Ezekiel chapter 28

vs 14

I'd by lying if I said that I fully understood what this was going on about. But I think the point is that the city, and its king, were incredibly blessed, not only with wealth and riches and stuff, but their ability to find and discover God were right there, and yet it would seem that they didn't do much about it.

vs 15

Which I suppose can be said for everyone, can't it? That's actually a pretty good verse for showing that newborns are innocent. Of course, if it is a reference to Adam, then we can safely assume he was older than a newborn.

vs 16

I'm still puzzled about the fiery stones, but the fact is that the excessive trade wealth of Tyre made the people, including its king, selfish and wicked, and God therefore is now driving them from his sight. And God can see a hell of a long way.

vs 17

It's easy to see why people want to see this as Satan - who else was up with God, and could get thrown to earth? Well, the king of Tyre, apparently. Interestingly, the Tarnach seems to link Tyre to the Mount of God, because the king of Tyre assisted Solomon in getting cedar wood for the temple. That seems to make a lot of sense to me.

vs 18

God likes not only individual deterrence, but general deterrence. He doesn't just punish, but sometimes he wants people to see the punishment, and know what's going on.

vs 19

It is rather appalling, and just a little disturbing.

vs 20

And now we get to move on to Sidon, another coastal city, I think, up near Tyre somewhere.

vs 21

As I said, Sidon.

vs 22

God is going to prove his holiness by crushing and destroying Sidon. Well, that kinda sucks for Sidon, but God knows what he's doing, and the assumption seems to be that Sidon should have known better too.

vs 23

While they may well know that God is Lord, it might be a touch too late for them. This reminds me of judgment in general - everyone will know that God is Lord, eventually. But for many, they find out (or more correctly, accept) too late for it to be of any use to anyone but God.

In that way, really, our finding out beforehand can be so obviously seen as really quite gracious.

vs 24

So when God clears out all the foreign briars and brambles that keep pricking Israel, then Israel too will know that God is Lord. This isn't too late for Israel, which is quite nice.

vs 25

See, God is going to be faithful. They are going to go and live in that land that he gave their forefathers, and he's going to clear out the bad influences on them, and he's going to let them know he's still with them.

vs 26

God will give them safety, will punish their enemies, and they will know he is God once more. It's a long arc to bring them through - sin, punishment, exile, return, punishment on surrounding nations, rebuilding - but it does the job.

Ezekiel chapter 28

vs 1

Yep, it does that, Ezekiel. For you, anyway.

vs 2

This verse straight away should tell us that this is really about the king of Tyre claiming to be a god. It's not about Satan. Should we be surprised that someone claims to be a god? It's strange to us, but pharoahs did, Babylonian emperors did, Persian emperors did, Greek rulers did, Roman emperors did. Do you get the picture?

vs 3

Good old Danel. He was a wise, wise man.

vs 4

So it's not that he has no wisdom and understanding. He's got enough to amass gold and wealth for himself. So, perhaps 15?

vs 5

As I say, it's not like he's a total brainless vegetable. He's got the smarts to be able to come up with a big trading empire and make himself rich. But he doesn't have the wisdom to not get all proud about it, he starts boasting he's a god, he lives a life of pleasure and selfishness.

vs 6

Only think, it's not true of course.

vs 7

And, you know, if you're a god, you can make them go away. Right?

vs 8

But you'll rise from the dead, because you're a god, right? Silly thing to say, really, that you're a god.

vs 9

"You can't kill me, I'm a god!" is probably even worse than "You can't kill me, I'm wearing magical armo...argh" if people actually then kill you. It shouldn't be a command, it should just be a simple statement of fact.

A simple statement of fact Jesus never made. He said, "You can kill me, but I'm God."

vs 10

In his death he will be separated from God, because of his claims about being a god himself. And his death will be a judging death, a death before his old age.

vs 11

And God wasn't finished either, he had more to say.

vs 12

See, God could see Tyre, he could see how wonderful, rich and glorious and splendid it was. He's not saying it wasn't.

vs 13

A great verse for getting a bunch of hebrew names for stones. Probably relates to stone of red, stone of blue, stone of green etc though. Lapidary concerns were not so precise back then. But it also shows a huge wealth, and it makes this claim about the garden of Eden, linking the king of Tyre back to Adam, showing that God had given him everything. The King of Tyre had his whole life, his wealth and splendour, to remind him that God had given him everything. But instead, he decided to claim that he was a god himself. Oops.

