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BABYLON TO BE GOD’S INSTRUMENT TO END JUDAH’S RULE.

Ezekiel 21:1-32

Q.1. What attitude was the prophet to display as he pronounced God’s coming judgment? What did this reveal about God’s reluctance to punish people? – (Ezk.21:1-17)

God was going to exercise His wrath against the nation because there was no other remedy (Ezk.21:1-5). One might conclude that God would just indifferently sweep His people away to judgment. To ensure the people recognized His broken-heartedness, God instructed Ezekiel – 6 As for you, son of man, groan with breaking heart and bitter grief, groan in their sight. 7 And when they say to you, Why do you groan?’ you shall say,Because of the news that is   coming; and every heart will melt, all hands will be feeble, every spirit will faint and all knees will be weak as water. Behold, it comes and it will happen,’ declares the Lord God (Ezk.21:6-7). This was totally consistent with God’s declaration – ‘I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,’ declares the Lord God. ‘Therefore, repent and live’ (Ezk.18:32). Ezekiel was also called to act dramatically, and to clap his hands declaring the pending doom (Ezk.21:8-17). Everyone was given a warning.

Q.2. How long would the reign of royalty be removed from Judah? – (Ezk.21:18-27)

God would bring down Judah, just as He did to the children of Ammon for their godlessness (Ezk.21:18-23). The Lord would apply the principle to all classes of people -. Exalt that which is low and abase that which is high (2 Kgs.21:26). Kings and princes would cease – A ruin, a ruin, a ruin, I will make it. This also will be no more until He comes whose right it is, and I will give it to Him (Ezk.21:27). This astonishing reversal would be explained more fully by God through His prophet – 24 My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd; and they will walk in My ordinances and keep My statutes and observe them. 25 They will live on the land that I gave to Jacob My servant, in which your fathers lived; and they will live on it, they, and their sons and their sons’ sons, forever; and David My servant will be their prince forever. 26 I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant with them. I will place them and multiply them and will set My sanctuary in their midst forever. 27 My dwelling place also will be with them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people. 28 And the nations will know that I am the Lord who sanctifies Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forever (Ezk.37:24-29 c.f. Ezk.34:23-24).