Ezek. 21:1 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Ezek. 21:2 Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel,
Ezek. 21:3 And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of his sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked.
Ezekiel continues to receive messages from the Lord. This section is a continuation from the previous chapter and is directed toward Jerusalem, the holy places (the temple), and the land of Israel in general. The people remaining in Jerusalem needn’t think that they are safe now that some of their number have been taken captive. The Lord is going to ensure that judgment is complete; it will impact the righteous as well as the wicked. We know that the righteous in the city were sealed as described in chapter 9. I equate it to how the events of the world impact believers today. God will ensure that it works for the good.
Rom. 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Though we may not understand how this side of heaven, we can be sure that God is true to His word and faithful in all that He does or allows. He is in control even when it seems He is not. I was reading in Isaiah again last night and this verse comes to mind.
Is. 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
Note that it is the sword of the Lord that will bring about this judgment. Scripture identifies the Lord’s sword as His word and His Word as His Son, and all judgment has been given to the Son.
Eph. 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God….
Rev. 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations….
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son….
I am reminded that the effect of His word is just as sure and effective as that of a physical sword in the hands of men.
Heb. 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
“my sword…his sheath” - In this case God is speaking the word and men will be used to carry out the judgment.
Ezek. 21:4 Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall my sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh from the south to the north:
Ezek. 21:5 That all flesh may know that I the LORD have drawn forth my sword out of his sheath: it shall not return any more.
Again, emphasis is made that the judgment will be complete according to God’s word. Everyone in the land will be affected in some way, i.e., death by sword, famine, pestilence, captivity, etc. This is necessary to the testimony of the truth of God’s word.
“it shall not return any more” – Obviously, this is not a statement of non-stop judgment. In reading through the different translations it would seem that it is a statement that the declared judgment will be completed with this stroke of His sword. When Nebuchadnezzar shows up on the scene this time, he will not have to return to complete the job. In other words, the sword will not be sheathed until the declared judgment has been completed.
Ezek. 21:6 Sigh therefore, thou son of man, with the breaking of thy loins; and with bitterness sigh before their eyes.
Ezek. 21:7 And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that thou shalt answer, For the tidings; because it cometh: and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak as water: behold, it cometh, and shall be brought to pass, saith the Lord GOD.
The Hebrew for the word sigh indicates to “groan or mourn.” The loins are equated with the reins in humans, according to Webster; this would be referencing the place of “affections and passions.” That would explain why some of the translations reference a broken heart. The point is that Ezekiel is to physically depict an attitude of deep sorrow and anguish before the people. When they ask him what is wrong, he is to answer that it is because of the message of God’s word. That message is meant to strike utter fear in the heart of all those in Judah because the time of God’s longsuffering has ended and the time of judgment has come. It would also be devastating news to the captives who held out hope for their homeland and their loved ones at home.
Ezek. 21:8 Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Ezek. 21:9 Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD; Say, A sword, a sword is sharpened, and also furbished:
Ezek. 21:10 It is sharpened to make a sore slaughter; it is furbished that it may glitter: should we then make mirth? it contemneth the rod of my son, as every tree.
Sharpening and furbishing a sword is making preparation to ensure the effectiveness of the weapon when wielded. We know that Nebuchadnezzar (and his armies) is the sword being referenced. The Hebrew for contemneth states “to spurn or disdain.” “My son” is a reference to Israel/Judah.
Ex. 4:22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn….
The Hebrew for rod includes a reference to “branch and scepter” and would seem to be a reference to the king or ruler. In other words, Nebuchadnezzar is not intimidated in any way by the leadership of Judah; in fact, he feared no other ruler (i.e., every tree).
“furbish” = to rub or scour to brightness
“glitter” = a flashing sword: lightning
Utley: "polished to flash like lightening” [NIV] This is a Hebrew idiom of both speed and turning many directions.
Ezek. 21:11 And he hath given it to be furbished, that it may be handled: this sword is sharpened, and it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the slayer.
Ezek. 21:12 Cry and howl, son of man: for it shall be upon my people, it shall be upon all the princes of Israel: terrors by reason of the sword shall be upon my people: smite therefore upon thy thigh.
