Judgment Comes To Tyrus

The next three chapters are about Tyrus or Tyre the capital of Phoenicia just north of Israel. Hyram was king of Tyre during the reign of David and Solomon. He provided the cedars of Lebanon to build the temple. Tyre was a seaport city with a large navy and many ships of commerce. After this time, Tyre became the enemy of Israel, even taking some to be sold as slaves. When Israel was in trouble with Nebuchadnezzar, they were glad. Nebuchadnezzar came against Tyre in Phoenicia. The city of Tyre extended out to an island. Their navy was great and Babylon could not defeat them. The two enemies of Babylon after Israel fell were Tyre and Egypt. Tyre would be conquered by Alexander the great who built a road out to the island from the rubble of the mainland city. ( notes from Missler)

Eze 26:1 And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Eze 26:2 Son of man, because that Tyrus hath said against Jerusalem, Aha, she is broken that was the gates of the people: she is turned unto me: I shall be replenished, now she is laid waste:

Jer 52:12 Now in the fifth month, in the tenth day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, which served the king of Babylon, into Jerusalem,

God was against Tyre because Tyre was against Israel.

Amo 1:9 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Tyrus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, and remembered not the brotherly covenant:
Amo 1:10 But I will send a fire on the wall of Tyrus, which shall devour the palaces thereof.

Eze 26:3 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Tyrus, and will cause many nations to come up against thee, as the sea causeth his waves to come up.

Eze 26:4 And they shall destroy the walls of Tyrus, and break down her towers: I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock.

Many nations would come against Tyre. It was Alexander's army that scraped the city making a causeway out to the Island city from the ruins of the mainland city. They were as the waves who swept over the island city.

Eze 26:5 It shall be a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD: and it shall become a spoil to the nations.

Tyre was located on a promontory—an elevated place extending out into the sea. The name "Tyre" means rock; it was given to the city because of its position. The island rock section became the heart of Tyre, the part on the continent being the old town. It was rich and great under Persian, Greek, Roman, and Muslim rulers before its final ruin in a.d. 1291 by the sultan of Egypt. (Constable)

Eze 26:6 And her daughters which are in the field shall be slain by the sword; and they shall know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel indicated the extent of the destruction. The prophet made five specific predictions relating to the destruction of Tyre. (1) Many nations would come against Tyre. History records that the Babylonians, Alexander, Antigonus, the Arabs and the Crusaders all inflicted their blows against this place. (2) Tyre would be made a bare rock. (3) Fishermen would spread their nets at Tyre. (4) Tyre would become spoil for the nations. (5) Tyre’s satellite villages would be slain by the sword. The destruction of Tyre was certain because God had spoken. Through this experience the citizens of Tyre would come to know that Yahweh is the only God (26:3–6). (McGee)

Eze 26:7 For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will bring upon Tyrus Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, a king of kings, from the north, with horses, and with chariots, and with horsemen, and companies, and much people.

Dan 2:37 Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.
Dan 2:38 And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.

Eze 26:8 He shall slay with the sword thy daughters in the field: and he shall make a fort against thee, and cast a mount against thee, and lift up the buckler against thee.
Eze 26:9 And he shall set engines of war against thy walls, and with his axes he shall break down thy towers.

But because Tyrus was on the seacoast and it was a beautiful port city, in fact, it was one of the major ports of the ancient world. A very rich city of merchandise, and from Tyrus, of course, were the Phoenicians and the Phoenician navy of historic lore. He was not able to totally cut off the supplies; the city of Tyrus was continually supplied by her navies from the sea, so that the people were able to live under the siege of Nebuchadnezzar. And so the siege went on for thirteen years. During which time the majority of the city moved from the mainland to the island that was about a half mile offshore. And that became then the major city of Tyre, this island offshore. So that by the time Nebuchadnezzar finally made the onslaught against the city, there was only a small garrison and a small part of the population left within the city there on the mainland. The majority of the people had moved to the island along with the wealth of the city. So that there was no spoils to be taken by Nebuchadnezzar in the conquering of the city of Tyre. (Chuck Smith)

Eze 26:10 By reason of the abundance of his horses their dust shall cover thee: thy walls shall shake at the noise of the horsemen, and of the wheels, and of the chariots, when he shall enter into thy gates, as men enter into a city wherein is made a breach.
Eze 26:11 With the hoofs of his horses shall he tread down all thy streets: he shall slay thy people by the sword, and thy strong garrisons shall go down to the ground.
Eze 26:12 And they shall make a spoil of thy riches, and make a prey of thy merchandise: and they shall break down thy walls, and destroy thy pleasant houses: and they shall lay thy stones and thy timber and thy dust in the midst of the water.

