12-31:

August 17: Ezekiel 12-14 1. Chapters 12-14 offer warnings about the coming judgment. According to 12:11, what’s the meaning of Ezekiel’s sign act in 12:1-7? What does God promise in 12:25, 28?

2. In 13:1-16, God compares false to a crumbling wall that offers no protection against the coming storm of divine judgment. In 13:17-23, He pronounces judgment on false prophetesses. The obscure terms in verse 18 likely refer to occult practices.

What is the effect of the false ’s message in v. 22? What are some modern examples?

August 18: -16 1. In these chapters, Ezekiel used a series of parables to describe ’s rebellion against God. In 15, without fruit, they’re like a useless vine that’s only good for fire starter. What’s our purpose as Christians? How faithful are you in fulfilling this purpose?

2. In chapter 16, God’s relationship with Israel is compared to that of husband and wife. How is the picture picked up in the NT (Eph. 5:22ff)? Israel’s idolatry is graphically pictured as infidelity to God. How is idolatry and worldliness unfaithfulness to God?

August 19: -19 1. Ezekiel 17 presents a parable about Judah’s vacillating alliances between and , the rival superpowers of the day. At the end of the chapter, God promises that a “tender one” would be replanted on the mountain, providing shade for all. Who or what do you think this is referring to? How is it fulfilled?

2. What is God’s heart for Israel in 18:31-32? What’s the main truth you take away from chapter 18?

3. Chapter 19 is a parable about the fate of the last several kings of Judah. Jehoahaz was removed by Pharaoh (2 Kings 23:31-35) and then his brother became king, before being conquered by Babylon.

August 20: -22 1. Ezekiel 20 is a panorama of Israel’s history. How has Israel acted toward Jehovah through her history? How has He acted? What motivates His kindness and judgment toward Israel? See v. 9, 14, 22, 39, and 44.

2. In chapter 21, God predicts a coming sword of divine judgment on Judah. What kind of God unleashes judgment like this? Are you ok with a God like this? Why or why not? 3. Chapter 22 is a shocking catalogue of Judah’s sins. What would have prevented her destruction, 22:30-31? How could you be the kind of person described in v. 30?

August 21: -25 1. In Ezekiel 23, the prophet employs an allegory to tell the story of Israel and Judah’s unfaithfulness to God. The two sisters represent the two kingdoms. Their infidelity pictures their idolatry and compromising alliances with Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon (23:30). Their abuse portrays the judgment against them. What’s the essence of their sin in v. 35?

2. Why does God tell Ezekiel to not mourn the death of his wife in ch. 24?

August 22: -28 1. These chapters predicts the fall of Tyre, an important city of trade and business. What seems to be the sin of the city (28: 2, 6)? Do you think that we today tend to trust in our wealth and military might instead of God?

2. In the immediate context, who is Ezekiel discussing in 28:11-19? Who else does it seem to apply to?

August 23: -31 1. Why is Egypt judged, according to 29:6-7? 29:9? Why does God give Egypt to Babylon, 29:20?

2. In chapter 31, God warns Egypt by pointing them to the example of Assyria’s fall. No one is too big to judge. Why do we often think that we are the exception?