Ezek. 21:13 Because it is a trial, and what if the sword contemn even the rod? it shall be no more, saith the Lord GOD.
The power of God’s sword, His word, is being given to Nebuchadnezzar, the slayer. It is being given to him specifically to wreak judgment and destruction in the land of Judah and its inhabitants. Notice the statement of ownership—“my people.” God is faithful to His word; He made a covenant with Abraham and His Son, Jesus, that will not be thwarted by the disobedience and rejection of Abraham’s descendants.
Gal. 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
To smite the thigh is an action of grief and remorse; this should be the response of the people to God’s message through Ezekiel. Utley states that it is “a metaphor for incapacitation and pain.”
Verse 13 is hard to get a handle on; every translation is a bit different. This judgment will also serve as a trial, a test or examination. It will separate those who are repentant and remorseful from the disobedient and hard of heart. The sword will strike at the rod, which at this time was Zedekiah; he was to be the last king of Judah. The phrase “it shall be no more” seems to reference the fact that no king would rule in Judah/Israel after the Babylonian captivity. The next king to rule in Israel will be Jesus, the son of David, the Son of God, during the 1000-year millennial reign.
Is. 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Luke 1:31-32 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David….
Rev. 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Ezek. 21:14 Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite thine hands together, and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the slain: it is the sword of the great men that are slain, which entereth into their privy chambers.
Ezek. 21:15 I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that their heart may faint, and their ruins be multiplied: ah! it is made bright, it is wrapped up for the slaughter.
To smite the hands is much different than to clap the hands. To smite the hands is an expression of anger. When I did a word search, the best example was found in Numbers and is supported below in verse 17.
Num. 24:10 And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together….
Ezekiel is declaring God’s anger with His people.
“let the sword be doubled the third time” – Adam Clarke’s commentary made the point that Nebuchadnezzar came against Judah three times: against Jehoiakim, against Jeconiah, and against Zedekiah.
When Nebuchadnezzar comes against Judah this last time, no one will be able to hide from the sword God has placed in his hand. God will see that all of their defenses are breached, fear will be struck in every heart, and more ruins will result from the attack. God’s sword is going to be publicly and effectively wielded.
Ezek. 21:16 Go thee one way or other, either on the right hand, or on the left, whithersoever thy face is set.
Thee is a reference to the sword, Nebuchadnezzar. The “right” hand is a reference to the south, and the “left” hand is a reference to the north. In other words, Nebuchadnezzar can choose to strike in any direction and he will be successful.
Ezek. 21:17 I will also smite mine hands together, and I will cause my fury to rest: I the LORD have said it.
The beautiful truth of this verse is that the judgment will come to an end. Though his judgment is a result of His anger, God’s fury will finally rest (settle down, cease).
Ezek. 21:18 The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,
Ezek. 21:19 Also, thou son of man, appoint thee two ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come: both twain shall come forth out of one land: and choose thou a place, choose it at the head of the way to the city.
Ezek. 21:20 Appoint a way, that the sword may come to Rabbath of the Ammonites, and to Judah in Jerusalem the defenced.
Ezekiel receives yet another message from the Lord. The wording of the KJV is a bit confusing; I like the wording of the NLT the best: “Son of man, make a map and trace two routes on it for the sword of Babylon’s king to follow. Put a signpost on the road that comes out of Babylon where the road forks into two— one road going to Ammon and its capital, Rabbah, and the other to Judah and fortified Jerusalem.”
Ezek. 21:21 For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: he made his arrows bright, he consulted with images, he looked in the liver.
Ezek. 21:22 At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to appoint captains, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, to appoint battering rams against the gates, to cast a mount, and to build a fort.
Ezek. 21:23 And it shall be unto them as a false divination in their sight, to them that have sworn oaths: but he will call to remembrance the iniquity, that they may be taken.
Ezekiel now speaks of the time when Nebuchadnezzar will follow the route illustrated on the map. When he gets to the fork in the road, he must choose whether to go toward Jerusalem or Rabbath. He decides to employ the use of divination.
“made his arrows bright” – The commentaries describe this process as placing the names of the cities to be attacked on arrows and then shaking the quiver until one fell out. The first one to fall out would be the place attacked. It is similar to casting lots.
