Ezekiel by Mark Rooker

Author:Mark Rooker
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
Published: 2010-02-10T16:00:00+00:00

Success, achievement, fame, wealth: multiply earthly triumphs by a million, add them all together, and they are nothing—less than nothing, a positive impediment measured against one draught of that living water Christ offers to the spiritually thirsty, irrespective of who they are. What, I ask, does life hold? What is come which could possibly be put in the balance against the refreshment of drinking that water? (Malcolm Muggeridge in 1500 Inspirational Quotes and Illustrations, ed. M. Lunn Family, Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1974, p. 7).

Because the king was deluded by his own accomplishments, he will be rejected and thrown to the earth. Tyre will be consumed by its own fire and reduced to ashes on the ground so that nations who traded with her will become appalled when the king comes to a horrible end. For the concept of a profaning evildoer consumed by fire from the holy precinct, see Leviticus 10:1-2 and Numbers 16:35. The refrain, you have come to a horrible end (Ezek. 26:21; 27:36), occurs for the final time to conclude God's judgment.

28:20-23. In the closing section of Ezekiel 28, we find a short oracle addressed to Sidon, a city closely associated with Tyre, as well as assurances for Israel. These declarations constitute the purpose of the judgment oracles on foreign nations.

The oracle against Sidon begins with God's announcement that a punishment is coming upon Sidon which will result in the acknowledgement of God's glory and holiness. The punishment will consist of both plague and sword with emphasis on the acknowledgment of Israel's God as Lord among the inhabitants of Sidon (Deut. 32:24-25). The same goal was stated as the goal of the exodus (Exod. 14:4,17-18).

28:24-26. At the midpoint in the judgment oracles against foreign nations, God turns to the desired effect of these judgments on Israel's malicious neighbors who had become painful briers and sharp thorns for God's chosen people. The purpose of these judgments is twofold. First, with the destruction of Israel's enemies, the people of God can live in security. In addition, these foreign peoples will learn of the Lord when they are punished and God acts to gather his people from the nations where they have been scattered.

The promise of the ingathering of God's scattered people is a common theme in Ezekiel (11:17; 34:13; 37:21; 39:27). God will place them in their own land where they will live in safety and build houses and plant vineyards (Gen. 28:13; Jer. 23:6; Amos 9:14-15). Israel will return from captivity, fulfilling the prophecies of Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 4 and 30. This restoration will also result in the recognition of the true God (Ezek. 28:22-24,26). He will show himself holy, unique among all gods (Ezek. 28:22,25; 38:16), not only in judging nations but in restoring Israel to fellowship. Israel will know that this is the work of the Lord. Nations that treated Israel with contempt will be destroyed, but a restored Israel will demonstrate God's holiness.

Judgment on Consummate Ruler (29:1-32:32)

SUPPORTING IDEA: After Egypt is devastated by the Babylonians and the strength of Pharaoh is gone, Egypt will be brought down to Sheol's judgment.

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