One of the features of Ezekiel's ministry was that God got him to act out a lot of his messages. Now these were not the sort of dramas we might see today in church's or outreach events! However, God does not restrict Himself to one means of communication.
First Ezekiel had to take a block of clay and draw the city of Jerusalem upon it. Ezekiel had spent time with the people of Tel Aviv (3:15), he was also probably a priest. So he would be known and people had probably got wind of the fact that something odd was going on with him. Therefore they would pay attention to this block of clay. Ezekiel was to put siege works against the block to signify that Jerusalem would be under siege. Moreover, it was God Himself who was besieging the city.
After this he was to bear the sin of Israel. Now this is almost certainly not to be taken in the way of Jesus bearing our sin, but rather of Israel (the southern kingdom) having to suffer for 390 years for her rebellion. Next he was to bear the sin of Judah (the northern kingdom) for 40 days. Now people would see this going on for over a year, and they would be familiar with what had happened to Israel.
The wheat, barley etc represents a meagre vegetarian diet. This was signifying the conditions of the siege, hence the original instruction to burn it over human excrement. Ezekiel objected to this last point, finding it repugnant. God relented and allowed him to use cow dung, a common fuel in those days. If you read the Bible you actually find that God is more willing to change His mind than we might imagine.
The siege that was coming on Jerusalem would be truly awful and terrible.
First Ezekiel had to take a block of clay and draw the city of Jerusalem upon it. Ezekiel had spent time with the people of Tel Aviv (3:15), he was also probably a priest. So he would be known and people had probably got wind of the fact that something odd was going on with him. Therefore they would pay attention to this block of clay. Ezekiel was to put siege works against the block to signify that Jerusalem would be under siege. Moreover, it was God Himself who was besieging the city.
After this he was to bear the sin of Israel. Now this is almost certainly not to be taken in the way of Jesus bearing our sin, but rather of Israel (the southern kingdom) having to suffer for 390 years for her rebellion. Next he was to bear the sin of Judah (the northern kingdom) for 40 days. Now people would see this going on for over a year, and they would be familiar with what had happened to Israel.
The wheat, barley etc represents a meagre vegetarian diet. This was signifying the conditions of the siege, hence the original instruction to burn it over human excrement. Ezekiel objected to this last point, finding it repugnant. God relented and allowed him to use cow dung, a common fuel in those days. If you read the Bible you actually find that God is more willing to change His mind than we might imagine.
The siege that was coming on Jerusalem would be truly awful and terrible.
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