DBG - September 7 - Ezekiel 24-27

In this chapter Ezekiel gives object lessons of the coming destruction of Jerusalem.

vs. 1-14 – The year is 588 B.C.  God reveals to Ezekiel in Babylon that the exact day (10^th of Tevet) that Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem.  There would be no way to verify this date for weeks or months with the speed of information in those days, but God knows all things.  We have yet another object lesson.  The prophet fills a pot with water and boils a lamb.  Wood is added until the pot is so hot that the rust burns off it.  It is a picture of the purging fires of judgment that will be poured out on Jerusalem. 

vs. 15-27 – Yet another object lesson, perhaps the harshest on the person of the prophet.  Ezekiel’s wife dies (after he predicts it – see vs. 16) and God orders him to not mourn her passing.  Through this Ezekiel modeled the attitude of God toward the coming destruction of Jerusalem.

In this chapter Ezekiel begins to prophecy against the Gentile nations, focusing on Ammon, Moab, Edom, and Philistia.

vs. 1-7 – The timing of these prophecies is shortly after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.  Ammon had celebrated the fall of Israel and Judah.  They had seized territory from the old Northen Kingdom after the Assyrians defeated them.  They would fall themselves in judgment to the Babylonians in 582 B.C.

vs. 8-11 – Moab and Edom (capital at Mt. Seir) are the next targets of Ezekiel’s prophecy.  Moab is the focus of this section, and Edom of the next.  These too would fall judgment to the Babylonians in 582 B.C.

vs. 12-14 – Edom would fall in judgment to the Babylonians in 582 B.C.

vs. 15-17 – Philistia is the next target of God’s judgment, and it would fall in judgment to the Babylonians in 582 B.C.

In this chapter Ezekiel prophesies against Tyre.

vs. 1-14 – This prophecy against Tyre was given in 585 B.C.  The Babylonian siege is described and the fall of the city to it in 572 B.C.  The fulfillment of the utter desolation of the city probably looks further ahead to its fall to Alexander the Great in 332 B.C.

vs. 15-21 – Tyre was part of the old Phoenician empire that spread its sea-faring commercial dominance over the entire Mediterranean.  Its fall disrupted trade throughout the region, causing the many nations that benefited from her to mourn.  The extent of its fall is described in vs. 20-21 as it being cast the grave among the dead, never to rise again.

In this chapter is a lament for the fall of Tyre.

vs. 1-7 – This chapter functions as a funeral dirge for the “death” of Tyre seen in Ezekiel 26:20-21.  The great city-state compared to a great ship.  It is built of the finest materials from all around the world. 

vs. 8-11 – The nations of the world that allied with Tyre are pictured as the sailors and soldiers that manned the ship of its empire.

vs. 12-14 – The nations that participated in the sea-trade with Tyre are described.

vs. 15-25 – The nations that participated in the land-trade with Tyre are described.

vs. 26-36 – That great ship that pictures Tyre in its glory is broken.  All those that had allied or traded with her mourn their great loss.

The omniscience of God is displayed in a marvelous manner in Ezekiel 24.  He reveals to the prophet what is happening some 500 miles away.  As amazing as that is, it is practically nothing to our Almighty God.  He knows what is going on within every atom at every place and time.  There is no limit to His knowledge or escape from it.  We can only marvel at His infinite wisdom.

Our hymn today is a metrical setting of Psalm 87 from the Tate and Brady Psalter printed in 1754.  Psalm 87 is a song of praise for God’s love for Jerusalem above all other places.  We are reminded of this in our reading today. Even though God judged Jerusalem along with its surrounding nations, only Jerusalem was given hope.  Its judgment had purpose in purging the Jews of their sins.  The judgment of these other nations was final.  Thus we see God’s love and care of Israel displayed here.

1 God's Temple crowns the holy Mount;
The Lord there condescends to dwell:
2 His Sion's Gates in his Account,
Our Isr'el's fairest Tents excel.
3 Fame glorious Things of Thee shall sing,
O City of th' almighty King!

4 I'll mention Rahab with due Praise,
In Babylon's Applauses join,
The Fame of Ethiopia raise,
With that of Tyre and Palestine;
And grant that some, amongst them born,
Their Age and Country did adorn.

5 But still of Sion I'll aver,
That many such from her proceed;
Th' Almighty shall establish her.
6 His gen'ral Lift shall shew , when read,
That such a Person there was born,
And such did such an Age adorn.

7 He'll Sion find with Numbers fill'd
Of such as merit high Renown;
For Hand and Voice Musicians skill'd,
And (her transcending Fame to crown)
Of such she shall Successions bring
Like Waters from a living Spring.