EZEKIEL - CHAPTERS30-33 In That Day
“In That Day”
Tuesday, April 28, 2008
Taught by: Carolyn Sissom
Ezekiel 30-33
These chapters are like reading the front page of the morning newspaper.
Ezekiel 30 and 31 continue with the prophecy of judgment against Egypt (World System) and Pharaoh (Satan). I believe we sufficiently covered this in the message, “The Opening of The Mouth in the Midst of Them.”
Egypt in chapter 30 under the figure of the Day of the Lord reveals a time in which the “SWORD” (30:4), The Word of God, will come upon the world and the carnal mind. “The Pride of her Power shall come down”.(vs. 6) (Verse 9): “In that Day (The Day of the Lord), messengers shall go forth from me (The Lord) in ships to make the careless Ethiopians(horn of Africa) afraid, and great pain shall come upon them as in the day of Egypt; for lo it comes.” These messengers are the Sons of God and/or the Angels of Matthew 13:41. Interesting that Jesus was standing in a “ship” when he preached the message. “The Son of Man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Remember the paved work of a sapphire stone in Exodus 24 - (the hearing ear of Simeon).
Verses 20-26 are a commentary on the victory of Jesus Christ over satan, the god and prince of this world.
Chapter 31 is an allegory of Pharaoh’s fall. There is a mingling of the symbolical and the real, and parallels to Isa. 14: 3-20. The Babylonians had brought the Assyrian empire to an end, and they would be instruments to do the same in Egypt. This prophecy is a warning to Pharaoh from the fate of the Assyrians. The Assyrian empire, after having been supreme in Asia for four centuries had been overthrown by the united forces of the Babylonians and the Medes in the year of the Battle of Carchemish, which had broken the power of Egypt.
This is an allegory of the Cedar Tree and its fall. The first section is a poem of the magnificent tree to which Pharaoh is likened (31:1-9), the two prose oracles describe its downfall at the hand of foreigners (31:10-14) and its descent into sheol. The dates given are just prior to the fall of Jerusalem.
Again to study the chapter, we can liken Pharaoh (31:2) to satan. Another approach is to liken Pharaoh to the Carnal Mind. Still another approach would be to warn the New Testament church using the example of the O.T. nations, Israel, the church in the wilderness. “Moreover, brethren, I would not that you should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them, God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ as some of them also tempted and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, and some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples and they are written for admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”
Still yet we could look at Adam in the “garden of God” prior to the fall and marvel at the greatness of God’s highest creation. Concerning the latter, Adam “lifted up himself and was driven out for his wickedness. Adam fell, and went down to the grave. A final application could be the lesson of Ministries which fall.
I covered Chapter 32 last week. This is a final lamentation over Pharaoh. Verse 4 is one of the verses that confirmed Ginny’s vision.
“THE SPIRIT OF TERROR”
Asshur, Elam, Meshech, Tubal, Edom, Princes of the North, and Zidonians
There are verses we should observe as how they relate to the spirit of Terror.
First let us note Verse 14 “then I will make their waters deep, and cause their rivers to run like oil, says the Lord God.
Verse 22: “Asshur is there” (Northern Iran) This is an Assyrian god who gave power to all the priestly gods. He was a warrior and very evil. The spirit of terror is from his sword. (Verse 23) whose graves are set in the sides of the pit, and her company is round about her grave; all of them slain, fallen by the sword which caused terror in the land of the living.
(Verse 24) There is Elam (Southwest Iran)…which caused their terror in the land of the living; yet they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit have.
(Verse 26) There is Mesheck, and Tubal (Russia)… slain by the sword, though they caused their terror in the land of the living. (Verse 27b) “They were the terror of the mighty in the land of the living.”
(Verse 30) “There be the princes of the north, all of them, and all the Zidonians,” (probably Lebanon) “with their terror they are ashamed of their might; and they lie uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword.