“consulted with images” – This would reference seeking guidance from idols of false gods.
“looked in the liver” – According to JFB they looked into the liver to determine “the success, or failure, of an undertaking by the healthy, or unhealthy, state of the liver and entrails of a sacrifice.” According to the NIV Commentary they examined the color and its markings to determine which way to go.
We know that it did not matter what method Nebuchadnezzar chose to use; the Lord was going to ensure that he took the road to Jerusalem. He appointed his captains to give instructions for the taking of the city by using battering rams and building ramps and forts (or battering towers).
Again, I think the wording of the NLT gives a clearer picture of verse 23: “The people of Jerusalem will think it is a mistake, because of their treaty with the Babylonians. But the king of Babylon will remind the people of their rebellion. Then he will attack and capture them.”
Ezek. 21:24 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are discovered, so that in all your doings your sins do appear; because, I say, that ye are come to remembrance, ye shall be taken with the hand.
The Lord is basically saying that the people of Judah have been so blatant and public with their disobedience to him and their wicked deeds, they have brought judgment upon themselves; it cannot be delayed. Nebuchadnezzar will be successful; many will be taken captive.
Ezek. 21:25 And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end,
Ezek. 21:26 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high.
Ezek. 21:27 I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.
The “prince of Israel” being referenced is Zedekiah. He was a wicked king as described in the book of Kings.
2Kings 24:18-20 Zedekiah was twenty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done. For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.
This same truth was repeated almost word for word in Jeremiah 52. Zedekiah was privileged to have the prophet Jeremiah ministering to him and the nation at this time, but he chose to reject the prophet and the Lord he represented. The Lord was going to take the throne away from Zedekiah (“abase him that is high”). The next one who would take the throne will be Jesus (the low one who would be exalted). Jesus is the one with the rightful claim to the throne, and God the Father will ensure that He is given His rightful position. The act of exalting one that is low and abasing one that is high is from an earthly perspective of the ones being referenced.
“overturn, overturn, overturn….until” – This would indicate that the position of King in Jerusalem/Judah/Israel will not be allowed to be reestablished until the coming of the One who alone has the right to possess it, Jesus Christ, to set up His earthly kingdom. (cf comments at verses 11-13)
Utley: “A threefold repetition is a Hebrew idiom expressing the superlative degree.”
Ezek. 21:28 And thou, son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning the Ammonites, and concerning their reproach; even say thou, The sword, the sword is drawn: for the slaughter it is furbished, to consume because of the glittering:
Ezek. 21:29 Whiles they see vanity unto thee, whiles they divine a lie unto thee, to bring thee upon the necks of them that are slain, of the wicked, whose day is come, when their iniquity shall have an end.
The wording is often very hard to understand in the KJV, especially in the prophets. I will again utilize the NLT: “And now, son of man, prophesy concerning the Ammonites and their mockery. Give them this message from the Sovereign LORD: My sword is drawn for your slaughter; it is sharpened to destroy, flashing like lightning! Your magicians and false prophets have given false visions and told lies about the sword. And now it will fall with even greater force on the wicked for whom the day of final reckoning has come.”
The Ammonites were descendants of Lot’s son by his daughter. This nation established itself as enemies of Israel almost from its beginnings. They refused to make provision for the children of Israel during their exodus from Egypt. At least one of Solomon’s wives, the mother of Rehoboam, was an Ammonite.
2Chr. 12:13 So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: for Rehoboam was one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother’s name was Naamah an Ammonitess.
The Ammonites worshipped Molech, the awful deity to whom the people offered their children as sacrifices. Solomon was guilty of following after this god.
1Kings 11:5-7 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.
What a sad commentary on a man to whom God had given so much. As the leader or king, so go his followers or subjects.
Ezek. 21:30 Shall I cause it to return into his sheath? I will judge thee in the place where thou wast created, in the land of thy nativity.
Ezek. 21:31 And I will pour out mine indignation upon thee, I will blow against thee in the fire of my wrath, and deliver thee into the hand of brutish men, and skilful to destroy.
Ezek. 21:32 Thou shalt be for fuel to the fire; thy blood shall be in the midst of the land; thou shalt be no more remembered: for I the LORD have spoken it.
