Yea, I will gather you, and blow upon you in the fire of my wrath, and ye shall be melted in the midst thereof.
Ezekiel 22:21 belongs to the prophetic warnings uttered before the destruction of Jerusalem, given for correction, denunciation and reproof. Ezekiel's prophecies were written for the admonition of people living today, not only for ancient Israel.
God gathers the people who have become like dross, as metal is gathered into a furnace. He blows upon them in the fire of His wrath and melts them in the midst thereof. They will know that He has poured out His fury upon them. The base, heavy metal such as lead in the surrounding imagery represents sin. Sin must be forgiven or it will be consumed.
The judgment comes because of transgression of God's law. Idolatry and Sabbath desecration and neglect brought trouble, dispersion and exile as the harvest of their own wrongdoing. The chapter repeats the breach in the law together with the failure of teachers to prepare the people for the day of the Lord.
The chapter speaks against men who teach what is not true, prophesy lies in God's name, and make the people trust in a lie. Such teachers bring destruction on the souls that believe them even when they themselves are deceived. The verse exposes the false prophet's cry of peace and assurance in time of danger, showing that to promise peace when there is no peace is false.
In the last days God gathers His professed people, with Israel meaning the people of God and remnant meaning the last part. He blows upon them in the fire of His wrath to melt them in the midst thereof. He brings evil upon them, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they walk in violation of His precepts and have not hearkened to His words and His law but have rejected it.
That generation is described as having uncircumcised ears, meaning unrighteous and unbelieving, with the word of the Lord a reproach to them and no delight in it. From the least to the greatest all are given to covetousness, and from prophet to priest all deal falsely. They heal the hurt or breach slightly by saying Peace, peace when there is no peace, and lull with the cry of peace and safety. They refuse to stand in the ways and ask for the old paths where is the good way, which are His commandments and law, and walk therein to find rest for their souls, and they refuse to hearken to the watchmen and the sound of the trumpet. They walk contrary to God's law if not outwardly then in thought and motive, while God looks on the heart and measures acts and words by underlying motives, so that when they say Peace and safety sudden destruction comes upon them and they shall not escape.
Ezekiel 22:21 belongs to the prophetic warnings uttered before the destruction of Jerusalem, given for correction, denunciation and reproof. Ezekiel's prophecies were written for the admonition of people living today, not only for ancient Israel.
God gathers the people who have become like dross, as metal is gathered into a furnace. He blows upon them in the fire of His wrath and melts them in the midst thereof. They will know that He has poured out His fury upon them. The base, heavy metal such as lead in the surrounding imagery represents sin. Sin must be forgiven or it will be consumed.
The judgment comes because of transgression of God's law. Idolatry and Sabbath desecration and neglect brought trouble, dispersion and exile as the harvest of their own wrongdoing. The chapter repeats the breach in the law together with the failure of teachers to prepare the people for the day of the Lord.
The chapter speaks against men who teach what is not true, prophesy lies in God's name, and make the people trust in a lie. Such teachers bring destruction on the souls that believe them even when they themselves are deceived. The verse exposes the false prophet's cry of peace and assurance in time of danger, showing that to promise peace when there is no peace is false.
In the last days God gathers His professed people, with Israel meaning the people of God and remnant meaning the last part. He blows upon them in the fire of His wrath to melt them in the midst thereof. He brings evil upon them, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they walk in violation of His precepts and have not hearkened to His words and His law but have rejected it.
That generation is described as having uncircumcised ears, meaning unrighteous and unbelieving, with the word of the Lord a reproach to them and no delight in it. From the least to the greatest all are given to covetousness, and from prophet to priest all deal falsely. They heal the hurt or breach slightly by saying Peace, peace when there is no peace, and lull with the cry of peace and safety. They refuse to stand in the ways and ask for the old paths where is the good way, which are His commandments and law, and walk therein to find rest for their souls, and they refuse to hearken to the watchmen and the sound of the trumpet. They walk contrary to God's law if not outwardly then in thought and motive, while God looks on the heart and measures acts and words by underlying motives, so that when they say Peace and safety sudden destruction comes upon them and they shall not escape.