they will sing a dirge

Posted on October 24, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

20221024

Photo by Karina Zhukovskaya on Pexels.com

they will sing a dirge

Ezekiel 26:15-21 (JDV)

Ezekiel 26:15 This is what the Lord Yahveh says to Tyre: “Won’t the coasts and islands quake at the sound of your downfall when the wounded groan and slaughter occurs within you?
Ezekiel 26:16 All the princes of the sea will descend from their thrones, remove their robes, and strip off their embroidered garments. They will clothe themselves with trembling; they will sit on the ground, tremble continually, and be appalled at you.
Ezekiel 26:17 Then they will sing a dirge for you and say of you, ‘How you have perished, city of renown, you who were populated from the seas! She who was powerful on the sea, she and all of her residents inflicted their terror.
Ezekiel 26:18 Now the coast-lands tremble on the day of your downfall; the islands in the sea are alarmed by your demise.'”
Ezekiel 26:19 You see, this is what the Lord Yahveh says: “When I make you a ruined city like other deserted cities when I raise up the deep against you so that the mighty waters cover you,
Ezekiel 26:20 then I will bring you down to be with those who descend to the Pit, to the people of antiquity. I will make you dwell below the ground like the ancient ruins, with those who descend to the Pit, so that you will no longer be inhabited or display your splendor in the land of the living.
Ezekiel 26:21 I will make you an object of horror, and you will no longer exist. You will be sought but will never be found again.” This is the declaration of the Lord Yahveh.

they will sing a dirge

The joyful songs of Tyre are gone. All that is left is a dirge, sung in mourning by the nations that had once traded with this great city.

When our life is over, will we have accomplished anything worthy of pride, or will it just be dust and nothingness?

LORD, give us the wisdom to make our lives matter for you.

Posted in works | Tagged | Leave a comment

the noise of your songs

Posted on October 23, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

20221023

Photo by Skitterphoto on Pexels.com

the noise of your songs

Ezekiel 26:7-14 (JDV)

Ezekiel 26:7 You see, this is what the Lord Yahveh says: “Notice, I am about to bring King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, king of kings, against Tyre from the north with horses, chariots, cavalry, and a huge mob of troops.
Ezekiel 26:8 He will slaughter your villages on the mainland with the sword. He will set up siege works, build a ramp, and raise a wall of shields against you.
Ezekiel 26:9 He will direct the blows of his battering rams against your walls and tear down your towers with his iron tools.
Ezekiel 26:10 His horses will be so numerous that their dust will cover you. When he enters your gates as an army entering a breached city, your walls will shake from the noise of cavalry, wagons, and chariots.
Ezekiel 26:11 He will trample all your streets with the hooves of his horses. He will slaughter your people with the sword, and your mighty pillars will fall to the ground.
Ezekiel 26:12 They will take your wealth as plunder and plunder your merchandise. They will also demolish your walls and tear down your beautiful homes. Then they will throw your stones, timber, and soil into the water.
Ezekiel 26:13 I will put an end to the noise of your songs, and the sound of your lyres will no longer be heard.
Ezekiel 26:14 I will turn you into a bare rock, and you will be a place to spread nets. You will never be rebuilt, because I, Yahveh, have spoken.” This is the declaration of the Lord Yahveh.

the noise of your songs

Tyre probably prided itself on its joyful songs — the peacefulness of its beautiful residences, protected by its fortified walls. But it was all noise to God. All that they had proudly built and all the songs they produced were silenced by God’s judgment.

There will come a judgment day in which all that we have accomplished will be evaluated by this God. How much of our lives will stand?

LORD, give us the wisdom to focus our songs and our lives on you and your gospel.