Ezekiel chapter 27

vs 28

Because so many will drown (or be killed), it will be a really loud noise.

vs 29

Tyre will be abandoned when it becomes clear that it's going to be sieged and destroyed. Who wants to hang around and defend a city that, at the end of the day, isn't their city?

vs 30

They will mourn, of course, as do all people who mourn the loss of riches and the ability to make more riches. Perhaps they are mourning for the huge loss of life... but I doubt it.

vs 31

More of the same, more pictures of mourning. The mourning is because of Tyre and the fall of Tyre, and the impact it has on them, and perhaps just because it is so pathetic that what can you do but mourn?

vs 32

It will be a pretty spectacular thing, only done better by Alexander the Great, who was way too awesome.

vs 33

Definitely a thing to mourn over, then, if there are so many people who profited by it, and now are just watching it fall. Do they come to its defence though? No.

vs 34

Tyre has sunk, as it were. And people just sat back and watched it sink too.

vs 35

Because of course if Tyre falls, then who's next? No-one expected that.

vs 36

But already the scoffing begins. Now with Tyre out of the way, other merchants will have their turn in the sun. So for them it's not all bad at all. No doubt they too were not expecting it, but they are glad for it. Poor Tyre. That's what you get for laughing at Israel's misfortune, I guess.

Ezekiel chapter 27

vs 19

So apparently cassia is like a cinnamon type thing, and calamus is a spicy aromatic thing. Who knew?

vs 20

Nice to have a trade item.

vs 21

Meaty goodness. I guess Arabia had lots of herders, to have so much livestock to trade.

vs 22

That's serious rich stuff.

vs 23

Long list of places. Perhaps they were usually grouped together?

vs 24

Ahhh, rugs. It's the middle east, someone had to trade rugs.

vs 25

Obviously you would need some pretty awesome ships for all this, considering that there is so much stuff coming into and out of this city.

vs 26

Uh oh. See, halfway through verse 25 I think it started talking about Tyre as a boat again, and now God is talking about the destruction of that boat, perhaps in terms of the destruction of it's trade. The east wind is probably Babylon, coming from the east.

vs 27

So now we see the picture of sinking to the bottom of the sea realised rather fully. If Tyre is a boat, Babylon is about to sink it.

Ezekiel chapter 27

vs 10

That's a lot of places. I don't know if they're well known for having like mercenary warriors that serve in armies around the ancient world, but apparently there is splendor in having troops from all over come and serve in your armed forces. Most often, the reason you have that is because you have some sort of power over that nation, and can force them to supply an army. I don't think that would be the case here though. Perhaps it is the protecting of trade interests that is taking place.

vs 11

Pretty much a repeat of the last verse. No doubt if I had any idea about these nations, I'd be saying, "Ooooh, aaaaah. Wow, Gammad, yeah, they're really good in towers."

vs 12

Tarshish is a long way away. So this shows the reach of the trade empire of Tyre.

vs 13

We're seeing again the long reach of trade, but also the many different items that made Tyre rich.

vs 14

Not a trade I would personally want to be involved in, but no doubt it was a wealthy thing. Trading chariot horses is like trading tanks.

vs 15

So Tyre was trading with many coastland ports, living in perfect harmony (sorry, couldn't resist). Remember, that all of these are here to tell us how rich and wonderful and great Tyre was - in the context of the fact that now it is boned.

vs 16

See, this is really rich stuff here. That is the stuff of kings and great bounty.

vs 17

By comparison, Judah and Israel aren't really trading the most flash stuff.

vs 18

Back to a bigger and more important city, and we see more interesting and cool things being traded. Unfortunately, someone felt the need to put a verse in the middle here, but we'll get to the rest of Damascus tomorrow.

Ezekiel chapter 27

vs 1

As it does to Ezekiel.

vs 2

Since it's going to go down, it's sort of a prohelament.

vs 3

God likes putting words in other people's mouths, even ours. What is really annoying about this is that we say, "I never said that," when of course we say something approximating it, and pretty much think it. In this case, we're about to hear about how much Tyre, and its king, loves itself. Whenever something declares itself perfect, in whatever way, you know you're in for a fall.

vs 4

God doesn't seem to be taking issue with the perfect beauty thing. See, the thing is, perfection actually exists. If we accept that it comes from God, then that should be okay, right?

vs 5

I didn't know cities had masts, but in any case, very good wood. Awesome.

vs 6

See, it sounds like they're describing a the city as a boat. Perhaps they are. The fact is that it's a really nice boat, and bits come from everywhere, because its rich and gets trade.

vs 7

So many nations! So many products, so much finery and richness. No wonder they said it was perfect in beauty.

vs 8

Skilled workmen filled the city, so it was a useful and productive city.

vs 9

It was the jewel of the seas, this boat... er city.

Ezekiel chapter 26

vs 12

They will plunder, but apparently they won't be rewarded well enough in doing it - it does take them 15 years to take Tyre, after all. But they still do it, and I'm sure it's an awful thing to go through - having your stuff rifled through and looted by soldiers.

