August 17 A READ EZEKIEL 12–15
Signs and Sermons
OVERVIEW
Jeremiah used object lessons extensively in his prophetic ministry. Ezekiel uses dramatic portrayals—divine charades designed to arouse the curiosity of the people and rivet their attention on the events that were soon to transpire in Jerusalem. Packing up his household belongings, Ezekiel heads for the city wall, where he digs a hole and climbs through—a picture of the soon-coming deportation of the people and the loss of all they called home.
MY DAILY WALK
In chapter 15, Ezekiel likens Jerusalem to a useless vine. Vines are excellent for growing fruit, but they are good for little else. You can’t make furniture out of them, build a good fire with them, or turn them into anything particularly useful. In fact, a vine that is fruitless is practically worthless.
The inhabitants of Jerusalem were worthless to God because of their wickedness and idolatry. Planted in the land to be a testimony to his name, they failed to produce the fruit God expected from them. There was nothing left to do but remove them—a painful but necessary way for God to get across the message, “I am the LORD.”
Check up on your UQ (Usefulness Quotient) today. Does God have free rein to produce the fruit of the Spirit in your life (Galatians 5:22-23)? Press a leaf between the pages of your Bible as a reminder that fruit-bearing is not just a good idea—it is one of the reasons God has placed you on this planet (John 15:1-6).
PEOPLE’S CHARACTER AND THEIR GARDENS BOTH REFLECT THE AMOUNT OF WEEDING THAT WAS DONE DURING THE GROWING SEASON.
INSIGHT
Sign Language | Ezek. 12:1-6
Ezekiel’s actions dramatized the will of God and the condition of his people. See if you can complete the chart below that lists Ezekiel’s ten signs designed to teach the nation ten divine truths.
INSIGHT
Famous Names in Unfamiliar Places | Ezek. 14:20
In Jeremiah we learned that even if Moses and Samuel had prayed on Judah’s behalf, God would not have listened (Jeremiah 15:1). Now in Ezekiel we learn that even if Noah, Daniel, and Job had lived in Jerusalem, their presence would not have saved the city (Ezekiel 14:20).
Signs of the Coming Exile
1Again a message came to me from the LORD: 2“Son of man, you live among rebels who have eyes but refuse to see. They have ears but refuse to hear. For they are a rebellious people.
3“So now, son of man, pretend you are being sent into exile. Pack the few items an exile could carry, and leave your home to go somewhere else. Do this right in front of the people so they can see you. For perhaps they will pay attention to this, even though they are such rebels. 4Bring your baggage outside during the day so they can watch you. Then in the evening, as they are watching, leave your house as captives do when they begin a long march to distant lands. 5Dig a hole through the wall while they are watching and go out through it. 6As they watch, lift your pack to your shoulders and walk away into the night. Cover your face so you cannot see the land you are leaving. For I have made you a sign for the people of Israel.”
7So I did as I was told. In broad daylight I brought my pack outside, filled with the things I might carry into exile. Then in the evening while the people looked on, I dug through the wall with my hands and went out into the night with my pack on my shoulder.
8The next morning this message came to me from the LORD: 9“Son of man, these rebels, the people of Israel, have asked you what all this means. 10Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: These actions contain a message for King Zedekiah in Jerusalem* and for all the people of Israel.’ 11Explain that your actions are a sign to show what will soon happen to them, for they will be driven into exile as captives.
12“Even Zedekiah will leave Jerusalem at night through a hole in the wall, taking only what he can carry with him. He will cover his face, and his eyes will not see the land he is leaving. 13Then I will throw my net over him and capture him in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Babylonians,* though he will never see it, and he will die there. 14I will scatter his servants and warriors to the four winds and send the sword after them. 15And when I scatter them among the nations, they will know that I am the LORD. 16But I will spare a few of them from death by war, famine, or disease, so they can confess all their detestable sins to their captors. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”
17Then this message came to me from the LORD: 18“Son of man, tremble as you eat your food. Shake with fear as you drink your water. 19Tell the people, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says concerning those living in Israel and Jerusalem: They will eat their food with trembling and sip their water in despair, for their land will be stripped bare because of their violence. 20The cities will be destroyed and the farmland made desolate. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”
A New Proverb for Israel
21Again a message came to me from the LORD: 22“Son of man, you’ve heard that proverb they quote in Israel: ‘Time passes, and prophecies come to nothing.’ 23Tell the people, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will put an end to this proverb, and you will soon stop quoting it.’ Now give them this new proverb to replace the old one: ‘The time has come for every prophecy to be fulfilled!’
24“There will be no more false visions and flattering predictions in Israel. 25For I am the LORD! If I say it, it will happen. There will be no more delays, you rebels of Israel. I will fulfill my threat of destruction in your own lifetime. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!”
26Then this message came to me from the LORD: 27“Son of man, the people of Israel are saying, ‘He’s talking about the distant future. His visions won’t come true for a long, long time.’ 28Therefore, tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: No more delay! I will now do everything I have threatened. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!’”