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Ezekiel 1:1-3:15
Ezekiel was a prophet to the Jews, and with the Jews while in captivity. He was taken to Babylon in the second deportation.
Warren Wiersbe, “While Jeremiah was ministering to the people in Judah, Ezekiel was ministering to the exiles in Babylon. He was taken to Babylon in 597 B.C. with the second deportation; and five years later, he received his call to ministry (592 B.C.). Like Jeremiah, he was a priest who was called to be a prophet; and also like Jeremiah, he preached action sermons that caught the attention of the people.”
Ezekiel was younger than Jeremiah, but preached the same message among the exiles that Jeremiah was preaching in Jerusalem – the certainty of God’s judgment upon Judah. I wonder if the two ever crossed paths.
Pastor Chuck Smith, “During the time of Ezekiel many false prophets predicted that Jerusalem would not be destroyed and that the captives would soon return to the land. The people held out hope that this captivity would be short-lived, but both Ezekiel and Jeremiah predicted a long captivity and tried to prepare God’s people for that future.”
By the time Ezekiel arrived in Babylon, Daniel had been there at least 8 years and had risen to great prominence in the kingdom. Daniel ministered in the capital city of Babylon, in the palace, while Ezekiel was out in the country.
Warren Wiersbe, “There are four sections to the book: (1) God’s call of Ezekiel (chaps. 1–3); (2) God’s judgment on Jerusalem (chaps. 4–24); (3) God’s judgment on the nations (chaps. 25–32); and (4) God’s restoration of His people (chaps. 33–48).”
A phrase we find throughout the Book of Ezekiel is God’s promise, in both good and bad times: “They shall know that I am the LORD” (26 times), “You shall know that I am the LORD “(27 times).
In Ezekiel 1 we have a glimpse behind the scenes, behind Ezekiel’s commission as a prophet. Ezekiel was 30 years old when he was called, it was the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity (592 B.C). It’s difficult for us to understand the significance of all the details in chapter 1, but the overall message has to do with God working out His plan for the Jews and for all mankind. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are all woven within the chapter, as well as angels, and even prophets, like Ezekiel. The wheels symbolize work, in this case, God’s work…they stayed on track, they did not turn to the “right or to the left.”
From man’s perspective it may have seemed like King Nebuchadnezzar was on the throne, but Ezekiel was given this vision and clearly reminded that even though it was chaos and heartache on earth, God was still seated upon the throne and in complete control. Not only that, it’s imperative for prophets and all of God’s people to be overwhelmed with the holy and awesome God we serve (see also Isaiah 6:1-8).
Ezekiel 1:28 (NKJV) “Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. So when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking.”
Warren Wiersbe, “Usually you see the rainbow when the storm is over (Genesis 9:8–17), and only an arc at that. Ezekiel saw the rainbow during the storm, and it completely encircled the throne!”
In Ezekiel 2, after humbling the prophet, God lifts him up by His Spirit and prepares Ezekiel for the work. The nation had transgressed, the nation was rebellious, and it didn’t matter whether they listened or not, Ezekiel was to boldly share and declare the truth. It wouldn’t be a popular message, especially when the other “prophets” were preaching peace. Eventually the people would know that Ezekiel was a prophet of the LORD, for his words came to pass.
Like John the beloved, who was commanded to eat the scroll (Revelation 10:9-10), Ezekiel did the same. Before we give God’s Word out to others, we must first internalize it to ourselves.
God’s preachers and teachers are to be leaders, different, we are not to be rebellious.
Ezekiel 2:8 (NKJV) “But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.”
We see the same thing in Ezekiel 3 – even to the heart!
Ezekiel 3:10 (NKJV) “Moreover He said to me: ‘Son of man, receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears.’”
Ezekiel obediently ate scroll, but it’s heartbreaking to discover that the house of Israel would not be obedient, they would not listen to him, because they would not listen to the Lord (Ezekiel 3:7). It didn’t matter, Ezekiel was called and commissioned to keep preaching the message, to NOT be afraid. Jeremiah was given the same type of commission.
Imagine being sent out by the Lord, anointed and appointed by Him in such a glorious way, and yet with the promise, that the people won’t listen, you’ll be hated by them Ezekiel, you will see it in their faces.
He didn’t amass a great following, but Ezekiel’s ministry was clearly Spirit-led.
Ezekiel 3:14–15 (NKJV) “So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me. 15 Then I came to the captives at Tel Abib, who dwelt by the River Chebar; and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days.”
Spirit led to sit where they sat. I like what Ezekiel said, “…I sat where they sat…”
A good word to pastors and prophets and anyone who has a desire to minister to others.
Ezekiel 3:16–6:14
Ezekiel was appointed not only as a prophet – but also as a watchman. Watchmen were stationed on the city walls, or in places of significance in order to warn the people of imminent danger, such as invading armies. But what if the watchman saw the danger and yet said nothing? The LORD speaks to Ezekiel and in essence warns the “warner.”
In reading Ezekiel 3:16-21 we discover some pretty heavy truths. The watchman DOES make a difference, souls are hanging in the balance. The blood of those who perish, because they were not warned, will be required of such “prophets,” or “preachers,” who do not share the full counsel of God. But if the watchman does his job and calls sin sin, and warns of the judgment to come, it doesn’t matter whether or not the people listen, God says to that spokesman, that watchman, “…you will have delivered your soul.” What a heavy accountability, pastors, preachers, and teachers of God’s Word have! Paul the Apostle was well aware of this truth.
Acts 18:6 (NKJV) “But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, ‘Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.’”
Acts 20:26–27 (NKJV) “Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.”
I thought it was interesting in reading the rest of the chapter (Ezekiel 3) that he would be unable to speak, until God spoke to him, and opened his mouth. What a beautiful balance between the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man.
The last four words of Ezekiel 4 are heavy words of warning, “…because of their iniquity.”
It didn’t have to be this way, but Israel and Judah refused to turn from their sin, even in captivity, even after multiple sieges from the Babylonians!
Ezekiel was a prophet who not only spoke the message, but whose life was a message. Imagine lying down on your left side for 390 days! And then, lying down on your right side for 40 days. What if your diet during that time was reduced to eight ounces of food each day, and one jar of water from time to time? Not only that, what if the fuel you used to cook your mini-meals was cow dung! That was the life of Ezekiel (and we think we have it bad).
People probably thought this skinny prophet was extremely weird, but if they opened their hearts to the Holy Spirit they would know, his message was true, and they needed to take it to heart. It was a heavy warning that Ezekiel issued:
Ezekiel 4:16 (NKJV) “Moreover He said to me, ‘Son of man, surely I will cut off the supply of bread in Jerusalem; they shall eat bread by weight and with anxiety, and shall drink water by measure and with dread.’”
Ezekiel once again is called by God in chapter 5 to offer to the people a visual illustration of the message at hand. Ezekiel was to cut off his hair including his beard, with a sword, and burn 1/3 of it, strike 1/3 of it, and the remaining 1/3 would be scattered to the wind. We read the meaning in:
Ezekiel 5:12 (NKJV) “One-third of you shall die of the pestilence, and be consumed with famine in your midst; and one-third shall fall by the sword all around you; and I will scatter another third to all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them.”
The Jews had not only committed the sins of the pagan nations around them, they had surpassed them in their sins, “by doing wickedness MORE than the nations…” (Ezekiel 5:6).
Therefore God Himself was against them; the famine would be so severe and their depravity so deep, that fathers would eat their sons in the siege, and sons would eat their fathers…it pains me to type these words – but such is the devastation of defiant disobedience to God. I don’t want to spiritualize something that literally took place, but consider the damage done to families in today’s society…all because we won’t do things God’s way. How we desperately need the Lord!
Malachi 4:6 (NKJV) “And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”
One last thing, one last word, before we leave Ezekiel 5…it’s that word “pestilence” in verse 17. Most of us today know people who have died due to pestilence, but has our world taken it to heart? In the midst of all the politics of Covid-19, we must not be distracted. It might be wise to realize that God has allowed it – we are living right smack dab in days of worldwide discipline. Am I any different now?
In Ezekiel 6 the prophet continues to pronounce judgment upon the people of God, particularly pointing out their blatant idolatry. It was at these mountains, these altars, these trees and high places where they offered incense, and pagan practices of worship to their idols. They would therefore be slain by God.
After all God had done for them, this is how they showed their gratitude.
But what about us? After all God has done for us. He made us. He maintains us. He loves us and never leaves us. The God of the universe is willing to have a PERSONAL intimate relationship with us, but how many times do we put other people or things before Him? This is idolatry…and it breaks His heart. Did you catch what Ezekiel wrote?
This is God speaking:
Ezekiel 6:9b (NKJV) “…because I was crushed by their adulterous heart which has departed from Me, and by their eyes which play the harlot after their idols…”
God is not some unemotional force or inanimate object. He can be grieved by our sin. Scholars tell us that Jesus died of a broken heart. Here in Ezekiel we see something similar, how the LORD was hurt, grieved, even crushed by their unfaithful heart; how with their eyes they lusted and longed for idols. Paul wrote in:
Ephesians 4:30a (NLT) “And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live.”
God help us to learn from these things, to learn to live wholeheartedly for God.
Ezekiel 7-9
Ezekiel was taken to Babylon in the second siege. The Jews were under the impression that they were about to be restored and delivered by God, but they were wrong, dead-wrong. Ezekiel was carried away in 597 B.C. and 11 years later the Babylonians would level Jerusalem, in 586 B.C.
We read about the judgment upon the land and cringe at the severity of it, but it’s important to realize that it’s simply the justice of God. God declared in;
Ezekiel 7:27b (NKJV) “I will do to them according to their way, and according to what they deserve I will judge them; then they shall know that I am the LORD!’ ”
Disaster, doom, destruction, death, “the time has come, the day draws near.” (Ezekiel 7:12)
God would see it all, but His eye would not spare; the God whose love and compassion are such that He would give His Son to die for us, would not pity the people at this point. It’s critical to understand that God is both Savior and Judge.
