Ezekiel 24

15–17 After Ezekiel had told the parable about the siege of Jerusalem, the Lord said to him: “I am going to take away your wife—the delight of your eyes” (verse 16). But the Lord also told Ezekiel that he must not mourn in the usual way; instead, he must restrain his emotions (verse 17). In restraining himself, Ezekiel would be acting out another prophecy: just as Ezekiel reacted to the loss of his wife, so the exiles must react to the loss of Jerusalem. Ezekiel’s life was an acted–out testimony to his fellow exiles in Babylonia.

Why did Ezekiel’s wife have to die? Only God knows. But the truth is that God’s servants are not immune from sorrow and tragedy. Indeed, as in Ezekiel’s case, God may use tragedy to increase the effectiveness of His servants. Our reaction to sorrow and loss is a powerful testimony to those around us. And God will give us the needed grace to see us through.

18–24 Ezekiel told his parable of the cooking pot in the morning, and that same evening his wife died (verse 18). The exiles noticed his unusual behavior (his refusal to mourn) and asked what it meant (verse 19). Ezekiel told them that the Lord was about to desecrate (destroy) His sanctuary (temple) in Jerusalem, which was the delight of the people’s eyes (verse 21). Furthermore, the Lord had commanded the exiles not to mourn but to do as Ezekiel was doing; Ezekiel was to be a sign to them (verse 24).

Why should the exiles not mourn for Jerusalem? Because its wickedness was great and its punishment was just. Moreover, the people had been warned about the city’s impending destruction, first by Jeremiah and later by Ezekiel himself. No one should have been surprised. Under such circumstances, there was no need to mourn.

25–27 The Lord then told Ezekiel that when Jerusalem was finally destroyed after the eighteen–month siege, a fugitive would come to Babylonia to tell Ezekiel the news. That fugitive would be the first of a new wave of exiles that would be coming to Babylonia after Jerusalem’s fall. When that first fugitive arrived, Ezekiel’s mouth would be opened (see Ezekiel 3:24–27; 33:21–22). After that, Ezekiel would be given a new message for the exiles: a message not of judgment but of hope!