Ezekiel 3:22-5:17
Dear RTB’ers,
Today we see Ezekiel playing out the siege and fall of Jerusalem with images – himself tied up and mute; a siege brick and its surroundings; a meager diet, including cannibalism; using a sharp sword to cut off his hair and dividing it three ways; and eating food prepared over human and animal dung. The Lord is asking a lot of Ezekiel in playing out these symbols of the destruction of Jerusalem and the judgment upon its inhabitants.
The Lord is angry with Jerusalem and its people. Although He had established them as preeminent among the nations, yet they failed to follow His laws: This is Jerusalem. I have set her in the center of the nations, with countries all around her. And she has rebelled against My rules by doing wickedness more than the nations, and against My statutes more than the countries all around her; for they have rejected My rules and have not walked in My statutes. (vv. 5:5b-6)
He makes it clear that it is He who is responsible for what is happening: …therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, even I, am against you. And I will execute judgments in your midst in the sight of the nations. And because of all your abominations I will do with you what I have never yet done, and the like of which I will never do again. (vv. 5:8-9)
Thus shall My anger spend itself, and I will vent My fury upon them and satisfy Myself. And they shall know that I am the LORD—that I have spoken in My jealousy—when I spend My fury upon them. (v. 5:13)
Blessings.
See also: August 2 (2023) / Ezekiel 21:18-32; 24; 3:22-5:17.