082. IV. Final Prophecies Of Judgment (Ezekiel 20 to 24)
IV FINAL PROPHECIES OF JUDGMENT (Ezekiel 20-24) 1. The Secret of Jehovah’s Past Dealings with His People (Ezekiel 20:1-44) The occasion of the utterance (Ezekiel 20:1-4). About two years after my first vision of God, some of the elders came one day to inquire Jehovah’s will. I was at first impelled to refuse to receive them, for I knew how superficial was their devotion; but Jehovah bade me unfold to them the lessons of their history. The idolatry of the Hebrews in Egypt forgiven (Ezekiel 20:5-9). “When I chose Israel as my own people, making myself known to them in Egypt and promising them the delightful land of Canaan, I bade them forsake their primitive idolatry. This they would not do; yet for my name’s sake, I spared them. They were delivered from Egyptian thraldom, and in the wilderness I set before them laws and precepts of righteousness. Their refusal to obey the commands given in the wilderness (Ezekiel 20:10-17). These they ignored or broke, but again I could not bring myself to destroy them entirely. Their children, however, were as rebellious as their fathers. Their gross and repeated idolatries thereafter (Ezekiel 20:18-29). I threatened to scatter them among the nations and I allowed them to injure themselves with heathenish follies, but for my name’s sake I still spared them. But when they came to Canaan, they forthwith adopted the Canaanitish rites.[19]
[19] Ezekiel 20:29
Jehovah will now assert his sovereign rights (Ezekiel 20:30-44). “Now, O Israelites, do you think that I will countenance your persistence in idolatry? Must I look on passively while you worship manufactured gods? Nay! I will assert my sovereign rights and bring you again under my dominance. Idolators I will not tolerate in my land, but only those of you who serve me on Mount Zion. Thus will I be honored in the sight of the world. Then my goodness will cause you to repent of your evil ways and you will realize that I have dealt with you as befits the all-powerful and just Ruler of the universe.”
2. Jehovah’s Avenging Sword (Ezekiel 20:45 to Ezekiel 21:32) The fire about to devour Judah (Ezekiel 20:45-48). The news came to our community at Tel-Abib that the great king had started westward to inflict an adequate punishment upon his faithless vassals in Syria. I felt that Judah’s days were numbered and predicted that Jehovah was about to kindle in Judah an unquenchable, consuming fire, which would devour green and dry trees alike, scorching all onlookers because of its fierceness. The avenging sword about to slay (Ezekiel 21:1-5). The people laughed at my parable and failed to give sober heed to my warning. So Jehovah inspired me to present another, much more distinct and plain. “Jehovah is about to draw from the scabbard his avenging sword, which will slay all in the land—righteous and wicked alike. It shall not be replaced until it has done its work.” I was bidden to show signs of great emotion, as a suggestion of the paralyzing tidings soon to be heard. The prophet’s expressions of grief (Ezekiel 21:6-17). My passionate grief found expression in a wild sword song[20] concerning the keen and gleaming blade ready for use by the executioner. With horror I seemed to see the slaughter of the leaders and of the people of Judah. It flashed like the lightning, here and there, bringing universal destruction, according to Jehovah’s decree.
Nebuchadrezzar’s indecision settled in favor of Jerusalem (Ezekiel 21:18-27). By a symbolic action I pointed out who was to be the wielder of this sword. Marking out a road, which finally forked, I set up a sign-post, which indicated that one branch led to Jerusalem and the other to Rabbah of Amnion. At this parting of the ways stood Nebuchadrezzar, uncertain as to which city he should go. Consulting the omens, he selected Jerusalem. Alas, what sad results! a king discrowned, a city in ruins, everything in hopeless confusion! There can be no alteration for the better until the true Davidic king comes. The avenging sword of Ammon (Ezekiel 21:28-32). Another sword of vengeance—that of Ammon—seems to be unsheathed. Their diviners urge a raid against the helpless people of Jerusalem. “These visions of conquest, O Ammon, are vain. Put back the sword. In your own land Jehovah will administer the chastisement you deserve.”
