What lessons can we learn about God's judgment from Ezekiel 28:20? Setting the Scene • Ezekiel 28:1–19 has just pronounced judgment on the proud “prince” and “king” of Tyre. • Verse 20 shifts the spotlight: “Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,”. • One short sentence, yet it opens the door to another oracle—this time against Sidon (vv. 21-23)—and reminds us how God’s judgments always begin: with His sovereign, authoritative word. Key Observations From the Verse • “Then” signals sequence—God’s judgments are deliberate, never random. • “The word of the LORD” stresses that judgment originates in God’s revealed, flawless speech, not human opinion (cf. Psalm 33:4). • “Came to me” highlights personal revelation; God uses His prophets to deliver literal messages to real people at specific moments. • “Saying” underscores that God communicates clearly; His judgments are understandable and leave no room for excuse. Lessons About God’s Judgment • God initiates judgment—He speaks first; we respond (Isaiah 55:11). • Every judgment is rooted in His unwavering character; what He says, He will do (Numbers 23:19). • Judgment is always preceded by revelation, giving opportunity for repentance (Jonah 3:4-10 shows a contrasting response). • The authority of the prophetic word is absolute; rejecting it is rejecting God Himself (1 Thessalonians 2:13). • God’s judgments are part of a larger, ordered plan; chapter divisions change, but His storyline of justice moves forward without interruption (Acts 17:31). Supporting Scriptural Echoes • Hebrews 4:12—“For the word of God is living and active… it judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” • Jeremiah 1:9-10—God puts His words in the prophet’s mouth “to uproot and tear down… to build and plant.” • Revelation 19:15—“From His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations.” Judgment still issues from His word—even at the end of the age. Putting It Into Practice • Treat God’s written Word today with the same seriousness Ezekiel gave to the spoken word then. • Let the certainty of coming judgment motivate holiness (2 Peter 3:11-13). • When Scripture exposes sin, respond quickly—the word that convicts now will judge later (John 12:48). • Share God’s truth faithfully; the same word that warns also saves (Romans 10:17). God’s judgments do not drop out of thin air—they arrive on the wings of His revealed Word. Ezekiel 28:20 may be brief, yet it reminds us that every divine verdict begins and ends with “Thus says the LORD.” |
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