In my daily Bible reading, I've now worked through 33 chapters of Ezekiel. After reading Lamentations, I was told that these oracles of the LORD would offer a more hopeful message... and I think I agree it does, but not at all as I originally expected it would.
The book opens with spectacular visions (four creatures with four faces as the chariot wheels of a heavenly throne) and peculiar signs (re-enacting Jerusalem's imminent downfall on a Lego-scale of bricks and dirt). God gives Ezekiel a commission, but also fair warning-- these people are a rebellious house who will mock and glower and refuse to listen, but speak boldly! The son of man is then given a scroll of mourning, lamentation, and woe to ingest - which somehow tastes as sweet as honey in the mouth - and sent out as Israel's watchmen to utter the LORD's impending judgment.
Mourning and lamentation and woe, indeed. These summarize the meat of the prophetic book, in which God rages against Israel in a way directly compared with a betrayed husband.
The children of Abraham now have whoring hearts, trusting in the possession of their land and the security of foreign armies. They lean on might and self-righteousness, so that they may pursue idols and every injustice. They listen to Ezekiel as someone who shares quaint proverbs and nice sounding words... not actually listening or doing what they are told.
God says He will spend all His fury-- bringing a sword against those in the cities, wild beasts against the survivors in the wilderness, and plague against any who hide in caves or strongholds. When their nation is humiliated in the sight of all other nations, and the remnant is completely exiled from their promised land... then they will know that the God of Israel is the LORD.
How does the book, then, offer a hopeful message?
In some small portions there is hope - saying that God will leave a remnant, and He will give them a new heart to truly be His obedient chosen people, and His longing is for wicked people to turn back to Him - but these glimmers do not account for the book in its entirety.
Instead, I've learned to search for hope even within the most dark and wrathful chapters. Our God is not satisfied with our selfish hypocrisy, and will discipline us with any affliction necessary so that we will wholly belong to Him. Our God is in control over the greatest empires, using their destruction at times but impartially judging how they treat His beloved people. Our God can be encountered in places of shame and suffering.
Although I've written far less analytical entries in my journey through Ezekiel, it did encourage me to compose personal reflections, a devotional poem, and this overview blog post. It made me love God more for His jealousy and wrath. I've hated sin more and adopted a more bold attitude in the face of opposition. I've contemplated how my own nation fits the same motifs of self-reliance and rebellion, while also resting in the comfort that God's people (even in the U.S.) are today given regenerate hearts and made new creations.
I think most of all, the LORD's communication through Ezekiel renews my courage as I move forward from my own bittersweet humiliation, and awakens a passion to make Jesus known among distant, desolate lands and defeated banners.
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