Ezekiel 12:21

Ezekiel 12:21 says, And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,  Ezekiel often stated that the word of the Lord came to him, and we should still hear and recognize God's voice today.  Though it may not be an audible voice, we should still recognize when God speaks to us. 

Verse twenty-two adds, Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth?  Ezekiel said that this time God asked him a question, not because God didn’t know the answer but so that Ezekiel could show that he understood.  The people were saying that though it might come someday, God’s judgment of them was far off.  People today may think that if God’s judgment does come that it is a long way off, so they aren’t concerned about it because it is far off, but for many, many people, the day will be today.  We need to live by this understanding as Christians.   

Verse twenty-three continues, Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord God; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision.  God then told Ezekiel to tell the people of Israel that the day of their judgment was at hand.  God said this proverb about their judgment being a long way off would no longer be used.  I don’t believe that we should ever live as though God’s judgment is a long way off and we certainly should not tell other people this.  God’s final judgment is coming, but even before then, His judgment will come to many people and for some it will come too late for them to be spared from facing it on their own, without the redemption that Jesus Christ freeing them from the penalty of their sin.   

Verse twenty-four states, For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel.  God said that when His judgment came that there would no longer be any vain vision or flattering divination in the people of Israel.  Anything that we believe is going to save us other than putting our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord will be in vain, or amount to nothing.  Still, too many people will be led away from God by the flattering words of those around them.   

Verse twenty-five adds, For I am the Lord: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord God.  God told Ezekiel to tell the people that God was still God and that He had pronounced judgment on them.  God said His word would always come to pass.  The fact that people may not believe God’s word or even that there is a God will not keep His word from being fulfilled and when it is, they will know that He is God.  God gave the people of Israel ample opportunity to repent and put their faith in Him again, but because His judgment didn’t come immediately, they continued to rebel against Him.  God will always give people ample opportunity to accept His salvation plan, so if they face Him in judgment, the choice will have been theirs and not His.   

Verse twenty-six states, Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying.  This is stated as a separate time when God spoke to Ezekiel, but it seems to be a continuation or a more specific declaration of what God had already stated.  I believe that God continues to speak to those who are followers of Christ until there can be no doubt about what He is saying.   

Verse twenty-seven adds, Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off.  God told Ezekiel that the people of Israel were saying that this coming judgment was a long way off, therefore it was of no concern to them.  There are still people that think that if it comes, God’s judgment is a long way off and that they have no reason to be concerned about it today, but for many people, today will be their final day and God’s judgment will be at hand for them.  We cannot believe that we will always have time to repent and come to God through putting our faith in Jesus Christ.  Just as God’s judgment was at hand for the people of Israel even if they didn’t want to believe it, God’s judgment of the world could always come today.   

Verse twenty-eight continues, Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; There shall none of my words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord God. God told Ezekiel to tell the people of Israel that God’s judgment would be delayed no longer.  We need to always live by the belief that God’s judgment can come at any time, so we should never delay in accepting His gift of salvation.  

Ezekiel 12:17

Ezekiel 12:17 says, Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying,  God’s word came to Ezekiel once more.  God does not just speak to us once, but He continues to speak to us as long as we are listening for His word to us.   

Verse eighteen adds, Son of man, eat thy bread with quaking, and drink thy water with trembling and with carefulness;  God told Ezekiel to eat and drink with fear and trembling.  We often say that God wants us to be happy and safe in the world, but the opposite is often the truth.  Sometimes, we may find that things in the world frighten us, but as followers of Christ, that should never stop us from doing what we know is right, even if it were to cost us our life.   

Verse nineteen continues, And say unto the people of the land, Thus saith the Lord God of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and of the land of Israel; They shall eat their bread with carefulness, and drink their water with astonishment, that her land may be desolate from all that is therein, because of the violence of all them that dwell therein.  God said this was to be a message to the people of Israel that they were going to be lacking in food and water because their land was going to be desolate where it had once been a land flowing with milk and honey.  If we turn away from God, we may find ourselves spiritually desolate where we had once been overflowing with the joy of God.  Still, if we repent and turn to Him once more, we should have  the glory of God fill our soul once more.   

