Bible Studies
No More Prickling Briers (Ezek. 28:24-26)
Series: God Speaks to Our People In ExileIntroduction:
1. When Phyllis and I first moved to Cincinnati, back in the late 70’s, it was my first experience of hearing people from Kentucky being called “brier hoppers.” 2. The term is often used disparagingly by Ohioans of those from the Appalachian region of Kentucky who migrated north in the mid-20th century. Probably because of the black berry bushes and saw-briars associated with the region. 3. There is a passage in Ezekiel that refers to the enemies of Israel as briers and thorns. It is actually a key text in understanding the section of Ezekiel that we will consider in this study. 4. Reading of text. 5. This is the end of the section for our study today. Let’s go back now and see the developing context and the end of Israel’s enemies.Discussion:
I. In chapters 25-28 six nations are addressed by the Lord.A. As if in Jerusalem looking directly east Ammon is the first. Then following a clock-wise direction the following nations are addressed: Moab, Edom, Philistia, Tyre and then Sidon.
B. As we noted in the previous lesson Ezekiel 25 marks a transition point in the collection of Ezekiel’s oracles. This can be seen from the structure of the text.
1. In 3:26 God says that Ezekiel’s tongue will stick to the roof of his mouth. In other words, he will only be able to communicate the condemnation of Jerusalem. That is what transpires in the chapters following up through 24:27.
2. In 24:27 his mouth is opened. With the opening of his mouth a message of hope for Israel is communicated. Chs. 25-32 are kind of a backhanded (negative) message of hope because it is series of oracles condemning their enemies.
3. 33:22 confirms this. It takes us back to the time of Jerusalem’s capture and the report that the city has been taken. Ezekiel says, “God opened m mouth at the time and the refugees came to me in the morning; so my mouth was opened and I was no longer speechless.” The focus of the final section of Ezekiel focuses positively on hope for the people of God.
C. The six oracles, much like the seven letters to the churches of Revelation, follow a pattern. (In Revelation: introductory formula, commendation, condemnation, call to repentance, and a call to hear followed by promised blessing to him who overcomes.)
1. First, there is an introductory formula.
2. Second, an indictment.
3. Third, the punishment.
4. Forth, the effect.
5. We will see illustrations of this as we proceed.
II. The judgments on the six nations (chs. 25-28).A. Ammon (25:1-7). Cf. Jer. 49:1-6.
1. The Ammonites were descendants of Abraham’s nephew, Lot and his youngest daughter (Gen. 19:38).
2. They were distant relatives to the Israelites.
3. When Israel migrated to Canaan they were not allowed to harass them nor to provoke them nor to take their land (Deut. 2:19). God had given them their land.
4. Now they will receive judgment from God because they have delighted in the destruction of the temple and the exile (cf. Psa. 70:2-3).
5. “The sons of the east,” i.e. the Babylonians will overpower them.
6. 21st century lesson: Do not rejoice over the downfall of God’s people.
a. Do you rejoice when a Christian leader is marred by some public sin?
b. Do you gossip about other Christian’s failures?
c. Do you speak destructively about the people of God?
d. If the sons of Ammon did not escape the judgment of God when they took pleasure in the downfall of God’s people how shall we escape if we do the same?
e. As the people of God we are to stimulate one another to love and good deeds (Heb. 10:24). We are to “restore one another in a spirit of gentleness” (Gal. 6:1). Such is the very opposite of rejoicing in their downfall.
B. Moab (25:8-11). Cf. Jer. 48; Zeph. 2:8.
1. The Moabites were also descendants of Lot, but through his oldest daughter (Gen. 19:37).
2. When Israel was entering into the promised land they were prohibited from harassing and provoking the Moabites (Deut. 2:9). God had given them their land.
3. Now God will execute judgments on Moab. They had regarded Judah as like all the nations. I take this to mean that their God was like all the other gods, unable to stand before the gods of the Babylonians and that they had no special status as the people of God.
