Daily Devotions
Ezekiel
"Portray on it a city, Jerusalem"
Text: Ezekiel 4:1
PORTRAYAL OF A SIEGE
The ancient prophets of God were well-instructed. The LORD Himself would give them suggestions of how to preach a message to the rebellious house of Israel. They were not people who would be humble and hear what a prophet of God would say. If they had listened, they would not have gone into Captivity!
“You also, son of man, take a clay tablet and lay it before you,
and portray on it a city, Jerusalem.
Lay siege against it, build a siege wall against it, and heap up a mound against it;
set camps against it also, and place battering rams against it all around.
Moreover take for yourself an iron plate,
and set it as an iron wall between you and the city.
Set your face against it, and it shall be besieged,
and you shall lay siege against it.
This will be a sign to the house of Israel.”
Ezekiel 4:1-3
1. “A clay tablet”
a) Such clay tablets have been found in excavations.
b) Using a clay tablet was not an uncommon usage.
2. Things to put on the clay tablet.
a) The city of Jerusalem would be portrayed.
b) It must be clearly done so that all who see it would know that it is a reference to Jerusalem.
3. The siege of Jerusalem.
a) The captives in Babylon must be informed that Jerusalem would be besieged.
b) It had not yet fallen to Nebuchadnezzar just yet.
c) Hopefully, there would be some nationalistic spirit in the hearts of the captives
and they would be concerned about Jerusalem.
d) A siege would be built up against Jerusalem.
e) Features of the siege:
i) A mound.
ii) Camps of the enemies.
iii) Battering rams.
iv) All of these would surround Jerusalem.
4. “An iron plate”
a) This will be between the prophet and the city of Jerusalem.
b) Ezekiel’s face:
i) It will be against the city.
ii) It is as if Ezekiel had also laid siege against the city.
5. A sign to the house of Israel.
a) That the Babylonians are determined to conquer Jerusalem.
b) That God was against the city that had become unholy and unruly.
c) Ezekiel represents the LORD.
i) There will be no divine deliverance.
ii) Ezekiel is not to pray on behalf of Jerusalem.
iii) The fall of Jerusalem would be a terrible sign to the house of Israel.
iv) Their sins of stubbornness, impudence and rebellion would be judged severely.