Posted in works | Tagged | Leave a comment

a place to spread nets

Posted on October 22, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

20221022

Photo by mariyan rajesh on Pexels.com

a place to spread nets

Ezekiel 26:1-6 (JDV)

Ezekiel 26:1 In the eleventh year, on the first day of the month, the word of Yahveh happened to me. This is what it said:
Ezekiel 26:2 “Son of Adam, because Tyre said about Jerusalem, ‘Aha! The gateway to the peoples is shattered. She has been turned over to me. I will be filled now that she lies in ruins,’
Ezekiel 26:3 therefore this is what the Lord Yahveh says: Notice, I am against you, Tyre! I will raise up many nations against you, just as the sea raises its waves.
Ezekiel 26:4 They will destroy the walls of Tyre and demolish her towers. I will scrape the soil from her and turn her into a bare rock.
Ezekiel 26:5 She will become a place in the sea to spread nets because I have spoken.” This is the declaration of the Lord Yahveh. “She will become plunder for the nations,
Ezekiel 26:6 and her villages on the mainland will be slaughtered by the sword. Then they will know that I am Yahveh.”

a place to spread nets

Cowles comments on the literal fulfillment of this prophecy:

“God would bring up many nations against her, even as the great sea heaves up its mighty waves against the bulwarks that feeble men rear. This maritime figure is entirely in place in a prophecy against Tyre. The island city was built on the top of a huge rock. When the city became utterly desolate, and all its vast walls, forts and structures were demolished, the surface of this rock was laid bare and became precisely a place for fishermen to spread and dry their nets. This prophecy has long since been literally fulfilled. Her great wealth, accumulated during ages of lucrative commerce, became a spoil to the
nations.”

No matter how tall a structure you build, if you disregard the Lord, it is all destined to become a desolation.

  • Cowles, Henry. Ezekiel and Daniel: With Notes, Critical, Explanatory, and Practical. (New York: D. Appleton, 1870), p.149.
Posted in judgment | Tagged | Leave a comment

because of their perpetual hatred

Posted on October 21, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

20221021

Photo by Francesco Ungaro on Pexels.com

because of their perpetual hatred

Ezekiel 25:15-17 (JDV)

Ezekiel 25:15 ” ‘This is what the Lord Yahveh says: Because the Philistines acted in vengeance and took revenge triflingly in their throat, destroying because of their perpetual hatred,
Ezekiel 25:16 therefore this is what the Lord Yahveh says: notice I am about to stick out my hand against the Philistines, cutting off the Cherethites and wiping out what remains of the coastal peoples.
Ezekiel 25:17 I will execute extreme vengeance against them with furious rebukes. They will know that I am Yahveh when I take my vengeance on them.'”

because of their perpetual hatred

Greenhill remarks that “the Philistines had perpetual enmity against (the Jews) and upon all occasions manifested it.” Each generation they renewed their feud with their hated enemies, keeping it strong. That kind of bigotry and prolonged hatred destroys the ones possessing it.*

LORD, teach us to love our enemies and let you handle their judgment.

  • *Greenhill, William, and James Sherman. An exposition of the prophet Ezekiel, with useful observations thereupon. (London: S. Holdsworth, 1839) p. 594.
Posted in enemies | Tagged | Leave a comment

through my people

Posted on October 20, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

20221020

Photo by Luis Quintero on Pexels.com

through my people

Ezekiel 25:12-14 (JDV)

Ezekiel 25:12 ” ‘This is what the Lord Yahveh says: Because Edom acted vengefully against the house of Judah and incurred grievous guilt by taking revenge on them,
Ezekiel 25:13 therefore this is what the Lord Yahveh says: I will stick out my hand against Edom and cut off both man and animal from it. I will make it a wasteland; they will fall by the sword from Teman to Dedan.
Ezekiel 25:14 I will take my vengeance on Edom through my people Israel, and they will deal with Edom according to my anger and wrath. So they will know my vengeance. This is the declaration of the Lord Yahveh.

through my people

Clarke+ includes this commentary: “By the hand of my people Israel — This was fulfilled by the Maccabees, who not only defeated them and brought them under complete subjection but obliged them to receive circumcision, Joseph. Antiq. l. xiii., c. 17; 1Macc 5:65; 2Macc 10:16.”

