Does sin really matter? (Ezekiel 4-6; Psalm 82; John 2)

Sometimes we may think our sin is not that serious. Maybe we compare ourselves to others and we think, we’re not too bad. The prophet Ezekiel shows the seriousness of sin and the awful consequences for Israel for the rebellion.

Ezekiel has to act out what is happening. He makes a model of the city Jerusalem on a large clay brick (probably about 25cm x 60cm.) Ezekiel is writing after the northern kingdom has been exiled to Assyria for their sin, and many from the southern kingdom have been exiled to Babylon, but the temple is still standing, Jerusalem hasn’t fallen.

Ezekiel’s first action is to place an iron griddle between him and the city. The prophet is representing God, setting his face towards Jerusalem, not to save it, but to see it destroyed for the their sin. The iron griddle represents a wall, showing that it’s too late for any cries for mercy. God has warned them, they have not listened and now Jerusalem will fall.

Next Ezekiel is to lie on his left side for 390 days, this represents 390 years of Israel’s sin since the construction of the temple. They had turned away from God time and again, and now one day after another, Ezekiel reminds them of their rebellion and the disastrous consequences. Then he is to lie on his right side for 40 days, reminding them of the 40 years in the wilderness because of their failure to trust God and enter the promised land.

And yet, despite all the judgment, God can’t but help offer a ray of light. In total Ezekiel is to lie on his side for 430 days (390+40). This is the length of time that God’s people lived in Egypt (Exodus 12:40). Then God rescued them out of Egypt and brought them to the promised land. Perhaps the Lord is graciously giving them a hint that after another period of time, there will be another prophet like Moses who will lead his people out of slavery to sin towards the promised land. This prophet would set his face towards Jerusalem, not to judge, but to be judged. Ezekiel acted out what it looked like to bear the sins of the people, but the Lord Jesus actually bore our sin in His body on the cross.

Sin is serious, in our reading from John 2 we see how seriously Jesus takes the sin of religious people as he drives them out of the temple for their false worship. He will return to judge, but until that day he offers mercy because he allowed his body to be destroyed and he raised it on the third day (John 2:19). But we must turn to Him, for just as the day came when the Lord set His face against Jerusalem, God has set a day when he will judge (Acts 17:31). Now is the time to cry out and urge others to cry out for mercy, for sin is serious, so serious that the only solution is for God to become man and die for us.