Today’s passage: Ezekiel 29

Helpful thoughts:

• Our attention now turns away from Tyre and on to Egypt for the next few chapters.
• The Egyptians believed they were responsible for their own greatness (Verse 3) and they sinned against God’s people (Verses 6-9).  For these reasons, judgment was coming…that the people of Egypt would “know that I am the LORD.”
• Due to the timing of the fulfilment of this prophecy, Ezekiel’s ministry would be vindicated in the eyes of the people in his lifetime (Verse 21).

Questions to consider:

1. What similarities are found in this chapter and those that came before it?  What were the sins of the leaders and people of Egypt?
2. Why do we have the good things we have?  Who deserves the praise and thanksgiving for the things we enjoy in this life? (James 1:17)
3. How can pride in our possessions reveal what our hearts truly value most?  What is the greatest gift God has given us (Ephesians 2:8-9)?  How does that knowledge help us to better evaluate and steward the temporal possessions God would entrust to us?

Today’s passage: Ezekiel 28

Helpful thoughts:

• Men who begin to think themselves gods have a very low view of the true God.  To a man who believes he is a god, the true God says, “You shall die…for I have spoken, declares the Lord.”
• In verses 12-19 it appears the Lord parallels the fall of the king of Tyre and the fall of Satan.
  • A similar parallel is found in Isaiah 14.
  • Whenever a created being says in his heart, “I will make myself like the Most High,” a great humbling is coming!  The LORD does not share His glory with any other (Isaiah 42:8).
• Sidon, who will also see God’s judgment is a nearby sister city to Tyre.  They are often mentioned together in other Old Testament texts (e.g. Jeremiah 47:4).

Questions to consider:

1. What is the danger of having a low (incorrectly thinking less of God than He truly is) view of God?  What does an accurate view of God demand of us (Romans 11:33-12:2)?
2. What is the result of God’s judgment against the unbelieving nations for His people?  What will the end of all opposition against Israel result in?
3. God judged Israel and Judah by spreading them out among the nations, what will He do to save and less them in the end (Verse 25)?  How does this gathering also mirror the promise of Christ in Matthew 16:18?  How is God gathering a people for Himself today?

Today’s passage: Ezekiel 27

Helpful thoughts:

• The poetry in this chapter likens the city of Tyre (Surrounded by water) to a beautiful merchant ship.
• No matter how beautiful the ship, no matter how wonderful the goods it contains, it is no match for the sea.  God would bringing judgment on Tyre and there was no beauty, wealth or international coalition that could stop it.
• The final verses speak of the dread of all the surrounding peoples who had done business with Tyre.  As Tyre fell, so would the economies of all these other nations who relied so heavily on her.

Questions to consider:

1. We often view the quality of our own lives by these economic circumstances, but what would 2 Corinthians 5:9 or Matthew 6:33 lead us to focus on?  If my definition of “blessing” is wrapped up in prosperity and ease, how will I begin to evaluate what is a good or evil action?
2. If our hearts hold God in the right regard, why would the fall of an economic center like Tyre not result in the same “horror” as felt by the people in that region whose hopes were centered around their prosperity?
3. In what ways has what God promised us in Christ through the Gospel so much better that what we may desire in present prosperity?  How do these truths help us to better handle earthly prosperity should it come?

Today’s passage: Ezekiel 26

Helpful thoughts:

• Today’s pronouncement of judgment is against the city of Tyre.  Chapter 26 is the first of three chapters which are devoted to the destruction of Tyre.
• Tyre was a wealthy city of international trade surrounded by water just off the coast of modern day Lebanon.  It’s location made the people feel extra secure, safe from any attack.
  • It was conquered originally by Nebuchadnezzar.  Later, Alexander the Great made a causeway to connect the city to the mainland.
• The chapter could be outlined this way:
  • Verses 1-6 – The reason for judgment
  • Verses 7-14 – The method of judgment
  • Verses 15-18 – The international response to judgment
  • Verses 19-21 – The permanence of the judgment

Questions to consider:

1. In what ways are we reminded concerning where our safety and our strength comes from?  Who is our safety?  Who is our strength? (2 Corinthians 12:8-10)
2. How does this help us to also redefine strength and safety in ways the world would not understand?  Was Tyre ever truly “safe” simply because of its location?  Was Nebuchadnezzar truly strong because of his own armies? (Daniel 4:29-33)
3. How does Colossians 3:1-4 help us to answer these questions?  Where are believers hidden in safety for the day when the final victory is won?