God is true to his word. If he says he is going to bring the good news through his people today, we can trust him to do that.

___________________________________

*Clarke, Adam. “Commentary on Ezekiel 25:14”. “The Adam Clarke Commentary”. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/acc/ezekiel-25.html. 1832.

Posted in evangelism, witness | Tagged | Leave a comment

exposure

Posted on October 19, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

20221019

Photo by alexandre saraiva carniato on Pexels.com

exposure

Ezekiel 25:8-11(JDV)

Ezekiel 25:8 ” ‘This is what the Lord Yahveh says: Because Moab and Seir said, “Notice, the house of Judah is like all the other nations.”
Ezekiel 25:9 Therefore I am about to expose Moab’s flank beginning with its frontier cities, the splendor of the land: Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim.
Ezekiel 25:10 I will give it along with Ammon to the people of the east as a possession so that Ammon will not be remembered among the nations.
Ezekiel 25:11 So I will execute judgments against Moab, and they will know that I am Yahveh.

exposure

Moab’s punishment for gloating over Judah’s fate was to experience an even worse fate. Both Moab and Ammon would become the prey of larger nations, and absorbed into them to such an extent that they no longer existed as ethnolinguistic people groups.

Redpath writes that the prophecy “had its first fulfillment in the subjugation of these peoples soon after the overthrow of Jerusalem by Nebuchadrezzar.”*

Eventually, both of these nations ceased to exist. They literally are no longer remembered among the nations. Such is the punishment for gloating over the misfortunes of God’s people.

LORD, give us compassion for all nations, and all peoples.

________________

  • *Redpath, Henry A. The Book of Prophet Ezekiel. (London: Methuen & Co, 1907), p.131.
Posted in judgment | Tagged | Leave a comment

the Ammonites watched

Posted on October 18, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

20221018

Photo by Diva Plavalaguna on Pexels.com

the Ammonites watched

Ezekiel 25:1-7 (JDV)

Ezekiel 25:1 Then the word of Yahveh happened to me. This is what it said:
Ezekiel 25:2 “Son of Adam, face the Ammonites and prophesy against them.
Ezekiel 25:3 Say to the Ammonites, ‘Listen to the word of the Lord Yahveh: This is what the Lord Yahveh says: Because you said, “Aha!” about my sanctuary when it was desecrated, about the land of Israel when it was laid waste, and about the house of Judah when they went into exile,
Ezekiel 25:4 therefore, notice I am about to give you to the people of the east as a possession. They will set up their encampments and pitch their tents among you. They will eat your fruit and drink your milk.
Ezekiel 25:5 I will make Rabbah a pasture for camels and Ammon a resting place for sheep. Then you will know that I am Yahveh.
Ezekiel 25:6 ” ‘You see, this is what the Lord Yahveh says: Because you clapped your hands, stamped your feet, and rejoiced with all the contempt of your throat over the land of Israel,
Ezekiel 25:7 therefore, notice I am about to stick out my hand against you and give you as plunder to the nations. I will cut you off from the people and eliminate you from the countries. I will exterminate you, and you will know that I am Yahveh.

the Ammonites watched

The Ammonites watched as Jerusalem faced destruction, the temple was desecrated and the inhabitants of Judah went into exile. They gloated over the misfortune of their distant relatives. But while they watched and cheered, God was watching them. Their judgment was coming. They will be cut off, eliminated, exterminated.

Then they will know? How are they going to know if they are dead? They will know that Yahveh brought this punishment upon them. They will realize that although Judah suffered, their God was real.

LORD, remove from us the joy of watching our enemies fail. Give us your compassion for all who suffer, and a commitment to be true to our faith in you.

