A lament concerning Pharaoh king of Egypt

Ezekiel 32:1-32

Son of man, take up a lament concerning Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him: You are like a lion among the nations; you are like a monster in the seas thrashing about in your streams, churning the water with your feet and muddying the streams.

With a great throng of people, I will cast my net over you, and they will haul you up in my net. I will throw you on the land and hurl you on the open field. I will let all the birds of the sky settle on you and all the animals of the wild gorge themselves on you.

I will cause many peoples to be appalled at you, and their kings will shudder with horror because of you when I brandish my sword before them. On the day of your downfall each of them will tremble every moment for his life.

The sword of the king of Babylon will come against you. I will cause your hordes to fall by the swords of mighty men—  the most ruthless of all nations. They will shatter the pride of Egypt, and all her hordes will be overthrown. I will destroy all her cattle from beside abundant waters no longer to be stirred by the foot of man or muddied by the hooves of cattle.

When I make Egypt desolate and strip the land of everything in it, when I strike down all who live there, then they will know that I am the Lord.

“Assyria is there with her whole army; she is surrounded by the graves of all her slain, all who have fallen by the sword. Their graves are in the depths of the pit and her army lies around her grave. All who had spread terror in the land of the living are slain, fallen by the sword.

“Elam is there, with all her hordes around her grave. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword. All who had spread terror in the land of the living went down uncircumcised to the earth below.

Meshek and Tubal are there, with all their hordes around their graves. 

Edom is there, her kings and all her princes; despite their power, they are laid with those killed by the sword. They lie with the uncircumcised, with those who go down to the pit.

Why?
All of these nations closer to Egypt were destroyed by Babylon and dead with horribly.

Many nations including Egypt, Elam, Meshek Tubal, and Edom were there and laid with those killed by the sword.

How?

The judgment of the Lord comes not one can escape from God's judgment. Everyone has to take responsibility for his behavior.

Consider Assyria, once a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches overshadowing the forest

 Ezekiel 30:20-31:18

Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt. I will break both his arms, the good arm as well as the broken one, and make the sword fall from his hand. I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries. I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon and put my sword in his hand, but I will break the arms of Pharaoh, and he will groan before him like a mortally wounded man.

In the eleventh year, in the third month on the first day, the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his hordes: 

‘Who can be compared with you in majesty? Consider Assyria, once a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches overshadowing the forest; it towered on high, its top above the thick foliage. The waters nourished it, deep springs made it grow tall; their streams flowed all around its base and sent their channels to all the trees of the field.

Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because the great cedar towered over the thick foliage, and because it was proud of its height, I gave it into the hands of the ruler of the nations, for him to deal with according to its wickedness. I cast it aside, and the most ruthless of foreign nations cut it down and left it. Its boughs fell on the mountains and in all the valleys; its branches lay broken in all the ravines of the land. All the nations of the earth came out from under its shade and left it. All the birds settled on the fallen tree, and all the wild animals lived among its branches. Therefore no other trees by the waters are ever to tower proudly on high, lifting their tops above the thick foliage. No other trees so well-watered are ever to reach such a height; they are all destined for death, for the earth below, among mortals who go down to the realm of the dead.

‘Which of the trees of Eden can be compared with you in splendor and majesty? Yet you, too, will be brought down with the trees of Eden to the earth below; you will lie among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword.

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以香柏樹比喻埃及。神興起巴比倫征服埃及，希底加王結盟埃及，要埃及來援助猶大，也真的出兵要幫助猶大，結果卻被巴比倫打敗，以後埃及不再強盛，直到如今。現在的埃及是阿拉伯人，不是以前的埃及人。

香柏樹特色：1)高大茂盛，勝過神園中的樹，2)很大的影響力，3)很榮美。

因為眾水使他生長；深水使他長大，這是看不見的。神愛自己的百姓，也愛外邦人，人在認識神以前，神已經先愛他們了。

因他高大，樹尖插入雲中，心驕氣傲，所以被審判。所以神審判埃及是給猶大看，也是給我們後代的人看。

我們所有擁有的都是領受的，都是神所賜的。

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Why?

Egypt will be like Assyria, once a cedar in Lebanon, but will be destroyed and broken. They will be brought down with the trees of Eden to the earth below.

The pride of a nation will be the downfall to everyone and every nation.

How?

Be aware of being humble in life for the Lord is watching everyone doing in the world!

