Ezekiel 4-5

Ezekiel’s prophetic ministry begins now in these chapters.  His ministry is marked by the fact that he is mute, other than when he speaks for God.  Instead of a multitude of words God gives Ezekiel object lessons to speak His message.  There are several in this opening message.

·        4:1-3: Ezekiel draws a city on a clay tablet and then lays siege to it.  He also places an iron plate between himself and the tablet, perhaps symbolizing God’s separation from the people.  The Israelites in Babylon need to know that Jerusalem, the city they love, will come under attack.

·        4:4-8: Ezekiel laid on his side many days to indicate the guilt of both Israel, already removed from the land, and Judah.  The fact that he fixes his meal each day indicates he probably did not lie on his side all day but for a period of time each day.  The difference in days (390 on his left for Israel and 40 on his right for Judah) is hard to understand.  The total (430) is the number of years in Egypt, a warning about the next captivity.  The years of idolatry in Israel from the time Jeroboam set up the gold calves was 390.  Perhaps the 40 years refers to the time of idolatry under Manasseh before he repented.

·        4:9-17:  Ezekiel prepares a meager daily meal, cooking it over a fire of cow dung, pointing to the famine that will engulf Jerusalem.

·        5:1-4:  Ezekiel cuts his hair, dividing it into three parts to symbolize the types of judgment God will bring on Jerusalem: fire, sword and captivity.  A small amount is saved out in the fold of his robe, a picture of the remnant that God will spare.  He will not totally destroy His people.

The rest of Chapter 5 tells why God will bring this judgment.  She has rejected God’s law (v6), even more than the surrounding nations (v7).  Thus God is against them (v8) and will bring about judgment never seen before (v9) where fathers will eat their sons and sons their fathers (v10).  His people have also defiled His sanctuary (v11) and so again God promises the three forms of judgment (v12).  When God finishes Judah and Jerusalem will be a reproach to all around her (v13-17).

Two key words appear in this passage to keep in mind.  “Abominations” (5:5,9) are disgusting, impure things.  It refers often to sins related to idolatry but indicate that the sin of the people has reached the greatest of depths.  “Fury” (2X each in 5:13,15) when used of God refers to His hot anger.  In Ezekiel it is an indication that God’s anger has reached the point where He will not relent.  He will act in fury.  It will be a judgment of unbearable proportions.

Because of God’s patience people often doubt God’s fiery judgment will come.  But that is foolishness.  Through Ezekiel God graciously warned and called His people to come to Him.  There would be a time when their abominations would lead to His fury.  Let us believe God is the same today!