Daniel 2
KingCommentsDaniel 2:1
Israel’s Idolatry in the Wilderness
Despite their idolatry in Egypt, God redeemed His people (Ezekiel 20:10). He has led them out of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. There, at Sinai, He gives them His law (Ezekiel 20:11). If they keep His law, they will live (Leviticus 18:5). Among the provisions of the law, the sabbath holds a special place (Ezekiel 20:12). The sabbath is the day of rest and God gives this day of rest as a special sign between Him and His people.
Through the sabbath, Israel is set apart from all the nations in a special way. The sabbath is the sign that the LORD sanctifies them, that is, He thereby sets them apart from the other nations to be His people (Exodus 31:13-16). The exiles cannot keep many laws in Babylon because they have no temple there. Laws they can keep, for example, are the food laws – Daniel did so (Daniel 1:8) – and the sabbath.
However, the people show themselves unworthy of this special sign of their relationship with God and do not keep the sabbath (Ezekiel 20:13). After their disobedience in Egypt, their stay in the wilderness is also marked by disobedience. They scorn and violate the statutes and ordinances that the LORD has given for life. The book of Exodus and the book of Numbers provide many examples of this. The sabbaths, of which the LORD says again “My sabbaths” (Ezekiel 20:12), are profaned by them. This profanation is so great and gross that the LORD says He will pour out His wrath upon them and annihilate them.
The LORD must act for the sake of His Name (Ezekiel 20:14). His Name has been profaned by the people’s rebellion against Him. He cannot let their disobedience go unpunished. After all, He led Israel out of Egypt before the eyes of the nations to be His people. But they are not behaving as His people. Therefore, He must discipline them and put them to death, so that they will not come into the pleasant land, the glorious land, that He has given them (Ezekiel 20:15).
They have profaned Him, on the one hand, by rejecting His ordinances and profaning His sabbaths and, on the other hand, by attaching with their hearts to their stink gods (Ezekiel 20:16). Despite their continual deviation from Him, He spares them so that He does not totally destroy them in the wilderness (Ezekiel 20:17). As punishment for their deviation, the entire first generation of those He led out of Egypt must fall in the wilderness. However, He spares their children in order to fulfill to them His promises. Will they be better than their fathers who all perished?
Daniel 2:2
Israel’s Idolatry in the Wilderness
Despite their idolatry in Egypt, God redeemed His people (Ezekiel 20:10). He has led them out of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. There, at Sinai, He gives them His law (Ezekiel 20:11). If they keep His law, they will live (Leviticus 18:5). Among the provisions of the law, the sabbath holds a special place (Ezekiel 20:12). The sabbath is the day of rest and God gives this day of rest as a special sign between Him and His people.
Through the sabbath, Israel is set apart from all the nations in a special way. The sabbath is the sign that the LORD sanctifies them, that is, He thereby sets them apart from the other nations to be His people (Exodus 31:13-16). The exiles cannot keep many laws in Babylon because they have no temple there. Laws they can keep, for example, are the food laws – Daniel did so (Daniel 1:8) – and the sabbath.
However, the people show themselves unworthy of this special sign of their relationship with God and do not keep the sabbath (Ezekiel 20:13). After their disobedience in Egypt, their stay in the wilderness is also marked by disobedience. They scorn and violate the statutes and ordinances that the LORD has given for life. The book of Exodus and the book of Numbers provide many examples of this. The sabbaths, of which the LORD says again “My sabbaths” (Ezekiel 20:12), are profaned by them. This profanation is so great and gross that the LORD says He will pour out His wrath upon them and annihilate them.
The LORD must act for the sake of His Name (Ezekiel 20:14). His Name has been profaned by the people’s rebellion against Him. He cannot let their disobedience go unpunished. After all, He led Israel out of Egypt before the eyes of the nations to be His people. But they are not behaving as His people. Therefore, He must discipline them and put them to death, so that they will not come into the pleasant land, the glorious land, that He has given them (Ezekiel 20:15).
They have profaned Him, on the one hand, by rejecting His ordinances and profaning His sabbaths and, on the other hand, by attaching with their hearts to their stink gods (Ezekiel 20:16). Despite their continual deviation from Him, He spares them so that He does not totally destroy them in the wilderness (Ezekiel 20:17). As punishment for their deviation, the entire first generation of those He led out of Egypt must fall in the wilderness. However, He spares their children in order to fulfill to them His promises. Will they be better than their fathers who all perished?
Daniel 2:3
Israel’s Idolatry in the Wilderness
Despite their idolatry in Egypt, God redeemed His people (Ezekiel 20:10). He has led them out of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. There, at Sinai, He gives them His law (Ezekiel 20:11). If they keep His law, they will live (Leviticus 18:5). Among the provisions of the law, the sabbath holds a special place (Ezekiel 20:12). The sabbath is the day of rest and God gives this day of rest as a special sign between Him and His people.
Through the sabbath, Israel is set apart from all the nations in a special way. The sabbath is the sign that the LORD sanctifies them, that is, He thereby sets them apart from the other nations to be His people (Exodus 31:13-16). The exiles cannot keep many laws in Babylon because they have no temple there. Laws they can keep, for example, are the food laws – Daniel did so (Daniel 1:8) – and the sabbath.
However, the people show themselves unworthy of this special sign of their relationship with God and do not keep the sabbath (Ezekiel 20:13). After their disobedience in Egypt, their stay in the wilderness is also marked by disobedience. They scorn and violate the statutes and ordinances that the LORD has given for life. The book of Exodus and the book of Numbers provide many examples of this. The sabbaths, of which the LORD says again “My sabbaths” (Ezekiel 20:12), are profaned by them. This profanation is so great and gross that the LORD says He will pour out His wrath upon them and annihilate them.
The LORD must act for the sake of His Name (Ezekiel 20:14). His Name has been profaned by the people’s rebellion against Him. He cannot let their disobedience go unpunished. After all, He led Israel out of Egypt before the eyes of the nations to be His people. But they are not behaving as His people. Therefore, He must discipline them and put them to death, so that they will not come into the pleasant land, the glorious land, that He has given them (Ezekiel 20:15).
They have profaned Him, on the one hand, by rejecting His ordinances and profaning His sabbaths and, on the other hand, by attaching with their hearts to their stink gods (Ezekiel 20:16). Despite their continual deviation from Him, He spares them so that He does not totally destroy them in the wilderness (Ezekiel 20:17). As punishment for their deviation, the entire first generation of those He led out of Egypt must fall in the wilderness. However, He spares their children in order to fulfill to them His promises. Will they be better than their fathers who all perished?
Daniel 2:4
Israel’s Idolatry in the Wilderness
Despite their idolatry in Egypt, God redeemed His people (Ezekiel 20:10). He has led them out of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. There, at Sinai, He gives them His law (Ezekiel 20:11). If they keep His law, they will live (Leviticus 18:5). Among the provisions of the law, the sabbath holds a special place (Ezekiel 20:12). The sabbath is the day of rest and God gives this day of rest as a special sign between Him and His people.
Through the sabbath, Israel is set apart from all the nations in a special way. The sabbath is the sign that the LORD sanctifies them, that is, He thereby sets them apart from the other nations to be His people (Exodus 31:13-16). The exiles cannot keep many laws in Babylon because they have no temple there. Laws they can keep, for example, are the food laws – Daniel did so (Daniel 1:8) – and the sabbath.
However, the people show themselves unworthy of this special sign of their relationship with God and do not keep the sabbath (Ezekiel 20:13). After their disobedience in Egypt, their stay in the wilderness is also marked by disobedience. They scorn and violate the statutes and ordinances that the LORD has given for life. The book of Exodus and the book of Numbers provide many examples of this. The sabbaths, of which the LORD says again “My sabbaths” (Ezekiel 20:12), are profaned by them. This profanation is so great and gross that the LORD says He will pour out His wrath upon them and annihilate them.
The LORD must act for the sake of His Name (Ezekiel 20:14). His Name has been profaned by the people’s rebellion against Him. He cannot let their disobedience go unpunished. After all, He led Israel out of Egypt before the eyes of the nations to be His people. But they are not behaving as His people. Therefore, He must discipline them and put them to death, so that they will not come into the pleasant land, the glorious land, that He has given them (Ezekiel 20:15).
They have profaned Him, on the one hand, by rejecting His ordinances and profaning His sabbaths and, on the other hand, by attaching with their hearts to their stink gods (Ezekiel 20:16). Despite their continual deviation from Him, He spares them so that He does not totally destroy them in the wilderness (Ezekiel 20:17). As punishment for their deviation, the entire first generation of those He led out of Egypt must fall in the wilderness. However, He spares their children in order to fulfill to them His promises. Will they be better than their fathers who all perished?
Daniel 2:5
Idolatry of the Children in the Wilderness
After the old generation has fallen in the wilderness, the LORD addresses the word to their children (Ezekiel 20:18). He warns them not to follow the example of their fathers. He declares that He is the LORD their God and commands them to walk in His statutes and to keep His ordinances (Ezekiel 20:19). He commands them to sanctify His sabbaths, as He commanded their fathers (Ezekiel 20:20). Again, He speaks of the sabbath being a sign between Him and them and that by it they will know that He is the LORD their God.
Unfortunately, the children’s response is no different than that of their fathers. The children also rebel against Him (Ezekiel 20:21; Numbers 25:1-9). There is no question with them, either, that they are faithfully observing His statutes and ordinances. And again the LORD points out that keeping those statutes and ordinances means life (Leviticus 18:5). He wants them to live. So they deliberately choose death by not caring about it. Instead of sanctifying the sabbaths they profane them. Thereby they arouse God’s wrath. He says that in the wilderness He will accomplish His anger against them and kill them.
But God in His mercy withdraws His hand, which was stretched out against them in wrath, and does not annihilate them (Ezekiel 20:22). If He would kill them in the wilderness, His Name would be profaned before the eyes of the nations. Those nations could then say that He was unable to lead the people He led out of Egypt before their eyes also through the wilderness. Therefore, He wants to act differently with His people. He already swears in the wilderness that He will scatter them among the nations in all kinds of lands (Ezekiel 20:23; Leviticus 26:33; 39; Deuteronomy 28:36; 64).
As the reason for this scattering, He mentions their disobedience to His ordinances, their rejection of His statutes, and the profaning of His sabbaths (Ezekiel 20:24). This all led them to follow the same stink gods that their fathers followed. They are no better than their fathers. In response, God gives them over to their own will (Ezekiel 20:25). They choose their own statutes to live by and God gives them up to it.
The meaning of the phrase that the LORD gives statutes that are not good and ordinances by which they can not live, is that He gives His people over to their own statutes and ordinances if they will not obey Him. He lets them go on their self-determined path. God punishes His people by allowing them to do what they like to do (Acts 7:42-43; Psalms 81:11-12; Romans 1:24; 26; 28).
The gifts that the people offer to the idols, the LORD uses to pronounce them unclean (Ezekiel 20:26). They even sacrifice their children as gifts to the idols. On this, God’s wrath must come in full measure. The end of such depraved heathen practices is national devastation.
Even today, countless children are sacrificed to idols. We can think of the countless abortions that have been and are being done. How many children have not been aborted because the parents see children as an impediment to their personal enjoyment? The same is true when parents show their children a life that is full of greed, which is idolatry (Colossians 3:5), causing the children to turn away from the Lord and His way.
Daniel 2:6
Idolatry of the Children in the Wilderness
After the old generation has fallen in the wilderness, the LORD addresses the word to their children (Ezekiel 20:18). He warns them not to follow the example of their fathers. He declares that He is the LORD their God and commands them to walk in His statutes and to keep His ordinances (Ezekiel 20:19). He commands them to sanctify His sabbaths, as He commanded their fathers (Ezekiel 20:20). Again, He speaks of the sabbath being a sign between Him and them and that by it they will know that He is the LORD their God.
Unfortunately, the children’s response is no different than that of their fathers. The children also rebel against Him (Ezekiel 20:21; Numbers 25:1-9). There is no question with them, either, that they are faithfully observing His statutes and ordinances. And again the LORD points out that keeping those statutes and ordinances means life (Leviticus 18:5). He wants them to live. So they deliberately choose death by not caring about it. Instead of sanctifying the sabbaths they profane them. Thereby they arouse God’s wrath. He says that in the wilderness He will accomplish His anger against them and kill them.
But God in His mercy withdraws His hand, which was stretched out against them in wrath, and does not annihilate them (Ezekiel 20:22). If He would kill them in the wilderness, His Name would be profaned before the eyes of the nations. Those nations could then say that He was unable to lead the people He led out of Egypt before their eyes also through the wilderness. Therefore, He wants to act differently with His people. He already swears in the wilderness that He will scatter them among the nations in all kinds of lands (Ezekiel 20:23; Leviticus 26:33; 39; Deuteronomy 28:36; 64).
As the reason for this scattering, He mentions their disobedience to His ordinances, their rejection of His statutes, and the profaning of His sabbaths (Ezekiel 20:24). This all led them to follow the same stink gods that their fathers followed. They are no better than their fathers. In response, God gives them over to their own will (Ezekiel 20:25). They choose their own statutes to live by and God gives them up to it.
The meaning of the phrase that the LORD gives statutes that are not good and ordinances by which they can not live, is that He gives His people over to their own statutes and ordinances if they will not obey Him. He lets them go on their self-determined path. God punishes His people by allowing them to do what they like to do (Acts 7:42-43; Psalms 81:11-12; Romans 1:24; 26; 28).
The gifts that the people offer to the idols, the LORD uses to pronounce them unclean (Ezekiel 20:26). They even sacrifice their children as gifts to the idols. On this, God’s wrath must come in full measure. The end of such depraved heathen practices is national devastation.
Even today, countless children are sacrificed to idols. We can think of the countless abortions that have been and are being done. How many children have not been aborted because the parents see children as an impediment to their personal enjoyment? The same is true when parents show their children a life that is full of greed, which is idolatry (Colossians 3:5), causing the children to turn away from the Lord and His way.
Daniel 2:7
Idolatry of the Children in the Wilderness
After the old generation has fallen in the wilderness, the LORD addresses the word to their children (Ezekiel 20:18). He warns them not to follow the example of their fathers. He declares that He is the LORD their God and commands them to walk in His statutes and to keep His ordinances (Ezekiel 20:19). He commands them to sanctify His sabbaths, as He commanded their fathers (Ezekiel 20:20). Again, He speaks of the sabbath being a sign between Him and them and that by it they will know that He is the LORD their God.
Unfortunately, the children’s response is no different than that of their fathers. The children also rebel against Him (Ezekiel 20:21; Numbers 25:1-9). There is no question with them, either, that they are faithfully observing His statutes and ordinances. And again the LORD points out that keeping those statutes and ordinances means life (Leviticus 18:5). He wants them to live. So they deliberately choose death by not caring about it. Instead of sanctifying the sabbaths they profane them. Thereby they arouse God’s wrath. He says that in the wilderness He will accomplish His anger against them and kill them.
But God in His mercy withdraws His hand, which was stretched out against them in wrath, and does not annihilate them (Ezekiel 20:22). If He would kill them in the wilderness, His Name would be profaned before the eyes of the nations. Those nations could then say that He was unable to lead the people He led out of Egypt before their eyes also through the wilderness. Therefore, He wants to act differently with His people. He already swears in the wilderness that He will scatter them among the nations in all kinds of lands (Ezekiel 20:23; Leviticus 26:33; 39; Deuteronomy 28:36; 64).
