1. What did God say He would do that was likened to what He did with their fathers?
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He promised to bring them out of captivity, plead with them as He did when He brought their fathers out of Egypt, and to purge the rebels: “(33) As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you: (34) And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. (35) And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. (36) Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD. (37) And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant: (38) And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD” (Ezekiel 20:33-38).
The Lord saying “As I live” certainly demands attention (Isaiah 49:18, Jeremiah 22:24, Jeremiah 46:18, Ezekiel 5:11, Ezekiel 14:16; 18, Ezekiel 16:48, Ezekiel 17:16, etc.). He is eternal (Deuteronomy 33:27, Psalms 90:2, and I Timothy 1:17).
It was the Lord’s role to rule over them (Judges 8:23).
The fury of the Lord was so certain, that it was likened to the certainty of His being alive (Ezekiel 7:8; cf. Numbers 23:19).
He would then plead with them (Jeremiah 2:9). This does not necessarily mean He would beg them to be His people (Ex. Ezekiel 38:22-23).
His goal was to punish them to the end that He might rule over them as He brings them out of captivity (Ezekiel 34:16 and Daniel 9:1-15).
2. If they weren’t going to hearken to the Lord, who should they go serve?
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IF they weren’t going to serve the Lord, they should go to their idols: “As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols” (Ezekiel 20:39).
There was a similar statement in their past (Joshua 24:14-15).
How would that help Israel (Judges 10:6-16)?
Don’t worship Him vainly any more (Isaiah 1:10-18).
3. Would God have accepted their offerings if they were offered properly?
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Yes: “(40) For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things. (41) I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen” (Ezekiel 20:40-41).
Nehemiah 10:28-39; cf. Isaiah 56:1-7
4. When they recognized the evidence of God’s promises, what where they supposed to do regarding their ways and doings?
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Lothe themselves: “(42) And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers. (43) And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed. (44) And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have wrought with you for my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD” (Ezekiel 20:42-44).
This is likened to when God brought them out of Egypt (Exodus 6:7), or when He delivered them from the Syrians (I Kings 20:28).
God is proving to them that He will do all He said (Lamentations 2:17).
When the would “get it”, they should have hated themselves for their corrupt doings (Ezekiel 6:9; 36:31).
Real repentance requires this mentality (Job 42:1-6 and Luke 15:11-21).
5. What message was sent against the forest of the south field?
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A devouring fire was being sent against it: “(45) Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, (46) Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;
(47) And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein. (48) And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not be quenched” (Ezekiel 20:45-48).
Ezekiel has set his face toward the siege of Jerusalem (Ezekiel 4:7) and the mountains of Israel (Ezekiel 6:2). He will be told to do the same toward Jerusalem (Ezekiel 21:2).
The point… Jeremiah 22:1-8
6. What did they think of Ezekiel’s messages?
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That he spoke in parables: “Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables” (Ezekiel 20:49)?
They were right (Ezekiel 17:1-2).
They weren’t getting it (Mark 4:10-12).