August 23, 2025
God's people repeatedly disobeyed.
Ezekiel 19-21
Lauren Atkinson
Big Book Idea
While destruction would come and had come, eventually there will be restoration.
Key Verse | Ezekiel 20:14
"But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out."
Ezekiel 19-21
Chapter 19
A Lament for the Princes of Israel
1 And you, take up a lamentation for the princes of Israel, 2 and say:
What was your mother? A lioness!
Among lions she crouched;
in the midst of young lions
she reared her cubs.
3
And she brought up one of her cubs;
he became a young lion,
and he learned to catch prey;
he devoured men.
4
The nations heard about him;
he was caught in their pit,
and they brought him with hooks
to the land of Egypt.
5
When she saw that she waited in vain,
that her hope was lost,
she took another of her cubs
and made him a young lion.
6
He prowled among the lions;
he became a young lion,
and he learned to catch prey;
he devoured men,
7
and seized
1
19:7
Hebrew knew
their widows.
He laid waste their cities,
and the land was appalled and all who were in it
at the sound of his roaring.
8
Then the nations set against him
from provinces on every side;
they spread their net over him;
he was taken in their pit.
9
With hooks they put him in a cage
2
19:9
Or in a wooden collar
and brought him to the king of Babylon;
they brought him into custody,
that his voice should no more be heard
on the mountains of Israel.
10
Your mother was like a vine in a vineyard
3
19:10
Some Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts in your blood
planted by the water,
fruitful and full of branches
by reason of abundant water.
11
Its strong stems became
rulers' scepters;
it towered aloft
among the thick boughs;
4
19:11
Or the clouds
it was seen in its height
with the mass of its branches.
12
But the vine was plucked up in fury,
cast down to the ground;
the east wind dried up its fruit;
they were stripped off and withered.
As for its strong stem,
fire consumed it.
13
Now it is planted in the wilderness,
in a dry and thirsty land.
14
And fire has gone out from the stem of its shoots,
has consumed its fruit,
so that there remains in it no strong stem,
no scepter for ruling.
This is a lamentation and has become a lamentation.
Chapter 20
Israel's Continuing Rebellion
1 In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and sat before me. 2 And the word of the LORD came to me: 3 “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God, Is it to inquire of me that you come? As I live, declares the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you. 4 Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Let them know the abominations of their fathers, 5 and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: On the day when I chose Israel, I swore 5 20:5 Hebrew I lifted my hand; twice in this verse; also verses 6, 15, 23, 28, 42 to the offspring of the house of Jacob, making myself known to them in the land of Egypt; I swore to them, saying, I am the LORD your God. 6 On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most glorious of all lands. 7 And I said to them, ‘Cast away the detestable things your eyes feast on, every one of you, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the LORD your God.’ 8 But they rebelled against me and were not willing to listen to me. None of them cast away the detestable things their eyes feasted on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt.
Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them and spend my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. 9 But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made myself known to them in bringing them out of the land of Egypt. 10 So I led them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. 11 I gave them my statutes and made known to them my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live. 12 Moreover, I gave them my Sabbaths, as a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them. 13 But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not walk in my statutes but rejected my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live; and my Sabbaths they greatly profaned.
Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them in the wilderness, to make a full end of them. 14 But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out. 15 Moreover, I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land that I had given them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most glorious of all lands, 16 because they rejected my rules and did not walk in my statutes, and profaned my Sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols. 17 Nevertheless, my eye spared them, and I did not destroy them or make a full end of them in the wilderness.
18 And I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers, nor keep their rules, nor defile yourselves with their idols. 19 I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and be careful to obey my rules, 20 and keep my Sabbaths holy that they may be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.’ 21 But the children rebelled against me. They did not walk in my statutes and were not careful to obey my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live; they profaned my Sabbaths.
Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them and spend my anger against them in the wilderness. 22 But I withheld my hand and acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out. 23 Moreover, I swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them through the countries, 24 because they had not obeyed my rules, but had rejected my statutes and profaned my Sabbaths, and their eyes were set on their fathers' idols. 25 Moreover, I gave them statutes that were not good and rules by which they could not have life, 26 and I defiled them through their very gifts in their offering up all their firstborn, that I might devastate them. I did it that they might know that I am the LORD.
