Therefore the Lord would send judgment like a flood and like a fire. He would bring the evil that they had done back on the heads of His violent and idolatrous people. The prophetic perfect tense in Hebrew describes the future action as already past to stress its certainty. read more
Another Indictment of JerusalemThe various religious and social evils that prevail in the city are recited (Ezekiel 22:1-11). Their coming punishment is then predicted, first in direct terms (Ezekiel 22:13-16), and next under the figure of a smelting furnace (Ezekiel 22:17-22). Lastly, all classes in Jerusalem, prophets, priests, princes, and people, are included in the general condemnation (Ezekiel 22:23-31).2. The bloody city] referring to those unjustly put to death by the wicked rulers of... read more
Ezekiel 22:14 What wisdom and philosophy, and perpetual experience, and revelation, and promises, and blessings cannot do, a mighty fear can; it can allay the confidences of bold lust and imperious sin, and soften our spirit into the lowness of a child, our revenge into charity of prayers, our impudence into the blushings of a chidden girl; and therefore God hath taken a cause proportionable. Jeremy Taylor. Bunyan twice uses this verse; once in The Pilgrim's Progress, opposite the following... read more
FINAL ORACLES AGAINST JERUSALEMEzekiel 22:1-31; Ezekiel 24:1-27THE close of the first period of Ezekiel’s work was marked by two dramatic incidents, which made the day memorable both in the private life of the prophet and in the history of the nation. In the first place it coincided exactly with the commencement of the siege of Jerusalem. The prophet’s mysterious knowledge of what was happening at a distance was duly recorded, in order that its subsequent confirmation through the ordinary... read more
Ezekiel 22:1-31 ; Ezekiel 23:1-49 . Before the sharpened sword of justice and retribution does its dreadful work, the Lord uncovers the guilt and vileness of the city and lays bare the corruption of her prophets, priests, and princes, as well as of the people. The violence and abomination of Jerusalem are revealed in Ezekiel 22:1-16 ; the smelting furnace in Ezekiel 22:17-23 is the symbol of Jehovah’s fiery indignation against Jerusalem and its inhabitants. The corruption of the prophets,... read more
CLOSE OF PART ONE Lack of space makes it necessary to crowd the remainder of Part 1 into a single lesson, but nothing vital to its general understanding will be lost, as the chapters are, to a certain extent, repetitions of the foregoing. LAMENTATIONS FOR THE PRINCES (Ezekiel 19:0 ) The theme of this chapter is found in the first and last verses. The “princes” are the kings of Judah Jehoahaz, Jehoiachin and Zedekiah, whose histories were made familiar in the closing chapters of 2 Kings ,... read more
The close of this chapter is uncommonly beautiful, if we read it with an eye to Jesus. Many had been the intercessors for perishing sinners in the earlier ages, and all of them were types of Christ. Abraham interceding for Sodom, Genesis 18:23 etc. Moses and Joshua for Israel, Exodus 32:31 etc. Joshua 7:6 etc. And Aaron in the matter of Korah, Numbers 16:47 . But here the Lord seems to be on the look-out, as it were, for someone to arise for Israel. Let the Reader turn to Isaiah 63:0 , and he... read more
REFLECTIONS WHAT a sad catalogue of sins and transgressions hath the Prophet here charged Jerusalem with. Surely to read it, is like the roll of Ezekiel written with Lamentations, and mourning, and woe. Reader! What an awful state of degeneracy is the heart of men capable of falling into! What a still more awful consideration is it, that this is Israel of whom these things are written! Precious, precious Lord Jesus! what a relief is it to the souls of thy people, the consideration of thy... read more
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Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ezekiel 22:23-31
Corrupt leaders 22:23-31"Often the prophets are inspired to compose attacks on the leadership of Israelite society. The reason for this phenomenon is clear enough: the nation could never have become sufficiently corrupt to merit the outpouring of God’s destructive wrath unless the societal leadership had helped the process along." [Note: Ibid., p. 216.] read more