A Prophecy Against Egypt, Judgment on Pharaoh

 Ezekiel 29:1-30:19

In the tenth year, in the tenth month on the twelfth day, the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt and prophesy against him and against all Egypt. Speak to him and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt, you great monster lying among your streams. You say, “The Nile belongs to me;  I made it for myself.” But I will put hooks in your jaws and make the fish of your streams stick to your scales. I will pull you out from among your streams, with all the fish sticking to your scales. I will leave you in the desert, you and all the fish of your streams. You will fall on the open field and not be gathered or picked up. I will give you as food to the beasts of the earth and the birds of the sky.

Then all who live in Egypt will know that I am the Lord.

You have been a staff of reed for the people of Israel. When they grasped you with their hands, you splintered and you tore open their shoulders; when they leaned on you, you broke and their backs were wrenched. Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will bring a sword against you and kill both man and beast. Egypt will become a desolate wasteland. Then they will know that I am the Lord.

therefore I am against you and against your streams, and I will make the land of Egypt a ruin and a desolate waste from Migdol to Aswan, as far as the border of Cush. The foot of neither man nor beast will pass through it; no one will live there for forty years. 

In the twenty-seventh year, in the first month on the first day, the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon drove his army in a hard campaign against Tyre; every head was rubbed bare and every shoulder made raw. Yet he and his army got no reward from the campaign he led against Tyre. Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am going to give Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will carry off its wealth. He will loot and plunder the land as pay for his army. I have given him Egypt as a reward for his efforts because he and his army did it for me, declares the Sovereign Lord.

This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘I will destroy the idols and put an end to the images in Memphis. No longer will there be a prince in Egypt, and I will spread fear throughout the land. I will lay waste Upper Egypt, set fire to Zoan and inflict punishment on Thebes.

Why?
Egypt and the Pharaoh did not really help Israel but tore open their shoulders, so the Lord brought a sword against Egypt through the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. And he will carry off its wealth.

Egypt was proud of the Nile River, but even the river was made by the Lord.

How?
Be humble before the Lord, no one can boast of what he has done, without the authority of the Lord nothing will happen and succeed.

Prophey against the king of Tyre and against Sidon

Ezekiel 28:1-26

Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: In the pride of your heart you say, “I am a god; I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas.” But you are a mere mortal and not a god, though you think you are as wise as a god.

By your great skill in trading you have increased your wealth, and because of your wealth   your heart has grown proud.

I am going to bring foreigners against you, the most ruthless of nations; they will draw their swords against your beauty and wisdom and pierce your shining splendor. They will bring you down to the pit, and you will die a violent death in the heart of the seas.

 The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings.

The word of the Lord came to me:  “Son of man, set your face against Sidon; prophesy against her and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

I will send a plague upon you and make blood flow in your streets. The slain will fall within you, with the sword against you on every side. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

When I gather the people of Israel from the nations where they have been scattered, I will be proved holy through them in the sight of the nations.

They will live there in safety and will build houses and plant vineyards; they will live in safety when I inflict punishment on all their neighbors who maligned them. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.’

Why?

The Lord was against the king of Tyre because of his pride, he thought he was a god, but he was a mortal. The king of Tyre was proud of his great skill in trading. and had increased his wealth.

Widespread trade was filled with violence. All of these are against the Lord.

Israelites came back to their own land showing that the promise of the Lord never failed. So Sidon and Tyre will be ruined.

How?

My God Almighty is everlasting God, only He is the real God in Universal. Worship Him Only.

A Lament Over Tyre

Ezekiel 27:1-36

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, take up a lament concerning Tyre.

‘You say, Tyre, “I am perfect in beauty.”  Your domain was on the high seas;  your builders brought your beauty to perfection. They made all your timbers of juniper from Senir; they took a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you.

Men of Persia, Lydia and Put served as soldiers in your army. They hung their shields and helmets on your walls, bringing you splendor. Men of Arvad and Helek guarded your walls on every side; men of Gammad were in your towers. They hung their shields around your walls; they brought your beauty to perfection.

The ships of Tarshish serve as carriers for your wares. You are filled with heavy cargo as you sail the sea. Your oarsmen take you out to the high seas. But the east wind will break you to pieces far out at sea. Your wealth, merchandise and wares, your mariners, sailors and shipwrights, your merchants and all your soldiers, and everyone else on board will sink into the heart of the sea on the day of your shipwreck.