Zec 9:3 And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets.
Zec 9:4 Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire.

Eze 26:13 And I will cause the noise of thy songs to cease; and the sound of thy harps shall be no more heard.
Eze 26:14 And I will make thee like the top of a rock: thou shalt be a place to spread nets upon; thou shalt be built no more: for I the LORD have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.

Fulfilled by Alexander the great.

Eze 26:15 Thus saith the Lord GOD to Tyrus; Shall not the isles shake at the sound of thy fall, when the wounded cry, when the slaughter is made in the midst of thee?

Isa 23:15 And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot.
Isa 23:16 Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered.
Isa 23:17 And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the LORD will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire, and shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth.
Isa 23:18 And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing.

After the rebuilding of Tyre, the true religion would prevail there, and her wealth would be devoted to his service. That the true religion prevailed at Tyre subsequently to its restoration and rebuilding there can be no doubt. The Christian religion was early established at Tyre. (Barnes)

Jesus ministered in Tyre

Mar 7:24 And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.
Mar 7:25 For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:
Mar 7:26 The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.
Mar 7:27 But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.
Mar 7:28 And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.
Mar 7:29 And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.
Mar 7:30 And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.
Mar 7:31 And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.

Eze 26:16 Then all the princes of the sea shall come down from their thrones, and lay away their robes, and put off their broidered garments: they shall clothe themselves with trembling; they shall sit upon the ground, and shall tremble at every moment, and be astonished at thee.
Eze 26:17 And they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and say to thee, How art thou destroyed, that wast inhabited of seafaring men, the renowned city, which wast strong in the sea, she and her inhabitants, which cause their terror to be on all that haunt it!

Jon 3:6 For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

Eze 26:18 Now shall the isles tremble in the day of thy fall; yea, the isles that are in the sea shall be troubled at thy departure.
Eze 26:19 For thus saith the Lord GOD; When I shall make thee a desolate city, like the cities that are not inhabited; when I shall bring up the deep upon thee, and great waters shall cover thee;
Eze 26:20 When I shall bring thee down with them that descend into the pit, with the people of old time, and shall set thee in the low parts of the earth, in places desolate of old, with them that go down to the pit, that thou be not inhabited; and I shall set glory in the land of the living;
Eze 26:21 I will make thee a terror, and thou shalt be no more: though thou be sought for, yet shalt thou never be found again, saith the Lord GOD.

Now, there is a modern city of Tyre which is a Palestinian stronghold in southern Lebanon. However, it is a few miles from the site of the ancient city. So though it bears the name of Tyre, it has not been built again in the area where the original Tyre once existed. There is however a spring there in Tyre known as Ras El Ain, which the engineers have measured a water flow of ten million gallons a day. So it would be a very likely spot for a city to be built because of this abundant supply of fresh water. And yet in spite of that, the city has never been built on that site again. (Chuck Smith)

The Pharisee and the Publican

Luk 18:9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
Luk 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
Luk 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
Luk 18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Luk 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
Luk 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

A parable concerning certain which trusted in themselves; the self righteous. The example was a Pharisee that received honor in the world of religion. The temple was his familiar abiding place. He was confident in his works and his position of honor and authority. Another man, a publican, a tax collector whose profession and works were disliked by most entered the temple to pray to God. He was despised by the Pharisee who compared others to himself, and most others were considered as losers and sinners. He was not in the temple to pray to God for his sins. He did not think that he had sins. The publican was well aware of his sins, crying out humbly to God to be merciful to himself, a sinner. The Pharisee trusted in his own works. He was proud, vain and judgmental. In truth, the Pharisee was unrighteous in his heart. The Publican left justified and forgiven.

The humble shall be exalted. Sometimes when exalted or successful in serving the LORD, then we become as the Pharisee. The exalted shall be humbled. We are to stay humble, especially in concern to our own works. We are to trust in God, giving him all honor and glory. Loving the lost, forgiving them, witnessing to them with all humility.

1Co 2:3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
1Co 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
1Co 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 

Pressing in

Luk 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Luk 16:14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
Luk 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
Luk 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
Luk 16:17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.

