When I brought them into the land that I swore to give them and they saw any high hill or leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices, presented offerings that provoked Me, sent up their fragrant incense, and poured out their drink offerings. When I brought them into the land that I swore to give themGod faithfully fulfilled the covenant promise made to Abraham and renewed through Moses, bringing Israel into Canaan despite their repeated unbelief. The land was a gift of grace and a setting in which Israel was to live under God’s rule, enjoying His blessing and displaying His holiness among the nations. Their possession of it testified to God’s faithfulness, while their continued enjoyment of it depended on covenant obedience. Jos 21:43 Thus the LORD gave Israel all the land He had sworn… and they saw any high hill or leafy tree, Israel encountered the prominent places used by Canaanite peoples for pagan worship. High places and sacred groves were associated with fertility cults and the worship of false gods. Rather than removing these centers of idolatry as God commanded, many Israelites adopted their practices and allowed the surrounding culture to shape their worship. Jer 2:20 “For long ago you broke your yoke and tore off your chains,… there they offered their sacrifices, Sacrifices belonged at the place God appointed for His name, first at the tabernacle and later at the temple. By sacrificing at pagan high places, Israel rejected God’s order and mingled devotion to Him with the worship customs of the nations. Outward religious activity could not excuse a heart turned toward idols. Hos 4:13 They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings… presented offerings that provoked Me, God regarded these offerings as rebellion rather than worship because they were offered in disobedience and often directed toward false gods. Israel’s sin was especially grievous because the people who had received God’s law and mercy gave honor to idols that could neither save nor speak. Psa 106:28-29 They yoked themselves to Baal of Peor… sent up their fragrant incense, Incense was intended to accompany reverent worship and portray prayers rising before God. Its use in idolatrous rites corrupted what God had set apart as holy. Israel’s worship became offensive when sacred forms were used without faithful submission to the Lord. Jer 11:13 Your gods are indeed as numerous as your cities… and poured out their drink offerings. Drink offerings were prescribed as part of Israel’s sacrificial worship, expressing dedication and thanksgiving to God. Their use at pagan shrines revealed the depth of Israel’s unfaithfulness. The sacrificial system ultimately pointed beyond itself to Christ, whose once-for-all offering cleanses His people and brings them into true fellowship with God. Jer 7:18 The sons gather wood, the fathers light the fire… Persons / Places / Events 1. The IsraelitesThe chosen people of God, who were brought into the Promised Land but often fell into idolatry. 2. The Promised Land The land God swore to give to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 3. High Hills and Leafy Trees Common sites for pagan worship and idolatry, where the Israelites were tempted to offer sacrifices. 4. Sacrifices and Offerings Acts of worship that were meant to be directed to God but were instead offered to idols. 5. God's Provocation The response of God to the idolatrous actions of His people, which provoked His anger and judgment. Teaching Points The Danger of IdolatryIdolatry is not just the worship of physical idols but anything that takes the place of God in our hearts. We must be vigilant in identifying and removing modern-day idols. Faithfulness to God's Commands God desires exclusive worship and obedience. We must strive to follow His commands and not be swayed by cultural or societal pressures. The Consequences of Disobedience Just as the Israelites faced consequences for their idolatry, we too face spiritual consequences when we turn away from God. The Importance of Repentance God is always ready to forgive and restore those who turn back to Him. Repentance is a crucial step in restoring our relationship with God. Worship in Spirit and Truth True worship is not about location or ritual but about a heart fully devoted to God, as Jesus taught in John 4:24. Bible Study Questions 1. What are some modern-day "high hills and leafy trees" that might tempt us away from exclusive worship of God?2. How can we ensure that our sacrifices and offerings (time, resources, talents) are pleasing to God and not directed towards idols? 3. In what ways can we apply the command to destroy idolatrous influences in our lives today? 4. How does understanding the historical context of Israel's idolatry help us in our walk with God? 5. What steps can we take to cultivate a heart of repentance and faithfulness in our daily lives? Connections to Other Scriptures Deuteronomy 12:2-3This passage commands the Israelites to destroy all the places where the nations they dispossess worship their gods, highlighting the importance of exclusive worship of Yahweh. Jeremiah 3:6-10 Jeremiah speaks of Israel's unfaithfulness, using the imagery of high places and trees, similar to Ezekiel's description. 1 Kings 14:23 This verse describes how Judah also built high places, sacred stones, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree, showing a pattern of idolatry. Romans 1:21-23 Paul discusses how humanity exchanged the glory of God for images, paralleling the Israelites' idolatry.
People Ezekiel, Israelites, Jacob, TemanPlaces Babylon, Bamah, Egypt, NegebTopics Anger, Aroma, Branching, Bring, Drained, Drink, Drink-offerings, Fragrance, Fragrant, Hill, Incense, Leafy, Libations, Lift, Lifted, Moving, Oath, Odors, Offered, Offering, Offerings, Placed, Pleasant, Pour, Poured, Presented, Provocation, Provoked, Sacrifice, Sacrifices, Savor, Savour, Smell, Soothing, Sware, Sweet, Swore, Thick, Tree, Trees, Wherever, WrathDictionary of Bible Themes Ezekiel 20:28 6218 provoking God 5800 blasphemy Library Ten Reasons Demonstrating the Commandment of the Sabbath to be Moral. 1. Because all the reasons of this commandment are moral and perpetual; and God has bound us to the obedience of this commandment with more forcible reasons than to any of the rest--First, because he foresaw that irreligious men would either more carelessly neglect, or more boldly break this commandment than any other; secondly, because that in the practice of this commandment the keeping of all the other consists; which makes God so often complain that all his worship is neglected or overthrown, … Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety Manner of Covenanting. Tithing Questions About the Nature and Perpetuity of the Seventh-Day Sabbath. Covenanting Sanctioned by the Divine Example. The Old Testament Canon from Its Beginning to Its Close. A Sermon on Isaiah xxvi. By John Knox. The Covenant of Works Ezekiel Links Ezekiel 20:28 NIVEzekiel 20:28 NLT Ezekiel 20:28 ESV Ezekiel 20:28 NASB Ezekiel 20:28 KJV Ezekiel 20:28 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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