All who live in the coastlands are appalled at you; their kings shudder with horror and their faces are distorted with fear. The merchants among the nations scoff at you;  you have come to a horrible end and will be no more.’”

Why?

Tyre is a trade city, they were proud of their property and their ships. They were important places of trade.

But they failed because of their pride, the east wind broke everything to pieces and sank to the sea.

All of the glory and riches are gone. For the Lord is the king of everyone in this world.

古代的腓尼基城邦，位於地中海岸上，西頓以南20哩及阿卡以 北23哩。推羅主要由兩部分組成，那就是在大陸上一個較古老的海港城市，以及島上離岸半哩的一個城市；大部分人口則分 佈在島城之上

公元前332年，關於推羅的這些預言和較早的預言均信而有徵地獲得應驗。亞歷山大大帝開始進行征服中東的活動。在西頓歸降之後，亞歷山大揮軍進攻推羅。

亞歷山大的部屬深以為然，推羅於是受到圍攻。攻城的策略證明與聖經的預言一致。以西結曾經寫道：「我要刮淨塵土，使它成為淨光的磐石。」（以西結書26:4）亞歷山大決定築一條防波堤道直通島城。為了達成這項目的，他利用大陸舊城的碎石和瓦礫。

建築堤道雖然應驗了聖經預言，但圍城7個月之後，攻陷推羅還是靠海軍的力量。據阿利安聲稱，在圍城期內有8,000人死亡，城陷落之後有30,000人被賣為奴。

推羅的毀滅不僅是古代的事件而已。它可說是一項無可改變的保證，表明至高者的判決必然會應驗。耶和華上帝在他的道中宣告，現今像推羅一樣邪惡的整個不敬虔的事物制度行將遭受毀滅。（彼得後書3:9-12）我們鼓勵你探知聖經對這件事的主張以及怎樣才能逃避迫近眉睫的災難。

推羅王 滅亡的原因：（以西結書28:1-6）
原因：不以自己所擁有的智慧, 美麗, 財富,繁榮, 興盛等 來感恩，反而心裡高傲，自以為神
結28:7-10－對推羅王滅亡的預言：結果：受審判,死在外族人手裡, 亡國到永遠

How?

Be humble and rely on the Lord. My way and health is the grace of the Lord, in the hands of the Lord!

The propercy against Tyre

Ezekiel 26:1-21

In the eleventh month of the twelfth year, on the first day of the month. 

Son of man, because Tyre has said of Jerusalem, ‘Aha! The gate to the nations is broken, and its doors have swung open to me; now that she lies in ruins I will prosper,’ therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, Tyre, and I will bring many nations against you, like the sea casting up its waves. They will destroy the walls of Tyre and pull down her towers; I will scrape away her rubble and make her a bare rock. Out in the sea she will become a place to spread fishnets, for I have spoken, declares the Sovereign Lord. She will become plunder for the nations, and her settlements on the mainland will be ravaged by the sword. Then they will know that I am the Lord.

From the north I am going to bring against Tyre Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses and chariots, with horsemen and a great army.

This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When I make you a desolate city, like cities no longer inhabited, and when I bring the ocean depths over you and its vast waters cover you, then I will bring you down with those who go down to the pit, to the people of long ago. I will make you dwell in the earth below, as in ancient ruins, with those who go down to the pit, and you will not return or take your place in the land of the living. I will bring you to a horrible end and you will be no more. You will be sought, but you will never again be found, declares the Sovereign Lord.

Why?

Tyre is located coast, it is a business city, and there is an island in the sea. Babylon took fifteen years to destroy her city. But could not take the island. King Alexander made a bridge from land to the Island and destroyed this island in BC332. where are covered with stones until now. The word of the Lord will be done always.

The proud country will be down so as to a proud people will be low.

How?

Blessing is be humble and obey the word of the Lord!

The Lord stretch out his hand against Amonites, Moab, Edom and Philistines

Ezekiel 25:1-17

Son of man, set your face against the Ammonites and prophesy against them. Say to them, ‘Hear the word of the Sovereign Lord. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you said “Aha!” over my sanctuary when it was desecrated and over the land of Israel when it was laid waste and over the people of Judah when they went into exile, therefore I am going to give you to the people of the East as a possession. They will set up their camps and pitch their tents among you; they will eat your fruit and drink your milk. I will turn Rabbah into a pasture for camels and Ammon into a resting place for sheep. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet, rejoicing with all the malice of your heart against the land of Israel.

