Articles
A Difficult Command - Ezek. 24
A Difficult Command - Ezek. 24
Ezekiel is one of the most interesting prophets because of how he delivered his messages. He uses parables and metaphors. He lives out the deprivation for them to see. He draws maps and pictures of Jerusalem under siege. Yet, when we come to chapter 24, we are left speechless. He himself becomes a sign to the people (vs. 24).
His wife dies and he is instructed to make no visible reaction to it. All the 'normal' acts of grief were to be abstained from. Lamar Cooper wrote:
Funerary rites usually included tearing one’s clothing (2 Sam 3:31), removing one’s shoes and turban (2 Sam 15:30), and shaving the head and putting dust and ashes on the head (1 Sam 4:12). The mourner’s face was covered, and other mourners, some friends and some professional mourners, joined in wailing for the dead. The family sat or rolled in dust as a sign of their grief. Sometimes mourning also was accompanied by fasting. The family would eat only mourner’s bread that was supplied by friends or neighbors. (New American Commentary, Ezekiel, Logos edition).
Ezekiel, in describing the grief of Tyre, gives us an insightful list of such grieving rituals (cf. 27:30–32).
Ezekiel was to show no signs of grief. Earlier, Jeremiah, who would experience this destruction in person, was told not to grieve for the people (Jer. 16:5-13). God explains such action: ‘I am about to desecrate my city. Those relations you left behind will fall by the sword. Yet you will not follow the usual mourning customs, just as Ezekiel has done. You will then know that I am the Lord’ (20–24).
As Ezekiel lost 'the desire of his eye' (his wife, vs. 16), so the people of Judah would lose the desire of their eye: the temple, the city of Jerusalem, and even their children (vs. 20-21). Things would be in such disarray and would come so quickly, they would be in shock and unable to even mourn. They would be rounded up and marched off as slaves. Thus, they would have no opportunity for the normal actions of grief! This was the object lesson that Ezekiel played out before them.
Those that went through this period were affected greatly. Yet, God has more plans and purposes. God has been there dealing with generation after generation. He punished the people in the wilderness. He punished them during the times of the judges. He allowed them to be troubled by their enemies during the days of Saul. He has destroyed Israel and now will destroy Judah.
We have already learned from Jeremiah that this captivity would last 70 years and then God would restore the people. As we continue through Ezekiel we enter the section where God reveals His judgments upon the nations around Judah (God is God over ALL). This will takes us through chapters 25-32. Then, Ezekiel begins the final section where he encourages the people concerning their future (33-48).
I am not sure that I could have obeyed as Ezekiel did! I do see that God’s purposes and plans often transcend the individual. Not all of God's instructions are easy or comfortable. Can you trust God even in difficult times and situations?
Hugh DeLong