The people would die in the field by the sword, in the city by famine and pestilence – their money would be meaningless, their idols would be defiled.
There will be no leadership, meaning the people will be completely lost and without hope. God will give them what they’d always wanted, life without Him.
Ezekiel 7:26 (NLT) “Calamity will follow calamity; rumor will follow rumor. They will look in vain for a vision from the prophets. They will receive no teaching from the priests and no counsel from the leaders.”
I sigh…so much unnecessary heartache, for most – doom is their destiny.
In Ezekiel 8, we find the prophet sitting in his house with the elders – it “appears” that all is well, until the Spirit of God carries Ezekiel away to show him what’s really going on in the Temple of the LORD and in the hearts of the elders. God is jealous because His bride has been committing spiritual adultery!
Ezekiel 8:12 (NKJV) “Then He said to me, ‘Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the room of his idols? For they say, ‘The LORD does not see us, the LORD has forsaken the land.’’”
The abominations only increased, the more Ezekiel probed into those “walls” and saw behind closed doors, as they worshipped Tammuz (see article on Tammuz) and even worshipped the sun. God pronounced His just judgment:
Ezekiel 8:18 (NKJV) “Therefore I also will act in fury. My eye will not spare nor will I have pity; and though they cry in My ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them.”
In Ezekiel 9 we have a glimpse behind the heavenly scenes, just prior to the judgment of Jerusalem. It appears to be angels, one of whom is sent in advance to “mark” those who would be spared. This practice is similar to what we see in Revelation 7:2-3; 9:4; 14:1. It’s insightful as we discover the reasoning for the special identification marks.
Ezekiel 9:4 (NKJV) “and the LORD said to him, ‘Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.’”
There was still a remnant, who wept over the wickedness of the world they lived in. They sighed and cried over all the abominations that were done. It reminds me of the words of the Psalmist:
Psalm 119:136 (NKJV) “Rivers of water run down from my eyes, because men do not keep Your law.”
After the people were ‘marked’ the judgment began, and that judgment began in God’s sanctuary (with those elders), judgment always begins there, but it doesn’t end there.
1 Peter 4:17 (NKJV) “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?”
Ezekiel was able to foresee the judgment of God’s people, so he falls on his face in intercession. Ezekiel should have known, God would NOT destroy all the remnant of the people (that’s what that mark was all about) but from Ezekiel’s perspective, it sure looked that way.
One day, the Day will come, the Day of the Lord, and the only way “out” is through Jesus Christ. Friend, are you ready? I pray we’d all be ready for that day, by completely yielding our lives to the Lord.
Ezekiel 10-11
In Ezekiel 10 the prophet has a vision of God’s throne, surrounded by God’s glory. At first glance we might think this to be a good thing, but it wasn’t, for God was giving Ezekiel a vision of His glory departing from the Temple.
Not only does Ezekiel see the glory of God, he also sees the angelic scribe described as a “man clothed in linen,” who was to take coals of fire from among the wheels of the cherubim and scatter them over the city (Ezekiel 10:2, 6)
Warren Wierbe, “Coals from the altar brought cleansing to Isaiah (Isaiah 6:6–7), but they brought judgment to Jerusalem. The altar is the place where sin is atoned for because sin is judged.”
The glory of the LORD went up from the cherub and paused over the threshold of the temple (Ezekiel 10:4) but it was only a pause, for the glory of the Lord then departed from the threshold, stood over the cherubim who lifted their wings and mounted up from the earth in Ezekiel’s sight. God’s glory “flew away.” This was an indicator that the people, including their Temple, were about to be judged.
This wasn’t the first time something like this had happened to Israel.
Bible Knowledge Commentary, “God’s worship center at Shiloh was removed shortly after His glory had departed from it (1 Samuel 4:1–4, 10–11, 19–22; Jeremiah 7:12–14); and the same fate awaited the Jerusalem temple.”
The Cherub are intricately involved in all this, and they were taken away – gone is the angelic protection. The wheels are symbolic of the fact that God is moving and working, His “wheels” are spinning and they’re not turning aside (He’s not changing His mind).
In Ezekiel 11 the account continues, beginning with Ezekiel’s call to counter the false prophecies being propagated in Jerusalem, especially from the lying lips of Jaazaniah and Pelatiah. These “prophets” were spreading a message that said the people of Jerusalem were safe, like meat protected in a pot.
Jeremiah shared the truth, the citizens of the city were NOT safe, they were about to be judged by the Babylonians, they would be carried away from the city, delivered into the hands of strangers…they would die by the sword. God’s judgment would extend even to the borders. Ezekiel explains the reason for this:
Ezekiel 11:12 (NKJV) “And you shall know that I am the LORD; for you have not walked in My statutes nor executed My judgments, but have done according to the customs of the Gentiles which are all around you.”
While Ezekiel prophesied Petaliah, the false prophet died. I’m reminded of a two specific passages:
Deuteronomy 18:20 (NKJV) “But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.”
James 3:1 (NKJV) “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.”
But (and how many times have we seen this) God is not done with Israel or those who had been exiled. The people in Jerusalem were discarding the Jews who had been carried away. Notice what they said:
Ezekiel 11:15 (NLT) “Son of man, the people still left in Jerusalem are talking about you and your relatives and all the people of Israel who are in exile. They are saying, ‘Those people are far away from the LORD, so now he has given their land to us!’”
But after 70-years of exile, God would regather the people to the land.
Ezekiel 11:16–17 (NKJV) “Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Although I have cast them far off among the Gentiles, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet I shall be a little sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.’ 17 Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘I will gather you from the peoples, assemble you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.’’”
God was not only going to regather the people to the land, He would one day give them a new heart. Gone would be the hard-heart, not open to God’s love or God’s Word; it would be replaced with a soft heart inclined to obey God’s statutes and judgments.
Of course there will always be the defiant (Ezekiel 11:21), for God will never FORCE Himself upon anyone, the key is us yielding our lives to Him.
In the meantime the glory has departed (Ezekiel 11:22). This would be true until the days of Jesus’ first and second coming. Not only would the temple be burnt, the city would be leveled.
Bible Knowledge Commentary, “As God’s glory left Jerusalem, it passed over the Kidron Valley to the Mount of Olives. This departure signaled Jerusalem’s doom. The city would be devoid of God’s blessing till the glory will return via the Mount of Olives (Ezekiel 43:1–3). It is no coincidence that Christ ascended to heaven from the Mount of Olives (Acts 1:9–12) and promised to return to the same place (Acts 1:11; cf. Zechariah 14:4).”
Ezekiel 12:1–14:11
Ezekiel continues to prophecy verbally and visually. The people had eyes to see, but only saw the surface; they had ears to hear, but refused to take in God’s Word, to truly listen, learn and live for the Lord. The same thing was true in Isaiah’s day, during Jesus’ earthly ministry, and even nowadays, wouldn’t you say? (Isaiah 6:9-10; Matthew 13:15-16; Romans 11:25). For this reason 7 times in the book of Revelation Jesus challenges us to effectively use our ears, to hear, not just audibly, but spiritually, to truly listen to God
(NKJV) “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches…” (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29: 3:6, 13, 22)
Ezekiel was commanded to act out and demonstrate what it would look like to be carried away in captivity. After showing them visually, he explained, verbally:
Ezekiel 12:10–11 (NKJV) “Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘This burden concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel who are among them.’’ 11 Say, ‘I am a sign to you. As I have done, so shall it be done to them; they shall be carried away into captivity.’”
Pastor Chuck Smith, “This prophecy was fulfilled 5 years later when King Zedekiah attempted to escape through the wall of Jerusalem but was caught and blinded by Nebuchadnezzar’s troops (2 Kings 25:7).”
The second “visual” of this chapter was Ezekiel eating his food, and drinking his water while trembling with anxiety. This represented the fear the people would have in seeing their land surrounded and then violently decimated.
The people mocked at the likes of Jeremiah and Ezekiel who predicted the judgment of God, but the time was near, and God is faithful to keep all of His promises.
Ezekiel 12:28 (NKJV) “Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘None of My words will be postponed any more, but the word which I speak will be done,’ says the Lord GOD.’ ”
People say the same thing today:
2 Peter 3:3–4 (NKJV) “…knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.’”
But Jesus will come – as Judge; we need to be ready.
In Ezekiel 13 he addresses the false “prophets,” and Israel’s daughters of divination.
The false prophets were claiming to speak from the LORD, when in all reality they were speaking from their own hearts. The message of the day was to be a word of warning, to turn the people from their sins and bring them back to God, but the false prophets’ message was one of peace…when there was no peace (Ezekiel 13:10).
The false prophets had a false security in the walls they built with untempered mortar, which is sand without any lime. It looks solid and strong but it’s not; not strong enough to avert God’s judgment…only repentance can do that.
But it wasn’t just the men, there were also women who claimed to speak supernaturally, with magic charms, and divination. Ezekiel likens these women to hunters, they hunted the people down killing them with their lies. Make no mistake about it, the enemy is out and about on the prowl.
God would judge the false prophets who claimed to speak in the name of the LORD, as well as these daughters, diviners, who spoke under the influence of demons. Why do people pay attention to them? Why do so many listen to those who dare to share their own message and not the Word of God? Is it because they’re good communicators? Is it because they tell them what they want to hear? Why are so many seduced? (Ezekiel 12:10). I suppose ultimately it’s because they do not know the Lord, but one day they will, but it will be too late.
Ezekiel 13:14 (NKJV) “So I will break down the wall you have plastered with untempered mortar, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be uncovered; it will fall, and you shall be consumed in the midst of it. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.”
Ezekiel 13:23 (NKJV) “Therefore you shall no longer envision futility nor practice divination; for I will deliver My people out of your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.”
In Ezekiel 14 the elders come to inquire of the LORD, but God shows Ezekiel that these men have idols in their hearts.
Ezekiel 14:4–5 (NKJV) “Therefore speak to them, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Everyone of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity, and then comes to the prophet, I the LORD will answer him who comes, according to the multitude of his idols, 5 that I may seize the house of Israel by their heart, because they are all estranged from Me by their idols.’”
