Ezekiel 27-28

Dear RTB’ers,

Except for the last six verses in the second chapter, it’s all about Tyre today. The first chapter is a straightforward lament. Tyre is described as a beautiful ship, and the splendor of her trade with dozens of cities and nations is recounted – until the ship and its cargo are dumped into the sea.

The second chapter is much more challenging. Ez. 28:2 mentions the prince of Tyre while Ez. 28:11 mentions the king of Tyre. Are these two people the same person? Seemingly, yes, with references to their “god-ness” mentioned for both: Because your heart is proud, and you have said, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of the gods, in the heart of the seas…; You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God… (Ez. 28:2b, 12b-13a; see also Ez. 28:15-17). Some scholars suggest that this prince-king is Satan, cast down from Heaven to the Earth. Try reading the chapter again, imagining that all the first nineteen verses in the chapter apply to Satan.

Finally, this second chapter closes with a short oracle against Sidon and encouragement for Israel. My Study Bible notes that these verses about Sidon are the only place in Scripture where Sidon is mentioned separate from Tyre. That is, there are dozens of mentions of the phrase “Tyre and Sidon” in the Bible, but only one (here) where Sidon stands alone. Interesting…

Blessings.

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See also: August 10 (2023) / Ezekiel 26-28, 32 (again).

Ezekiel 25-26

Dear RTB’ers,

Today, oracles against Ammon, Moab, Edom (Seir), Philistia, and Tyre. We’ll also see God railing against Sidon and Egypt in the next six chapters. The essence of God’s judgment is that these nations cheered when they saw destruction fall upon Jerusalem and Judah. Here are two samplings of His justification:

Thus says the Lord GOD, Because you [Ammon] said, ‘Aha!’ over my sanctuary when it was profaned, and over the land of Israel when it was made desolate, and over the house of Judah when they went into exile, therefore behold, I am handing you over to the people of the East for a possession, and they shall set their encampments among you and make their dwellings in your midst. They shall eat your fruit, and they shall drink your milk.

Ezekiel 25:3b-4

Because Edom acted revengefully against the house of Judah and has grievously offended in taking vengeance on them, therefore thus says the Lord GOD, I will stretch out my hand against Edom and cut off from it man and beast.

Ezekiel 25:12b-13a

The second quote above also mentions Edom’s revenge against Judah, followed a few verses later by the same charge against Philistia. The Lord does not want anyone but Himself acting with vengeance: Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord. (Romans 12:19, Paul citing Deuteronomy 32:35). We saw God’s call for compassion a few chapters back: “For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord GOD. “Therefore, repent and live!” (Ez. 18:32) We need to be people of compassion; leave judgment to God.

Three more days of oracles against Judah’s neighbors.

Blessings.

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See also: August 10 (2023) / Ezekiel 26-28, 32.

Ezekiel 24

Dear RTB’ers,

Each of the last two days I have posted a closing: I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it. (v. 17:24b) Today the Lord speaks these words even more emphatically: I am the LORD. I have spoken; it shall come to pass; I will do it. I will not go back; I will not spare; I will not relent; according to your ways and your deeds you will be judged, declares the Lord GOD. (v. 14) Lest there be any confusion as to the Lord’s intentions…

I found myself moved by God’s instruction to Ezekiel when he is about to lose his wife: Son of man, behold, I am about to take the delight of your eyes away from you at a stroke; yet you shall not mourn or weep, nor shall your tears run down. (v. 16) He is asking Ezekiel not to mourn over his wife’s sudden death. As I have often asked, I put myself into that story – and I felt something like a deep hurt within me. Losing a spouse is difficult enough, but to not lament over that sudden loss – what a challenge that would have been for Ezekiel. But the Lord’s charge to him was all about Jerusalem; my Study Bible said that Ezekiel’s wife died on the same day that Jerusalem was burned. Behold, I will profane My sanctuary, the pride of your power, the delight of your eyes, and the yearning of your soul… (v. 21b) For the Israelis, their pride in their temple, their yearning to return there after their exile – it would all be gone. What a loss for them!

Another tough chapter…

Blessings.