Today’s passage: Ezekiel 25

Helpful thoughts:

• With the beginning of chapter 25, we begin a unit in the book of Ezekiel (25-32) which focuses on prophesies concerning surrounding nations. The nations are listed in geographical order clockwise from the northeast to the west.
• Ammon (Northeast):  The Ammonites rejoiced in the profaning and fall of God’s people.  They would later fall to Babylon and nomads from the east would dwell in their land.
• Moab (East): The Moabites did not regard Judah (Therefore, they also did not regard Judah’s God).  They would suffer the same consequence as the Ammonites.
• Edom (South): The Edomites (Descendants of Esau) were great rivals with Israel and Judah.  They would fall to the people they hated most, by God’s decree.
• Philistia (West): With a rivalry that appears to have equaled that of the Edomites, the Philistines are promised vengeance and wrath.

Questions to consider:

1. What is the main motive for these judgments?  Whose reputation was/is to be protected?
2. Who would these nations know and respect at the end of these judgments? (See the end of verses 7, 11, 14, and 17)
3. These nations believed in many gods.  Their own national gods were to protect them from the gods of other nations.  Did God simply want these people to know he was stronger than their gods?  What does the phrase, “I am the LORD.” seem to indicate?  Even if you don’t believe in God, are you still under His authority and responsible to Him?  How can this truth impact our understanding of the need of evangelism?

Today’s passage: Ezekiel 24

Helpful thoughts:

• In today’s first prophecy, the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem is compared to a pot being brought to a boil, cooking the meat inside!
• The second picture is a further yet related tragedy.  Ezekiel suffers the same fate of so many in Jerusalem who would have to lose their city, the Temple and their loved ones and simply carry on out of necessity without time to mourn.  Ezekiel lost his wife and was not to grieve.
  • It seems Ezekiel was only about 35 years old at the time.  Making the passing of his wife and his lack of mourning all the more disturbing to those who observed what was taking place.
  • This instruction was given to Ezekiel specifically for this moment to communicate this terrible news.  People err today if they think we are not honoring God when we mourn the loss of loved ones.
• We are reminded at the end of this chapter.  Up to the point of the fall of Jerusalem, Ezekiel had been mute at all times unless God opened his mouth to speak specific prophecies.  In all that we have read so far, during that time, the only occasions Ezekiel opened his mouth to speak was when God gave him a prophecy to share.

Questions to consider:

1. How terrible is this news and the pain of telling it?  Consider the calling which God gave to Ezekiel and his wife!
2. How might the people of Jerusalem and Judah have been responding to all these prophecies we have been reading in the book of Ezekiel?  What would the repetition have drawn out of them?  What should it have resulted in?  If the people had been rejecting God’s warnings and promised judgment, how would they have responded even to these tragic messages?
3. Whom did God give and subject to a tragic death for our rescue (John 3:16)?  How do we see God’s justice intersecting with His love, mercy and grace?

Today’s passage: Ezekiel 23

Helpful thoughts:

• In today’s prophecy, Jerusalem and Samaria (The capitol cities of Judah and Israel) are compared to two young women (Sisters) who are both sinful in their conduct and unfaithful to the Lord.
  • Be aware of the graphic nature of these illustrations if doing devotions as a family.
• Jerusalem was able to see what all happened to Israel and Samaria because of her sin.  Instead of turning to the Lord in repentance, Jerusalem followed suit with even greater severity and as a result, was given the same “cup” of judgment as her sister.
• Though the metaphorical language continues through the entire chapter, the sins of the people are given with greater specificity after verse 36.  Adultery was certainly a component of the sins of the people and leadership of these nations, but all of their sin and their allegiances and clamoring for other nations is depicted as adultery.