Seriously, who do you serve? Is money on your mind constantly? Is it a dependence on government? Does TV or Internet games fill your interest? You must serve God above all things. His word should fill your heart and mind and we should be doing as he says. I really dislike many of the things that the world loves. The popular music groups, the TV shows, and many things that the Bible speaks of as sin, such as godless education, evolution, immorality and lying. No one cares if our leaders lie to us. These things may be popular, but an abomination to the LORD. We may say it is okay and others agree, but God knows our hearts. We are to conform to his will and way.

The law is true and good, but we fail to keep them perfectly. The kingdom of God came being preached by John and every man presseth in, taking it by force. I see that in two ways. In the poor nations people come by thousands to hear the preaching and the healing message of the cross and Christ Jesus is believed in. I often see in our country a more passive interest in the things of God, but most everyone thinks they will go to heaven. Will they? Jesus said that not the smallest part of the law will fail; it is God's eternal word. Most will be judged by the law, for without the law there is no sin. The law shows us what God requires of us.

Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Have we come to Jesus to receive him by faith so that we may enter into the kingdom of heaven? Are we zealous, excited, pressing in to serve him?

Luk 18:8 ... Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? 

On Sabbath Day

Luk 14:1 And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.
Luk 14:2 And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.
Luk 14:3 And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?
Luk 14:4 And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;
Luk 14:5 And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?
Luk 14:6 And they could not answer him again to these things.

Jesus the Son of God, the supreme Spiritual authority was invited to the house of one of the chief Pharisees. The word Pharisee, meant a separated one, they were the ones who kept the laws, and added laws to the laws; the traditions of man. They were especially critical concerning keeping the Sabbath. Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath and the Pharisees saw him as someone who was a threat to them. They wanted to kill him. So, we know that they had not the Spirit of God. The law people without the Spirit of God seek to accuse and to destroy by their version of the law. It was the Sabbath day and Jesus asked them is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day? They did not answer him. He proceeded to heal a man of the dropsy. Modern day term for dropsy is edema, a condition where the lower legs and feet swell with water retention. He gave them other examples of doing good on the Sabbath. The Pharisees thought that they had more authority than Jesus, but they were going to be given lessons from him.

Luk 14:7 And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,
Luk 14:8 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;
Luk 14:9 And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.
Luk 14:10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.
Luk 14:11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Jesus turns things around. Those who exalt themselves shall be humbled; and he that is humble, shall be exalted. The problem again was pride. The Pharisees had authority, but not of God's Spirit. They were proud, exalting themselves. Jesus shows them God's view of the humble being exalted. Worldly honor and authority may be of satan and not of God.

John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Joh 8:45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

 

Luk 14:12 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.
Luk 14:13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
Luk 14:14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

Speaking again to the Chief Pharisee who invited him, probably to examine and to accuse him. Jesus spoke of his motives in inviting powerful and influential men to his dinner. It was about receiving honor and being invited to their dinners. They lived a sort of a double standard like our politicians who make and impose laws that they are not required to keep. Being called public servants when in reality they force others into poor health care, higher taxes, meager incomes, while they receive the very best. Jesus reverses this again. Invite those who are poor, maimed, lame and blind. Our reward will be from God who sees all. It is God who we serve, not the Pharisees and the critics. Be humble, do good as God leads you by his Spirit. You will receive his reward.

Judging the "ites"

When Israel became a country again in 1948, they were attacked by the Arab league of five surrounding nations. Today Israel has many enemies, nations who hate Israel. They are surrounded by Islamic nations, in every direction there are 22 nations who are enemies of Israel. Israel has only one true friend, the United States, but this friendship has been strained. The rise of Islam from the Arab Spring has brought more tension to the middle east. Iran is a direct threat with the development of nuclear weapons.

God has a covenant with Israel. In the time of Ezekiel the northern tribe of Israel had sinned and turned from God. They were dispersed among the nations. In Chapter 34 of Ezekiel, we have the nation of Judea and Jerusalem under siege. Some say this prophecy was five years later. This was the judgment of God on an idolatrous and rebellious nation, and yet God has a love for Jerusalem and his people and would punish her enemies.

Deu 30:7 And the LORD thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee.

Gen 12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
Gen 12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
Gen 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Through Jesus all nations who receive him are blessed. The United States was founded on Christian ideas. The two most hated nations by the Islamic world are the United States and Israel. Many in Islamic countries cheered when our towers fell. More recently at the Democratic presidential convention, God and Jerusalem were booed by half of the people there. God and Jerusalem play a big part in end time events. God remembers who comes against Jerusalem and they will be punished.

In this lesson Ezekiel speaks judgment on four nations surrounding Judah.