We need to know that God wants ALL of our heart.
Proverbs 23:26 (NKJV) “My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.”
We must beware of any form of idolatry!
1 John 5:21 (NKJV) “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”
An idol is anyone or anything we put before God, or make equal to God. I must always check myself! It can be the unholy trinity – me, myself, and I; it can be family, the ministry, food, sports, television, money, you name it. It doesn’t have to be a statue or an organized religion, idols come in many forms. God sees what’s going on in our hearts.
Is He really #1 without any rival thrones?
God’s only answer to these types of people who inquired of Him was to get right. If the prophets answered anything else to these idolaters, then God would deal with them as well (14:9-10). It’s not just because God is mad, it’s because God loves the people and longs to restore them.
Ezekiel 14:11 (NKJV) “‘that the house of Israel may no longer stray from Me, nor be profaned anymore with all their transgressions, but that they may be My people and I may be their God,’ says the Lord GOD.’”
Ezekiel 14:12–16:41
Ezekiel 14:12-23 communicates the point that the rebellion was such, that it wouldn’t matter who intercedes, it can be the godliest of men such as Noah, Daniel, or Job, if the people refused to repent, if they continued in “persistent unfaithfulness” (Ezekiel 14:12) then God was forced to judge. The only thing that could prevent the sword, the famine, the wild beasts, and pestilence would be genuine repentance on the part of the people.
God did eventually judge, but by His grace, He left a remnant. When it comes to Israel He always does. It brings comfort even in the midst of calamity. Even in wrath, God remembers mercy (Habakkuk 3:2).
Warren Wiersbe shares this commentary on Ezekiel 15, “The vine was a familiar emblem of Israel (Ps. 80:8–13; Isa. 5:1–7). Vines are good for only two things: bearing or burning. You do not build with wood from the vine because it does not lend itself to being cut and shaped. If the vine does not bear fruit, it is useless, and that was the condition of God’s people in Ezekiel’s day.”
In Ezekiel 16 God goes back to the beginning, the day Israel was “born” – she was left helpless, destined to die. But the LORD chose to show Israel favor, cut the cord of paganism, and wash them in the water of the Word…God had pity on Israel. We read His beautiful words:
Ezekiel 16:6 (NKJV) “And when I passed by you and saw you struggling in your own blood, I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’ Yes, I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’”
Ezekiel 16:8 (NKJV) “‘When I passed by you again and looked upon you, indeed your time was the time of love; so I spread My wing over you and covered your nakedness. Yes, I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine,’ says the Lord GOD.”
God went on to bless Israel beyond measure. Adorned with gold and sliver; fine clothes and food; her favor from God brought fame, from all around the world.
But she fell, and she fell hard. Her fall from grace reminds me of Lucifer’s fall, who also was in perfect in beauty (Ezekiel 16:14; 28:17).
Israel forgot the God who saved her, chose her, loved her, and blessed her beyond measure. Israel played the harlot to the point that SHE was guilty of soliciting other gods and actually paid and pursued THEM for her acts of spiritual adultery.
A nation and world reaches the bottom of depravity when they start sacrificing their children, which is exactly what Israel did. Such behavior can only be explained by a dark and demonic influence! Abortion is purely Satanic!
Ezekiel 16:20–21 (NKJV) “Moreover you took your sons and your daughters, whom you bore to Me, and these you sacrificed to them to be devoured. Were your acts of harlotry a small matter, 21 that you have slain My children and offered them up to them by causing them to pass through the fire?”
Israel mingled with the gods of Egypt, so the living God disciplined His children at the hands of the Philistines, Assyrians, and Babylonians, but still her heart did not change.
Ezekiel 16:30 (NKJV) “How degenerate is your heart!” says the Lord GOD, “seeing you do all these things, the deeds of a brazen harlot.”
Jerusalem continued to commit spiritual adultery, even when she was abused by her lovers. They had come a long way, down the wrong way…after all that God had done for them.
It’s the history of Israel. They would eventually be carried away in the third Babylonian siege. Will I learn from them? May it not be my history, or yours. After all that God has done for us, may we love Him, for He first loved us; may we live a life of gratitude, surely God deserves it!
Ezekiel 16:42–17:24
Sodom and Gomorrah were gone. Israel had been carried away captive by the Assyrians in 722 B.C.. You would figure the southern kingdom of Judah would learn their lesson from what happened to them, but they didn’t. As a matter of fact Judah’s sins were even worse. God indicted them sharply, “…you became more corrupt than they in all your ways.” (Ezekiel 16:47)
And again in:
Ezekiel 16:52 (NKJV) “You who judged your sisters, bear your own shame also, because the sins which you committed were more abominable than theirs; they are more righteous than you. Yes, be disgraced also, and bear your own shame, because you justified your sisters.
One day God would repopulate all of these lands, in Israel’s case He would bring back the Jews, but not before they’d “paid” for their sins.
Ezekiel 16:59–60 (NKJV) “For thus says the Lord GOD: ‘I will deal with you as you have done, who despised the oath by breaking the covenant. 60 Nevertheless I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you.’”
In Ezekiel 17 God communicates through the illustration of illustrious trees and flying eagles.
Babylon had lopped off the cream of the crop, the top from Jerusalem and taken them captive. Jerusalem was to keep its covenant with Babylon and the LORD, in yielding to His chastening hand, but they didn’t. Instead they rebelled and looked to Egypt (a typology of the world), rather than looking to God and submitting to His Word.
Therefore, Babylon would come again, and carry away the king and many captives in 586 B.C..
Ezekiel 17:19–20 (NKJV) “Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: ‘As I live, surely My oath which he despised, and My covenant which he broke, I will recompense on his own head. 20 I will spread My net over him, and he shall be taken in My snare. I will bring him to Babylon and try him there for the treason which he committed against Me.’”
Warren Wiersbe communicates the specifics, “The great eagle (Nebuchadnezzar) came to Jerusalem (Lebanon) and took to Babylon the top branch of the cedar (King Jehoiachin). He left some of the seed (King Zedekiah), which grew into a low vine. Zedekiah made a covenant to be loyal to Babylon, but then he broke it (vv. 15, 16, 18) and turned to Egypt for help (vv. 7–8; Jer. 37). The result? The king of Babylon will come back and destroy the lowly vine of Judah (vv. 9–10).”
Jerusalem would be judged.
But thank God it doesn’t end there, for one day Israel would be exalted forever. In the Millennial Kingdom Jerusalem will not only be the capital of Israel, Jerusalem would be the capital of the world…and King Jesus will reign over all the people – from every tribe, tongue, and nation.
Ezekiel 17:23–24 (NKJV) “On the mountain height of Israel I will plant it; and it will bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a majestic cedar. Under it will dwell birds of every sort; in the shadow of its branches they will dwell. 24 And all the trees of the field shall know that I, the LORD, have brought down the high tree and exalted the low tree, dried up the green tree and made the dry tree flourish; I, the LORD, have spoken and have done it.”
Warren Wiersbe, “The cedar represents the Davidic dynasty. One day God will take a lowly young twig from David’s line (Jesus Christ) and will establish His glorious kingdom (Isa. 11:1–9). But before He can enter into that glory, He must suffer for the sins of the world.”
Revelation 5:9 (NKJV) “And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.”
Ezekiel 18-19
The Jews were spreading a worldly “Proverb” among the people, but it wasn’t true; the Lord asks them:
Ezekiel 18:2 (NKJV) “What do you mean when you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying: ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge?’”
In this Proverb they were accusing God of being unfair, by saying they were being punished for the sins of their parents. As if the parents had indulged in candy, and the children were getting cavities as a result.
God responds by saying, “Not true!” Every person is accountable for their own lives and will be judged or rewarded accordingly
Ezekiel 18:4b (NKJV) “The soul who sins shall die.”
Ezekiel 18:9 (NKJV) “If he has walked in My statutes— and kept My judgments faithfully— He is just; he shall surely live!” says the Lord GOD.”
Ezekiel goes on to get very practical. If a saved man has an unrepentant sinful son – that sinful son shall not live (Ezekiel 18:13). But if that sinful son has a child, and that child sees the sins which his father has committed and chooses NOT to go that route, but walks according to God’s Word (Ezekiel 18:17), “he shall not die for the iniquity of his father; he shall surely live!”
God is fair. The fruit of our life proves the root of our life; behavior reflects belief.
Something else Ezekiel elaborates on, which is also very practical, is what happens if a wicked man turns from his wicked ways and begins to live according to God’s Word? Good news, “he shall surely live; he shall not die.” (Ezekiel 18:21)
But what happens if a righteous man turns away from God? Again, Ezekiel makes it completely clear – that man shall die (and this is not just physical death).
Ezekiel 18:24 (NKJV) “But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die.”
One thing is certain, Ezekiel did not believe in once-saved-always-saved; he was not a Calvinist! Ezekiel knows the truth and loves the people, so he warns and woos.
When a righteous man turns away from God, he will die.
When a wicked man turns away from his wickedness and turns TO God, he will live.
It’s very simple. God is fair.
God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, He even died to make us righteous, if only we’d follow Him!
Ezekiel 18:31–32 (NKJV) “‘Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,’ says the Lord GOD. ‘Therefore turn and live!’”
In Ezekiel 19 we discover that Jeremiah wasn’t the only one to write a lamentation, Ezekiel does as well. This was actually written 5 years before it happened, before Jerusalem fell.
The Egyptians came and carried away King Jehoahaz (2 Chronicles 36:2-4) he’s the first “lion” Ezekiel wrote about (Ezekiel 19:1-4). But the Babylonians would come and carry away King Zedekiah (Jeremiah 39) he’s the second lion Ezekiel wrote about (Ezekiel 19:5-9).
Imagine being put in a cage and carried away!
After the lion illustration, Ezekiel uses the vine. Ezekiel speaks to King Zedekiah reminding him of the glory years when Israel dominated the region with royal kings, enjoying her pinnacle at the top for 80 years under the reigns of David and Solomon, they were like a fruitful vine. But now they had sunk so low, they were dried up, barren, and about to be burned.
