Read: Ezekiel 24:1-26:21; Hebrews 11:1-16; Psalm 110:1-7; Proverbs 27:14
Ezekiel marks this day. It has been nine years since Jehoiachin had been taken prisoner. Ezekiel was in captivity by the river Chebar when he prophecied that on this day, Babylon would lay siege Jerusalem. Second Kings 25:1 says, “And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built forts against it round about.” It happened just as Ezekiel said it would even though he was not there to see it.
The choice pieces, the pick of the flock would be put in the cooking pot to boil with the hope of boiling out its impurities but they would not be able to be removed even by fire. This referred to the leaders and the noblility of the land. They would be under siege and die a slow death but in their trials and death, they would not turn to the Lord.
God would take away their temple, their pride and joy. They would also take away their sons and daughters which would have carried on their name and they wouldn’t even be able to give them a proper funeral, but instead, they would be carried away to Babylon. To give them a vivid picture, Ezekiel’s wife died that night and he was not allowed to show any mourning for her. This would be the picture of what was awaiting them.
Ezekiel was told to prophecy against the Ammonites. They had rejoiced when Jerusalem fell so God would give them over to the nomadic tribes from the East. The same would happen to the people of Moab and Seir because they looked at what happened to Jerusalem and had no pity.
Edom had taken revenge on Judah so they would be ravaged by Israel who would kill them and their animals. The Philistines also had taken vengeance on Judah, so God himself was going to punish them.
Of Tyre, God spoke the harshest. Tyre was a city of great commerce. Judah had stood in her way at times, taking her business. Judah also produced corn which Tyre needed. When the people of Tyre heard that Jerusalem had fallen they rejoiced in the fact that they would have the corner on the market and their enemy and rival was defeated. God would send Nebuchadnezzar against them and he would trample down their city, plunder their wealth and kill their people. Tyre means
“a rock” and God said he would make her a bare rock that would never be rebuilt.
This is a picture of the very end when God will judge the unrighteous nations. He will bring them down to the pit and they will dwell in the earth below with those who are already there in hell. They will not return to take their place in the land of the living but have a horrible end and be no more. (Ezekiel 26:19-21) We who are saved will come back to dwell on the earth for the thousand years where Jesus will be the king and there will be righteous government and justice will prevail on the earth.
Faith is being able to see what is not yet there, yet know that it is coming. God specifically picked out the people he wanted in this chapter. Abel is the first who offered the perfect sacrifice. He was a type of Jesus who was the perfect sacrifice. Neither of them lived very long and were killed by the enemy, Satan. Their blood still speaks!
Enoch was raptured showing us that God always has a plan of escape for his people who walk closely with him.
Noah was a picture of those who will go through the tribulation but they will trust in God to carry them through it. Their faith will condemn the world of their sin.
Abraham was a picture of the family of the new millennium. Abraham never saw it but by faith he knew that this was not his home and that God was building a better one. We will see that new city in the millennium.
These examples were natural people but their lives pointed to something spiritual. We are not just natural people but we are spiritual houses for God’s Holy Spirit to dwell in. We can, by faith, enter into our heavenly house anytime we want to. In the future what we see in our spiritual eyes will be made manifest in our natural sight.
Lord, your plans and your ways are so past our understanding but we stand by faith and believe what you have said will happen. You are our hope.
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