The Ammonites

Eze 25:1 The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,
Eze 25:2 Son of man, set thy face against the Ammonites, and prophesy against them;
Eze 25:3 And say unto the Ammonites, Hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou saidst, Aha, against my sanctuary, when it was profaned; and against the land of Israel, when it was desolate; and against the house of Judah, when they went into captivity;

Descendants of Lot's daughters.

Gen 19:34 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.
Gen 19:35 And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.
Gen 19:36 Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.
Gen 19:37 And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day.
Gen 19:38 And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.

The Ammonites settled east of the Jordan. Their language was similar to Hebrew. They were long time enemies of Israel.

Amo 1:13 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have ripped up the women with child of Gilead, that they might enlarge their border:
Amo 1:14 But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour the palaces thereof, with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind:
Amo 1:15 And their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together, saith the LORD.

Their undoing was to say aha, which was a cry of joy over Judah's being attacked by King Nebuccadnezzar.

Eze 25:4 Behold, therefore I will deliver thee to the men of the east for a possession, and they shall set their palaces in thee, and make their dwellings in thee: they shall eat thy fruit, and they shall drink thy milk.

The Ammonites were to be overrun by men of the east; probably nomadic tribes from Arabia.

Eze 25:5 And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels, and the Ammonites a couchingplace for flocks: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

Rabbah was the royal city of Ammon.

Eze 25:6 For thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast clapped thine hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced in heart with all thy despite against the land of Israel;
Eze 25:7 Behold, therefore I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and will deliver thee for a spoil to the heathen; and I will cut thee off from the people, and I will cause thee to perish out of the countries: I will destroy thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.

So Ammon was given a double prophecy, and was to be judged because she greatly rejoiced in the ruin of Jerusalem and Judea. God would stretch out his hand to them that had shouted aha, clapped their hands and stamped their feet at the destruction of God's covenant people. This would be the end of the Ammonites. Do not be an enemy of God or his people, for he is watching. Do not join in with others against the things that God loves; nor side with the things that God hates.

The Moabites

Eze 25:8 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because that Moab and Seir do say, Behold, the house of Judah is like unto all the heathen;
Eze 25:9 Therefore, behold, I will open the side of Moab from the cities, from his cities which are on his frontiers, the glory of the country, Bethjeshimoth, Baalmeon, and Kiriathaim,
Eze 25:10 Unto the men of the east with the Ammonites, and will give them in possession, that the Ammonites may not be remembered among the nations.
Eze 25:11 And I will execute judgments upon Moab; and they shall know that I am the LORD.

Moab was east of the Dead Sea and south of Ammon. Seir was another name for Edom. Moab and the surrounding nations had an alliance with Israel, but when the Chaldeans came to destroy Jerusalem, they were enemies to her.

Jer 27:3 And send them to the king of Edom, and to the king of Moab, and to the king of the Ammonites, and to the king of Tyrus, and to the king of Zidon, by the hand of the messengers which come to Jerusalem unto Zedekiah king of Judah;
Jer 27:4 And command them to say unto their masters, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say unto your masters;
Jer 27:5 I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me.
Jer 27:6 And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him.

Moabs sin was they were glad to see Judah humbled, they hated God's people. They were similar to the Ammonites, being glad that Judah was taken down.

Rom 12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
Rom 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Rom 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
Rom 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

The Edomites

Eze 25:12 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because that Edom hath dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and hath greatly offended, and revenged himself upon them;
Eze 25:13 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it; and I will make it desolate from Teman; and they of Dedan shall fall by the sword.
Eze 25:14 And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel: and they shall do in Edom according to mine anger and according to my fury; and they shall know my vengeance, saith the Lord GOD.

Edom was an enemy of Israel throughout history. The refused to allow the people led by Moses to cross their land. Their transgression was to seek vengeance on Israel. Kick them when they were down, take advantage.

Rom 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

I will lay my vengeance upon Edom - God will not allow men to insult those whom he has cast down. His judgment is sufficient; to add more is an insult to God.

By the hand of may people Israel - This was fulfilled by the Maccabees, who not only defeated them and brought them under complete subjection,

The Philistines, the Cherethites.

Eze 25:15 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it for the old hatred;
Eze 25:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will stretch out mine hand upon the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethims, and destroy the remnant of the sea coast.
Eze 25:17 And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them.

Philistine comes from the word Palestine. They are descendants of Ham.

Samson fought the Philistines.

Jdg 15:14 And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands.
Jdg 15:15 And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith.
Jdg 15:16 And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men.