27 Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: In this also your fathers blasphemed me, by dealing treacherously with me. 28 For when I had brought them into the land that I swore to give them, then wherever they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices and there they presented the provocation of their offering; there they sent up their pleasing aromas, and there they poured out their drink offerings. 29 (I said to them, ‘What is the high place to which you go?’ So its name is called Bamah 6 20:29 Bamah means high place to this day.)
30 Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: Will you defile yourselves after the manner of your fathers and go whoring after their detestable things? 31 When you present your gifts and offer up your children in fire, 7 20:31 Hebrew and make your children pass through the fire you defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. And shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, declares the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you.
32 What is in your mind shall never happen—the thought, ‘Let us be like the nations, like the tribes of the countries, and worship wood and stone.’
The LORD Will Restore Israel
33 As I live, declares the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out I will be king over you. 34 I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you are scattered, with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out. 35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face. 36 As I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you, declares the Lord God. 37 I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant. 38 I will purge out the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against me. I will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
39 As for you, O house of Israel, thus says the Lord God: Go serve every one of you his idols, now and hereafter, if you will not listen to me; but my holy name you shall no more profane with your gifts and your idols.
40 For on my holy mountain, the mountain height of Israel, declares the Lord God, there all the house of Israel, all of them, shall serve me in the land. There I will accept them, and there I will require your contributions and the choicest of your gifts, with all your sacred offerings. 41 As a pleasing aroma I will accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you have been scattered. And I will manifest my holiness among you in the sight of the nations. 42 And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the country that I swore to give to your fathers. 43 And there you shall remember your ways and all your deeds with which you have defiled yourselves, and you shall loathe yourselves for all the evils that you have committed. 44 And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I deal with you for my name's sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt deeds, O house of Israel, declares the Lord God.”
45 8 20:45 Ch 21:1 in Hebrew And the word of the LORD came to me: 46 “Son of man, set your face toward the southland; 9 20:46 Or toward Teman preach against the south, and prophesy against the forest land in the Negeb. 47 Say to the forest of the Negeb, Hear the word of the LORD: Thus says the Lord God, Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree in you and every dry tree. The blazing flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from south to north shall be scorched by it. 48 All flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.” 49 Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! They are saying of me, ‘Is he not a maker of parables?’”
Chapter 21
The LORD Has Drawn His Sword
1 10 21:1 Ch 21:6 in Hebrew The word of the LORD came to me: 2 “Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuaries. 11 21:2 Some Hebrew manuscripts, compare Septuagint, Syriac against their sanctuary Prophesy against the land of Israel 3 and say to the land of Israel, Thus says the LORD: Behold, I am against you and will draw my sword from its sheath and will cut off from you both righteous and wicked. 4 Because I will cut off from you both righteous and wicked, therefore my sword shall be drawn from its sheath against all flesh from south to north. 5 And all flesh shall know that I am the LORD. I have drawn my sword from its sheath; it shall not be sheathed again.
6 As for you, son of man, groan; with breaking heart and bitter grief, groan before their eyes. 7 And when they say to you, ‘Why do you groan?’ you shall say, ‘Because of the news that it is coming. Every heart will melt, and all hands will be feeble; every spirit will faint, and all knees will be weak as water. Behold, it is coming, and it will be fulfilled,’” declares the Lord God.
8 And the word of the LORD came to me: 9 “Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus says the Lord, say:
A sword, a sword is sharpened
and also polished,
10
sharpened for slaughter,
polished to flash like lightning!
(Or shall we rejoice? You have despised the rod, my son, with everything of wood.) 12 21:10 Probable reading; Hebrew The rod of my son despises everything of wood 11 So the sword is given to be polished, that it may be grasped in the hand. It is sharpened and polished to be given into the hand of the slayer. 12 Cry out and wail, son of man, for it is against my people. It is against all the princes of Israel. They are delivered over to the sword with my people. Strike therefore upon your thigh. 13 For it will not be a testing—what could it do if you despise the rod?” 13 21:13 Or For it is a testing; and what if even the rod despises? It shall not be! declares the Lord God.
14 “As for you, son of man, prophesy. Clap your hands and let the sword come down twice, yes, three times, 14 21:14 Hebrew its third the sword for those to be slain. It is the sword for the great slaughter, which surrounds them, 15 that their hearts may melt, and many stumble. 15 21:15 Hebrew many stumbling blocks At all their gates I have given the glittering sword. Ah, it is made like lightning; it is taken up 16 21:15 The meaning of the Hebrew word rendered taken up is uncertain for slaughter. 16 Cut sharply to the right; set yourself to the left, wherever your face is directed. 17 I also will clap my hands, and I will satisfy my fury; I the LORD have spoken.”
