Ezekiel 5

Ezekiel 5:1

SIGN OF THE PROPHET SHAVING HIS HAIRChapter 5 opens with Ezekiel acting out yet another sign to the people: This must have looked something like one of our modern commercials for an electric razoronly they didn’t have electric razors in those days! Just what was the meaning of this? Ezekiel was to shave his head and his beard, which was unusual for a priest to do. I imagine the people gathered all around to watch as Ezekiel shaved himself out there in the open. After he shaved, Ezekiel carefully divided the hair into three parts. One third of the hair he took and burned inside the city. This represented the people who were going to be beseiged and burned with fire inside the city at the time of its destructionthis is exactly what happened to them. The second third of the hair he took and smotehe really worked it over. This depicted what was to happen to those people who lived through the seigethey fell by the sword. The last third of the people were scattered out; this group included those who went down to Egypt taking Jeremiah with them. The small remnant of God’s people who eventually returned to the city is pictured by the few hairs that were bound up in Ezekiel’s skirts.

Ezekiel 5:12

This is the message that Ezekiel brought, and he made its meaning very clear.

Ezekiel 5:17

Ezekiel’s warning to the people went unheeded. The destruction of Jerusalem and the suffering endured by the people should be a warning to us of the reality of divine judgment. But we are so far removed from it, and very few people are really acquainted with the Word of God today. (The greatest sin among Christians is ignorance of the Word of God.) God gave this warning to the people of Jerusalem, but it has a message for us also, as does all Scripture. My friend, when the judgment of God begins, it is going to be too late to make your decision. Today, if you will hear His voice, He says, “(…behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)” (2Co_6:2, italics mine). The real “Now Generation” are those who have not postponed their decision but have already accepted God’s salvation.