And then to add insult to injury, they take your houses apart and throw the building materials into the sea. So God was right! The city really does end up in the ocean. I never thought of that.

vs 13

Partly because there's nothing nice to sing about, but even if you want to sing a dirge, they probably stole your harp.

vs 14

Now of course, we hit a bit of a snag here, because Tyre was rebuilt. And then it was seiged by Alexander the Great. And now it's rebuilt again. But I guess if it's not reabuilt by the same people who built it the first time, perhaps it doesn't count as the same town? Who's to say. Perhaps not rebuilt in their lifetime.

vs 15

The coastlands generally, or all those who live on the coast and trade with her? Because I can definitely imagine the second one. Incidentally, if it is that, then that's a really good link to Revelation, where the coastal cities weep and mourn over the great city of humanity falling.

vs 16

So it does sound like the cities. And if Tyre can fall - being a basically impregnable island fortress - then all the other towns on the seaside will think that they are next, and that now their living has been substantially destroyed because of the loss of a great trading partner, and so the princes of said cities won't be happy at all. In fact, they will be fearful.

vs 17

What they say says it all really. They were a great sea power, and now they have fallen. Who should we be afraid of now, if not those who conquered them!?

vs 18

Other island nations, somewhat protected by their remoteness, are going to be shaking in their boots now.

vs 19

So something else is going to happen?

vs 20

Sounds pretty ominous. This is definitely not just a threat to the walls and ceilings of Tyre, it's a threat to the people of Tyre, about how their life is going to suck, and perhaps even when they die they're not going to get a good time of it.

vs 21

So even if the town is rebuilt, it won't be like Jerusalem, where the same people return to build it. Because the people will be forever lost. People will say, "Hey, you know those people who used to live in Tyre?" and someone will reply, "No? Aren't they all dead?"

Ezekiel chapter 26

vs 1

So here we begin what turns out to be quite a long tirade over a few chapters about Tyre, which I guess shows just how important a single city state can be. So we get a new date, and a new message from God, this one about Tyre.

vs 2

It would seem that Tyre was in competition with Jerusalem. Jerusalem apparently was the gateway to the nations, which is a pretty good place to be if you want trade. Now Tyre is hoping to open a new gate.

vs 3

Having God against you is not quite the enviable position you might think it is, trade or no trade.

vs 4

Basically, destroy the city.

vs 5

I think talking about the oceans overtaking the city is more poetic than reality - the idea being not that it will sink into the ocean, but that rather it will be wiped out as if it were.

vs 6

So God judges both the island city and the mainland city - because Tyre had both.

vs 7

See, while God has the huge army at his disposal to spank Jerusalem, he may as well do some other judging too.

vs 8

Doesn't sound good at all.

vs 9

Ditto above. Nice to get these pictures of ancient warfare. Less nice to be a picture of ancient warfare.

vs 10

So Tyre might have big walls and defences, but God won't let them stand.

vs 11

Mayhem and destruction - similar to what Jerusalem is going to suffer, really. Were you so keen to be that much like Jerusalem, Tyre, that you also inherited her downfall? Sucks to be you.

Ezekiel chapter 25

vs 9

Exposing the flank is not good, I think, regardless of whether it is talking anatomically or militarily.

vs 10

Poor Ammonites. Of course, we remember them because they are in the Bible, but apart from that, no doubt we know very little of them, and certainly there probably aren't many people who say, "Hey, I'm an Ammonite."

vs 11

God's punishment, though great, is still a method of revealing himself to people. It is part of how we know God as God, showing his power and justice.

vs 12

Very guilty is not a good place to be when God is talking doom. I don't know exactly what they did in their revenge, but apparently they shouldn't have done it.

vs 13

This obviously doesn't bode well for Edom. No doubt they probably became victims of the same empire that took over Jerusalem. After all, if you're already in the neighbourhood taking over little nation states...

vs 14

But no! God actually promises that it will be God's people Israel who get to mete out the punishment. So this is perhaps some time in the future, after the exile, because they're not really in a position to do too much smiting at the moment.

vs 15

Pretty ancient hostility, as in for the last thousand years or so. The Philistines are the classic bad guys of Israel's early history (besides Egypt of course, but we get to them in a few chapters).

vs 16

So when God decides to crack open his judging sword, he doesn't just use it once. Nation after nation are falling now, and God is claiming their scalps for his just judgment.

vs 17

Ahhh, the verse made famous by Jules Winfield, our man from Inglewood. Of course, this one carries real power and fear - let us all hope that we are not only able to recognise God and his power through his vengance.

