How does Ezekiel 12:20 challenge our understanding of divine justice? 9. What historical events align with the prophecy in Ezekiel 12:20? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Ezekiel 12? 11. Why does Joel 3 seem to conflict with timelines in other prophetic books regarding the final judgment and restoration, suggesting possible inconsistencies? 12. What are the key themes in Ezekiel's life story? 13. Psalm 87:7 - In what sense are all 'springs' in Zion, given that historically rivers and water sources are not exclusive to Jerusalem? 14. How can we reconcile the prophecy of total destruction in Ezekiel 35:7-9 with any evidence that Edomites or their descendants continued to exist? Discussion Questions 1. How does Ezekiel 12:20 reflect the character of God as both just and merciful? 2. In what ways can the desolation of the land in Ezekiel's time serve as a warning for us today? 3. How do the prophecies of desolation in Ezekiel connect with the broader account of Israel's history and God's covenant promises? 4. What are some modern-day "inhabited cities" or areas in our lives that might be at risk of becoming "desolate" due to disobedience? 5. How can we apply the lessons from Ezekiel 12:20 to ensure that we remain faithful and obedient to God's word in our daily lives? Ezekiel 12 Bible Study Questions 1. How does the use of physical symbolism in Ezekiel’s prophetic actions enhance the message God is trying to convey? 2. What does the Prince of Jerusalem's blindness symbolize in the context of Israel's situation? 3. How does the image of trembling and shaking while eating and drinking reflect the emotional state of Jerusalem's inhabitants during the siege? 4. Why do you think the people of Israel had a hard time believing Ezekiel's prophecies? 5. In what ways are we sometimes blind to God's warnings in our own lives, similar to the people of Jerusalem? 6. How can we discern and respond to God's warnings in our present day living? 7. In verse 12:28, God stresses that His words will no longer be delayed. What does this reveal about God’s nature? 8. How might the story of Israel's disbelief and consequent judgment influence our understanding of the importance of faith and obedience? 9. Reflect on a situation where you experienced the consequences of ignoring a warning. How does that relate to the narrative in Ezekiel 12? 10. Discuss a time in your life when you felt like you were in "exile" and how your faith played a role during that period. 11. In what ways does Ezekiel 12's narrative of judgment and exile challenge or reinforce your understanding of God’s justice? 12. What lessons can we learn from the Israelites' response to Ezekiel's prophecies, and how can we apply these lessons to our lives? 13. How can we maintain hope and faith during times of trouble, as represented by the impending siege in this chapter? 14. In what ways does society today mimic the skepticism of the Israelites towards prophetic warnings? 15. How does understanding the context and historical backdrop of Ezekiel 12 deepen your interpretation of its message? 16. If you were in Ezekiel's position, how would you handle the task of delivering an unpopular message? 17. How does God's patience and repeated warnings before executing judgment reflect His character? 18. Can you identify contemporary 'prophets' or warnings that we, as a society, might be ignoring? 19. How can the recurring theme of exile throughout the Bible inform our understanding of God's discipline? 20. In the face of imminent doom, how can one cultivate an attitude of repentance and obedience, as opposed to denial and rebellion like the Israelites? Links Ezekiel 12:20 NIV Ezekiel 12:20 NLT Ezekiel 12:20 ESV Ezekiel 12:20 NASB Ezekiel 12:20 KJV Ezekiel 12:20 Commentaries Bible Hub