As we catch up to our hero Ezekiel in chapter 11, we realize that he is about to embark on a very interesting journey of sorts.  “Then the Spirit lifted me up …” he writes (v. 1) … and there are two things he experiences on this occasion.  First, what he saw … a meeting, at the gate of the Temple in Jerusalem, of the remnant leadership of the Hebrews, left behind after the first Babylonian invasion (v. 1b).  Then, what he heard … at least what the Lord (Yahweh) tells him they were saying …  “Will it not soon be time to build houses?”  (v. 3).  After all, the marauding Babylonian army seems long gone … time to get back to “business as usual”, at least in the city of Jerusalem.  Those of us who know a little history might caution them at this point.  They couldn’t have known this, but there is one more invasion coming, even worst than the first.  If they decide to rebuild the city now, they risk the wasting of their efforts … and they will be shocked at this unexpected development.

But there is one more thing said here that should get our attention.  Further down in the passage we read these words, again from Yahweh;

Son of Man, your brothers,
your brothers who are your blood relatives,
and the whole house of Israel,
are those of whom the people of Jerusalem have said,
“They are far away from the Lord;
this land was given to us as our possession.”  (v. 15)

Of course, we’ve all seen and heard this kind of inferior theology before … that, when someone is going through a bad patch, they must have done something to deserve it.  See the book of Job, Jesus’ ministry (especially John 9:2) and even our own lives.  It’s an easy way to explain life and identify the reason for problems … but it’s not a sufficient explanation.

These men in Ezekiel’s vision were suggesting that the first wave of exiles were “far away” from Jerusalem and, therefore, must have done something wrong.  But, in reality, this little group meeting at the gate of the Temple was no different than the folks taken away as captives, so suggests Yahweh.  “You have killed many people in this city …” the Lord says in v. 6, followed by “for you have not followed my decrees or kept my laws (v. 12).”  This group and their families may have been spared the horror of exile … but they shared the same sin as those who had departed.  “Prophesy, prophesy against them,” (v. 4) so Yahweh instructs his prophet.  Yes, this is a new leadership group … but the same problem remains.  They have all suffered from the same tendency to ignore the God of their Fathers in the context of their personal and corporate lives.

We could proceed at this point to share in another lesson about the tendency of humans to sin, make some contemporary applications and close our service.  But something happens in this passage that is unusual and unexpected.  It happens in v. 16 … and it reminds us of the true role of the prophet, that of giving meaning to the developments of life.  Yahweh instructs Ezekiel to prophesy, saying “Although I sent them far away … yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.”

This is an astounding statement … to suggest that the Hebrew nation, a nation so dependent on Temple and synagogue could find “sanctuary” beyond these traditional meeting places, and in a land far from Israel.  The concept of “sanctuary” was such an important one to the chosen people … yet Yahweh appears to be leading them into a new understanding.  In spite of their rebellious past, they would still possess this blessing … and even beyond the familiar confines of home, in a far away place.

The world needs a little bit of sanctuary, I think.  The word means a place of protection, but it also has something to do with a real sense of God’s presence … and everybody needs that.  But if this lesson has meaning for the Hebrew nation then it does for us too.  Our loving Father intends sanctuary for us all … but it can happen in surprising places.

For Linda and me it happened when we conducted services in a rattling double trailer on an as of yet undeveloped parcel of land at the edge of one of our major cities.  For my friend Junior Sorzano and his Nazarene congregation, it happened after a fire in their church building rendered it unusable for a time.  Their experience in accepting the hospitality of a neighbouring congregation expanded their ideas of true sanctuary.

And it’s happening to us right now.  We are a bit scattered in our “sanctuary” experiences with First Baptist these days … some of you are reading this message and following the order of service in your homes; others will join us via the miracle of technology on the live-stream from the sanctuary on Sunday morning; and still others, unable to join the live-stream, will “tune in” to the service through the archives on the website.  As difficult as it has been to lose your beloved pastoral team and cope with COVID, we have discovered, to our surprise, a new kind of “sanctuary”.  Of course, we look forward to the day we can meet in person for worship again … but we are beginning to discover an unusual experience of community during these challenging times.

There is one more piece of good news Ezekiel has been instructed to share with the exiles.  In v. 17 and 18 Yahweh suggests the unexpected … that the exiles will be “gathered” from the faraway nations, brought back home and given back “the land of Israel again.”  Amazingly, this did happen … through the edict of King Cyrus of Persia, upon defeating the Babylonians and leading his nation as the next world power.  But there is something that draws our attention even more in this pronouncement … something that sounds very “New Testament” to us;

I will give them an undivided heart
and put a new song in them;
I will remove from them their heart of stone
and give them a heart of flesh.  (v. 19)

As we read these thrilling words, we are reminded of the “work” of Jesus and how the giving of his life has given new life to the whole world … even to those of us living these days.  Ezekiel was not just ministering to a forlorn group of exiles 2600 years ago … this prophecy is for us as well.  No matter what “far country” you may be in at this time, whether literally or, more importantly, emotionally or even relationally … the promise of “sanctuary” in a distant “land” is available for you.

We read at the end of this chapter that Ezekiel faithfully took the message back with him.  “I told the exiles everything” he writes.  And how grateful all of us are for that …