Day 231, Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Ezekiel 23, 24 (warning: Ezekiel 23 contains adult material and may not be suitable for young readers)
Are Some People Not Worth Saving?
When is something not worth saving? Usually, we throw it out when it’s damaged, rusted out, moldy, mildewed, spoiled, torn, or broken. Is there ever a time when people aren't worth saving? Our first response might be, “No! Every person has value.”
What if he were a serial killer, sex-trafficker, or a child predator—would he still have value? If he extorted money from people, dealt drugs, and beat up his spouse, would he get our pity?
What if she were a prostitute, child abuser, thief, and a drunk — would she still have our support?
What if we helped and prayed for these people, but they scorned any help we might give them? With their track record and unrepentant lifestyles, would we allow any of them to stay in our home or on our property?
In today’s Bible reading, we observe horrific behavior by the Israelites in Jerusalem, for which God would expel them from their city and land. However, at the end of this shocking story is a message of hope.
It is close to 586 B.C. when Babylon would destroy Judah. What has she done that God wants to destroy her and why? God gives the answer through parables. Parables are allegorical stories.
They're not worth saving when they're totally corrupt and won't repent--ever
The Parable of the Immoral Sisters
In Ezekiel 23, Oholah represents Samaria (Israel’s capitol), and Oholibah represents Jerusalem (Judah’s capitol).
Each sister became a prostitute with the surrounding nations in their idol worship and political alliances. They wouldn't change and weren't sorry. We might wonder why God would put such graphic stuff in the Bible, his Holy Word. This story proves his righteousness in judging Israel and Judah.
Oholah (Samaria) courted Assyria’s favor because it was the most powerful nation on the earth (2Kings 10:32-34; 2Kings 15:19-20; 17:3-4). However, Assyria abused (attacked) her, killed her children and took the rest of her family captive (2Kings 17:5-6, 18-20).
Oholibah (Jerusalem) should have taken warning from what happened to her sister; instead, she became more depraved. She also had relationships (alliances) with Assyria (2Kings 16:5-9; Isaiah 7), then Egypt, and then Babylon (2Kings 24:1).
She hated Babylon (during the reign of Jehoiakim), so she rebelled and returned to her first lover, Egypt. But Egypt didn't help her. Instead, Babylon came and abused (attacked) her and took her family into captivity. Nebuchadnezzar left her a powerless vassal nation with a weak king (Zedekiah) to rule her.
Once again, Oholibah (Jerusalem), would allure Egypt to help her. Oholibah’s rebellion against Babylon would cause Nebuchadnezzar to surround her house (city), starve her out and destroy her.
But Oholibah (Jerusalem) holds on to the false hopes of her corrupt prophets. She thinks she is safe as the meat inside an iron pot, meaning that Jerusalem is an impregnable fortress (Ezekiel 11:3). However, God would now build a fire under them. In today’s vernacular, we would say, “Her goose is cooked!”
Parable of the Spoiled Meat
The meat cooked inside isn’t good—it’s crusty and spoiled! Even hotter fires (of adversity) wouldn’t take away its impurities. Their impurity is their lewd behavior.
Judah’s idol worship with its prostitution and extreme wickedness ruins all morality. The meat isn’t worth saving, so God would soon throw it out. Even the secure pot (Jerusalem) would be burned, and the citizens outside of Jerusalem killed.
They're Not Worth Saving When they Bring Grief Upon themselves and Others
Parable of Death
God then tells Ezekiel to illustrate something no good man would ever want to do. With the exiles looking on, Ezekiel’s wife dies, but he isn’t allowed to mourn for her.
This was unthinkable in their culture. Relatives of the deceased wept and wailed for their loved ones for a long time... but not now... not this time. Ezekiel is illustrating the shock and unbelievable sorrow the exiles would feel when they learn Babylon has destroyed their beloved city, temple, and relatives in Jerusalem.
The news of Jerusalem’s fall would traumatize the exiles. But, perhaps because of their shock or their captivity to the Babylonians, they wouldn’t be able to mourn. They would have to grieve in secret—no crying, hugs, complaints, or shouting out against their captors—just quiet mourning. Terrible experiences await them.
Ezekiel’s Response and Ours
This is the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, and Jerusalem is under siege.
For a time, God closes Ezekiel’s mouth. The prophet wouldn’t say anything more until the day of Jerusalem’s destruction. More words would be futile and fall on deaf ears.
In a spiritual sense, many of us know the Bible’s teaching that no one is worth saving or is deserving of the LORD ’s mercy (Romans 3:10-18, 23). But for the grace of God, all of us would be lost (Ephesians 2:1-8). We need to respond to his grace to be saved (Romans 3:23-24; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8).
Some people continually sin and won't repent—ever. When they scorn the grace and mercy of God, they may waste any present or future efforts. Tragically, those who refuse a relationship with Christ will suffer eternal judgment in hell (Revelation 21:8).
We can’t know, however, when a person will reach that point because the Lord is gracious and doesn't easily give up on people (2Peter 3:9; Romans 2:4-8). He glories in taking worthless people and making them valuable (Romans 9:22-23), and no man comes to God unless the Holy Spirit draws him (John 6:44). Therefore, like Jeremiah and Ezekiel, we should pray for those who are obstinate and won’t listen, that God may be merciful to them.
Hope
After 70 years of exile (already it had been five years), God would have mercy on the repentant. The destruction of their land and people would shake them up, and many would turn to God for mercy (see the prayer in Daniel 9). God would work through the Persian king, Cyrus, to return them to their land.
In the future, there will be a day when all the remnants of Israel will be saved.
Friend, if you have lost hope of ever being saved, here is the good news: while there is life, there is hope. Today, he offers you spiritual life, forgiveness, and peace. (more...).
Discussion
Is there ever a time a person might not be worth saving? When?
Spiritually speaking, is anyone worth saving? Why or why not?
Can we know for sure that God won't save those who are extremely wicked? What should we do when they won ’t listen?
Endnote: Many insights of this Bible study were gleaned from The Bible Knowledge Commentary of the O. T., by Walvoord and Zuck, © 1985, pp.1270-1275
Focus Verse
Romans 6:23 (NIV) “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
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Looking Ahead: Because of Israel's bad behavior, God's Plans become Irrevocable. Was there any hope? Yes. Join us for our next lesson.
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