This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because Moab and Seir said, “Look, Judah has become like all the other nations,” therefore I will expose the flank of Moab, beginning at its frontier towns—Beth Jeshimoth, Baal Meon and Kiriathaim—the glory of that land. I will give Moab along with the Ammonites to the people of the East as a possession, so that the Ammonites will not be remembered among the nations; and I will inflict punishment on Moab. Then they will know that I am the Lord.

‘Because Edom took revenge on Judah and became very guilty by doing so, therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will stretch out my hand against Edom and kill both man and beast. I will lay it waste, and from Teman to Dedan they will fall by the sword.

This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because the Philistines acted in vengeance and took revenge with malice in their hearts, and with ancient hostility sought to destroy Judah, therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to stretch out my hand against the Philistines, and I will wipe out the Kerethites and destroy those remaining along the coast.

Why?

The countries around Judah, they said "Aha", or clapped their hands and stamped their feet, Judah has become like all the other nations. Edom took revenge on Judah and became very guilty by doing so. and Philistines acted in vengeance and took revenge with malice in their hearts. So the Lord stretched out his hand against them.

The Lord punished Judah to clean them from evil but the Lord still loved his people. But those countries were glad these disasters happened and acted in vengeance.

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以西結事奉第一階段結束，本章開始到32章對四圍國家的預言。

亞捫：巴比倫透過亞捫逼迫猶大。滿心的恨惡向以色列地歡喜： 幸災樂禍，自以為義的心態。別人的不義，認為自己是對的。例如我的敵人遇到災難，我就自以為義。教會中服事熱心的人也容易自以為義，記得我們沒有比別人好。以色列人看外邦人就是如此。

摩押： 自以為是. 認為猶大的神與其他國家的神一樣，眾神之一。以自己的想法看事情。信仰超過我們的理性。我們的神不是眾神最大的，不能做比較的，神是創造者，其他都是被造者！以為最沒有問題的地方先被攻破。

以東人、非利士人趁火打劫，所以神要審判他們。神要巴比倫刑罰猶大，但是做的太超過了，神還是要刑罰他們，追討他們的罪。

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How?

When a man falls, don't be happy for his evil or sins but love them for I am a sinner either.

The stronghold in which you take pride, the delight of your eyes, the object of your affection

Ezekiel 24;15-27

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, with one blow I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes. Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears. Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban fastened and your sandals on your feet; do not cover your mustache and beard or eat the customary food of mourners.”

So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.

So I said to them, “The word of the Lord came to me: Say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to desecrate my sanctuary—the stronghold in which you take pride, the delight of your eyes, the object of your affection. The sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword. And you will do as I have done. You will not cover your mustache and beard or eat the customary food of mourners. You will keep your turbans on your heads and your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn or weep but will waste away because of your sins and groan among yourselves. Ezekiel will be a sign to you; you will do just as he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.’

And you, son of man, on the day I take away their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes, their heart’s desire, and their sons and daughters as well— on that day a fugitive will come to tell you the news. At that time your mouth will be opened; you will speak with him and will no longer be silent. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the Lord.”

Why?

The Lord takes away the stronghold in which they take pride, the delight of their eyes, the object of their affection. Anyone who takes something instead of the Lord will be sad.

Follow the Lord and honor the Lord on the first. For the delight of our eyes will be taken away by the Lord in His time.

To be a prophet of the Lord has to suffer for his wife to be taken away for his delight as a sign to Israelites.

The way of the Lord is hard with joy, for we need to get rid of the delight of our eyes.

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讓以西結哀痛的故事，喪妻卻不能哀傷。行動劇令人好奇。

頭上仍勒裹頭巾：表示仍然過平常的日子，不能撒灰在頭上。不可蒙著嘴唇： 不能說我不潔淨。不可吃弔喪的食物：不能如喪家一樣的飲食。

當時被擄的人仍然將盼望放在耶路撒冷。這個行動劇，不舉哀，忽然被取走如以西結的妻子。聖殿被毀，兒女被殺。因為災難大到一個程度，沒有任何一個方式可以來表達傷痛。極大的災難，哀哭已經沒有用。耶路撒冷被毀，百姓也沒有感覺！諷刺耶路撒冷的居民，大難臨頭卻沒有感覺。神用這廝激烈的方式來提醒以色列人，因為神愛他的百姓。用以西結親身經歷，讓百姓來到以西結面前，他的事奉來到下一個階段，他的傳講、事奉更有能力。如耶穌付上極大的代價。參孫死時殺的人比他活著時殺的人更多。當試煉艱難臨到我們都與神的國有關。讓我們有承受的能力。

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How?

