Jerusalem in the Fire

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 24:1-14

 

Ezekiel 24:13

In your filthiness is lewdness.
Because I have cleansed you, and you were not cleansed,
You will not be cleansed of your filthiness anymore,
Till I have caused My fury to rest upon you.

(NKJV)

 

Grace is a wonderful thing for we could not experience salvation from sins apart from it (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, grace is not cheap, coming at the high cost of Jesus’ death on the cross (Romans 5:8). While salvation comes through grace and not our works, we must not use God’s grace as an excuse to continue living in sin (Romans 6:1-2). God has extended grace to Israel, Judah, and Jerusalem but they have overextended God’s grace by continuing in sin, bringing about a day of reckoning.

 

Ezekiel receives another word from the Lord, but this word has a specific date with the Lord telling Ezekiel to record the date for it is the date when the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem began (Ezekiel 24:1-2). The Lord instructs Ezekiel to provide a parable by putting a pot on a fire and pouring water into it (Ezekiel 24:3). He is then to gather pieces of choice meat from the shoulder and thigh, coming from the choice animals of the flock using fuel bones for a fire to make the pot boil well (Ezekiel 24:4-5)

 

The Lord then provides an interpretation of what this parable means. The pot represents the bloody city of Jerusalem with the meat symbolizing the scum of rebellious people living in the city destined for removal from the city and exile (Ezekiel 24:6). The blood of the sins of Jerusalem is within the city, not poured on the ground and covered with dust but on top of a rock for all to see (Ezekiel 24:7-8).

 

The Lord then issues another woe to the bloody city of Jerusalem, declaring He too will make the fire under the pot great (Ezekiel 24:9). The Lord then says to heap on the wood and kindle the fire, so the meat cooks well and to mix in the spices and let the cuts of meat burn up (Ezekiel 24:10). Ezekiel is then to set the empty pot on the coals so it becomes hot, and its bronze may burn so its filthiness melts in it and the scum consumed, symbolizing the cleansing by the fire of God’s fury (Ezekiel 24:11). The people of Jerusalem have wearied God by their lies and God vows to let them be as the scum in the fire of the empty pot (Ezekiel 24:12). Their filthiness is lewdness with the Lord cleansing them, but not experiencing cleansing by continuing to sin so the Lord will not cleanse their filthiness anymore until His fury rests upon them (Ezekiel 24:13). The Lord confirms that what He has spoken will occur with Jerusalem judged according to their deeds (Ezekiel 24:14).

 

The day of reckoning has come with the king of Babylon beginning his siege of Jerusalem. Using the symbolism of a cooking pot, The Lord lets the people of Jerusalem know what is about to occur and reminds them of why. The siege is the beginning of woes for the city because the Babylonians will conquer the city with those escaping the sword, famine, and pestilence carried off into Babylonian exile (2 Kings 24:1-16). This is happening because of the continued rebellion against God with the sins of Manasseh the last straw (2 Chronicles 33). God has extended mercy and grace to Israel, Judah, and Jerusalem but it is now obvious they do not intend to repent and must endure the fire of God’s wrath.

 

Even in the dispensation of grace, rebellion against God and His Word has serious repercussions. However, like what occurred in Jerusalem, God is merciful giving His people an opportunity to turn from their rebellion, but ignoring God’s warnings will eventually lead to a day of reckoning. Jesus gave His Church a simple mission to take the Gospel to the world (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20), but in many ways, churches have strayed from this mission and preach a soft message of encouragement with no accountability for sin.

 

Romans 3:23 reminds us that we all have sinned with Romans 6:23 reminding us of the penalty for our sins. The good news or Gospel message the Church is to spread is that Jesus, the Son of God, came to take the death penalty for our sins (Romans 5:8). The best encouragement the Church can give an individual is to confess Jesus as Lord of their life, receiving eternal life (John 3:16; Romans 10:9-10). From this foundation of salvation from sin, the Church can disciple people by encouraging them to pray, study the Bible, and associate with fellow believers so they have a closer relationship with God. My prayer is that the Church returns to this mission.

 

If you are reading this and have not prayed for the forgiveness of your sins making Jesus the Lord of your life, or have drifted away from your relationship with Christ, I invite you to pray with me now,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God challenge, convict, and bless everyone reading this post.