Ezekiel – Page 15 – Be Still…

Ezekiel 7:14-27 – Not a Pretty Sight

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Ezekiel’s heart must be breaking to hear of the desolation and despair that will befall his beloved homeland. Thankfully, there will be survivors who manage to escape to the mountains. They will look back with remorse, “horror and shame will cover them.”

It sounds like these escapees will finally come to the realization of what they had done. However, it is too late for them. God will turn his back on them so as not to watch them be plundered and defiled. All that had brought joy and pride to these people will be gone forever. Continue reading “Ezekiel 7:14-27 – Not a Pretty Sight”

Ezekiel 7:1-13 – The End is Coming

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If Chicken Little was in Israel hearing Ezekiel’s words, he would surely be running for his life screaming, “the sky is falling, the sky is falling.” I remember my grandpa reading me that story as a young girl. But the Israelite people didn’t believe it, even though the prophets continued to bring the same message.

In this passage, we see multiple times that the LORD’s fury focuses on the people’s “detestable sins” that will not be tolerated. The Sovereign Lord has spoken, and “no hope remains.” Israel had used up all their “immunity,” and doom was now certain. Yet, God did not want them to be blindsided by what was coming. If only they would listen! Continue reading “Ezekiel 7:1-13 – The End is Coming”

Ezekiel 6:1-14 – God Loves His Creation

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God’s message of judgment continues to be given to Ezekiel. This time, the audience God suggests is the mountains, hills, and valleys of Israel. While it is the people who have angered God, the land they inhabit will also take a beating from the wars and destructions.

God loves his creation. That’s what I think is another message we can take from this prophetic word. To see that God wanted to communicate his message of doom to the land itself is powerful. As if to give the mountains and valleys time to prepare in some way for the atrocities to come. Continue reading “Ezekiel 6:1-14 – God Loves His Creation”

Ezekiel 5:1-17 – It’s Jerusalem!

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Ezekiel may have wondered about shaving his head and facial hair. But in the ancient Near East, this custom would be familiar and related to a period of mourning. Clearly, God’s message was dire, pointing toward Babylon’s siege and final destruction of Jerusalem. We sense such sorrow and disappointment from the LORD.

God’s judgment was now looming. Do you think the people cared? We’ve been told before that God didn’t expect Ezekiel to have any more success in sharing God’s proclamations than his contemporaries or those prophets who had gone before. That seems to be a recurring pattern both in Scripture and in real life. People tend to turn away from God when life appears to be going well. Continue reading “Ezekiel 5:1-17 – It’s Jerusalem!”

Ezekiel 4:1-17 – Getting Our Attention

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What we’re seeing in the first eight verses is Ezekiel demonstrating a “sign act.” Such sign acts are a prophet’s way of totally immersing themselves in the message. When a prophet is “all in,” there is a greater chance more people will pay attention. In other words, it’s an “attention getter.”

For example, after play-acting the siege on Jerusalem, Ezekiel will be bound by ropes as he continues to put himself into this prophetic word. The meaning or representation of being tied up may suggest the people are in exile, held captive by a powerful force. What does that message mean for the people of God already living this reality? This confirms their predicament of being restrained from living life as they would desire, like they did back “home.” Continue reading “Ezekiel 4:1-17 – Getting Our Attention”