A Case of Spiritual Adultery, Judgment, and A Promise of Salvation (Ezekiel 23)

The LORD’s judgment was imminent, for He was ready to draw His sword and judge “the righteous and the wicked” (Ezekiel 21:3). “All flesh,” including men, women, boys, and girls, would know that it was the LORD who executed judgment (Ezekiel 21:4-5). The LORD then commanded Ezekiel to sigh, signaling the pain and sorrow the people would endure (Ezekiel 21:6). 

When the elders asked, “Wherefore sighest thou?” the prophet was told to 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” (Ezekiel 21:7).

Prepare to Face God’s Judgment (Ezekiel 21:8-17)

The LORD then warned that His sword of judgment was sharpened and would be wielded by King Nebuchadnezzar, the executioner of His will (Ezekiel 21:8-11). Ezekiel was then directed to dramatize Jerusalem’s sufferings, saying, “Cry and howl, son of man: for it shall be upon my people” (Ezekiel 21:12). 

Ezekiel 21:14 described the swift violence that would come upon Jerusalem and the great slaughter that would befall the people. None would escape (Ezekiel 21:15), and all who fled the destruction would be slain (Ezekiel 24:16-17).

Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon were God’s Agents of Judgment (Ezekiel 21:18-24)

Here, we find a powerful spiritual lesson for nations that know the LORD yet reject Him. The LORD left no doubt that He would employ “the sword of the king of Babylon” (Ezekiel 21:18-19). Babylon’s sword was described as going forth “two ways” (Ezekiel 21:19). Ezekiel 21:20 foretold that Nebuchadnezzar’s sword would “come to Rabbath of the Ammonites, and to Judah in Jerusalem” (Ezekiel 21:20).

Though Nebuchadnezzar consulted idols (Ezekiel 21:22), the LORD used the king’s superstitious practices to draw him to Jerusalem and to do His bidding (Ezekiel 21:23). In describing Babylon’s siege of Jerusalem, we read that Nebuchadnezzar would “appoint battering rams against the gates” and build a mound to assault the city walls (Ezekiel 21:22).

With the mounds built up against the city walls and battering rams at the gates, the people would remember the warnings of the faithful prophets, who had prophesied, “ye shall be taken with the hand [i.e., of the enemy]” (Ezekiel 21:24).

Zedekiah’s Defeat Assured (Ezekiel 21:25-27)

The LORD foretold through Ezekiel that King Zedekiah, the last king of Judah before the captivity, described as the “profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come,” would be expelled from Judah’s throne (Ezekiel 21:25). With the command, “Remove the diadem, and take off the crown” (Ezekiel 21:26), the fate of the high priest (a “diadem” was the turban worn by the high priest) and the king was sealed.

With the words, “I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more,” the overthrow of Zedekiah and Jerusalem was certain (Ezekiel 21:27a). However, that same verse ended with an exciting prophecy: “Until He come [i.e., Christ’s Second Coming] whose right it is; and I will give it him” (Ezekiel 21:27b). 

The Defeat of the Ammonites Foretold (Ezekiel 21:28-32)

Our study closes with God’s assurance that, unlike the children of Israel, who would return to their land, the judgment of the Ammonites would be final and that they would “be no more remembered” (Ezekiel 21:32).Though Jerusalem would be destroyed and Judah defeated, the LORD foretold that One would come to claim the throne, and the LORD would “give it him” (Ezekiel 21:27b). Who was this One whose right it was to claim both the diadem and Israel’s crown? 

Closing thoughts –

Only Jesus Christ has the right and authority to assume the roles of priest and king. Jacob, the father of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, foretold, “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah” (Genesis 49:10a). The author of Hebrews wrote about Jesus Christ:

“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. ²⁶For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; ²⁷Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. ²⁸For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore” (Hebrews 7:25–28).

Zedekiah’s Defeat Assured (Ezekiel 21:25-27)

The LORD foretold through Ezekiel that King Zedekiah, the last king of Judah before the captivity, described as the “profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come,” would be expelled from Judah’s throne (Ezekiel 21:25). With the command, “Remove the diadem, and take off the crown” (Ezekiel 21:26), the fate of the high priest (a “diadem” was the turban worn by the high priest) and the king was sealed.

With the words, “I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more,” the overthrow of Zedekiah and Jerusalem was certain (Ezekiel 21:27a). However, that same verse ended with an exciting prophecy: “Until He come [i.e., Christ’s Second Coming] whose right it is; and I will give it him” (Ezekiel 21:27b). 

The Defeat of the Ammonites Foretold (Ezekiel 21:28-32)

Our study closes with God’s assurance that, unlike the children of Israel, who would return to their land, the judgment of the Ammonites would be final and that they would “be no more remembered” (Ezekiel 21:32).Though Jerusalem would be destroyed and Judah defeated, the LORD foretold that One would come to claim the throne, and the LORD would “give it him” (Ezekiel 21:27b). Who was this One whose right it was to claim both the diadem and Israel’s crown? 

Closing thoughts –

Only Jesus Christ has the right and authority to assume the roles of priest and king. Jacob, the father of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, foretold, “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah” (Genesis 49:10a). The author of Hebrews wrote about Jesus Christ:

“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. ²⁶For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; ²⁷Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. ²⁸For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore” (Hebrews 7:25–28).