A Sword Against Jerusalem

Ezekiel 5:1–17
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The Lord also told Ezekiel to shave all of the hair off his head and face and to divide the hair into three equal parts to symbolize what was going to happen to the people in Jerusalem (vv. 1-10). He was to burn one third, cut up another third with a sword, and throw the remaining third into the wind. These actions were to symbolize the coming destruction and exile of Jerusalem’s residents. At the same time Ezekiel was to preserve a few strands of hair in the folds of his garment, symbolizing the remnant that would survive the judgment. However, to creatively show the severity and extent of God’s judgment, he was to throw some of these strands into the fire.

It was a serious sin to defile the temple, God’s sanctuary, by worshiping idols and practicing evil within its very walls (vv. 11-17). In the New Testament we learn that God now makes his home within those who belong to Him. Our bodies are God’s temple (I Cor. 6:19). We defile God’s temple today by allowing gossiping, bitterness, love of money, lying or any other wrong actions or attitudes to be a part of our lives. By asking the Holy Spirit’s help we can keep from defiling His temple, our bodies.

Jerusalem’s sin would be the cause of its downfall. Despite their privileged status, God’s people rebelled against the Lord’s commandments and polluted the temple with idols. God’s judgment would be so severe that the starved people would resort to eating their own family members. Two-thirds of the city’s population would perish by famine and the sword, while the other third would go into exile. The surrounding nations would hold Jerusalem up as an object of ridicule.

Application

Just as God gave Ezekiel creative ways to communicate his message to the exiles, I can find ways to creatively communicate the Good News about God’s saving grace to my generation.