Two Signs & A Proverb

We must remember that as Ezekiel is receiving these prophecies, Jerusalem hasn’t fallen yet. Jeremiah is still there- probably being threatened or beaten or imprisoned at this point. Zedekiah is king- the one who cut up and burned the scroll with Jeremiah’s prophecies.

Two groups of exiles have been removed from the land, but Judah is still a functioning kingdom. The popular narrative is, “The worst is over.” King Zedekiah is getting along with Babylon. All of that end-of-world stuff prophesied by Isaiah, Jeremiah, and the other prophets- it hasn’t happened.

“Time passes, and prophecies come to nothing.” Ezekiel‬ ‭12‬:‭22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

That’s how the saying goes.

One thing that I’ve noticed HUGELY in this Bible read-thru that I hadn’t noticed before is how strong the parallels are between the OT “Day of the Lord” (destruction of Jerusalem & captivity), and the NT “Day of the Lord” (the day of global judgment).

Look at what the Apostle Peter wrote to the Church. It’s the same song, second verse, that Ezekiel gave.

“I want you to remember what the holy prophets said long ago and what our Lord and Savior commanded through your apostles. Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.””
‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Time passes, and prophecies come to nothing.” Ezekiel‬ ‭12‬:‭22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It’s the same sentiment.

And what happened to Israel should be a warning for us. Or, as Paul put it:

“These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

So, before it happens, Zedekiah is told what will happen to him. But like the scroll that he cut up and burned, he pays no heed to this word of the LORD either.

But this passage shows us that you can ignore the Word of the LORD and it will STILL HAPPEN. When God says something is going to happen, every person on earth could reject it, ignore it, or try to stop it, but they can’t.

Ezekiel acts out Zedekiah’s escape from Jerusalem with only what he could carry. And he does it hooded and blindfolded to show that Zedekiah will escape with his face hidden (so he isn’t recognized) and make the trip without seeing because he will have his eyes put out by the Babylonians. (See Jer. 39:4, 2 Kgs. 25:1-7)

Those texts say that Zedekiah slipped out through a “gate” between the walls but the Hebrew word can mean simply “an opening.”

It’s possible that Zedekiah made a back door.

🤔 So how is Ezekiel supposed to not fall into a ditch or run into a tree if he can’t see where he’s going?

Well, he might’ve had some help. The Septuagint translation of Ezekiel 12:5-7 suggests some assistance.

“Dig for thyself into the wall of the house, and thou shalt pass through it in their sight. Thou shalt be lifted up on men’s shoulders and shalt go forth in secret. Thou shalt cover thy face, and shalt not see the ground because I have made thee a sign to the house of Israel. And I did thus according to all that he commanded me; and I carried forth my baggage for captivity by day, and in the evening I dug through the wall for myself, and went out secretly; I was taken up on men’s shoulders before them.”

😐 So he’s carried like a sack of potatoes?

Basically.

The other sign-act in this chapter is Ezekiel eating and drinking with trembling hands.

😐 That must’ve seemed really weird to his neighbors.

Yes. But it was yet another proof that Yahweh is in control and things will happen just as HE said.

And in the next chapter, Ezekiel is going to denounce the false prophets who are still spouting their lies in Yahweh’s name:

“Time passes, and prophecies come to nothing.” Ezekiel‬ ‭12‬:‭22‬ ‭NLT‬‬