August 19, 2022: Day 178 – Ezekiel 31-35 and Psalm 64

Once again the prophet speaks out to a nation that is not the people of God.  It is interesting because there does seem a bit of sadness as he speaks out to a nation that at one time had held the Israelites in slavery.  In fact, this part is called a lament for Pharaoh and for Egypt.  Ezekiel laments, doesn’t celebrate or brag, about the downfall of Egypt.

We then see the image of Ezekiel as a watchman.  God warns him that if he does not speak to the words that God gives him and warn the people of the wrath to come so that they can straighten up and fly right, then he, Ezekiel, will also be held accountable for their destruction.  But if he does speak to them and they do not listen to him, well, then that is on them.  

The image of the shepherds and the sheep is a powerful one especially in light of the fact that Ezekiel is the only one speaking out the truth.  The other prophets, the shepherds as this Scripture describes, are merely looking out for their own interest.  

Psalm 64 is a lament when David “complains” to God about his enemies.  But then at the end starting in vs.9 things tend to go right and David speaks about the wonder and the glory of the Lord and it seems that things are better.