As the reason for this scattering, He mentions their disobedience to His ordinances, their rejection of His statutes, and the profaning of His sabbaths (Ezekiel 20:24). This all led them to follow the same stink gods that their fathers followed. They are no better than their fathers. In response, God gives them over to their own will (Ezekiel 20:25). They choose their own statutes to live by and God gives them up to it.
The meaning of the phrase that the LORD gives statutes that are not good and ordinances by which they can not live, is that He gives His people over to their own statutes and ordinances if they will not obey Him. He lets them go on their self-determined path. God punishes His people by allowing them to do what they like to do (Acts 7:42-43; Psalms 81:11-12; Romans 1:24; 26; 28).
The gifts that the people offer to the idols, the LORD uses to pronounce them unclean (Ezekiel 20:26). They even sacrifice their children as gifts to the idols. On this, God’s wrath must come in full measure. The end of such depraved heathen practices is national devastation.
Even today, countless children are sacrificed to idols. We can think of the countless abortions that have been and are being done. How many children have not been aborted because the parents see children as an impediment to their personal enjoyment? The same is true when parents show their children a life that is full of greed, which is idolatry (Colossians 3:5), causing the children to turn away from the Lord and His way.
Daniel 2:8
Idolatry of the Children in the Wilderness
After the old generation has fallen in the wilderness, the LORD addresses the word to their children (Ezekiel 20:18). He warns them not to follow the example of their fathers. He declares that He is the LORD their God and commands them to walk in His statutes and to keep His ordinances (Ezekiel 20:19). He commands them to sanctify His sabbaths, as He commanded their fathers (Ezekiel 20:20). Again, He speaks of the sabbath being a sign between Him and them and that by it they will know that He is the LORD their God.
Unfortunately, the children’s response is no different than that of their fathers. The children also rebel against Him (Ezekiel 20:21; Numbers 25:1-9). There is no question with them, either, that they are faithfully observing His statutes and ordinances. And again the LORD points out that keeping those statutes and ordinances means life (Leviticus 18:5). He wants them to live. So they deliberately choose death by not caring about it. Instead of sanctifying the sabbaths they profane them. Thereby they arouse God’s wrath. He says that in the wilderness He will accomplish His anger against them and kill them.
But God in His mercy withdraws His hand, which was stretched out against them in wrath, and does not annihilate them (Ezekiel 20:22). If He would kill them in the wilderness, His Name would be profaned before the eyes of the nations. Those nations could then say that He was unable to lead the people He led out of Egypt before their eyes also through the wilderness. Therefore, He wants to act differently with His people. He already swears in the wilderness that He will scatter them among the nations in all kinds of lands (Ezekiel 20:23; Leviticus 26:33; 39; Deuteronomy 28:36; 64).
As the reason for this scattering, He mentions their disobedience to His ordinances, their rejection of His statutes, and the profaning of His sabbaths (Ezekiel 20:24). This all led them to follow the same stink gods that their fathers followed. They are no better than their fathers. In response, God gives them over to their own will (Ezekiel 20:25). They choose their own statutes to live by and God gives them up to it.
The meaning of the phrase that the LORD gives statutes that are not good and ordinances by which they can not live, is that He gives His people over to their own statutes and ordinances if they will not obey Him. He lets them go on their self-determined path. God punishes His people by allowing them to do what they like to do (Acts 7:42-43; Psalms 81:11-12; Romans 1:24; 26; 28).
The gifts that the people offer to the idols, the LORD uses to pronounce them unclean (Ezekiel 20:26). They even sacrifice their children as gifts to the idols. On this, God’s wrath must come in full measure. The end of such depraved heathen practices is national devastation.
Even today, countless children are sacrificed to idols. We can think of the countless abortions that have been and are being done. How many children have not been aborted because the parents see children as an impediment to their personal enjoyment? The same is true when parents show their children a life that is full of greed, which is idolatry (Colossians 3:5), causing the children to turn away from the Lord and His way.
Daniel 2:9
Idolatry of the Children in the Wilderness
After the old generation has fallen in the wilderness, the LORD addresses the word to their children (Ezekiel 20:18). He warns them not to follow the example of their fathers. He declares that He is the LORD their God and commands them to walk in His statutes and to keep His ordinances (Ezekiel 20:19). He commands them to sanctify His sabbaths, as He commanded their fathers (Ezekiel 20:20). Again, He speaks of the sabbath being a sign between Him and them and that by it they will know that He is the LORD their God.
Unfortunately, the children’s response is no different than that of their fathers. The children also rebel against Him (Ezekiel 20:21; Numbers 25:1-9). There is no question with them, either, that they are faithfully observing His statutes and ordinances. And again the LORD points out that keeping those statutes and ordinances means life (Leviticus 18:5). He wants them to live. So they deliberately choose death by not caring about it. Instead of sanctifying the sabbaths they profane them. Thereby they arouse God’s wrath. He says that in the wilderness He will accomplish His anger against them and kill them.
But God in His mercy withdraws His hand, which was stretched out against them in wrath, and does not annihilate them (Ezekiel 20:22). If He would kill them in the wilderness, His Name would be profaned before the eyes of the nations. Those nations could then say that He was unable to lead the people He led out of Egypt before their eyes also through the wilderness. Therefore, He wants to act differently with His people. He already swears in the wilderness that He will scatter them among the nations in all kinds of lands (Ezekiel 20:23; Leviticus 26:33; 39; Deuteronomy 28:36; 64).
As the reason for this scattering, He mentions their disobedience to His ordinances, their rejection of His statutes, and the profaning of His sabbaths (Ezekiel 20:24). This all led them to follow the same stink gods that their fathers followed. They are no better than their fathers. In response, God gives them over to their own will (Ezekiel 20:25). They choose their own statutes to live by and God gives them up to it.
The meaning of the phrase that the LORD gives statutes that are not good and ordinances by which they can not live, is that He gives His people over to their own statutes and ordinances if they will not obey Him. He lets them go on their self-determined path. God punishes His people by allowing them to do what they like to do (Acts 7:42-43; Psalms 81:11-12; Romans 1:24; 26; 28).
The gifts that the people offer to the idols, the LORD uses to pronounce them unclean (Ezekiel 20:26). They even sacrifice their children as gifts to the idols. On this, God’s wrath must come in full measure. The end of such depraved heathen practices is national devastation.
Even today, countless children are sacrificed to idols. We can think of the countless abortions that have been and are being done. How many children have not been aborted because the parents see children as an impediment to their personal enjoyment? The same is true when parents show their children a life that is full of greed, which is idolatry (Colossians 3:5), causing the children to turn away from the Lord and His way.
Daniel 2:10
Idolatry of the Children in the Wilderness
After the old generation has fallen in the wilderness, the LORD addresses the word to their children (Ezekiel 20:18). He warns them not to follow the example of their fathers. He declares that He is the LORD their God and commands them to walk in His statutes and to keep His ordinances (Ezekiel 20:19). He commands them to sanctify His sabbaths, as He commanded their fathers (Ezekiel 20:20). Again, He speaks of the sabbath being a sign between Him and them and that by it they will know that He is the LORD their God.
Unfortunately, the children’s response is no different than that of their fathers. The children also rebel against Him (Ezekiel 20:21; Numbers 25:1-9). There is no question with them, either, that they are faithfully observing His statutes and ordinances. And again the LORD points out that keeping those statutes and ordinances means life (Leviticus 18:5). He wants them to live. So they deliberately choose death by not caring about it. Instead of sanctifying the sabbaths they profane them. Thereby they arouse God’s wrath. He says that in the wilderness He will accomplish His anger against them and kill them.
But God in His mercy withdraws His hand, which was stretched out against them in wrath, and does not annihilate them (Ezekiel 20:22). If He would kill them in the wilderness, His Name would be profaned before the eyes of the nations. Those nations could then say that He was unable to lead the people He led out of Egypt before their eyes also through the wilderness. Therefore, He wants to act differently with His people. He already swears in the wilderness that He will scatter them among the nations in all kinds of lands (Ezekiel 20:23; Leviticus 26:33; 39; Deuteronomy 28:36; 64).
As the reason for this scattering, He mentions their disobedience to His ordinances, their rejection of His statutes, and the profaning of His sabbaths (Ezekiel 20:24). This all led them to follow the same stink gods that their fathers followed. They are no better than their fathers. In response, God gives them over to their own will (Ezekiel 20:25). They choose their own statutes to live by and God gives them up to it.
The meaning of the phrase that the LORD gives statutes that are not good and ordinances by which they can not live, is that He gives His people over to their own statutes and ordinances if they will not obey Him. He lets them go on their self-determined path. God punishes His people by allowing them to do what they like to do (Acts 7:42-43; Psalms 81:11-12; Romans 1:24; 26; 28).
The gifts that the people offer to the idols, the LORD uses to pronounce them unclean (Ezekiel 20:26). They even sacrifice their children as gifts to the idols. On this, God’s wrath must come in full measure. The end of such depraved heathen practices is national devastation.
Even today, countless children are sacrificed to idols. We can think of the countless abortions that have been and are being done. How many children have not been aborted because the parents see children as an impediment to their personal enjoyment? The same is true when parents show their children a life that is full of greed, which is idolatry (Colossians 3:5), causing the children to turn away from the Lord and His way.
Daniel 2:11
Idolatry of the Children in the Wilderness
After the old generation has fallen in the wilderness, the LORD addresses the word to their children (Ezekiel 20:18). He warns them not to follow the example of their fathers. He declares that He is the LORD their God and commands them to walk in His statutes and to keep His ordinances (Ezekiel 20:19). He commands them to sanctify His sabbaths, as He commanded their fathers (Ezekiel 20:20). Again, He speaks of the sabbath being a sign between Him and them and that by it they will know that He is the LORD their God.
Unfortunately, the children’s response is no different than that of their fathers. The children also rebel against Him (Ezekiel 20:21; Numbers 25:1-9). There is no question with them, either, that they are faithfully observing His statutes and ordinances. And again the LORD points out that keeping those statutes and ordinances means life (Leviticus 18:5). He wants them to live. So they deliberately choose death by not caring about it. Instead of sanctifying the sabbaths they profane them. Thereby they arouse God’s wrath. He says that in the wilderness He will accomplish His anger against them and kill them.
But God in His mercy withdraws His hand, which was stretched out against them in wrath, and does not annihilate them (Ezekiel 20:22). If He would kill them in the wilderness, His Name would be profaned before the eyes of the nations. Those nations could then say that He was unable to lead the people He led out of Egypt before their eyes also through the wilderness. Therefore, He wants to act differently with His people. He already swears in the wilderness that He will scatter them among the nations in all kinds of lands (Ezekiel 20:23; Leviticus 26:33; 39; Deuteronomy 28:36; 64).
As the reason for this scattering, He mentions their disobedience to His ordinances, their rejection of His statutes, and the profaning of His sabbaths (Ezekiel 20:24). This all led them to follow the same stink gods that their fathers followed. They are no better than their fathers. In response, God gives them over to their own will (Ezekiel 20:25). They choose their own statutes to live by and God gives them up to it.
The meaning of the phrase that the LORD gives statutes that are not good and ordinances by which they can not live, is that He gives His people over to their own statutes and ordinances if they will not obey Him. He lets them go on their self-determined path. God punishes His people by allowing them to do what they like to do (Acts 7:42-43; Psalms 81:11-12; Romans 1:24; 26; 28).
The gifts that the people offer to the idols, the LORD uses to pronounce them unclean (Ezekiel 20:26). They even sacrifice their children as gifts to the idols. On this, God’s wrath must come in full measure. The end of such depraved heathen practices is national devastation.
Even today, countless children are sacrificed to idols. We can think of the countless abortions that have been and are being done. How many children have not been aborted because the parents see children as an impediment to their personal enjoyment? The same is true when parents show their children a life that is full of greed, which is idolatry (Colossians 3:5), causing the children to turn away from the Lord and His way.
Daniel 2:12
Idolatry of the Children in the Wilderness
After the old generation has fallen in the wilderness, the LORD addresses the word to their children (Ezekiel 20:18). He warns them not to follow the example of their fathers. He declares that He is the LORD their God and commands them to walk in His statutes and to keep His ordinances (Ezekiel 20:19). He commands them to sanctify His sabbaths, as He commanded their fathers (Ezekiel 20:20). Again, He speaks of the sabbath being a sign between Him and them and that by it they will know that He is the LORD their God.
Unfortunately, the children’s response is no different than that of their fathers. The children also rebel against Him (Ezekiel 20:21; Numbers 25:1-9). There is no question with them, either, that they are faithfully observing His statutes and ordinances. And again the LORD points out that keeping those statutes and ordinances means life (Leviticus 18:5). He wants them to live. So they deliberately choose death by not caring about it. Instead of sanctifying the sabbaths they profane them. Thereby they arouse God’s wrath. He says that in the wilderness He will accomplish His anger against them and kill them.
But God in His mercy withdraws His hand, which was stretched out against them in wrath, and does not annihilate them (Ezekiel 20:22). If He would kill them in the wilderness, His Name would be profaned before the eyes of the nations. Those nations could then say that He was unable to lead the people He led out of Egypt before their eyes also through the wilderness. Therefore, He wants to act differently with His people. He already swears in the wilderness that He will scatter them among the nations in all kinds of lands (Ezekiel 20:23; Leviticus 26:33; 39; Deuteronomy 28:36; 64).
As the reason for this scattering, He mentions their disobedience to His ordinances, their rejection of His statutes, and the profaning of His sabbaths (Ezekiel 20:24). This all led them to follow the same stink gods that their fathers followed. They are no better than their fathers. In response, God gives them over to their own will (Ezekiel 20:25). They choose their own statutes to live by and God gives them up to it.
The meaning of the phrase that the LORD gives statutes that are not good and ordinances by which they can not live, is that He gives His people over to their own statutes and ordinances if they will not obey Him. He lets them go on their self-determined path. God punishes His people by allowing them to do what they like to do (Acts 7:42-43; Psalms 81:11-12; Romans 1:24; 26; 28).
The gifts that the people offer to the idols, the LORD uses to pronounce them unclean (Ezekiel 20:26). They even sacrifice their children as gifts to the idols. On this, God’s wrath must come in full measure. The end of such depraved heathen practices is national devastation.
Even today, countless children are sacrificed to idols. We can think of the countless abortions that have been and are being done. How many children have not been aborted because the parents see children as an impediment to their personal enjoyment? The same is true when parents show their children a life that is full of greed, which is idolatry (Colossians 3:5), causing the children to turn away from the Lord and His way.
Daniel 2:13
Idolatry of the Children in the Wilderness
After the old generation has fallen in the wilderness, the LORD addresses the word to their children (Ezekiel 20:18). He warns them not to follow the example of their fathers. He declares that He is the LORD their God and commands them to walk in His statutes and to keep His ordinances (Ezekiel 20:19). He commands them to sanctify His sabbaths, as He commanded their fathers (Ezekiel 20:20). Again, He speaks of the sabbath being a sign between Him and them and that by it they will know that He is the LORD their God.
Unfortunately, the children’s response is no different than that of their fathers. The children also rebel against Him (Ezekiel 20:21; Numbers 25:1-9). There is no question with them, either, that they are faithfully observing His statutes and ordinances. And again the LORD points out that keeping those statutes and ordinances means life (Leviticus 18:5). He wants them to live. So they deliberately choose death by not caring about it. Instead of sanctifying the sabbaths they profane them. Thereby they arouse God’s wrath. He says that in the wilderness He will accomplish His anger against them and kill them.