A sad and tragic condition for this nation, for a people with such awesome potential unrealized; these are God’s covenant people!
A suitable lamentation, by the prophet Ezekiel!
Ezekiel 20
Ezekiel remembers the exact day, it was in the seventh year, the fifth month, on the tenth day of captivity that the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, they wanted to hear from God through the prophet of God. But God said, “No,” He was not willing to speak to them because of their sin.
Ezekiel then covers the history of Israel – their gracious and sovereign selection by God as a nation, their time in Egypt, their time in the wilderness, their time in the Promised-Land, after all God had done for them every step of the way, they were rebellious and ungrateful.
And then those indicting words to the elders:
“Even to this day…”
Ezekiel 20:31 (NKJV) “For when you offer your gifts and make your sons pass through the fire, you defile yourselves with all your idols, EVEN TO THIS DAY. So shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “I will not be inquired of by you.
Warren Wiersbe said something simple and yet critical, “Repeated rebellion against God’s will is serious.”
Early on in my Christian life a friend gave me a passage to memorize, it was:
Isaiah 59:1–2 (NKJV) “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.”
The truth is, if I’m living a life of unrepentant sin, repeated rebellion, God won’t hear my prayers. We read the same thing in:
Psalm 66:18 (NKJV) “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.”
The word “regard” means, “to harbor or hold on to.”
These elders on that memorable day with Ezekiel would be informed of this.
As you read through the chapter, besides the goodness of God and the sinfulness of man, one thing stands out in the midst of it all, that in God’s actions He considers His witness.
Ezekiel 20:9 (NKJV) “But I acted for My name’s sake, that it should not be profaned before the Gentiles among whom they were, in whose sight I had made Myself known to them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt.”
We read this repeatedly in this chapter – that the Lord acted for His name’s sake. If He wiped Israel out, what would the nations think about the LORD? His name might be marred.
God did discipline His people, but He didn’t destroy them. As a matter of fact, Ezekiel 20:33-44 is all about the restoration of Israel. God would regather them from all over the world.
Ezekiel 20:34 (NKJV) “I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you are scattered, with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out.”
As God disciplines Israel (and us too), it’s for the purpose of growth and refinement.
Ezekiel 20:37–38 (NKJV) “I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant; 38 I will purge the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the country where they dwell, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”
The most important thing in life, is knowing the Lord (John 17:3). To know who He is, how He is – to know Him intimately, and personally; to enjoy this fellowship after having established a relationship with God. We are then to grow in this relationship for the rest of our lives. I’ve always loved that passage in:
2 Peter 3:18 (NKJV) “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.”
You see? It’s all about knowing Him. Even in the chastening – “…then you shall know that I am the LORD” – that’s God’s heart!
Ezekiel 20:44 (NKJV) “ Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have dealt with you for My name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways nor according to your corrupt doings, O house of Israel,’ says the Lord GOD.”
Ezekiel 20:45-49 closes the chapter with a prophecy against Judah. It was the coming fiery judgment of the Babylonians upon Jerusalem in 586 B.C..
The people in Ezekiel’s day were so blind, they didn’t understand the simple illustration and saw it as a perplexing parable (1 Corinthians 2:14).
Ezekiel 21-22
Ezekiel continues to warn the people – judgment is coming. The Sword of the LORD, is the sword of Babylon.
But not everyone who died was unsaved, we read those words in:
Ezekiel 21:4 (NKJV) “Because I will cut off both righteous and wicked from you…”
The sins of the wicked DO affect the righteous. Today the sin of Adam, and the sins of our generation have brought death, and even days of greater death in Covid-19 to both the saved and unsaved. The difference however, is their eternal destiny in heaven or hell.
Matthew 13:41–43 (NKJV) “The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
In Ezekiel’s day the Babylonians would strike for the third time – we read that explicitly in:
Ezekiel 21:14 (NKJV) “You therefore, son of man, prophesy, and strike your hands together. The third time let the sword do double damage. It is the sword that slays, the sword that slays the great men, that enters their private chambers.”
Jerusalem was conquered in 3 sieges; the third and final siege Ezekiel predicted took place in 586 B.C..
| 605 B.C. | Some captives are taken to Babylon, including Daniel. |
| 597 B.C. | More captives are taken to Babylon, including Ezekiel. |
| 586 B.C. | Jerusalem is burned. |
Ezekiel also wrote of the judgment of Ammon (Ezekiel 21:20; 28-32).
But it’s not all bad news. Although the scepter would cease for a season (Ezekiel 21:13) and Jerusalem would be overthrown…eventually the Day would come when Jesus would rule as King.
Ezekiel 21:27 (NKJV) “Overthrown, overthrown, I will make it overthrown! It shall be no longer, until He comes whose right it is, and I will give it to Him.”
Aren’t you looking forward to that Day when Jesus rules the world from the city of Jerusalem? He has earned the right to wear the crown via the cross.
In Ezekiel 22 Ezekiel gets specific by listing some of the sins the people were guilty of, including those that had made Jerusalem a “bloody city.” There were idols in their hearts, there was murder on their hands. They did not honor mother and father, oppressed the foreigners, mistreated the helpless orphans and widows; they despised the holy things, profaned God’s Sabbaths, and their slander was so severe, it led to bloodshed. The men slept with their father’s wife, and violated women in their impurity, there was actually a slew of sexual sin. Then of course the God of Mammon, the bribes, high interest, the extortion. They had caused the Day of Judgment to come (Ezekiel 22:4)
Ezekiel simply shares the truth – God’s judgment was inevitable!
Ezekiel 22:14 (NKJV) “Can your heart endure, or can your hands remain strong, in the days when I shall deal with you? I, the LORD, have spoken, and will do it.”
It’s sad that it came to this, but God saw the people He loved deteriorate to dross – worthless, rubbish, impure – they needed the refiners fire. We all do from time to time, so God “tests” us. At times it’s because we’ve done something wrong, and at times it’s because we’ve done something right, such as Job, who penned these words:
Job 23:10 (NKJV) “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.”
Much of the blame for the fall of Jerusalem, was due to the complete corruption of her so called “leaders.” Her princes were wolves, her prophets were false, and her priests had no discernment whatsoever, they did not live or give the Word.
Ezekiel 22:26 (NKJV) “Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.”
God looked for someone to stand in the gap. A leader the people would follow. Apparently He couldn’t find one, so God brought His judgment.
Ezekiel 22:30–31 (NKJV) “So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. 31 Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads,” says the Lord GOD.”
Bible Knowledge Commentary, “The corruption was so complete that when God searched for a man who could stem the tide of national destruction (build up the wall and stand … in the gap), none could be found. No one in a position of authority in Israel had the moral qualities to lead the nation aright. Obviously Jeremiah had these qualities, but he lacked the authority to lead the nation from the brink of disaster.”
Warren Wiersbe, “God is still looking for people who will not only build strong walls but become walls by standing in the gap in the hour of danger. In the history of Israel, God raised up “gap people” to stand in the breach and stay off the judgment. Moses and Phinehas were such men (Ps. 106:23, 30), as were Joseph (Ps. 105:17) and Samuel (1 Sam. 3). Had the people heeded the messages of Jeremiah, God would have spared them, but they refused to obey. Today, God needs “gap people” with the courage to stand for what is right, even if they must stand alone.”
Ezekiel 23
Ezekiel addresses the capital cities of the Northern and Southern Kingdoms. One judgment is past, the other is coming. The judgment of Samaria had already taken place, and the judgment of Jerusalem was just around the corner. Ezekiel likens these two cities to sisters, after all, they are blood-related, but the main reason he call them sisters is because of their similar behavior, they both rebelled against God in an epic way.
Ezekiel gave them new names. Samaria he named Oholah, which means “Her own Tabernacle,” for their first King, Jeroboam, created their own religion in the worship of the calf, which was only a rendition from the land of Egypt.
Jerusalem he named Oholibah with means “My Tabernacle is in her.” Jerusalem had the Temple and the truth of God, but tragically she did not follow the Lord, it was downgraded to religion, and she was eventually swept away in her sins.
Oholah was taken away by the Assyians in 722 B.C..
Oholibah would be taken away by the Babylonians in 586 B.C..
Bible Knowledge Commentary, “In Mesopotamia facial mutilation was a frequent punishment for adultery. A guilty woman would be rendered so grotesque that she would be forever undesirable to anyone else; she would be forced to bear her shame and guilt publicly. Similarly Jerusalem would be rendered unattractive to any more potential lovers.”
You would figure that Jerusalem would have learned her lesson from what happened to her sister, but she didn’t. She also committed adultery, and her sins were even worse!
It’s interesting how both of these “gals” lusted after the things of the world (Ezekiel 23:5, 11).
Pastor Chuck commented on this, “…we too can be attracted to evil in the world. And sometimes God will give it to us so we can discover how awful it really is.”
God would deal with His people. He began to alienate Himself from them (Ezekiel 23:18), He began to stir up those wicked people they “loved” to come against them.
Ezekiel 23:22 (NKJV) “Therefore, Oholibah, thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Behold, I will stir up your lovers against you, from whom you have alienated yourself, and I will bring them against you from every side.”
With all that’s going on in our lives, and all the temptations to sin, it’s tragically very easy to forget God. That’s what happened in Jerusalem…and they paid the price.
Ezekiel 23:35 (NKJV) “Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Because you have forgotten Me and cast Me behind your back, therefore you shall bear the penalty of your lewdness and your harlotry.’”
If the devil can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy. If he can’t deceive you, he’ll distract you. Next thing you know, you’ve forgotten God in the realm of religion, and even in the midst of the ministry. How we need to be so careful.
Their hypocrisy was so bad, that in the morning they would go and sacrifice their children to Molech, and then mosey on over to the Temple and offer their worship to the LORD, “on the same day!”
