Podcast

The Lord offers hope beyond the punishment. He sets Ezekiel as a watchman, responsible for warning people if their sins will lead them to destruction. Whether or not they repent, if Ezekiel knows that they are in danger of destruction, and does not warn them, he is responsible. So are we also set as watchmen.

Egypt was one of the most prosperous ancient civilizations. The Lord plans on punishing Egypt for their duplicity in their military agreements with Israel. Babylon will come through and plunder Egypt, leaving it to forever be a shadow of its former glory.

The Lord compares the King of Tyre to Lucifer. The King’s hubris will lead him to challenge Babylon and lose. The Lord will judge all nations that coerce or attack innocent countries. He will deliver the innocent from the thorns that attack them, though this may not happen in this lifetime.

Tyre had vast access to many markets: Persia and many Africans. Tyre produced a royal purple dye from shellfish that was very valuable. Their markets had all kinds of exotic goods. Among other things, Tyre is a center for slave trade. The King of Tyre considers himself a god, and will soon find out how incorrect this is.

Tyre will suffer the rather of many nations as part of God’s punishment for their perverse pleasure in Israel’s demise. This prophecy is controversial, partially because Tyre is able to survive long sieges. However, over the course of history it faces opponent after opponent, eventually succumbing to Alexander the Great.

God intends to punish the Ammonites, the Edomites, and the Phillistines. Some of them are punished merely for an attitude of malicious glee at the punishment of Israel. This should make us think twice about our own attitudes about our enemies.

God reminds the “Prince” of Israel of his country’s many sins, and how he will not escape punishment. Ultimately the nation will be shown mercy though, despite its long history of sin. Ezekiel is ordered to perform several signs of Israel’s coming punishment, including being ordered not to mourn the death of his wife.

Angry at the elders of Israel demanding prophecy, God reminds them of their continual inclination toward idolatry, even back in Egypt. He chastises them for distorting the Law of Moses to commit evil. For example some Israelites construed their firstborns belonging to God as an excuse to sacrifice and kill them out of convenience. We are warned that any ostensibly Christian activities that turn us away from God are not truly Christian activities.

God tells Israel a series of allegories. He warns Israel of its upcoming punishment for not only breaking His covenant but their political covenant with Babylon. He gains no pleasure from the death of His children and seeks their return to Him.

God reminds Judah that Sodom was synonymous was evil in Israelite culture, but that Judah’s actions are worse because they should know better. They are a prosperous nation steeped in Scripture that is turning around and attacking those loyal to God.