May the Holy Spirit help me get rid of the delight of my eyes.

Because I tried to cleanse you but you would not be cleansed from your impurity

Ezekiel 24:1-14

In the ninth year, in the tenth month on the tenth day, the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, record this date, this very date, because the king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day. Tell this rebellious people a parable and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

Put on the cooking pot; put it on and pour water into it. Put into it the pieces of meat,  all the choice pieces—the leg and the shoulder. Fill it with the best of these bones;    take the pick of the flock. Pile wood beneath it for the bones; bring it to a boil and cook the bones in it.

‘Woe to the city of bloodshed,  to the pot now encrusted, whose deposit will not go away! Take the meat out piece by piece in whatever order it comes.

Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the city of bloodshed! I, too, will pile the wood high. So heap on the wood and kindle the fire. Cook the meat well, mixing in the spices; and let the bones be charred.

It has frustrated all efforts; its heavy deposit has not been removed, not even by fire.

Now your impurity is lewdness. Because I tried to cleanse you but you would not be cleansed from your impurity, you will not be clean again until my wrath against you has subsided.

I the Lord have spoken. The time has come for me to act. I will not hold back; I will not have pity, nor will I relent. You will be judged according to your conduct and your actions, declares the Sovereign Lord.

Why?

The time of God's judgment is coming, and the Lord asks Ezekiel to put the pieces of meat in the cooking pot.

This pot is the city of Jerusalem, the Lord hoped they could be clean but they would not be cleansed from their impurity. 

The time has come for the Lord to act. There is no pity, nor relent of the Lord.

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時間是西底加王做王第九年，此時審判的日子到了，過去以西結一直在提醒耶路撒冷的人，他們一直認為城牆堅固，像銅，於是用生銹的鍋來比喻耶路撒冷。最好的肉和骨放在鍋中，指的就是最尊貴的人，王室成員、貴族等。鍋長銹，就要把湯倒出，把肉取出。全部都要挑出來，表示沒有一個人能存活，留存。

鍋繼續燒乾，為要潔淨這鍋，湯倒出來，即血倒出來，倒在磐石上，無法掩蓋，在土裏會滲入看不見。這銹用火也除不掉。神為人開路，給機會，人卻不願被潔淨，因此神把鍋毀滅。

人容易有錯誤的安全感！神容不得一絲一毫的罪，肉是最好的，但是有銹，整鍋倒掉，神定的日子主的話必定成就。

How?

Am I a rusted pot, with impurities, and not clean! May the Holy Spirit remind me and clean me.

Put an end to lewdness in the land, that all women may take warning and not imitate you

Ezekiel 23:1-49

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, there were two women, daughters of the same mother. They became prostitutes in Egypt, engaging in prostitution from their youth. In that land their breasts were fondled and their virgin bosoms caressed. The older was named Oholah, and her sister was Oholibah. They were mine and gave birth to sons and daughters. Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem.

Oholah engaged in prostitution while she was still mine; and she lusted after her lovers, the Assyrians—warriors clothed in blue, governors and commanders, all of them handsome young men, and mounted horsemen. She gave herself as a prostitute to all the elite of the Assyrians and defiled herself with all the idols of everyone she lusted after.

Her sister Oholibah saw this, yet in her lust and prostitution she was more depraved than her sister. She too lusted after the Assyrians—governors and commanders, warriors in full dress, mounted horsemen, all handsome young men. I saw that she too defiled herself; both of them went the same way.

Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Since you have forgotten me and turned your back on me, you must bear the consequences of your lewdness and prostitution.”

This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Bring a mob against them and give them over to terror and plunder. The mob will stone them and cut them down with their swords; they will kill their sons and daughters and burn down their houses.

So I will put an end to lewdness in the land, that all women may take warning and not imitate you. You will suffer the penalty for your lewdness and bear the consequences of your sins of idolatry. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.”

Why?
Israel and Judia are the same they both discard the Lord and love Egypt, Assyrians, and Babylon. They forget the love of the Lord.

