Have you ever considered the consequences of rebellion against God’s will?
In Ezekiel 5, we witness the prophet Ezekiel conveying God’s judgment upon Jerusalem for its persistent disobedience. Through vivid imagery and stark warnings, Ezekiel illustrates the dire repercussions of forsaking God’s commands.
Reconnect:
Building upon the prophetic narrative of Ezekiel, chapter 5 delves deeper into the consequences of Jerusalem’s rebellion against God and the accompanying promise of restoration for the faithful remnant.
(Summarized and continued after scripture)
Jerusalem’s Desolation Foretold
1“As for you, son of man, take a sharp sword; take and use it as a barber’s razor on your head and beard. Then take scales for weighing and divide the hair. 2“One third you shall burn in the fire at the center of the city, when the days of the siege are completed. Then you shall take one third and strike it with the sword all around the city, and one third you shall scatter to the wind; and I will unsheathe a sword behind them. 3“Take also a few in number from them and bind them in the edges of your robes. 4“Take again some of them and throw them into the fire and burn them in the fire; from it a fire will spread to all the house of Israel.
5“Thus says the Lord GOD, ‘This is Jerusalem; I have set her at the center of the nations, with lands around her. 6‘But she has rebelled against My ordinances more wickedly than the nations and against My statutes more than the lands which surround her; for they have rejected My ordinances and have not walked in My statutes.’ 7“Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Because you have more turmoil than the nations which surround you and have not walked in My statutes, nor observed My ordinances, nor observed the ordinances of the nations which surround you,’ 8therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Behold, I, even I, am against you, and I will execute judgments among you in the sight of the nations. 9‘And because of all your abominations, I will do among you what I have not done, and the like of which I will never do again. 10‘Therefore, fathers will eat their sons among you, and sons will eat their fathers; for I will execute judgments on you and scatter all your remnant to every wind. 11‘So as I live,’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘surely, because you have defiled My sanctuary with all your detestable idols and with all your abominations, therefore I will also withdraw, and My eye will have no pity and I will not spare. 12‘One third of you will die by plague or be consumed by famine among you, one third will fall by the sword around you, and one third I will scatter to every wind, and I will unsheathe a sword behind them.
13‘Thus My anger will be spent and I will satisfy My wrath on them, and I will be appeased; then they will know that I, the LORD, have spoken in My zeal when I have spent My wrath upon them. 14‘Moreover, I will make you a desolation and a reproach among the nations which surround you, in the sight of all who pass by. 15‘So it will be a reproach, a reviling, a warning and an object of horror to the nations who surround you when I execute judgments against you in anger, wrath and raging rebukes. I, the LORD, have spoken. 16‘When I send against them the deadly arrows of famine which were for the destruction of those whom I will send to destroy you, then I will also intensify the famine upon you and break the staff of bread. 17‘Moreover, I will send on you famine and wild beasts, and they will bereave you of children; plague and bloodshed also will pass through you, and I will bring the sword on you. I, the LORD, have spoken.’”
Summary Key Points:
- The Symbolic Hair:
God commands Ezekiel to shave his head and beard, using this symbolic act to represent the devastation that will befall Jerusalem and its inhabitants as a result of their rebellion and idolatry. - Divine Judgment:
Through graphic imagery, Ezekiel depicts the severity of God’s judgment upon Jerusalem, including famine, disease, and dispersion among the nations, all serving as divine retribution for their disobedience and idol worship. - A Remnant Preserved:
Despite the widespread destruction and desolation prophesied upon Jerusalem, God promises to preserve a faithful remnant who will be scattered among the nations but ultimately restored to their land in accordance with His covenant promises.
Call to Action:
- Repentance and Renewal:
Reflect on areas of rebellion and disobedience in your own life, and earnestly seek repentance and renewal before God. Turn away from idolatry and sin, embracing a lifestyle of obedience and devotion to His commands. - Intercession for Restoration:
Intercede fervently for the restoration of God’s people and the fulfillment of His promises. Pray for the spiritual awakening and revival of individuals and nations, believing in God’s power to bring about transformation and renewal. - Alignment with God’s Will:
Align your life with God’s will, prioritizing obedience and faithfulness in all aspects of your walk with Him. Trust in His sovereignty and guidance, knowing that He is faithful to fulfill His purposes and bring about His plans for restoration.
Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we acknowledge Your righteous judgment upon rebellion and disobedience, yet we also cling to the hope of restoration and renewal promised to Your faithful remnant. Grant us the grace to repent and turn from our sinful ways, and empower us to walk in obedience and alignment with Your will. May Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.
John Golda
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