Ezekiel 12:28

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....

Verse Ezekiel 12:28. _THERE SHALL NONE OF MY WORDS BE PROLONGED ANY MORE_] He had waited to be gracious; they abused his mercy; and at last the protracted wrath rushed upon them with irresistible force....

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

THEREFORE SAY UNTO THEM, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD,.... Carry this message to them from me, whether they will hear it or not; so shall it be: THERE SHALL NONE OF MY WORDS BE PROLONGED ANY MORE; the fulfilment of prophecies delivered in the name of the Lord by the prophets shall be no longer deferred, but shall quickly be: BUT THE WORD WHICH I HAVE SPOKEN SHALL BE DONE, SAITH THE LORD GOD: one jot and tittle of it shall not pass away till all be fulfilled; sooner may heaven and earth pass away than that shall; it is for ever settled in heaven, and shall be fulfilled on earth; he that has said it is of one mind, and none can turn him; and is able to do whatsoever he pleases....

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....

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...

§ 4. FURTHER PROPHECIES OF ISRAEL'S GUILT AND APPROACHING PUNISHMENT (EZEKIEL 12-19) This is a somewhat miscellaneous group of prophecies intermediate in date between the preceding (August-September, 591 b.c.) and succeeding (July-August, 590 b.c.) sections. It includes fresh symbols of exile, flight, and famine (Ezekiel 12:1), a doctrine of prophecy, true and false (Ezekiel 12:21 to Ezekiel 14:11), an explanation of God's exceptional treatment of Jerusalem in sparing a remnant (Ezekiel 14:12), Ezekiel's parable of the Vine (Ezekiel 15), the pa