Ezekiel not only prophesies against Israel but all the nations that have set themselves up against a true knowledge of the Lord.
Ezekiel 25: Prophecy Against Ammon
1 The word of the LORD came to me:
2 "Son of man, set your face toward the Ammonites and prophesy against them.
3 Say to the Ammonites, Hear the word of the Lord GOD: Thus says the Lord GOD, Because you said, 'Aha!' over my sanctuary when it was profaned, and over the land of Israel when it was made desolate, and over the house of Judah when they went into exile,
4 therefore behold, I am handing you over to the people of the East for a possession, and they shall set their encampments among you and make their dwellings in your midst. They shall eat your fruit, and they shall drink your milk.
5 I will make Rabbah a pasture for camels and Ammon a fold for flocks. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
6 For thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet and rejoiced with all the malice within your soul against the land of Israel,
7 therefore, behold, I have stretched out my hand against you, and will hand you over as plunder to the nations. And I will cut you off from the peoples and will make you perish out of the countries; I will destroy you. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
Prophecy Against Moab and Seir
8 "Thus says the Lord GOD: Because Moab and Seir said, 'Behold, the house of Judah is like all the other nations,'
9 therefore I will lay open the flank of Moab from the cities, from its cities on its frontier, the glory of the country, Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim.
10 I will give it along with the Ammonites to the people of the East as a possession, that the Ammonites may be remembered no more among the nations,
11 and I will execute judgments upon Moab. Then they will know that I am the LORD.
Prophecy Against Edom
12 "Thus says the Lord GOD: Because Edom acted revengefully against the house of Judah and has grievously offended in taking vengeance on them,
13 therefore thus says the Lord GOD, I will stretch out my hand against Edom and cut off from it man and beast. And I will make it desolate; from Teman even to Dedan they shall fall by the sword.
14 And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel, and they shall do in Edom according to my anger and according to my wrath, and they shall know my vengeance, declares the Lord GOD.
Prophecy Against Philistia
15 "Thus says the Lord GOD: Because the Philistines acted revengefully and took vengeance with malice of soul to destroy in never-ending enmity,
16 therefore thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I will stretch out my hand against the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethites and destroy the rest of the seacoast.
17 I will execute great vengeance on them with wrathful rebukes. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I lay my vengeance upon them."
Ezekiel 26: Prophecy Against Tyre
1 In the eleventh year, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me:
2 "Son of man, because Tyre said concerning Jerusalem, 'Aha, the gate of the peoples is broken; it has swung open to me. I shall be replenished, now that she is laid waste,'
3 therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and will bring up many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves.
4 They shall destroy the walls of Tyre and break down her towers, and I will scrape her soil from her and make her a bare rock.
5 She shall be in the midst of the sea a place for the spreading of nets, for I have spoken, declares the Lord GOD. And she shall become plunder for the nations,
6 and her daughters on the mainland shall be killed by the sword. Then they will know that I am the LORD.
7 "For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will bring against Tyre from the north Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses and chariots, and with horsemen and a host of many soldiers.
8 He will kill with the sword your daughters on the mainland. He will set up a siege wall against you and throw up a mound against you, and raise a roof of shields against you.
9 He will direct the shock of his battering rams against your walls, and with his axes he will break down your towers.
10 His horses will be so many that their dust will cover you. Your walls will shake at the noise of the horsemen and wagons and chariots, when he enters your gates as men enter a city that has been breached.
11 With the hoofs of his horses he will trample all your streets. He will kill your people with the sword, and your mighty pillars will fall to the ground.
12 They will plunder your riches and loot your merchandise. They will break down your walls and destroy your pleasant houses. Your stones and timber and soil they will cast into the midst of the waters.
13 And I will stop the music of your songs, and the sound of your lyres shall be heard no more.
14 I will make you a bare rock. You shall be a place for the spreading of nets. You shall never be rebuilt, for I am the LORD; I have spoken, declares the Lord GOD.
15 "Thus says the Lord GOD to Tyre: Will not the coastlands shake at the sound of your fall, when the wounded groan, when slaughter is made in your midst?
16 Then all the princes of the sea will step down from their thrones and remove their robes and strip off their embroidered garments. They will clothe themselves with trembling; they will sit on the ground and tremble every moment and be appalled at you.
