Ezekiel will “preach” today, although God is his Coach!

Ezekiel chapter 22.

“Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Now, thou son of man, wilt thou judge, wilt thou judge the BLOODY city? Yea, thou shalt shew her all her abominations.” Verse 1, from the King James Version.

Thus begins the “bloodiest” chapter in the Book!

Yes, “blood” as a noun occurs 10 times here, and the adjective “bloody” once more. (Although Ezekiel’s Prophecy uses the words “blood” or “bloody” a lot, a total of 56 times, much more than Isaiah or Jeremiah. And Daniel does not use it at all!)

“The Bloody City!”

Alexandria, Babylon, Sodom?

No, not here anyway … JERUSALEM!!!

Why?

The “light” value she attaches to “life.”

“The city sheddeth blood in the midst of it, that her time may come.” Time of judgment, verse 3, where “sheddeth” means “to pour out, to spill.” Lots of blood! (Sounds like God “measures” the amount of innocent blood that any place wastes! Weighing it against the day of judgment!)

Looks to me like there is also “linkage” between this rampant “bloodshed” … and an accompanying sin into which Judah had fallen, “idol worship.” Verse 4: “Thou art become guilty in thy BLOOD that thou hast shed; and hast defiled thyself in thine IDOLS which thou hast made.” And such a nexus does exist, idol worship in those days often included “child sacrifice,” burning a baby alive to appease the god of the weather or of luck or of health! That would involve “bloodshed,” certainly.

Verse 9 likely refers to men who go to court as witnesses (and lie, commit perjury) in a capital case, helping convict a man (to be stoned to death) who was not guilty! “In thee (Jerusalem) are men that carry tales (lies, slander) to shed blood.” To (illegally) get possession of that innocent (but now dead) man’s land, for example! His farm!

Furthermore … the rich of Jerusalem have so taxed (charging wickedly exorbitant interest rates) the widows and other abjectly poor people … so much that: “They have taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion.” Verse 12, starved to death, “killed” via financial fleecing! (I wonder if anyone died from hunger last night, anywhere in our world, because they lost their job or home or health? Because nobody cared?) Yes, Ezekiel is counting starvation as “shedding” blood, since it was done deliberately … “to make someone else rich!”

Yes, God clearly knew of … “the dishonest gain which they had made, and at the blood which hath been (shed) in the midst of them.” Verse 13.

Then Ezekiel uses a “word picture,” not a flattering one either! He likens Jerusalem to the “dross” (the “slag”) the “impure filth” that is thrown way (skimmed off the top) when metals are purified!

“And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, the house of Israel is to me become DROSS: all they are brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are even the DROSS of silver. Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye are all become dross, behold, therefore I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem. As they gather silver, and brass, and iron, and lead, and tin, into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt it; so will I gather you in mine anger and in my fury, and I will leave you there, and melt you. Yea, I will gather you, and blow upon you in the fire of my wrath, and ye shall be melted in the midst thereof. As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye be melted in the midst thereof; and ye shall know that I the LORD have poured out my fury upon you.” What a metaphor, verses 17-22, Judah as “trash!”

For the sin of shedding innocent blood!

Even Judah’s Prophets, her “Preachers” have taken part in the treachery, verse 25! “There is a conspiracy of her PROPHETS in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; THEY have devoured souls; THEY have taken the treasure and precious things; THEY have made her many widows in the midst thereof.” If you make a lady a widow, you have killed her husband! Thousands of America’s so-called “clergy” have become abominable, too, in God’s Eyes! (As far as I am concerned, an abortion advocating preacher is a shedder of innocent blood!)

Another telling line about those false preachers: “They say; Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken.” Verse 28, liars, or at least deceived apostates!

Then a summary verse: “The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.” Verse 30, where any one of these wicked acts could have caused bloodshed.

God appreciates the value of Blood!

Oh, by the way: “The BLOOD of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1st John 1:7

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

One more thing. It looks like God wanted someone to “pray” for backsliding Jerusalem here. To “intercede” on her behalf. (Like Moses did for Israel once, Exodus 32. Or Abraham did for Sodom, Genesis 18.) God is talking, lamenting: “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it … BUT I FOUND NONE.”