Ezekiel 23

Dear RTB’ers,

Today, what a horrible chapter! I often ask us to put ourselves into the story. Not today! Not to be around either Oholah or Oholibah, or the Egyptians, Assyrians, or Babylonians. Nothing redeeming in this chapter…!! It’s all the Lord’s judgment against Samaria and Jerusalem. I couldn’t even find a verse that I wanted to quote!

Both STS and my Study Bible note that the figures and behaviors of Oholah and Oholibah refer more to political alliances than to idol worship – that Samaria and Jerusalem had sought after Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon for military protection. We have seen how the Lord hates His people seeking after and worshiping other gods instead of Him. Evidently He feels the same about us looking for “answers” elsewhere instead of seeking Him for His counsel. We need to be seeking Him daily, in every aspect of our lives.

I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it. (v. 17:24b)

Blessings.

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See also: August 1 (2023) / Ezekiel 22:1-22; 23.

Ezekiel 22

Dear RTB’ers,

In previous chapters we have seen God’s plans for judgment on Jerusalem, Judah, and its inhabitants, but we have not seen much in the way of details of their wrongdoings, other than idol worship. God, through Ezekiel corrects that omission today, with a listing of their many evils. Here’s a short list: shedding blood (could be murder or idol sacrifices); mistreating parents, sojourners, orphans and widows; profaning the Sabbath; slander; a long list of sexual evils; dishonest gain; usury; all these in addition to idol worship. Did I miss anything?

Then, after listing His commandments that they have broken, God provides a list of the wrongdoers: prophets (Ez. 22:25, 28), priests (Ez. 22:26), princes (think, royalty, Ez. 22:27), and the people (Ez. 22:29). Finally, to complete this chapter’s listings of transgressions committed against Him, God also notes that there is no one who can speak out for Him: And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. (v. 30) End of story.

I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it. (v. 17:24b)

Blessings.

Ezekiel 20:45-21:32

Dear RTB’ers,

Prophesies today against the Negev (the southern part of Judah along its southern border), Jerusalem, and Ammon. Again STS offers some good explanations.

…this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Remove the turban and take off the crown; this will no longer be the same. Exalt that which is low, and humble that which is high. Ruins, ruins, ruins, I will make it! This also will be no longer until He comes whose right it is, and I will give it to Him.’ (Ez. 21:26-27, NASB) I have quoted the NASB here because they capitalize deific pronouns, suggesting that these verses are Messianic. In the ESV it is not clear that these verses are Messianic; my Study Bible even suggests that the reference could be to Nebuchadnezzar.

So much of what we read depends on translation. We need to ask the Lord always to reveal to us what He wants us to know. If He wants us to become Old Testament scholars, that’ll be His call!

Blessings.

Ezekiel 20:1-44

Dear RTB’ers,

Our STS companion book divides the chapter nicely into three parts – the Israelites in Egypt, then in the wilderness, then in Canaan. My Study Bible further divides the wilderness experience into two parts – the first generation that came out of Egypt and then their children. Those notes make the chapter easier to read.

Three times the Lord notes that He will not be profaned among the nations (Ez. 20:9, 14, 22), together with a fourth mention of His concern for His reputation: And I will manifest My holiness among you in the sight of the nations. (v. 41b) We had seen back in Exodus that Moses had prayed to the Lord to spare His people after the Golden Calf incident: Then Moses pleaded with the LORD his God, and said, “LORD, why does Your anger burn against Your people whom You have brought out from the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians talk, saying, ‘With evil motives He brought them out, to kill them on the mountains and to destroy them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your burning anger and relent of doing harm to Your people. … So the LORD relented of the harm which He said He would do to His people. (Exodus 32:11-14) I had not thought much about God’s concern for His reputation. If I am understanding this correctly, then everything that I (we) do reflects upon my (our) God. People see my (our) behaviors and reflect their opinions forward, casting their positive and negative judgments onto my (our) Savior. More reinforcement for me (us) to serve Him faithfully…!

Blessings.

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See also: July 31 (2023) / Ezekiel 20:1-21:17.

Ezekiel 18-19

Dear RTB’ers,

Today’s first chapter seems straightforward – the essence of God’s judgment stated in Ez. 18:20: The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. But we also see into God’s heart a few verses later, Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? (Ez. 18:23) Another verse often memorized.

