the pot

May 17, 2017

The filthy rust remained (Ezek 24:12-24:13)

“In vain,

I have wearied myself.

Its thick rust

Does not depart

By the fire.

Yet,

When I cleansed you

In your filthy lewdness,

You did not become clean

From your filth.

You shall not again

Be cleansed

Until I have satisfied

My fury

Upon you.”

Yahweh, via Ezekiel, was upset that the thick rust did not leave the pot, even with all the burning fire. Yahweh had tried to cleanse them of their filthy lewdness, but they did not come clean from this dirt. Yahweh then said that he was not going to clean them again until his fury was satisfied.

May 16, 2017

The allegory of the boiling pot of meat (Ezek 24:3-24:5)

“Utter an allegory

To the rebellious house!

Say to them!

Thus says Yahweh God!

‘Set on the pot!

Set it on!

Pour in water also!

Put in it

The pieces!

Put in it

All the good pieces!

The thigh!

The shoulder!

Fill it

With choice bones!

Take the choicest one

Of the flock!

Pile the logs

Under it!

Boil its pieces!

Seethe also its bones

In it.’”

Yahweh wanted Ezekiel to proclaim an allegory to the rebellious house of Jerusalem. However, he was already exiled in Babylon. This allegory was about a boiling pot of meat. Ezekiel was to put water in the pot with good pieces of meat, especially the thigh and shoulder from the best in the flock. He was also to include the choice bones from this animal. Then he was to pile logs under the pot. Finally, he was to let the meat and the bones boil in this pot.

April 10, 2017

Yahweh will send the sword (Ezek 11:7-11:8)

“Therefore

Thus says Yahweh God!

‘The slain

Whom you have placed

Within it,

Are the meat.

The city is the pot.

But you shall be

Taken out of it.

You have feared

The sword.

I will bring the sword

Upon you!’

Says Yahweh God.”

This oracle of Yahweh continues with the theme of the dead in Jerusalem. Using the earlier proverb about the meat in the pot, Yahweh explains that the dead people are the meat and the pot is the city. They will be taken out of the pot or the city. However, the sword or death would come upon them anyway. Cleary Yahweh God has spoken.

April 9, 2017

The Spirit speaks (Ezek 11:2-11:4)

“The Spirit said to me.

‘Son of man!

These are the men

Who devise iniquity!

They give wicked counsel

In this city!

They say.

‘The time is not near

To build houses.

This city is the pot.

We are the meat.’

Therefore prophesy

Against them!

Prophesy!

O son of man!’”

This Spirit of Yahweh spoke to Ezekiel. As in chapter 8, these 25 men were full of iniquity. They gave wicked advice in the city of Jerusalem. They even cited a proverb that it was not time to build houses. They were the meat to be cooked in the pot of Jerusalem. This Holy Spirit wanted Ezekiel, the son of man, to prophesize against these evil men.