Ezekiel 24:1

Ezekiel 24:1 says, Again in the ninth year, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Ezekiel gave the exact day that God’s word came to him.  It was the ninth year of Jehoiachin’s captivity, which was also the ninth year of Zedekiah's reign.  

Verse two adds, Son of man, write thee the name of the day, even of this same day: the king of Babylon set himself against Jerusalem this same day.  God had instructed Ezekiel to write this date down, because it was the exact day that the king of Babylon had set himself against Jerusalem.  We know that God’s judgment is coming one day, but we don’t know the exact day, even though people often try to claim they do.  

Verse three continues, And utter a parable unto the rebellious house, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Set on a pot, set it on, and also pour water into it:  God then told Ezekiel that he was to speak to the people with a parable.  This parable was to concern putting a pot full of water on to heat.  This was the same as the sign used by Jeremiah years before as stated in Jeremiah 1:13. Matthew Henry said God may have used this parable to remind the people of what Jeremiah had said and what had come pass when he did.  I know that God expects us to learn from what happened in the past with His people, both when they were obedient to Him and when they rebelled against Him.

Verse four states, Gather the pieces thereof into it, even every good piece, the thigh, and the shoulder; fill it with the choice bones.  In the parable, Ezekiel was to add all the choice pieces of meat to the pot of water.  This would seem to be the making of a good meal for them. Just like the people felt that they were safe in Jerusalem, this stew that was being made sounded good, but it really spoke of their coming punishment.   

Verse five adds, Take the choice of the flock, and burn also the bones under it, and make it boil well, and let them seethe the bones of it therein.  Ezekiel was to add the choice of the flock to this boiling pot and let it seethe.  This would indicate that none would be left out of this boiling pot.  When God’s judgment comes, it will apply to everyone.  If we have not accepted His gift of salvation, then we will be in a boiling pot of sin, no matter how powerful we may be in the world.  

Verse six says, Wherefore thus saith the Lord God; Woe to the bloody city, to the pot whose scum is therein, and whose scum is not gone out of it! bring it out piece by piece; let no lot fall upon it.  God then pronounced woe for the city of Jerusalem, stating that they were like this boiling pot, seething in they own disobedience yet feeling safe while they were in Jerusalem.  They were all going to be pulled out, just as the meat was pulled out of the pot in the parable.  The people of Israel, or Judah in this case were always looking for a sign from God, and He had given them one, but it wasn’t one of deliverance but of defeat.  God has given us the only sign that He will ever give us for us to be saved, and that is the sign of the cross of Jesus and the empty tomb after He had been crucified.  

Verse seven adds, For her blood is in the midst of her; she set it upon the top of a rock; she poured it not upon the ground, to cover it with dust;  This boiling pot that had a hot fire kept under it meant that the time of the defeat of Jerusalem was nearly there.  Just as the meat in the pot could not escape on its own, neither could the people of Jerusalem and neither can we escape God’s punishment by our own ability.  God had been their source of power, but they had turned their back on Him, so now they were powerless.  

Verse eight continues, That it might cause fury to come up to take vengeance; I have set her blood upon the top of a rock, that it should not be covered.   God said that fury was coming to Jerusalem and He had set her blood on the top of the rock so it could not be covered. There was no escape from the coming judgment because God was no longer protecting them.  One day, our sins will all be on display for everyone to see if we have not accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.

Ezekiel 23:45

Ezekiel 23:45 says, And the righteous men, they shall judge them after the manner of adulteresses, and after the manner of women that shed blood; because they are adulteresses, and blood is in their hands.  God said that the righteous men would judge the people of Judah because they had committed spiritual adultery against God and had been spiritually unclean in their lives.  As followers of Christ, we are not called on the be the judge of people, but we are called on to be a judge of their actions as they relate to God's word.  If they are doing things that make them spiritually unclean, we are to point this out to them, but it is God Who will ultimately judge each individual, and it is only our responsibility to share the gospel with them.  Even if they are a Christian and are guilty of sinning once more, we are to point this out to them under the leadership of the Holy Spirit and out of an attitude of love.

Verse forty-six adds, For thus saith the Lord God; I will bring up a company upon them, and will give them to be removed and spoiled.  God said that He was going to bring an army against the people of Judah so that they could be removed from Jerusalem and become as the spoils of war to the nation that defeated them.  I would say that God removed His protection from Judah and His holy city, Jerusalem, because of their sins and therefore they were to be defeated.  I don’t believe that God causes all the bad things in life that may happen to us, but if we are not following Him by faith, He may allow them to happen.  