But God in His mercy withdraws His hand, which was stretched out against them in wrath, and does not annihilate them (Ezekiel 20:22). If He would kill them in the wilderness, His Name would be profaned before the eyes of the nations. Those nations could then say that He was unable to lead the people He led out of Egypt before their eyes also through the wilderness. Therefore, He wants to act differently with His people. He already swears in the wilderness that He will scatter them among the nations in all kinds of lands (Ezekiel 20:23; Leviticus 26:33; 39; Deuteronomy 28:36; 64).
As the reason for this scattering, He mentions their disobedience to His ordinances, their rejection of His statutes, and the profaning of His sabbaths (Ezekiel 20:24). This all led them to follow the same stink gods that their fathers followed. They are no better than their fathers. In response, God gives them over to their own will (Ezekiel 20:25). They choose their own statutes to live by and God gives them up to it.
The meaning of the phrase that the LORD gives statutes that are not good and ordinances by which they can not live, is that He gives His people over to their own statutes and ordinances if they will not obey Him. He lets them go on their self-determined path. God punishes His people by allowing them to do what they like to do (Acts 7:42-43; Psalms 81:11-12; Romans 1:24; 26; 28).
The gifts that the people offer to the idols, the LORD uses to pronounce them unclean (Ezekiel 20:26). They even sacrifice their children as gifts to the idols. On this, God’s wrath must come in full measure. The end of such depraved heathen practices is national devastation.
Even today, countless children are sacrificed to idols. We can think of the countless abortions that have been and are being done. How many children have not been aborted because the parents see children as an impediment to their personal enjoyment? The same is true when parents show their children a life that is full of greed, which is idolatry (Colossians 3:5), causing the children to turn away from the Lord and His way.
Daniel 2:14
Israel’s Idolatry in the Promised Land
With the recalling of the people’s idolatry in the wilderness and God’s judgment on it, the story of the people’s unfaithfulness is not over. All of God’s efforts to bring the people to repentance the people have answered with new unfaithfulness. Ezekiel is commanded to bring that to the people’s attention as well (Ezekiel 20:27). He is to tell them that they have blasphemed the LORD by acting treacherously against Him. They have taunted and insulted Him. The LORD now speaks of the time He brought His people into the land (Ezekiel 20:28).
He has sworn to bring them there. He did that in His faithfulness. However, there is no mention of any thanks from the people to Him for that. In their blindness, they think they are offering sacrifices to the LORD. But instead of worshiping Him in the manner prescribed by Him and in the place chosen by Him, they imitate the nations and bring “the provocation of their offering” to the idols in all sorts of places. In the term “the provocation of their offering” we hear the LORD’s pain over their conduct.
He addresses the people by asking them why they keep going to that high place (Ezekiel 20:29). He asks, as it were: ‘Is this the place where I want to be served?’ In this way He wants to get them to think about their foolish ways and to repent. However, they are no longer approachable for their bad behavior. The high place has been given the name “Bamah”, or “High Place”, and bears it “to this day”, that is, to the day that Ezekiel writes the book of Ezekiel. That name is thus a permanent reminder of their continued unfaithfulness. It indicates that the whole land, with its many high places, has become one great sacrificial place where sacrifices are made to idols.
The words “to this day” also apply in a spiritual sense. The high places in our lives are every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God. They are the deliberations of the human mind. This symbol of unfaithfulness still exists and is cast down when Christ is given dominion in our lives. These lofty places are thrown down when we listen to the teaching of Scripture. Then they are taken captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).
Daniel 2:15
Israel’s Idolatry in the Promised Land
With the recalling of the people’s idolatry in the wilderness and God’s judgment on it, the story of the people’s unfaithfulness is not over. All of God’s efforts to bring the people to repentance the people have answered with new unfaithfulness. Ezekiel is commanded to bring that to the people’s attention as well (Ezekiel 20:27). He is to tell them that they have blasphemed the LORD by acting treacherously against Him. They have taunted and insulted Him. The LORD now speaks of the time He brought His people into the land (Ezekiel 20:28).
He has sworn to bring them there. He did that in His faithfulness. However, there is no mention of any thanks from the people to Him for that. In their blindness, they think they are offering sacrifices to the LORD. But instead of worshiping Him in the manner prescribed by Him and in the place chosen by Him, they imitate the nations and bring “the provocation of their offering” to the idols in all sorts of places. In the term “the provocation of their offering” we hear the LORD’s pain over their conduct.
He addresses the people by asking them why they keep going to that high place (Ezekiel 20:29). He asks, as it were: ‘Is this the place where I want to be served?’ In this way He wants to get them to think about their foolish ways and to repent. However, they are no longer approachable for their bad behavior. The high place has been given the name “Bamah”, or “High Place”, and bears it “to this day”, that is, to the day that Ezekiel writes the book of Ezekiel. That name is thus a permanent reminder of their continued unfaithfulness. It indicates that the whole land, with its many high places, has become one great sacrificial place where sacrifices are made to idols.
The words “to this day” also apply in a spiritual sense. The high places in our lives are every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God. They are the deliberations of the human mind. This symbol of unfaithfulness still exists and is cast down when Christ is given dominion in our lives. These lofty places are thrown down when we listen to the teaching of Scripture. Then they are taken captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).
Daniel 2:16
Israel’s Idolatry in the Promised Land
With the recalling of the people’s idolatry in the wilderness and God’s judgment on it, the story of the people’s unfaithfulness is not over. All of God’s efforts to bring the people to repentance the people have answered with new unfaithfulness. Ezekiel is commanded to bring that to the people’s attention as well (Ezekiel 20:27). He is to tell them that they have blasphemed the LORD by acting treacherously against Him. They have taunted and insulted Him. The LORD now speaks of the time He brought His people into the land (Ezekiel 20:28).
He has sworn to bring them there. He did that in His faithfulness. However, there is no mention of any thanks from the people to Him for that. In their blindness, they think they are offering sacrifices to the LORD. But instead of worshiping Him in the manner prescribed by Him and in the place chosen by Him, they imitate the nations and bring “the provocation of their offering” to the idols in all sorts of places. In the term “the provocation of their offering” we hear the LORD’s pain over their conduct.
He addresses the people by asking them why they keep going to that high place (Ezekiel 20:29). He asks, as it were: ‘Is this the place where I want to be served?’ In this way He wants to get them to think about their foolish ways and to repent. However, they are no longer approachable for their bad behavior. The high place has been given the name “Bamah”, or “High Place”, and bears it “to this day”, that is, to the day that Ezekiel writes the book of Ezekiel. That name is thus a permanent reminder of their continued unfaithfulness. It indicates that the whole land, with its many high places, has become one great sacrificial place where sacrifices are made to idols.
The words “to this day” also apply in a spiritual sense. The high places in our lives are every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God. They are the deliberations of the human mind. This symbol of unfaithfulness still exists and is cast down when Christ is given dominion in our lives. These lofty places are thrown down when we listen to the teaching of Scripture. Then they are taken captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).
Daniel 2:17
The Verdict
Starting in Ezekiel 20:30, the verdict follows. Remembering the continued unfaithfulness of the fathers and their children, Ezekiel has to let his contemporaries hear his warnings (Ezekiel 20:30). Past generations have forsaken the LORD. The present generation must be warned not to do so. Ezekiel is to call them to account for their behavior, for it is similar to that of their fathers. They are defiling themselves in the same way and like them are playing the harlot by indulging in abominable idolatry.
The exiles to whom Ezekiel addresses the word have continued to commit the sins their fathers committed and for which the LORD has punished them. Will He then allow Himself to be inquired of them when they deliver their children to idols and defile themselves in a repulsive manner with all their stink gods (Ezekiel 20:31)? They can absolutely forget about that!
Anything that has come to their minds, which they have imagined that it should happen that way, will certainly not come about (Ezekiel 20:32). God knows their true intentions. He knows that they are bent on being like the nations and like the tribes of the lands and serving wood and stone like them. They have sunk so low that they are giving up all the privileges of Israel to serve the idols of the nations in their place.
Daniel 2:18
The Verdict
Starting in Ezekiel 20:30, the verdict follows. Remembering the continued unfaithfulness of the fathers and their children, Ezekiel has to let his contemporaries hear his warnings (Ezekiel 20:30). Past generations have forsaken the LORD. The present generation must be warned not to do so. Ezekiel is to call them to account for their behavior, for it is similar to that of their fathers. They are defiling themselves in the same way and like them are playing the harlot by indulging in abominable idolatry.
The exiles to whom Ezekiel addresses the word have continued to commit the sins their fathers committed and for which the LORD has punished them. Will He then allow Himself to be inquired of them when they deliver their children to idols and defile themselves in a repulsive manner with all their stink gods (Ezekiel 20:31)? They can absolutely forget about that!
Anything that has come to their minds, which they have imagined that it should happen that way, will certainly not come about (Ezekiel 20:32). God knows their true intentions. He knows that they are bent on being like the nations and like the tribes of the lands and serving wood and stone like them. They have sunk so low that they are giving up all the privileges of Israel to serve the idols of the nations in their place.
Daniel 2:19
The Verdict
Starting in Ezekiel 20:30, the verdict follows. Remembering the continued unfaithfulness of the fathers and their children, Ezekiel has to let his contemporaries hear his warnings (Ezekiel 20:30). Past generations have forsaken the LORD. The present generation must be warned not to do so. Ezekiel is to call them to account for their behavior, for it is similar to that of their fathers. They are defiling themselves in the same way and like them are playing the harlot by indulging in abominable idolatry.
The exiles to whom Ezekiel addresses the word have continued to commit the sins their fathers committed and for which the LORD has punished them. Will He then allow Himself to be inquired of them when they deliver their children to idols and defile themselves in a repulsive manner with all their stink gods (Ezekiel 20:31)? They can absolutely forget about that!
Anything that has come to their minds, which they have imagined that it should happen that way, will certainly not come about (Ezekiel 20:32). God knows their true intentions. He knows that they are bent on being like the nations and like the tribes of the lands and serving wood and stone like them. They have sunk so low that they are giving up all the privileges of Israel to serve the idols of the nations in their place.
Daniel 2:20
Lawsuit and Restoration in the Future
Because the people are so determined to be like the nations and like the tribes of the lands (Ezekiel 20:32), the LORD must confront them in His government (Ezekiel 20:33). He cannot let such deliberateness go unpunished and will, by His strong hand and outstretched arm, make them experience His wrath. They may think they can forsake Him, but He will not relinquish His claims on His people.
Added to that, He will know how to find them among the nations and in the lands to which they are scattered (Ezekiel 20:34). Even there, in their exile, He maintains His claims on His people. He will lead them out of exile to bring them into the wilderness of the nations. By this is meant His dealings with them in the time when they are delivered to the power of the nations. There He will enter into judgment with them (Ezekiel 20:35).
He will act with them just as He acted with their fathers in Egypt, the land that has been like a wilderness to them, a land of death (Ezekiel 20:36). He will act with them as a shepherd acts who passes his sheep under his rod at night to count them to see if one is missing and if there is not a stranger among them (Ezekiel 20:37). The law prescribes that every tenth sheep that passes under the rod, is for the LORD (Leviticus 27:32; Jeremiah 33:13). The ‘sheep’ of His people selected in this way the LORD then brings back into the bond of the covenant He has made with them.
He will remove the rebellious and transgressors from His own sheep, bring them out of the land of their exile, and then judge them (Ezekiel 20:38). They will think they are on their way back to the promised land according to the word of the false prophets, but they will not reach that land. They will perish along the way.
The LORD tells the house of Israel to just continue serving their stink gods (Ezekiel 20:39). After all, they have no intention of listening to Him anyway. At the same time, He tells them not to profane His holy Name any more with those stink gods. The same goes for His holy mountain, Mount Zion (Ezekiel 20:40). On that mountain is the temple and there He wants to be served with sacrifices.
It is the high mountain of Israel, where “the whole house of Israel” will serve Him, no one excepted. This is the new Israel of twelve tribes, the remnant, which will be all Israel, for the apostate multitude will have been judged. In the sacrifices then brought to the LORD, He will be pleased. His people there will willingly answer His request to bring Him the very best of all their sanctified gifts.
The people have then returned to God in their entirety, and a soothing aroma goes out from them to Him, in which He delights (Ezekiel 20:41). He has brought them back to Himself. The stench of the stink gods has been driven out. Their forsaking Him is over. They have been gathered by Him from the lands to which He had to scatter them as a result of their sins. The nations will see it and marvel at His ways with His people.
When they are back in the land, they will know that He is the LORD, the faithful God of the covenant, Who carries out His counsel right through all the deliberations of men (Ezekiel 20:42). The territory of Israel is the land about which He swore to their forefathers to give it to them. Then they will realize how much they have forsaken Him and wounded Him by despising what He has sought to give them (Ezekiel 20:43). They will loathe themselves. When we think about the history of Christianity and our personal history, it will also bring about a sense of loathing in us.
His people will be impressed again by Him, that He is the LORD, the God Who keeps and fulfills His promises. It will create in them a new admiration for His faithfulness (Ezekiel 20:44). They will be humbled by it and realize that all the blessings they may enjoy are due only to His faithfulness. For this course of action He has found a reason exclusively in His Name.
The same applies to us who belong to God’s people in this age. With us, too, for the sake of His Name, He has not done according to our evil ways and depraved deeds, as it was with the house of Israel. All the blessing we may enjoy is due only to His faithfulness.
Daniel 2:21
Lawsuit and Restoration in the Future
Because the people are so determined to be like the nations and like the tribes of the lands (Ezekiel 20:32), the LORD must confront them in His government (Ezekiel 20:33). He cannot let such deliberateness go unpunished and will, by His strong hand and outstretched arm, make them experience His wrath. They may think they can forsake Him, but He will not relinquish His claims on His people.
Added to that, He will know how to find them among the nations and in the lands to which they are scattered (Ezekiel 20:34). Even there, in their exile, He maintains His claims on His people. He will lead them out of exile to bring them into the wilderness of the nations. By this is meant His dealings with them in the time when they are delivered to the power of the nations. There He will enter into judgment with them (Ezekiel 20:35).
He will act with them just as He acted with their fathers in Egypt, the land that has been like a wilderness to them, a land of death (Ezekiel 20:36). He will act with them as a shepherd acts who passes his sheep under his rod at night to count them to see if one is missing and if there is not a stranger among them (Ezekiel 20:37). The law prescribes that every tenth sheep that passes under the rod, is for the LORD (Leviticus 27:32; Jeremiah 33:13). The ‘sheep’ of His people selected in this way the LORD then brings back into the bond of the covenant He has made with them.
He will remove the rebellious and transgressors from His own sheep, bring them out of the land of their exile, and then judge them (Ezekiel 20:38). They will think they are on their way back to the promised land according to the word of the false prophets, but they will not reach that land. They will perish along the way.
The LORD tells the house of Israel to just continue serving their stink gods (Ezekiel 20:39). After all, they have no intention of listening to Him anyway. At the same time, He tells them not to profane His holy Name any more with those stink gods. The same goes for His holy mountain, Mount Zion (Ezekiel 20:40). On that mountain is the temple and there He wants to be served with sacrifices.
It is the high mountain of Israel, where “the whole house of Israel” will serve Him, no one excepted. This is the new Israel of twelve tribes, the remnant, which will be all Israel, for the apostate multitude will have been judged. In the sacrifices then brought to the LORD, He will be pleased. His people there will willingly answer His request to bring Him the very best of all their sanctified gifts.
The people have then returned to God in their entirety, and a soothing aroma goes out from them to Him, in which He delights (Ezekiel 20:41). He has brought them back to Himself. The stench of the stink gods has been driven out. Their forsaking Him is over. They have been gathered by Him from the lands to which He had to scatter them as a result of their sins. The nations will see it and marvel at His ways with His people.
