Ezekiel chapter 11

vs 14

I think we safely expect that now.

vs 15

So... basically the people of Jerusalem are saying, "Well, those other exiles obviously weren't the real people of God, because they've been exiled, and we're still here in the holy city. Yay us!"

Yeah, I think they might be in for a shock.

vs 16

So God is actually saying that he has returned to his people - but only once they go into exile. In the hands of foreign nations, God is there for his people.

vs 17

There will be an end to the exile! This is a huge relief. And not only will the exile end, but the land will be returned to them! Seriously, if God can achieve that, rebuilding a lost kingdom, then how awesome is he?

vs 18

And they sort of do. Kind of. Eventually.

vs 19

Because at the moment, as we have read, they really do have a total heart of stone, solidified over generations of turning away from God. But God will not have even his people's callousness stand in the way of his will.

vs 20

And the truth is that, a few twists and turns and false starts aside, they were a lot more careful to obey God's laws. So this stuff really comes true. For all those people who say that prophets can't predict, and seek to date their writings after the things they've predicted have come about, what do you do with this? You can hardly date Ezekiel in 2nd century BC.

vs 21

They definitely won't be the ones coming home... or probably even leaving the city alive.

vs 22

Where it belongs, really. It's spent a lot of time there in this book so far.

vs 23

So the glory of God has now left Jerusalem. With a single word of encouragement among a litany of punishment, God leaves his people.

vs 24

Ezekiel is suddenly whisked, visionly speaking, to Babylon to see the exiles there, whom God has been talking a little more fondly of, and then...

vs 25

Ezekiel passes the message on to them. Because even though the message is one of utter, utter awfulness for Jerusalem, it does have a little comfort for those currently in Babylon. For one, they're not alone - the people in Jerusalem are going to get punished too. And for two, God is still with them. His promises endure even their disobedience.