Ezekiel

Ezekiel 21: God draws His sword

Begin in prayer

Before hearing of the Lord's drawn sword, let us come with sober hearts before His judgment. Ask God to quiet our thoughts, meet with this household and open our eyes to Christ in Ezekiel 21.

Be silent at the presence of the Lord Yahweh, for the day of Yahweh is at hand. For Yahweh has prepared a sacrifice. He has consecrated his guests.

Zephaniah 1:7

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Please help us hear the weight of Your warning and see Jesus, the rightful King and Savior. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

God sends Ezekiel against Jerusalem and Israel, announcing a sword that will cut off both the righteous and wicked. Ezekiel must sigh and cry because the coming news will make hearts melt and hands weak. The sharpened sword will fall on the people and their princes. Babylon's king uses divination at a fork in the road, and the lot directs his attack toward Jerusalem. The city's sins bring capture, and God overturns its wicked prince's crown until the one with the right to it comes. Ammon also faces God's sword, wrath and fire, and will be remembered no more.

As you read Ezekiel 21, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God draws His sword against sin and overturns wicked rule.

The drawn sword explains the forest fire of the preceding prophecy as God's judgment against Jerusalem, its sanctuaries and Israel. Cutting off righteous and wicked makes the warning's reach terrifying, leaving the whole land to know that He has drawn it. Ezekiel's sighing and striking hands make the grief of that approaching news visible before the sword arrives. Babylon's military decision belongs within this announced judgment, even while its king consults arrows, images and a liver at the divided road. Jerusalem treats the divination as false, yet its exposed guilt brings capture under the sentence God has already given. The crown's overthrow removes the wicked prince's claim to stand secure in his office. God raises the low and brings down the high, keeping the crown for the one whose right it is. Ammon's similar sentence extends the warning beyond Jerusalem, for the God who judges His own land also judges its neighbors.

How does Ezekiel 21 show us that God draws His sword against sin and overturns wicked rule?

God's judgment reaches the whole land.

God draws His sword against both the righteous and wicked in the land (verses 1 to 7). Its reach extends from south to north. Ezekiel's bitter sighing announces news that will make every heart melt.

God overturns the rule that rebels against Him.

The lot for Babylon's attack points to Jerusalem, whose sins are exposed (verses 18 to 27). Its wicked prince must lose his crown. God commands the low to be raised and the high to be brought down (verse 26). God will overturn it until the one whose right it is comes.

God's sword also reaches Ammon.

Ammon's false visions and divination cannot prevent God's judgment (verses 28 to 32). He will judge them in their own land. Brutal men, fire and blood will end in their being remembered no more.

Memorize

All flesh will know that I, Yahweh, have drawn my sword out of its sheath. It will not return any more.”’

Ezekiel 21:5

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what sin am I excusing, and do I need Jesus to forgive me?

Jerusalem's wicked prince must take off his crown. God declares that its rule will be overturned “until he comes whose right it is”. The sword of judgment exposes the ruin of sinful rule. Hope rests in the King God Himself will establish.

God has made the crucified Jesus both Lord and Christ (Acts 2 verse 36). This rightful King died for His people, bearing the punishment of their sins on the cross. His sacrifice paid their debt in full, and His work of redemption is finished. He rose from the dead, victorious over the judgment He bore.

Please turn from your sin and bow before Jesus in faith. Come to Him for the forgiveness He promises to repentant sinners. His saving work is enough for everyone who trusts Him. Ask Him to make you fear God's warning and follow the King who gave His life to save.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God judges sin, and Jesus died and rose to save those who come to Him. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for His just rule and the King He has given, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Out of his mouth proceeds a sharp, double-edged sword, that with it he should strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He treads the wine press of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty.

Revelation 19:15

Holy Lord, thank You for warning us of judgment and sending Jesus to save sinners. Forgive our careless treatment of sin, and help each one turn from it and trust Him. Please teach us to honor Your rule and obey Your Word with reverent hearts. Amen.