3. The Indictment of Jerusalem (Exodus 22)
Jerusalem’s social crimes (Ezekiel 22:1-12). Realizing how false an idea of Jerusalem’s value men had, I held the mirror to her face. “O, bloody and idolatrous city, you deserve the doom which is coming upon you. Injustice, irreverence, oppression of the stranger and of the weak, profanation, lewdness, bribery, extortion—all these social crimes are practised and God is forgotten. With grief and horror Jehovah witnesses these enormities. Its certain punishment (Ezekiel 22:13-16). He will deal justly and firmly with you, even though he seems to put himself to shame in the eyes of the world.
It can serve only as a melting-pot (Ezekiel 22:17-22). “Jerusalem to-day is like a melting pot and Judah is like mixed metals, fit only to be tested in the fervent heat, that the pure silver may be made manifest. So will Jehovah purify his people. Its inhabitants wholly corrupt (Ezekiel 22:23-31). “For the nation is full of wickedness. It is unfruitful like a land without rain. All classes do evil—the princes are rapacious and violent, the priests are careless in performing their duties, the nobles are cheats, the prophets apologize for them all and give them support, while the people rob, oppress, and deceive. Not a man can be found who can really protect them. Jehovah has no option but to destroy the nation.
4. The Two Unfaithful Wives of Jehovah (Exodus 23) The two sisters (Ezekiel 23:1-4). To set forth more clearly the long continued infidelity of Samaria and Jerusalem to Jehovah, in their constant appeal to strangers for protection instead of to him, the prophet used again an allegory concerning two beautiful sisters, Oholah and Oholibah, who were, in their youth, wedded to Jehovah.
Samaria’s alliances with Assyria and Egypt, which ended in captivity (Ezekiel 23:5-10). Oholah, attracted after a while by the sturdy and warlike character of the Assyrians, deserted her husband and gave herself to them and to the Egyptians. At length he left her in their hands to insult and abuse according to their brutal disposition,
Judah’s alliances with Assyria, Babylon and Egypt (Ezekiel 23:11-21). Oholibah, her sister, did far worse. She, too, intrigued with Assyrians; but, in addition, had dealings with Babylonians, of whom she quickly wearied. When her husband would not receive her back again she turned to Egypt. Her severe punishment (Ezekiel 23:22-35). “Now, O Oholibah, your husband Jehovah will stir up against you those with whom you have had criminal dealings. They shall encompass and capture you, and expose your folly and shame. You have brought this calamity upon yourself. As your sister suffered, so shall you, for you have forgotten him to whom your loyal allegiance was due.
Additional details of their sin and punishment (Ezekiel 23:36-49). “Does anyone question the justice of this punishment? These sisters have been guilty of nameless abominations. They have broken every covenant. Their punishment shall be that of faithless women, for such wickedness must cease.”
5. The Tidings of the Siege of Jerusalem (Exodus 24)
Jerusalem a rusted kettle to be cleansed by fire (Ezekiel 24:1-14). For four years and a half I had been quietly conveying to my countrymen these messages of Jerusalem’s sure destruction, when, on the very day that Nebuchadrezzar began the siege of Jerusalem, Jehovah bade me announce to them the imminent catastrophe. Remembering how the conspirators within Jerusalem[21] had likened their stronghold to a kettle, which would keep its contents from the fire, I too adopted the symbol, but I indicated that the kettle, although full of choice portions of meat, was unfit for use, because it was covered, within and without, with rust.
[21] See page 44.
“What will Jehovah do,” I urged, “with a rusted kettle, whose foulness all can see? He will remove its contents, heap fuel on the fire and heat the empty kettle until it is cleansed from its impurity. Only judgment can purge the city of its blood guiltiness.”
Ezekiel’s manner of mourning fur his wife a symbol of the effect of the coming news upon his fellow captives (Ezekiel 24:15-24). No sooner had I delivered this message than a more difficult burden was laid upon me. “Mortal one,” said Jehovah, “I will suddenly bereave you of your beloved wife, but show no signs of grief, and mourn not in public.” That very night she died, and, with bursting heart, I obeyed the strange command. When my friends inquired the meaning of my unwonted action, I declared that the city and temple, so endeared by many associations to their hearts, were to be profaned, and their relatives, whom they loved, were to perish. So crushing would be the news that they would be incapable of expressing their grief.
Ezekiel at last recognized as Jehovah’s prophet (Ezekiel 24:25-27). At that time Jehovah’s servant, Ezekiel, would again be permitted to preach in public, and all would be convinced that he had truly spoken the mind of Israel’s God.