Romans 2:13 & James 1:21-22

Persistent Unfaithfulness Romans 2:13 & James 1:21-22

Ezekiel 14: The word of the Lord came again to me saying: 13. Son of man, when a land sins against Me by persistent unfaithfulness, I will stretch out My hand against it; I will cut off its supply of bread, send famine on it, and cut off man and beast from it.

What is this persistent unfaithfulness? Persist defined: To continue steadily and firmly in the pursuit of any business or course commenced; to persevere. Unfaithfulness defined: Neglect or violation of vows, promises, allegiance or other duty; breach of confidence or trust reposed; perfidiousness; treachery; as the unfaithfulness of a subject to his prince or the state; the unfaithfulness of a husband to his wife, or of a wife to her husband; the unfaithfulness of an agent, servant or officer.

Other translations Persistent Unfaithfulness is rendered as: trespassing grievously in KJV. What was going on at this time and when did this prophet speak?

Time period of Ezekiel Ezekiel received his prophecies at the beginning of the Babylonian captivity. It was a time of great sin in Judah and in all of Israel. The people had been sinning against God for some time: Ezekiel 2:3- And He said to me: Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day.

Sins of Israel Ezekiel 8:9- And He said to me, Go in, and see the wicked abominations which they are doing there. 10. So I went in and saw, and there- every sort of creeping thing, abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed all around on the walls. 11. And there stood before them seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, and in their midst stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan. Each man had a censer in his hand, and a thick cloud of incense went up. 12. Then He said to me, Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the room of his idols? For they say, The LORD does not see us, the LORD has forsaken the land.

Ezekiel 8:13 And He said to me, Turn again, and you will see greater abominations that they are doing. 14. So He brought me to the door of the north gate of the LORDs house; and to my dismay, women were sitting there weeping for Tammuz. For these sins and more what was Israels attitude?

Israels attitude Ezekiel 8:17- Then He said to me, Have you seen this, O son of man? Is it a trivial thing to the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they commit here? For they have filled the land with violence; then they have returned to provoke Me to anger. Indeed they put the branch to their nose.

Ezekiel 14 Elders of Israel come to see Ezekiel. God doesnt want to accept them. Certainly their attitude and sins were at the heart of this, for Israel already believed that God had abandoned the land. So why would they bother to come and inquire of God except for a false showing?

Ezekiel 14:3 Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put before them that which causes them to stumble into iniquity. Should I let Myself be inquired of at all by them? 4. Therefore speak to them, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Everyone of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity, and then comes to the prophet, I the LORD will answer him who comes, according to the multitude of his idols,

Ezekiel14:5 that I may seize the house of Israel by their heart, because they are all estranged from Me by their idols. What can we learn from this example in the Old Testament? What can we learn from this example in the Old Testament?

What we can learn LORD does not see (Eze 8:12) LORD has forsaken the land (Eze 8:12) LORD will not punish (Eze 11:15) We have plenty of time before punishment (Eze12:27) GOD sees all (Jer 23:24) God has always been there (Eze 14:8) God has spoken and will punish! (Eze 14:13) God will accomplish what he says soon (Eze 12:28)

Today what should our attitude be then? God sees us today and provided Jesus to save us. (Luke 19:10) & (John 3:16) We should always know that God is there for us. Sin not in the dark like Israel did. (John 12:46)

Our attitude God has given us His Son and His word so we know that He has not abandon us. (I Cor 1:18) & (John 1:14) God will judge in the final days and we had better be ready (II Tim 4:1) Our time today is not guaranteed either. So we better do all we can for God with the time we are given. (John 9:4)

So what should we be persistent in? Lets us work the works of God and continue in them: II Peter 3:14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; Romans 11:22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

Continue in… Hebrews 13:1 Let brotherly love continue. 2. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.

Have you been saved? Jesus says to be saved: Mark 16:16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. I Peter 3:21 There is also an antitype which now saves us, namely baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, I Peter 4:17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?