“For you also,
O Judah!
A harvest
Is appointed.
When I would restore
The fortunes
Of my people.”
Southern Judah would have a harvest at an appointed time. Yahweh was going to restore the fortunes of his people in the future. Perhaps this may have been a later addition here.
“He shall seduce,
With flattery,
Those who violate
The covenant.
But the people
Who are loyal
To their God
Shall stand firm.
They shall take action.
The wise among the people
Shall give understanding
To many.
For some days,
However,
They shall fall
By the sword,
By the flame.
They shall suffer
Captivity,
As well as plunder.
When they fall victim,
They shall receive
A little help.
Many shall join
Them insincerely.
Some of the wise
Shall fall.
Thus,
They may be
Refined,
Purified,
Cleansed,
Until the time
Of the end.
There is still an interval
Until the time appointed.
As indicated in 1 Maccabees, chapter 2, King Antiochus IV seduced some of the Hellenizing Judeans to abandon the covenant. However, there were many who remained loyal to their God. They stood firm and sided with the wise ones of Jerusalem. However, they also fell by the sword and the flames. They suffered captivity and plunder, but they received a little help. Some of these people were insincere. Even some of the wise ones fell, so that they could be refined, purified, and cleansed until the end times. Nevertheless, there was going to be an interval until this appointed time came.
“You shall say!
Thus says Yahweh God!
‘A city!
It sheds blood
Within itself!
Its time has come!
It is making idols.
It defiles itself.
You have become guilty
By the blood
That you have shed.
You have become defiled
By the idols
That you have made.
You have brought
Your day near.
The appointed time
Of your years
Has come.
Therefore,
I have made you
A disgrace
Before the nations.
I have made you
A mockery
To all the countries.
Those who are near,
Those who are far
From you,
Will mock you.
You infamous one!
You are
Full of tumult!’”
Yahweh told Ezekiel to speak to the city of Jerusalem because it was shedding blood within itself. Its time has come. It had been making idols and defiling itself. They have become guilty by the blood that they have shed. They have brought their day of punishment nearer. The appointed time of their years has come to an end. Yahweh was going to make them a disgrace and a mockery among the various nations and countries, whether they were near or far. Everyone would mock them as the infamous place full of tumult.
“Moreover I saw
Under the sun
That in the place of justice,
Wickedness was there.
In the place of righteousness,
Wickedness was there as well.
I said in my heart.
‘God will judge the righteous.
God will judge the wicked.
He has appointed a time for every matter.
He has appointed a time for every work.’”
Qoheleth saw the place of justice under the sun. Wickedness had taken the place of both justice and righteousness here on earth. God will judge both the righteous and the wicked. He has an appointed time for every matter and every work.
“Yahweh!
You are enthroned forever.
Your name endures to all generations.
You wilt rise up.
You will have compassion on Zion.
It is time to favor it.
The appointed time has come.
Your servants hold its stones dear.
Have pity on its dust.
The nations will fear the name of Yahweh.
All the kings of the earth fear your glory.
Yahweh will build up Zion.
He will appear in his glory.
He will regard the prayer of the destitute.
He will not despise their prayer.”
There is this beautiful hymn to Yahweh, who is enthroned as king forever. His name will endure through all generations. He will rise up and have compassion on Zion, his holy city and temple. The appointed time has come. His servants hold its stones holy. Yahweh should have pity on its dust. All the countries and kings would fear the name and glory of Yahweh. Yahweh would rebuild Zion and appear in all his glory. He has regard for the prayer of the destitute and will not despise their prayers.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 