Ezekiel 5:5-17: The Dramatization Explained

Introduction

Succinct Summation

Outline

Ezekiel 1-24 - Oracles against God’s People

Ezekiel 1:1-3 - Ezekiel the Priest

Ezekiel 1:4-28 - The Glory of the Lord

Ezekiel 2:1-3:15 - Ezekiel Commissioned

Ezekiel 3:16-27 - Ezekiel the Watchman

Ezekiel 4:1-5:4 - The Dramatization of Jerusalem’s Siege

Ezekiel 5:5-17 - The Dramatization Explained

Ezekiel 5:5-6 - The Accusation

Ezekiel 5:7-12 - Yahweh Against Jerusalem

Ezekiel 5:13-17 - Yahweh’s Anger Spent

Purpose of Book

The purpose of Ezekiel is Yahweh rebukes His people for their sinfulness and He promises to restore His glory so all nations will know He is the one true Lord. In short, the purpose of Ezekiel is the glory of God.

Main Point

Ezekiel reveals the meaning of the dramatization: Yahweh is against Jerusalem and will spend His anger against the city because of their unholiness

Ezekiel 5:5-6 - The Accusation

5 “Thus says the Lord God: This is Jerusalem.

5 “Thus says the Lord God:

Ezekiel reveals the dramatization and begins a formal oracle of prophetic judgment on behalf of the Lord

This is Jerusalem.

Jerusalem has been summoned to trial and introduced as the offender

If there is confusion over which city is on the brick, that confusion is gone now

Yet this goes beyond the city: It includes the leaders and citizens of the city

I have set her in the center of the nations, with countries all around her.

I have set her in the center of the nations

Per the Davidic Covenant, God made Jerusalem the home of His temple - this is the place He chose to specifically dwell

Jerusalem is the divinely ordained city where the redemptive purpose of God was supposed to flow from - Jerusalem is not just another city to God

Psalm 132:13–14 ESV

13 For the Lord has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place: 14 “This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it.

With countries all around her.

The nations surrounded Jerusalem and what where they supposed to see? Holiness!

Exodus 19:6 ESV

6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

The nations did not see the holiness of God in Israel - remember their judgment was because of the 390 year disobedience starting when Solomon completed the temple

6 And she has rebelled against my rules by doing wickedness more than the nations, and against my statutes more than the countries all around her; for they have rejected my rules and have not walked in my statutes.

6 And she has rebelled against my rules

Jerusalem has failed to live up to the high standards of God

Instead of being a city that radiated God’s holiness and His glory, Jerusalem was known for rebellion, wickedness, and rejecting God

The laws that the Israelites were to hold to were not manmade rules, but the very covenant of God

Deuteronomy 4:7–8 ESV

7 For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? 8 And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today?

By doing wickedness more than the nations, and against my statutes more than the countries all around her

No other nation had this wonderful gift and instead of treasuring the Sinai Covenant as a beautiful gift of grace, the house of Israel became wicked

Not like the wickedness of the other nations, BUT MORE THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY

For they have rejected my rules and have not walked in my statutes.

Leviticus 26:43 ESV

43 But the land shall be abandoned by them and enjoy its Sabbaths while it lies desolate without them, and they shall make amends for their iniquity, because they spurned my rules and their soul abhorred my statutes.

The connection to Leviticus is clear in the language - a trial is at hand, Jerusalem is guilty, and they will be sent to exile

Why have they become more wicked? They’ve rejected the very law of God that was intended for their good

Furthermore, the law was meant to help Israel be a LIGHT to the nations - thus the judgment given to them will be entirely just

Christ Connection - Like Yahweh, Christ Expects His People to Live in Holiness

We are divinely chosen like Jerusalem was chosen

Ephesians 1:3–6 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

Like Jerusalem we are called a life of holiness

1 Peter 1:13–16 ESV

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Hebrews 12:5–6 ESV

5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”

1 Corinthians 11:27–30 ESV

27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.

Ezekiel 5:7-12 - Yahweh Against Jerusalem

7 Therefore thus says the Lord God: Because you are more turbulent than the nations that are all around you, and have not walked in my statutes or obeyed my rules, and have not even acted according to the rules of the nations that are all around you, 8 therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, even I, am against you.