Wow, not even one!

 

Every chapter in Ezekiel is an adventure!

And chapter 21 is no exception.

For example, the word “sword” occurs 15 times in the 32 verses of this little unit!

And in reality it’s “the Sword of the Lord” being depicted!

Many Bible teachers call this chapter “The Song of the Sword!”

Mind you, “sword” is a key word in Ezekiel, occurring about 89 times. That counts the plural forms, too, “swords.” (I just counted and chapter 32 may even surpass our chapter today, but only by a couple of instances.)

And the sword represents?

God’s Anger at Judah, for her ever-increasing sins.

Anger that results in judgment, catastrophic death to thousands.

This sword also (subsequently) represents the “sword” of Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar, God’s “rod” to so chasten Israel, Judah.

Sad thing here though … both the good and bad people will die! That’s often the case in war, invasion, antagonism!

Ezekiel reports: “And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel, and say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth MY SWORD out of his sheath, and will cut off from thee the RIGHTEOUS and the WICKED.” Verses 1-3, “his” sheath, a weapon being personified!

This tragedy is so bad, God commands Ezekiel to react with trauma, another “demonstrated” sermon!

“Sigh therefore, thou son of man, with the breaking of thy loins; and with bitterness sigh before their eyes.” Verse 6, crying and shaking, apparently uncontrollably!

Verse 12 intensifies Ezekiel’s duty. “Cry and howl, son of man: for it shall be upon my people, it shall be upon all the princes of Israel: terrors by reason of the sword shall be upon my people: smite therefore upon thy thigh.”

Wow, such terror!

By verse 18 King Nebuchadnezzar is all but named! He approaches Israel but stops (as in a “fork” in the road) … wanting to both go demolish rebellious Rabbath, an Ammonite stronghold … and rebellious Jerusalem, the Captical of Judah, of course.

And God intervened (made a decision for this mighty warrior) and brought the King of Babylon and his army to Jerusalem! At least to Jerusalem first!

This heathen king consulted his own gods even … and the Almighty clearly overruled them all! Here’s the story, King James Version: “Also, thou son of man (Ezekiel), appoint thee two ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come: both twain shall come forth out of one land (Babylon): and choose thou a place, choose it at the head of the way (split in the road) to the city. Appoint a way, that the sword may come to Rabbath of the Ammonites, AND to Judah in Jerusalem the defenced.” Verse 19-20, two “targets,” (By the way, “Rabbath” is today known as “Ammon” and is the Capital of Jordan!)

Watch Nebuchadnezzar’s methods of choosing which city to attack! It’s the only verse exactly like it in all the Old Testament. “For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: he made his arrows bright, he consulted with images, he looked in the liver.” Verse 21

They would write names (of enemies) on arrows. Then shuffle the arrows, picking which one to attack … as their gods determined! (Almost like rolling dice!)

Then he prayed (“consulted”) to his gods and goddesses individually! (Sounds confusing, doesn’t it? I’m thankful there is only ONE True God!)

Then he had his magicians, sorcerers, examine the livers of dead animals, seeing if they could discern any “guidance” there, foretelling the future. (Ancient diagrams of sheep livers have been found by archaeologists, teaching which areas of the liver, in deformed in any way, commanded certain behaviors!)

Wow!

And God said, due to Judah’s rebellion, “Nebuchadnezzar … Judah is next!”

(Peter was right. Judgment indeed does begin at the House of God! “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” 1st Peter 4:17)

So … here comes the Babylonian Army!

Then maybe even saddest of all, verse 26. “Thus saith the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high.” Here the noun “diadem” is “mitzsnepheth,” almost always translated as the “mitre” of the High Priest of Israel, 11 times in fact, of only 12 occurrences in the Hebrew Bible! God is removing the very Priesthood of Judah! And the Monarchy too, the “crown.” Our Lord is dismantling the Nation He so carefully built! Oh, the wages of sin!

