Ezekiel 27:35-36

November 15, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“All the inhabitants of the coastlands are appalled at you, and the hair of their kings bristles with horror; their faces are convulsed. The merchants among the peoples hiss at you; you have come to a dreadful end and shall be no more forever.” (Ezekiel 27:35-36)

The prophecies against Tyre continue in chapter 27. In this prophecy, the Lord describes the glory of Tyre:

“Your borders are in the heart of the seas; your builders made perfect your beauty.” (27‬:‭4‬)

“Persia and Lud and Put were in your army as your men of war. They hung the shield and helmet in you; they gave you splendor.” (27‬:‭10‬)

“Tarshish did business with you because of your great wealth of every kind; silver, iron, tin, and lead they exchanged for your wares.” (27‬:‭12‬)

“In your market, these traded with you in choice garments, in clothes of blue and embroidered work, and in carpets of colored material, bound with cords and made secure. The ships of Tarshish traveled for you with your merchandise. So you were filled and heavily laden in the heart of the seas.” (27‬:‭24‬-‭25‬)

Tyre was a mover and shaker in the ancient world. Wealth and power … but remember the issue raised in chapter 26: “Son of man, because Tyre said concerning Jerusalem, ‘Aha, the gate of the peoples is broken; it has swung open to me. I shall be replenished, now that she is laid waste,’ therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and will bring up many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves.’” (26‬:‭2‬-‭3‬)

Rejoicing over Israel’s fall brought the wrath of the Lord on them at the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.

Now, back to chapter 27. The Lord describes the fall of Tyre:

“Your rowers have brought you out into the high seas. The east wind has wrecked you in the heart of the seas. Your riches, your wares, your merchandise, your mariners and your pilots, your caulkers, your dealers in merchandise, and all your men of war who are in you, with all your crew that is in your midst, sink into the heart of the seas on the day of your fall.” (27‬:‭26‬-‭27‬)

All the things that were evidence of Tyre’s glory were lost. The gold had rusted. The silver had tarnished. The muscle had turned to fat. The tables had turned, and the glory was gone.

“All the inhabitants of the coastlands are appalled at you, and the hair of their kings bristles with horror; their faces are convulsed. The merchants among the peoples hiss at you; you have come to a dreadful end and shall be no more forever.’” (27‬:‭35‬-‭36‬)

Please, Lord, help me to love what you love. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Ezekiel, humility, Old Testament, pride, Tyre

Ezekiel 26:1-3

November 14, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“In the eleventh year, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me: ‘Son of man, because Tyre said concerning Jerusalem, Aha, the gate of the peoples is broken; it has swung open to me. I shall be replenished, now that she is laid waste,’ therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and will bring up many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves.’” (Ezekiel 26:1-3)

This continues the theme of “be careful how you treat Israel” (Gen 12:3). Note that Tyre will be judged because of what they said about Israel, which reflected their heart toward Israel, and can be summed up as “We will be enriched by Israel’s downfall.” Look at verse 7: “For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will bring against Tyre from the north Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses and chariots, and with horsemen and a host of many soldiers.”

I asked ChatGPT if verse 7 was fulfilled in history. Here’s the answer:

Was Ezekiel 26:7 fulfilled?

Yes.

When?

During Nebuchadnezzar’s 13-year siege of Tyre (585–572 BC).

Judah fell in 586 BC. So, apparently,  Nebuchadnezzar simply turned northwest and headed to Tyre after submitting Jerusalem. There is some irony in that God used Nebuchadnezzar to punish Tyre after Tyre rejoiced at what Nebuchadnezzar was doing to Judah.

“I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3)

Father, please help me to love what and who you love. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Ezekiel, Genesis, Israel, Jerusalem, Old Testament, Tyre

Ezekiel 25:12-13

November 13, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“Thus says the Lord God: Because Edom acted revengefully against the house of Judah and has grievously offended in taking vengeance on them, therefore thus says the Lord God, I will stretch out my hand against Edom and cut off from it man and beast. And I will make it desolate; from Teman even to Dedan they shall fall by the sword.” (Ezekiel 25:12-13)

In this selection, the Lord explains that He will pour out His wrath on Edom because of the way they treated Israel. The Lord does the same toward Ammon, Moab, Seir, and Philistia in this chapter. The point is that God judged the nations on how they treated Israel. That should not surprise us because God said he would bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse Israel (Gen 12:3).

Notice that the modern world knows nothing about these nations. It doesn’t mean there are no people alive today who are descended from these nations. It means that no one likely knows they are descended from them, and certainly none of those people (assuming they exist) are trying to revive those nations as modern countries. Only one nation mentioned in this chapter is a nation today. Israel.

The political conservatives in the USA are currently divided over the topic of Israel. I want to be careful who I lock arms with because I don’t want to be in the bunch against whom God raises his hand. I don’t want to be the modern equivalent of Ammon, Moab, Seir, Edom, and Philistia.

Father, help me to believe your word as simply as it is given. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Edom, Ezekiel, Israel, Old Testament

Ezekiel 24:16-18

November 12, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“Son of man, behold, I am about to take the delight of your eyes away from you at a stroke; yet you shall not mourn or weep, nor shall your tears run down. Sigh, but not aloud; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban, and put your shoes on your feet; do not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.” So I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died. And on the next morning I did as I was commanded.”

Wow! The Lord asked Ezekiel to do some hard things. I can’t imagine being commanded not to weep and mourn the death of my wife. No tears on my cheeks?

“And on the next morning, I did as I was commanded.” (18)

I’m thankful 1) for Ezekiel’s model of obedience, and 2) that God has not called me to do that.

What we need to remember is that God equips us to do what He calls us to do. And, we are not alone. He goes with us. I’m afraid that fear or “I don’t want to” keeps us from doing amazing things God desires from us. Sometimes we don’t even try. I never ate pumpkin pie until I was late in high school because I “didn’t like it.” However, I had never tried it. Then, when I eventually tried it, I liked it. In fact, pumpkin pie is one of my favorite pies now. I missed a lot of pleasure because I was not willing to try.

If we transfer this mindset into spiritual matters, imagine what we miss out on. And imagine what others miss out on if we play it safe or seek comfort over obedience.

Father, help me to have a spirit of complete obedience. Help me to have a daring spirit, knowing that you are with me. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Ezekiel, obedience, Old Testament

Ezekiel 23:1-4

November 11, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother. They played the whore in Egypt; they played the whore in their youth; there their breasts were pressed and their virgin bosoms handled. Oholah was the name of the elder and Oholibah the name of her sister. They became mine, and they bore sons and daughters. As for their names, Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem.” (Ezekiel 23:1-4)

Here, the Lord uses literary imagery to explain to Ezekiel how far his children had strayed from him. The Lord used very graphic and earthy language to make his point in literary form. Ultimately, he says very plainly what Samaria and Judah were guilty of: “For they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands. With their idols they have committed adultery, and they have even offered up to them for food the children whom they had borne to me. Moreover, this they have done to me: they have defiled my sanctuary on the same day and profaned my Sabbaths. For when they had slaughtered their children in sacrifice to their idols, on the same day they came into my sanctuary to profane it. And behold, this is what they did in my house.” (23‬:‭37‬-‭39‬)

At times, it feels like we are turning over the same ground again and again. I get it already! But do I? Why would God tell us the same story in different ways from different angles? 1) Because we may have different learning preferences/styles. 2) Because I don’t actually get it? Get what? How horrible rebellion against God really is. I say I do. But am I in complete unity with God on the matter of how sinful sin is?

Father, please help me to see how horrible sin is. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Ezekiel, obedience, Old Testament, rebellion, Word Pictures
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