When they are back in the land, they will know that He is the LORD, the faithful God of the covenant, Who carries out His counsel right through all the deliberations of men (Ezekiel 20:42). The territory of Israel is the land about which He swore to their forefathers to give it to them. Then they will realize how much they have forsaken Him and wounded Him by despising what He has sought to give them (Ezekiel 20:43). They will loathe themselves. When we think about the history of Christianity and our personal history, it will also bring about a sense of loathing in us.
His people will be impressed again by Him, that He is the LORD, the God Who keeps and fulfills His promises. It will create in them a new admiration for His faithfulness (Ezekiel 20:44). They will be humbled by it and realize that all the blessings they may enjoy are due only to His faithfulness. For this course of action He has found a reason exclusively in His Name.
The same applies to us who belong to God’s people in this age. With us, too, for the sake of His Name, He has not done according to our evil ways and depraved deeds, as it was with the house of Israel. All the blessing we may enjoy is due only to His faithfulness.
Daniel 2:22
Lawsuit and Restoration in the Future
Because the people are so determined to be like the nations and like the tribes of the lands (Ezekiel 20:32), the LORD must confront them in His government (Ezekiel 20:33). He cannot let such deliberateness go unpunished and will, by His strong hand and outstretched arm, make them experience His wrath. They may think they can forsake Him, but He will not relinquish His claims on His people.
Added to that, He will know how to find them among the nations and in the lands to which they are scattered (Ezekiel 20:34). Even there, in their exile, He maintains His claims on His people. He will lead them out of exile to bring them into the wilderness of the nations. By this is meant His dealings with them in the time when they are delivered to the power of the nations. There He will enter into judgment with them (Ezekiel 20:35).
He will act with them just as He acted with their fathers in Egypt, the land that has been like a wilderness to them, a land of death (Ezekiel 20:36). He will act with them as a shepherd acts who passes his sheep under his rod at night to count them to see if one is missing and if there is not a stranger among them (Ezekiel 20:37). The law prescribes that every tenth sheep that passes under the rod, is for the LORD (Leviticus 27:32; Jeremiah 33:13). The ‘sheep’ of His people selected in this way the LORD then brings back into the bond of the covenant He has made with them.
He will remove the rebellious and transgressors from His own sheep, bring them out of the land of their exile, and then judge them (Ezekiel 20:38). They will think they are on their way back to the promised land according to the word of the false prophets, but they will not reach that land. They will perish along the way.
The LORD tells the house of Israel to just continue serving their stink gods (Ezekiel 20:39). After all, they have no intention of listening to Him anyway. At the same time, He tells them not to profane His holy Name any more with those stink gods. The same goes for His holy mountain, Mount Zion (Ezekiel 20:40). On that mountain is the temple and there He wants to be served with sacrifices.
It is the high mountain of Israel, where “the whole house of Israel” will serve Him, no one excepted. This is the new Israel of twelve tribes, the remnant, which will be all Israel, for the apostate multitude will have been judged. In the sacrifices then brought to the LORD, He will be pleased. His people there will willingly answer His request to bring Him the very best of all their sanctified gifts.
The people have then returned to God in their entirety, and a soothing aroma goes out from them to Him, in which He delights (Ezekiel 20:41). He has brought them back to Himself. The stench of the stink gods has been driven out. Their forsaking Him is over. They have been gathered by Him from the lands to which He had to scatter them as a result of their sins. The nations will see it and marvel at His ways with His people.
When they are back in the land, they will know that He is the LORD, the faithful God of the covenant, Who carries out His counsel right through all the deliberations of men (Ezekiel 20:42). The territory of Israel is the land about which He swore to their forefathers to give it to them. Then they will realize how much they have forsaken Him and wounded Him by despising what He has sought to give them (Ezekiel 20:43). They will loathe themselves. When we think about the history of Christianity and our personal history, it will also bring about a sense of loathing in us.
His people will be impressed again by Him, that He is the LORD, the God Who keeps and fulfills His promises. It will create in them a new admiration for His faithfulness (Ezekiel 20:44). They will be humbled by it and realize that all the blessings they may enjoy are due only to His faithfulness. For this course of action He has found a reason exclusively in His Name.
The same applies to us who belong to God’s people in this age. With us, too, for the sake of His Name, He has not done according to our evil ways and depraved deeds, as it was with the house of Israel. All the blessing we may enjoy is due only to His faithfulness.
Daniel 2:23
Lawsuit and Restoration in the Future
Because the people are so determined to be like the nations and like the tribes of the lands (Ezekiel 20:32), the LORD must confront them in His government (Ezekiel 20:33). He cannot let such deliberateness go unpunished and will, by His strong hand and outstretched arm, make them experience His wrath. They may think they can forsake Him, but He will not relinquish His claims on His people.
Added to that, He will know how to find them among the nations and in the lands to which they are scattered (Ezekiel 20:34). Even there, in their exile, He maintains His claims on His people. He will lead them out of exile to bring them into the wilderness of the nations. By this is meant His dealings with them in the time when they are delivered to the power of the nations. There He will enter into judgment with them (Ezekiel 20:35).
He will act with them just as He acted with their fathers in Egypt, the land that has been like a wilderness to them, a land of death (Ezekiel 20:36). He will act with them as a shepherd acts who passes his sheep under his rod at night to count them to see if one is missing and if there is not a stranger among them (Ezekiel 20:37). The law prescribes that every tenth sheep that passes under the rod, is for the LORD (Leviticus 27:32; Jeremiah 33:13). The ‘sheep’ of His people selected in this way the LORD then brings back into the bond of the covenant He has made with them.
He will remove the rebellious and transgressors from His own sheep, bring them out of the land of their exile, and then judge them (Ezekiel 20:38). They will think they are on their way back to the promised land according to the word of the false prophets, but they will not reach that land. They will perish along the way.
The LORD tells the house of Israel to just continue serving their stink gods (Ezekiel 20:39). After all, they have no intention of listening to Him anyway. At the same time, He tells them not to profane His holy Name any more with those stink gods. The same goes for His holy mountain, Mount Zion (Ezekiel 20:40). On that mountain is the temple and there He wants to be served with sacrifices.
It is the high mountain of Israel, where “the whole house of Israel” will serve Him, no one excepted. This is the new Israel of twelve tribes, the remnant, which will be all Israel, for the apostate multitude will have been judged. In the sacrifices then brought to the LORD, He will be pleased. His people there will willingly answer His request to bring Him the very best of all their sanctified gifts.
The people have then returned to God in their entirety, and a soothing aroma goes out from them to Him, in which He delights (Ezekiel 20:41). He has brought them back to Himself. The stench of the stink gods has been driven out. Their forsaking Him is over. They have been gathered by Him from the lands to which He had to scatter them as a result of their sins. The nations will see it and marvel at His ways with His people.
When they are back in the land, they will know that He is the LORD, the faithful God of the covenant, Who carries out His counsel right through all the deliberations of men (Ezekiel 20:42). The territory of Israel is the land about which He swore to their forefathers to give it to them. Then they will realize how much they have forsaken Him and wounded Him by despising what He has sought to give them (Ezekiel 20:43). They will loathe themselves. When we think about the history of Christianity and our personal history, it will also bring about a sense of loathing in us.
His people will be impressed again by Him, that He is the LORD, the God Who keeps and fulfills His promises. It will create in them a new admiration for His faithfulness (Ezekiel 20:44). They will be humbled by it and realize that all the blessings they may enjoy are due only to His faithfulness. For this course of action He has found a reason exclusively in His Name.
The same applies to us who belong to God’s people in this age. With us, too, for the sake of His Name, He has not done according to our evil ways and depraved deeds, as it was with the house of Israel. All the blessing we may enjoy is due only to His faithfulness.
Daniel 2:24
Lawsuit and Restoration in the Future
Because the people are so determined to be like the nations and like the tribes of the lands (Ezekiel 20:32), the LORD must confront them in His government (Ezekiel 20:33). He cannot let such deliberateness go unpunished and will, by His strong hand and outstretched arm, make them experience His wrath. They may think they can forsake Him, but He will not relinquish His claims on His people.
Added to that, He will know how to find them among the nations and in the lands to which they are scattered (Ezekiel 20:34). Even there, in their exile, He maintains His claims on His people. He will lead them out of exile to bring them into the wilderness of the nations. By this is meant His dealings with them in the time when they are delivered to the power of the nations. There He will enter into judgment with them (Ezekiel 20:35).
He will act with them just as He acted with their fathers in Egypt, the land that has been like a wilderness to them, a land of death (Ezekiel 20:36). He will act with them as a shepherd acts who passes his sheep under his rod at night to count them to see if one is missing and if there is not a stranger among them (Ezekiel 20:37). The law prescribes that every tenth sheep that passes under the rod, is for the LORD (Leviticus 27:32; Jeremiah 33:13). The ‘sheep’ of His people selected in this way the LORD then brings back into the bond of the covenant He has made with them.
He will remove the rebellious and transgressors from His own sheep, bring them out of the land of their exile, and then judge them (Ezekiel 20:38). They will think they are on their way back to the promised land according to the word of the false prophets, but they will not reach that land. They will perish along the way.
The LORD tells the house of Israel to just continue serving their stink gods (Ezekiel 20:39). After all, they have no intention of listening to Him anyway. At the same time, He tells them not to profane His holy Name any more with those stink gods. The same goes for His holy mountain, Mount Zion (Ezekiel 20:40). On that mountain is the temple and there He wants to be served with sacrifices.
It is the high mountain of Israel, where “the whole house of Israel” will serve Him, no one excepted. This is the new Israel of twelve tribes, the remnant, which will be all Israel, for the apostate multitude will have been judged. In the sacrifices then brought to the LORD, He will be pleased. His people there will willingly answer His request to bring Him the very best of all their sanctified gifts.
The people have then returned to God in their entirety, and a soothing aroma goes out from them to Him, in which He delights (Ezekiel 20:41). He has brought them back to Himself. The stench of the stink gods has been driven out. Their forsaking Him is over. They have been gathered by Him from the lands to which He had to scatter them as a result of their sins. The nations will see it and marvel at His ways with His people.
When they are back in the land, they will know that He is the LORD, the faithful God of the covenant, Who carries out His counsel right through all the deliberations of men (Ezekiel 20:42). The territory of Israel is the land about which He swore to their forefathers to give it to them. Then they will realize how much they have forsaken Him and wounded Him by despising what He has sought to give them (Ezekiel 20:43). They will loathe themselves. When we think about the history of Christianity and our personal history, it will also bring about a sense of loathing in us.
His people will be impressed again by Him, that He is the LORD, the God Who keeps and fulfills His promises. It will create in them a new admiration for His faithfulness (Ezekiel 20:44). They will be humbled by it and realize that all the blessings they may enjoy are due only to His faithfulness. For this course of action He has found a reason exclusively in His Name.
The same applies to us who belong to God’s people in this age. With us, too, for the sake of His Name, He has not done according to our evil ways and depraved deeds, as it was with the house of Israel. All the blessing we may enjoy is due only to His faithfulness.
Daniel 2:25
Lawsuit and Restoration in the Future
Because the people are so determined to be like the nations and like the tribes of the lands (Ezekiel 20:32), the LORD must confront them in His government (Ezekiel 20:33). He cannot let such deliberateness go unpunished and will, by His strong hand and outstretched arm, make them experience His wrath. They may think they can forsake Him, but He will not relinquish His claims on His people.
Added to that, He will know how to find them among the nations and in the lands to which they are scattered (Ezekiel 20:34). Even there, in their exile, He maintains His claims on His people. He will lead them out of exile to bring them into the wilderness of the nations. By this is meant His dealings with them in the time when they are delivered to the power of the nations. There He will enter into judgment with them (Ezekiel 20:35).
He will act with them just as He acted with their fathers in Egypt, the land that has been like a wilderness to them, a land of death (Ezekiel 20:36). He will act with them as a shepherd acts who passes his sheep under his rod at night to count them to see if one is missing and if there is not a stranger among them (Ezekiel 20:37). The law prescribes that every tenth sheep that passes under the rod, is for the LORD (Leviticus 27:32; Jeremiah 33:13). The ‘sheep’ of His people selected in this way the LORD then brings back into the bond of the covenant He has made with them.
He will remove the rebellious and transgressors from His own sheep, bring them out of the land of their exile, and then judge them (Ezekiel 20:38). They will think they are on their way back to the promised land according to the word of the false prophets, but they will not reach that land. They will perish along the way.
The LORD tells the house of Israel to just continue serving their stink gods (Ezekiel 20:39). After all, they have no intention of listening to Him anyway. At the same time, He tells them not to profane His holy Name any more with those stink gods. The same goes for His holy mountain, Mount Zion (Ezekiel 20:40). On that mountain is the temple and there He wants to be served with sacrifices.
It is the high mountain of Israel, where “the whole house of Israel” will serve Him, no one excepted. This is the new Israel of twelve tribes, the remnant, which will be all Israel, for the apostate multitude will have been judged. In the sacrifices then brought to the LORD, He will be pleased. His people there will willingly answer His request to bring Him the very best of all their sanctified gifts.
The people have then returned to God in their entirety, and a soothing aroma goes out from them to Him, in which He delights (Ezekiel 20:41). He has brought them back to Himself. The stench of the stink gods has been driven out. Their forsaking Him is over. They have been gathered by Him from the lands to which He had to scatter them as a result of their sins. The nations will see it and marvel at His ways with His people.
When they are back in the land, they will know that He is the LORD, the faithful God of the covenant, Who carries out His counsel right through all the deliberations of men (Ezekiel 20:42). The territory of Israel is the land about which He swore to their forefathers to give it to them. Then they will realize how much they have forsaken Him and wounded Him by despising what He has sought to give them (Ezekiel 20:43). They will loathe themselves. When we think about the history of Christianity and our personal history, it will also bring about a sense of loathing in us.
His people will be impressed again by Him, that He is the LORD, the God Who keeps and fulfills His promises. It will create in them a new admiration for His faithfulness (Ezekiel 20:44). They will be humbled by it and realize that all the blessings they may enjoy are due only to His faithfulness. For this course of action He has found a reason exclusively in His Name.
The same applies to us who belong to God’s people in this age. With us, too, for the sake of His Name, He has not done according to our evil ways and depraved deeds, as it was with the house of Israel. All the blessing we may enjoy is due only to His faithfulness.
Daniel 2:26
Lawsuit and Restoration in the Future
Because the people are so determined to be like the nations and like the tribes of the lands (Ezekiel 20:32), the LORD must confront them in His government (Ezekiel 20:33). He cannot let such deliberateness go unpunished and will, by His strong hand and outstretched arm, make them experience His wrath. They may think they can forsake Him, but He will not relinquish His claims on His people.
Added to that, He will know how to find them among the nations and in the lands to which they are scattered (Ezekiel 20:34). Even there, in their exile, He maintains His claims on His people. He will lead them out of exile to bring them into the wilderness of the nations. By this is meant His dealings with them in the time when they are delivered to the power of the nations. There He will enter into judgment with them (Ezekiel 20:35).
He will act with them just as He acted with their fathers in Egypt, the land that has been like a wilderness to them, a land of death (Ezekiel 20:36). He will act with them as a shepherd acts who passes his sheep under his rod at night to count them to see if one is missing and if there is not a stranger among them (Ezekiel 20:37). The law prescribes that every tenth sheep that passes under the rod, is for the LORD (Leviticus 27:32; Jeremiah 33:13). The ‘sheep’ of His people selected in this way the LORD then brings back into the bond of the covenant He has made with them.