And Israel will be in disarray … until Jesus comes!

At least that’s what I think verse 27 means! “I (the Lord God) will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until HE (the Messiah) come whose right it is; and I will give it HIM (JESUS).

What a chapter … Ezekiel 21.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Keep in mind, part of what Ezekiel wrote as “prophecy” (describing future events) … is now “history” (describing past events). But most of what remains for us … will be “prophecy,” pure and simple. Especially the last nine chapters of the book.

I am excited!

 

In Ezekiel chapter 20 the “elders” of Israel come to visit the Prophet, for at least the third time now! Chapters 8 (verse 1) and 14 (verse 1) relate the other occasions. But these men (like the Pharisees of Jesus’ Day) were rank hypocrites!

And on each of these visits, God rebuked them for their sins!

They came to “enquire” of the Lord, verse 2. But verse 3 records God’s response: “Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye come to enquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I WILL NOT be enquired of by you.” No response, nothing positive anyway!

Then God begins a review of Israel’s history, particularly her propensity to sinning. “Thus saith the Lord GOD; in the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am the LORD your God; in the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands.” Verses 5-6, goodness! God “found” the land of Canaan for His people! The verb “tur” means “to explore, to search as does a businessman!” What an “investment” God located!

But, and this I learn for the first time as a Bible student … “Then said I (the Lord) unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the IDOLS of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the ABOMINATIONS of their eyes, NEITHER DID THEY FORSAKE THE IDOLS OF EGYPT: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.” Verses 7-8, the “idols” of Egypt, I had always thought Israel behaved herself pretty well in that foreign Land (Egypt) so long ago!

But God delivered Israel anyway, miraculously extracting them from the clutches of Pharaoh … but WHY? “For His Name’s Sake,” not because of Israel’s faithfulness! Though verse 9 says the same thing, let’s read verse 14 here. “I (God) wrought (worked) for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.” He did this (Passover, Exodus) so the heathen would not blaspheme His Name! God treasures His “Testimony,” His “Glory!”

Israel did not honor God’s Word!

Nor His Sabbaths!

And they gave away His “gifts” (specifically the children, little boys and girls) to the devils, brutal child sacrifice to false gods and goddesses!

The point God is making is that Israel has been idolatrous … from her early days in Egypt then into the Wilderness and then (still) into the Land of Canaan! And such despicable behavior continued through all her time in that God-given Land! AND IT WAS STILL GOING ON (WITH THE CAPTIVES IN BABYLON) AS EZEKIEL WAS SPEAKING TO THIS BUNCH OF “ELDERS!” God had their “number” so to speak!

God even knew where these men would go after they left Ezekiel’s presence, that very day! “Then I (the Lord) said unto them (these elders), What is the high place whereunto ye go? And the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day.” Verse 29, with “Bamah” meaning “a raised place,” where idolatrous worship was held!

Like their forefathers! No better, if not worse. “Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye polluted after the manner of your FATHERS? and commit ye whoredom after their abominations? For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and SHALL I BE ENQUIRED OF YOU, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I WILL NOT BE ENQUIRED OF BY YOU.” Verses 30-31, pretty plain!

When God won’t answer!

The chapter ends with a twofold emphasis.

First, God is going to severely judge these men and the wicked people they represent. “Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein. And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.” Verses 47-48, fire symbolizing judgment.

But also, secondly … the day is coming when God will be able to bless Israel!

But after He has “purged out the rebels!” Verse 38 … “And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.”

Wow!

Seems like there is “repentance” in Israel’s future, even nationally! Then God promises … “And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I SHALL BRING YOU (BACK) INTO THE LAND OF ISRAEL, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers. And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and YE SHALL LOATHE YOURSELVES in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed. And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have wrought with you for my name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.” Verses 42-44, Revival!

But will these very “elders” repent?

These men sitting before Ezekiel?

No.

They even mock the man of God and the Lord he serves!

