NBC SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR MAY 23, 2021 : TOPIC – EZEKIEL: STREET PREACHER TO THE EXILES
NBC SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
May 23, 2021
EZEKIEL: STREET PREACHER TO THE EXILES
Devotional Reading: Psalm 147
Background Scripture: Ezekiel 18
Lesson Scripture: Ezekiel 18:1-9, 30-32
GOLDEN TEXT
For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son _ both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die. – Ezekiel 18:4
Objectives: By the end of the lesson, class members should be able to:
√ Explain the meaning of the proverb as stated in verse 2b;
√ Describe the moral actions of God, according to the passage;
√ Renew their commitment to preach against wickedness.
INTRODUCTION
A story was once told of a poor man who when splitting wood was shouting “Adam,” “Adam,” “Adam.” When asked by a rich chief why he was shouting Adam, he said, “Adam’s sin caused my suffering.” The rich man then promised to alleviate his suffering but with a condition. He took the man to his house and gave him the privilege to enjoy all the facilities in the house, but he instructed him not to open the cup at the corner of the house and left for a journey. His wives were friendly to the man and advised him not to be so foolish to continue in his poverty after the chief’s return. Thereafter; he was admonished by the chief’s wives to help himself with the content of the cup because the secret of the chiefs success was inside. The man summoned courage and opened the cup. Immediately, a little fly flew out. All effort to catch it failed. Quickly, he killed the fly and put it inside the cup. When the chief returned, the man started giving excuses saying, “Your wives deceived me. The instruction was not clearly stated, ete.” However, the chief was disappointed and finally drove him out of his house with a stern warning to stop blaming Adam for his suffering but himself.
Ezekiel is another Old Testament major prophet. His name means “God strengthens. He was a contemporary of Daniel and Jeremiah. He was taken captive to Babylon in 597, eleven years before Jerusalem’s fall in 586 BC. He was a street preacher among the exiles with similar messages as Jeremiah that Judah will surely be punished for her sins. The lesson focuses on how the people of Jerusalem blamed their ancestors for their woes. Unfortunately, their eyes were blind to their own sins after series of warnings and the consequences of their actions. Ezekiel, therefore, reprimanded the people that God judges every human being on his/her own conduct and if they repent, they will be saved. In like manner, most people today blame other persons or circumstances for their predicament like poor background, bad economy, spiritual problems, etc. except themselves for their woes.
THE LESSON EXPLAINED
A. Reversal of an Old Proverb Ezekiel18:1-9
Israel’s captivity was due to the cumulative sins of their preceding generations. This generation of captives overlooked their own sins and began to apportion blame to their forefathers as the cause of their predicament. So, on the basis of reversal of the old proverb: “The fathers eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge” (v. 2), the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel. He said, “As surely as I live, this proverb will no longer be quoted in Israel because it has been reversed. According to God’s standard, every living soul belongs to God, the Father as well as the Son. Therefore, the soul that sins is the one that will die. In verses 5 to 9, it is stated that if the children of Israel live righteously, turn away from idolatry, adultery, oppression, robbery, usury, genuinely care for the poor and naked. If they fear God, do justice, and obey His commands, they will surely live, irrespective of what their ancestors have done. Because the old proverb has been reversed; therefore, their children will no longer suffer for the sins of their parents.
The summary of the lesson is that each individual is accountable to God for his sins. After all, God is not unjust to punish one generation for the sins of another (v. 20). He will hold everyone accountable for his own sins. God has no pleasure in the death of any sinner. His concern is humankind should turn away from their wicked ways in obedience to Him. Therefore, the idea of children being punished for the sins of their parents seems to have come from the Old Testament law (Exodus 20:5; 34:7). According to the vision of Ezekiel, God promised a reversal of the proverb so that each person’s ultimate fate is dependent on his own behaviour.
DISCUSSION TIME
1. Explain this phrase: “the soul that sins shall die.”
2. How can Christians encourage righteous living in this perverse generation?
B. Encouragement to Repent Ezekiel 18:30-31
The last few verses of the passage can be summed up as encouragement for the Israelites to turn away from their evil ways. The admonition is followed by a final appeal to them to repent based on God’s covenant love with them, otherwise they will be judged. In verse 30, God said to the people. Therefore, O house of 1srael, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. He encouraged them to forsake all the evils they have been doing as a nation and to have a new heart and a new spirit. He concluded with a question, “Why will you die, O house of Israel?” By implication, he asked them why they would want to die by continuing in their sin; after all, God takes no pleasure in the death of sinners. His desire is that they should turn from their evil ways and live (v. 32). In fact, Ezekiel stresses that what is ultimately needed is not to work harder to keep the law, but the regeneration of the heart and mind (Ezekiel 11:19). Ezekiel’s concluding message to the people was that while they are guilty, God’s judgment would be just (14:6-8).
One of the attributes of God is patience. Apostle Peter alluded to this when he said God does not want anyone to be destroyed but to repent and turn away from their sins (2 Peter 3:9b). Earlier on, the same appeal was made to the Israelites to repent and turn away from their detestable idols (Ezekiel 14:6). The passage underscores the urgency of Ezekiel’s appeal to the people of Israel to repent of their wickedness and turn to God. He promised life to everyone who will obey God’s commands and warned those who do not (v. 21). Ultimately, the same appeal to the people of Israel to repent and return to God with a new heart and a new spirit is also appropriate for contemporary believers. We should set ourselves apart for the LORD and avoid the sinful lifestyle of our ancestors who continually sinned against God, despite the several warnings through His prophets.
DISCUSSION TIME
1. Discuss the steps to having a new heart and a new spirit.
2. If God is to write and address the ills in our society, what are some of the common sins He will address?
Fellowship and Ministry Building Activity
√ Let the class members compile a list of common excuses people give for doing wrong and compare it with the time of Ezekiel.
Take Home
~ God has the power to reverse every negative utterance concerning us.
~ God is not interested in the death of any sinner but that he/she should repent.
~ Every soul that sins and fails to repent shall die.
~ Children will no longer be punished for the sins of their parents.
~ Do not join the multitude to do evil.
~ Avoid the saying “If you cannot beat them, join them.