Elders from Israel came to inquire of the Lord by coming to His prophet Ezekiel (v1). The Lord’s initial reply is not very positive as He is questioning their motives (v2-3).

I’m not sure what the elders were expecting, but what they got was a clear account of the sins of their forefathers (v4-5). An interesting point here is how the Israelites in Egypt were unwilling to give up their idolatry, even when the true God revealed Himself to them (v6-8). This shows us that in what was happening in Egypt, the people were not just victims, but a guilty people being disciplined.

As the sins of God’s people are mentioned, repeatedly there is an emphasis on their breaking of the Sabbath Day (v12, 13, 16, 20, 21, 24). The Sabbath was a day to show that they had been called to be a holy people (v12). The Sabbath is a holy day, a day set apart, a different day, so that God’s people are sanctified, changed to become like Him.

What caused Sabbath neglect was the pursuing idols (v16). When you see what people do today, instead of going to the morning and evening services, you see what their idols are. Pray about this.

The Sabbath was also a day for the people to realise who the Lord was (v20). The Sabbath is day to renew our devotion with the Lord and a day to go deeper with the Lord.

The Scottish Minister Robert Murray McCheyne would regularly got up early on the Sabbath day and went to bed late, in order to spend as much time as possible on that day with the Lord.