Ezekiel 23:39 (NKJV) “For after they had slain their children for their idols, on the same day they came into My sanctuary to profane it; and indeed thus they have done in the midst of My house.”
God is patient and long-suffering…but He will not strive with us forever. In His holy love He will chasten us, that we may know He is the Lord (Ezekiel 23:49).
Warren Wiersbe, “In the end, our sins punish us, and we learn afresh that He is the Lord (Ezekiel 23:49). God wants single-hearted devotion from His bride (2 Corinthians 11:1–4; James 4:1–10).”
Ezekiel 24–26
God gives to us the precise day when the third Babylonian siege began, in the ninth year of Ezekiel’s captivity, on the tenth month, on the tenth day. The false prophets said this day would never come, but Ezekiel had been warning them all along. The people of Jerusalem were likened to meat in a pot, bones and all, with the fire turned up, covered by scum.
Ezekiel 24:6 (NLT) “Now this is what the Sovereign LORD says: ‘What sorrow awaits Jerusalem, the city of murderers! She is a cooking pot whose corruption can’t be cleaned out. Take the meat out in random order, for no piece is better than another.’”
In the Levitical law, the blood of the sacrifice was to be covered with dirt (Leviticus 17:13), but the people disobeyed, they were a bloody city in every way.
Bible Knowledge Commentary, “The cause for the dispersion was repeated (Ezekiel 24:7–8): bloodshed poured out openly on rocks, not…where the dust would cover it. Jerusalem had shed innocent blood and had not even bothered to hide her crimes. That blood was crying out, figuratively speaking, for vengeance (cf. Genesis 4:10; Leviticus 17:13–14; Job 16:18). Because Jerusalem had openly shed the blood of others, God would openly shed her blood on the bare rock.”
It’s heartbreaking to read about the death of Ezekiel’s wife, she was his “dearest treasure” (Ezekiel 24:16 NLT). But Ezekiel was not allowed to mourn or weep over his wife. This would serve as an illustration to the Jews, that when the Temple was profaned and destroyed, and the citizens of Jerusalem were slaughtered, the people would feel pain inexpressible…so many loved ones – dead. The shock and fact that EVERYONE was hurting, that no one was exempt from the agony, made any mourning insufficient.
Ezekiel was a prophet who only spoke when God told him to speak or allowed him to speak. Apparently there was a time of silence that was broken in Ezekiel 24:27 (see also Ezekiel 3:26; 33:22).
In Ezekiel 25 we have God’s judgment pronounced on the nations of Ammon, Moab, and Edom.
Ammon actually clapped their hands, stomped their feet, and rejoiced in their heart when the Jews were judged (Ezkiel 25:6).
Moab and Edom (Seir) interpreted Judah’s judgment to mean that they were like all the nations, meaning that the LORD their God was nothing special (Ezekiel 25:8). How wrong they were!
Bible Knowledge Commentary, “In their scorn Moab and Edom were denying God’s promises to Israel. By minimizing Judah’s position of centrality among the nations, they were profaning the name of God who had promised Judah that position.”
Edom also had a “history” of conflict with Israel beginning in the early days when they refused to allow Israel to cross through their land (Numbers 20:14-21). They became a vassal state under David and Solomon, but eventually rebelled (2 Kings 8:20-22) and fought to control various caravan routes. The last straw would be in 588 B.C., Edom then assisted Babylon in their siege upon Judah. God was furious over this and Edom would experience the vengeance of God (see also Psalm 137:7).
Ezekiel 26 describes in incredible detail the judgment of Tyre.
This is such an important prophecy I’ll let Halley’s Bible Handbook give you the details:
Halley’s Bible Handbook, “A prophecy of Nebuchadnezzar’s siege and Tyre’s permanent desolation. The following year, in 585 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Tyre. It took him 13 years to conquer the city.
Tyre, located 12 miles north of the Israeli-Lebanese border, was a double city; part of it was built on an island, part on the mainland, in a fertile and well-watered plain at the western foot of the Lebanon mountain range. It was the great maritime power of the ancient world and reached its zenith from the 12th to the 6th centuries B.C., with colonies on the north and west coasts of Africa, in Spain, and in Britain. Tyre controlled the commerce of the Mediterranean—the wares of all nations passed through its port. It was a city renowned for its splendor and fabulous wealth.
With Nebuchadnezzar’s conquest, Tyre ceased to be an independent power. It was later subdued by the Persians, and again by Alexander the Great (332 B.C.). It never recovered its former glory and has for centuries been a “bare rock” where fishermen “spread fishnets” (Ezekiel 26:4-5, 14), an amazing fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophecy that it “will never be rebuilt” (Ezekiel 26:14, 21; 27:36; 28:26).”
Our God is an awesome God, who knows the end from the beginning, and every detail in between. Prophecies like this, remind us of that truth. I pray it would comfort your heart to know that God has plans for your life that are in the process of being fulfilled.
Our God is an awesome God, amazing in grace, but He is also holy and therefore must judge sin. We see that in this section. I pray we would come clean and flee all unrighteousness and the consequences therein. These nations had to learn the hard way, for the vast majority, it was way too late!
Ezekiel 27-28
Wow! As we read the description of Tyre, we see a nation of luxury, commercialism, commerce, goods imported from all over the world! Repeatedly we read of how this place was “perfect in beauty” (Ezekiel 27:3, 4, 11). But there was no moral compass. It’s tragic to read that they even bartered human lives (slaves) (Ezekiel 27:13). The multicolored apparel in Ezekiel 27:24 reminds us of Joseph’s coat of many colors, a luxury in those days (Genesis 37:3). But just as Joseph was stripped of his tunic, so Tyre would be stripped, but for different reasons. Tyre was about to be judged by God and the watching world would mourn – all that “stuff” would no longer be available for them to purchase to posses or sell. This place that they saw as perfect and invincible would be destroyed…we read yesterday of Tyre’s judgment in Ezekiel 26, something that took place in 585 B.C., and later at the hands of Alexander the Great.
When I read this chapter I can’t help but think of the USA or Amazon – all the merchandise, luxury, and materialism – gone. I also think of Revelation 18 and God’s future judgment on commercial Babylon.
Pastor Chuck said this, “Revelation 18 parallels this passage. God will finally bring an end to the commercialism that has preyed upon the weakness of man. The sea captains will stand afar off at the destruction of commercial Babylon, wailing and weeping because they have been made rich by the merchandising. But it will be destroyed – just as the sailors wailed and wept here in Ezekiel 27.”
In Ezekiel 28 we have the judgment upon the prince of Tyre (Ezekiel 28:1-10, the judgment upon the devil who at one time was a cherub (Ezekiel 28:11-19), and the judgment upon of Sidon.
The prince or king (the word literally means “the man at the top,”) of Tyre at that time was Ethbaal III, who ruled from 591 B.C. to 572 B.C. He claimed to be a god. It’s despicable to see how success, position, and riches can lead to such pride…but God promises to humble the prideful! God would slay this king and his claim to deity would be proven as absolute foolishness.
What would move a person to such a view of themselves? Part of the answer is the devil. I believe behind many of the world rulers today is Satan himself, and that’s what we see in our text as Ezekiel subtly transitions into the fall of Satan. He was the seal of perfection, he was in the Garden of Eden, he was the anointed cherub on the holy mountain, he was perfect in all his ways – until…iniquity was found in him. Isaiah 14 also describes the fall of Satan (Lucifer) revealing the fact that he wanted to share the glory with God, even overthrow Him. His heart was lifted up because of his beauty – but who gave him that beauty? Who made him?
How is it that people don’t see this, who God is – our Maker and Maintainer? Blind pride, hard hearts, foolish minds…they lie under the sway of the wicked one (1 John 5:19).
In Ezekiel 28:13 the prophet mentions the workmanship of their timbrels and pipes. Timbrels are tambourines, might the pipes be trumpets, or flutes? Some believe Satan may have been the worship leader in heaven, the gifted angelic musician. We can’t be certain, but it makes a lot of sense when you consider the way music has been used for such evil on planet earth, especially as we get closer to the end of time.
Sidon was 20 miles north of Tyre, and no doubt they were guilty of many of the same sins as her sister city. Her judgment would prove who the LORD was and would take away a people who irritated Israel like a brier or painful thorn.
The chapter ends with the regathering and restoration of Israel. O the infinite difference of blessings bestowed upon God’s people.
Ezekiel 29-30
As Ezekiel pens the first of seven prophecies against Egypt, Jerusalem has been surrounded by the Babylonians for just two days shy of one year (Ezekiel 24:1-2; 29:1). Jerusalem had once hoped for Egypt’s help, relying on this nation numerous times throughout her history, but God would strip that reliance away. As a matter of fact, God would judge Egypt to such an extremity, that this once powerful nation, would never recover its greatness again.
Ezekiel points directly to Hophra, the Pharaoh of Egypt at that time (he reigned from 589 to 570 B.C.) describing him as a monster, a man who claimed the Nile River to be his, even claiming to make the Nile River. God would humble him and his nation for their pride.
Ezekiel mentions the cities of Migdol and Syene in order to describe the extent of the judgment. Although we don’t have any extra biblical records of the 40 years of Egyptian deportation, it is safe to assume this is what took place, since Babylon did conquer Egypt and deportation was their standard practice.
Egypt has never returned anywhere near the place she once was, in spite of such ambitions.
Bible Knowledge Commentary, “She tried to exert herself during the intertestamental period, but she was held in check by Greece, Syria, and Rome. Egypt’s political weakness would be a continual object lesson to Israel. She would look at Egypt and remember her folly of depending on men instead of God.”
Make no mistake about it, God wants us, His children, to trust ONLY in Him!
Ezekiel 29:16 (NKJV) “No longer shall it be the confidence of the house of Israel, but will remind them of their iniquity when they turned to follow them. Then they shall know that I am the Lord GOD.”
Seventeen years later, Ezekiel again describes Babylon’s plundering of Egypt; by now the prophecies against Tyre have been partially fulfilled (Ezekiel 29:17-21). The Babylonians had sieged the city of Tyre for 13 years; they’d worked hard in the process, but only gathered meager spoils. Apparently Tyre had shipped their treasures off. God was now “paying” the Babylonians for their labor at the expense of the Egyptians.
