Ezekiel 24:1-5
The date given is the 9th year of Zedekiah and coincides with 2 Kings 25:1. This is January 5th of 587B.C. This is a significant date in history, one not to be lost in time and so it was to be recorded by Ezekiel. Dating can be confusing and difficult, particularly with the years dated from king's reign. Some include the ascension year and others do not. This was a day of which much was spoken but many, if not most, did not believe would ever come. The true prophets knew of this day, spoke of it and anticipated it with dread. This was the day of the siege on Jerusalem began. It was the beginning of an end; an end that brought exile.
Ezekiel was to put a cauldron on the fire, fill it with water and put meat in it. He was making a stew. The pieces of meat are words used to describe meant cut from animal sacrifices. The 'fuel bones' of NKJV should be wood from the context. This is likely a scribal error of one letter making wood to bones.
Ezekiel 24:6-8
The bloody city is the idea of impurity symbolized by bloodshed. The word scum is a hard word used only in this passage. The scum seems to be associated with the choice cuts of meat, indicating their impurity. They become inappropriate and no lot falls on them because no one wants them.
The impurity is in the midst of Jerusalem, displayed without shame. Set on a rock, not covered over as an impurity ought. This in turn brings the Lord to fury and vengeance as the displayed impurity becomes justification for His action.
Ezekiel 24:9-14
The Lord takes on the role of the cook. He will kindle the fire until this stew is burned up. He will bring the fires of judgment on Judah. But the pot remains unclean even with the contents burned up. The pot would be set on the fire directly so to cleanse it by fire. All previous attempts at cleansing had failed. These were temporary corrections enacted by some but never full embracing the Lord's way and turning from sin. Because of all the previous failures at cleansing, the Lord will bring His judgment on them. This is te picture of the pot setting directly on the fire burning all that's on the inside and outside completely and utterly. All the impurities would burn away, all the scum; the 'she' of verse 12 is the pot. The Babylonians would bring the fire of judgment on them and they would judge Judah and Jerusalem.
Ezekiel 24:15-18
To lose a your spouse is a tearing away of part of the one that God put together. Ezekiel's wife is rightly described as 'the desire of your eyes'. It was with one stroke, or one blow this was done. The word is also translated as plague in many places. There were probably many killed in this swipe of destruction.
Ezekiel was not to give any outward sign of loss; no mourning or weeping. There was to be no ritual mourning as was normally done. One normally removed their turban in mourning, he was to keep his on. Covering the lower part of your face was normal in mourning. Then the 'bread of sorrow' was apparently a bread used in ritual mourning.
In the morning, Ezekiel spoke to the people; likely of the stew of verses 1-14. Then, in the evening his wife passed away. In the morning, he did what the Lord instructed. Was this not the hardest day of his life?
Ezekiel 24:19-24
The people were disturbed at Ezekiel's seemingly emotionless response to death. This was so far from normal, they knew it was significant. God was going to profane His sanctuary and their families would die by the sword. As this is done, they would not show outward signs of death; all the normal actions associated with mourning would be missing as they were with Ezekiel. They would simply 'pine away' in their sin while they groaned to each other. They would be acting like Ezekiel but feel completely justified in doing so. Their would be a complaint, an offense to their pride and ego, The groaning is a complaint of inconvenience for the selfish and self centered.
The desire of Ezekiel's eyes was his wife. Marriage is a picture of the relationship of the Lord to the church (people). Their desire of the eyes of the people of Judah was the sanctuary; their arrogant boast, the delight of their soul. Their hope wasn't found in the Lord or his ways, it was a trust in religion. In their heart, they thought nothing would happen because the temple was in Jerusalem. It was God's sanctuary. He'll not let anything bad happen.
They made the sanctuary an idol, a god of their own making. Is this any different than how we trust in church attendance rather than grace? The church attendee feels comforted because he sees himself as much better than all those who don't attend. Even the one who goes on Christmas and Easter can say this. It is by grace we are saved, through faith (Eph 2:8-9), not by perceiving our self as better than another or hiding behind some assumption we've made about God (This brings to mind the man who said, "God can't send everyone to hell. I just have to be as good as most.")
Ezekiel 24:25-27
The day was coming when God would take from them their stronghold, joy and glory, desire of their eyes, that on which they set their mind and their sons and daughters. When someone escaped they would come to Ezekiel and he could hear it himself. Then his mouth would be opened. This 'unmuting' is debated. It is likely a spiritual muting and not physical. One idea is that Ezekiel had sufficiently warned them of the coming judgment. He could refrain from warning until it played out and they came to know the truth. Then they could come to him and he could once again speak to them, but now of comfort and instruction. Then they might listen because they would know He is the Lord.
©2019 Doug Ford
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