King James Version, with Nii Okai's journal notes · 11 notes
1Again in the ninth year, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2Son of man, write thee the name of the day, even of this same day: the king of Babylon set himself against Jerusalem this same day.
So after all the rebukes and warnings, the day had come. No more ambiguity, but a specific day has been mentioned as the day all this will be fulfilled.
Just like Abraham was promised, until a time came God was specific and said, according to this time of life.
Such is the nature 🏞 of our long suffering God.
So whiles Nebuchadnezzar was in real time setting himself up against Jerusalem, the prophecy of the Lord in real time was also taking place. This was at this time more than enough proof that the word of the Lord was true, and that that which was prophesied was now happening in real time before their very eyes.
But there was still time, time to repent and believe the Lord. I am sure some who believed sent messages to their brethren in Jerusalem to escape, for the end of Jerusalem was at hand.
Because we read in the book of Jeremiah how some fell to the side of King Nebuchadnezzar.
3And utter a parable unto the rebellious house, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Set on a pot, set it on, and also pour water into it:
Ezekiel was in exile.
Was he giving this prophecy to the hearing of the Israelites in exile, or he went back to the remnant and prophesied this to their hearing?
I think the former is true.
4Gather the pieces thereof into it, even every good piece, the thigh, and the shoulder; fill it with the choice bones.
5Take the choice of the flock, and burn also the bones under it, and make it boil well, and let them seethe the bones of it therein.
6Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the bloody city, to the pot whose scum is therein, and whose scum is not gone out of it! bring it out piece by piece; let no lot fall upon it.
7For her blood is in the midst of her; she set it upon the top of a rock; she poured it not upon the ground, to cover it with dust;
The people made the high places of the rocks a place to shed strange blood to their gods, a sin which could not be covered. Indeed, on the top of the rocks it remained hidden from men, but not from GOD, who is in the heavens.
From the heavens he could see their sin; it was not covered, it was exposed in the full glare of GOD and of spirits.
I can imagine GOD, who lives in the heavens and sees every man and city and civilisation, and from this vantage point sees the sins of the people in rearing up strange altars and offering blood upon them.
8That it might cause fury to come up to take vengeance; I have set her blood upon the top of a rock, that it should not be covered.
9Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the bloody city! I will even make the pile for fire great.
10Heap on wood, kindle the fire, consume the flesh, and spice it well, and let the bones be burned.
11Then set it empty upon the coals thereof, that the brass of it may be hot, and may burn, and that the filthiness of it may be molten in it, that the scum of it may be consumed.
This was purging to the utmost degree, both the content and the container.
Fiery hot 🔥 purging.
12She hath wearied herself with lies, and her great scum went not forth out of her: her scum shall be in the fire.
13In thy filthiness is lewdness: because I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee.
Judah's situation was bad; she was beyond scourging.
14I the LORD have spoken it: it shall come to pass, and I will do it; I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent; according to thy ways, and according to thy doings, shall they judge thee, saith the Lord GOD.
15Also the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
16Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke: yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down.
Hmm, sad 😶, but he was not to weep nor cry, for it was a prophetic symbol.
17Forbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead, bind the tire of thine head upon thee, and put on thy shoes upon thy feet, and cover not thy lips, and eat not the bread of men.
18So I spake unto the people in the morning: and at even my wife died; and I did in the morning as I was commanded.
Oh no... Why?
19And the people said unto me, Wilt thou not tell us what these things are to us, that thou doest so?
20Then I answered them, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
21Speak unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the excellency of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pitieth; and your sons and your daughters whom ye have left shall fall by the sword.
This answers my earlier question 🙋. This prophecy was to those in exile.
And indeed those in captivity had family who were still left behind, and now they too will be consumed and destroyed.
You know, I used to wonder the relevance of the prophecies of Ezekiel; why would GOD send Ezekiel to prophesy to the captives about their free brothers in Jerusalem?
It was because these people were blood, they were relations, so whatever happens to their family who were left behind in Jerusalem would also greatly affect them as well. Indeed, they could send messages to forewarn them.
GOD in his love did all he could to save his people and help them repent, but they would not.
22And ye shall do as I have done: ye shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.
23And your tires shall be upon your heads, and your shoes upon your feet: ye shall not mourn nor weep; but ye shall pine away for your iniquities, and mourn one toward another.
24Thus Ezekiel is unto you a sign: according to all that he hath done shall ye do: and when this cometh, ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.
25Also, thou son of man, shall it not be in the day when I take from them their strength, the joy of their glory, the desire of their eyes, and that whereupon they set their minds, their sons and their daughters,
26That he that escapeth in that day shall come unto thee, to cause thee to hear it with thine ears?
27In that day shall thy mouth be opened to him which is escaped, and thou shalt speak, and be no more dumb: and thou shalt be a sign unto them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.
In Ezekiel 3:26 to 27, he had been made mute by the Lord and could only speak when the Lord spoke to him to speak. Now that was to end here.