Although not in chronological order, the details of judgment upon Egypt continue tin Ezekiel 30, and not only Egypt, but also upon her allies. The Day of the Lord is near, indeed it is coming, then they shall know, God says “…that I am the LORD.”
Egypt’s idols, judged, her cities, leveled, her yokes, broken, “…her arrogant strength shall cease…” (Ezekiel 30:18). We get that visual of Pharaoh’s broken arm, unable to hold a sword, but the king of Babylon’s arm strengthened by God, defeating this once “undefeated” nation.
Ezekiel 30:26 (NKJV) “I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.”
How many people are in hell at this moment – who now know, the truth, justice, and existence of the God of the Bible? If only they had humbled themselves to look up, before it was too late.
God will deal thus, with every nation of the world – and the truth is the ultimate Day of the LORD can begin, any day now.
Ezekiel 31-32
Ezekiel continues his prophetic word against Egypt, he addresses the nation and its leader in chapters 29-32, as a matter of fact, Egypt is mentioned by name 48 times in the book of Ezekiel.
Warren Wiersbe, “This message was for Pharaoh, who thought his nation was indestructible. Assyria once had the same idea, but look what God did to her. God would rebuke Pharaoh’s pride, cut down his nation, and cast it into hell (Ezekiel 31:15, 17).”
We frequently see nations, and even people described in the Bible as trees. Egypt had grown tall with water from above and beneath. Egypt was a leader of nations. Egypt grew proud, her heart was “lifted up,” (Ezekiel 31:10) and therefore God would have to humble her and her king (pharaoh).
Eden is mentioned 3 times in this chapter. It’s tragic to see the extent of the fall, from paradise to the pit, all because of pride!
In Ezekiel 32, the emphasis seems to be on the PIT where Egypt and all other unsaved nations and people will end up when they die. The word “pit” is found 13 times in the book of Ezekiel, and 8 times in the Ezekiel 31-32 where he addresses Pharaoh and the Egyptians.
According to historical records this prophecy was given on March 3, 585 B.C., that would be two months after the news of Jerusalem’s fall reached the Jewish captives in Babylon (Ezekiel 33:21). All hope of Egypt helping Jerusalem was dead. This chapter is a lamentation, a passionate expression of grief and sorrow at the tragedy of Egypt’s fall to the absolute bottom…the pit, even referred to as “hell” (Ezekiel 32:21).
Ezekiel lets Egypt know, as well as all of us, that Egypt will not be alone in their agony. There is Assyria (Ezekiel 32:22), there is Elam (Ezekiel 32:24), there is Meschech and Tubal (Ezekiel 32:26), there is Edom (Ezekiel 32::29), there are the princes of the north, with the Sidonians (Ezekiel 32:30), and there are all the people from all of time who have rejected the covenant of their Creator, found ultimately in the Lord Jesus Christ.
As we study the Scriptures we find that all those who die apart from God’s grace have chosen their home. It begins in hell, but that’s just a holding tank for an eternal future in the Lake of Fire (Luke 16:19-31; Revelation 20:11-15). If you’re reading this and thinking, “God would never do that!” Or, “I don’t want to serve a God who would do that!” I pray that you would humble yourself to realize, you’re not God, He sets the standards. His holiness is something we can’t understand on this of time, but we will…one day. No one has to perish in hell or the Lake of Fire, all they need to do is believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31). Salvation – heaven is a gift freely available to anyone who wants it.
Allow me to close with a couple of passages to consider on this, and mention the fact that the next chapter (Ezekiel 33) is all about our duty as pastors, and the people of God to issue the warning.
Matthew 7:13 (NKJV) “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.”
2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV) “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
Ezekiel 33–34
A prophet, preacher, pastor or teacher who claims to be called by God must only speak the words God gives them to speak. If the people are headed for judgment they need to be warned, they need a watchman. Resembling Ezekiel 3, Ezekiel chapter 33 reiterates the fact that regardless of the response of the recipients, it is our responsibility to blow the trumpet, to sound the warning. If the watchman does NOT warn the people, their blood is on his hands, in other words, it’s as if he himself murdered them.
The Lord uses extremely strong language here:
If the watchman fails to warn and therefore the man doesn’t turn from his iniquity, “…he is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.” (Ezekiel 33:6b)
If the watchman DOES issue a warning and the man doesn’t turn from his iniquity, “…he shall die in his iniquity, but you have delivered your soul.” (Ezekiel 33:9)
“…deliever your soul.” Sounds seriously eternal to me!
That’s part of the reason James warned anyone aspiring to be a teacher of God’s Word:
James 3:1 (NKJV) “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.”
A watchman who doesn’t warn is like a dog that doesn’t bark when danger lurks. Is that possible? Absolutely! Isaiah wrote about these false prophets in Israel:
Isaiah 56:10 (NKJV) “His watchmen are blind, they are all ignorant; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.”
Some people mistakenly believe that God delights in the death of the wicked, but this can’t be further from the truth. In order for someone to perish they would have to step and trample over God’s dead body, ignore His resurrection, and discard the Bible. God wants everyone to be saved (2 Peter 3:9).
Ezekiel 33:11 (NKJV) “Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’’”
Ezekiel lays down some heavy truths in this chapter, including the way a righteous man can turn from his righteousness and how a wicked man can turn from his wickedness. God’s ways are perfectly fair in spite of accusations to the contrary! (Ezekiel 33:12-20)
Ezekiel also records the very day he heard the news of Jerusalem’s fall…his warnings all came to pass. God showed Ezekiel some specific sins of the people that led to Jerusalem’s judgment (Ezekiel 33:25-26).
Ezekiel also writes about the way many people come to hear the word of God without any genuine interest to live it! It’s heartbreaking to read.
Ezekiel 33:31 (NKJV) “So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain.”
Ezekiel 34 reveals one important factor that led to the fall of Israel and Jerusalem…their shepherds were not loving, leading, or feeding the flock. Ezekiel covers many of the different conditions of the congregants. Some are weak and need to be strengthened. Some are sick and need to be healed. Some are emotionally broken and need to be tended to. Some have fallen away and need to be sought after. They key to a nation is her spiritual condition…if only her Shepherds would have been faithful!
God would severely judge the false shepherds who were greedy and lazy.
God Himself would replace the shepherds. Some take David to be a literal reference in Ezekiel 34:23 in the Millennial Kingdom where he serves as a prince under the King of kings, the Good, Great, and Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Others see the identification of David as a reference to Jesus. One thing’s for sure, God’s people would be taken care of for they (we) really do belong to Him.
Ezekiel 34:31 (NKJV) “You are My flock, the flock of My pasture; you are men, and I am your God,” says the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 35–36
Ezekiel 35 records the prophetic judgment upon Mount Seir, upon a people primarily known as Edom. The Edomites were the descendants of Esau, Jacob’s brother, and although the two brothers worked out their differences personally, their descendants never did. Edom was angry, envious, and covetous for the land of Israel and Judah, therefore God turned it all around…and rather than Edom inheriting Israel’s land, the Jews would see the judgment of her enemies.
Ezekiel 35:10–11 (NKJV) “Because you have said, ‘These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will possess them,’ although the LORD was there, 11 therefore, as I live,” says the Lord GOD, ‘I will do according to your anger and according to the envy which you showed in your hatred against them; and I will make Myself known among them when I judge you.’”
God would judge Edom!
When we reach Ezekiel 36 the prophet transitions from judgment to blessing – this will carry on through the remainder of the book of Ezekiel.
Warren Wiersbe, “From this chapter on, the prophet focuses on reinhabiting the land, rebuilding the temple, and restoring the kingdom to the glory of God.”
The enemies of Israel rejoiced at her judgment, and they mocked the God of Israel, but the God of Israel is the true God, He therefore gets the last word. The events that Ezekiel now describe speak primarily of the last days.
We read in Ezekiel 36:5 of the way the nations of the world have taken the holy land to themselves throughout the ages. But for the sake of His own name, the LORD would ultimately restore the land back to Israel in such a way, that the Jews would multiply – their fruit would flourish. Today if you travel to Israel you see exactly what Ezekiel spoke of, it’s a Garden of Eden, they’ve transformed it from useless swampland to fruitful land. God has abundantly blessed Israel since its miraculous rebirth on May 14, 1948, they’ve returned to the land, setting the stage for the final events in world history.
It’s true that God has severely disciplined His children for their sins, but He has not destroyed them. He has scattered, but He has also regathered. Anyone with an open heart can simply look at the history of the nation of Israel and see their very existence today in the land is a sign of the times, showing to us (proving), that the God of the Bible is the one true God!
Ezekiel 36:33–36 (NKJV) “‘Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will also enable you to dwell in the cities, and the ruins shall be rebuilt. 34 The desolate land shall be tilled instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass by. 35 So they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.’ 36 Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that I, the LORD, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was desolate. I, the LORD, have spoken it, and I will do it.”
This was partially fulfilled in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah, but has primarily been fulfilled in our days.
Ezekiel 36:26-27 is still yet to be realized. Although there are some Jews who have been saved and entered into the New Covenant with Jesus as their Messiah, generally speaking, Israel still refuses to believe in Jesus. Half-way through the Tribulation Period their eyes will be opened.
Ezekiel 37–38
Ezekiel 37 is an amazing prophecy about the regathering of Israel into the land, and the life God breathes into otherwise dead, dry bones. No longer are the Jews divided into two nations (Israel and Judah), no, the two sticks have become one!
This was partially fulfilled in the past, events we read about in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, but this is primarily a reference to the present, and near future. Since the nation of Israel was “born-again” on May 14, 1948, 3 million Jews have returned to their homeland!
This is the beginning of the end of time. After the Rapture and half-way into the Tribulation Period, their “life” will take on new meaning, beyond national life, they will find Spiritual life as they embrace Jesus as their Messiah King.
