Saul Weinreb - Let the Prophets Speak

Ezekiel 33b - The News Arrives in Babylon

The refugees from the destruction arrive in babylon and inform their brethren of the destruction.  Ezekiel addresses the people of remaining in the land that they will not be part of the redemption, as they have still not given up their bickering and fighting and corrupted ways.  But the people in exile in Babylon, they finally see that a prophet resides among them.

Ezekiel 33a - Is God Fair?

Though Ezekiel is still unaware, as the Temple is being destroyed, God speaks to Ezekiel about personal responsibility.  We are responsible for each other, but ultimately we are responsible for ourselves.  God informs us that no matter how bad we were in the past, we can still make ourselves better today.  No matter how good we were in the past, we can still be arrogant and destroy ourselves.  Ultimately, God is fair - don't complain but act.

Ezekiel 32 - Lamenting the Destruction of Others

God instructs the prophet to lament the destruction of Egypt.  We should not gloat over the suffering of others, even those who have not treated us well in the past.  God informs Egypt, that every arrogant and oppressive nation that rose against others in the past and spread fear and terror has eventually been destroyed and descended into Hell.  So too will Egypt suffer that fate.  

Ezekiel 31 - You Should've Learned From Assyria

Ezekiel continues to address the King of Egypt. This all happened before, when the might of Assyria was so great, and the entire world lived beneath its' shade. But when they became too arrogant, assyria fell and all of those who depended on them went down together. The King of Egypt should have learned that lesson, but since they did not, they will suffer the same fate.

Ezekiel 30b - The Unreliable Ally

Ezekiel continues to address the Egyptians, this time he receives his vision as the city of Jerusalem is falling.  Partly due to Egypt's failure to keeps its' promises to aid Judah, God send the Babylonians against Egypt as well.

Ezekiel 30a - The Prophet Sees the Future

While the prophet addresses the surrounding nations, he catches a glimpse of a day in the distant future.  This is a day beyond Egypt, beyond the known nations, a day when no nation is safe from God's wrath. 

Ezekiel 29 - The Egyptian Crocodile

Ezekiel turns his attention to Egypt.  The arrogance and unreliability of Egypt and her King ends up destroying the country.  The King thinks of himself as a god,  "I created the Nile".  He finds out who is the true creator, and Egypt must learn humility.

Ezekiel 28 - The King is not Above the Law

In the final prophecy regarding Tyre, Ezekiel turns his attention to the King of Tyre.  All of his wealth and possessions and commerce once could have been such a force for good in the world But unfortunately it has now become a source of arrogance, greed, dishonesty and oppression.  Especially disgraceful is how the King thought of himself as a God.  Ezekiel ends by stating that when Israel returns to its land and returns to God, then all the nations of the world will learn this lesson.

Ezekiel 27 - International Commerce Collapses

Ezekiel dramatically describes how Tyre became great due to all the many nations they traded with and took advantage of. However, they took all the credit themselves. It is so important to remember that we all depend upon each other. No one achieves greatness without the help of others.

Ezekiel 26 - Prophecy to Tyre

Ezekiel turns his attention to Tyre, a powerful and ancient island kingdom to the north of Israel.  The relationship between Tyre and Israel goes back many centuries, and at times they were close allies.  However, during the destruction of Judea, Tyre rejoiced, and anticipated the day they could join and take the spoils of Jerusalem for themselves.