Ezekiel 12:27

Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off. THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL SAY, THE VISION THAT HE SEETH IS FOR MANY DAYS TO COME, AND HE PROPHESIETH OF THE TIMES THAT ARE FAR OFF. Not a mere repetition of the scoff : there the scoffers asserted that the evil was so often threatened and postponed, it must have no reality, it will fail altogether; here formalists do not go so far as to deny that a day of evil is coming, but assert it is far off yet (). The transition is easy from this carnal security to the gross infidelity of the former class. Remarks: (1) It is truly said, none are so blind as those who will not see ...

21-28 From that forbearance of God, which should have led them to repent, the Jews hardened themselves in sin. It will not serve for an excuse in speaking evil, to plead that it is a common saying. There is but a step between us and an awful eternity; therefore it concerns us to get ready for a future state. No one will be able to put from himself the evil day, unless by seeking peace with the Lord....

As in Ezekiel 7, the nearness of the judgment is foretold. Ezekiel 12:22 THE LAND OF ISRAEL - is put generally for the land where the children of Israel dwelt, whether at home, or in exile. There was prevalent a disregard for the true prophets, which is ever followed by a recognition of the false. First, the true prophet is rejected because it is thought that his prophecies fail. Then men persuade themselves that if the prophecy be true it respects some distant time, and that the men of the present generation need not disturb themselves about it. Compare Jeremiah 1:11; Amos 6:3;...

EXPOSITION EZEKIEL 12:1 THE WORD OF THE LORD, etc. This formula, so familiar in Isaiah and Jeremiah, appears for the first time in Ezekiel, but occurs repeatedly afterwards, especially in this chapter (verses 8, 17, 21, 26. and again Ezekiel 13:1; Ezekiel 14:2, _et al._)_. _The teaching by "the visions of God" ceases, and that of direct message or symbolic acts is resumed. In each case the point aimed at was the same. The people who heard the one or saw the other were to be taught how utterly groundless was the hope that Jerusalem could hold out against its enemies. The interval between the two was probably a short one, and the new teaching, we may conjectu

SON OF MAN, BEHOLD, [THEY OF] THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL SAY,.... Either they of the ten tribes in Babylon, or the Jews in Judea, who were also Israelites: these the Lord directs the prophet to take notice of, and be a witness of what they said; since he himself, as a prophet, was concerned in it: THE VISION THAT HE SEETH [IS] FOR MANY DAYS [TO COME], AND HE PROPHESIETH OF THE TIMES [THAT ARE] AFAR OFF; that is, according to them, the vision that Ezekiel the prophet saw concerning their ruin; and the prophecy which he delivered out relating to that was not to be fulfilled as yet; there were many days and years still to come; it was at a great distance, and so they put away this evil day far from them; they own that he had a vision and prophecy, but it respected future times, and distant ages; and therefore they did not trouble themselves with it; it gave them no great concern, because they con...

CHAPTER S 12-19 Signs, Messages, and Parables _ 1. Signs given through the prophet (Ezekiel 12:1) _ 2. The message of speedy judgment (Ezekiel 12:21) 3. The message against false prophets and prophetesses. (Ezekiel 13:1) 4. The message against the elders (Ezekiel 14:1) 5. The parable of the vine given to the fire (Ezekiel 15:1) 6. The parable of the abandoned child and Israel's whoredom (Ezekiel 16:1)

DISREGARD OF THE TRUE PROPHETS. One reason for ignoring the stern message of Ezekiel is suggested by the popular saying that the days keep stretching out but the doom is never fulfilled, so that there is nothing in prophecy after all (Ezekiel 12:21). Another group of people appears to have believed in prophecy, but regarded the doom at which it pointed to be so far away as to be negligible (Ezekiel 12:26). To both Ezekiel reiterates his message with the assurance that the doom is coming speedily....

BEHOLD. Figure of speech _Asterisnaos._ App-6,...

Warning against despising of prophecy The prophet felt that such threats as those just uttered (Ezekiel 12:1) were neglected and little thought of. People disposed of such prophecies by saying that they did not come true; or, if they did not go so far, by saying that they referred to the distant future. Ezekiel warns them that Jehovah's threatenings bear upon the present time, and that they shall be fulfilled....

II. TWO POPULAR SAYINGS CORRECTED 12:21-28 TRANSLATION (21) And the word OF the LORD came unto me, saying, (22) Son of man, what is this proverb that your people have concerning the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged and every vision has perished? (23) Therefore say unto them, Thus says the Lord GOD: I have made this proverb to cease, and they shall not make use of it any more in Israel; but speak unto them: The days draw near, and the word of every vision. (24) For there shall no longer be any lying vision, nor flattering divination in the midst of the house of Israel. (25) For I the LORD shall speak, and the word which I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall not be prolonged any more; for in your days O rebellious house, I will speak, and I will perform it (oracle of the Lord GOD). (26) And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, (27) Son of man, Behold the house of...