18 The word of the LORD came to me again: 19 “As for you, son of man, mark two ways for the sword of the king of Babylon to come. Both of them shall come from the same land. And make a signpost; make it at the head of the way to a city. 20 Mark a way for the sword to come to Rabbah of the Ammonites and to Judah, into Jerusalem the fortified. 21 For the king of Babylon stands at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination. He shakes the arrows; he consults the teraphim; 17 21:21 Or household idols he looks at the liver. 22 Into his right hand comes the divination for Jerusalem, to set battering rams, to open the mouth with murder, to lift up the voice with shouting, to set battering rams against the gates, to cast up mounds, to build siege towers. 23 But to them it will seem like a false divination. They have sworn solemn oaths, but he brings their guilt to remembrance, that they may be taken.
24 Therefore thus says the Lord God: Because you have made your guilt to be remembered, in that your transgressions are uncovered, so that in all your deeds your sins appear—because you have come to remembrance, you shall be taken in hand. 25 And you, O profane 18 21:25 Or slain; also verse 29 wicked one, prince of Israel, whose day has come, the time of your final punishment, 26 thus says the Lord God: Remove the turban and take off the crown. Things shall not remain as they are. Exalt that which is low, and bring low that which is exalted. 27 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.
28 And you, son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus says the Lord God concerning the Ammonites and concerning their reproach; say, A sword, a sword is drawn for the slaughter. It is polished to consume and to flash like lightning— 29 while they see for you false visions, while they divine lies for you—to place you on the necks of the profane wicked, whose day has come, the time of their final punishment. 30 Return it to its sheath. In the place where you were created, in the land of your origin, I will judge you. 31 And I will pour out my indignation upon you; I will blow upon you with the fire of my wrath, and I will deliver you into the hands of brutish men, skillful to destroy. 32 You shall be fuel for the fire. Your blood shall be in the midst of the land. You shall be no more remembered, for I the LORD have spoken.”
Footnotes
[1] 19:7 Hebrew knew[2] 19:9 Or in a wooden collar
[3] 19:10 Some Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts in your blood
[4] 19:11 Or the clouds
[5] 20:5 Hebrew I lifted my hand; twice in this verse; also verses 6, 15, 23, 28, 42
[6] 20:29 Bamah means high place
[7] 20:31 Hebrew and make your children pass through the fire
[8] 20:45 Ch 21:1 in Hebrew
[9] 20:46 Or toward Teman
[10] 21:1 Ch 21:6 in Hebrew
[11] 21:2 Some Hebrew manuscripts, compare Septuagint, Syriac against their sanctuary
[12] 21:10 Probable reading; Hebrew The rod of my son despises everything of wood
[13] 21:13 Or For it is a testing; and what if even the rod despises? It shall not be!
[14] 21:14 Hebrew its third
[15] 21:15 Hebrew many stumbling blocks
[16] 21:15 The meaning of the Hebrew word rendered taken up is uncertain
[17] 21:21 Or household idols
[18] 21:25 Or slain; also verse 29
Table of Contents
Introduction to Ezekiel
Timeline
Author and Date
The first dated message in Ezekiel is from the summer of 593 B.C., four years after Nebuchadnezzar deported the first group of exiles to Babylon. The latest dated oracle is 22 years later, in April 571 B.C. If Ezekiel was 30 years old when his ministry began (1:1), the final vision of the book came when he was about 50.
Theme and Purpose
Ezekiel spoke to a people forced from their home because they had broken faith with their God. As the spokesman for the Lord, Ezekiel spoke oracles that defended his reputation as a holy God (see especially 36:22–23). The primary purpose of Ezekiel’s message was to restore God’s glory before Israel, who had rejected him in front of the watching nations.
Background
Ezekiel prophesied during a time of great confusion following Israel’s exile to Babylon in 597 B.C. A former Judean king was among the exiles (the 18-year-old Jehoiachin), and the Babylonians had appointed a puppet king to the throne in Jerusalem (Jehoiachin’s uncle, Zedekiah).
In times of crisis, God sent prophets to bring his message to his people. Judah’s exile was therefore a period of intense prophetic activity. (Jeremiah also served during this time.)
Ezekiel’s fellow exiles were his main audience, but his oracles also communicated to people who remained in Judah.
