SCRIPTURE: EZEKIEL 21
BABYLON, GOD’S SWORD OF JUDGMENT (vs. 1-27)
God told Ezekiel to set his face against Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuary. Then groan with a broken heart and bitter grief saying: “A sword, a sword, sharpened and polished – sharpened for the slaughter, polished to flash like lightning!” (v. 8). Then strike the sword twice even three times. It is a sword for slaughter, slashing to the right and to the left to subside the wrath of God.
There are two roads for the sword of Babylon to take, both starting from the same country. One road for the sword to come against Rabbah of the Ammonites and another against Judah and fortified Jerusalem. The king of Babylon will cast lots to consult his idols. The lot on Jerusalem came into his right hand and he is to set up battering rams, to give command to slaughter, to sound the battle cry, to set battering rams against the gates, to build a ramp and to erect siege works. Due to their rebellion, Israel will be taken captive.
PROPHECY AGAINST THE AMMONITES (vs. 28-32)
They will be consumed by a polished sword and handed to brutal men. They will be fueled for the fire and their blood will be shed in their land.
THOUGHTS:
God pulled his sword out of the scabbard and pointed toward Jerusalem and Ammon. Their judgments had eventually come.
JUDGMENTS THAT WOULD COME UPON JERUSALEM:
- The sword of the Lord (vs. 1-7)
- The sharpened sword. (vs. 8-17)
- The sword of the Nebuchadnezzar (vs. 18-22)
The Ammonites and Israelites were usually fighting with each other. God told Israel not to ally with foreign nations but Judah and Ammon united against Babylon. Judah was judged when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invaded Jerusalem. Ammon was judged for watching Jerusalem’s destruction with insulting delight.