Ezekiel 4-7: Ezekiel’s Early Ministry – Symbols and Sermons of Israel’s Punishment

Introduction

1. In the first three chapters of Ezekiel, we saw the prophet’s call and heard a description of his ministry. 2:3-7

a. At the conclusion of chapter three, Jehovah told Ezekiel of the constraints of his ministry. 3:24-27

b. Ezekiel would be confined to his house, bound, literally or figuratively, and mute except for revelation.

2. Chapters four thru seven seem to belong immediately after Ezekiel’s call.

a. Chapters four and five describe a silent action parable performed by Ezekiel for more than one year.

b. Chapters six and seven record Ezekiel’s first sermons delivered during or at the end of the action parable.

3. Scholars are greatly divided in their opinions of this mock siege of Jerusalem, whether literal or a vision.

    a. A common sense reading of the text leaves no reason to conclude that this was other than literal.

    b. Was the siege continuous? Did Ezekiel eat more or do anything else during it? We cannot be dogmatic.

4. Focus on learning the lesson of the mock siege as explained by Jehovah.

I.       Symbols of Israel’s Punishment (4:1-5:17)

A.            The Operation of the Siege (4:1-3)

1.    This mock siege was apparently conducted in Ezekiel’s house during his confinement. (3:24-27)

a)         Near the end of the mock siege we find Ezekiel sitting in his house with the elders. (8:1)

b)        During the mock siege Ezekiel was confined, restrained, and mute as God had foretold.

2.    Ezekiel portrayed on a clay tablet/tile a representation of the city of Jerusalem.

a)         Around this model city, the prophet arranged siege-works, armies, and war machines.

b)        Ezekiel then positioned himself behind an iron pan and besieged the city he had made.

B.            The Duration of the Siege (4:4-8)

1.    Ezekiel’s siege was divided into two parts representing the punishment of Israel and Judah.

a)         The prophet would lie on his left side for 390 days, symbolic of Israel’s years of iniquity.

b)        He would then turn to his right side for 40 days, symbolic of Judah’s years of iniquity.[i]

2.    God would restrain Ezekiel so that he could not turn from side to side during this time.

a)         The prophet would have been able to move somewhat, to make bread and tend to his needs.

b)        There is no indication of literal bonds; God restrained the prophet by His command to him.

C.            The Conditions in the Siege (4:9-17)

1.    The conditions of Ezekiel’s siege reflect that of Jerusalem’s: hunger, thirst, and defilement.

a)         Ezekiel mixed various grains, beans and lentils to make the inferior bread of a siege.

(1)      This bread was rationed; Ezekiel would eat twenty shekels (~8 ounces) a day.

(2)      This is not wonder bread, though it may be nutritious; it was a symbol of hardship!

b)        He was also assigned a ration of water to drink, equal to about a pint and a half per day.

2.    Ezekiel’s food was to be cooked in front of the captives over a fire fueled by human waste.

a)         The prophet-priest protested this command, so God allowed him to use cow dung instead.

b)        Israel would eat defiled bread in foreign lands as symbolized by these actions. 4:13, 16-17

D.           The Outcome of the Siege (5:1-4)

1.    At the end of the mock siege, Ezekiel was to shave his head and beard with a sharp sword.

a)         The hair was to be collected, weighed on scales, and divided into three parts.

b)        One part was burned in the city, another struck by the sword and another scattered by wind.

2.    A small number of hairs were to be bound in the edge of Ezekiel’s garment.

a)         These presumably represent the remnant of Israel, but even some of them were to be burned.

b)        Clearly only a few would survive God’s punishment, and even that remnant would suffer.

E.            The Interpretation of the Siege (5:5-17)

1.    Jehovah explained to Ezekiel His reasons for bringing these terrible punishments. 5:5-11

a)         Three times in verses seven thru eleven, Jehovah says “Because you did X, therefore…”

b)        They rejected God’s word, committed abominations, and defiled God’s sanctuary.

2.    In the final verses, God described the punishment He would bring upon them. 5:12-17

a)         One third would die of famine, one third killed by sword, one third scattered to the winds.

b)        God’s anger would be spent, His work would be seen, and His word would be vindicated.

II.    Sermons on Israel’s Punishment (6:1-7:27)

A.            Destruction and Desolation (6:1-14)

1.    A Dire Prediction (6:1-7)

a)         Chapters six and seven address the land of Israel; Chapter six speaks to the mountains.

b)        The cities and high places would be laid waste, the idolaters killed, and idolatry broken.

2.    A Confident Expectation (6:8-10)

a)         Even in the midst of wrath there was a promise of mercy to a remnant that would survive.

b)        They would remember God and His pain, loathe their sin, and know He is Jehovah.

3.    A Distressing Lamentation (6:11-14)

a)         Ezekiel was to slap his hands and stamp his feet and lament the fury of God soon to be seen.

b)        Israel would finally know that Jehovah is God when they saw death and desolation.

B.            Disaster and Doom (7:1-27)

1.    The Calamity Announced (7:1-9)

a)         The end had come, disaster and doom, and the day of trouble drew near.

b)        God would pour out fury, spend His anger, and would not spare; He would repay their sin.

2.    The Calamity Described (7:10-27)

a)         In the final verses, Jehovah affirms that His judgment will be what they deserve. 7:27

b)        He shows the social (10-13), military (14-18), economic (19-22), and political (23-27) impact.

III. Applications

A.            An Inconvenient Duty

1.    Do you find spiritual responsibilities sometimes inconvenient?

a)         Do you sometimes resent having to be at every church assembly? Is hospitality a chore?

b)        Imagine being given a task like Ezekiel, lying on your side for 430 days!

2.    How would we respond if we were given such a task by God today?

a)         Would we trust God’s promise to provide for our needs? Mt. 6:33

b)        Would we do what God said even though it meant hunger and humiliation?

3.    Perhaps we need a more Biblical perspective on faithfulness and duty to God. Php. 2:14; 1:21

a)         What does God ask of us that is so great, so difficult, so inconvenient?

b)        Can we be less committed to God than Ezekiel was and still be accepted by Him?

B.            They Shall Know That I Am YHWH (6:7, 10, 13, 14; 7:4, 9, 27)

1.    This book refers to God’s work teaching the knowledge of Jehovah in at least 71 verses.

a)         This phrase can be used to summarize the theme of the book of Ezekiel.

b)        Clearly any study of Ezekiel is intended to help us know Jehovah better!

2.    What are we learning about God in the pages this book: His greatness, glory, wrath, justice, etc.?

C.            When God’s Heart is Crushed

1.    The prophets picture God in His wrath punishing the wicked without pity.

2.    But we also see the tender love of God, His mercy, and the pain He feels over man’s sin. 6:8-9

3.    Do we consider the pain that we cause God when we turn away from Him to the world?

Conclusion

1. Ezekiel was faithful in duty to God, suffering indignity in silence and speaking God’s word to the people.

2. Two things stand out: the inconvenience of Ezekiel’s duty, the testimony of YHWH delivered in judgment.

a. Would we have been as faithful as God’s prophet in performing the task he was given?

b. Will we learn from Israel’s punishment the fear of God’s wrath against sin and acknowledge Him as Lord?