Key Themes
- As a priest, Ezekiel was deeply concerned with restoring God’s people to holiness. His understanding of the depth of Israel’s sin is clear in his version of Israel’s history (ch. 20). Even the oracles about a restored Israel (chs. 40–48) include a way to deal with the people’s sin so they can survive in the presence of a holy God. Ezekiel’s concern with sin also accounts for the many places where the book echoes the laws given in the Pentateuch, as well as the similarities between Ezekiel’s new temple (chs. 40–42) and the Exodus tabernacle.
- Israel was subject to its national God. However, this God is no tribal deity. He is supreme over all nations. Therefore Nebuchadnezzar, king of mighty Babylon, was simply a tool in God’s hand to accomplish God’s purpose (e.g., 21:19–23; 30:25). God’s absolute supremacy is most clearly demonstrated in the battle against Gog, the final enemy (chs. 38–39), where God alone crushes Gog’s vast hostile forces.
- Ezekiel declares judgment on those clinging to false hope, but offers true hope to those who accept God’s judgment (37:11). He linked God’s judgment with the hope of a new heart and spirit (36:22–32).
- The condemnation of Israel’s “princes” (e.g., ch. 19) finds its hopeful counterpart in the promise of a future “prince” who would rule with justice (34:23–24) and connect the people to God (46:1–18).
Outline
- Inaugural Vision (1:1–3:27)
- Judgment on Jerusalem and Judah (4:1–24:27)
- Oracles against Foreign Nations (25:1–32:32)
- After the Fall of Jerusalem (33:1–39:29)
- Vision of Restoration (40:1–48:35)
The Near East at the Time of Ezekiel
c. 593 B.C.
Ezekiel recorded his visions and prophecies while living near Babylon, where he had been exiled years earlier. By Ezekiel’s time, the Babylonian Empire had conquered almost all of the area along the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It would eventually conquer even the land of Egypt, where many other Judeans had fled.
Fact: swearing an oath
The Hebrew word for swearing an oath (20:5) literally means “I raised my hand.” In courtrooms today, people are asked to raise their right hand as they take an oath, promising to tell the truth.
Fact: Strange religious practices
Strange religious practices. The pagan King Nebuchadnezzar employed three means of divination to decide what he should do (21:21). Shaking arrows is similar to casting lots. The teraphim are household gods (small figurines). “Looking at the liver” means examining the liver of a sacrificed animal.
The Hebrew Calendar
The Hebrew calendar was composed of 12 lunar months, each of which began when the thin crescent moon was first visible at sunset. They were composed of approximately 29/30 days and were built around the agricultural seasons. Apparently some of the names of the months were changed after the time of Israel’s exile in Babylon (e.g., the first month of Abib changed to Nisan; for dates of the exile, see p. 31). The months of the Hebrew calendar (left column) are compared to the corresponding months of the modern (Gregorian) calendar shown in the center column. Biblical references (in the third column) indicate references to the Hebrew calendar cited in the Bible.
*Periodically, a 13th month was added so that the lunar calendar would account for the entire solar year.
Ezek. 19:1–14 Ezekiel presents two further political allegories (vv. 1–9 and vv. 10–14). The whole is presented as a lamentation (v. 1), a distinctive form of Hebrew poetry. Both allegories refer to a mother (vv. 2, 10). One cannot be certain whether a literal queen mother is in view (then most likely Hamutal; 2 Kings 23:31; 24:18), or whether this is a symbolic reference to the nation of Judah (compare Gen. 49:9 and “mother” of Babylon as a nation, Jer. 50:12). The first cub (Ezek. 19:3–4) applies most closely to Jehoahaz, who was taken captive to Egypt by Pharaoh Neco (2 Kings 23:31–35). The second cub’s identity in Ezek. 19:5–9 is much more problematic. Jehoiachin is most likely (2 Kings 24:12).
Ezek. 19:10–14 For details, see the parable of the eagles and the vine in ch. 17. Whereas the lioness-and-cubs story fixed attention on the fate of individuals, the vine-and-stems story refers to the whole dynasty. Ezekiel 19:12b, 14 singles out one particular strong stem, normally translated “staff.” Here it refers to a living branch. The reference is probably to Zedekiah, the last Davidic king. His attempts at power politics ended in disaster.