The chapter’s last verse: “Then said I (Ezekiel), Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?” Verse 49, where they are accusing Ezekiel of talking in circles!  Just being a “story-teller!” A silly babbler! (Some said the very same thing about Paul at Mar’s Hill!)

But, as time has proved and will continue to prove, God is always truthful and faithful and righteous!

Indeed!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Really Ezekiel chapter 19 needs three full lessons to explain its intricacies.

The whole chapter consists of a “lament.” That is, “a funeral dirge.” An “elegy,” some say. “Moreover take thou up a LAMENTATION for the princes of Israel …”  Verse 1, where “qiynah” (“to lament”) literally means “to chant, to wail, to cry and moan loudly.”

Immediately its first paragraph then discusses Judah, the Tribe that produced the Nation’s genuine kings. She is compared to a “lioness,” because Kings are often considered as “roaring lions.” Look: “What is thy mother? A lioness: she lay down among lions, she nourished her whelps among young lions.” Three of her “whelps” (meaning “young ones”) will be discussed in the chapter, will be lamented!

First … “And she brought up one of her whelps: it became a young lion, and it learned to catch the prey; it devoured men. The nations also heard of him; he was taken in their pit, and they brought him with chains unto the land of Egypt.” Verses 3-4, one of her sons (King Jehoahaz, by name) grew to maturity, assumed the Throne (he being godly King Josiah’s son), and became aggressive, sinfully so, brutal! “Devoured” means “to eat, consume, destroy.” But he was soon conquered and deported to Egypt! This literally occurred! (He only reigned 3 months, during 609 BC.) See 2 Kings 23:32-34 for more details.

Second … Judah had another “royal” son, King. “Now when she (Judah) saw that she had waited, and her hope was lost, then she took another of her whelps, and made him a young lion (a King). And he went up and down among the lions, he became a young lion, and learned to catch the prey, and devoured men. And he knew their desolate palaces, and he laid waste their cities; and the land was desolate, and the fulness thereof, by the noise of his roaring. Then the nations set against him on every side from the provinces, and spread their net over him: he was taken in their pit. And they put him in ward in chains, and brought him to the king of Babylon: they brought him into holds, that his voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel.” Verses 5-9, but King Jehoiachin this time! He, being oppressive and wicked, also reigned only 3 months! Deported to Babylon “in a cage,” says verse 9, by using the word “ward.”

Sad stories!

Ezekiel next changes “word pictures, metaphors.” Judah is now compared to a “vine.” Read with me: “Thy mother (Judah) is like a vine in thy blood (bloodline, heritage), planted by the waters: she was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters. And she had strong rods for the sceptres of them that bare rule, and her stature was exalted among the thick branches, and she appeared in her height with the multitude of her branches.” Verses 10-11, how God blessed Judah, again and again.

But … “But she was plucked up in fury, she was cast down to the ground, and the east wind (the Babylonian army) dried up her fruit: her strong rods were broken and withered; the fire (the City and Temple were burned) consumed them. And now she is planted in the wilderness (Babylon), in a dry and thirsty ground. And fire is gone out of a ROD (Zedekiah, her last king) of her branches, which hath devoured her fruit, so that she hath no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule.”

Yes Zedekiah cause Jerusalem to be demolished, by fire ….  because of his disloyalty, treason, rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon!

Three kings!

All wicked!

All dead, or soon to be!

Three life stories worthy of a funeral song, a lamentation.

Look at the last half of the chapter’s final verse: “This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.” The verb “shall be,” in Hebrew spelled “hayah” but as a future (imperfect) tense … tells us that … God wants this “sad song” to be sung again and again!

Another lesson on “the wages of sin!”

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Lamenting in Babylon … not a book title, but the truth about Judah for 70 long years!

Psalm 137 opens with that “mood” being quite obvious: “By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the LORD’S song in a strange land?”

Again, the wages of sin.

 

Ezekiel is such a “precise” writer!

And chapter 18 so beautifully arranged!

In it God is proving false a certain “saying” that had developed among the people of Israel.

The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying, What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying … “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge?” The first two of the chapter’s 32 verses.