He will remove the rebellious and transgressors from His own sheep, bring them out of the land of their exile, and then judge them (Ezekiel 20:38). They will think they are on their way back to the promised land according to the word of the false prophets, but they will not reach that land. They will perish along the way.
The LORD tells the house of Israel to just continue serving their stink gods (Ezekiel 20:39). After all, they have no intention of listening to Him anyway. At the same time, He tells them not to profane His holy Name any more with those stink gods. The same goes for His holy mountain, Mount Zion (Ezekiel 20:40). On that mountain is the temple and there He wants to be served with sacrifices.
It is the high mountain of Israel, where “the whole house of Israel” will serve Him, no one excepted. This is the new Israel of twelve tribes, the remnant, which will be all Israel, for the apostate multitude will have been judged. In the sacrifices then brought to the LORD, He will be pleased. His people there will willingly answer His request to bring Him the very best of all their sanctified gifts.
The people have then returned to God in their entirety, and a soothing aroma goes out from them to Him, in which He delights (Ezekiel 20:41). He has brought them back to Himself. The stench of the stink gods has been driven out. Their forsaking Him is over. They have been gathered by Him from the lands to which He had to scatter them as a result of their sins. The nations will see it and marvel at His ways with His people.
When they are back in the land, they will know that He is the LORD, the faithful God of the covenant, Who carries out His counsel right through all the deliberations of men (Ezekiel 20:42). The territory of Israel is the land about which He swore to their forefathers to give it to them. Then they will realize how much they have forsaken Him and wounded Him by despising what He has sought to give them (Ezekiel 20:43). They will loathe themselves. When we think about the history of Christianity and our personal history, it will also bring about a sense of loathing in us.
His people will be impressed again by Him, that He is the LORD, the God Who keeps and fulfills His promises. It will create in them a new admiration for His faithfulness (Ezekiel 20:44). They will be humbled by it and realize that all the blessings they may enjoy are due only to His faithfulness. For this course of action He has found a reason exclusively in His Name.
The same applies to us who belong to God’s people in this age. With us, too, for the sake of His Name, He has not done according to our evil ways and depraved deeds, as it was with the house of Israel. All the blessing we may enjoy is due only to His faithfulness.
Daniel 2:27
Lawsuit and Restoration in the Future
Because the people are so determined to be like the nations and like the tribes of the lands (Ezekiel 20:32), the LORD must confront them in His government (Ezekiel 20:33). He cannot let such deliberateness go unpunished and will, by His strong hand and outstretched arm, make them experience His wrath. They may think they can forsake Him, but He will not relinquish His claims on His people.
Added to that, He will know how to find them among the nations and in the lands to which they are scattered (Ezekiel 20:34). Even there, in their exile, He maintains His claims on His people. He will lead them out of exile to bring them into the wilderness of the nations. By this is meant His dealings with them in the time when they are delivered to the power of the nations. There He will enter into judgment with them (Ezekiel 20:35).
He will act with them just as He acted with their fathers in Egypt, the land that has been like a wilderness to them, a land of death (Ezekiel 20:36). He will act with them as a shepherd acts who passes his sheep under his rod at night to count them to see if one is missing and if there is not a stranger among them (Ezekiel 20:37). The law prescribes that every tenth sheep that passes under the rod, is for the LORD (Leviticus 27:32; Jeremiah 33:13). The ‘sheep’ of His people selected in this way the LORD then brings back into the bond of the covenant He has made with them.
He will remove the rebellious and transgressors from His own sheep, bring them out of the land of their exile, and then judge them (Ezekiel 20:38). They will think they are on their way back to the promised land according to the word of the false prophets, but they will not reach that land. They will perish along the way.
The LORD tells the house of Israel to just continue serving their stink gods (Ezekiel 20:39). After all, they have no intention of listening to Him anyway. At the same time, He tells them not to profane His holy Name any more with those stink gods. The same goes for His holy mountain, Mount Zion (Ezekiel 20:40). On that mountain is the temple and there He wants to be served with sacrifices.
It is the high mountain of Israel, where “the whole house of Israel” will serve Him, no one excepted. This is the new Israel of twelve tribes, the remnant, which will be all Israel, for the apostate multitude will have been judged. In the sacrifices then brought to the LORD, He will be pleased. His people there will willingly answer His request to bring Him the very best of all their sanctified gifts.
The people have then returned to God in their entirety, and a soothing aroma goes out from them to Him, in which He delights (Ezekiel 20:41). He has brought them back to Himself. The stench of the stink gods has been driven out. Their forsaking Him is over. They have been gathered by Him from the lands to which He had to scatter them as a result of their sins. The nations will see it and marvel at His ways with His people.
When they are back in the land, they will know that He is the LORD, the faithful God of the covenant, Who carries out His counsel right through all the deliberations of men (Ezekiel 20:42). The territory of Israel is the land about which He swore to their forefathers to give it to them. Then they will realize how much they have forsaken Him and wounded Him by despising what He has sought to give them (Ezekiel 20:43). They will loathe themselves. When we think about the history of Christianity and our personal history, it will also bring about a sense of loathing in us.
His people will be impressed again by Him, that He is the LORD, the God Who keeps and fulfills His promises. It will create in them a new admiration for His faithfulness (Ezekiel 20:44). They will be humbled by it and realize that all the blessings they may enjoy are due only to His faithfulness. For this course of action He has found a reason exclusively in His Name.
The same applies to us who belong to God’s people in this age. With us, too, for the sake of His Name, He has not done according to our evil ways and depraved deeds, as it was with the house of Israel. All the blessing we may enjoy is due only to His faithfulness.
Daniel 2:28
Lawsuit and Restoration in the Future
Because the people are so determined to be like the nations and like the tribes of the lands (Ezekiel 20:32), the LORD must confront them in His government (Ezekiel 20:33). He cannot let such deliberateness go unpunished and will, by His strong hand and outstretched arm, make them experience His wrath. They may think they can forsake Him, but He will not relinquish His claims on His people.
Added to that, He will know how to find them among the nations and in the lands to which they are scattered (Ezekiel 20:34). Even there, in their exile, He maintains His claims on His people. He will lead them out of exile to bring them into the wilderness of the nations. By this is meant His dealings with them in the time when they are delivered to the power of the nations. There He will enter into judgment with them (Ezekiel 20:35).
He will act with them just as He acted with their fathers in Egypt, the land that has been like a wilderness to them, a land of death (Ezekiel 20:36). He will act with them as a shepherd acts who passes his sheep under his rod at night to count them to see if one is missing and if there is not a stranger among them (Ezekiel 20:37). The law prescribes that every tenth sheep that passes under the rod, is for the LORD (Leviticus 27:32; Jeremiah 33:13). The ‘sheep’ of His people selected in this way the LORD then brings back into the bond of the covenant He has made with them.
He will remove the rebellious and transgressors from His own sheep, bring them out of the land of their exile, and then judge them (Ezekiel 20:38). They will think they are on their way back to the promised land according to the word of the false prophets, but they will not reach that land. They will perish along the way.
The LORD tells the house of Israel to just continue serving their stink gods (Ezekiel 20:39). After all, they have no intention of listening to Him anyway. At the same time, He tells them not to profane His holy Name any more with those stink gods. The same goes for His holy mountain, Mount Zion (Ezekiel 20:40). On that mountain is the temple and there He wants to be served with sacrifices.
It is the high mountain of Israel, where “the whole house of Israel” will serve Him, no one excepted. This is the new Israel of twelve tribes, the remnant, which will be all Israel, for the apostate multitude will have been judged. In the sacrifices then brought to the LORD, He will be pleased. His people there will willingly answer His request to bring Him the very best of all their sanctified gifts.
The people have then returned to God in their entirety, and a soothing aroma goes out from them to Him, in which He delights (Ezekiel 20:41). He has brought them back to Himself. The stench of the stink gods has been driven out. Their forsaking Him is over. They have been gathered by Him from the lands to which He had to scatter them as a result of their sins. The nations will see it and marvel at His ways with His people.
When they are back in the land, they will know that He is the LORD, the faithful God of the covenant, Who carries out His counsel right through all the deliberations of men (Ezekiel 20:42). The territory of Israel is the land about which He swore to their forefathers to give it to them. Then they will realize how much they have forsaken Him and wounded Him by despising what He has sought to give them (Ezekiel 20:43). They will loathe themselves. When we think about the history of Christianity and our personal history, it will also bring about a sense of loathing in us.
His people will be impressed again by Him, that He is the LORD, the God Who keeps and fulfills His promises. It will create in them a new admiration for His faithfulness (Ezekiel 20:44). They will be humbled by it and realize that all the blessings they may enjoy are due only to His faithfulness. For this course of action He has found a reason exclusively in His Name.
The same applies to us who belong to God’s people in this age. With us, too, for the sake of His Name, He has not done according to our evil ways and depraved deeds, as it was with the house of Israel. All the blessing we may enjoy is due only to His faithfulness.
Daniel 2:29
Lawsuit and Restoration in the Future
Because the people are so determined to be like the nations and like the tribes of the lands (Ezekiel 20:32), the LORD must confront them in His government (Ezekiel 20:33). He cannot let such deliberateness go unpunished and will, by His strong hand and outstretched arm, make them experience His wrath. They may think they can forsake Him, but He will not relinquish His claims on His people.
Added to that, He will know how to find them among the nations and in the lands to which they are scattered (Ezekiel 20:34). Even there, in their exile, He maintains His claims on His people. He will lead them out of exile to bring them into the wilderness of the nations. By this is meant His dealings with them in the time when they are delivered to the power of the nations. There He will enter into judgment with them (Ezekiel 20:35).
He will act with them just as He acted with their fathers in Egypt, the land that has been like a wilderness to them, a land of death (Ezekiel 20:36). He will act with them as a shepherd acts who passes his sheep under his rod at night to count them to see if one is missing and if there is not a stranger among them (Ezekiel 20:37). The law prescribes that every tenth sheep that passes under the rod, is for the LORD (Leviticus 27:32; Jeremiah 33:13). The ‘sheep’ of His people selected in this way the LORD then brings back into the bond of the covenant He has made with them.
He will remove the rebellious and transgressors from His own sheep, bring them out of the land of their exile, and then judge them (Ezekiel 20:38). They will think they are on their way back to the promised land according to the word of the false prophets, but they will not reach that land. They will perish along the way.
The LORD tells the house of Israel to just continue serving their stink gods (Ezekiel 20:39). After all, they have no intention of listening to Him anyway. At the same time, He tells them not to profane His holy Name any more with those stink gods. The same goes for His holy mountain, Mount Zion (Ezekiel 20:40). On that mountain is the temple and there He wants to be served with sacrifices.
It is the high mountain of Israel, where “the whole house of Israel” will serve Him, no one excepted. This is the new Israel of twelve tribes, the remnant, which will be all Israel, for the apostate multitude will have been judged. In the sacrifices then brought to the LORD, He will be pleased. His people there will willingly answer His request to bring Him the very best of all their sanctified gifts.
The people have then returned to God in their entirety, and a soothing aroma goes out from them to Him, in which He delights (Ezekiel 20:41). He has brought them back to Himself. The stench of the stink gods has been driven out. Their forsaking Him is over. They have been gathered by Him from the lands to which He had to scatter them as a result of their sins. The nations will see it and marvel at His ways with His people.
When they are back in the land, they will know that He is the LORD, the faithful God of the covenant, Who carries out His counsel right through all the deliberations of men (Ezekiel 20:42). The territory of Israel is the land about which He swore to their forefathers to give it to them. Then they will realize how much they have forsaken Him and wounded Him by despising what He has sought to give them (Ezekiel 20:43). They will loathe themselves. When we think about the history of Christianity and our personal history, it will also bring about a sense of loathing in us.
His people will be impressed again by Him, that He is the LORD, the God Who keeps and fulfills His promises. It will create in them a new admiration for His faithfulness (Ezekiel 20:44). They will be humbled by it and realize that all the blessings they may enjoy are due only to His faithfulness. For this course of action He has found a reason exclusively in His Name.
The same applies to us who belong to God’s people in this age. With us, too, for the sake of His Name, He has not done according to our evil ways and depraved deeds, as it was with the house of Israel. All the blessing we may enjoy is due only to His faithfulness.
Daniel 2:30
Lawsuit and Restoration in the Future
Because the people are so determined to be like the nations and like the tribes of the lands (Ezekiel 20:32), the LORD must confront them in His government (Ezekiel 20:33). He cannot let such deliberateness go unpunished and will, by His strong hand and outstretched arm, make them experience His wrath. They may think they can forsake Him, but He will not relinquish His claims on His people.
Added to that, He will know how to find them among the nations and in the lands to which they are scattered (Ezekiel 20:34). Even there, in their exile, He maintains His claims on His people. He will lead them out of exile to bring them into the wilderness of the nations. By this is meant His dealings with them in the time when they are delivered to the power of the nations. There He will enter into judgment with them (Ezekiel 20:35).
He will act with them just as He acted with their fathers in Egypt, the land that has been like a wilderness to them, a land of death (Ezekiel 20:36). He will act with them as a shepherd acts who passes his sheep under his rod at night to count them to see if one is missing and if there is not a stranger among them (Ezekiel 20:37). The law prescribes that every tenth sheep that passes under the rod, is for the LORD (Leviticus 27:32; Jeremiah 33:13). The ‘sheep’ of His people selected in this way the LORD then brings back into the bond of the covenant He has made with them.
He will remove the rebellious and transgressors from His own sheep, bring them out of the land of their exile, and then judge them (Ezekiel 20:38). They will think they are on their way back to the promised land according to the word of the false prophets, but they will not reach that land. They will perish along the way.
The LORD tells the house of Israel to just continue serving their stink gods (Ezekiel 20:39). After all, they have no intention of listening to Him anyway. At the same time, He tells them not to profane His holy Name any more with those stink gods. The same goes for His holy mountain, Mount Zion (Ezekiel 20:40). On that mountain is the temple and there He wants to be served with sacrifices.
It is the high mountain of Israel, where “the whole house of Israel” will serve Him, no one excepted. This is the new Israel of twelve tribes, the remnant, which will be all Israel, for the apostate multitude will have been judged. In the sacrifices then brought to the LORD, He will be pleased. His people there will willingly answer His request to bring Him the very best of all their sanctified gifts.
The people have then returned to God in their entirety, and a soothing aroma goes out from them to Him, in which He delights (Ezekiel 20:41). He has brought them back to Himself. The stench of the stink gods has been driven out. Their forsaking Him is over. They have been gathered by Him from the lands to which He had to scatter them as a result of their sins. The nations will see it and marvel at His ways with His people.
When they are back in the land, they will know that He is the LORD, the faithful God of the covenant, Who carries out His counsel right through all the deliberations of men (Ezekiel 20:42). The territory of Israel is the land about which He swore to their forefathers to give it to them. Then they will realize how much they have forsaken Him and wounded Him by despising what He has sought to give them (Ezekiel 20:43). They will loathe themselves. When we think about the history of Christianity and our personal history, it will also bring about a sense of loathing in us.
His people will be impressed again by Him, that He is the LORD, the God Who keeps and fulfills His promises. It will create in them a new admiration for His faithfulness (Ezekiel 20:44). They will be humbled by it and realize that all the blessings they may enjoy are due only to His faithfulness. For this course of action He has found a reason exclusively in His Name.
The same applies to us who belong to God’s people in this age. With us, too, for the sake of His Name, He has not done according to our evil ways and depraved deeds, as it was with the house of Israel. All the blessing we may enjoy is due only to His faithfulness.