The Hebrew Calendar
The Hebrew calendar was composed of 12 lunar months, each of which began when the thin crescent moon was first visible at sunset. They were composed of approximately 29/30 days and were built around the agricultural seasons. Apparently some of the names of the months were changed after the time of Israel’s exile in Babylon (e.g., the first month of Abib changed to Nisan; for dates of the exile, see p. 31). The months of the Hebrew calendar (left column) are compared to the corresponding months of the modern (Gregorian) calendar shown in the center column. Biblical references (in the third column) indicate references to the Hebrew calendar cited in the Bible.
*Periodically, a 13th month was added so that the lunar calendar would account for the entire solar year.
Ezek. 20:1–4 This is the third occasion on which elders seek an oracle (see also 8:1; 14:1). It is not given. Justification for this “silence” comes in the form of a recital of Israel’s history. The narrative begun in 20:1–4 concludes in vv. 27–31. The oracle was given in August 591 B.C. About a year has passed since the temple vision (see 8:1). The command to speak is renewed in 20:27.
Fact: swearing an oath
The Hebrew word for swearing an oath (20:5) literally means “I raised my hand.” In courtrooms today, people are asked to raise their right hand as they take an oath, promising to tell the truth.
Ezek. 20:9–13 But I acted for the sake of my name (v. 9; see vv. 14, 22) is one of the repeated themes in Ezekiel. God’s reputation, not Israel’s merit, is the basis for God’s patience and grace.
Ezek. 20:5–26 Israel’s story is told in five broad movements. The author describes the exodus generation first while they were in Egypt (vv. 5–8), then in the exodus itself (vv. 9–13), and then in the wilderness (vv. 14–17). The story of the wilderness generation follows in two phases (vv. 18–21, 22–26).
Ezek. 20:22–26 The statutes that were not good and rules by which they could not have life are a mixture of Israelite and pagan customs that the people followed. The fact that they were offering up all their firstborn in fire (see v. 31) is an example of this mixing of beliefs.
Ezek. 20:1–31 This recital of Israel’s history is unique in the Bible, involving a very different interpretation of both the nature of the exodus experience and God’s dealings with his people. The narration focuses entirely on life outside the Promised Land—an important consideration for an audience of exiles.
Ezek. 20:27–31 As Ezekiel turns from history to application, life in the land itself is in view for the first time. On worship on the high places (vv. 28–29), see note on 6:3.
Ezek. 20:32 This verse acts as a turning point between the history in the preceding passage and the future orientation that follows. It encourages readers to obey the warning of Deut. 28:64.
Ezek. 20:33–38 As in the exodus, God will bring the people to the desert (v. 34). There he will judge between the faithful and the wicked (vv. 35–38). Only the faithful will return home (v. 38).
Ezek. 20:40 The holy mountain is the place of God’s renewed presence with his people. This is especially prominent in the latter chapters of Isaiah (e.g., Isa. 56:7; 66:20). Its height is celebrated in the psalms about Zion (compare Ps. 48:1–3).
Ezek. 20:1–44 This lengthy oracle has two main parts: a review of Israel’s history of offending the Lord (vv. 1–31), and a preview of her future restoration (vv. 33–44). (Verse 32 is a turning point between the two parts.)
Ezek. 20:39–44 The people must choose between idols and God (v. 39). The faithful will turn from their former evil idolatry and will serve God (vv. 40, 43). Both Israel (v. 44) and the nations (v. 41) will then recognize God’s glory.
Ezek. 20:45–49 The command to set your face and its orientation to the southland are both reminiscent of 6:2. Here, however, all-consuming fire is the destroying agent, which clearly indicates the thoroughness of God’s coming judgment (destroying both green tree and dry tree).
Ezek. 21:3–4 The righteous and wicked correspond to the “green” and “dry” trees of 20:47. Here God predicts a judgment that will come on the whole nation and will affect everyone. Sometimes the righteous suffer not because of judgment for their own sin, but because they live in a fallen world.
Ezek. 21:1–7 The opening words directly correspond with those of 20:46–47: set your face, preach, prophesy, and say all appear in the same order in those preceding verses. Now, however, the people addressed are clearly identified. The “southland” is Jerusalem, the “south” is now sanctuaries, the “forest land” is the land of Israel (see note on 7:2). No doubt remains about the focus of the Lord’s judgment, and the destroying agent is identified as the drawn sword (21:3).
Ezek. 21:6–7 These verses seem to continue describing the destruction of both “righteous and wicked” (see note on vv. 3–4). The groan and breaking heart of v. 6 point back to 9:4, which identifies the righteous by this behavior. Verse 7 of ch. 21 echoes 7:17 and the reaction to the coming day of the Lord. The closing phrase, behold . . . it will be fulfilled, echoes 7:5–6, 10.
