What Does Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Teach About the Word of the Lord Coming to Ezekiel?

What is the significance of the phrase "the word of the Lord came unto me saying" in Ezekiel 36:16?

The phrase "the word of the Lord came unto me saying" is highly significant as Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that it represents divine revelation. He points out that this is "one of the most characteristic statements of phrases, especially of the prophecies which are recorded in the old testament." This phrase indicates that what follows is not human thought or opinion but God's direct communication to His prophet. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that this makes the biblical message fundamentally different from all other messages - it is God speaking to humanity, not merely human wisdom or philosophy.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones compare the situation of Israel in Babylon to our modern world?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones draws a striking parallel between Israel's captivity in Babylon and our modern situation. Just as Israel found themselves in trouble, confused and hopeless by the waters of Babylon, so too is modern humanity in a state of confusion and trouble. He notes that like Israel, we have competing voices offering different diagnoses - false prophets who say things aren't so serious, and the true word of God warning of deeper problems. Lloyd-Jones observes: "Because surely our situation is so strangely analogous to that of the children of Israel in the helplessness and the hopelessness of their captivity there in Babylon. Isn't the position exactly the same?"

Why does Lloyd-Jones believe human wisdom is insufficient to solve our problems?

Lloyd-Jones emphatically states that "man as he is, in his sin, in his misery and in his shame, cannot arrive at the truth about himself, his need, his way of deliverance." He cites the Bible's teaching that "the world, by wisdom, knew not God," and points to the modern world's ongoing confusion as evidence: "The world has been trying to solve its problems now for a very long time. And is anyone foolish enough to suggest that it's any nearer to solving it tonight than it's ever been?" He argues that human wisdom fails for two key reasons: the greatness of God (which makes Him incomprehensible to finite human minds) and the fallen nature of humanity (all our faculties are compromised by sin).

Why does Lloyd-Jones argue that the Bible's message is always contemporary?

Lloyd-Jones provides two main reasons why the Bible's message remains perpetually relevant:

1. God doesn't change: "If this is a message from God... and if God is everlastingly the same, if God is the father of lights, in whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning... then I would expect God's message to be always the same."

2. Human nature doesn't change: "Man doesn't change either... Adam exercised his own will instead of obeying God's. That's the very thing we are all in our follies still doing. Cain murdered his brother. Men are still murdering one another in various ways."

Since the fundamental relationship between God and humans remains constant, the biblical message addressing this relationship is always contemporary.

What does Lloyd-Jones teach about accepting the entire biblical message?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones insists that the Bible's message must be accepted in its entirety, not selectively. He states: "This message all hangs together. You can't pick out parts of it and say, I'll take that and leave out the rest." He argues this is logically necessary because if we accept it as divine revelation, we must accept all of it. He specifically addresses those who might reject certain doctrines like sin or the blood atonement: "There are people who hate the doctrine of the blood of Christ. They say, I don't like it... Very well. I say, if you don't like it, I can't help it. But you'll never go to heaven without it." Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that cherry-picking biblical teachings destroys the coherence of the gospel message.