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Prophets and Kings
“Moreover,” the sacred writer declared, “all the chief of the priests, and
the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the
heathen; and polluted the house of the Lord which He had hallowed in
Jerusalem.”
2 Chronicles 36:14
.
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The day of doom for the kingdom of Judah was fast approaching.
No longer could the Lord set before them the hope of averting the
severest of His judgments. “Should ye be utterly unpunished?” He
inquired. “Ye shall not be unpunished.”
Jeremiah 25:29
.
Even these words were received with mocking derision. “The days
are prolonged, and every vision faileth,” declared the impenitent. But
through Ezekiel this denial of the sure word of prophecy was sternly
rebuked. “Tell them,” the Lord declared, “I will make this proverb to
cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto
them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision. For there
shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the
house of Israel. For I am the Lord: I will speak, and the word that I
shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in
your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it,
saith the Lord God.
“Again,” testifies Ezekiel, “the word of the Lord came to me,
saying, Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision
that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the
times that are far off. Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord
God; There shall none of My words be prolonged any more, but the
word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord God.”
Ezekiel
12:22-28
.
Foremost among those who were rapidly leading the nation to
ruin was Zedekiah their king. Forsaking utterly the counsels of the
Lord as given through the prophets, forgetting the debt of gratitude he
owed Nebuchadnezzar, violating his solemn oath of allegiance taken
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in the name of the Lord God of Israel, Judah’s king rebelled against
the prophets, against his benefactor, and against his God. In the vanity
of his own wisdom he turned for help to the ancient enemy of Israel’s
prosperity, “sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give
him horses and much people.”
“Shall he prosper?” the Lord inquired concerning the one who had
thus basely betrayed every sacred trust; “shall he escape that doeth
such things? or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered? As I