Daniel 2:31
Lawsuit and Restoration in the Future
Because the people are so determined to be like the nations and like the tribes of the lands (Ezekiel 20:32), the LORD must confront them in His government (Ezekiel 20:33). He cannot let such deliberateness go unpunished and will, by His strong hand and outstretched arm, make them experience His wrath. They may think they can forsake Him, but He will not relinquish His claims on His people.
Added to that, He will know how to find them among the nations and in the lands to which they are scattered (Ezekiel 20:34). Even there, in their exile, He maintains His claims on His people. He will lead them out of exile to bring them into the wilderness of the nations. By this is meant His dealings with them in the time when they are delivered to the power of the nations. There He will enter into judgment with them (Ezekiel 20:35).
He will act with them just as He acted with their fathers in Egypt, the land that has been like a wilderness to them, a land of death (Ezekiel 20:36). He will act with them as a shepherd acts who passes his sheep under his rod at night to count them to see if one is missing and if there is not a stranger among them (Ezekiel 20:37). The law prescribes that every tenth sheep that passes under the rod, is for the LORD (Leviticus 27:32; Jeremiah 33:13). The ‘sheep’ of His people selected in this way the LORD then brings back into the bond of the covenant He has made with them.
He will remove the rebellious and transgressors from His own sheep, bring them out of the land of their exile, and then judge them (Ezekiel 20:38). They will think they are on their way back to the promised land according to the word of the false prophets, but they will not reach that land. They will perish along the way.
The LORD tells the house of Israel to just continue serving their stink gods (Ezekiel 20:39). After all, they have no intention of listening to Him anyway. At the same time, He tells them not to profane His holy Name any more with those stink gods. The same goes for His holy mountain, Mount Zion (Ezekiel 20:40). On that mountain is the temple and there He wants to be served with sacrifices.
It is the high mountain of Israel, where “the whole house of Israel” will serve Him, no one excepted. This is the new Israel of twelve tribes, the remnant, which will be all Israel, for the apostate multitude will have been judged. In the sacrifices then brought to the LORD, He will be pleased. His people there will willingly answer His request to bring Him the very best of all their sanctified gifts.
The people have then returned to God in their entirety, and a soothing aroma goes out from them to Him, in which He delights (Ezekiel 20:41). He has brought them back to Himself. The stench of the stink gods has been driven out. Their forsaking Him is over. They have been gathered by Him from the lands to which He had to scatter them as a result of their sins. The nations will see it and marvel at His ways with His people.
When they are back in the land, they will know that He is the LORD, the faithful God of the covenant, Who carries out His counsel right through all the deliberations of men (Ezekiel 20:42). The territory of Israel is the land about which He swore to their forefathers to give it to them. Then they will realize how much they have forsaken Him and wounded Him by despising what He has sought to give them (Ezekiel 20:43). They will loathe themselves. When we think about the history of Christianity and our personal history, it will also bring about a sense of loathing in us.
His people will be impressed again by Him, that He is the LORD, the God Who keeps and fulfills His promises. It will create in them a new admiration for His faithfulness (Ezekiel 20:44). They will be humbled by it and realize that all the blessings they may enjoy are due only to His faithfulness. For this course of action He has found a reason exclusively in His Name.
The same applies to us who belong to God’s people in this age. With us, too, for the sake of His Name, He has not done according to our evil ways and depraved deeds, as it was with the house of Israel. All the blessing we may enjoy is due only to His faithfulness.
Daniel 2:32
The Fire of Judgment in the Negev
In the Hebrew text, a new chapter begins with Ezekiel 20:45. It is a new prophecy, a new word from the LORD to Ezekiel (Ezekiel 20:45). Ezekiel, again called “son of man”, is to set his face “toward Teman” or “toward the south”. “The south” is mentioned four times with three different words in Hebrew, including the word “Negev”, known from the wilderness in Israel (Ezekiel 20:46). The prophecy is about the southern land of Judah. The words “speak out” are also translated with “drop [words]” [Dutch translation and Darby translation]. The words to be spoken by Ezekiel are presented as a down pouring torrential rain. By “the forest land” the inhabitants of Judah are meant.
“The forest of the Negev” is commanded to listen to the word of LORD (Ezekiel 20:47). It is a word of judgment. The LORD says He will kindle a fire in them that will do a devastating work among young and old. By the green tree may also be meant the righteous and by the dry tree the wicked (cf. Luke 23:31). The righteous and the wicked both face this disciplinary rod of God. Not only did the wicked suffer under the discipline of God, but God-fearing men like Ezekiel and Daniel also suffered under it.
It will be impossible to block this devastating work. It will turn the entire land into a blackened field. This refers to what Nebuchadnezzar and his armies will do when they execute God’s judgments on Judah. Everyone will see that the real instigator of this fire is God Himself (Ezekiel 20:48). Because He kindles the fire, it will not be extinguishable. The destroyer is unstoppable. Any attempt to defend against it will come to nothing.
Ezekiel feels the burden of the words he must speak weigh heavily upon him (Ezekiel 20:49). He knows that his fellow exiles will not take him seriously. His words make no impression on them. They refuse to take them seriously and get rid of them by attributing his message to his imagination. He is seen by them as a chatterbox who comes with a self-made message that they do not want to understand. About this the prophet complains to the LORD, but he gets no answer.
Daniel 2:33
The Fire of Judgment in the Negev
In the Hebrew text, a new chapter begins with Ezekiel 20:45. It is a new prophecy, a new word from the LORD to Ezekiel (Ezekiel 20:45). Ezekiel, again called “son of man”, is to set his face “toward Teman” or “toward the south”. “The south” is mentioned four times with three different words in Hebrew, including the word “Negev”, known from the wilderness in Israel (Ezekiel 20:46). The prophecy is about the southern land of Judah. The words “speak out” are also translated with “drop [words]” [Dutch translation and Darby translation]. The words to be spoken by Ezekiel are presented as a down pouring torrential rain. By “the forest land” the inhabitants of Judah are meant.
“The forest of the Negev” is commanded to listen to the word of LORD (Ezekiel 20:47). It is a word of judgment. The LORD says He will kindle a fire in them that will do a devastating work among young and old. By the green tree may also be meant the righteous and by the dry tree the wicked (cf. Luke 23:31). The righteous and the wicked both face this disciplinary rod of God. Not only did the wicked suffer under the discipline of God, but God-fearing men like Ezekiel and Daniel also suffered under it.
It will be impossible to block this devastating work. It will turn the entire land into a blackened field. This refers to what Nebuchadnezzar and his armies will do when they execute God’s judgments on Judah. Everyone will see that the real instigator of this fire is God Himself (Ezekiel 20:48). Because He kindles the fire, it will not be extinguishable. The destroyer is unstoppable. Any attempt to defend against it will come to nothing.
Ezekiel feels the burden of the words he must speak weigh heavily upon him (Ezekiel 20:49). He knows that his fellow exiles will not take him seriously. His words make no impression on them. They refuse to take them seriously and get rid of them by attributing his message to his imagination. He is seen by them as a chatterbox who comes with a self-made message that they do not want to understand. About this the prophet complains to the LORD, but he gets no answer.
Daniel 2:34
The Fire of Judgment in the Negev
In the Hebrew text, a new chapter begins with Ezekiel 20:45. It is a new prophecy, a new word from the LORD to Ezekiel (Ezekiel 20:45). Ezekiel, again called “son of man”, is to set his face “toward Teman” or “toward the south”. “The south” is mentioned four times with three different words in Hebrew, including the word “Negev”, known from the wilderness in Israel (Ezekiel 20:46). The prophecy is about the southern land of Judah. The words “speak out” are also translated with “drop [words]” [Dutch translation and Darby translation]. The words to be spoken by Ezekiel are presented as a down pouring torrential rain. By “the forest land” the inhabitants of Judah are meant.
“The forest of the Negev” is commanded to listen to the word of LORD (Ezekiel 20:47). It is a word of judgment. The LORD says He will kindle a fire in them that will do a devastating work among young and old. By the green tree may also be meant the righteous and by the dry tree the wicked (cf. Luke 23:31). The righteous and the wicked both face this disciplinary rod of God. Not only did the wicked suffer under the discipline of God, but God-fearing men like Ezekiel and Daniel also suffered under it.
It will be impossible to block this devastating work. It will turn the entire land into a blackened field. This refers to what Nebuchadnezzar and his armies will do when they execute God’s judgments on Judah. Everyone will see that the real instigator of this fire is God Himself (Ezekiel 20:48). Because He kindles the fire, it will not be extinguishable. The destroyer is unstoppable. Any attempt to defend against it will come to nothing.
Ezekiel feels the burden of the words he must speak weigh heavily upon him (Ezekiel 20:49). He knows that his fellow exiles will not take him seriously. His words make no impression on them. They refuse to take them seriously and get rid of them by attributing his message to his imagination. He is seen by them as a chatterbox who comes with a self-made message that they do not want to understand. About this the prophet complains to the LORD, but he gets no answer.
Daniel 2:35
The Fire of Judgment in the Negev
In the Hebrew text, a new chapter begins with Ezekiel 20:45. It is a new prophecy, a new word from the LORD to Ezekiel (Ezekiel 20:45). Ezekiel, again called “son of man”, is to set his face “toward Teman” or “toward the south”. “The south” is mentioned four times with three different words in Hebrew, including the word “Negev”, known from the wilderness in Israel (Ezekiel 20:46). The prophecy is about the southern land of Judah. The words “speak out” are also translated with “drop [words]” [Dutch translation and Darby translation]. The words to be spoken by Ezekiel are presented as a down pouring torrential rain. By “the forest land” the inhabitants of Judah are meant.
“The forest of the Negev” is commanded to listen to the word of LORD (Ezekiel 20:47). It is a word of judgment. The LORD says He will kindle a fire in them that will do a devastating work among young and old. By the green tree may also be meant the righteous and by the dry tree the wicked (cf. Luke 23:31). The righteous and the wicked both face this disciplinary rod of God. Not only did the wicked suffer under the discipline of God, but God-fearing men like Ezekiel and Daniel also suffered under it.
It will be impossible to block this devastating work. It will turn the entire land into a blackened field. This refers to what Nebuchadnezzar and his armies will do when they execute God’s judgments on Judah. Everyone will see that the real instigator of this fire is God Himself (Ezekiel 20:48). Because He kindles the fire, it will not be extinguishable. The destroyer is unstoppable. Any attempt to defend against it will come to nothing.
Ezekiel feels the burden of the words he must speak weigh heavily upon him (Ezekiel 20:49). He knows that his fellow exiles will not take him seriously. His words make no impression on them. They refuse to take them seriously and get rid of them by attributing his message to his imagination. He is seen by them as a chatterbox who comes with a self-made message that they do not want to understand. About this the prophet complains to the LORD, but he gets no answer.
Daniel 2:36
The Fire of Judgment in the Negev
In the Hebrew text, a new chapter begins with Ezekiel 20:45. It is a new prophecy, a new word from the LORD to Ezekiel (Ezekiel 20:45). Ezekiel, again called “son of man”, is to set his face “toward Teman” or “toward the south”. “The south” is mentioned four times with three different words in Hebrew, including the word “Negev”, known from the wilderness in Israel (Ezekiel 20:46). The prophecy is about the southern land of Judah. The words “speak out” are also translated with “drop [words]” [Dutch translation and Darby translation]. The words to be spoken by Ezekiel are presented as a down pouring torrential rain. By “the forest land” the inhabitants of Judah are meant.
“The forest of the Negev” is commanded to listen to the word of LORD (Ezekiel 20:47). It is a word of judgment. The LORD says He will kindle a fire in them that will do a devastating work among young and old. By the green tree may also be meant the righteous and by the dry tree the wicked (cf. Luke 23:31). The righteous and the wicked both face this disciplinary rod of God. Not only did the wicked suffer under the discipline of God, but God-fearing men like Ezekiel and Daniel also suffered under it.
It will be impossible to block this devastating work. It will turn the entire land into a blackened field. This refers to what Nebuchadnezzar and his armies will do when they execute God’s judgments on Judah. Everyone will see that the real instigator of this fire is God Himself (Ezekiel 20:48). Because He kindles the fire, it will not be extinguishable. The destroyer is unstoppable. Any attempt to defend against it will come to nothing.
Ezekiel feels the burden of the words he must speak weigh heavily upon him (Ezekiel 20:49). He knows that his fellow exiles will not take him seriously. His words make no impression on them. They refuse to take them seriously and get rid of them by attributing his message to his imagination. He is seen by them as a chatterbox who comes with a self-made message that they do not want to understand. About this the prophet complains to the LORD, but he gets no answer.
Daniel 2:38
The People Are Massacred
The word of the LORD comes to Ezekiel (Ezekiel 21:1). He is commanded to set his face toward Jerusalem and to speak, or: let his words flow, against the sanctuaries (Ezekiel 21:2; cf. Ezekiel 20:46). After the Negev in the previous verses (Ezekiel 20:45-49), by which Judah is meant, it is now Jerusalem’s turn to hear words of judgment. Judgment is directed primarily against “the sanctuaries” by which, given the plural, is possibly meant the temple complex (cf. Leviticus 26:31; Matthew 24:1). Ezekiel is also to prophesy against the whole land of Israel.
The whole land has so forsaken the LORD that He will cut off from it both the righteous and the wicked (Ezekiel 21:3). They are the green and the dry tree of the previous riddle (Ezekiel 20:47). The fire, spoken of there, has now become a sword. The LORD will draw His sword out of its sheath to exercise the judgment. This refers to the carnage that will be wrought by Nebuchadnezzar, who is His sword.
The word ‘sword’ occurs no less than thirteen times in the following verses. This does show the severity and certainty of the judgment. It is also a general judgment, for the sword will be against “all flesh” (cf. Ezekiel 20:48), “from south [to] north” (Ezekiel 21:4), including the princes (Ezekiel 21:12). The judgment will be unstoppable (Ezekiel 21:5).
As Ezekiel lets his words flow, he must “groan with breaking heart [literally: loins] and bitter grief” (Ezekiel 21:6). The groaning must be so deep that he is like a broken man, like someone bent or huddled with his hands on his stomach because of an excruciating stomachache. Strength to walk is not there. He has to show this dejection because there is no hope of recovery from the pain. When the people ask him why he is doing this, he must say that he is weighed down by the burden the LORD is placing on him (Ezekiel 21:7).
The prophet is committed to his message and he is deeply burdened by it himself. The inner feelings and expressions that show this show that he does not bring his message with pleasure. The suffering he has to announce that will come upon his people affects him deeply.
If we have to admonish someone, we must have the right inner mind for it and give it the right expression. Do we also know the groaning because of the disasters that will befall the world and professing Christianity?
Just as the imminent suffering coming upon his people deprives him of all strength already now at its announcement, so it will be with those over whom the sword of God’s judgment will soon come. Ezekiel uses four expressions to describe the physical and spiritual reaction to the news of the fall Jerusalem: 1. “And every heart will melt (cf. Psalms 22:14; Isaiah 13:7; Nahum 2:10), 2. all hands will be feeble (cf. 2 Samuel 4:1; Isaiah 13:7; Jeremiah 6:24; Ezekiel 7:17), 3. every spirit will faint (cf. Isaiah 61:3) and 4. all knees will be weak [literally: flow] as water” (Ezekiel 7:17).
When the news of the fall and destruction of Jerusalem comes, it will take away the courage of all who hear it. And it will surely come, for the LORD has said so. This is what Ezekiel needs to show and let hear to the exiles with whom he is.
