How does Ezekiel 21:27 illustrate God's sovereignty in overturning human authority? Setting the Stage • Ezekiel receives a word of judgment against Jerusalem and its king, Zedekiah (Ezekiel 21:25–26). • Earthly rulers thought the throne of David was theirs by political maneuvering, yet the Lord declares in v. 27: “A ruin! A ruin! I will make it a ruin! It will not be restored until He to whom it rightfully belongs comes; to Him I will give it.” • Threefold repetition—“ruin”—signals absolute finality. Nothing man does can stop God from unseating a ruler when His purposes demand it. God’s Sovereignty Unpacked • Divine initiative: “I will make it a ruin.” God—not Babylon, not palace intrigue—decides the fate of the throne. • Total reversal: The crown is turned over, exalted is brought low, lowly raised up (v. 26). Human hierarchy collapses under divine decree. • Timed fulfillment: The throne stays empty “until He to whom it rightfully belongs comes,” pointing forward to Messiah (cf. Genesis 49:10; Luke 1:32-33). God both removes and appoints rulers on His timetable. • Sole ownership: Authority “rightfully belongs” to Christ. All other authority is temporary stewardship (cf. Matthew 28:18). Supporting Biblical Witness • Daniel 2:21—“He removes kings and establishes them.” • Psalm 75:6-7—“Exaltation does not come from the east or west… God is the Judge; He brings down one and exalts another.” • Romans 13:1—“There is no authority except from God, and those that exist are appointed by God.” • Revelation 19:16—Christ returns as “King of kings,” the ultimate realization of Ezekiel’s prophetic promise. Takeaways for Today • No regime, party, or leader is ultimately secure; God alone grants and withdraws power. • Human pride in authority is misplaced—God can say “ruin” at any moment. • Believers rest in Christ’s coming reign; apparent chaos is God’s stage for accomplishing His redemptive plan. • Obedience and trust belong to the Lord above every earthly authority, because He alone holds the crown by right. |
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