Theological Commentary: Click Here
Ezekiel 21
is another chapter written in anticipation of the final Babylonian judgment of
Jerusalem. The message is easy to
perceive. The sword is Babylon. It is sharp.
It is coming to do the job of finishing off the rebellion of the people. That’s all pretty much been covered a lot in
the past.
Where can we
go deeper?
Count how
many times God talks about the sword being polished and sharpened. There are many, many references. In fact, there are so many references that
most of us start skipping them as we read through the chapter. We get that the sword is polished and
sharp. So what?
Polishing a
sword and sharpening a sword takes time.
It requires preparation. It
indicates planning. Babylon is not some
whim of God, it is the plan of God. God
has prepared for this moment. It is a
dark moment in the history of the Hebrew people, but it is an important moment.
Furthermore,
God’s plan is decisive. If you cut with
a sharp knife, there is no turning back.
If you cut with a dull knife, you usually have to take several
passes. But cutting with a sharp knife
is more decisive. For the record, it is
also much safer. When you cut decisively,
you risk much less injury. That is why
God is coming with Babylon sharpened. He
doesn’t want to botch the refinement of His people in exile. Like a good surgeon, He wants to get in, do
the job, and leave as much intact as possible so that healing can occur once it
is over.
God knows
what He is doing, even in the valley of the shadow of death. He’s got a plan and He is prepared. Trust
Him, especially when life is darkest.
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