Posted in compassion, judgment | Tagged | Leave a comment

when the news breaks

Posted on October 17, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

20221017

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

Ezekiel 24:25-27 (JDV)

Ezekiel 24:25 “As for you, son of Adam, know that on that day I will take from them their stronghold – their pride and joy, the delight of their eyes, and the longing of their throats – as well as their sons and daughters.
Ezekiel 24:26 On that day a fugitive will come to you and report the news.
Ezekiel 24:27 On that day your mouth will be opened to talk with him; you will speak and no longer be mute. So you will be a sign for them, and they will know that I am Yahveh.”

when the news breaks

Ezekiel knew about the destruction of Jerusalem before it happened. In fact, he knew that he would hear the news of it happening from an escaped fugitive. The LORD told him to prepare for that day because when the news breaks, people would want to hear God’s word from him.

The news is breaking all around us, folks. Are we prepared to share the gospel, or are we just as clueless when the crisis comes?

LORD, ground us in your gospel truth so that when the next disaster happens, we are ready to share our hope with a world looking for hope.

Posted in witness | Tagged | Leave a comment

the prophet a prophecy

Posted on October 16, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

20221016

Photo by Jou00e3o Jesus on Pexels.com

the prophet a prophecy

Ezekiel 24:19-24 (JDV)

Ezekiel 24:19 Then the people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things you are doing mean for us?”
Ezekiel 24:20 So I answered them: “The word of Yahveh happened to me. This is what it said:
Ezekiel 24:21 Say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord Yahveh says: notice I am about to desecrate my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the delight of your eyes, and the desire of your throat. Also, the sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword.
Ezekiel 24:22 Then you will do just as I have done: You will not cover your mustache or eat the bread of mourners.
Ezekiel 24:23 Your turbans will remain on your heads and your sandals on your feet. You will not lament or weep but will waste away because of your iniquities and will groan to one another.
Ezekiel 24:24 Now Ezekiel will be a sign for you. You will do everything that he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Lord Yahveh.’

the prophet a prophecy

In Ezekiel’s case, the prophet became a prophecy. He had lost his wife and children, but the LORD instructed him to go on without visible mourning. His heart must have certainly been broken inside. But he had to proceed with business as usual. Only when the people stopped to ask did he reveal the purpose for this bizarre normalcy.

The city was going to be destroyed, along with the temple. Disaster would be everywhere, but there would be no time for mourning. Before it happened, they would see it first in the activity of the prophet.

Jesus told his followers that they are the light of the world. Those watching believers in Christ should get a sense of what God is going to do next. Their lives should reveal the heart of their master.

Sadly, the church today spends far too much effort trying to look like everyone else. Where are our prophets — our living prophecies?

LORD, make us lights who reveal you to a watching world.

Posted in witness | Tagged | Leave a comment

what he feels

Posted on October 15, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

20221015

Photo by Juan Pablo Serrano Arenas on Pexels.com

what he feels

Ezekiel 24:15-18 (JDV)

Ezekiel 24:15 Then the word of Yahveh happened to me. This is what it said:
Ezekiel 24:16 “Son of Adam, notice I am about to take the delight of your eyes away from you with a fatal blow. But you must not lament or weep or let your tears flow.
Ezekiel 24:17 Groan quietly; do not observe mourning rites for the dead. Put on your turban and strap your sandals on your feet; do not cover your mustache or eat the bread of mourners.”
Ezekiel 24:18 I spoke to the people in the morning, and my wife died in the evening. The next morning I did just as I was commanded.

what he feels

Ezekiel faces his greatest challenge. The LORD tells him his wife will die, and he is not to show mourning! What? LORD, how can you require any such thing of your servant? But wait, the LORD is suffering the same pain. The delight of his eyes is suffering and dying before him. Yet he must remain aloof.

LORD, forgive us for questioning the sufferings faced by your servants. We know that nothing we feel compares to what you feel.

Posted in suffering | Tagged | Leave a comment