Ezekiel 32
The time of the first prophecy in the chapter was a year and a half after the end of the siege of Jerusalem, and its blackened ruins were now all that remained to testify of that city’s darted glory. The second prophecy, unveiling the unseen world (verses 17 to 32) is separated from the first by two weeks.
Verse 2: Pharaoh was like a young lion among the nations, and as a monster (not likely a whale, but, as in a former case, probably a crocodile) in the waters; he had gone beyond his proper limits and troubled other peoples. Judgment was shortly to be executed upon him by means of many peoples; but it was God’s doing: “they shall bring thee up with My net” (verse 3).
Verses 4 to 6 repeat what was said in verse 5 of chapter 20, and supplement it in language which suggests terrible and unexampled slaughter. “All the fowls of the heavens” and “the beasts of the whole earth” were to be fed with the slain. More fearful will be the carnage at the Lord’s coming in judgment (see Revelation 1.9:17, 18).
That Egypt was to be made desolate from Migdol to Syene for forty years, we have already learned (chapter 29; 10-12); indeed, it is said that Nebuchadnezzar ravaged the country so savagely that it was utterly desolate, his anger against Hophra being the greater, because he had sheltered the Jews who murdered Gedaliah, the governor of the land formerly Israel’s, and other persons, and fled the country to escape the vengeance of the Babylonian government (Jeremiah 11 to 41).
The judgment of God, unlike that which men give to their fellows, is ever according to perfect justice; the measure of guilt and of responsibility of every one with whom Fie deals in His governmental ways with the living is exactly known to Him, and Egypt’s visitation as portrayed in this chapter is thus far more severe than that of Assyria, spoken of in chapter 31. Egypt’s ancient grandeur, its riches, etc., much exceeded the glory of Assyria in its prime, and the news of its desolation cast dismay upon the world (verses 7 to 11).
God will be known by His judgments (verse 15); better far to know Him through His grace! But mercy despised, brings heavier strokes of judgment, as this poor world will find when God no longer speaks in grace, offering salvation to the lost.
What follows (verses 17 to 32) has been called the most solemn elegy over a heathen people ever composed. The close of verse 21 should be read “...out of the midst of Sheol; they are gone down, they lie still, the uncircumcised, slain by the sword.” (The “uncircumcised” is a term distinguishing the nations from Israel).
“Asshur” (verses 22 and 23) is Assyria; “Elam” (verses 24 and 25) is the ancient monarchy mentioned in Genesis 14, but their country became a part of Persia, and the reference may be to the Persian empire, as in other prophetic passages. In verses 24, 25 and 30, “confusion”, it is believed, better expresses the meaning of the original language than “shame”.
Meshech and Tubal (verses 26 to 28) will come before us in connection with chapter 38. It will be noted that they and their multitude’ do not lie with the mighty (verse 27) who are gone down to Sheol. They are the last of the enemies of Israel who will meet with God’s vengeance in the judgments to be executed in the coming day.
Verse 30 will become clearer if the central portion he read “ashamed of the terror which they caused through their might.”
In these verses God recounts the names of several of the war-like nations which endured for a season and crumbled into dust: In their day they caused terror to many, but when life’s swift journey is over, and eternity has dawned, what then?
What is in view here, as in Old Testament prophecies generally, is the governmental dealing of God with the inhabitants of the earth and their rulers.
Eternal judgment, and the salvation of the soul are not Old Testament themes though spoken of there. The full light of the gospel of the grace of God was reserved until the work of redemption by the precious blood of Christ was accomplished, and the Redeemer had ascended to the throne of God.
ML 01/12/1936