Daniel 2:39
The People Are Massacred
The word of the LORD comes to Ezekiel (Ezekiel 21:1). He is commanded to set his face toward Jerusalem and to speak, or: let his words flow, against the sanctuaries (Ezekiel 21:2; cf. Ezekiel 20:46). After the Negev in the previous verses (Ezekiel 20:45-49), by which Judah is meant, it is now Jerusalem’s turn to hear words of judgment. Judgment is directed primarily against “the sanctuaries” by which, given the plural, is possibly meant the temple complex (cf. Leviticus 26:31; Matthew 24:1). Ezekiel is also to prophesy against the whole land of Israel.
The whole land has so forsaken the LORD that He will cut off from it both the righteous and the wicked (Ezekiel 21:3). They are the green and the dry tree of the previous riddle (Ezekiel 20:47). The fire, spoken of there, has now become a sword. The LORD will draw His sword out of its sheath to exercise the judgment. This refers to the carnage that will be wrought by Nebuchadnezzar, who is His sword.
The word ‘sword’ occurs no less than thirteen times in the following verses. This does show the severity and certainty of the judgment. It is also a general judgment, for the sword will be against “all flesh” (cf. Ezekiel 20:48), “from south [to] north” (Ezekiel 21:4), including the princes (Ezekiel 21:12). The judgment will be unstoppable (Ezekiel 21:5).
As Ezekiel lets his words flow, he must “groan with breaking heart [literally: loins] and bitter grief” (Ezekiel 21:6). The groaning must be so deep that he is like a broken man, like someone bent or huddled with his hands on his stomach because of an excruciating stomachache. Strength to walk is not there. He has to show this dejection because there is no hope of recovery from the pain. When the people ask him why he is doing this, he must say that he is weighed down by the burden the LORD is placing on him (Ezekiel 21:7).
The prophet is committed to his message and he is deeply burdened by it himself. The inner feelings and expressions that show this show that he does not bring his message with pleasure. The suffering he has to announce that will come upon his people affects him deeply.
If we have to admonish someone, we must have the right inner mind for it and give it the right expression. Do we also know the groaning because of the disasters that will befall the world and professing Christianity?
Just as the imminent suffering coming upon his people deprives him of all strength already now at its announcement, so it will be with those over whom the sword of God’s judgment will soon come. Ezekiel uses four expressions to describe the physical and spiritual reaction to the news of the fall Jerusalem: 1. “And every heart will melt (cf. Psalms 22:14; Isaiah 13:7; Nahum 2:10), 2. all hands will be feeble (cf. 2 Samuel 4:1; Isaiah 13:7; Jeremiah 6:24; Ezekiel 7:17), 3. every spirit will faint (cf. Isaiah 61:3) and 4. all knees will be weak [literally: flow] as water” (Ezekiel 7:17).
When the news of the fall and destruction of Jerusalem comes, it will take away the courage of all who hear it. And it will surely come, for the LORD has said so. This is what Ezekiel needs to show and let hear to the exiles with whom he is.
Daniel 2:40
The People Are Massacred
The word of the LORD comes to Ezekiel (Ezekiel 21:1). He is commanded to set his face toward Jerusalem and to speak, or: let his words flow, against the sanctuaries (Ezekiel 21:2; cf. Ezekiel 20:46). After the Negev in the previous verses (Ezekiel 20:45-49), by which Judah is meant, it is now Jerusalem’s turn to hear words of judgment. Judgment is directed primarily against “the sanctuaries” by which, given the plural, is possibly meant the temple complex (cf. Leviticus 26:31; Matthew 24:1). Ezekiel is also to prophesy against the whole land of Israel.
The whole land has so forsaken the LORD that He will cut off from it both the righteous and the wicked (Ezekiel 21:3). They are the green and the dry tree of the previous riddle (Ezekiel 20:47). The fire, spoken of there, has now become a sword. The LORD will draw His sword out of its sheath to exercise the judgment. This refers to the carnage that will be wrought by Nebuchadnezzar, who is His sword.
The word ‘sword’ occurs no less than thirteen times in the following verses. This does show the severity and certainty of the judgment. It is also a general judgment, for the sword will be against “all flesh” (cf. Ezekiel 20:48), “from south [to] north” (Ezekiel 21:4), including the princes (Ezekiel 21:12). The judgment will be unstoppable (Ezekiel 21:5).
As Ezekiel lets his words flow, he must “groan with breaking heart [literally: loins] and bitter grief” (Ezekiel 21:6). The groaning must be so deep that he is like a broken man, like someone bent or huddled with his hands on his stomach because of an excruciating stomachache. Strength to walk is not there. He has to show this dejection because there is no hope of recovery from the pain. When the people ask him why he is doing this, he must say that he is weighed down by the burden the LORD is placing on him (Ezekiel 21:7).
The prophet is committed to his message and he is deeply burdened by it himself. The inner feelings and expressions that show this show that he does not bring his message with pleasure. The suffering he has to announce that will come upon his people affects him deeply.
If we have to admonish someone, we must have the right inner mind for it and give it the right expression. Do we also know the groaning because of the disasters that will befall the world and professing Christianity?
Just as the imminent suffering coming upon his people deprives him of all strength already now at its announcement, so it will be with those over whom the sword of God’s judgment will soon come. Ezekiel uses four expressions to describe the physical and spiritual reaction to the news of the fall Jerusalem: 1. “And every heart will melt (cf. Psalms 22:14; Isaiah 13:7; Nahum 2:10), 2. all hands will be feeble (cf. 2 Samuel 4:1; Isaiah 13:7; Jeremiah 6:24; Ezekiel 7:17), 3. every spirit will faint (cf. Isaiah 61:3) and 4. all knees will be weak [literally: flow] as water” (Ezekiel 7:17).
When the news of the fall and destruction of Jerusalem comes, it will take away the courage of all who hear it. And it will surely come, for the LORD has said so. This is what Ezekiel needs to show and let hear to the exiles with whom he is.
Daniel 2:41
The People Are Massacred
The word of the LORD comes to Ezekiel (Ezekiel 21:1). He is commanded to set his face toward Jerusalem and to speak, or: let his words flow, against the sanctuaries (Ezekiel 21:2; cf. Ezekiel 20:46). After the Negev in the previous verses (Ezekiel 20:45-49), by which Judah is meant, it is now Jerusalem’s turn to hear words of judgment. Judgment is directed primarily against “the sanctuaries” by which, given the plural, is possibly meant the temple complex (cf. Leviticus 26:31; Matthew 24:1). Ezekiel is also to prophesy against the whole land of Israel.
The whole land has so forsaken the LORD that He will cut off from it both the righteous and the wicked (Ezekiel 21:3). They are the green and the dry tree of the previous riddle (Ezekiel 20:47). The fire, spoken of there, has now become a sword. The LORD will draw His sword out of its sheath to exercise the judgment. This refers to the carnage that will be wrought by Nebuchadnezzar, who is His sword.
The word ‘sword’ occurs no less than thirteen times in the following verses. This does show the severity and certainty of the judgment. It is also a general judgment, for the sword will be against “all flesh” (cf. Ezekiel 20:48), “from south [to] north” (Ezekiel 21:4), including the princes (Ezekiel 21:12). The judgment will be unstoppable (Ezekiel 21:5).
As Ezekiel lets his words flow, he must “groan with breaking heart [literally: loins] and bitter grief” (Ezekiel 21:6). The groaning must be so deep that he is like a broken man, like someone bent or huddled with his hands on his stomach because of an excruciating stomachache. Strength to walk is not there. He has to show this dejection because there is no hope of recovery from the pain. When the people ask him why he is doing this, he must say that he is weighed down by the burden the LORD is placing on him (Ezekiel 21:7).
The prophet is committed to his message and he is deeply burdened by it himself. The inner feelings and expressions that show this show that he does not bring his message with pleasure. The suffering he has to announce that will come upon his people affects him deeply.
If we have to admonish someone, we must have the right inner mind for it and give it the right expression. Do we also know the groaning because of the disasters that will befall the world and professing Christianity?
Just as the imminent suffering coming upon his people deprives him of all strength already now at its announcement, so it will be with those over whom the sword of God’s judgment will soon come. Ezekiel uses four expressions to describe the physical and spiritual reaction to the news of the fall Jerusalem: 1. “And every heart will melt (cf. Psalms 22:14; Isaiah 13:7; Nahum 2:10), 2. all hands will be feeble (cf. 2 Samuel 4:1; Isaiah 13:7; Jeremiah 6:24; Ezekiel 7:17), 3. every spirit will faint (cf. Isaiah 61:3) and 4. all knees will be weak [literally: flow] as water” (Ezekiel 7:17).
When the news of the fall and destruction of Jerusalem comes, it will take away the courage of all who hear it. And it will surely come, for the LORD has said so. This is what Ezekiel needs to show and let hear to the exiles with whom he is.
Daniel 2:42
The People Are Massacred
The word of the LORD comes to Ezekiel (Ezekiel 21:1). He is commanded to set his face toward Jerusalem and to speak, or: let his words flow, against the sanctuaries (Ezekiel 21:2; cf. Ezekiel 20:46). After the Negev in the previous verses (Ezekiel 20:45-49), by which Judah is meant, it is now Jerusalem’s turn to hear words of judgment. Judgment is directed primarily against “the sanctuaries” by which, given the plural, is possibly meant the temple complex (cf. Leviticus 26:31; Matthew 24:1). Ezekiel is also to prophesy against the whole land of Israel.
The whole land has so forsaken the LORD that He will cut off from it both the righteous and the wicked (Ezekiel 21:3). They are the green and the dry tree of the previous riddle (Ezekiel 20:47). The fire, spoken of there, has now become a sword. The LORD will draw His sword out of its sheath to exercise the judgment. This refers to the carnage that will be wrought by Nebuchadnezzar, who is His sword.
The word ‘sword’ occurs no less than thirteen times in the following verses. This does show the severity and certainty of the judgment. It is also a general judgment, for the sword will be against “all flesh” (cf. Ezekiel 20:48), “from south [to] north” (Ezekiel 21:4), including the princes (Ezekiel 21:12). The judgment will be unstoppable (Ezekiel 21:5).
As Ezekiel lets his words flow, he must “groan with breaking heart [literally: loins] and bitter grief” (Ezekiel 21:6). The groaning must be so deep that he is like a broken man, like someone bent or huddled with his hands on his stomach because of an excruciating stomachache. Strength to walk is not there. He has to show this dejection because there is no hope of recovery from the pain. When the people ask him why he is doing this, he must say that he is weighed down by the burden the LORD is placing on him (Ezekiel 21:7).
The prophet is committed to his message and he is deeply burdened by it himself. The inner feelings and expressions that show this show that he does not bring his message with pleasure. The suffering he has to announce that will come upon his people affects him deeply.
If we have to admonish someone, we must have the right inner mind for it and give it the right expression. Do we also know the groaning because of the disasters that will befall the world and professing Christianity?
Just as the imminent suffering coming upon his people deprives him of all strength already now at its announcement, so it will be with those over whom the sword of God’s judgment will soon come. Ezekiel uses four expressions to describe the physical and spiritual reaction to the news of the fall Jerusalem: 1. “And every heart will melt (cf. Psalms 22:14; Isaiah 13:7; Nahum 2:10), 2. all hands will be feeble (cf. 2 Samuel 4:1; Isaiah 13:7; Jeremiah 6:24; Ezekiel 7:17), 3. every spirit will faint (cf. Isaiah 61:3) and 4. all knees will be weak [literally: flow] as water” (Ezekiel 7:17).
When the news of the fall and destruction of Jerusalem comes, it will take away the courage of all who hear it. And it will surely come, for the LORD has said so. This is what Ezekiel needs to show and let hear to the exiles with whom he is.
Daniel 2:43
The People Are Massacred
The word of the LORD comes to Ezekiel (Ezekiel 21:1). He is commanded to set his face toward Jerusalem and to speak, or: let his words flow, against the sanctuaries (Ezekiel 21:2; cf. Ezekiel 20:46). After the Negev in the previous verses (Ezekiel 20:45-49), by which Judah is meant, it is now Jerusalem’s turn to hear words of judgment. Judgment is directed primarily against “the sanctuaries” by which, given the plural, is possibly meant the temple complex (cf. Leviticus 26:31; Matthew 24:1). Ezekiel is also to prophesy against the whole land of Israel.
The whole land has so forsaken the LORD that He will cut off from it both the righteous and the wicked (Ezekiel 21:3). They are the green and the dry tree of the previous riddle (Ezekiel 20:47). The fire, spoken of there, has now become a sword. The LORD will draw His sword out of its sheath to exercise the judgment. This refers to the carnage that will be wrought by Nebuchadnezzar, who is His sword.
The word ‘sword’ occurs no less than thirteen times in the following verses. This does show the severity and certainty of the judgment. It is also a general judgment, for the sword will be against “all flesh” (cf. Ezekiel 20:48), “from south [to] north” (Ezekiel 21:4), including the princes (Ezekiel 21:12). The judgment will be unstoppable (Ezekiel 21:5).
As Ezekiel lets his words flow, he must “groan with breaking heart [literally: loins] and bitter grief” (Ezekiel 21:6). The groaning must be so deep that he is like a broken man, like someone bent or huddled with his hands on his stomach because of an excruciating stomachache. Strength to walk is not there. He has to show this dejection because there is no hope of recovery from the pain. When the people ask him why he is doing this, he must say that he is weighed down by the burden the LORD is placing on him (Ezekiel 21:7).
The prophet is committed to his message and he is deeply burdened by it himself. The inner feelings and expressions that show this show that he does not bring his message with pleasure. The suffering he has to announce that will come upon his people affects him deeply.
If we have to admonish someone, we must have the right inner mind for it and give it the right expression. Do we also know the groaning because of the disasters that will befall the world and professing Christianity?
Just as the imminent suffering coming upon his people deprives him of all strength already now at its announcement, so it will be with those over whom the sword of God’s judgment will soon come. Ezekiel uses four expressions to describe the physical and spiritual reaction to the news of the fall Jerusalem: 1. “And every heart will melt (cf. Psalms 22:14; Isaiah 13:7; Nahum 2:10), 2. all hands will be feeble (cf. 2 Samuel 4:1; Isaiah 13:7; Jeremiah 6:24; Ezekiel 7:17), 3. every spirit will faint (cf. Isaiah 61:3) and 4. all knees will be weak [literally: flow] as water” (Ezekiel 7:17).
When the news of the fall and destruction of Jerusalem comes, it will take away the courage of all who hear it. And it will surely come, for the LORD has said so. This is what Ezekiel needs to show and let hear to the exiles with whom he is.
Daniel 2:44
The People Are Massacred
The word of the LORD comes to Ezekiel (Ezekiel 21:1). He is commanded to set his face toward Jerusalem and to speak, or: let his words flow, against the sanctuaries (Ezekiel 21:2; cf. Ezekiel 20:46). After the Negev in the previous verses (Ezekiel 20:45-49), by which Judah is meant, it is now Jerusalem’s turn to hear words of judgment. Judgment is directed primarily against “the sanctuaries” by which, given the plural, is possibly meant the temple complex (cf. Leviticus 26:31; Matthew 24:1). Ezekiel is also to prophesy against the whole land of Israel.
The whole land has so forsaken the LORD that He will cut off from it both the righteous and the wicked (Ezekiel 21:3). They are the green and the dry tree of the previous riddle (Ezekiel 20:47). The fire, spoken of there, has now become a sword. The LORD will draw His sword out of its sheath to exercise the judgment. This refers to the carnage that will be wrought by Nebuchadnezzar, who is His sword.
The word ‘sword’ occurs no less than thirteen times in the following verses. This does show the severity and certainty of the judgment. It is also a general judgment, for the sword will be against “all flesh” (cf. Ezekiel 20:48), “from south [to] north” (Ezekiel 21:4), including the princes (Ezekiel 21:12). The judgment will be unstoppable (Ezekiel 21:5).
