Ezekiel 24
-In the year 588 B.C. in the tenth month and on the tenth
day of that month the word of the LORD came upon Ezekiel again. This word
coincided with the exact day that Nebuchadnezzar’s forces from Babylon laid
siege on Jerusalem, which would bring the city and nation to its knees and a
complete overthrow in less than two short years (Ezekiel 24:1-2). God told His
prophet to speak in another parable to the rebellious house of Israel, which
was in Babylonian captivity. The parable revolved around a pot that was put on
the fire with water, all the pieces of the meat, and choice bones. It was
brought to a vigorous boil and the bones were seethed in it (Ezekiel 24:3-5).
The LORD then pronounced a double woe upon the “bloody city” that was under His
judgment. The first woe consisted of a denouncement of sin (the encrusted rust
that would be boiled within) and the wrath of a fiercely jealous God. There
would be no covering for the abominations at this point of destruction. The
second woe consisted of a great pile that was made of flesh mixed with spices
and burned bones. The heat was intensified so that all the filth could be
melted away in the pot. This consumed the rust. Judah had wearied their God
with making Him toil for their unbelieving hearts. They would not turn to Him and
continued to sin more and more with no shame. The LORD would have cleansed them,
but they would have none of it. They remained proud in their uncleanness, so
God took His just wrath on them through the Babylonian invasion and siege that quickly
would conquer. “I, the LORD, have spoken; it is coming and I will act. I will
not relent, and I will not pity and I will not be sorry; according to your ways
and according to your deeds I will judge you,” the LORD God declared (Ezekiel
24:6-14).
-As a sign, Ezekiel’s wife, the desire of his eyes, would
pass away as the LORD took her from the prophet in that evening of the prophesy
(Ezekiel 24:16, 18, 24, 27). Ezekiel was commanded not to mourn, weep, or cry.
His groans could only be silent in his sorrow for the dead loved one. He was
further commanded to defy typical grieving rituals in the Jewish tradition by
binding his turban, wearing his shoes, leaving his mustache uncovered, and not
eating the bread of men (probably condolence food given to the ones in
mourning). When the people asked for an explanation unto the meaning of these
things, Ezekiel spoke the words of the LORD, “Behold, I am about to profane My
sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes and the delight of
your soul; and your sons and daughters whom you have left behind will fall by
the sword (Ezekiel 24:15-21).” The people were then told by God not to mourn,
just like Ezekiel had done for the time had come for Jerusalem’s destruction
and for His people to KNOW Him as their LORD above everything and anyone. God
urges His prophet not to be mute any longer, but to speak as His messenger and
signpost so that all will KNOW who He is (Ezekiel 24:22-27).
-*Application* Jesus made a similar assertion in Luke
14:26-27 when He stated, "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own
father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even
his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross
and come after Me cannot be My disciple.” God’s point is that He must come
first in our priority list. Does everything in our lives fall behind our
obedience to Him? This is the point of this sign unto Ezekiel. God doesn’t
desire death and hate, but in comparison to our love for Him we must give
everything else up or we have idols in our heart. That is the very thing He
detests. Sometimes He has to go to extreme measures and language to get us to
realize this fact. He wants to pity on us and relent of His anger, but we must
come to Him on His terms (For the grace side see Jonah and Hosea).
Verse to Memorize: Ezekiel 24:14
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