Verse forty-seven continues, And the company shall stone them with stones, and dispatch them with their swords; they shall slay their sons and their daughters, and burn up their houses with fire.  God said that complete destruction was coming to the people of Jerusalem.  They were to be stoned, and their sons and daughters would be killed by the sword.  Their houses would also be destroyed.  This was all going to happen because of their refusal to obey God, and if we refuse to obey God, first by accepting His only begotten Son Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord and then by failing to always be obedient to His commandments, then one day we will face His judgment.  If we haven't accepted His gift of salvation, then we will be sent away to everlasting punishment, and if we have, then those works that we did that weren’t in accordance with God’s word will be burned up.  

Verse forty-eight states, Thus will I cause lewdness to cease out of the land, that all women may be taught not to do after your lewdness.  God said that He was going to do this so that all the lewdness would cease in the land.  God was not going to allow those who would not live by their covenant relationship with Him but began to worship false gods instead to continue to live in His holy land.  When they were doing this, they were bringing dishonor to God, and since they wouldn’t confess their sins and become obedient to Him once more, He was going to allow them to be removed from the land.   If we profess to be followers of Christ while following the ways of the world, we will bring dishonor to God, and He will one day remove all who do so from His holy land.  

Verse forty-nine adds, And they shall recompense your lewdness upon you, and ye shall bear the sins of your idols: and ye shall know that I am the Lord God.  God said that they were going to receive the just reward for their idolatry, which was to be taken away captive. He then said that when they were destroyed or taken away captive that they would know that He was God.  Of course, it would be too late to save them from being defeated.  One day, all those who put their faith in idols will be sent away to everlasting punishment and they will know that there is but one God, but it will be too late to save them from their everlasting punishment. 

Ezekiel 23:40

Ezekiel 23:40 says, And furthermore, that ye have sent for men to come from far, unto whom a messenger was sent; and, lo, they came: for whom thou didst wash thyself, paintedst thy eyes, and deckedst thyself with ornaments,  God now said that the people of Judah had sent for people to come from afar and they adorned themselves to meet them.  They had sent for the Assyrians, Chaldeans, and Egyptians at various times to come and protect them and had tried to make everything look beautiful for them when they came instead of looking to God for their protection.  Sometimes, we as followers of Christ think our protection in the world is going to come from somewhere other than God.  Whatever we look to other than God will always let us down, just as they let the people of Judah down every time they tried to find security outside of obedience to God.  

Verse forty-one adds, And satest upon a stately bed, and a table prepared before it, whereupon thou hast set mine incense and mine oil.  God said they sat on their stately bed, which Matthew Henry says refers to the throne, and pouring His incense and oil on a table in front of the throne   They were trying to show that God had endorsed their actions when He had not.  We may sometimes try to show that God has endorsed our actions by dressing them up with things that represent God, but if they are not in accordance with His will, they will simply profane His name.  

Verse forty-two continues, And a voice of a multitude being at ease was with her: and with the men of the common sort were brought Sabeans from the wilderness, which put bracelets upon their hands, and beautiful crowns upon their heads.  God said that not only the leaders had put their faith in these other powers but that the common people had joined them in doing so as well.  They were at ease because they thought they were safe.  Matthew Henry says the Sabeans refers to the drunkards who were in the wilderness around Jerusalem who would drink toasts to the health of these ambassadors from these other countries, while trying to make themselves look their best.  As Christians, we can never allow ourselves to look to anyone or anything other than God for our protection, and we certainly cannot try to make ourselves look our best for them.  

Verse forty-three states, Then said I unto her that was old in adulteries, Will they now commit whoredoms with her, and she with them?  God said He asked the people of Judah, who as a part of God’s people who had often committed spiritual adultery against Him if they would do so now.  It was still their choice whether to do so or not, and it was determined by each individual and not with what the leaders may have said or done.  Even if those who are in power turn their back on God as has often happened in the past, it is still up to each individual Christian whether they will do so or not.  

Verse forty-four adds, Yet they went in unto her, as they go in unto a woman that playeth the harlot: so went they in unto Aholah and unto Aholibah, the lewd women.  God said that the people of Israel and Judah had gone willing to commit spiritual adultery against Him. They were never forced to do so but willingly chose to do so.  No matter what the people in power may do today that is against God and what His word teaches, it is up to each individual Christian whether we will follow them or remain true to God.