EZEKIEL LESSON 23


     We will begin this lesson in Ezekiel 21:1 "And the word of the
LORD came unto me, saying,"

     This is the beginning of another prophecy.

     Ezekiel 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,"

     This prophecy is against Jerusalem, and all of Israel.

     Ezekiel 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."

     In time of judgement and war, the just are sometimes cut off with
the unjust. The "sword being drawn out of his sheath" shows just how
quickly this might happen. The sword, also, shows the severity of the
attack. We know that the conquest of Israel by Babylon was in several
phases, and took several years to finish. This is speaking of that
final phase.

     Ezekiel 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:"

     It seems such a shame for the righteous to suffer, but that is
the fate of the world. We are in the world together. Natural phenomena
affect both, and so does war.

     Ezekiel 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."

     The reason the sword will not be returned to the sheath, is this
is the final battle. There will be no question of where this judgement
came from, because there had been so much prophecy given pertaining to
it. Even Babylon is aware of the prophecies that have gone forth.

     Ezekiel 21:6 "Sigh therefore, thou son of man, with the breaking
of [thy] loins; and with bitterness sigh before their eyes."

     We see from this, that Ezekiel is supposed to be so grieved by
this, that his sigh will be so great, it appears that he has broken
his loin. I am sure it does greatly grieve Ezekiel to bring this
terrible news to his fellowcountrymen. The bitterness of the eyes is
speaking of the tears that flow, when he is bringing this prophecy.

     Ezekiel 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."

     Those around Ezekiel will, probably, not understand why he is
crying and in such pain. What they do not realize, is that a prophet
feels the pain of those he is prophesying against. The description of
the people upon which this terror has come, is their hearts shall
melt, their hands will tremble as a feeble person, they will faint
from fear, and their knees will be weak as water. This is a terrible
sight.  Of course, as Ezekiel is telling this, he sees it in his
mind's eye, as well. His sorrow is great.

     Ezekiel 21:8  "Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,"

     There was a break in the prophecy, perhaps for Ezekiel to
strengthen.

     Ezekiel 21:9 "Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD;
Say, A sword, a sword is sharpened, and also furbished:"

     The sword is sharpened and ready to go. This prophecy is not for
the future. It is to happen then. "Furbished" means polished.
Soldiers, many times, polish their weapons just before a battle
begins.

     Ezekiel 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."

     This sword is in the hands of the enemy. We must remember,
however, that God sent this sword in judgement. "Contemneth", in the
verse above, means to spurn, or disappear. Generally speaking, when
someone came against God's people, God fought their battles, and
turned their crying into joy. This will not be the case here. God has
sent the sword against His own people for their worship of false gods.

     Ezekiel 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."

     The threat of the sword is giving one last time to repent and
turn to God. This is a strong warning.

     Ezekiel 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."

     This is Ezekiel who is to howl and cry. Ezekiel could not
possibly bring this type of message without it breaking his heart. The
"smiting of the thigh" is another sign of the crying and howling of
deep grief. The fact this destruction will be no respecter of persons,
is another reason to mourn. Even the leaders will be killed by the
sword.

     Ezekiel 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."

     It will appear that the rod of God has been overcome. This is not
the truth, however. The attacking sword is from God, as well as the
rod.  This is a chastisement from God upon His people to change their
ways.

     Ezekiel 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."

     Those of great wealth have places which are very private. Even if
they hide in these places, they will be found and run through with the
sword. They cannot hide from God. The smiting of the hands shows the
horror of it all.

     Ezekiel 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."

     Those in Jerusalem thought that their walls and their strong
gates would save them. God knows the weak points in the gate. This is
what is meant by the point. The gates will fall and the walls with
them.  The people will faint in their hearts, when they see there is
no hope.  The sword is wrapped up until battle.

     Ezekiel 21:16 "Go thee one way or other, [either] on the right
hand, [or] on the left, whithersoever thy face [is] set."

     Whichever way the soldiers went, there was destruction by the
sword. It would not matter whether they were on the right or left, the
destruction would come. This had to be terrible for Ezekiel to see in
his thoughts, as he was prophesying. These were his people.

     Ezekiel 21:17 "I will also smite mine hands together, and I will
cause my fury to rest: I the LORD have said [it]."

     It appears, at the clapping of God's hand the fury would stop.
When God speaks, it is so.

     Ezekiel 21:18  "The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,"

     Now, we begin with a new part of the prophecy.

     Ezekiel 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."

     This seems to be a dividing place in the road. One road leads to
Jerusalem, and the other, probably, to Rabbath. There will be signs
posting the direction.

     Ezekiel 21:20 "Appoint a way, that the sword may come to Rabbath
of the Ammonites, and to Judah in Jerusalem the defenced."