Questions to consider:

1. This chapter is hard to read, there is the guilt of sins committed but also the relationship betrayed.  When we sin, dare we just “slipping up” or something more?  What all are we doing when we sin?
2. How does having a broader more accurate view of sin compel us to pursue righteousness and faithfulness?
3. How does having a broader and more accurate view of sin give us a greater understanding and appreciation of what Christ endured in our place at the cross?

Today’s passage: Ezekiel 22

Helpful thoughts:

• God calls Ezekiel to speak against Jerusalem once again, almost as if in a challenge (“Will you…?)
  • God then proceeds to make a list (Though surely not exhaustive) of all that the city of Jerusalem has done to bring judgment on herself.
• The city’s judgment is compared to the melting of metals.  The city will be “melted” not to refine her and make her pure, but to eliminate the dross.  Jerusalem is said to be a city of dross.
• The people of the city were in great sin.  The leaders were manipulating and destroying their own people for selfish gain.  The religious leaders were lying and using false prophecy to lead them astray.
  • There was no one in Jerusalem who would be used by God to stand against all the evil being done.

Questions to consider:

1. Why is the content of this chapter so shocking?  Not just the specificity of the wicked sins being committed, but also who these people were and were supposed to be?
2. Given the actions of the prophets in verse 28, why would it make sense for God to begin this revelation to Ezekiel with a challenge and question as to whether he would prophesy what he is told?  In what way is Ezekiel’s obedience to prophesy held in contrast with those in the city of Jerusalem?
3. How does the last clause of verse 31 give explanation to the rest of the verse concerning God’s judgment against Jerusalem?  Was God just angry and lashing out with uncontrolled emotions?  Was God acting in justice?  How do we escape the just wrath of God? (Romans 3:21-26)

Today’s passage: Ezekiel 21

Helpful thoughts:

• God responds to Ezekiel’s question from 20:49.  He gives Ezekiel a direct, specific, and definitive word.  Judgment is surely coming.
• The sword of judgment is handed to Nebuchadnezzar and the leader of Israel (The “Prince” of Israel) who would see the judgment come was Zedekiah (Verse 25).  Ezekiel always refers to Zedekiah as the “Prince” and never the “King” because of how he came to power (2 Chronicles 36:9-10).
• By the end of this chapter, judgment is promise to Judah, the Ammonites, and Babylon.
  • Judah is chosen for conquest before Ammon (Verses 18-23), but Ammon would have their day soon thereafter.
  • Babylon looked like they had the upper hand, but in truth, they were a tool of the sovereign God.

Questions to consider:

1. All three of these nations worshiped other false gods.  Only Israel or Judah would have been considered under the authority of the Lord among the three mentioned in this chapter.  What reality may have been a surprise to all of them about God?  If other nations serve other gods (Or no God at all) does that mean they are outside of the Lord’s “jurisdiction?”
2. When judgment or even hardship under the curse of sin (e.g. A natural disaster) sweeps across nations and regions in the world, is anyone exempt?  Who all was included in the act of judgment according to verses 3-4?  Are those in sin the only ones who suffer as a result of their sin?  Is anyone without sin?
3. Knowing that bad things happen in this world (Including to those whom God has declared “righteous” by His grace), where does our hope rest? (John 16:33)

Today’s passage: Ezekiel 20

Helpful thoughts:

• God always acts for His name’s sake.  Because He is good, righteous, loving and just, this is a very good thing.  God’s pursuit of His glory is never sinful.
• The elders of the house of Israel come to Ezekiel yet again to hear a “word” from the Lord.  They get a word…but probably not what they wanted.
• Ezekiel is willing to obey the Lord and speak what he is commanded, even while he feels the frustration of knowing that people will respond to him with criticism (Verse 48).

Questions to consider:

1. What are the things that God did over the years “for the sake of His name?”  In what ways did those actions result in His name being exulted (Or prevented His name from being wrongfully ridiculed)?
2. What good news did God allow Ezekiel to share about Israel in the future?  Why was this good news “bad news” to those elders of Israel who had come to Ezekiel on that day?  What might they have wanted from God instead?
3. In what ways does the content of verse 44 compare to what happened in us when we heard the Gospel and were saved?  In other words, how does verse 44 compare with Ephesians 2:1-10?