Verse twenty concludes, And the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall be desolate; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.  God then told Ezekiel that the cities of Israel were then going to be desolate because of their disobedience to Him.  We may not be materially desolate if we turn away from God, but we will be spiritually desolate as individuals and as a nation.   

Ezekiel 12:8

Ezekiel 12:8 says, And in the morning came the word of the Lord unto me, saying, Though Ezekial was now outside the city, God had not left him.  We may be outside the church building today, but if we are obeying God’s commandments, He will never leave us. 

Verse nine adds, Son of man, hath not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said unto thee, What doest thou?  Ezekiel said the next morning, God’s word came to him asking him if the people of Israel had not asked him what he was doing.  If we are doing what God has called on us to do, the people of the church may be curious about what we are doing, especially if it seems somewhat strange in the eyes of the world.   

Verse ten continues, Say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; This burden concerneth the prince in Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel that are among them.  God said if they asked, Ezekiel was to tell them that the burden concerned the prince of Jerusalem and all the people there.   God will always make His word and will known to those who are willing to understand it.  

Verse eleven states, Say, I am your sign: like as I have done, so shall it be done unto them: they shall remove and go into captivity.  God said Ezekiel was to tell those who asked that he was a sign of what was going to happen to the people of Israel and that they were to be taken away captive.  The walls of Jerusalem were not going to protect them.  We need to be telling people that the cross of Calvary and the empty tomb are a sign to us today, and if we do not put our faith in God because of what happened there, then we will be taken away as captives of sin.   

Verse twelve adds, And the prince that is among them shall bear upon his shoulder in the twilight, and shall go forth: they shall dig through the wall to carry out thereby: he shall cover his face, that he see not the ground with his eyes.  Ezekiel said that the prince of the city would try to escape with his goods the same way that Ezekiel did, but that it would do him no good.  He would still be taken away captive.  People today may attempt to find another way to salvation other than putting their faith in Jesus Christ, but it will never keep them from bearing the burden of sin.  Some may think that materiel wealth will keep them safe in the world, but that will never be true.   

Verse thirteen continues, My net also will I spread upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare: and I will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans; yet shall he not see it, though he shall die there.  Ezekiel said that God had spread His net to capture the prince and take him away in captivity to Babylon.  Jeremiah said Zedekiah would see the king of Babylon, whereas Ezekiel said he wouldn't see it.  Matthew Henry says that some would say that the two prophets contradicted themselves when one said that the prince, or king, would be taken away captive to Babylon, and the other said he would never see it.  Since the king was blinded before he was taken to Babylon and therefore could not see it that both were correct.  People today may try to claim that God’s word often contradicts itself, but it never does nor never will.   

Verse fourteen says, And I will scatter toward every wind all that are about him to help him, and all his bands; and I will draw out the sword after them.  Ezekiel said that God was going to scatter the people of Israel to every wind, or in every direction.  God had called them to be His people and had gathered them together as a nation, but He was now going to allow them to be scattered once more. Those who will not obey God will be scattered throughout the world, but they will never be a part of God’s kingdom.     

Verse fifteen adds, And they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall scatter them among the nations, and disperse them in the countries.  God said that when the people of Israel were scattered throughout the nations that they would know that He is God and that He had been their protector., but it would be too late for it to do them any good.  One day, everyone will know that God is God, but for too many it will be too late to do them any good.   

Verse sixteen continues, But I will leave a few men of them from the sword, from the famine, and from the pestilence; that they may declare all their abominations among the heathen whither they come; and they shall know that I am the Lord.  God said He was going to spare a few good men so that they could declare the abominations that the people of Israel had committed.  They were not going to be saved by their own goodness but were to be saved because they had come to God in repentance for their sins, and they were to spread God’s word wherever they were.  As followers of Christ, we have been freed from the power of sin in our lives and we should be proclaiming the gospel of Christ to the world, wherever we may be.