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:
- 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?”
- 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?
- 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)