CHAPTER 24

1 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, 2 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. 3 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: 4 Gather the pieces thereof into it, even every good piece, the thigh, and the shoulder; fill it with the choice bones. 5 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. 6 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. 7 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; 8 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. 9 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the bloody city! I will even make the pile for fire great. 10 Heap on wood, kindle the fire, consume the flesh, and spice it well, and let the bones be burned. 11 Then set it empty upon the coals thereof, that the brass of it may be hot, and may burn, and that the filthiness of it may be molten in it, that the scum of it may be consumed. 12 She hath wearied herself with lies, and her great scum went not forth out of her: her scum shall be in the fire. 13 In thy filthiness is lewdness: because I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee. 14 I the LORD have spoken it: it shall come to pass, and I will do it; I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent; according to thy ways, and according to thy doings, shall they judge thee, saith the Lord GOD. (KJV)

This is an important date in history (verse 1). It corresponds to the month of January on our present day calendar, in the year 588B.C. It was on this date (verse 2) that the seige began in Jerusalem.

There were some people still in Jerusalem who did not believe that the city could possibly fall. They had said that the city was like a brass caldron (see Ezekiel 11:1-3), and that it could not be broken down.

Therefore God issues a parable through Ezekiel to be acted out. The pot represents Jerusalem and the meat inside represents the people of the city.

First, the pot is heated with thorns - so that the fire is very hot. The "good pieces" of meat represent the fact that even the "most choice" (verse 5) people would undergo the terrible trial.

The "scum" (some call the rust) which surfaced was the impurities of the pot mixed with the blood of the flesh. God was about to cleanse the "bloody city" (verse 6). The people had made their sin of idolatry open, as one would lay something upon a rock for exposure (verse 7). The sin of offering children to the god of Molech was done in the open!

After the thorns were consumed, then wood was to be placed under the pot to KEEP it boiling hot until the meat was tender and even the bones were softened (verse 10). What a TERRIBLE ordeal Jerusalem was to experience!

AFTER the meat was taken out and consumed, then the pot was to be put back on the fire (verse 11). The impurities of the cooking flesh were in the soft metal of the brass pot, and must be COOKED OUT! Our God is a "consuming fire" (Deuteronomy 4:24, Hebrews 12:29). And we are TRIED "..as by fire" (1Corinthians 3:15).

The people of Jerusalem had "devoured" the prophets, and refused to be obedient to God. Their "scum" was sticking to the pot, and God would purge it thoroughly and completely.

15 Also the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 16 Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke: yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down. 17 Forbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead, bind the tire of thine head upon thee, and put on thy shoes upon thy feet, and cover not thy lips, and eat not the bread of men. 18 So I spake unto the people in the morning: and at even my wife died; and I did in the morning as I was commanded.

Even Ezekiel did not escape trial! My friends, "all that will live godly in Christ will suffer persecution" (2Timothy 3:12). People who refuse God also refuse His people who speak the truth. The circumstances of the world filled with sin also affect the people of God.

Yet, the people of God have a "hope" that is beyond the grave! And the comfort of God's love eases the pain of suffering in this world (verses 16-17).

Ezekiel outwardly expressed mourning in the normal way for people of his day. He wore a turban on his head. But his true grief was inward and not overly expressed to others.

It is possible, by the strength of God in Christians, to grieve but not overly express that grief. It is possible, through God's Spirit in His people, to bury a loved one in the morning, and preach in the evening of the same day (verse 18).

19 And the people said unto me, Wilt thou not tell us what these things are to us, that thou doest so? 20 Then I answered them, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 21 Speak unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the excellency of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pitieth; and your sons and your daughters whom ye have left shall fall by the sword. 22 And ye shall do as I have done: ye shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men. 23 And your tires shall be upon your heads, and your shoes upon your feet: ye shall not mourn nor weep; but ye shall pine away for your iniquities, and mourn one toward another. 24 Thus Ezekiel is unto you a sign: according to all that he hath done shall ye do: and when this cometh, ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD. 25 Also, thou son of man, shall it not be in the day when I take from them their strength, the joy of their glory, the desire of their eyes, and that whereupon they set their minds, their sons and their daughters, 26 That he that escapeth in that day shall come unto thee, to cause thee to hear it with thine ears? 27 In that day shall thy mouth be opened to him which is escaped, and thou shalt speak, and be no more dumb: and thou shalt be a sign unto them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel's was given instructions for the people who were already captives in Babylon. They were not to overly show grief for those loved ones yet in Jerusalem (verses 21-23).

They were to do as Ezekiel did and show only normal signs of grief, even though their hearts were broken inside.

This is not callousness. This is the comfort of God! It is a "sign" to the world of the loving God and the power of His strength in His people. When God's people receive comfort from Him through the trial of losing a loved one, they are also enabled to GIVE that comfort to someone else (2Corinthians 1:4).

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.