Bible reading & studying in one year on 12/7/2021 Ezekiel 31-33
By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce Christian Arts Ministries :Biblical precepts
& Gospel Music
Chapter
31 is the comparison between Assyria and Egypt. In verses 1-9 Egypt is likened
to a lofty cedar; verses10-14 describe her destruction; verses15-18, the
reaction of the nations. Pharaoh’s sin was pride (as was Satan’s, 28:6,17) the
ruler of the nations. Nebuchadnezzar. Other nations were consoled when Egypt
fell, but they too would do down (gone down is a prophetic perfect indicating
future time) to the grace, or Sheol, eventually.
Chapter 32 is the
lamentation over Egypt. February- March 585, one year and seven months after
the fall of Jerusalem (v.1). Egypt’s fall is described in verses2-8; the
reactions of the nations in verses 9-10; the instrument (Nebuchadnezzar) in
verses11-16. Two weeks later than verse 1. A graphic description of Sheol (the
pit, vv.18, 24-25, 29-30). Other nations are there to greet Egypt. Elam, once a
mighty power in SW. Asia, was absorbed by Persia (vv.24-25). Meshech and Tubal (v.26)
were powers to the NW. (38:2-3). On Edom (v.290 sees Introduction to Obadiah.
Pharaoh would find comfort in knowing his is not the only empire that has gone
to Sheol(v.31).
Chapter 33, Ezekiel
prophecies of Israel’s restoration and Ezekiel’s appointment as a Watchman
33:1-33.
“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so
hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When
I say to the wicked, ‘ O wicked man, you will surely die, and you do not speak
out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his ins, and I
will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the wicked man to
turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will
have saved yourself.” (vv.7-9)
Son
of man, say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what you are saying: “Our offenses
and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can
we live? Say to them, ‘as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn
from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O
house of Israel?”(vv.10-11)
We are wasting away because
of the inevitable consequences of our sins. To those feeling this way God gave
two words of comfort. God desires men to live, and sin is forgivable.(vv.10-11)
“ Therefore,
son of man, say to your countrymen, ‘ The righteousness of the righteous man
will not save him when he disobeys and the wickedness of the wicked man will
not cause him to fall when he turns from it. The righteous man, if he sins, will not be allowed to live because
of his former righteousness. If I tell the righteous man that he will surely
live but then he trusts in his righteousness and does evil, none of the
righteous things he has done will be remembered; he will die for the evil he
has done.”(vv.12-13)
And if I say to the
wicked man, ‘you will surely die, but he then turns away from his sin and does
what is just and right-if he gives back what he took in pledge for a loan,
returns what he has stolen, follows the decrees that give life and does no
evil, he will surely live; he will not die. None of the sins he has committed
will be remembered against him. He has done what is just and right; he will
surely live. (vv.14-16)
Yet
your countrymen say, “The way of the Lord is not just.” But it is their way
that is not just. If a righteous man turns
from his righteousness and does evil, he will die for it.
And if a wicked man turns away from his wickedness and does what is just
and right, he will live by doing so. Yet, O house of Israel, you say, “the way of
the Lord is not just.” But I will judge each
of you according to his own ways.”(vv.17-20)
A turning point in Ezekiel’s ministry. The fall of Jerusalem, for which Ezekiel had waited seven years, has happened. Now his ministry would be one of promise for the nation. Twelfth year. Some Hebrew manuscripts read “eleventh year”, the year Jerusalem fell (jer.39:2), which would mean the Ezekiel received the news six months after the fall. Some believe two systems of dating are involved (Palestinian and Babylonian), though it is not impossible that half a year passed before Ezekiel received full details.
“In the twelfth year of our exile, in the
tenth month on the fifth day, a man who had escaped from Jerusalem came to me
and said, “ The city has fallen!” Now the evening, before the man arrived, the
hand of the Lord was upon me, and he opened my mouth before the man came to me in
the morning. So my mouth was opened and I was no longer silent.”(vv.21-22)
In verses 23-29 A message for those who evaded the Babylonian
conquerors. They were saying that if Abraham, a single individual, was given
the land, how much more did they have a right to it. Ezekiel answered by cataloging
six sins of which they were guilty (vv.25-26).
“Therefore, say to them, “This is what the
Sovereign Lord says: Since you eat meat with the blood still in it and look to your idols
and shed blood, should you then possess the land? You rely on your sword, you
do detestable things, and each of you defiles his neighbor’s wife. Should you
then possess the land?”
(25-26).
Many of the exiles looked on Ezekiel as merely providing entertainment
for them, and they didn’t heed his message.
“As for you, son of man, your countrymen are
talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying
to each other, “Come and hear the message that has come from the Lord”. My people come to you, as
they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not
put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their
hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a
beautiful voice and play an instrument well, for they hear your words but do
not put them into practice. When all this comes true
and it surely will then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”(vv.30-33).
Bibliography,
Ryrie, Charles C. The
Ryrie Study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.
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