Short Reflection from Ezekiel 17-32

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (LRAU) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

[4:05 pm, 09/07/2022] S.R: 𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟙𝟟:𝟚𝟜

"All the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD; I bring down the high tree, exalt the low tree, dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will perform it."

This is a parable. It's really not about trees. It's about people. Human beings are much more above and more worthy than plants or animals.

In the book of Daniel, God also said about establishing kings and kingdoms and also destroying them. However, this happens very slowly from our perspective. It takes time for nations to prosper and to decline, but surely it shall. The Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans had their time. It doesn't happen in a day.

If we are godly and lowly now we may still be lowly and be oppressed all our life time and even in the few generations of our offspring, but then God shall fulfill it at the right time.

The ungodly who are exalted now may still remain exalted throughout their lifetime and even a few generations after them, but they shall be gone.

The delight of the godly is [primarily] the Lord, not even of his exaltation or the downfall of the wicked. May we delight in God, not just in His doings. In other words: May we love the Giver, not just the Gifts.

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟙𝟠:𝟚𝟛

“"Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked," declares the Lord GOD, "rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?"”

That's why every sinner is alive till now. That's why every sinning Christian is still alive. God wants people to repent. And in the repentance of people, God is more glorified.

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟙𝟡:𝟝

"When she saw, as she waited, That her hope was lost, She took another of her cubs And made him a young lion."

The pain of the mother of the fate of her wayward child. Judah with its ungodly king.

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟚𝟘:𝟛

""Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Do you come to inquire of Me? As I live," declares the Lord GOD, "I will not be inquired of by you."'"

The Lord withdrew Himself from His people because of their abominable lifestyle. Our sins will hinder our prayers to be answered by God. We do need to confess our sins before God.

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟚𝟙:𝟜

"Because I will cut off from you the righteous and the wicked, therefore My sword will go forth from its sheath against all flesh from south to north."

Sometimes, the Lord protects the righteous and punishes the wicked in times of judgment. Sometimes, He just let both the righteous and the wicked perish but remember that shall be the mercy of the Lord for the righteous. Because sometimes early death is better than horrible life, yet God decides that, not us.

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟚𝟚:𝟚𝟡-𝟛𝟘

"The people of the land have practiced oppression and committed robbery, and they have wronged the poor and needy and have oppressed the sojourner without justice.  I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one."

Striving for justice, kindness to people and even animals around us, and generosity to all the poor and needy are expected of God's people.

I wish to develop these virtues in me, more and more. And of course, we develop by practicing them. Scriptures have commanded, and have given a lot of examples too.

To be gracious. To be generous. To be compassionate. Oh!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟚𝟛:𝟜

"Their names were Oholah the elder and Oholibah her sister. And they became Mine, and they bore sons and daughters. And as for their names, Samaria is Oholah and Jerusalem is Oholibah."

God, using this parable to demonstrate how much He loved His chosen people in spite of their sins. He wanted them to turn away from vain things and come back to Him.

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟚𝟜:𝟙𝟞-𝟙𝟟

"Son of man, behold, I am about to take from you the desire of your eyes with a blow; but you shall not mourn and you shall not weep, and your tears shall not come. Groan silently; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban and put your shoes on your feet, and do not cover your mustache and do not eat the bread of men."

God expects and requires Ezekiel to fear/love Him more than he loves his wife. It was so of Abraham concerning his son.

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟚𝟝:𝟞-𝟟

"For thus says the Lord GOD, "Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet and rejoiced with all the scorn of your soul against the land of Israel, therefore, behold, I have stretched out My hand against you and I will give you for spoil to the nations. And I will cut you off from the peoples and make you perish from the lands; I will destroy you. Thus you will know that I am the LORD." Moab."

God punished the Israelites because of their sins. The Lord let them be captured by enemies. And here, God is judging the other nations for rejoicing in the suffering of His people.

Don't rejoice in the fall of the godly people. Be fearful. Tremble. The Lord doesn't have pleasure, even in the death of the wicked.

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟚𝟞:𝟚-𝟛

"Son of man, because Tyre has said concerning Jerusalem, 'Aha, the gateway of the peoples is broken; it has opened to me. I shall be filled, now that she is laid waste,'  therefore thus says the Lord GOD, 'Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and I will bring up many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves."

Who among us is not guilty of schadenfreude? Who among us is free from envy, jealousy, and slandering? God is not happy with such. Let's keep working on our sanctification!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟚𝟟:𝟚-𝟛

""And you, son of man, take up a lamentation over Tyre; and say to Tyre, who dwells at the entrance to the sea, merchant of the peoples to many coastlands, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, " "O Tyre, you have said, 'I am perfect in beauty.'"

Tyre was proud and God had to humble her. God hates the proud!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟚𝟠:𝟙𝟟

"Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I put you before kings, That they may see you."

This passage is well compared to Lucifer because of its denunciation. No matter who the real identity is, it's clear that Tyre had the incomparable privilege that he misused it and wanted more. Let's learn to be grateful, gracious, and humble!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟚𝟡:𝟙𝟡

"Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Behold, I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. And he will carry off her wealth and capture her spoil and seize her plunder; and it will be wages for his army.’"

Was there a king as great as Nebuchadnezzar? Yet, we used to name Alexander, Napoleon, Genghis Khan for comparison. Maybe time to be more biblical and name Nebuchadnezzar often in our conversation for a comparison! 😎

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟛𝟘:𝟝-𝟞

"‘Ethiopia, Put, Lud, all Arabia, Libya and the people of the land that is in league will fall with them by the sword.’ 'Thus says the LORD, "Indeed, those who support Egypt will fall And the pride of her power will come down; From Migdol to Syene They will fall within her by the sword," Declares the Lord GOD."

When a person suffers his companions suffer too. In World War 2, the axis power suffered along with the Nazis.

More so here. Egypt and its allies who were haughty, wicked, and idolatrous had to fall!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟛𝟙:𝟛

"'Behold, Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon With beautiful branches and forest shade, And very high, And its top was among the clouds."

The happenings around us must be lessons for us just as Ezekiel asked Egypt to look at Assyria.

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟛𝟚:𝟙𝟙

"For thus says the Lord GOD, ‘The sword of the king of Babylon will come upon you.’"

My favorite person in the Bible whose salvation is doubtful is King Nebuchadnezzar. If I were to be an ungodly guy, I would choose the life of him. 😂😎 See! He rules over all!