Yes, that chapter seems straightforward, but my Study Bible further shed light to me on Ezekiel highlighting generational behavior. Ez. 18:5-9 is a righteous man, the first generation; Ez. 18:10-13 is the first man’s son, an evil man, the second generation; then this evil man fathers a righteous son in Ez. 18:14-18, a third generation. Taken together God has eliminated generational guilt. Surprisingly, I recalled Jesus’ disciples asking Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Apparently they did not remember their readings from Ezekiel!

Ezekiel writes today’s second chapter as an allegorical poem, with clear reference to two of Judah’s kings and a bit of confusion as to another. The lioness in Ez. 19:2 is Josiah who fathered (at least) two sons. His first son was Jehoahaz (Ez. 19:3-4) who reigned only three months and was taken to Egypt where he died (II Kings 23:31-34; Jeremiah 22:10-12). Josiah’s second son was Jehoiakim (Ez. 19:5-9) whose reign was overwhelmed by Nebuchadnezzar. It’s not clear, however what eventually happened to Jehoiakim (see II Kings 24:1-6a), so the young cub who was taken to Babylon may have been Zedekiah. It was probably clear to the exiles as to whom Ezekiel was referring, even if it’s cloudy to us.

Finally, for today, my Study Bible referred to the final verse in chapter 18 as “the most important message in the whole book of Ezekiel”. Here is God speaking: For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live. We would do well to embrace that verse.

Blessings.

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See also: July 30 (2023) / Ezekiel 17-18.

Ezekiel 17

Dear RTB’ers,

Speaking through Ezekiel to the exiles in Babylon, God offers a parable in today’s first ten verses, then explains it in the next eleven verses. And if it is still not clear, our STS companion book offers the explanation in its introductory remarks. Essentially, when Jehoiachin, the king of Judah was taken captive to Babylon in 597 BC, his uncle, Zedekiah was put in as king in Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. Then Zedekiah rebelled some years later and appealed to Egypt for help. Nebuchadnezzar then destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC and Zedekiah was brought to Babylon (blind) and his army was soundly defeated. The exiles had hoped that Zedekiah’s rebellion would lead to their return to Jerusalem. It was Ezekiel’s job to explain to them that that was not going to happen.

Today’s final three verses are surely Messianic to us: Thus says the Lord GOD: “I Myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and will set it out. I will break off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I Myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. On the mountain height of Israel will I plant it, that it may bear branches and produce fruit and become a noble cedar. And under it will dwell every kind of bird; in the shade of its branches birds of every sort will nest.” (vv. 22-23) Yes, these verses are Messianic to us New Testament “birds”, but whether it was to the Old Testament Jewish nation is debatable. But, no doubt these verses offered hope to those exiles in Babylon, that God will redeem their misfortunes and all the world will honor that new “noble cedar”.

I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it. (v. 24b)

Blessings.

Ezekiel 16

Dear RTB’ers,

Today, Jerusalem’s “history”, as related to her by God, Himself. He paints a picture of Jerusalem’s beauty in Ez. 16:1-14, then He sets forth charges of idolatry and “prostitution” by Jerusalem’s residents and His judgment against her. A couple of interesting items stood out to me.

First, in the midst of recounting Jerusalem’s prostitution, the Lord says that her whoring is different from normal prostitution: Yet you were not like a prostitute, because you scorned payment. … Men give gifts to all prostitutes, but you gave your gifts to all your lovers, bribing them to come to you from every side with your whorings. So you were different from other women in your whorings. No one solicited you to play the whore, and you gave payment, while no payment was given to you; therefore you were different. (vv. 31b-34) Interesting. I’m guessing that the Lord is recounting the many times that Judah entered into treaties with powerful countries, paying them tributes for their protection.

Second, …she [Sodom] and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. (v. 49) In addition to all the sexual sin detailed throughout, God also includes His judgment against people who do not aid the poor and needy. One lone island verse in an ocean of sexual sin!

Finally, God’s love overwhelms His anger: “Nevertheless, I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you. Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed … So I will establish My covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the LORD … when I have forgiven you for all that you have done…” (vv. 60-63, NASB)

Let’s embrace these last words, personally: …when I have forgiven you for all that you have done. Let’s not take His love and mercy for granted!

Blessings.

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See also: July 29 (2023) / Ezekiel 16.