7 Therefore thus says the Lord God: Because you are more turbulent than the nations that are all around you, and have not walked in my statutes or obeyed my rules, and have not even acted according to the rules of the nations that are all around you

The house of Israel has violated the covenant with Yahweh for a very long time

Once again, the charges are read against Jerusalem

Israel has become more wild than the nations around her

8 Therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, even I, am against you.

Thus God being against Israel is not unfair or unjust - He will preserve His holy name among the nations

The challenger of Israel has stepped forward and it is none other than God Himself

He has postured Himself against His people and He is intent on destroying them - there is intensity behind this

And I will execute judgments in your midst in the sight of the nations.

Leviticus 26:14–20 ESV

14 “But if you will not listen to me and will not do all these commandments, 15 if you spurn my statutes, and if your soul abhors my rules, so that you will not do all my commandments, but break my covenant, 16 then I will do this to you: I will visit you with panic, with wasting disease and fever that consume the eyes and make the heart ache. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. 17 I will set my face against you, and you shall be struck down before your enemies. Those who hate you shall rule over you, and you shall flee when none pursues you. 18 And if in spite of this you will not listen to me, then I will discipline you again sevenfold for your sins, 19 and I will break the pride of your power, and I will make your heavens like iron and your earth like bronze. 20 And your strength shall be spent in vain, for your land shall not yield its increase, and the trees of the land shall not yield their fruit.

And I will execute judgments in your midst

The punishments exacted upon Israel perfectly fit their crimes against Yahweh

In the sight of the nations.

Yahweh’s challenge, duel, and destruction of Jerusalem will not be a private manner - it will be evident for all to see

9 And because of all your abominations I will do with you what I have never yet done, and the like of which I will never do again.

9 And because of all your abominations I will do with you what I have never yet done

Abominations here speak to Israel giving herself over to idolatrous worship and has become disgusting and repulsive to Yahweh

The response of Yahweh’s wrath upon the rebellious house is unprecedented - this type of hostility has never occurred previously

And the like of which I will never do again.

10 Therefore fathers shall eat their sons in your midst, and sons shall eat their fathers.

Leviticus 26:29 ESV

29 You shall eat the flesh of your sons, and you shall eat the flesh of your daughters.

10 Therefore fathers shall eat their sons in your midst

And sons shall eat their fathers.

And I will execute judgments on you, and any of you who survive I will scatter to all the winds.

And I will execute judgments on you

The city of Jerusalem will face the judgments of God

And any of you who survive I will scatter to all the winds.

Those who survive the siege will still face the judgment of Yahweh as they are sent into exile

11 Therefore, as I live, declares the Lord God, surely, because you have defiled my sanctuary with all your detestable things and with all your abominations, therefore I will withdraw.

11 Therefore, as I live, declares the Lord God, surely

Yahweh has declared and thus it will occur - the faithfulness of judgments rest upon the very character of Yahweh Himself

Because you have defiled my sanctuary with all your detestable things and with all your abominations

The house of Israel has desecrated that which is holy - the temple

Ezekiel 8 and Ezekiel 11 give details on how they defiled the temple

Therefore I will withdraw.

I will do the shaving

Yahweh Himself will enact the judgment and punishments

My eye will not spare, and I will have no pity.

My eye will not spare

Yahweh is resolved to bring destruction upon the city of Jerusalem

And I will have no pity.

The judgment has been cast - there is no going back as Yahweh has made His decree

Though God will not spare and have no pity, the wording here shows God’s motivation towards Israel is not based off law, but LOVE - His manner to spare and pity them is put aside due to the level of covenantal breach

12 A third part of you shall die of pestilence and be consumed with famine in your midst; a third part shall fall by the sword all around you; and a third part I will scatter to all the winds and will unsheathe the sword after them.

12 A third part of you shall die of pestilence and be consumed with famine in your midst

The result of the siege will be plagues and famine

A third part shall fall by the sword all around you

And a third part I will scatter to all the winds and will unsheathe the sword after them.

An allusion to the deportation of Jerusalem

The city and the citizens are totally decimated - there is no hope found here

Christ Connection - Christ will Judge the Heart with Righteousness

Matthew 12:33–37 ESV

33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Justified here means to be shown as righteous, not as in a Pauline sense of being declared righteous by God

The words of their mouth reveal the heart which is justified by God

Isaiah 11:3–5 ESV

3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, 4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. 5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.

Ezekiel 5:13-17 - Yahweh’s Anger Spent

13 “Thus shall my anger spend itself, and I will vent my fury upon them and satisfy myself.

13 “Thus shall my anger spend itself

The purposeful anger of Yahweh will be executed

And I will vent my fury upon them

Yahweh’s wrath will give it’s full expression to Jerusalem

And satisfy myself.

