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"Does he not speak parables"

Text: Ezekiel 20:49

KINDLING OF A GREAT FIRE

The LORD sent a last word of warning to Judah. There was no mistaking the seriousness and severity of this message.

“Furthermore the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
‘Son of man, set your face toward the south;
preach against the south and prophesy against the forest land,
the South, and say to the forest of the South,
‘Hear the word of the LORD!
Thus says the Lord GOD:
‘Behold, I will kindle a fire in you,
and it shall devour every green tree and every dry tree in you;
the blazing flame shall not be quenched,
and all faces from the south to the north shall be scorched by it.
All flesh shall see that I, the LORD, have kindled it;
it shall not be quenched.”’
Then I said, ‘Ah, Lord GOD! They say of me,
‘Does he not speak parables?””
Ezekiel 20:45-49

1. The word of the LORD.

a) This was a word from God for Judah.

b) This message was not something Ezekiel came up with.

2. The South.

a) This is a clear and direct reference to Judah.

b) Judah lay south of Babylon.

3. The forests of the South.

a) Judah had much forest land.

b) This was called “Negev” (South).

4. A great fire forewarned.

a) God would kindle a great fire.

b) This would become a conflagration.

c) It would devour even the green trees of the forests.

d) The fire would be unquenchable.

e) All in the land would be adversely affected by this great fire.

f) No one would be able to put out this fire.

5. A Parable.

a) Ezekiel reported to the LORD with this word.

b) Judah did not understand this word of solemn warning.

c) To them, Ezekiel was speaking a parable.

d) They could not understand it.

e) They did not want to comprehend its meaning.