Ezekiel 12:8
And in the morning the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
And in the morning

After Ezekiel carried out the commanded sign of exile during the night, the Lord spoke again at daybreak. The timing connected the enacted message with its interpretation, bringing light upon the warning given to a rebellious people.

Exo 16:7 and in the morning you will see the LORD’s glory,…
Exo 34:4 So Moses chiseled out two stone tablets like the originals.…
1Sa 1:19 The next morning they got up early to bow in worship…

the word of the LORD

God Himself supplied both the sign and its meaning. Ezekiel was not presenting personal speculation about Jerusalem’s future; he was declaring the certain judgment of the covenant God upon Judah.

Jer 1:4 The word of the LORD came to me, saying:
Jon 1:1 Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai…
Hos 1:1 This is the word of the LORD that came to Hosea son of Beeri…

came to me,

The Lord continued to direct Ezekiel personally while he lived among the exiles in Babylon. God had not abandoned His people, and His repeated messages showed that He still confronted their sin and called them to recognize His authority.

Ezk 24:1 In the ninth year, on the tenth day of the tenth month,…
Jer 32:6 Jeremiah replied, “The word of the LORD came to me, saying:
Jer 18:5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

saying,

The message that follows explains the meaning of Ezekiel’s actions and identifies Jerusalem’s ruler and inhabitants as those facing captivity. God’s warning would soon be fulfilled in the downfall of Zedekiah and the exile of the remaining people of Judah.

1Ki 17:2 Then a revelation from the LORD came to Elijah:
Jer 7:1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD…
Num 4:1 Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,

Persons / Places / Events
1. Ezekiel
A prophet and priest during the Babylonian exile, Ezekiel is the primary figure in this passage. He is known for his vivid visions and symbolic actions, which convey God's messages to the Israelites.

2. The LORD
The covenant name of God, Yahweh, who communicates directly with Ezekiel, providing him with messages for the people of Israel.

3. The Exile
The context of this passage is the Babylonian exile, a significant event where the Israelites were taken captive and removed from their homeland due to their disobedience to God.
Teaching Points
God's Communication
God actively communicates with His people, often through chosen individuals like prophets. We should be attentive to how God speaks to us today, whether through Scripture, prayer, or other believers.

The Role of the Prophet
Prophets like Ezekiel were tasked with delivering God's messages, often in challenging circumstances. We are called to be faithful messengers of God's truth in our own lives, even when it is difficult.

Understanding God's Timing
The phrase "in the morning" suggests a specific timing for God's revelation. We should trust in God's perfect timing for revealing His plans and purposes in our lives.

Obedience to God's Word
Ezekiel's readiness to receive and act on God's word is a model for us. We should strive to be obedient and responsive to God's instructions.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Ezekiel's role as a prophet during the exile inform our understanding of God's communication with His people in times of crisis?

2. In what ways can we discern God's voice in our lives today, and how can we ensure we are listening attentively?

3. How does the historical context of the Babylonian exile enhance our understanding of the urgency and importance of Ezekiel's message?

4. What are some modern-day challenges we face when trying to be faithful messengers of God's truth, and how can we overcome them?

5. How can we apply the concept of God's perfect timing in our personal decision-making and spiritual growth?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Jeremiah 24
This chapter also deals with the theme of exile and the prophetic messages given to the people of Israel. It provides a broader context of God's judgment and eventual restoration.

2 Kings 25
Describes the fall of Jerusalem and the beginning of the Babylonian exile, providing historical context to Ezekiel's prophecies.

Hebrews 1:1-2
Highlights how God spoke through the prophets in the past, including Ezekiel, and now speaks through His Son, Jesus Christ.
It Parabolic Appeal to a Rebellious PeopleW. Jones Ezekiel 12:1-16
The Dramatic Form of ProphecyJ.D. Davies Ezekiel 12:1-16
People
Ezekiel
Places
Babylon, Chaldea, Jerusalem
Topics
Morning, Saying
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ezekiel 12:8

     4954   morning

Ezekiel 12:3-11

     1431   prophecy, OT methods

Ezekiel 12:7-11

     1421   oracles

Library
A Common Mistake and Lame Excuse
'... He prophesieth of the times that are far off.'--EZEKIEL xii. 27. Human nature was very much the same in the exiles that listened to Ezekiel on the banks of the Chebar and in Manchester to-day. The same neglect of God's message was grounded then on the same misapprehension of its bearings which profoundly operates in the case of many people now. Ezekiel had been proclaiming the fall of Jerusalem to the exiles whose captivity preceded it by a few years; and he was confronted by the incredulity
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The End
'1. And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built forts against it round about. 2. And the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah. 3. And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land. 4. And the city was broken up, and all the
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Last Agony
'In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army against Jerusalem, and they besieged it. 2. And in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, the city was broken up. 3. And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, even Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarse-chim, Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer, Rab-mag, with all the residue of the princes of the king of Babylon.
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Purpose in the Coming of Jesus.
God Spelling Himself out in Jesus: change in the original language--bother in spelling Jesus out--sticklers for the old forms--Jesus' new spelling of old words. Jesus is God following us up: God heart-broken--man's native air--bad choice affected man's will--the wrong lane--God following us up. The Early Eden Picture, Genesis 1:26-31. 2:7-25: unfallen man--like God--the breath of God in man--a spirit, infinite, eternal--love--holy--wise--sovereign over creation, Psalm 8:5-8--in his own will--summary--God's
S. D. Gordon—Quiet Talks about Jesus

'As Sodom'
'Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 2. And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that Jehoiakim had done. 3. For through the anger of the Lord it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, till he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. 4. And it came to pass, in the ninth year of his reign,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

A Believer's Privilege at Death
'For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.' Phil 1:1I. Hope is a Christian's anchor, which he casts within the veil. Rejoicing in hope.' Rom 12:12. A Christian's hope is not in this life, but he hash hope in his death.' Prov 14:42. The best of a saint's comfort begins when his life ends; but the wicked have all their heaven here. Woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.' Luke 6:64. You may make your acquittance, and write Received in full payment.' Son, remember that
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Ezekiel
To a modern taste, Ezekiel does not appeal anything like so powerfully as Isaiah or Jeremiah. He has neither the majesty of the one nor the tenderness and passion of the other. There is much in him that is fantastic, and much that is ritualistic. His imaginations border sometimes on the grotesque and sometimes on the mechanical. Yet he is a historical figure of the first importance; it was very largely from him that Judaism received the ecclesiastical impulse by which for centuries it was powerfully
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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