Ezekiel 24:1-26:21; Hebrews 11:1-16; Psalm 110:1-7;
Proverbs 27:14
A love
story.
Tucked in
the middle of Ezekiel’s prophecies about the future of Judah and her neighbors
is a love story. Yes, a love story—a sad, but beautiful, picture of marriage.
Ezekiel has
been faithfully proclaiming to Judah that certain judgment and exile await them.
“I the Lord have spoken. The time has come for me to act. I will not hold back;
I will not have pity, nor will I relent. You will be judged according to your
conduct and your actions” (Ez. 24:14). Then, unexpectedly, the Lord tells Ezekiel
that this is going to be very personal very soon. His wife is going to die. She
is going to die and it will happen with no warning.
And he is
not to grieve.
Notice the
love language with which the Lord describes Ezekiel’s wife—“the delight of your
eyes” (Ez. 24:16). Very tender words are used to describe his wife. Not ‘ball and
chain’ or even ‘better half,' but words expressing great affection and
enjoyment. She who brings him comfort, joy and delight is going to die.
And so it
happens. Mrs. Ezekiel dies during the night (Ez. 24:18).
Ezekiel
shows no outward signs of mourning, as he has been instructed by the Lord. For
the Lord is using Mrs. Ezekiel’s death and Ezekiel’s refusal to mourn to
illustrate to his wayward and unbelieving people that when Jerusalem falls—that
stronghold in which they take pride, that delight of their eyes, the object of
their affection—they will not mourn nor observe the usual mourning rituals.
They will not have the opportunity to grieve because their lives and choices
will be taken from them by their conquerors.
Ezekiel
remains faithful to God. His wife dies. He cannot even grieve her loss. And he
faces a difficult future without the companionship of his dear wife. But he
trusts God with that future.
I find hope
in the fact that God embedded a love story in a tragedy. Even when war and
famine are facing a nation, people still love each other.
And God
still loves His people. As He disciplines them and sends them to exile, He loves
them. And as He plans for their future and for their return to the land, He
loves them.
Our loving
God loves a love story.
- Nell
Sunukjian
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