Ezekiel 21: The Sword of the Lord's Judgment
And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel,
And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of his sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked.
Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall my sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh from the south to the north:
That all flesh may know that I the Lord have drawn forth my sword out of his sheath: it shall not return any more.
Sigh therefore, thou son of man, with the breaking of thy loins; and with bitterness sigh before their eyes.
And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that thou shalt answer, For the tidings; because it cometh: and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak as water: behold, it cometh, and shall be brought to pass, saith the Lord God.
Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the Lord; Say, A sword, a sword is sharpened, and also furbished:
It is sharpened to make a sore slaughter; it is furbished that it may glitter: should we then make mirth? it contemneth the rod of my son, as every tree.
And he hath given it to be furbished, that it may be handled: this sword is sharpened, and it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the slayer.
Cry and howl, son of man: for it shall be upon my people, it shall be upon all the princes of Israel: terrors by reason of the sword shall be upon my people: smite therefore upon thy thigh.
Because it is a trial, and what if the sword contemn even the rod? it shall be no more, saith the Lord God.
Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite thine hands together, and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the slain: it is the sword of the great men that are slain, which entereth into their privy chambers.
I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that their heart may faint, and their ruins be multiplied: ah! it is made bright, it is wrapped up for the slaughter.
Go thee one way or other, either on the right hand, or on the left, whithersoever thy face is set.
I will also smite mine hands together, and I will cause my fury to rest: I the Lord have said it.
The word of the Lord came unto me again, saying,
Also, thou son of man, appoint thee two ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come: both twain shall come forth out of one land: and choose thou a place, choose it at the head of the way to the city.
Appoint a way, that the sword may come to Rabbath of the Ammonites, and to Judah in Jerusalem the defenced.
For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: he made his arrows bright, he consulted with images, he looked in the liver.
At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to appoint captains, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, to appoint battering rams against the gates, to cast a mount, and to build a fort.
And it shall be unto them as a false divination in their sight, to them that have sworn oaths: but he will call to remembrance the iniquity, that they may be taken.
Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are discovered, so that in all your doings your sins do appear; because, I say, that ye are come to remembrance, ye shall be taken with the hand.
And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end,
Thus saith the Lord God; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high.
I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.
And thou, son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord God concerning the Ammonites, and concerning their reproach; even say thou, The sword, the sword is drawn: for the slaughter it is furbished, to consume because of the glittering:
Whiles they see vanity unto thee, whiles they divine a lie unto thee, to bring thee upon the necks of them that are slain, of the wicked, whose day is come, when their iniquity shall have an end.
Shall I cause it to return into his sheath? I will judge thee in the place where thou wast created, in the land of thy nativity.
And I will pour out mine indignation upon thee, I will blow against thee in the fire of my wrath, and deliver thee into the hand of brutish men, and skilful to destroy.
Thou shalt be for fuel to the fire; thy blood shall be in the midst of the land; thou shalt be no more remembered: for I the Lord have spoken it.
Ezekiel 21 unveils a powerful and sobering message of impending judgment, not just on Judah and Jerusalem, but also on the surrounding nations. This chapter, rich in symbolism and prophetic pronouncements, serves as a stark reminder of God's holiness and his commitment to justice. Understanding Ezekiel 21 provides crucial insight into the consequences of disobedience and the unwavering nature of God's word. This chapter is important for understanding the historical context of Judah's downfall and the theological implications of divine judgment.
Prophecy Against Jerusalem (Ezekiel 21:1-7)
The chapter opens with a direct command from God to Ezekiel: "Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuaries. Prophesy against the land of Israel" Ezekiel 21:2. God is about to make his message of coming judgment undeniable. The imagery shifts from the earlier vision of fire in the south to a more visceral and immediate symbol: a sword. This sword represents God's judgment, which will sweep through the land of Judah, indiscriminately devouring from south to north. This judgment will not discriminate.
Ezekiel is instructed to groan and wail, embodying the grief and sorrow that will engulf the people when they realize the gravity of the impending destruction. When the people ask why he is groaning, he is to tell them it is because of the terrible news of the approaching judgment (Ezekiel 21:6-7). Ezekiel's personal anguish becomes a visual aid, driving home the reality and severity of the coming events. His role as a watchman and a messenger is critical in conveying the urgency of the situation.
The Sharpened Sword (Ezekiel 21:8-17)
The imagery of the sword intensifies in this section. It is not just a sword, but "a sword, a sword, sharpened and polished" Ezekiel 21:9-10. The sharpening and polishing suggest preparation for a thorough and devastating slaughter. The sword is wielded by God himself, and it is aimed at the very heart of Judah, including the throne of David in Jerusalem. The judgment is comprehensive, leaving no one untouched.
