Ez 20
[SUP]23 [/SUP]Also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them among the lands, [SUP]24 [/SUP]because they had not observed My ordinances, but had rejected My statutes and had profaned My sabbaths, and their eyes were on the idols of their fathers. [SUP]25 [/SUP]I also gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances by which they could not live; [SUP]26 [/SUP]and I pronounced them unclean because of their gifts, in that they caused all their firstborn to pass through the fire so that I might make them desolate, in order that they might know that I am the Lord.”’
God says here that He gave them statutes that were not good - Do you believe that they were not good?
Of course they were good, but they were unachievable by men! It was not that the Law that was not good, but that the flesh is weak.
If a bird were to give us instruction could we fly? If we were gently pushed out of the nest we would fall on our face - And that is what happened to Israel. And that is why Jesus was always the plan. To fulfill/satisfy the Law, because we can't.
Just food for thought.
A better translation would be "gave them over to"
Eze 20:25 "Therefore I also gave them up to statutes that were not good, and judgments by which they could not live; - NKJV
New Living Translation
I gave them over to worthless decrees and regulations that would not lead to life.
GOD'S WORD® Translation
I also allowed them to follow laws that were no good and rules by which they could not live
Simply put, God gave them perfect, righteous Laws...
Psa 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
Psa 19:8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Psa 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
Psa 119:172 My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.
But Israel rejected them so God allowed them to follow laws that were not good for them.
Either that or God is a liar. He says His Laws are perfect, so if the laws referred to in Ezek 20:25 are His Laws, then He lied.