4. Pride, arrogance and taunting characterized both Moab and Ammon (Zeph. 2:8).
5. Moab had trusted in her own achievements and treasures (Jer. 48:7).
6. 21st century lessons:
a. The people of God do have special status. Pride, arrogance, taunting them when they are coming under condemnation will result in one’s own condemnation. Those of 1 Cor. 5 had become arrogant and had not mourned the sin of the so-called brother that had his father’s wife. Do we allow sin among us? Do we taunt those who are overcome?
b. The church at Laodicea said, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing.” The Lord said, “You are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed” (Rev. 3:17-18). Moab and Laodicea boasted in their achievements and treasures, do you?
C. Edom (25:12-14). Cf. Jer. 49:7ff; Obad. 10-14.
1. The Edomites descended from Esau, brother of Jacob. They too were distant relatives of Israel, but closer than the Moabites and Ammonites.
2. Israel was not allowed to take their land (Deut. 2:4-6). They were to buy food and water from them, thus showing them respect.
3. Edom had taken vengeance on Israel. While Moab and Ammon had fought against Israel, Edom seems to have just abandoned their brothers in a critical hour. Psa. 137:7 says they said of Jerusalem, “Raze it, raze it to its very foundation.” Do you abandon your brothers in a critical hour? Rejoicing? Grieving? (Rom. 12:14). Time of temptation and sin? (Gal. 6:1; James 5:13ff).
4. Rom. 12:14ff tells us that we are to bless those who curse us and not to pay back evil with evil, to be at peace with all men and never take our own revenge, but to leave that to the Lord. We are NOT to be overcome with evil, but to overcome evil with good.
D. Philistia (25:15-17). Cf. Jer. 47.
1. The Philistines had been a perpetual enemy of Israel.
2. Their origin is unknown. When Israel came into the land of Canaan the Philistines were already there. They were among the earliest thorns and prickling briers of Israel’s experience and they were extremely resilient to being uprooted.
3. In many ways the prophecy against them is a twin to the prophecy against Edom. They too had taken vengeance on Israel, “to destroy with everlasting enmity.”
4. God will execute His vengeance on them. There is no identification of an agent. Instead, it is a very personal vengeance of God.
E. Tyre (26:1-28:19).
1. Tyre was a kingdom in the north on the seacoast. The main part of the city was an island a half mile off the coast surrounded by walls on the mainland side said to be 20’ thick and 150’ high.
2. She is described here as very very prosperous.
3. Her destruction affects many people in many places. Thus their lamentations contribute to the length of the account here.
4. The agent of her destruction is Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
5. “He will slay your daughters with the sword; and he will make siege walls against you. The blow of his battering rams he will direct against your walls. Because of the multitude of his horses, the dust raised by them will cover you; your walls will shake at the noise of cavalry and wagons and chariots when he enters your gates” (8ff).
6. The king of Tyre had said, “I am a god,” (28:1) but God said His agents would bring him down to the pit.
7. The city would be so utterly destroyed it would become a place for fishermen to spread their nets. It would never be rebuilt (26:13-14). The island city remains today as a bare rock.
F. Sidon (28:20-23).
1. Sidon is to the north of Tyre.
2. The circumstances of Sidon’s fall are unknown.
3. No agent of God is identified, but it is His judgment that will come upon her, pestilence, bloodshed and sword.
III. Additional lessons to be learned.A. God rules over ALL nations.
1. Not just Israel.
2. He grants territories and brings judgment.
3. “He gives to all people, life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation” (Acts 17:25-26).
B. God predicts future events.
1. He prediction of the destruction of these kingdoms.
2. Such predictions give evidence that the Bible comes from God.
C. He holds men and nations accountable.
1. He holds His special people accountable – Israel, you.
2. He holds the nations accountable.
Conclusion:
1. The prickling briers and painful thorns around Israel who scorned them would be destroyed. 2. “God afflicts the comfortable and comforts the afflicted” (2 Thess. 1:6-9). 3. Have you obeyed the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ?
