The Instrument of God’s Judgment
June 26, 2020
Commentary
Ezekiel’s third message showed God directing the sword of Babylon against Jerusalem (vv. 18-23). In symbolic actions Ezekiel pictured God supernaturally guiding Nebuchadnezzar to Jerusalem to over-throw the city. God told him to mark out two roads for the king of Babylon to take. His choice was whether to head down the coastal highway and attack Judah and Jerusalem or to head down the Transjordanian highway and attack Ammon and Rabbah. God had all the signs point toward the coastal highway and Jerusalem. That would be where he decided to proceed. The rulers of Judah had pledged allegiance to Babylon, but they had violated their oath by rebelling. As Nebuchadnezzar set up his siege around the city, the people refused to believe he would succeed, but they were wrong. Since they had broken their covenant with Nebuchadnezzar (17:11-21), he would take them captive.
God then pronounced judgment on the people (v. 24) and the prince (vv. 25-27). Because of open rebellion, Jerusalem’s people would be taken captive. They felt secure in their city, but they would be forcibly torn from it and dragged in chains to Babylon. The profane and wicked prince of Israel was King Zedekiah. The right to rule in Israel was taken from him, and the land was destroyed. Ezekiel stressed that Israel’s throne was to be absolutely desolate. It will not be restored until He surrenders to what rightfully belongs to Him.
Ezekiel’s fourth prophecy about the sword was directed against the Ammonites, who thought they had escaped Nebuchadnezzar’s attack (vv. 28-32). Ammon and Jerusalem, though enemies, had joined forces against Babylon. When Nebuchadnezzar decided to attack Jerusalem, Ammon was relieved and happy. They were thankful that Jerusalem would suffer in their place. In fact after Jerusalem’s fall the Ammonites organized a coup that caused the death of Gedaliah, the governor of the land appointed by Nebuchadnezzar (Jer. 40:13-41:10).
Application
Just as God gave sign posts for Nebuchadnezzar to follow He will give me direction in the way I should go in my life if I seek Him and trust Him.
Ezekiel 21:18– 32 (NET)
18 The Lord’s message came to me: 19 “You, son of man, mark out two routes for the king of Babylon’s sword to take; both of them will originate in a single land. Make a signpost and put it at the beginning of the road leading to the city. 20 Mark out the routes for the sword to take: ‘Rabbah of the Ammonites’ and ‘Judah with Jerusalem in it.’ 21 For the king of Babylon stands at the fork in the road at the head of the two routes. He looks for omens: He shakes arrows, he consults idols, he examines animal livers. 22 Into his right hand comes the portent for Jerusalem—to set up battering rams, to give the signal for slaughter, to shout out the battle cry, to set up battering rams against the gates, to erect a siege ramp, to build a siege wall. 23 But those in Jerusalem will view it as a false omen. They have sworn solemn oaths, but the king of Babylon will accuse them of violations in order to seize them.
24 “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because you have brought up your own guilt by uncovering your transgressions and revealing your sins through all your actions, for this reason you will be taken by force.
25 “‘As for you, profane and wicked prince of Israel, whose day has come, the time of final punishment,
26 this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Tear off the turban; take off the crown! Things must change. Exalt the lowly; bring low the exalted!
27 A total ruin I will make it! Indeed, this will not be until he comes to whom is the right, and I will give it to him.’
28 “As for you, son of man, prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says concerning the Ammonites and their coming humiliation: “‘A sword, a sword drawn for slaughter, polished to consume, to flash like lightning—
29 while seeing false visions about you and reading lying omens about you — to place you on the necks of the profane wicked, whose day has come, the time of final punishment.
30 Return it to its sheath! In the place where you were created, in your native land, I will judge you.
31 I will pour out my anger on you; the fire of my fury I will blow on you. I will hand you over to brutal men, who are skilled in destruction.
32 You will become fuel for the fire— your blood will stain the middle of the land; you will no longer be remembered, for I, the Lord, have spoken.’”
Illustration: Not Where we Stand but the Direction we Are Moving
“I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving: To reach the port of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it–but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor." (Oliver Wendell Holmes).