Ezek. 21:12 The princes of Israel may refer to the tragic events at Riblah (2 Kings 25:6–7). Strike . . . your thigh is an action associated with lament (see Jer. 31:19).
Ezek. 21:8–17 This oracle uses the image of a sharpened sword. Verses 8–13 focus on the nature of the sword itself, honed to razor sharpness. Verses 14–17 describe its lethal effect.
Ezek. 21:14, 17 As in 6:11, to clap your hands communicates nervous anxiety, perhaps in anticipation of the approaching judgment.
Fact: Strange religious practices
Strange religious practices. The pagan King Nebuchadnezzar employed three means of divination to decide what he should do (21:21). Shaking arrows is similar to casting lots. The teraphim are household gods (small figurines). “Looking at the liver” means examining the liver of a sacrificed animal.
Ezek. 21:24–27 Now that God has given the sword to the Babylonian king, judgment on Jerusalem is announced. The “wicked” prince of Israel must be Zedekiah.
Ezek. 21:18–29 In v. 11 the sword was committed to the “hand of the slayer,” identified here as the king of Babylon. Ezekiel performs another symbolic action (see ch. 4). He draws (presumably on the ground) a map with a forked road, and adds road signs. It is unknown how much of the rest of the action was actually performed or whether it was simply narrated. It describes Nebuchadnezzar at his camp, probably somewhere in Syria, deciding whether to head west toward Jerusalem or east toward Rabbah (21:20, modern Amman, Jordan). He decides to attack Jerusalem (v. 22).
Ezek. 20:45–21:32 An oracle using the symbolism of fire (20:45–49) leads to a series of oracles using the sword as a symbol (ch. 21).
Ezek. 21:30–32 The instruction to return the sword to its sheath (v. 30) completes the action begun in v. 3. With its work done, Babylon is now subject to judgment (as was Assyria in Isa. 10:5–19). The conclusion in Ezek. 21:31–32 points in two directions: fire of my wrath refers back to the parable of the fire that began this oracle (20:45–49), and it anticipates the conclusion to a later oracle (22:31). Fuel for the fire points back to 20:45–49, while the reference to blood prepares the way for ch. 22.
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Listen NowDive Deeper | Ezekiel 19-21
Does God's faithfulness have limits? We see throughout the Bible that Israel continues to forsake their covenant with the Lord. Ezekiel accuses Israel of their evil and warns that it will lead to judgment, the fall of Jerusalem, and the destruction of the temple. God remained faithful to his people and freed them from their oppressors, but Israel was still in bondage to their sin. That's why they keep going back to their idols, because their hearts are hardened and not able to fully give themselves over to worshiping God alone.
In God's righteous wrath toward sin, he could have rightfully put an end to Israel. They had already rejected God. However, for the sake of his name and his glory, he is patient and does not destroy Israel. God's presence does leave the temple, but he goes with his people east to Babylon. Hope remains.
As Ezekiel 11:19-20 shows, their hearts are like stone, hostile to God. Israel cannot fix their heart and sin problem. God intervenes and promises that one day he will remove their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh so they will be able to worship and obey him alone. While we read about Jerusalem being destroyed because of Israel's sin, we get to read it in light of the whole story of the Bible. Israel's hope and ours is in Christ.
We are not that different from Israel. Our hearts are made to worship God, but because of our sin, we worship the world instead. We turn after idols, whether that be pride, the approval of others, success, vanity, or other substitutes. We have heart problems that only God can fix. God's promise in Ezekiel 11 to give new hearts is not just for Israel but for all of us. Jesus Christ took on the punishment of our sin from our hearts of stone, so that he could give us new hearts. By his Spirit, he unites us to himself so that we can have hearts of flesh that enable us to be in right relationship with God and live according to his design.
This month's memory verse
"But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
– Lamentations 3:21-23
Discussion Questions
1. In what ways have you, like Israel, turned from God and worshiped idols? Have you been honest with God about how you may desire the things of the world more than him?
2. Have you ever felt like your sin was too much for God? Are there certain areas of your life in which it is harder for you to accept God's grace and forgiveness in Christ?
3. How have you seen Christ restore your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh? How have you seen the Holy Spirit work in your life to enable you to obey God and live in his design?