God seems to be upset at such propagation of falsehood among the Israelites, likely (specifically) among the Jews already in captivity. In Babylon with the Prophet Ezekiel, by the river Chebar. “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.”

What does it mean?

The children are being “punished” (at least “miserably affected”) by something their fathers have done! (The children are paying, being whipped, for their fathers’ sins!)

Many Jews were using this “line,” essentially saying … “We have done no wrong! This “captivity” is not our fault! Our PARENTS sinned and God is judging US!”

“Wrong,” says the Lord!

Each son (or daughter) will be judged for HIS OWN or HER OWN sins!

God wants this proverb stopped! “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.” Ezekiel 18:3, where the noun “proverb” is “mashal,” meaning “a rule to live by,” to use as a “standard of conduct!” A guide, a governor!

Individual responsibility, that’s the Message of Ezekiel 18.

Then the Lord gives 3 examples, proving His Thesis.

One … if a Daddy in Israel is justified, lives a godly life (as a result of being “right” with God) … “He shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD.” Verse 9, the first example, the man is being judged by over a dozen precepts of the Law of Moses.

Want them listed?

Verses 6-14 … “And hath not eaten upon the mountains (worshipped false gods and goddesses), neither hath lifted up his eyes (prayed) to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour’s wife (adultery), neither hath come near to a menstruous woman (sanitary reasons), and hath not oppressed any (financially), but hath restored to the debtor his pledge (restored a man back his collateral on a recently paid loan), hath spoiled none by violence (no physical brutality), hath given his bread to the hungry (generous, not stingy), and hath covered the naked with a garment (relieved suffering, poverty). He that hath not given forth upon usury (excessive interest on loans), neither hath taken any increase (unfair exorbitant profit), that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity (separated from sin), hath executed true judgment between man and man (fair, impartial), hath walked in my statutes (obedient in his general behavior), and hath kept my judgments (a student of Scripture), to deal truly (not a liar); HE is just, HE shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD … “ Wow, God certainly knows how we live!

Now, example two … if that Daddy has a son! Read it carefully: “If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood (is wicked), and that doeth the like to any one of these things, and that doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten upon the mountains (goddess worship, licentious behavior), and defiled his neighbour’s wife (adultery), hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination (homosexuality, bestiality), hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase (crooked with his money) … shall he then live? HE SHALL NOT LIVE: he hath done all these abominations; HE shall surely die; but HIS BLOOD SHALL BE UPON HIM.” The boy will die for HIS OWN sins! He will not escape punishment because he had a  godly father! Ezekiel 18:10-13, again … “individual responsibility!”

Then scenario three … this being the son’s son, a grandson. (The wicked son’s boy!) “Now, lo, if he beget a son, that seeth (ponders) all his father’s sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like, that hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbour’s wife, neither hath oppressed any, hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, but hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment, that hath taken off his hand from the poor, that hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; HE SHALL NOT DIE FOR THE INIQUITY OF HIS FATHER … HE SHALL SURELY LIVE.” verses 14-17, carefully watch the capitalized statements.

So, in reality, the children DO NOT suffer specifically for their father’s and their mother’s wrongs, iniquities!

Case solved!

Well, not quite!

Ezekiel, near the end of the chapter, quotes these backslidden people again: “Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal.” God is not “fair,” in other words. His “judgments” are skewed! (Blasphemy, by the way, verse 25.)

But God comes back: “Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not YOUR WAYS unequal?” You are the wrong ones, erring Israel, stubborn people!

God does not delight in the death of the wicked! “For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” Verse 32, chapter’s end.

God, righteous altogether! (As in this Bible line: “The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.” Psalm 19:9)

God, never wrong!

Praise His Name!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Watch this too! It is exciting. In Revelation 14:13 it is implied that God takes pleasure in the death of a godly man! (After all, he is going to Heaven!) “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.”

But NOT in the death of an ungodly man! (He is going to hell, forever!) “Thus saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked.” Ezekiel 33:11

What a (loving) God we serve!