Ezekiel chapter 25

vs 1

Ey-yep.

vs 2

So now we begin into a rather long section of prophecies against various nations that have shown themselves to be antagonistic against Israel and Jerusalem. One wonders whether those nations would ever have gotten to read these prophecies, or if they are more here so that God's people can read them and see that yes, he does judge other nations, not just them, for their wrongdoing. And that he still is on his people's side.

vs 3

So we see the Ammonites, for example, exclaimed (probably with joy) at the destruction of God's people. This is not the correct response, it seems.

vs 4

This is pretty much what happens to Israel and Judah. So the punishment for both nations is the same.

vs 5

I assume these are cities or towns, or at least populated areas.

vs 6

Definitely rejoicing, although possibly also a rock concert.

vs 7

This may seem harsh. I mean, an entire nation gets wiped out because they mocked God's people. But I suppose they were not rejoicing because God was punishing wrongdoing, but rather they were rejoicing because an enemy was getting stepped on. Big picture fail, survival epic fail.

vs 8

And it looks like it is Moab's turn now. But more on this tomorrow.

Ezekiel chapter 24

Well, life certainly has been pretty stirred up recently. Is today the first day of a once-again normal routine? Only time will tell.

vs 21

Ezekiel recounts what God has told him - that God is going to desecrate Jerusalem, that many are going to die, that the delight of their eyes will be destroyed - just as Ezekiel's wife died suddenly.

vs 22

Ezekiel goes on to tell them that they will not be able to mourn in the normal way for this loss - of both children and city.

vs 23

It is obvious that there is a perceived benefit in the loud and public mourning process here, and a detriment to it's not being practiced. But why won't they get to mourn?

vs 24

Perhaps for no other reason than that God forbids it, and so it does not happen. Then when they see that it has happened, when the news strikes them, and they don't mourn, then they will see that God was right. It might be that what was contrived in Ezekiel for effect is reality to God's people, because that's how deep in their sin they are - unable to mourn the loss of something great.

vs 25

It's quite a loss.

vs 26

Ahhh, the fugitive - the one who was hiding in the rugs or whatever. Is God using the trope, or did God invent the trope? Answer is obvious, really, because it's a trick question.

vs 27

Apparently this is a turning point in the book of Ezekiel. When this fugitive comes, and tells them about the destruction of Jerusalem, then Ezekiel is allowed to "talk", as it were. Really, what he is allowed to do, many people say, is to fulfil his role as a mediatory prophet, something God forbade him do earlier. Because obviously he hasn't been totally silent to them.

Ezekiel chapter 24

Internet returns! Huzzah!

vs 11

Yes, this really is like a self-cleaning oven, although I don't know that self-cleaning ovens make the metal glow with heat. Still, interesting to know that some things never change.

vs 12

Israel's filthy deposit of sin and rebellion against God is so caked on that even the fires of punishment don't seem to be enough to burn it off. That's not a good sign for Israel.

vs 13

God is so good as to give us what the impurity is - in the case of Jerusalem, it is lewdness. Now, whether this is actual lewdness, or whether it is lewdness as idolatry (since last chapter was pretty lewd, but was really about Jerusalem's idolatry of other gods and other nations) is a little harder to say. I've got to say it could be both though.

And now that God can't cook off the impurities, he's going to have to bring out his scourer of wrath.

vs 14

This really makes me think, how often do we deserve judgment, but God relents or has mercy? This time in Jerusalem's history is rather unique (or at least very uncommon) in that God does not relent, does not have mercy, but instead pours out his full cup of wrath.

vs 15

And now another word comes to Ezekiel.

vs 16

When you hear words like this, probably your mind starts racing, "What is the delight of my eyes? What's he going to take away? My sight?" Whatever it is, it won't be good, because you're going to want to mourn, but God says he's not allowed to.

vs 17

His grief is not to impact his outside life. Nowadays, when we are always trying not to let our grief be shown (and some people take drugs at funerals to stop themselves from losing it), it is hard for us to imagine the middle eastern culture of mourning and wailing loudly at funerals. But this is in fact still done today - just watch any funeral of a young Palestinian boy killed by the Israeli army.

So God telling Ezekiel not to mourn is actually quite a cultural shift - it will be noticed.

vs 18

This verse is just so bleak, so plain. His wife died. Just like that. I feel so bad for him, that God chose to send a message to his people this way. But God knows best, and it's a reminder that we must always value God first - not even our own families come before Him.

vs 19

See, I told you his outward appearance of not mourning would have an effect. People are very much paying attention and asking questions.

vs 20

An important preface, because if it's not from God, then they really don't need to listen. Ezekiel repeats this idea of God's word coming to him over and over, really reinforcing the authority of his words. Nowadays, we probably would think that such repetition is a trick to try and make it seem more authoritative than it should be. But back then, it was most likely just a writing device. Probably works on the same level, but it's not meant to deceive, it's meant to highlight.