19Say to the people of the land: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says about those living in Jerusalem and in the land of Israel: They will eat their food in anxiety and drink their water in despair, for their land will be stripped of everything in it because of the violence of all who live there.
20The inhabited towns will be laid waste and the land will be desolate. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’"
- P36
21The word of the Lord came to me:
22"Son of man, what is this proverb you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days go by and every vision comes to nothing’?
23Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am going to put an end to this proverb, and they will no longer quote it in Israel.’ Say to them, ‘The days are near when every vision will be fulfilled.
- P37
25But I the Lord will speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled without delay. For in your days, you rebellious people, I will fulfill whatever I say, declares the Sovereign Lord.’" - P37
28"Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign Lord.’" - P37
The Lord instructs Ezekiel to eat and drink with fear to depict the anxietyand desolation coming to Jerusalem soon. The Lord rebukes a false proverbby declaring that every vision will soon be fulfilled. - P37
The Israelites think thatEzekiel‘s vision is for the distant future, but God warns them that His wordswill not be delayed any longer. - P37
God tells Ezekiel to tremble and shudder as he eats and drinks to represent prophetically what the Israelites will experience. All of the people will eat their food and drink their water with anxiety and despair because violence is coming, and the land will be stripped of everything in it. - P38
With this judgment, the Israelites will finally recognize that God is truly Lord over all. Sometimes we may forget that God is the Lord of all creation. - P38
Many of us are blessed with enough to eat and drink, and we experience the grace of salvation because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. May we never take any of this for granted but have an even greater appreciation of it all, offering praise to our all-knowing and all-powerful God, who loves us and provides for us. - P68
Heavenly Father, I praise You, for You are Lord over all of creation. I am grateful for Your provision and the grace of salvation. May I never take these for granted but remain humble and thankful to You. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen. - P39
Some in Israel claim to have visions or practice divinations but these arenot from God. Instead of declaring the truth, they spout flattery and false-hood. With the fulfillment of the prophetic declaration from Ezekiel, therebellious people will realize the sovereignty of God. - P38
Some assume that itwill be a long time before the prophecy will be fulfilled, but the Lord speaksthrough Ezekiel, declaring that His judgment will no longer be delayed.
The people will soon experience the vision that Ezekiel proclaimed, andthey will be exiled from the land. This passage encourages us to exercisediscernment. If the message we hear carries flattery and arrogance ratherthan words that align with Scripture, then such a message does not reflectGod‘s truth. - P38
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