David Jeremiah, “God Himself interprets the vision for the people. The whole house of Israel (the northern and southern kingdoms) had been ejected from its land and vast numbers of the people had died because of their rebellion, yet one day God would bring a remnant of His people back to the Promised Land. Then He would begin to prosper them, and finally He would bring about a nation wide revival in which He would restore their hearts to Himself (Romans 11:26-27). Ezekiel again describes the Messianic Kingdom of the Millennium, when Jesus Christ (referred to here as David my servant) will rule His people from Israel and enable them to live in peace and safety. Other nations will continue to exist, but only Israel will have the promise of the Lord’s sanctuary in their midst.”
Bible students are not certain on the when, and even all the whos of Ezekiel 38. This invasion of Israel from the north may happen before or after the commencement of the Tribulation Period.
More details on these nations are suggested by K-House, “The shifting geopolitical winds have once again raised the specter of Ezekiel’s “Magog” invasion of Israel. Ezekiel describes this ill-fated “band of brothers” as coming from the lands of: Magog—the Southern Steppes of Russia (former Soviet- Bloc countries); Meshech and Tubal—Turkey; Persia—Iran; Ethiopia—Southern Egypt, Sudan, Somalia; Libya—Libya (may also include Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia); Gomer—North-Central Turkey; Togarmah—Eastern Turkey.”
We see significant signs in our day-and-age, especially with the recent alliance of Russia and Iran (Persia), amplified by the latter’s desire to push Israel into the sea (annihilate the Jews).
But God will utterly defeat these invading armies and show the whole wide world who He is. This all takes place in the “latter years” (Ezekiel 38:8).
I’m amazed at the many military victories Israel has wrought since 1948, truly God has blessed this nation with wisdom and military might, but on THIS day, it appears the victory won’t be attributed to the fighter jets of Israel, it will be an earthquake of the Almighty, pestilence, flooding rain, hailstones, fire and brimstone, God’s intervention will be the only explanation.
Ezekiel 38:23 (NKJV) “Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.” ’
Some people wonder how an Arab/Muslim led coalition could possibly invade Israel today without the assistance of Israeli allies? There are a couple of possible answers to that question. One is that nations such as the United States will be too weak to put up a fight…and we do see our nation weakening, don’t we? We’re no longer the super-power we once were. The other possibility is that the nations will not support Israel, shifting even to an ANTI-Irsael stance. Tragically we see this taking place today, even our own nation’s support for Israel has waned. Anti-semitism is on the rise, especially among young people.
Some Bible students see the United States as the “young lion” spoken of here in Ezekiel 38:13. Comparatively speaking, we are relatively “young.” Protesting a bit verbally, but not willing to help, practically.
But that’s when God shows up. It’s been said that often times, “We don’t realize that God is all we need…until He’s all we have.”
Ezekiel 39:1–40:27
Ezekiel is commanded to prophecy against Gog, the leader of a coalition of nations who will be drawn in to attack Israel, but utterly defeated by God Himself. The LORD will flex His muscles and show His glory to Jew and Gentile alike. HIStory will be clear, that Israel was scattered because of their sin against God, regathered because of the grace and glory of God, and Israel’s invaders will be thoroughly defeated by the Lord their God. The God of the Bible, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – this is the one true God.
Ezkiel 39:22a (NKJV) “The house of Israel shall know…”
Ezekiel 39:23a NKJV) “The Gentiles shall know…”
We can’t know for certain, but there are some Bible teachers who believe that God’s judgment upon the invaders is somehow poisonous, even nuclear in nature which explains the reason for seven years of professional burials of the bodies.
God’s judgment will not only be on the invading armies in Israel, God will also judge the land of Magog (Ezkiel 39:6), revealing once again that He is the God who rules over all heaven and earth.
As we get closer to the end of time, we know that these are the days when God works spiritually in the people of Israel. He will do a New Testament work in the heart of the Jews. Their blindness (Romans 11:25) will be taken away, something we read in:
Ezekiel 39:29 (NKJV) “‘And I will not hide My face from them anymore; for I shall have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel,’ says the Lord GOD.”
Ezekiel 40 gives us a detailed description of a Temple. There are different views on this Temple:
1. A description of Solomon’s Temple .(no)
2. Some say its a goal for those who would return from captivity. (no)
3. The ideal temple that never has been and never will be rebuilt. (no)
4. Some say its figurative and symbolic. (no)
5. The Temple rebuilt for the restored Jewish people during the Millennial Kingdom. (yes)
“According to many Christian Bible scholars, the Fourth Temple (Ezekiel 40-45) will be “memorial” – a teaching center apparently to instruct men about the holiness of God and proper worship during the coming kingdom of Jesus on the earth. As sinful men and women continue to be born into the world in the millennium, the temple is supposed to remind everyone of the substitutionary death of Jesus on the cross, as the “Lamb of God,” some two thousand years earlier.” – http://www.templemount.org/ezektmp.html
Warren Wiersbe, “The city of Jerusalem and the temple had been destroyed, the land had been taken over by the Babylonians, and the people had been scattered or exiled. It was not a time of good news. But Ezekiel did what God’s people always must do in times of trial: he looked ahead to the glorious future God had planned. One day the scattered people would be regathered and the defiled people cleansed. The land would be restored to beauty and fruitfulness, and there would be a new city, a new temple, and a new priesthood serving the Lord in holiness.”
Ezekiel 40:28–41:26
Ezekiel continues to describe the future Temple that will be standing during the Millennial Kingdom. If you haven’t read yesterday’s description, I encourage you to check it out when you have a few minutes, it contains foundational information on this fascinating topic. (link)
The land for the sanctuary was approximately 1 square mile.
We read what sounds like blueprints for the Gateways of the Inner Court, the Vestibule, and the Altar for sacrifices in remembrance of Christ’s redemption.
“As sinful men and women continue to be born into the world in the millennium, the temple is supposed to remind everyone of the substitutionary death of Jesus on the cross, as the “Lamb of God,” some two thousand years earlier.” – http://www.templemount.org/ezektmp.html
There are chambers for singers and priests who are the descendants of Zadok. The walls of the sanctuary were thick, but the sanctuary itself is not too large, only 70-feet long and 35-feet wide. Ezekiel closes this section with the building at the western end and the dimensions and design in the Temple area.
Ezekiel 41:15b–18 (NLT) “The sanctuary, the inner room, and the entry room of the Temple 16 were all paneled with wood, as were the frames of the recessed windows. The inner walls of the Temple were paneled with wood above and below the windows. 17 The space above the door leading into the inner room, and its walls inside and out, were also paneled. 18 All the walls were decorated with carvings of cherubim, each with two faces, and there was a carving of a palm tree between each of the cherubim.”
Palm trees were regarded as symbols of joy, triumph, and political independence. The cherubim remind us of heaven, holiness, and God’s work of salvation.
We weren’t there to enjoy the Temple of Solomon, or the Temple rebuilt in the days of Zerubbabel and the return of the Jews (Ezra 1-6). Nor will we be here when Israel rebuilds her Temple which will be standing during the Tribulation Period. But we will enjoy this Temple in the Millennial Kingdom, and we will be in awe and wonder.
Below is some information I’ve found to be helpful as your “browse” through Ezekiel’s description:
ReferenceExplanation (ESV Study Bible Notes)
A Ezekiel 41:4 – The “Most Holy Place.”
B Ezekiel 41:3 – The inner room of the temple.
C Ezekiel 42:2 – The entrance to the temple.
D Ezekiel 43:13–17 – The imposing altar; although the number of stairs is not given, the entire altar structure is about 16 feet (4.9 m) tall, so many steps would have been required. This area of the inner court was accessible only by priests–not even the prince was permitted entry.
E Ezekiel 40:46 – Chamber for Zadokite priests.
F Ezekiel 40:45 – Chamber for “priests who have charge of the temple.”
G Ezekiel 40:17–19 – The outer court, with its 30 chambers in the outer wall (40:17).
H Ezekiel 46:21–24 – The temple “kitchens,” one in each corner of the outer court.
I Ezekiel 40:17 – The 30 outer chambers.
J Ezekiel 46:2 – The “prince’s gate”: from its threshold he worships on each Sabbath while the priests bring the offerings into the inner court.
K Ezekiel 43:1 – The main east gate, through which “the glory of the God of Israel” returns to his temple (cf. 10:19; 11:22–23).
Reference Explanation (ESV Study Bible Notes)
1 Ezekiel 40:6 – The eastern (main) gate begins the tour; the E–W axis of the temple should be noted; if a line is drawn from the east gate to the Most Holy Place, there are a sequence of three elevations, as the space in the inner temple becomes increasingly constricted.
2 Ezekiel 40:17 – From this vantage point in the outer court, Ezekiel is shown the main features of this “plaza” area.
3 Ezekiel 40:20 – The northern-facing gate.
4 Ezekiel 40:24 – En route to the southern-facing gate, no details are given of the outer facade of the inner court; the architectural details of this area must remain speculative.
5 Ezekiel 40:28 – Ezekiel’s entry to the inner court is by way of its south gate . . .
6 Ezekiel 40:32 – . . . then to the east gate (past the imposing altar, not yet described) . . .
7 Ezekiel 40:35 – . . . and on to the north gate, which includes areas for handling sacrificial animals.
8 Ezekiel 40:48; 41:1 – Ezekiel approaches the inner temple structure itself, first describing its entrance; he is then stationed outside the entrance while his guide first measures its interior, then the exterior.
9 42:1 – They exit the inner court through its north gate to explore the northwestern quadrant of the outer court.
10 Ezekiel 42:15 – Ezekiel and his guide leave the temple from the east gate by which they first entered. From this vantage point, Ezekiel was able to watch the return of “the glory of the God of Israel” moments later (43:1–5).
