Ezekiel 24

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Again, in the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 

Ezekiel is still walking steadily with God after nine years of listening and writing what God has him to write, act and speak concerning the sins of His people.

"Son of man, write down the name of the day, this very day--the king of Babylon started his siege against Jerusalem this very day. 

Today Nebuchadnezzar is invading Jerusalem just as God has spoken through His prophets.

When we study the Word of God as the wise men who searched for Jesus, we will discover God keeps His Word exactly the way He purposed.

"And utter a parable to the rebellious house, and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Put on a pot, set it on, And also pour water into it. 

Get the pot put water in it, and set it on the heat!!!!

Gather pieces of meat in it, Every good piece, The thigh and the shoulder. Fill it with choice cuts; 

Take the choice of the flock. Also pile fuel bones under it, Make it boil well, And let the cuts simmer in it."

The parable is speaking of what is getting ready to happen to the rebellious people of Jerusalem.  Like meat is ready to boil, so will it be to the disobedient children of Israel who sinned unmercifully every day. 

'Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Woe to the bloody city, To the pot whose scum is in it, And whose scum is not gone from it! Bring it out piece by piece, On which no lot has fallen. 

When we walk away from God, we are like scum in a pot.  Man's titles or special cuts of meat have no place in which to order what part of the meat goes in or which person in Jerusalem goes in first; all pieces/person are doomed.

For her blood is in her midst; She set it on top of a rock; She did not pour it on the ground, To cover it with dust. 

Israel was bold in what she did; she did not hide her sins; she made sure it could be seen.

That it may raise up fury and take vengeance, I have set her blood on top of a rock, That it may not be covered." 

The same way you displayed your murderous acts, God will put your blood on display so all can see.

'Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Woe to the bloody city! I too will make the pyre great. 

What it takes to bury your bodies will be much!

Heap on the wood, Kindle the fire; Cook the meat well, Mix in the spices, And let the cuts be burned up. 

Prepare the pot.

"Then set the pot empty on the coals, That it may become hot and its bronze may burn, That its filthiness may be melted in it, That its scum may be consumed. 

She has grown weary with lies, And her great scum has not gone from her. Let her scum be in the fire! 

In your filthiness is lewdness. Because I have cleansed you, and you were not cleansed, You will not be cleansed of your filthiness anymore, Till I have caused My fury to rest upon you. 

In your filth is cruel sexual behavior.  I gave you a good name, and you did not live up to what I said about you; I will not have any good thing to say of you until I have brought judgment against you and you have learned the lesson.

I, the LORD, have spoken it; It shall come to passive, and I will do it; I will not hold back, Nor will I spare, Nor will I relent; According to your ways And according to your deeds They will judge you," Says the Lord GOD.' " 

Also the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 

"Son of man, behold, I take away from you the desire of your eyes with one stroke; yet you shall neither mourn nor weep, nor shall your tears run down. 

God tells Ezekiel that his wife will be taken from him and order him not to grieve.

"Sigh in silence, make no mourning for the dead; bind your turban on your head, and put your sandals on your feet; do not cover your lips, and do not eat man's bread of sorrow." 

Show no sign of sorrow.  Keep silent during this time.

So I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died; and the next morning I did as I was commanded. 

Ezekiel did as God commanded him to do after the death of his wife.

And the people said to me, "Will you not tell us what these things signify to us, that you behave so?" 

Then I answered them, "The word of the LORD came to me, saying, 

'Speak to the house of Israel, "Thus says the Lord GOD: 'Behold, I will profane My sanctuary, your arrogant boast, the desire of your eyes, the delight of your soul; and your sons and daughters whom you left behind shall fall by the sword. 

How I behaved at the death of my wife, so will it be to you for all that you love.  You will hurt, but you will not be able to bury or show sorrow because things in your life will be too bad for you as an individual.

'And you shall do as I have done; you shall not cover your lips nor eat man's bread of sorrow. 

'Your turbans shall be on your heads and your sandals on your feet; you shall neither mourn nor weep, but you shall pine away in your iniquities and mourn with one another. 

You will be as I am concerning my behavior when my wife died.  You will not show signs of sorrow for another, but you will be sorrowful as the one next to you.  There will be no one to comfort anyone.

'Thus Ezekiel is a sign to you; according to all that he has done you shall do; and when this comes, you shall know that I am the Lord GOD.' " 

'And you, son of man--will it not be in the day when I take from them their stronghold, their joy and their glory, the desire of their eyes, and that on which they set their minds, their sons and their daughters: 

'that on that day one who escapes will come to you to let you hear it with your ears? 

'On that day your mouth will be opened to him who has escaped; you shall speak and no longer be mute. Thus you will be a sign to them, and they shall know that I am the LORD.' "

Ezekiel could not speak during the time of God's judgment against Israel, but when some escape, Ezekiel will speak to them.  And the people will know that  Ezekiel was used of God, and they will know that God is God.