 

David fought the Philistine giant, Goliath

1Sa 17:45  Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 

1Sa 17:46  This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 

1Sa 17:47  And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands. 

1Sa 17:48  And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 

1Sa 17:49  And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. 

1Sa 17:50  So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. 

God said "behold, I will stretch out mine hand upon the Philistines;"

Jer 47:4 Because of the day that cometh to spoil all the Philistines, and to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remaineth: for the LORD will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor.

And I will execute great vengeance upon them -

Isa 14:31 Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou, whole Palestina, art dissolved: for there shall come from the north a smoke, and none shall be alone in his appointed times.

They were judged as was Edom for their taking vengeance from a heart of hatred. 

Nebuchadnezzar punished them because they had assisted the Tyrians during the time he was besieging their city.

Rom 2:9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
Rom 2:10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:

How do we profit from this lesson? Remember that God loves his people and will avenge those who come against them. We are not to rejoice in another's misfortune. Have a humble heart. Fear God and love one another. Forgive offenses and let God correct the transgressors; He does a much better job of it.

Bad Advice

Joh 7:1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. 

Jewry is Judea, the southern tribe where Jerusalem and the temple were. The Chief priests, the scribes and the Pharisees had plotted to kill Jesus.

Joh 7:2 Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand.
Joh 7:3 His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.
Joh 7:4 For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.

Joh 7:5 For neither did his brethren believe in him.

"If" you do these things, the miracles, go show yourself to the world. Advice from brothers who did not believe in him. Be careful whose advice you follow. Earlier satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness with similar words.

Mat 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

Jesus rebuked him with the word of God; he fled but would return in another way. He had returned in the words of his brothers. Satan may use anyone to give you advice. They may appeal to your "rights", or your being a good Christian, but the advice may be destructive. Be sure that you hear from the Father, with confirmation of the Holy Spirit.

Joh 7:6 Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is always ready.
Joh 7:7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

To be loved by the world is not a good thing. They were as the world, full of sins, so that the world cannot hate them. I think of our world and how it is becoming more and more evil. Fornication, homosexuality, homes without fathers, drug and alcohol abuse, pornography, these are of the devil. The world says that this is okay, but the world will not tolerate a Christian who speaks the word of God. Jesus heard from God the Father, and spoke his words.

Joh 7:8 Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come.

He would go up in secret and openly teach in the temple. He also knew that he would be crucified, that was part of God's plan for him. He obeyed God perfectly and we are to obey him as well. Hear the voice of God and not the voices of the world. Walk carefully in a sinful world.

The Cooking Pot

Eze 24:1 Again in the ninth year, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 

Eze 24:2 Son of man, write thee the name of the day, even of this same day: the king of Babylon set himself against Jerusalem this same day.

At this very moment Nebuchadnezzar was breaking through the wall of Jerusalem. The LORD was telling Ezekiel it was happening asa it happened. Ezekiel was in Babylon when Jerusalem was under siege.

2Ki 25:1 And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built forts against it round about.
2Ki 25:2 And the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah.

Eze 24:3 And utter a parable unto the rebellious house, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Set on a pot, set it on, and also pour water into it:

Eze 24:4 Gather the pieces thereof into it, even every good piece, the thigh, and the shoulder; fill it with the choice bones.

A boiling pot, Jerusalem. It was filled with water to make a broth.

Jer 1:13 And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward the north.

Jerusalem was to be refined as silver in the refiners fire. Now they would be put in a boiling pot, both were symbolic of the siege and destruction; the judgment of God on his wicked people.

Eze 24:5 Take the choice of the flock, and burn also the bones under it, and make it boil well, and let them seethe the bones of it therein.
Eze 24:6 Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the bloody city, to the pot whose scum is therein, and whose scum is not gone out of it! bring it out piece by piece; let no lot fall upon it.

Take the choice of the flock, usually lambs or beef, but in this allegory it could be the people in Jerusalem, the LORD's flock who were in rebellion.

Mat 26:31 Then Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'

Boiling the scum, the impurities out of the broth. Fire is used in purifying.

Luk 3:17 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.

Eze 24:7 For her blood is in the midst of her; she set it upon the top of a rock; she poured it not upon the ground, to cover it with dust;
Eze 24:8 That it might cause fury to come up to take vengeance; I have set her blood upon the top of a rock, that it should not be covered.

This was against their ceremonial law, but was God's judgment on a people who shed innocent blood. The evidence was not covered up, but placed on the top of a rock to be seen. I can see this applying to our times with the killing of innocent babies. God will avenge their blood.

