January 14, 2023
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Ezekiel? Here’s today’s reading:
Ezekiel 5 (NIV)
God’s Razor of Judgment
1 “Now, son of man, take a sharp sword and use it as a barber’s razor to shave your head and your beard. Then take a set of scales and divide up the hair. 2 When the days of your siege come to an end, burn a third of the hair inside the city. Take a third and strike it with the sword all around the city. And scatter a third to the wind. For I will pursue them with drawn sword. 3 But take a few hairs and tuck them away in the folds of your garment........Continue Reading
We like to think about God’s love and mercy but we can not avoid the reality of His anger and wrath. The people of Jerusalem, His people, were worse than the surrounding nations. How heartbreaking for Him to see and despite His love for them like any good parent He needs to correct. Correct He shall and without pity. Parents eating children and children eating parents….such a horrible picture to confirm how seriously God will deal with His people.
The living parable continues as Ezekiel is told to cut his hair and divide it in 4 segments, representing all the things that God will do to His people. God’s judgment is upon them and He wants to make sure they know why so they can then do something about it and turn from their evil ways. What a blight on them for God to say that they were worse than the other nations…and then on top of that or included in it is the reality that they should have known better. May we learn from their negative example not to turn from God and continue to seek Him. Now I do believe that the portion of hair that is tucked in the fold of his garment is the remnant that will return home. So even in this declaration and affirmation of judgment is the promise of restoration…which God always provides His people…then and now….
There was such horrible wrath that God says there ever was and would never be again. They were made an example to all nations.
Ezekiel 5
Never before and never again….seals, bowls, trumpets of Revelation must be a different kind of wrath with respect to Israel, WWII different as well.
It’s very difficult to read the descriptions of God’s punishment upon his people. They must have been very wicked for him to do these things, and he must know that this is required to have them turn back to him in repentence and faithfulness.
I agree, Shelly.