GOD IS LOOKING FOR A MAN
EZEKIEL 22 v.23 -31 v.30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
INTRODUCTION: God looks for men!
(a) In Salvation
God has been seeking for the souls of men to return to Him ever since the man fell in the garden.
Genesis 3:9–“And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?”
Luke 19:10–“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Romans 3:11–“There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.”
(b) In Service v.:30 "And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none."
I. THE PERIOD OF HIS SEARCH.
A. It Was A Time Of Sinful Poverty. (Ezekiel 22:1-12)
This was a time of :-
(a) Disturbance Bloodshed & Idolatry v.3 "Then say thou, Thus saith the Lord GOD, The city sheddeth blood in the midst of it, that her time may come, and maketh idols against herself to defile herself.4 Thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed; and hast defiled thyself in thine"
(b) Disobedience of Parents v.7 "In thee have they set light by father and mother: in the midst of thee have they dealt by oppression with the stranger: in thee have they vexed the fatherless and the widow."
(c) Desecration of the Sabbath v.8 "Thou hast despised mine holy things, and hast profaned my sabbaths."
(d) Defilement v.10 "In thee have they discovered their fathers' nakedness: in thee have they humbled her that was set apart for pollution.11 And one hath committed abomination with his neighbour's wife; and another hath lewdly defiled his daughter in law; and another in thee hath humbled his sister, his father's daughter.
(e) Deceit v.12 "In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD."
(f) Denial v.28 "And her prophets have daubed them with untempered mortar, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken."
Denial Of God's Will "daubed them with untempered mortar", Of God's Way "seeing vanity, and divining lies", Of God's Word "when the LORD hath not spoken"
B. It Was A Time .Of Severe Punishment . (Ezekiel 22:l3-22)
They would be :-
(a) Reproved v. 13 "Behold, therefore I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast made, and at thy blood which hath been in the midst of thee"
(b) Removed v.15 " And I will scatter thee among the heathen, and disperse thee in the countries, and will consume thy filthiness out of thee."
(c) Refined v.21 "Yea, I will gather you, and blow upon you in the fire of my wrath, and ye shall be melted in the midst thereof.22 As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye be melted in the midst thereof; and ye shall know that I the LORD have poured out my fury upon you."
C. It Was A Time Of Spiritual Pollution. (Ezekiel 22:25-28)
THE PROBLEM WITH PROPHETS - Vss. 25,"There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof." 28 " And her prophets have daubed them with untempered mortar, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken."
THE PROBLEM WITH PRIESTS - Vs. 26 "Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they showed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them."
THE PROBLEM WITH PRINCES (LEADERS) - Vs. 27 "Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain."
THE PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE - Vs. 29 "The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully."
THE PROBLEMS WITH PRAYER - Vss. 30 "And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none."
II. THE PURPOSE OF HIS SEARCH. (EZEKIEL 22:30)
A. The Pursuit. (“I sought for a man”).
God can use whatever he desires:
1. God Can Use Angels. (Genesis 19:1)
2. God Can Use A Burning Bush. (Exodus 3:2)
3. God Can Use A Donkey. (Numbers 22:28)
4. God Can Use A Raven. (I Kings 17:6) An unclean bird.
5. God Can Use A Heathen King. (Daniel 1:1-2)
6. God Can Use Rocks.
Luke 19:37-40–“And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.”
7. God Can Use Whatever He Wants To, But God Looks For A Man.
B. The Place. (“Among Them,” --Among God's People.)
C. The Plan. (“That should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap”). A hedge was used as a protection.
D. The Purpose. (“That I should not destroy it”). Proverbs 29:18–“Where there is no vision, the people perish:” Hosea 4:6–“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:”
E. The Problem. (“But I FOUND NONE”)
Luke 10:2–“Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.”
III. THE PERSON OF HIS SEARCH
Ezekiel 22:30 "And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none."
A. GOD IS LOOKING FOR A PERSON WITH CONVICTION.
1. Convictions About Godly Doctrine.
Galatians 1:8–“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”
Titus 2:1–“But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:”
2. Convictions About Godly Deeds.
I Corinthians 10:31–“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
3. Convictions About Godly Desires
B. GOD IS LOOKING FOR A PERSON WITH COMPASSION.
JUDE 22–“And of some have compassion, making a difference:”
1. Compassion For The Sinner.
Psalm 126:6–“He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”
2. Compassion For The Saints.
I John 3:17–“But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?”
C. GOD IS LOOKING FOR A PERSON WITH COURAGE.
Psalm 27:14–“Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”
1. Courage To Fight. I Timothy 6:12–“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”
2. Courage To Follow. Moses had died, Joshua had to go on.
Joshua 1:7–“Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.”
Matt 4v.19 "And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."
3. Courage To Finish. 2 Tim. 4:7–“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:”
D. GOD IS LOOKING FOR A PERSON WITH CONSECRATION.
Romans 12:1-2 " I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
IV. THE PROBLEM OF HIS SEARCH v.30 "but I found none" See:-
(a) The Privilege Of It - God Seeking
(b) The Pain Of It - God Seeking In Vain
(c) The Price Of It v.31 "Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD."