Lev 17:12 Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood.
Lev 17:13 And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust.

Life is in the blood. Innocent blood shed cries out to the LORD for vengeance.

Gen 4:9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?"
Gen 4:10 And the LORD said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground.

The blood of Jesus continues to cry out to parden us of our sins. Bring your sins to the rock, that is Jesus for forgiveness.

Rom 9:33 as it is written, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."

Eze 24:9 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the bloody city! I will even make the pile for fire great.
Eze 24:10 Heap on wood, kindle the fire, consume the flesh, and spice it well, and let the bones be burned.
Eze 24:11 Then set it empty upon the coals thereof, that the brass of it may be hot, and may burn, and that the filthiness of it may be molten in it, that the scum of it may be consumed.

This was no stew pot, but a frying pan! The judgments continue after the destruction of Jerusalem. The empty pot was the city without it's people that was being purified. The scum was the tarnished brass that was purified by fire.

Eze 24:12 She hath wearied herself with lies, and her great scum went not forth out of her: her scum shall be in the fire.
Eze 24:13 In thy filthiness is lewdness: because I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee.
Eze 24:14 I the LORD have spoken it: it shall come to pass, and I will do it; I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent; according to thy ways, and according to thy doings, shall they judge thee, saith the Lord GOD.

Eze 22:15 And I will scatter thee among the heathen, and disperse thee in the countries, and will consume thy filthiness out of thee.

Eze 24:15 Also the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

Another sign: the destruction of the Temple.

Eze 24:16 Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke: yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down.

His wife that he loved would be taken from him suddenly with a stroke; and yet he was told not to mourn nor weep.

Psa 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

The LORD allowed His Son to die for a good purpose as an illustration of his love. We should not think that God is angry with us when we suffer loss. All things work for a good purpose in Christ Jesus.

Joh 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Eze 24:17 Forbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead, bind the tire of thine head upon thee, and put on thy shoes upon thy feet, and cover not thy lips, and eat not the bread of men.

Ezekiel was not to mourn, nor to undo his turban. Put on your shoes and do not cover your lips with a mourning veil. Eat not the food supplied by others who were providing food for the mourners. This was a sign to Jerusalem that what they loved most would be taken from them. Ezekiel was to give out God's message and not to mourn. He was 800 miles from Jerusalem, but experienced the feelings of loss with Jerusalem. They were under judgment and not to be consoled at this time.

Jesus experienced our grief and understands our feelings.

Heb 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Ezekiel was to put on his shoes and do what God asked of him.

Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Eze 24:18 So I spake unto the people in the morning: and at even my wife died; and I did in the morning as I was commanded.
Eze 24:19 And the people said unto me, Wilt thou not tell us what these things are to us, that thou doest so?
Eze 24:20 Then I answered them, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Eze 24:21 Speak unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the excellency of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pitieth; and your sons and your daughters whom ye have left shall fall by the sword.
Eze 24:22 And ye shall do as I have done: ye shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.

They had profaned the Temple that was their greatest love and the LORD would send Babylon to destroy their children and the temple. They were told not to mourn.

Jer 7:14 Therefore will I do unto this house, which is called by my name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh.
Jer 7:15 And I will cast you out of my sight, as I have cast out all your brethren, even the whole seed of Ephraim. 

Jer 16:6 Both the great and the small shall die in this land: they shall not be buried, neither shall men lament for them, nor cut themselves, nor make themselves bald for them:
Jer 16:7 Neither shall men tear themselves for them in mourning, to comfort them for the dead; neither shall men give them the cup of consolation to drink for their father or for their mother.

Eze 24:23 And your tires shall be upon your heads, and your shoes upon your feet: ye shall not mourn nor weep; but ye shall pine away for your iniquities, and mourn one toward another.
Eze 24:24 Thus Ezekiel is unto you a sign: according to all that he hath done shall ye do: and when this cometh, ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.
Eze 24:25 Also, thou son of man, shall it not be in the day when I take from them their strength, the joy of their glory, the desire of their eyes, and that whereupon they set their minds, their sons and their daughters,
Eze 24:26 That he that escapeth in that day shall come unto thee, to cause thee to hear it with thine ears?
Eze 24:27 In that day shall thy mouth be opened to him which is escaped, and thou shalt speak, and be no more dumb: and thou shalt be a sign unto them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.

Eze 3:26 And I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth, that thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be to them a reprover: for they are a rebellious house.

Eze 3:27 But when I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; He that heareth, let him hear; and he that forbeareth, let him forbear: for they are a rebellious house.