God will deal fully with the sinful city/people

And they shall know that I am the Lord—that I have spoken in my jealousy—when I spend my fury upon them.

And they shall know that I am the Lord—

The judgment and destruction of Jerusalem serve a great purpose - the nations will know that Yahweh is the true Lord and He deeply desires holiness

That I have spoken in my jealousy—

Spoken in divine passion for His covenant relationship with Israel

This just might be the crux of the entire book - Yahweh is passionate for His people to worship Him and live into His holiness

The Sinai covenant was not made lightly and He will not sit back and watch it be threatened as a loving husband

When I spend my fury upon them.

14 Moreover, I will make you a desolation and an object of reproach among the nations all around you and in the sight of all who pass by.

14 Moreover, I will make you a desolation and an object of reproach

Once, Jerusalem was the chosen city of God with high honor

Now the city is ruined

Among the nations all around you and in the sight of all who pass by.

Just as Ezekiel is humiliated by the dramatization, Jerusalem’s shame will not be a private matter, but one that is entirely public

15 You shall be a reproach and a taunt, a warning and a horror, to the nations all around you, when I execute judgments on you in anger and fury, and with furious rebukes—I am the Lord; I have spoken— 16 when I send against you the deadly arrows of famine, arrows for destruction, which I will send to destroy you, and when I bring more and more famine upon you and break your supply of bread.

15 You shall be a reproach and a taunt, a warning and a horror, to the nations all around you, when I execute judgments on you in anger and fury, and with furious rebukes—

Reproach - objects of slander

Taunt - to be reviled

Warning - Jerusalem will be an object lesson of the fate of those who despise the Lord

Horror - Appalling

The physical destruction of Jerusalem will be great for the house of Israel, but it will serve as a lesson for all the nations

The city will go from receiving covenantal blessings from God to being destroyed by Him through His judgments and rebukes

I am the Lord; I have spoken—

16 When I send against you the deadly arrows of famine, arrows for destruction, which I will send to destroy you, and when I bring more and more famine upon you and break your supply of bread.

Deuteronomy 32:23–25 ESV

23 “ ‘And I will heap disasters upon them; I will spend my arrows on them; 24 they shall be wasted with hunger, and devoured by plague and poisonous pestilence; I will send the teeth of beasts against them, with the venom of things that crawl in the dust. 25 Outdoors the sword shall bereave, and indoors terror, for young man and woman alike, the nursing child with the man of gray hairs.

Song of Moses where God will passionately burn against His people to the depths of death, but He will not entirely consume Israel

The deadly arrows sent against Jerusalem are from Yahweh

The famine will become greater all with the intention of destroying the city

17 I will send famine and wild beasts against you, and they will rob you of your children.

17 I will send famine and wild beasts against you

Make no mistake - the destruction of Jerusalem and her citizens is from Yahweh and Him alone

And they will rob you of your children.

Pestilence and blood shall pass through you, and I will bring the sword upon you. I am the Lord; I have spoken.”

Pestilence and blood shall pass through you, and I will bring the sword upon you.

The imagery reveals Yahweh as the divine warrior who sweeps through the city of Jerusalem and kills her citizens with His sword

Yet this is not total, He WILL save a remnant

I am the Lord; I have spoken.”

Christ Connection - Christ will One Day Spend His Anger

Isaiah 63:1–6 ESV

Who is this who comes from Edom, in crimsoned garments from Bozrah, he who is splendid in his apparel, marching in the greatness of his strength? “It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save.” Why is your apparel red, and your garments like his who treads in the winepress? “I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with me; I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath; their lifeblood spattered on my garments, and stained all my apparel. For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and my year of redemption had come. I looked, but there was no one to help; I was appalled, but there was no one to uphold; so my own arm brought me salvation, and my wrath upheld me. I trampled down the peoples in my anger; I made them drunk in my wrath, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth.”

Revelation 19:11–16 ESV

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

How Should we Live in Light of Ezekiel 5:5-17?

Like Jerusalem, you are a chosen people expected to live a holy life free of idolatry

1 Peter 2:4–5 ESV

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

God, in His wonderful grace, loves you too much to let you stay in your sins

Romans 8:12–14 ESV

12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

After Christ spends His anger, God will once again dwell with His people in Jerusalem

Revelation 21:1–5 ESV

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Main Point

Ezekiel reveals the meaning of the dramatization: Yahweh is against Jerusalem and will spend His anger against the city because of their unholiness