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 him. 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.
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