Because of their treatment of God’s people and the wickedness that they introduced to Israel through the worship of their false gods, the Lord had determined that His sword of judgment would wipe out the Ammonites. They too would experience destruction at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar and his armies. Adam Clarke references Josephus that this happened about five years after the destruction of Jerusalem.
Unlike the people of Judah, the people of Ammon would be destroyed “in the land of thy nativity”; they would not be taken captive. Their destruction would be complete (“thou shalt be no more remembered”). The Ammonites did not survive as a strong nation; they were destroyed as prophesied. They weren’t completely destroyed as a people since some of the children of Ammon will be around at the time of the antichrist according to Daniel 11.
Dan. 11:41 He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.
The children of Ammon would appear to be represented by a segment of those in current day Jordan. The city of Amman, Jordan, today stands in the place of Rabbath, the capital city of the Ammonites, from biblical times.
Ezek. 22:1 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Ezek. 22:2 Now, thou son of man, wilt thou judge, wilt thou judge the bloody city? yea, thou shalt shew her all her abominations.
Again, the word judge includes “to pronounce sentence, plead, reason.” We would normally read into that word the intent to judge with condemnation in the context of this sentence. I think the Lord is asking the prophet to pronounce condemnation on the people of Jerusalem/Judah for her wickedness, but I believe it is also with the intent to bring them to a position of repentance as would be indicated by pleading and reasoning. The Lord wants the people to recognize their abominations as morally disgusting, as actions that the Lord hates (as indicated by the Hebrew). No longer could Jerusalem be called the “holy city”; she now is called the “bloody city.”
Ezek. 22:3 Then say thou, Thus saith the Lord GOD, The city sheddeth blood in the midst of it, that her time may come, and maketh idols against herself to defile herself.
Ezek. 22:4 Thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed; and hast defiled thyself in thine idols which thou hast made; and thou hast caused thy days to draw near, and art come even unto thy years: therefore have I made thee a reproach unto the heathen, and a mocking to all countries.
Ezek. 22:5 Those that be near, and those that be far from thee, shall mock thee, which art infamous and much vexed.
The prophet is to declare that the people of Jerusalem are responsible for the judgment to come. People are being killed and actions associated with idol worship are part of their immoral activities (e.g., sacrificing their children to Molech). The actions of the people have resulted in even the heathen nations (those who don’t acknowledge God) looking down on them with reproach and scorn as a shameful and disgusting society. Jerusalem and its people had become infamous, famous for all the wrong reasons, a place full of trouble and confusion (from the Hebrew for vexed).
Again, I can’t help but make a comparison of Jerusalem and America today. Although there are still many good things associated with our country, we are becoming more known among the nations for our lack of morals. Sad to say, this is a result of the freedoms we cherish and our apathy in protecting the biblical principles upon which our nation was founded. This seems to directly correspond with the attitude and actions of the people of Judah.
Ezek. 22:6 Behold, the princes of Israel, every one were in thee to their power to shed blood.
Ezek. 22:7 In thee have they set light by father and mother: in the midst of thee have they dealt by oppression with the stranger: in thee have they vexed the fatherless and the widow.
The “princes of Israel” refers to their kings. These verses are stating how the kings have abused their power by a disregard for life that resulted in the taking of life, lack of respect for parents, taking advantage of foreigners and visitors from other nations, and by not taking care of orphans and widows. These actions are all direct violations of the laws that God had given them.
Ex. 20:13 Thou shalt not kill.
Ex. 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother….
Ex. 22:21 Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him….
Ex. 22:22 Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.
Ezek. 22:8 Thou hast despised mine holy things, and hast profaned my sabbaths.
Despising the holy things would be a reference to the lack of esteem and honor with which they treated God’s house, the holy temple, and the things in it. Profaning the sabbaths was again a reference to disregarding God’s instructions regarding the Sabbath. These actions again reflect a complete contempt for the God with whom they were connected.
Ezek. 22:9 In thee are men that carry tales to shed blood: and in thee they eat upon the mountains: in the midst of thee they commit lewdness.
