The Death of Ezekiel’s Wife (and Jerusalem)

Read:  Ezekiel 24:15-27

Record:  The outline of Ezekiel lets you know that chapter 24 is the latter bookend to Ezekiel’s section concerned with the Oracles of Doom (4-24).  The next major section is the Oracles Against the Nations (25-32).  Before Ezekiel can speak out the words of the Lord to the nations, he must suffer (personal doom?).  Ezekiel 24 ends the Oracles of Doom in very personals way to Ezekiel.  Essentially, it hits as close to home as possible.  Vv. 1-14 describe the destruction of Jerusalem, Ezekiel’s true home and motherland.  Vv. 15-27 describe the destruction of Ezekiel’s wife, the home of his heart, or as v. 16 says, “the delight of your eyes.”  God gives Ezekiel the very strange command to not mourn his wife’s death.  Ezekiel is to go about carrying on business as usual with his mouth quiet.

Reflect:  The final verse in chapter 24 is seemingly the only bit of hope in this chapter of utter judgment.  Since his call, Ezekiel has been unable to properly speak (see Ezekiel 3).  And now, of all the moments in his life, he is not allowed to properly mourn his wife’s death.  But what is going on here is a foreshadow of what will happen to the Israelites:

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.’ (Eze 24:24)

Just as Ezekiel was unable to publicly mourn the loss of his wife, so too will the exiles be unable to mourn the destruction of Jerusalem and her temple.  They’ll sit there speechless, unable to express what they feel inside for their home, because their providential exilic setting won’t allow it.

Respond:  But that final verse of the chapter states:

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.” (Eze 24:27)

This is the last verse in the Oracles of Doom.  The Oracles Against the Nations immediately follows, but Ezekiel’s lips are properly restored to usher in the words of hope that will eventually come in chapters 34-38.  With the final series of judgments that must come, Ezekiel is then able to offer hope found in the Lord.  Judgment must come with sin (and the sin described in Ezekiel is rampant and heinous).  A major theme of the book has been the pending judgment of sin.

Yes, the death of Ezekiel’s wife will be a sign to those in exile that Jerusalem will be in siege that death and the silent mourning will follow, but Ezekiel’s lips will be opened.  The question is: What will he be able to proclaim on behalf of the Lord?

The Oracles of Good News. (Eze 33-48)

But all this judgment leads somewhere for His people.  Redemptive history’s story is such that in the midst of judgment comes redemption for God’s remnant.  Sin was rampant and heinous in Christ’s time as well.  The sins Jesus bore on the cross weren’t limited to his contemporaries’ sins.  Rather Christ bore the full weight of sin of His entire remnant, past, present, and future.  Jesus’ lips were sealed as he bore the eternal weight of God’s wrathful judgment: hell on the cross.  Thankfully, his lips spoke of redemption in the middle of bearing His Father’s curse.  One day those lips will speak by the power of His word and bring judgment to those not in His fold and heavenly redemption to those who know His voice.

27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. (John 10:27-28)

Ezekiel’s voice may have been restored, but Christ’s voice is the very life-source that Ezekiel will soon prophesy about concerning the dry bones.  I’m thankful that when I deserved judgment, I received His mercy instead.  I’m thankful that God has given me the grace to hear His voice in Christ.  Thankful for my Shepherd.