From Ezekiel 25-27

Occasionally these judgements have been pronounced because they have overstepped their role in punishing God’s people. God still continues to honour his covenant promise, cursing those who curse Israel. Tyre said of Jerusalem, ‘Aha, the gate of the peoples is broken; it has swung open to me. I shall be replenished, now that she is laid waste.’ Did Tyre expect replenishment from the LORD or another because of what they did to Jerusalem? That is not the best thing to boast of when the LORD can hear. When has been a time when you really wish you could take something you said back?

This post is part of my bible in a year series.

Passage and Comments

One can see from the overview above, these chapters have been a succession of judgement on other nations. The LORD cannot be mocked. He will punish wrongdoing.

26 In the eleventh year, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, because Tyre said concerning Jerusalem, ‘Aha, the gate of the peoples is broken; it has swung open to me. I shall be replenished, now that she is laid waste,’ 3 therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and will bring up many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves. 4 They shall destroy the walls of Tyre and break down her towers, and I will scrape her soil from her and make her a bare rock. 5 She shall be in the midst of the sea a place for the spreading of nets, for I have spoken, declares the Lord God. And she shall become plunder for the nations, 6 and her daughters on the mainland shall be killed by the sword. Then they will know that I am the Lord. (Eze 26.1-6)

A couple comments. Firstly, historical movements are generally attributed to God. Here we see the Tyre being overrun and conquered by the will of the LORD. Others will do it, but it is the LORD working through these events bringing about his will. Secondly, the product of this judgement is that ‘they will know he is LORD’. They will see he is the sovereign king, ruler over all creation, and ruler and judge over them. There are no gods who oppose him. There are no other gods.

7 “For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will bring against Tyre from the north Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses and chariots, and with horsemen and a host of many soldiers. 8 He will kill with the sword your daughters on the mainland. He will set up a siege wall against you and throw up a mound against you, and raise a roof of shields against you. 9 He will direct the shock of his battering rams against your walls, and with his axes he will break down your towers. 10 His horses will be so many that their dust will cover you. Your walls will shake at the noise of the horsemen and wagons and chariots, when he enters your gates as men enter a city that has been breached. 11 With the hoofs of his horses he will trample all your streets. He will kill your people with the sword, and your mighty pillars will fall to the ground. 12 They will plunder your riches and loot your merchandise. They will break down your walls and destroy your pleasant houses. Your stones and timber and soil they will cast into the midst of the waters. 13 And I will stop the music of your songs, and the sound of your lyres shall be heard no more. 14 I will make you a bare rock. You shall be a place for the spreading of nets. You shall never be rebuilt, for I am the Lord; I have spoken, declares the Lord God. (Eze 26.7-14)

Ezekiel predicts their end. I can imagine this would have been an easy message to declare in their midst or one they wanted to hear.

Story of Israel

Occasionally these judgements have been pronounced because they have overstepped their role in punishing God’s people. God still continues to honour his covenant promise, cursing those who curse Israel. Tyre said of Jerusalem, ‘Aha, the gate of the peoples is broken; it has swung open to me. I shall be replenished, now that she is laid waste.’ Did Tyre expect replenishment from the LORD or another because of what they did to Jerusalem? That is not the best thing to boast of when the LORD can hear.

Story of Jesus

Jesus also cautions against saying careless things. When arguing with the Pharisees he says;

33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, son the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Mt 12.33-37)

There might be some who deny Jesus has the authority to make these calls. But Jesus died and rose from the dead. He is the Christ, the one who will judge the living and the dead. He’s in a good position to make these calls.

Copyright © Joshua Washington and thescripturesays, 2014. All Rights