Ezekiel is again called to cry out and wail, emphasizing the extent and severity of the judgment. There is no escape, no reprieve. The sword will strike again and again until God's wrath is fully satisfied (Ezekiel 21:14-17). This repetition underscores the unwavering nature of God's judgment and the complete destruction that awaits.
The Crossroads and the Divine Choice (Ezekiel 21:18-22)
This section shifts the focus to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, and his role as the instrument of God's judgment. Nebuchadnezzar stands at a crossroads, faced with the decision to attack Jerusalem or Rabbah, the capital of Ammon. Both Jerusalem and Rabbah had rebelled against Babylon. He consults his pagan idols and practices divination to determine which path to take (Ezekiel 21:19-20).
However, God intervenes and guides Nebuchadnezzar towards Jerusalem. Despite Nebuchadnezzar's reliance on pagan practices, God uses him to fulfill His divine purpose. This highlights God's sovereignty and his ability to use even ungodly leaders to accomplish His will. Nebuchadnezzar sets up siege ramps and walls around Jerusalem, signaling the beginning of the end for the city (Ezekiel 21:21-22).
Judgment on Zedekiah and Ammon (Ezekiel 21:23-32)
Even as the siege of Jerusalem intensifies, some within the city cling to false hope, believing that Nebuchadnezzar's efforts are based on false divination and will ultimately fail (Ezekiel 21:23). However, God reveals that Zedekiah, the "profane and wicked prince of Israel," is given over to judgment (Ezekiel 21:24-25). The crown will be removed, and Jerusalem will be reduced to ruins.
But what about the Ammonites? God's judgment is not limited to Judah. A "sword of slaughter" is also poised for them (Ezekiel 21:28). Ammon is the first in a list of nations that will be judged for their mistreatment of Israel. God declares that they will be invaded and destroyed by "the people of the east" (Ezekiel 21:31-32, see also Ezekiel 25:1-5). This underscores the comprehensive nature of God's judgment, which extends to all those who defy His will and mistreat His people.
Ezekiel 21 serves as a powerful reminder that God's judgment is inevitable for those who reject His ways. It also highlights God's sovereignty and his ability to use even unlikely individuals and nations to accomplish His purposes. While the message is sobering, it also points to the need for repentance and a return to God, the only source of true hope and salvation. The message of Ezekiel 21 for today's readers is a call to examine our own lives and ensure that we are living in accordance with God's will, lest we too face the consequences of disobedience.
And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel,
And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of his sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked.
Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall my sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh from the south to the north:
That all flesh may know that I the Lord have drawn forth my sword out of his sheath: it shall not return any more.
Sigh therefore, thou son of man, with the breaking of thy loins; and with bitterness sigh before their eyes.
And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that thou shalt answer, For the tidings; because it cometh: and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak as water: behold, it cometh, and shall be brought to pass, saith the Lord God.
Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the Lord; Say, A sword, a sword is sharpened, and also furbished:
It is sharpened to make a sore slaughter; it is furbished that it may glitter: should we then make mirth? it contemneth the rod of my son, as every tree.
And he hath given it to be furbished, that it may be handled: this sword is sharpened, and it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the slayer.
Cry and howl, son of man: for it shall be upon my people, it shall be upon all the princes of Israel: terrors by reason of the sword shall be upon my people: smite therefore upon thy thigh.
Because it is a trial, and what if the sword contemn even the rod? it shall be no more, saith the Lord God.
Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite thine hands together, and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the slain: it is the sword of the great men that are slain, which entereth into their privy chambers.
I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that their heart may faint, and their ruins be multiplied: ah! it is made bright, it is wrapped up for the slaughter.
Go thee one way or other, either on the right hand, or on the left, whithersoever thy face is set.
I will also smite mine hands together, and I will cause my fury to rest: I the Lord have said it.
The word of the Lord came unto me again, saying,
Also, thou son of man, appoint thee two ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come: both twain shall come forth out of one land: and choose thou a place, choose it at the head of the way to the city.
Appoint a way, that the sword may come to Rabbath of the Ammonites, and to Judah in Jerusalem the defenced.
For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: he made his arrows bright, he consulted with images, he looked in the liver.
At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to appoint captains, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, to appoint battering rams against the gates, to cast a mount, and to build a fort.
And it shall be unto them as a false divination in their sight, to them that have sworn oaths: but he will call to remembrance the iniquity, that they may be taken.
Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are discovered, so that in all your doings your sins do appear; because, I say, that ye are come to remembrance, ye shall be taken with the hand.
And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end,
Thus saith the Lord God; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high.
I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.
And thou, son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord God concerning the Ammonites, and concerning their reproach; even say thou, The sword, the sword is drawn: for the slaughter it is furbished, to consume because of the glittering:
Whiles they see vanity unto thee, whiles they divine a lie unto thee, to bring thee upon the necks of them that are slain, of the wicked, whose day is come, when their iniquity shall have an end.
