Daily Devotions
Ezekiel
"This burden concerns the prince in Jerusalem"
Text: Ezekiel 12:10
WHO IS THE PRINCE IN JERUSALEM
The Lord’s word to Ezekiel may be a little puzzling here. There was reference to “the prince in Jerusalem.” Who was this individual?
“Say to them,
‘Thus says the Lord GOD:
‘This burden concerns the prince in Jerusalem
and all the house of Israel who are among them.”
Say, ‘I am a sign to you.
As I have done, so shall it be done to them;
they shall be carried away into captivity.'”
Ezekiel 12:10-11
1. Ezekiel’s enactment of an attempt to escape.
a) Taking his belongings.
b) Leaving his home at twilight.
c) Digging a hole in the city wall.
d) This was a special portrayal that was described as “a sign”.
2. This was “a burden”.
a) A message.
b) A sad and heavy message concerning a personage in Jerusalem.
c) He was called “a prince in Jerusalem”.
3. Zedekiah
a) He is called “king Zedekiah”.
b) But he was more of a regent.
c) The one who had a right to be called “king” was Jehoiachin (also called Coniah) who was the son of Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 37:1).
d) Jehoiachin was exiled to Babylon.
e) Zedekiah took his place.
f) The Lord refers to him in his actual capacity as only a prince.
g) But he ruled as if he was the rightful king.
h) He was a weak and wicked king.
4. He was the one who tried to escape with all his supporters.
a) Ezekiel was that special sign to Israel.
b) God’s word would be fulfilled as He had declared it.
5. Did Zedekiah succeed?
a) No!
b) He and all his supporters were arrested by the Babylonians.
c) They were all exiled to Babylon.
d) They became prisoners (2 Kings 25:1-7).