(Verse 32) “For I have caused my terror in the land of the living; and he shall be laid in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that are slain with the sword, even Pharaoh and all his multitude, says the Lord God. “
THE WATCHMAN
Chapters 33-39 are a unit and progressively unfold some of the most vital truths in Ezekiel’s prophecy. Chapter 33 reveals the Prophet as a watchman and similar to chapters 3 and 18; the repetition is doubtless for emphasis. 33:21 dates these prophecies a year after the fall of Jerusalem. The news of the fall of the city marked a turning point in Ezekiel’s ministry. The prophet had anticipated and had waited for the fulfillment of his prophecies some seven years; now they were realized to his sorrow. Chapter 33:7 may be considered as a recommission for his prophetic task.
It was customary to place a watchman on the city wall in the time of a threatened attack from the enemy. Care must be taken in choosing such a man. Once the watchman performed his assigned duty, then it was the responsibility of all who heard to act accordingly. The figure of the Blood on the head was taken from the sacrificial animals, where the offerer placed his hands on the victim so that the guilt in question might be transferred to the sacrifice. (verse 4)
The responsibility is then on the hearer.
(verses 3-6) “If when he sees the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; Then whosoever hears the sound of the trumpet, and takes not warning; if the sword come and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning, his blood shall be upon him, but he that takes warning shall deliver his soul. But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand. So thou, O son of man, I have set you a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
Verses 21-22 contain the record of the fulfillment of the promise made to Ezekiel in 24:25-27. Now the prophet was free to carry on a mission and in work of reconstruction and hope. “And it came to pass in the twelfth year of our captivity, in the tenth month in the fifth day of the month that one that had escaped out of Jerusalem came unto me saying, The city is smitten. Now the hand of the Lord was upon me in the evening, afore he that was escaped came; and had opened my mouth, until he came to me in the morning; and my mouth was opened, and I was no more dumb.”
The first message after the fall of Jerusalem was one of rebuke given to the remnant in Judah for their carnal confidence. “Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel speak, saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land: but we are many; the land is given us for inheritance. Wherefore ay unto them, Thus says the Lord God; You eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood: and shall you possess the land?
Verses 30-33: This is a word of rebuke for the exiles. They are still whispering and talking against Ezekiel (31) they come unto you as the people comes, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear your words, but they will not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but heir heart goes after their covetousness. And lo, you are unto them as a very lovely song of one that has a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but the do them not. And when this comes to pass, (lo it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet has been among them.” This sounds as though Ezekiel could have been a minstrel.
Ezekiel’s ministry changes from one of judgment to one of Comfort. It not only reveals the Old covenant and the New Covenant, but also shows that the watchman of God proclaims both the Day (the positive) and NIGHT ( the negative), as revealed in Isa. 21: 11-13 – However, his first word and emphasis is always, “The Morning comes…and also the Night.”
The general message of 33:1-20 is the prophet’s responsibility to God. His basic activity is that he must hear from God, then declare what he has heard (33:7) “So thou, O son of man, I have set you a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear the Word at my mouth and warn them from me.”
Sp we see the unswerving equity of the Divine government. Note the effects of willful unbelief as well in this chapter. It blinds the soul to the significance of events. (33: 21-24) It prevents repentance and abandonment of sin. (25-26). It assures God’s judgment even though that judgment could have been averted (27-29) And it leads to mockery of the prophet of God in sheer self-justification. (30-33) The covetousness of verse 31b = to cut and tear away; plunder; get by dishonest means; unjust gain” (they were cutting Ezekiel!) Their talking of the lips was inconsiderate speech. Thus, ours is not the only age that treats God’s servants and spokesmen as if they are public entertainment. (1 Cor. 4: 9-16; Matt. 5:10-12)
Sue Baird’s outline of this chapter is as follows:
- Responsibility of the Watchman.
- Accountability of the Individual
- Destructibility of Jerusalem
- Respectability for Ezekiel.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries, Inc.
Quotes from King James Bible and text from Principles of Present Truth by: Kelley Varner.