As Ezekiel lets his words flow, he must “groan with breaking heart [literally: loins] and bitter grief” (Ezekiel 21:6). The groaning must be so deep that he is like a broken man, like someone bent or huddled with his hands on his stomach because of an excruciating stomachache. Strength to walk is not there. He has to show this dejection because there is no hope of recovery from the pain. When the people ask him why he is doing this, he must say that he is weighed down by the burden the LORD is placing on him (Ezekiel 21:7).
The prophet is committed to his message and he is deeply burdened by it himself. The inner feelings and expressions that show this show that he does not bring his message with pleasure. The suffering he has to announce that will come upon his people affects him deeply.
If we have to admonish someone, we must have the right inner mind for it and give it the right expression. Do we also know the groaning because of the disasters that will befall the world and professing Christianity?
Just as the imminent suffering coming upon his people deprives him of all strength already now at its announcement, so it will be with those over whom the sword of God’s judgment will soon come. Ezekiel uses four expressions to describe the physical and spiritual reaction to the news of the fall Jerusalem: 1. “And every heart will melt (cf. Psalms 22:14; Isaiah 13:7; Nahum 2:10), 2. all hands will be feeble (cf. 2 Samuel 4:1; Isaiah 13:7; Jeremiah 6:24; Ezekiel 7:17), 3. every spirit will faint (cf. Isaiah 61:3) and 4. all knees will be weak [literally: flow] as water” (Ezekiel 7:17).
When the news of the fall and destruction of Jerusalem comes, it will take away the courage of all who hear it. And it will surely come, for the LORD has said so. This is what Ezekiel needs to show and let hear to the exiles with whom he is.
Daniel 2:45
The Sword Song
Again the word of the LORD comes to Ezekiel (Ezekiel 21:8). He is now commanded to prophesy about the sword, about the coming of the sword and what the sword will do (Ezekiel 21:9). He speaks in poetic language, in the form of a song, about the horrors that the sword will bring. He begins by describing the sword. The sword is mentioned twice in succession, because of the impression it makes. It is not a sword that hangs on the wall for decoration, but a sword that has been sharpened and polished for use.
The sword is sharpened to make a slaughter, and it is polished to make it shine when it is struck back and forth flashing (Ezekiel 21:10). It will come with the speed of lightning. At that sight, all joy disappears. It is, says the LORD, the rod with which He must discipline His son Israel because he has despised every tree, which means every other rod of wood. God’s people have been unwilling to listen to any discipline (cf. Deuteronomy 21:18-21).
God gave the sword to Nebuchadnezzar (Ezekiel 21:11). Nebuchadnezzar took it in his hand to carry out God’s counsel. However, in doing so he has only pursued his own evil, cruel plans. Like “the slayer”, he has acted with the sword given him by God. He has carried out the task given to him only to his own honor and pleasure.
That is why Ezekiel is commanded to cry out and wail (Ezekiel 21:12), because God’s people are suffering so much. God is not indifferent to what people do to His people of their own accord, driven by murderous motives. He wants to punish His people, but those who are used by Him want to exterminate His people. That is what concerns Him. Here we see that God is not a cruel God, but uses everything to His ends, without in the slightest diminishing the responsibility of those whom He makes use of. The people and their officials have been given up to the sword. This is a matter to be intensely grieved over, of which the striking of the thigh is an expression (Jeremiah 31:19a).
But what happens when this tried rod has also done its work and is taken away, the LORD asks (Ezekiel 21:13)? In order to avoid having no effect, the prophet must continue to prophesy (Ezekiel 21:14). He must clap his hands together as a sign of dismay. For the sword will come down on Judah with double strength, yes, with triple strength. It will come down in such fury upon the great ones, the forefathers of the people, that many will fall down mortally wounded. It will cause great fear. Many will be brought down and thus become a stumbling block to those who want to flee (Ezekiel 21:15). And when they come to the gate to go out of the city, they will run into the sword there and be killed. After all, the sword was polished for that purpose.
Then the sword is addressed (Ezekiel 21:16). The short sentences sound like sword strokes. The sword is under God’s command, and the command is that the sword is to spread death and destruction in all directions, whichever way it turns. What Ezekiel has to do in Ezekiel 21:14, God Himself will also do (Ezekiel 21:17) when His sword is busy sowing death and destruction. He will clap His hands together and bring His wrath down upon the people. He will appease His wrath through the judgment on the wicked and encourage the sword to destroy, until His wrath is stilled. He has spoken it and so it will happen.
Daniel 2:46
The Sword Song
Again the word of the LORD comes to Ezekiel (Ezekiel 21:8). He is now commanded to prophesy about the sword, about the coming of the sword and what the sword will do (Ezekiel 21:9). He speaks in poetic language, in the form of a song, about the horrors that the sword will bring. He begins by describing the sword. The sword is mentioned twice in succession, because of the impression it makes. It is not a sword that hangs on the wall for decoration, but a sword that has been sharpened and polished for use.
The sword is sharpened to make a slaughter, and it is polished to make it shine when it is struck back and forth flashing (Ezekiel 21:10). It will come with the speed of lightning. At that sight, all joy disappears. It is, says the LORD, the rod with which He must discipline His son Israel because he has despised every tree, which means every other rod of wood. God’s people have been unwilling to listen to any discipline (cf. Deuteronomy 21:18-21).
God gave the sword to Nebuchadnezzar (Ezekiel 21:11). Nebuchadnezzar took it in his hand to carry out God’s counsel. However, in doing so he has only pursued his own evil, cruel plans. Like “the slayer”, he has acted with the sword given him by God. He has carried out the task given to him only to his own honor and pleasure.
That is why Ezekiel is commanded to cry out and wail (Ezekiel 21:12), because God’s people are suffering so much. God is not indifferent to what people do to His people of their own accord, driven by murderous motives. He wants to punish His people, but those who are used by Him want to exterminate His people. That is what concerns Him. Here we see that God is not a cruel God, but uses everything to His ends, without in the slightest diminishing the responsibility of those whom He makes use of. The people and their officials have been given up to the sword. This is a matter to be intensely grieved over, of which the striking of the thigh is an expression (Jeremiah 31:19a).
But what happens when this tried rod has also done its work and is taken away, the LORD asks (Ezekiel 21:13)? In order to avoid having no effect, the prophet must continue to prophesy (Ezekiel 21:14). He must clap his hands together as a sign of dismay. For the sword will come down on Judah with double strength, yes, with triple strength. It will come down in such fury upon the great ones, the forefathers of the people, that many will fall down mortally wounded. It will cause great fear. Many will be brought down and thus become a stumbling block to those who want to flee (Ezekiel 21:15). And when they come to the gate to go out of the city, they will run into the sword there and be killed. After all, the sword was polished for that purpose.
Then the sword is addressed (Ezekiel 21:16). The short sentences sound like sword strokes. The sword is under God’s command, and the command is that the sword is to spread death and destruction in all directions, whichever way it turns. What Ezekiel has to do in Ezekiel 21:14, God Himself will also do (Ezekiel 21:17) when His sword is busy sowing death and destruction. He will clap His hands together and bring His wrath down upon the people. He will appease His wrath through the judgment on the wicked and encourage the sword to destroy, until His wrath is stilled. He has spoken it and so it will happen.
Daniel 2:47
The Sword Song
Again the word of the LORD comes to Ezekiel (Ezekiel 21:8). He is now commanded to prophesy about the sword, about the coming of the sword and what the sword will do (Ezekiel 21:9). He speaks in poetic language, in the form of a song, about the horrors that the sword will bring. He begins by describing the sword. The sword is mentioned twice in succession, because of the impression it makes. It is not a sword that hangs on the wall for decoration, but a sword that has been sharpened and polished for use.
The sword is sharpened to make a slaughter, and it is polished to make it shine when it is struck back and forth flashing (Ezekiel 21:10). It will come with the speed of lightning. At that sight, all joy disappears. It is, says the LORD, the rod with which He must discipline His son Israel because he has despised every tree, which means every other rod of wood. God’s people have been unwilling to listen to any discipline (cf. Deuteronomy 21:18-21).
God gave the sword to Nebuchadnezzar (Ezekiel 21:11). Nebuchadnezzar took it in his hand to carry out God’s counsel. However, in doing so he has only pursued his own evil, cruel plans. Like “the slayer”, he has acted with the sword given him by God. He has carried out the task given to him only to his own honor and pleasure.
That is why Ezekiel is commanded to cry out and wail (Ezekiel 21:12), because God’s people are suffering so much. God is not indifferent to what people do to His people of their own accord, driven by murderous motives. He wants to punish His people, but those who are used by Him want to exterminate His people. That is what concerns Him. Here we see that God is not a cruel God, but uses everything to His ends, without in the slightest diminishing the responsibility of those whom He makes use of. The people and their officials have been given up to the sword. This is a matter to be intensely grieved over, of which the striking of the thigh is an expression (Jeremiah 31:19a).
But what happens when this tried rod has also done its work and is taken away, the LORD asks (Ezekiel 21:13)? In order to avoid having no effect, the prophet must continue to prophesy (Ezekiel 21:14). He must clap his hands together as a sign of dismay. For the sword will come down on Judah with double strength, yes, with triple strength. It will come down in such fury upon the great ones, the forefathers of the people, that many will fall down mortally wounded. It will cause great fear. Many will be brought down and thus become a stumbling block to those who want to flee (Ezekiel 21:15). And when they come to the gate to go out of the city, they will run into the sword there and be killed. After all, the sword was polished for that purpose.
Then the sword is addressed (Ezekiel 21:16). The short sentences sound like sword strokes. The sword is under God’s command, and the command is that the sword is to spread death and destruction in all directions, whichever way it turns. What Ezekiel has to do in Ezekiel 21:14, God Himself will also do (Ezekiel 21:17) when His sword is busy sowing death and destruction. He will clap His hands together and bring His wrath down upon the people. He will appease His wrath through the judgment on the wicked and encourage the sword to destroy, until His wrath is stilled. He has spoken it and so it will happen.
Daniel 2:48
The Sword Song
Again the word of the LORD comes to Ezekiel (Ezekiel 21:8). He is now commanded to prophesy about the sword, about the coming of the sword and what the sword will do (Ezekiel 21:9). He speaks in poetic language, in the form of a song, about the horrors that the sword will bring. He begins by describing the sword. The sword is mentioned twice in succession, because of the impression it makes. It is not a sword that hangs on the wall for decoration, but a sword that has been sharpened and polished for use.
The sword is sharpened to make a slaughter, and it is polished to make it shine when it is struck back and forth flashing (Ezekiel 21:10). It will come with the speed of lightning. At that sight, all joy disappears. It is, says the LORD, the rod with which He must discipline His son Israel because he has despised every tree, which means every other rod of wood. God’s people have been unwilling to listen to any discipline (cf. Deuteronomy 21:18-21).
God gave the sword to Nebuchadnezzar (Ezekiel 21:11). Nebuchadnezzar took it in his hand to carry out God’s counsel. However, in doing so he has only pursued his own evil, cruel plans. Like “the slayer”, he has acted with the sword given him by God. He has carried out the task given to him only to his own honor and pleasure.
That is why Ezekiel is commanded to cry out and wail (Ezekiel 21:12), because God’s people are suffering so much. God is not indifferent to what people do to His people of their own accord, driven by murderous motives. He wants to punish His people, but those who are used by Him want to exterminate His people. That is what concerns Him. Here we see that God is not a cruel God, but uses everything to His ends, without in the slightest diminishing the responsibility of those whom He makes use of. The people and their officials have been given up to the sword. This is a matter to be intensely grieved over, of which the striking of the thigh is an expression (Jeremiah 31:19a).
But what happens when this tried rod has also done its work and is taken away, the LORD asks (Ezekiel 21:13)? In order to avoid having no effect, the prophet must continue to prophesy (Ezekiel 21:14). He must clap his hands together as a sign of dismay. For the sword will come down on Judah with double strength, yes, with triple strength. It will come down in such fury upon the great ones, the forefathers of the people, that many will fall down mortally wounded. It will cause great fear. Many will be brought down and thus become a stumbling block to those who want to flee (Ezekiel 21:15). And when they come to the gate to go out of the city, they will run into the sword there and be killed. After all, the sword was polished for that purpose.
Then the sword is addressed (Ezekiel 21:16). The short sentences sound like sword strokes. The sword is under God’s command, and the command is that the sword is to spread death and destruction in all directions, whichever way it turns. What Ezekiel has to do in Ezekiel 21:14, God Himself will also do (Ezekiel 21:17) when His sword is busy sowing death and destruction. He will clap His hands together and bring His wrath down upon the people. He will appease His wrath through the judgment on the wicked and encourage the sword to destroy, until His wrath is stilled. He has spoken it and so it will happen.
Daniel 2:49
The Sword Song
Again the word of the LORD comes to Ezekiel (Ezekiel 21:8). He is now commanded to prophesy about the sword, about the coming of the sword and what the sword will do (Ezekiel 21:9). He speaks in poetic language, in the form of a song, about the horrors that the sword will bring. He begins by describing the sword. The sword is mentioned twice in succession, because of the impression it makes. It is not a sword that hangs on the wall for decoration, but a sword that has been sharpened and polished for use.
The sword is sharpened to make a slaughter, and it is polished to make it shine when it is struck back and forth flashing (Ezekiel 21:10). It will come with the speed of lightning. At that sight, all joy disappears. It is, says the LORD, the rod with which He must discipline His son Israel because he has despised every tree, which means every other rod of wood. God’s people have been unwilling to listen to any discipline (cf. Deuteronomy 21:18-21).
God gave the sword to Nebuchadnezzar (Ezekiel 21:11). Nebuchadnezzar took it in his hand to carry out God’s counsel. However, in doing so he has only pursued his own evil, cruel plans. Like “the slayer”, he has acted with the sword given him by God. He has carried out the task given to him only to his own honor and pleasure.
That is why Ezekiel is commanded to cry out and wail (Ezekiel 21:12), because God’s people are suffering so much. God is not indifferent to what people do to His people of their own accord, driven by murderous motives. He wants to punish His people, but those who are used by Him want to exterminate His people. That is what concerns Him. Here we see that God is not a cruel God, but uses everything to His ends, without in the slightest diminishing the responsibility of those whom He makes use of. The people and their officials have been given up to the sword. This is a matter to be intensely grieved over, of which the striking of the thigh is an expression (Jeremiah 31:19a).
But what happens when this tried rod has also done its work and is taken away, the LORD asks (Ezekiel 21:13)? In order to avoid having no effect, the prophet must continue to prophesy (Ezekiel 21:14). He must clap his hands together as a sign of dismay. For the sword will come down on Judah with double strength, yes, with triple strength. It will come down in such fury upon the great ones, the forefathers of the people, that many will fall down mortally wounded. It will cause great fear. Many will be brought down and thus become a stumbling block to those who want to flee (Ezekiel 21:15). And when they come to the gate to go out of the city, they will run into the sword there and be killed. After all, the sword was polished for that purpose.
Then the sword is addressed (Ezekiel 21:16). The short sentences sound like sword strokes. The sword is under God’s command, and the command is that the sword is to spread death and destruction in all directions, whichever way it turns. What Ezekiel has to do in Ezekiel 21:14, God Himself will also do (Ezekiel 21:17) when His sword is busy sowing death and destruction. He will clap His hands together and bring His wrath down upon the people. He will appease His wrath through the judgment on the wicked and encourage the sword to destroy, until His wrath is stilled. He has spoken it and so it will happen.