Perhaps this last part of chapter 24 is the most “touching” part of the whole Book, particularly as it concerns Ezekiel’s personal life. That’s an opinion, of course, and you must decide for yourself.
At any rate, the Prophet’s Wife dies in this chapter!
Remember when Sarai, Abraham’s Wife, died? (Genesis 23:2 … “And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her. Then 17 more verses follow, giving details of her burial!)
But Ezekiel knew his Wife would die, in advance! Suddenly, with a major stroke, and clearly unexpectedly as far as her general health was concerned!
Ezekiel 24:15-17 … “Also the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, behold, I take away from thee THE DESIRE OF THINE EYES (HIS WIFE) with a stroke.”
Cause of death?
A “stroke,” in Hebrew “maggephah.” Translated elsewhere in the Bible “plague” 22 times! Then “slaughter” 3 more times! It literally means “to smite” someone, and 5 times its root word is rendered “to put to the worse!”
God “took away” the man’s Wife! “Laqach” means “to fetch, seize, snatch,” amazing!
Then God (unusually so) forbids Ezekiel to mourn the death! “Yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down. Forbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead.”
What then did Ezekiel do?
In one of the greatest acts of absolute obedience recorded in Scripture, he did exactly what God asked! “So I spake (preached, taught) unto the people in the morning: and at even (sunset, night) my wife died; and I did in the morning as I was commanded (no crying, wailing).” Verse 18, Wow!
WHY would God ask this of Ezekiel?
He is using the man as a “sign” to the people of Judah. Read it: “And the people said unto me, Wilt thou not tell us WHAT these things are to us, THAT THOU DOEST SO? Then I answered them, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying …” Thus I can assuredly proclaim: A preacher not only “says” things for God via a pulpit … but also through the life he lives!
God Himself was (just like Ezekiel already did) about to “bury” the beautiful “Temple” in Jerusalem, to demolish and burn it. That structure which was the “desire of the eyes” of thousands upon thousands of Jews! “Speak 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.”
See the parallel, verse 21 above?
The loss of something precious?
Something beautiful?
With widespread death accompanying the tragedy, in Jerusalem’s case! (Not just one Wife, but many!)
And God did not mourn!
Sin is so hated by God that He must judge it, whatever the cost!
Neither would the citizens of Jerusalem mourn all those deaths! They themselves would be under enemy attack, fleeing from the fierce Babylonian army!
God states plainly … “Thus 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.”
That’s the story of the death of the Prophet’s Wife, and God’s rationale behind the tragic event.
And all this happens … “to the glory of God!” (“And when this cometh, ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.”)
Amazing!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
Some good news now … Ezekiel has been reunited with his Wife! Both are in heaven today, because of the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
Hallelujah!
I need some “input” on today’s unusual Lesson! Text me: 770-844-7627.
This too, God forbade Ezekiel any “public mourning” for his Wife, that’s clear. But I do not see where he was banned from weeping “in his heart!” In his “home!” Or am I just trying to “soften” the command?