Ezek. 22:10 In thee have they discovered their fathers’ nakedness: in thee have they humbled her that was set apart for pollution.
Ezek. 22:11 And one hath committed abomination with his neighbour’s wife; and another hath lewdly defiled his daughter in law; and another in thee hath humbled his sister, his father’s daughter.
Ezek. 22:12 In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD.
This is a sad commentary on the people of Judah. This is not a list of isolated actions; it is a list of actions that had become predominant in their society.
Men speak gossip and slander that results in murder.
“Eat upon the mountains” is a reference to idol worship and the celebrations that are associated with it.
The actions of the people were lewd; they committed terrible crimes and wickedness with forethought (from the Hebrew for lewdness).
They commit incest with the wives of their fathers.
They have sexual relations with women who are menstruating.
They commit adultery with the wives of their neighbors.
They commit adultery with the wives of their sons.
They commit incest with their sisters.
They have hired and/or taken money as hired assassins.
They profit by charging excessive interest rates.
They profit from the practice of extortion.
They have forgotten the Lord God—the root problem that has resulted in all of the above.
Ezek. 22:13 Behold, therefore I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast made, and at thy blood which hath been in the midst of thee.
Ezek. 22:14 Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with thee? I the LORD have spoken it, and will do it.
In verse 13 Ezekiel gives a picture of God striking His hands in anger at the evil practices of His people. The question posed in verse 14 is rhetorical; the understood answer is an emphatic “NO.” God’s judgment will instill great fear into the people; their prideful, arrogant, and selfish ways will be destroyed. As God has spoken, so it will be done. The prophet Isaiah also declared this truth.
Is. 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Ezek. 22:15 And I will scatter thee among the heathen, and disperse thee in the countries, and will consume thy filthiness out of thee.
Ezek. 22:16 And thou shalt take thine inheritance in thyself in the sight of the heathen, and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.
As part of God’s judgment, the people of Judah would be scattered among the heathen nations with the intent of purging them of all their wickedness as explained in the following verses. I didn’t really think any of the translations were clearly understood in reference to verse 16. I think Adam Clarke’s comment on this verse was more to the point, “I shall so deal with and punish thee, that thou shalt be obliged to own the vindictive hand of a sin-avenging God.”
Ezek. 22:17 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Ezek. 22:18 Son of man, the house of Israel is to me become dross: all they are brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are even the dross of silver.
Ezek. 22:19 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye are all become dross, behold, therefore I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem.
Ezek. 22:20 As they gather silver, and brass, and iron, and lead, and tin, into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt it; so will I gather you in mine anger and in my fury, and I will leave you there, and melt you.
Ezek. 22:21 Yea, I will gather you, and blow upon you in the fire of my wrath, and ye shall be melted in the midst thereof.
Ezek. 22:22 As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye be melted in the midst thereof; and ye shall know that I the LORD have poured out my fury upon you.
God’s message to the people through Ezekiel this time compares them to the dross (worthless waste matter) that is left after the refining of metals. The prophet Isaiah also talked about God refining His people. In His prophecy he spoke of God refining His people, but not with silver.
Is. 48:10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver….
As I considered the difference in the prophecies, I am convinced that Ezekiel’s prophecy reaches on into the future when God’s people are scattered among the nations and will be refined as silver. The judgment that resulted in the Babylonian captivity was meant to refine the people and purge them of their wickedness, but not to the point of producing silver (a very precious, valuable metal). Verse 22 above tells us that Ezekiel is speaking of a refining process that will be equivalent to that of producing silver. When the people of Israel have endured the refining of around 2000 years of persecution among the nations culminating in the 70th week of Daniel that we know as the tribulation, they will have endured a refining fire powerful enough to produce pure silver. I found an article on the internet that I had heard used before and that I used in my journal on Isaiah 48 that I think bears repeating here.
Malachi 3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.”
This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.
That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?”
He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy - when I see my image in it.” [end article]
The time is coming when the Lord will be able to see Himself reflected in the nation of Israel once again. They will recognize God for who He Is and be ashamed of who they have been.
Ezek. 22:23 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Ezek. 22:24 Son of man, say unto her, Thou art the land that is not cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation.
