Sermon Tone Analysis

Sign Acts

Today we start in chapters 4 and 5 … last week we ended with 3:16 to end of chapter as the first sign acts.

That is the term for the crazy things he does.

These reenactments, visualizations, dramatic performances … he does something to communicate to the captives or something happening in Jerusalem…typically its not going to be good news; and related to trouble to Jerusalem; so right after which is shutting himself in the house by obedience he is being put under house arrest and being stuck dumb.. this set the stage for things that are going --- it created the impression that from this point on that when ever he is out of the house, and can speak God is compelling it.

God is producing it, God is behind it.

So pay attention to it.

Most common view it that the sign acts as dramatizations … a long standing prophetic practice ..

There are nine things directed toward Jerusalem and the people of Judah still in the homeland….

Siege of the brick (4: 1-2); make a griddle, a barrier between Seke and the brick (4:3); commanded to lie on his left side and right side 4: 4-6; Face the brick with a city drawn on it and bear his arm, 4:7

Fifth – problems, tying the arm in place and on his right side for 390 days or do this for 390 each day… not clear

Sixth .. eating rationed food and water, rations of exiles, 4: 9-11

Seventh …eating cakes baked over excrement, 4: 12-15

Eighth .. shave his hair and dispose in various ways

Ninth – a remnant of the hair will be saved .. 5: 3-4

P:oint to phases of events

Past history of rebellion

And the seige of Jerusalem follows in Eze 4: 1-3

and Ezekiel 4: 7-11

Jerusalem is destroyed in the last stage of exile

The elements are not in a coherent and logical order there are problems .. bare arm and lie on it?

Perform actions when tied up (v8)

Salvage hair when he has burned it up

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If happens when he does these things how do people know, what is the message?

It is not in order, this is the form written down..we do not have a timeline so….

Don’t get distracted by the timeline

Some detail

Draw city on a brick and lay siege to it?

Huge carts, push up to wall and swing ram to know it down … seigework, ramp, battering ram… all of it

A ramp of dirt… 1000 men, 23 days to complete, move 25,000 tons of dirt

what?

Ezekiel sets his face against the city, your defenses will not work, even the idea that you will defend it incidental… you are going to lose, come back and destroy

punishment is iniquity also… (word)

Left side for Israel, right for Judah we have no solid concept of why 390… nothing at this point, verse 7 may help, 390 years of punishment and the connection of the 390 is the issue… some argue entire nation, 390 back to when the temple was built but then you have the 40 … no clue ultimately

God fixes his position,,, face against is hostile… bear arm is hostile, ready to take action..

Exile circumstance … the captor don’t care about your values, things have changed …

13-17

Even his discussion with God is to show desperation, abnormal conditions brought on by their sin, captive and driven away, this is desperation

the prophet is teaching clearly that your blessings are a gift from God with responsibilities … it you do not fulfill them, well punishment for inquity follows, where are we in the US....