Week 34, August 16–22: Ezekiel 19–34; Psalms 107–112

• Sun      Aug 16 Ezek. 19–21   
• Mon     Aug 17 Ezek. 22–24    Ps. 107
• Tue      Aug 18 Ezek. 25–26    Ps. 108
• Wed     Aug 19 Ezek. 27–28    Ps. 109
• Thu      Aug 20 Ezek. 29–30    Ps. 110
• Fri        Aug 21 Ezek. 31–32    Ps. 111
• Sat       Aug 22 Ezek. 33–34    Ps. 112

The section we are reading in Ezekiel includes some of the most graphic descriptions of sin and judgement in all the Bible. Then next week, we will also read some of the Bible’s most striking, hopeful imagery depicting the new life God would breathe into his people.

The main message of the first part of Ezekiel is a message of rebuke against Israel and Judah for their wicked ways. They have departed from God and his law in about every way imaginable. They have had innumerable chances to repent and have remained hard-hearted in their resistance to the Lord and his prophets. In chapters 16 and 23, Ezekiel uses metaphorical language to depict the unfaithfulness of Israel and Judah, and it is difficult to read.

Ezekiel takes the message of prophetic accusation to a new level of intensity, but severity and rebuke are not unique to Ezekiel. We have already seen these kinds of scathing prophetic condemnations in Isaiah and Jeremiah, and they continue through the Minor Prophets as well. It may be tempting simply to endure reading these harsh messages with somewhat of a detached engagement with the Scriptures. Afterall, we are not Israel or Judah, and this is ancient writing to an ancient people.

Nevertheless, we should feel the impact too. Reading Ezekiel helps us see sin for what it is, and it helps us to see God for who he is too. Variations of the phrase, “so they will know that I am the Lord (Yahweh)” occur all throughout Ezekiel. This mysterious prophetic book reveals to us who the Lord is and what makes his furious anger stir and his righteous judgement come down. It also shows us how, despite his people’s hard-hearted sin against him, his faithfulness to his covenant promises never fails.

As we recognize these truths in Ezekiel’s message, it should elicit an appropriate response of worship as well as lament over sin and its consequences. In these chapters we recognize the ways we are still prone to exhibit the marks of the world, even though we have been given new hearts and God’s own Spirit, which we will read of later Ezekiel. The message of the biblical prophets sensitizes our consciences to evil in the world and it should work in us to align our moral sensibilities to God’s.

Ezekiel was a prophet to Israel and Judah, and the biblical book known by his name includes God’s message through Ezekiel to the people of Israel and Judah. Even with that being the case, it is also important to remember that the book of Ezekiel is Christian Scripture too; It is God’s inspired message to us today just as much as it was his message to those who first heard it and read it in Ezekiel’s time.

True, things are different for us than they were for God’s people in Ezekiel’s time. We are not accountable to the old covenant, the stipulations of the law God gave to Moses on Mt. Sinai. The old covenant, however, is not the same as the Old Testament. The message of the Old Testament is a new covenant message, and we see that message as clearly in Ezekiel as we see it in any other Old Testament book. This is especially emphasized later in the book (chapters 36–37), but some themes of new covenant hope appear in the earlier parts of the book too (e.g. 11:17–20; 16:59–63).

The eternal God of the universe revealed himself in visions to the prophet Ezekiel and through Ezekiel to the people of Israel and to us today. God is not constrained by time and he does not change with time. The message Ezekiel the prophet was to proclaim to the rebellious people of Israel and Judah was a particular message for a particular people in that time. But the message of the book of Ezekiel is a timeless message for us too. As you read Ezekiel, be looking for those glimmers of hope in the midst of the prophetic message of judgement. And read with gratefulness for the new covenant Ezekiel promises would come. Pray for a heart that is softened by the Spirit to receive the book’s prophetic warnings and apply them to our hearts and lives.

Chapter 25 of Ezekiel marks a transition to a new section, which goes through chapter 32. Here the focus shifts from a message of judgement on Israel and Judah to a series of oracles against surrounding nations. These are historical enemies of Israel and Judah, and the prophetic proclamations in these chapters speak of coming judgement on the nations, and their leaders, who have proudly opposed God and his people. The Lord’s righteous judgement will one day come down hard upon his enemies.

For the Israelites who were first hearing and reading these oracles, this would have been an encouraging relief in the midst of Ezekiel’s condemning words earlier in the book. And we too can find great hope in these oracles as God’s people today. The Lord will ultimately prevail. Even when it seems wickedness and the pride of evil leaders and nations are prevailing now, God will execute his righteous judgement in the end. He will manifest his glory and his holiness (Ezek. 28:22). Embedded in this section is another reminder from the Lord that he will again gather his people from where they have been scattered (28:25–26). God’s judgment against his enemies is deliverance for his people.

Stick with the reading through these OT Prophetic books. They can be difficult to understand and their messages of judgement can be challenging to endure. But remember, they are all pointing to the coming of Christ the Messiah and to the promise of a new covenant he ushers in. For us, the new covenant has come, because Christ has come. What is even more encouraging is that we read these books with confident anticipation of the final fulfilment of all the promises of the new covenant. Christ is coming again.