Eze 24:17-27 | 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 24:17-27

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.

Meaning of the Death of Ezekiel’s Wife

The people will have heard of the disaster that struck Ezekiel. They know what is customary in such circumstances. However, Ezekiel does not act according to those customs. That raises questions among the people (Eze 24:19). In fact, they understand that Ezekiel’s behavior – his refraining from mourning openly – must have some significance for them. Of any sympathy for the great loss Ezekiel has suffered, they give no evidence. Could they be so preoccupied with themselves that they do not think of expressing sympathy (cf. Job 2:11)? We read only that they ask what it means “for us” (Eze 37:18). In a serious speech, Ezekiel tells them what the LORD means by it (Eze 24:20).

The message is that the LORD is going to profane His sanctuary (Eze 24:21). It is that sanctuary of which they are so proud and to which they look with admiration. It is the most precious thing their soul possesses. Just as Ezekiel’s wife has been the desire of his eyes to him, so the temple is to them. Just as the wife, at whom Ezekiel looked with admiration, was taken from him by Divine intervention, so the temple, which they admire so much, will be taken from them by Divine judgment. The sons and daughters left behind in Jerusalem will also fall by judgment.

Just as Ezekiel did after the death of his wife, they will do when they have lost everything they have looked at with admiration (Eze 24:22-23). Nor will they be able to help and comfort one another, for the grief is the same for all. No one is excluded. They will languish in their iniquity because they have not been willing to break with it. Therefore, they also cannot seek comfort from the LORD and must be content with complaining of their distress to one another. They have no reason to complain loudly, because they have always known what will happen to Jerusalem, but they have not believed it. Their knowledge of Jerusalem’s fate has not led them to repentance.

The question of Eze 24:19 is clearly answered: Ezekiel is a sign for them (Eze 24:24). When the temple is destroyed, they will do as Ezekiel did. When that event occurs, they will know that God is the Lord GOD. They will then be forced into that recognition. They will not be able to do otherwise.

The Day of the Destruction of the Temple

The LORD now addresses the word to Ezekiel personally (Eze 24:25). Ezekiel, on the day of the destruction of the temple, “the desire of their eyes”, and the death of their sons and daughters, will receive word from an eyewitness who will confirm what he has just presented to the people (Eze 24:26). That eyewitness comes to him after the fall of Jerusalem (Eze 33:21-22).

The message he receives and that encounter will become a turning point in his ministry. The people will be dumbfounded, but the prophet will again be able to speak openly and freely (Eze 24:27; Eze 3:22-27). The fall of Jerusalem will impressively justify the prophet. He will be a sign to his people both in his silence and in his speaking.