Ezekiel is declaring the word of the Lord that His judgment will result in Jerusalem/Judah looking like a wilderness that hasn’t experienced the refreshment or benefits that come with the blessing of rain.
This just made me think again of how many of God’s blessings we take for granted—the rain, the sun, the moon and stars, the clouds, the air we breathe, etc.
Ezek. 22:25 There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof.
“conspiracy” = unlawful alliance, treason
The prophets were supposed to declare God’s truth to the people. They had obviously greatly abused their position. Their abuse had resulted in the destruction of the souls of men and the unlawful accumulation of the people’s treasures. It sounds as though they were charging a fee for people to hear their message, and then delivering a false message that resulted in loss of life and destruction of souls. Without faith in God, these people had no hope for eternity.
This is a very sobering thought. When we as God’s servants don’t declare the truth of His word, we are contributing to the destruction of the souls of men.
Ezek. 22:26 Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.
The priests were to be God’s servants among the people; they served as intercessors. They too had abused their position by violating God’s laws and misusing His holy things in the temple. They no longer treated holy things as holy and valued what was clean over what was unclean. They were ignoring God’s instructions for the Sabbath. They no longer reverenced God as holy.
At first read we often don’t realize that there is application to the church today (at least in America) in all of God’s dealings with Israel, but there definitely is. The priests would be equivalent to the pastors/priests/bishops of today—any who claim to be called as overseers of the body of Christ in the church. The sad thing is that I can make many comparisons today with what was happening in Ezekiel’s day. More and more often I am hearing “pastors” of churches be hesitant to stand up for the truth of God’s word; some even outright deny it. Many appear to be in it more for the profit they can make than as servants of God Almighty. Many are no longer willing to identify sin for fear of alienating the masses. The differences between today’s pastors and Israel’s priests are becoming less and less discernible.
Ezek. 22:27 Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.
This verse indicates that there is very little difference in how the kings/royalty of Israel operate and how the prophets operate as described in verse 25. In Israel in particular, the kings, prophets and priests were all to be serving God as servants of the people according to the laws established by the LORD God of Israel. They should have been working in concert with one another to lead the people to a closer relationship with God. Instead, they were each one living to serve self and satisfy selfish desire rather than serving God.
Ezek. 22:28 And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken.
I think the wording of the NLT expresses the truth of this verse more vividly: “And your prophets announce false visions and speak false messages. They say, ‘My message is from the Sovereign LORD,’ when the LORD hasn’t spoken a single word to them. They repair cracked walls with whitewash!”
The comparison to some “prophets” of today is obvious.
“daubed them with untempered morter” – This is speaking of appearing to make needed repairs by using the wrong stuff—inadequate material. These prophets, as many pastors today, were addressing the problems of the people with lies that eased their conscience rather than with the truth of God’s word that has the power to bring man to repentance and salvation.
Ezek. 22:29 The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.
The results of such bad leadership were that the people were cruel in their efforts to make profit unlawfully; they were thieves; they violently mistreated the poor and needy; and they took cruel, unjust advantage of strangers.
Ezek. 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
This verse was a bit disconcerting at first read, since I immediately thought of Jeremiah and his servant who were active in Jerusalem at that time. JFB’s commentary was enlightening: “…not that literally there was not a righteous man in the city. For Jeremiah, Baruch, etc., were still there; but Jeremiah had been forbidden to pray for the people (Jeremiah 11:14), as being doomed to wrath. None now, of the godly, knowing the desperate state of the people, and God’s purpose as to them, was willing longer to interpose between God’s wrath and them. And none “among them,” that is, among those just enumerated as guilty of such sins (Ezekiel 22:25-29), was morally able for such an office.”
Utley: “The good news is that YHWH seeks intercessors! He wants to be convinced to withhold judgment. He wants to forgive, but no one interceded and people did not repent!”
Ezek. 22:31 Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.
The first thing I noticed about this verse is that it is stated in the past tense as a deed already done. As noted earlier, once God speaks His word, it is as good as done (cf comments at verse 14). The Lord GOD makes it clear that this judgment is an outpouring of His wrath. It is another statement of the truth of the law of reaping what you sow.
Job 4:8 Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
Gal. 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.