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.