Shall I cause it to return into his sheath? I will judge thee in the place where thou wast created, in the land of thy nativity.
And I will pour out mine indignation upon thee, I will blow against thee in the fire of my wrath, and deliver thee into the hand of brutish men, and skilful to destroy.
Thou shalt be for fuel to the fire; thy blood shall be in the midst of the land; thou shalt be no more remembered: for I the Lord have spoken it.
Ezekiel 21 unveils a powerful and sobering message of impending judgment, not just on Judah and Jerusalem, but also on the surrounding nations. This chapter, rich in symbolism and prophetic pronouncements, serves as a stark reminder of God's holiness and his commitment to justice. Understanding Ezekiel 21 provides crucial insight into the consequences of disobedience and the unwavering nature of God's word. This chapter is important for understanding the historical context of Judah's downfall and the theological implications of divine judgment.
Prophecy Against Jerusalem (Ezekiel 21:1-7)
The chapter opens with a direct command from God to Ezekiel: "Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuaries. Prophesy against the land of Israel" Ezekiel 21:2. God is about to make his message of coming judgment undeniable. The imagery shifts from the earlier vision of fire in the south to a more visceral and immediate symbol: a sword. This sword represents God's judgment, which will sweep through the land of Judah, indiscriminately devouring from south to north. This judgment will not discriminate.
Ezekiel is instructed to groan and wail, embodying the grief and sorrow that will engulf the people when they realize the gravity of the impending destruction. When the people ask why he is groaning, he is to tell them it is because of the terrible news of the approaching judgment (Ezekiel 21:6-7). Ezekiel's personal anguish becomes a visual aid, driving home the reality and severity of the coming events. His role as a watchman and a messenger is critical in conveying the urgency of the situation.
The Sharpened Sword (Ezekiel 21:8-17)
The imagery of the sword intensifies in this section. It is not just a sword, but "a sword, a sword, sharpened and polished" Ezekiel 21:9-10. The sharpening and polishing suggest preparation for a thorough and devastating slaughter. The sword is wielded by God himself, and it is aimed at the very heart of Judah, including the throne of David in Jerusalem. The judgment is comprehensive, leaving no one untouched.
Ezekiel is again called to cry out and wail, emphasizing the extent and severity of the judgment. There is no escape, no reprieve. The sword will strike again and again until God's wrath is fully satisfied (Ezekiel 21:14-17). This repetition underscores the unwavering nature of God's judgment and the complete destruction that awaits.
The Crossroads and the Divine Choice (Ezekiel 21:18-22)
This section shifts the focus to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, and his role as the instrument of God's judgment. Nebuchadnezzar stands at a crossroads, faced with the decision to attack Jerusalem or Rabbah, the capital of Ammon. Both Jerusalem and Rabbah had rebelled against Babylon. He consults his pagan idols and practices divination to determine which path to take (Ezekiel 21:19-20).
However, God intervenes and guides Nebuchadnezzar towards Jerusalem. Despite Nebuchadnezzar's reliance on pagan practices, God uses him to fulfill His divine purpose. This highlights God's sovereignty and his ability to use even ungodly leaders to accomplish His will. Nebuchadnezzar sets up siege ramps and walls around Jerusalem, signaling the beginning of the end for the city (Ezekiel 21:21-22).
Judgment on Zedekiah and Ammon (Ezekiel 21:23-32)
Even as the siege of Jerusalem intensifies, some within the city cling to false hope, believing that Nebuchadnezzar's efforts are based on false divination and will ultimately fail (Ezekiel 21:23). However, God reveals that Zedekiah, the "profane and wicked prince of Israel," is given over to judgment (Ezekiel 21:24-25). The crown will be removed, and Jerusalem will be reduced to ruins.
But what about the Ammonites? God's judgment is not limited to Judah. A "sword of slaughter" is also poised for them (Ezekiel 21:28). Ammon is the first in a list of nations that will be judged for their mistreatment of Israel. God declares that they will be invaded and destroyed by "the people of the east" (Ezekiel 21:31-32, see also Ezekiel 25:1-5). This underscores the comprehensive nature of God's judgment, which extends to all those who defy His will and mistreat His people.
Ezekiel 21 serves as a powerful reminder that God's judgment is inevitable for those who reject His ways. It also highlights God's sovereignty and his ability to use even unlikely individuals and nations to accomplish His purposes. While the message is sobering, it also points to the need for repentance and a return to God, the only source of true hope and salvation. The message of Ezekiel 21 for today's readers is a call to examine our own lives and ensure that we are living in accordance with God's will, lest we too face the consequences of disobedience.