I am honored to talk to you today about Ezekiel chapters 21–23. We encounter a sobering portrait of a people who traded a covenant for compromise. They abandoned God’s voice in favor of cultural influence, replacing divine guidance with pagan divination and adopting practices that corrupted their identity. These chapters confront us with the reality that spiritual compromise is not just personal—it’s national, generational, and fatal.

From ancient Israel’s alliances with Assyria and Babylon to today’s churches conforming to cultural norms, the pattern remains: when convenience replaces truth, people lose holiness. We see how Ezekiel’s prophetic grief, God’s drawn sword, and the call to repentance still speak to us today—warning us not to cast arrows, but to seek the voice of God.
Casting Arrows 
In Ezekiel 21:21, the king of Babylon uses divination—casting arrows—to decide whether to attack Jerusalem. This ancient practice, known as belomancy, involved marking arrows with outcomes and drawing them at random to determine direction.¹ Instead of seeking God or listening to His prophets, the people left their fate to chance.

It’s not unlike the childhood game of the Magic 8-Ball—“Will Billy take me to prom?” “Ask again later!” But in Ezekiel’s day, this wasn’t a joke. It was idolatry, and it revealed how deeply foreign influence had corrupted Israel’s discernment. God had warned His people not to adopt the customs of surrounding nations (Deut. 18:9–12). When they did, He often commanded the complete destruction of those cultures—not out of cruelty, but to protect His people from spiritual compromise.
Compromised Conviction
We see the same pattern today in what many call cultural Christianity. Entire denominations have embraced practices Scripture defines as sin—homosexuality, promiscuity, cross-dressing—not with the goal of redemption, but affirmation.²

In the past, spiritual leadership required courage. Consider Jan Hus, the Czech priest who spoke out against the corruption of the Catholic Church—particularly the sale of indulgences and moral decay. They burned him at the stake in 1415 for his convictions.

Today, many churches believe that adapting to culture will help them grow. They “tickle the ears” of their congregants (2 Tim. 4:3), turning a deaf ear to sin. They allow open practitioners of sin to serve in clergy roles, echoing the spiritual adultery and prostitution described in Ezekiel 23.
The Nature of Holiness
Some ask, “What harm is there in embracing gay marriage? How does that affect heterosexuals?” The answer is foundational; it redefines what God ordained. Scripture calls such acts an abomination (Lev. 18:22), not because God hates people, but because He loves truth.

Ezekiel stood firm because God spoke to him. Today, we must be discerning. When someone says, “God told me…,” we test that claim. God speaks through the Holy Spirit and through Scripture—but never in contradiction to it (1 John 4:1). A church may become popular by embracing culture, but it will not become holy. And holiness is what God requires.
The Grief of God
In Ezekiel 21:5–6, God declares He has drawn His sword and it will not return to its sheath. He commands Ezekiel to groan with bitter grief, reflecting divine sorrow over the coming destruction. God does not delight in judgment. He longs for repentance. As 2 Peter 3:9 reminds us,
“The Lord… is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Pet 3:9, NIV)
But judgment must come when people reject repentance. God’s sword cuts through both the righteous and the unrighteous (Ezek. 21:4). God takes the righteous home; the wicked go to destruction.
Eternity and Urgency
We are eternal beings. This life is a brief window in a much longer story. Its purpose is to know Jesus and help others know Him. When that mission fails, God may intervene—not out of anger, but justice. If harlotry continues unchecked, it pollutes more souls. Cutting it off is mercy.

We don’t know when the blade will fall. We must use every moment to come into relationship with Christ. For those who choose Him, pain gives way to paradise. For those who reject Him, the hour of judgment comes with no relief.
Repent and Live
God’s desire is evident:
“Repent and live!” (Ezek. 18:32)
We must not roll the dice or, as Ezekiel said, cast arrows. Don’t seek answers from culture or chance. Trust God today. There may not be another opportunity.
Tomorrow, we will read Ezekiel 24-27.
References

Walton, John H., et al. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000.

Gagnon, Robert A. J. The Bible and Homosexual Practice: Texts and Hermeneutics. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2001.

Spinka, Matthew. John Hus: A Biography. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1968.