17 And they will raise a lamentation over you and say to you, "'How you have perished, you who were inhabited from the seas, O city renowned, who was mighty on the sea; she and her inhabitants imposed their terror on all her inhabitants!
18 Now the coastlands tremble on the day of your fall, and the coastlands that are on the sea are dismayed at your passing.'
19 "For thus says the Lord GOD: When I make you a city laid waste, like the cities that are not inhabited, when I bring up the deep over you, and the great waters cover you,
20 then I will make you go down with those who go down to the pit, to the people of old, and I will make you to dwell in the world below, among ruins from of old, with those who go down to the pit, so that you will not be inhabited; but I will set beauty in the land of the living.
21 I will bring you to a dreadful end, and you shall be no more. Though you be sought for, you will never be found again, declares the Lord GOD."
Things to think about…
1. In Ezekiel 25 and 26 we see Babylon also destroyingf Israel’s enemies. In Ezek 25 the Ammonites, Moabites, Edomites, Seir and the Philistines have all been judged. Look at the reason. It is because they were against Judah and Israel. The Lord said this would be part of the blessing and cursing for those nations when He gave His covenant to Abraham. What parallels are here for those who come against Christians? Do you think the Lord has the same mindset towards those who speak out against His people today?
2. Remember Tyre was where all the timber came from to build the house of the Lord in Solomon’s day. Solomon had a very good economic relationship with Hiram the King of Tyre. In Ezek 26 the relationship has long since disappeared and the inhabitants of the coastal city of Tyre saw Jerusalem now as a place that could be plundered because the Babylonians would leave it desolate. Little did they know King Nebuchadnezzar was coming against Tyre with siege works and battering rams as well. This occurred in 573BC after 13 years of being under siege by the Babylonians. Tyre was a great trade city and would be reduced to a place where they ’spread nets’, Ezek 26:14. This is exactly what happened, they were never to arise as the great trade city they once were.
3. Alexander the Great also came against Tyre in July 332BC. They fled to an Island rock just off the coast. Alexander built a wall that extended into the sea 60m across. When the ramp wall was close enough Alexander manoeuvred his catapults into place and bashed the walls of Tyre down. Tyre today has a population of 117,000. The old ruins have never been built upon and the city has never risen to the heights of economic success as it once had. The old city is now under water and only noticeable by a reef, perfectly fulfilling Ezek 26:19ff. Ezekiel speaks of this city in in the next 3 chapters. There is a reference to Satan and his final demise. Evil will eventually be put down, never to arise. The cross and resurrection were a spiritual foretaste of deliverance and what will be fulfilled in literal reality in the future. What strongholds are you praying for that the Lord will bring down, never to arise again?
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Title was “thought it would never happen” – Reading Ezek 24:1-14
1. Ezekiel is told to put a cupper pot on boil and fill it with the choice meats. Who were the choice meats and why were they in the pot?
2. When leaders pull down truth, everyone suffer. We saw this last week with the Victorian premier speaking out against biblical Christianity after sacking of the newly appointed Essendon AFL coach. What should our response be?
3. Discuss your understanding of the promises of God. Refer to Deuteronomy 28.
4. Pray for each other and the outreach of the gospel.
Prayer Points
1. Pray for the leadership of our country.
2. Pray for the people of Iran. There is horrible oppression of women who are being beaten and killed by a corrupt government, simply for refusing to wear a head covering.
3. Pray for Ukraine and the final defeat of Russian aggression.
4. The right choice for a full time Youth and Young Adults Pastor to start Jan 2023 and the finances to support them.
5. More young families and youth into the church.
6. Ministry leaders within the church.
7. Our One for Israel ministry.
8. Pray for other building projects – café roof, the repair of the house roof.
9. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. The marriage of James and Kirstine Smith.
2. Visitors to church on Sunday.
3. Some returning back to church after a while away.
4. Worship on Sunday – thankyou Paul, Suzy, Gina. Maddison on Words and Doug on sound. Thankyou. Suzy and Maddison in café always do a stellar job. Thankyou for those who welcomed at the door.
5. All those who faithfully serve in ministries, Worship, Sound/Technical/Kids Church/ Cell Groups/Admin - Bulletins/Finances/Property/Welcoming/Spiritual Leadership/Cafe
6. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. Members Meeting – AGM 6th November after the service.
2. Remember to check your duty rosters.
3. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
4. Tune in again this week on our youtube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