     At this point in the road, the invader could choose one way, or
the other.

     Ezekiel 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."

     All of the things mentioned in the verse above, are things
connected with the occult. This king of Babylon was not a godly man.
He took his directions from witchcraft. He had polished his arrows,
and when he shook them up, whichever came into his right hand would be
the way he would go. This "looking in the liver" is very similar to
people looking into a crystal ball. All of it is very evil, and
connected with false worship. This type of thing is connected to Satan
worship.

     Ezekiel 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."

     When the quiver was shaken, the arrow that was for Jerusalem came
forth. The rest of this is telling how they battered the gates down.
We must remember in all of this, some false god had no control over
this situation. God controls even Satan.

     Ezekiel 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."

     When the people in Jerusalem heard of the divination that went on
at the separation of the roads, they still did not believe that the
Babylonians would be able to take Jerusalem. They were not wanting to
believe that the protection of God had been removed from His holy
city.

     Ezekiel 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."

     We see again here, why God is letting this happen. They have
sinned by worshipping other gods, and God has not forgotten it. He is
totally aware of the sins they thought they had cleverly hidden.  God
reminds them, here, of the curses that would come upon them, if they
sinned in this manner. They were so used to God protecting them, that
they could not believe He would allow them to be destroyed. It is the
Hand of God that is against them. He is using the king of Babylon to
carry out His wishes. God is still in control. It is just not in the
way they expect.

     Ezekiel 21:25  "And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose
day is come, when iniquity [shall have] an end,"

     The prince will be punished along with the people. This is,
probably, speaking of Zedekiah.

     Ezekiel 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."

     No longer will Zedekiah reign. He is toppled. The diadem is not
only a crown for a king, but many times speaks of the mitre of the
high priest. It appears from this, that the high priest is punished
the same as Zedekiah. We, also, see the that the office of high priest
in the temple will not be the same anymore. The great High Priest is
not on the earth, but in heaven. He is the one we call Jesus.

     Ezekiel 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]."

     God will no longer have great respect for the earthly high
priest. The One who comes whose right it is, is Jesus.

     Ezekiel 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:"

     In the separation of the roads, when the king of Babylon
practiced divination, the Ammonites thought they were safe. Now, we
see that God will deal with them, also. They will be killed by the
sword, the same as those in Jerusalem.

     Ezekiel 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."

     It appears from this Scripture, that the Ammonites divined, as
well as Nebuchadnezzar. They had put their faith in a false god. They
rejoiced at the destruction of Jerusalem, and God will now destroy
them. Their iniquity had not been overlooked by God.

     Ezekiel 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."

     The Ammonites were natives of this land, it appears. They were
nomads who were descended from Lot's youngest daughter.

     Ezekiel 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."

     It would not help them at all to fight against these Babylonians,
because it is actually God who has sent the Babylonians.  The blowing
just makes the fire burn more brightly. They are evil, and God will
use an evil king to destroy them.

     Ezekiel 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]."

     This is the final end of the Ammonites. They will not be
restored, as Jerusalem will be. Their destruction is final. They will
not only be destroyed, but forgotten, as well. This prophecy came true
in detail.  It was never rebuilt.





































                         Ezekiel 23 Questions


1.  Son of man, set thy face toward ___________.
2.  Who, besides Jerusalem, was this prophecy for?
3.  What is shown by the "sword being out of his sheath"?
4.  In time of judgement and war, the _______ are sometimes cut off
    with the ___________.
5.  The conquest of Israel by Babylon was in several __________.
6.  Why is there no question where this judgement came from?
7.  How greatly is Ezekiel grieved by this prophecy?
8.  Describe the people at this terror of war.
9.  What does "furbished" mean?
10. The sword is in the hands of the ________.
11. What must we remember, however?
12. What is Ezekiel told to do in verse 12?
13. What does the "smiting of the thigh" show?
14. Why can the wealthy not hide in their private place and be safe?
15. What had been thought about the walls of Jerusalem and their
    gates?
16. When the people see there is no hope, what will they do?
17. In verse 17, God smites His hands together and does what?
18. What are the two ways in verse 19?
19. Where do the two roads lead?
20. Who stood at the dividing of the roads?
21. What was he doing there?
22. All of the things he did were connected to the ________.
23. What is the "looking in the liver" similar to in our day?
24. Which arrow came forth, when the quiver was shaken?
25. What effect did the divination at the parting of the roads have on
    the people of Jerusalem?
26. Why is God allowing this to happen?
27. Who is the prince of Israel in verse 25?
28. What did the removing of the diadem tell us?
29. Who is the great High Priest?
30. In verse 28, a judgement is made on whom?
31. Who, besides Nebuchadnezzar, divined?
32. Who were the Ammonites descended from?
33. What eventually happens to the Ammonites?