Ezekiel 42–43
Ezekiel continues to give us details on the Millennial Temple. The reasoning is twofold. First of all, the Jews needed the encouragement about their future freedoms and Temple in time, while they were in bondage in Babylon. Secondly, the Jews will need the encouragement about the future – during the Tribulation Period. They need to know, we win. The enemy may have destroyed the Temple past, and many will find themselves in the middle of Great Tribulation, but there is a certain certainty about the future that is glorious – yes, God’s people are saved and we will fellowship with Him – forever! Jesus said in:
John 16:33 (NKJV) “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Although the entirety of the law is not reinstated, some of it is, including the way the priests eat the holy things in holy chambers (Ezekiel 42:13). This meal was special, for it was as if they were sitting down and having an intimate meal with God Himself. For that reason they were required to change their clothes before entering anywhere near the common grounds (Ezekiel 42:14). These would be vivid reminders of the holiness of God, and the fearful privilege it is to serve the LORD as priests.
Leviticus 10:3a (NKJV) “And Moses said to Aaron, ‘This is what the LORD spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified.’’”
In Ezekiel 43 we have the revelation of the return of the glory of the LORD. Earlier we read that the glory of the LORD departed from Israel (Ezekiel 8:4; 9:3; 10:19; 11:23) but now we see the glory return. Some commentators believe that Israel has been, and will continue to be under certain aspects of God’s discipline, until this moment, when the glory of God returns in the Person of Jesus Christ Himself.
Pastor Chuck Smith, “When Jesus return He will descend on the Mount of Olives on the east side of Jerusalem, and His glory will fill the Temple.”
The vision here is similar to Ezekiel’s inaugural vision (Ezekiel 1:4-28; 43:3). Finally, the complete restoration, and even glorification of a nation!
The word to Ezekiel at this point was comforting…promising:
Ezekiel 43:7 (NKJV) “And He said to me, ‘Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever. No more shall the house of Israel defile My holy name, they nor their kings, by their harlotry or with the carcasses of their kings on their high places.”
The word to Ezkiel was also instructive; all these detail had been given to him to give to the people for their Temple one day in the Millennium, when they’ve completely repented and come to that place of receiving their promised Messiah.
Ezekiel 43:10–11 (NKJV) “Son of man, describe the temple to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the pattern. 11 And if they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the temple and its arrangement, its exits and its entrances, its entire design and all its ordinances, all its forms and all its laws. Write it down in their sight, so that they may keep its whole design and all its ordinances, and perform them.”
Ezekiel goes on to hone in on the altar, where the sacrifices would be offered, an altar that needed to be sanctified. Some wonder why sacrifices are being offered at all?
John F. Walvoord explains, “The answer lies in the fact that the Millennial sacrifices will constitute a memorial of Jesus death, much as observing the Lord’s supper is a reminder of His death. Also, just as the Old Testament sacrifices looked forward symbolically to Christ’s death, so the sacrifices of the Millennial Kingdom will look back in remembrance to his sacrifice on the cross.”
For a fuller treatise on the Temple it would be helpful to read the previous chapter commentaries (Ezkiel 40:1-27; Ezekiel 40:28–41:26).
Ezekiel 44:1–45:12
Since the Glory of God had entered through the east gate, no one other than the prince was allowed to enter this way. Many commentators would identify this prince to be King David, who would rule and reign with Christ (just like the rest of us) in the Millennial Kingdom. Others see the prince as a reference to the high priest in those days, different of course, from Jesus who is our Great High Priest. We know this prince in the book of Ezekiel cannot be in reference to Christ since he offers a sin offering for himself (Ezekiel 45:22) and he has children (Ezekiel 46:16).
Ezekiel goes on to describe those allowed to enter into the Temple, and the exclusivity of those priests allowed to serve in the Temple. These were areas where Israel had failed miserably in the past. The entire Trinity has a discussion about this…notice the word “Us”
Ezekiel 44:6 (NKJV) “Now say to the rebellious, to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “O house of Israel, let Us have no more of all your abominations.”
The house of God is to be holy! There is not a place in God’s palace for those living in unrepentant sin (see 1 Corinthians 5; Matthew 18:17).
The leaders in Israel had relinquished their leadership and passed the responsibility on to others – God indicts them for this (Ezekiel 44:8). When the house of Israel went astray, the leaders went astray with them, but shouldn’t the priests have kept their charge? The sons of Zadok were the only exception to this, they DIDN’T go astray when Israel did, so God allowed them to serve in His Temple. Their privileges and responsibilities are elaborated on in the remainder of this chapter.
Privileged:
Ezekiel 44:15–16 (NKJV) “But the priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from Me, they shall come near Me to minister to Me; and they shall stand before Me to offer to Me the fat and the blood,” says the Lord GOD. 16 “They shall enter My sanctuary, and they shall come near My table to minister to Me, and they shall keep My charge.
Privileged to have the LORD as their inheritance (Ezekiel 44:28)
Responsible:
Ezekiel 44:23–24 (NKJV) “And they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the unholy, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. 24 In controversy they shall stand as judges, and judge it according to My judgments. They shall keep My laws and My statutes in all My appointed meetings, and they shall hallow My Sabbaths.
The priests were not allowed to wear clothing that caused them to sweat, for God’s work should not be done by perspiration, but rather inspiration.
The priests in the Millennial Kingdom will be supported by the tithes and offerings of the people, even as we see in today’s church (1 Timothy 5:17-19).
Ezekiel 45 references the district sectioned off for the Temple of the LORD and the priests of the LORD. The land itself is 8 1/3 miles by 3 1/3 miles, which would include a section of land for the prince. Ezekiel mentions the princes in plurality, so perhaps if this is not in reference to David, it speaks of a rotation of high priests in those days – who are to rule in righteousness.
Ezekiel 45:9 (NKJV) “Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Enough, O princes of Israel! Remove violence and plundering, execute justice and righteousness, and stop dispossessing My people,’ says the Lord GOD.”
Ezekiel 45:13–46:24
During the Millennial Kingdom, the people will continue to bring various offerings in support of the priests (Ezekiel 45:13-17). As part of their spiritual maintenance the sanctuary will be “cleansed” each year with the blood of the sin offering. During the Millennial Kingdom at least 3 feasts will be kept, the Feasts of Passover, Unleavened Bread, and Tabernacles.
Not only will there be offerings and feasts, there will also be sacrifices. As mentioned previously, these sacrifices were commemorative in nature. In the Old Testament they looked forward to the cross, but ever since Calvary we’ve looked back to the cross. This will continue to be done, even in the Millennial Kingdom.
The manner of worship for the prince and the priests is covered in Ezekiel 46. There are many details, but in a general sense I noticed the significance of special times of worship daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, and even sporadically (Ezekiel 46:12). Not that our relationship with God is bondage to certain days of the year (Colossians 2:16-17), but we’ve transitioned from duty to devotion, from “got to” to “get to.” I see a picture of our daily devotions in:
Ezekiel 46:13 (NKJV) “You shall daily make a burnt offering to the LORD of a lamb of the first year without blemish; you shall prepare it every morning.
Ezekiel 46:15 (NKJV) “Thus they shall prepare the lamb, the grain offering, and the oil, as a regular burnt offering every morning.”
The burnt offering is a picture of complete consecration – something I should renew daily. The grain offering is a picture of service. How will I serve the Lord today?
I might be stretching it a bit, but when Ezekiel commands the people to exit a different way from where they came in, I like to see it as the Lord telling me that every time I “enter in” – I should leave different than when I arrived (Ezekiel 46:9).
During the Millennial Kingdom God protects property and sets up the inheritance laws to make sure that families are able to stay in their homes, that none would homeless and scattered (Ezekiel 46:18).
It’s interesting to note that there will be a sort of kitchen in the Temple precincts; this enables the priests to boil the meat and bake the grain offerings in a sanctified place and not in any way tempt or endanger the people who were not allowed to eat the offerings.
Ezekiel 47–48
There’s no doubt that the water that flows from the altar has both spiritual AND physical significance. How deep am I? Ankle deep? Knee deep? Waist deep? O that I would be overflowing in the living water of the Holy Spirit! (Luke 11:9-13; Ephesians 5:18)
Warren Wiersbe, “It’s tragic that too many linger in the shallows when they could be enjoying the depths.”
But this river of life also brings physical life wherever it flows, and during the Millennial Kingdom the fruit and life will be phenomenal. It’s what you would expect in a world not yet perfect, but under the rule of Jesus Christ.
May we not forget WHERE this river comes from, the altar where our Lord laid down His life. May we always remember the blessings are only because of the blood.
ESV Study Bible, “This aspect of the vision coheres with Ezekiel 34:25–31 in affirming that renewal is not just moral and does not just come to people but affects the entire natural world. Here, however, the water brings life not just to the “world” but to that part of it least capable of sustaining life. The influence of this river is found in Zechariah 14:8, but it extends into the NT as well, most pointedly in Revelation 22:1–2 near the climax of John’s vision of the new heaven, earth, and city.”
It’s wonderful to see, over and over again, how God keeps His promises.
Ezekiel 47:13–14 (NKJV) “Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘These are the borders by which you shall divide the land as an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph shall have two portions. 14 You shall inherit it equally with one another; for I raised My hand in an oath to give it to your fathers, and this land shall fall to you as your inheritance.’”
Israel will indeed have all the land allotted to them. In Ezekiel 47 we have the boundaries of the borders specified, all around, while in Ezekiel 48 we get the details for each tribe, as well as the priests, and the prince.
We definitely see similarities to the heavenly city of Jerusalem…after all, it’s getting closer in time! The reason we have actual measurements is because this WILL ACTUALLY HAPPEN! Here we read about the gates all having the names of the 12 tribes of the children of Israel – we read the same thing in Revelation 21:10-14, as well as the names of the 12 Apostles for each foundation. This should inspire us – – the Millennial Kingdom, and then Heaven, are not just destinations, they’re motivations.
And what’s the best portion in both of these places? Him – the Lord! Which is why Ezekiel closes his book in a perfectly appropriate fashion:
Ezekiel 48:35b (NKJV) “…and the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE.”
This is the compound name “YaHWeH Shammah.” If we’re blessed now with His perpetual presence, imagine what it will be like then!