Ezekiel 21

We're working our way through Ezekiel.

Right now, we're to a point of starting into some new conversations.

We're going to be dealing with Nimrod, or Nebuchadnezzar, and we're going to be talking about the experiences that are now coming upon him.

Try again.

Unleash sword, judgment, purification, and then the fall of Jerusalem.

So as we begin this new series, because that's what it is as far as Ezekiel was concerned, this new series is going to be talking about some really harsh prophecies concerning the immediate or imminent calamity of Jerusalem and the destruction of the first temple.

Now, we're also going to be talking about the second temple.

So that also will show up in our story.

While closer to hand for most readers, the Old Testament tells how the king of Babylon consulted with images.

Ezekiel 21, 21.

Aztecs told that their history began when a statue from an ancient ruined temple spoke to their leaders.

And this brings up strangeness about ancient civilizations finding even more ancient stuff, which is always fascinating.

Look at this verse here on the screen.

The Bible says in Ezekiel 21, the king of Babylon now stands at a crossroad, uncertain of whether or not to attack.

He was gonna attack Jerusalem, he didn't know.

So his advisors will cast lots by shaking arrows from the quiver.

Hmm.

Are we together? Ezekiel 21:30, "I sought for a man." I sought for a man.

Ezekiel 21:30, "I sought for a man who will stand in the gap." Are we together? And Ezekiel chapter 22.

Ezekiel 22 and verse 30.

"I sought for a man," thank you, "who should make up the hedge and stand in the gap before me for the land that I should not destroy it, but I found none." Tonight God has men.

Number two, to restrain the power of darkness over individuals, over families.

Ezekiel 21:30- I sought for a man to stand in the gap and to make up the hedge for the land so that I will not destroy it, but I found none.

22:30 Ezekiel.

Hear me.

Hello and welcome to Thought for September 25th.

Our readings are 1 Chronicles 8, Ezekiel 21 and Luke 18.

Our thought is, All flesh shall know.

Our Ezekiel chapter today, Net chapter 21, starts with Ezekiel being told to prophesy against the land of Israel and that the Lord will cut off from you both righteous and wicked, and all flesh shall know that I am the Lord.

In effect, God is now saying, I mean what I say.

The fascinating part of the chapter is the long-term prophecy Ezekiel then receives from the Lord.

O profane, wicked prince of Israel, thus says the Lord, take off the crown.

Things shall not remain.

Yes.

You know, too, so that's the endpoint of that scepter, but in between there are other references, I think, and one of them that I found very interesting is Ezekiel 21-

Okay

... verse 27, 'cause it's not until I traced through that I saw Ezekiel, uh, so clearly bringing that matter of the scepter.

Look at this verse here on the screen.

The Bible says in Ezekiel 21, the king of Babylon now stands at a crossroad, uncertain of whether or not to attack.

He was going to attack Jerusalem.

He didn't know.