For Israelites were saved by the Lord from slavery in Egypt, so they put an end to lewdness in the land, let all women take warning and not imitate them.

Prostitution and lust are not honorable to his husband.

The purpose is good to us, but those who did against the words of the Lord have to be judged by their behavior.

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看見神絕對不冤枉人，似乎神很可怕，但是神其實已經都警告過。從撒馬利亞看猶大，南國有136年時間沒有去思想北國為何滅亡。神不惜祂的兒女被欺壓，分散，受苦，為要讓神的兒女遠離罪惡。

北國去依靠亞述，他們認為依靠神不夠，要依靠亞述強國。 南國耶路撒冷罪更重，依靠巴比倫、又懷念埃及。

穿藍衣（穿名牌），作省長、副省長（居高官、大公司負責人），都騎著馬（開進口車），以此來比喻離開神去找自己的方法，是給神的心極大的傷害。人的罪多麼可怕。神用他們所喜愛的攻擊他們。原來以為可愛、可靠的，反而成為致命的原因。這不是美食，是包著糖衣的毒藥，妹妹沒有因為姊姊受的審判而警惕。人看見別人受審判，不會因此受警戒。

鐲子戴在二婦的手上，把華冠戴在他們的頭上：這已經成為妓女的報酬，這是下場。

神用激烈方法使淫行從境內止息，叫人知道他們走的是絕路。當我們看見聖經記載的事成為我們的殷鑑，提醒我們。

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How?

Our God is Holy, so people of the Lord should keep holy either and obey God's commands.

I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land, but I found no one

Ezekiel 22:17-31

Son of man, the people of Israel have become dross to me; all of them are the copper, tin, iron and lead left inside a furnace. They are but the dross of silver. 

As silver is melted in a furnace, so you will be melted inside her, and you will know that I the Lord have poured out my wrath on you.’

There is a conspiracy of her princes within her like a roaring lion tearing its prey; they devour people, take treasures and precious things and make many widows within her. Her priests do violence to my law and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill people to make unjust gain. Her prophets whitewash these deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations. They say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says’—when the Lord has not spoken. The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the foreigner, denying them justice.

I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one. So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

Why?

The Lord declares that Jerusalem will be destroyed like silver is melted in a furnace. They are but the dross of silver.

There were many crimes by the princes, officials, and people of the land. The Lord described their crimes to Ezekiel in detail of their behaviors.

If there were someone among them doing right building up the wall and standing before the Lord in the gap, God would not destroy this city. But no one exists.

How?

Am I a righteous man before the Lord? No, I am a sinner, may the Holy Spirit help me walk on the right way of the Lord and keep closer heart to the Lord.

Scatter you through the countries; and I will put an end to your uncleanness

Ezekiel 22:1-16

This is what the Sovereign Lord says: You city that brings on herself doom by shedding blood in her midst and defiles herself by making idols, you have become guilty because of the blood you have shed and have become defiled by the idols you have made. You have brought your days to a close, and the end of your years has come. Therefore I will make you an object of scorn to the nations and a laughingstock to all the countries. Those who are near and those who are far away will mock you, you infamous city, full of turmoil.

See how each of the princes of Israel who are in you uses his power to shed blood. In you they have treated father and mother with contempt; in you they have oppressed the foreigner and mistreated the fatherless and the widow. You have despised my holy things and desecrated my Sabbaths. In you are slanderers who are bent on shedding blood; in you are those who eat at the mountain shrines and commit lewd acts. In you are those who dishonor their father’s bed; in you are those who violate women during their period, when they are ceremonially unclean. In you one man commits a detestable offense with his neighbor’s wife, another shamefully defiles his daughter-in-law, and another violates his sister, his own father’s daughter. In you are people who accept bribes to shed blood; you take interest and make a profit from the poor. You extort unjust gain from your neighbors. And you have forgotten me, declares the Sovereign Lord.

I will disperse you among the nations and scatter you through the countries; and I will put an end to your uncleanness. When you have been defiled in the eyes of the nations, you will know that I am the Lord.

Why?

The Lord described so many sins the Israelites had done. so God punished them, and scattered them through the countries, in order to put an end to their uncleanness.

There were so many detestable things the Lord had reminded Israelites.

How?

Through the Lord and the help of the Holy Spirit to be a good Christian, and rely on ourselves we could not be good disciples before the Lord.