Dusk in a lane of mud-brick houses: a ragged hole broken through a house wall, and beside it on the ground an exile’s bundle, a rolled mat, a water skin and a bowl, under a darkening empty sky.

False hopes

Ezekiel 12

What warning have you been putting off as ‘someday’?

28 verses≈ 6 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

1–3Visions of gloryBy the Kebar, about 593 BC: the throne, the scroll, the watchman
4–7Signs of the siegeA brick, a ration, a razor: the end has come
8–11The glory departsAbout 592 BC: the temple’s abominations, the mark, the glory goes east
12–15False hopesExile acted out, false prophets, a useless vineChapter 12
16–19Parables and lamentsAn unfaithful bride, two eagles, the one who sins
20–24The sword drawnRebellion retold; the siege begins, about 588 BC
25–32The nations judgedAmmon to Egypt: the LORD is Judge of all the earth
33–36A new heartThe city falls; the Good Shepherd; cleansed and made new
37–39Dry bones liveOne people raised up, and Gog of Magog defeated
40–48The LORD is thereAbout 573 BC: the new temple, the river, the land

Signs of the Coming Captivity

God

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of man, you are living in a rebellious house. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house.

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God

Broad daylight in a mud-brick lane: an exile’s belongings set out by a plank door, and across the lane a few neighbors in their doorways watching, puzzled.

Therefore, son of man, pack your bags for exile. In broad daylight, set out from your place and go to another as they watch. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house. Bring out your baggage for exile by day, as they watch. Then in the evening, as they watch, go out like those who go into exile.

God

Evening at a mud-brick house wall: a ragged hole just dug through it, broken brick and dust heaped below, a cloth pack waiting beside it, lamplight showing through the hole.

As they watch, dig through the wall and carry your belongings out through it. And as they watch, lift your bags to your shoulder and take them out at dusk; cover your face so that you cannot see the land. For I have made you a sign to the house of Israel.”

Ezekiel

Dusk in a mud-brick lane: a man seen from behind, his mantle drawn over his head, stepping away from a hole in a wall with a pack on his shoulder, neighbors watching from their doorways.

So I did as I was commanded. I brought out my bags for exile by day, and in the evening I dug through the wall by hand. I took my belongings out at dusk, carrying them on my shoulder as they watched.

God

Dusk over Jerusalem: a plain cut-stone royal building beside the temple height, its gateway closed, one lamp lit in a high window, a narrow gate in the city wall below it dark.

And in the morning the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of man, hasn’t the rebellious house of Israel asked you, ‘What are you doing?’ Tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘This burden concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel who are there.’

God

God

You are to say, ‘I am a sign to you.’ Just as it happened here, so will it be done to them; they will go into exile as captives. And at dusk the prince among them will lift his bags to his shoulder and go out. They will dig through the wall to bring him out. He will cover his face so he cannot see the land. But I will spread My net over him, and he will be caught in My snare. I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans; yet he will not see it, and there he will die.

God

And I will scatter to every wind all the attendants around him and all his troops, and I will draw a sword to chase after them. And they will know that I am the LORD, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them throughout the countries.

God

But I will spare a few of them from sword and famine and plague, so that in the nations to which they go, they can recount all their abominations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

The prince’s road

In 586 BC Zedekiah fled by night, was caught near Jericho, judged at Riblah and taken blind to Babylon (2 Kings 25:4–7).

God

Close on a reed mat in a dim mud-brick room: a broken barley loaf and a clay cup of water, the water’s surface shivering in rings, a lamp flame bent low.

Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of man, eat your bread with trembling, and drink your water with quivering and anxiety.

God

Then tell the people of the land that this is what the Lord GOD says about those living in Jerusalem and in the land of Israel: ‘They will eat their bread with anxiety and drink their water in dread, for their land will be stripped of everything in it because of the violence of all who dwell in it. The inhabited cities will be laid waste, and the land will become desolate. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”

Question

Quick question

Picture the exiles watching Ezekiel by day and at dusk.

What did Ezekiel carry out through the hole in the wall?

The Presumptuous Proverb

God

Therefore tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will put an end to this proverb, and in Israel they will no longer recite it.’ But say to them: ‘The days are at hand when every vision will be fulfilled.

God

For there will be no more false visions or flattering divinations within the house of Israel, because I, the LORD, will speak whatever word I speak, and it will be fulfilled without delay. For in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak a message and bring it to pass, declares the Lord GOD.’”

God

Furthermore, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of man, take note that the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision that he sees is for many years from now; he prophesies about the distant future.’

God

Dawn on a long straight road across the flat Babylonian plain, running away to the horizon between date palms and fields, empty, first light on it, under a pale empty sky.

Therefore tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘None of My words will be delayed any longer. The message I speak will be fulfilled, declares the Lord GOD.’”

0:11

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Pray

Lord GOD, not one of Your words will be delayed. Give me eyes that see and ears that hear, and make me ready now for what You have said. Amen.

You’ve experienced

Ezekiel 12

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A verse to carry with you

Therefore tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘None of My words will be delayed any longer. The message I speak will be fulfilled, declares the Lord GOD.’

Ezekiel 12:28

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