Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Ezekiel 21

For the king of Babylon stands at the parting of the road, at the fork of the two roads, to use divination: he shakes the arrows, he consults the images, he looks at the liver... And it will be to them like a false divination in the eyes of those who have sworn oaths with them; but he will bring their iniquity to remembrance, that they may be taken. vv.21,23

Read chapter 21
The King of Babylon is "the slayer" from verse eleven that will bring about God's wrath.  Here we see him consulting divination for his decision on which way to go about destroying Israel.  This divination is so false to the Israelites that it brings to remembrance how they had sinned and gone so far astray.  They see the ludicrousness of the king's divination yet it calls them out.  Look at how similar the King's actions here are compared to the ways of the High Priest:

  • The King of Babylon shakes the arrows (a way of casting lots and how they fell was the answer from the gods) vs. the high priest would shake the Urim and the Thummim for God's answer
  • The king of Babylon consults the images (images of ancestors/heritage) vs. the high priest consults God
  • The king of Babylon looks at the liver of sacrificed victims to continue to understand the will of the gods for a sign vs. the high priest need look no further once God's decision made known the first time
Often the thing we hate most about others is the thing we hate most about ourselves.  What is it for you?

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