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"An astonishment to the nations"

Text: Ezekiel 5:15

THE LESSONS TO BE LEARNED

There were painful lessons for Jerusalem to learn. The erstwhile holy city had become a proverbial example of what a city must never do.

“So it shall be a reproach, a taunt, a lesson,
and an astonishment to the nations that are all around you,
when I execute judgments among you
in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes.
I, the LORD, have spoken.”
Ezekiel 5:15

1. What Jerusalem would become:

a) A reproach

i) The fall of Jerusalem reflected a reproach from the LORD.

ii) Jerusalem had felt that it was above reproach.

iii) This was deeply erroneous thinking.

b) A taunt

i) All the enemies would rise up to taunt Jerusalem.

ii) The city was once successful and proud.

iii) The fall of the city prompted bitter taunts.

c) A lesson

i) The bitter lesson was one of chastisement.

ii) A holy city had become a cesspool of wickedness.

iii) This was a painful and bitter lesson never to be forgotten.

d) An astonishment

i) The mighty Assyrians had failed to capture Jerusalem.

ii) Many had tried and failed, for God had protected the city.

iii) It was astonishing that God would forsake Jerusalem and allow it to fall.

2. Divine judgments executed.

a) It was God who had brought His judgments upon Jerusalem.

b) No one can thwart what God had determined.

c) The LORD had spoken against Jerusalem.

d) That word would not return to Him void.

e) In anger and fury God caused Jerusalem to fall.