Eze 24:18 | KingComments | STEP | The word of the LORD comes to Ezekiel again ( ). The message he receives connects directly to the previous one. It is a shocking message ( ). The LORD tells him that He will suddenly take his wife away from him. He calls her “the desire of your eyes”, indicating how deeply Ezekiel loves her. The LORD also tells him to hold back his sorrow. Ezekiel is not to show any visible or audible signs of grief (cf. ). He is to mourn in silence. When he is alone, he may give in to his grief ( ). Further, he may not follow any mourning custom. Usually the mourner walks bareheaded and with dust or ashes on his head ( ; ; ). Going barefoot is also a sign of mourning ( ; ). Mourning includes covering the lower part of the face ( ; ; ; ). Nor should he eat the bread brought to a mourner on such occasions ( ; ). Briefly, Ezekiel indicates how the word of the LORD will be fulfilled ( ). He does not sit idly by waiting for the terrible event to occur. In the morning he has another prophetic message for the people and speaks to them. Before the day is over, the prophesied sudden blow falls and his wife dies. He will have groaned in silence that night, sitting by his dead wife (cf. ). The next morning, the obedient prophet does what the LORD has commanded him. We see here again how a servant of God identifies with God’s people in times of need, even when he has to rebuke them. He faces the worst loss that anyone on earth can experience. He must suffer out of obedience to God and out of love for God’s people without saying a word. Although God does not require such an extreme sacrifice from us, it is important that we live as willing and dedicated servants.

‏ Ezekiel 24:18

Death of Ezekiel’s Wife

The word of the LORD comes to Ezekiel again (Eze 24:15). The message he receives connects directly to the previous one. It is a shocking message (Eze 24:16). The LORD tells him that He will suddenly take his wife away from him. He calls her “the desire of your eyes”, indicating how deeply Ezekiel loves her. The LORD also tells him to hold back his sorrow. Ezekiel is not to show any visible or audible signs of grief (cf. Jer 16:5). He is to mourn in silence.

When he is alone, he may give in to his grief (Eze 24:17). Further, he may not follow any mourning custom. Usually the mourner walks bareheaded and with dust or ashes on his head (Jos 7:6; 1Sam 4:12; Isa 61:3). Going barefoot is also a sign of mourning (2Sam 15:30; Isa 20:2). Mourning includes covering the lower part of the face (Lev 13:45; 2Sam 15:30 ; 2Sam 19:4; Jer 14:3; Mic 3:7). Nor should he eat the bread brought to a mourner on such occasions (Jer 16:7; Hos 9:4).

Briefly, Ezekiel indicates how the word of the LORD will be fulfilled (Eze 24:18). He does not sit idly by waiting for the terrible event to occur. In the morning he has another prophetic message for the people and speaks to them. Before the day is over, the prophesied sudden blow falls and his wife dies. He will have groaned in silence that night, sitting by his dead wife (cf. Gen 23:2). The next morning, the obedient prophet does what the LORD has commanded him.

We see here again how a servant of God identifies with God’s people in times of need, even when he has to rebuke them. He faces the worst loss that anyone on earth can experience. He must suffer out of obedience to God and out of love for God’s people without saying a word. Although God does not require such an extreme sacrifice from us, it is important that we live as willing and dedicated servants.