I wonder what it was like for Ezekiel, finding himself in the position of declaring God's judgment, while he was already captive in the land of Babylon. He was young, not old enough to be considered a sage, yet he was the one chosen. Further, he could even have felt God didn't have his best in mind when He allowed Ezekiel to be taken captive and torn away from his beloved homeland. We can read the story from this side of history and see God was actually protecting him, but Ezekiel didn't know that when he was first captured and whisked away. From the timeline provided in Ezekiel we know he was 25 years old when he was taken captive - and 30 when God gave him his first vision and began speaking to him of what was to come. That is young by any standard, and certainly young for what he was chosen to share. Prophets generally aren't very popular!
I have not had time to write the past several days, but this isn't a Bible study - so that's O K. I do want to point out a few interesting incidentals that leaped out at me as I read.
In Chapter 21 verse 27, God says of Jerusalem, "A ruin, ruin, ruin I will make it. This also shall not be until he comes, the one to whom judgment belongs, and I will give it to him...." This leaps out at me because it speaks of layered prophecy. It is clear that chapters 1 - 25 are clearly directed to prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem that is to come in 586 B C, but this leaps forward to the end of time when the Messiah - the one to whom judgment belongs - will have the right of judging conferred upon Him.
Just a few verses later, verse 30 leaps out to me - that God is pronouncing His judgment from the land where man was created - in the land of man's origin - Eden. A clear statement that Eden was in Babylon. Because of original sin, it was cursed, but it was the place of beginning. Again, tingles of what God reveals.
In Chapter 22, there is such sadness expressed in verse 30: "And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none." How sad, not one person was left in all of the land God had given them. In reality, God had already allowed those who honored Him to be taken captive and removed, and young Ezekiel was among them...but how it would break God's heart. After all He had done for them, they stopped pursuing Him.
Chapter 23:35 reiterates that clearly: "Because you have forgotten me and cast me behind your back, you yourself must bear the consequences...." God portrays their sins as lewdness and whoring. It is both factual and symbolic. They turned away from God and ran after everything He had saved them from.
It is compelling to me to listen and take note. In one sense it is comforting to know that God is a God of His Word - but on the other hand, it is terrifying if we are on the wrong side of His will. He had Ezekiel prophesy against the land of His chosen people - against Jerusalem, the city that was His city - and that prophecy was fulfilled exactly as God forewarned. Not only that, inserted into the warnings for then are warnings for the future. God will do what He has proclaimed. It would seem that anyone reading this would be compelled to pursue Him, and run to Him begging for mercy.
LORD, may it be so!
He alone is worthy of all honor and glory and power and praise! He accepts no less....
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