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Tuesday, 16 August 2011

Day 230: The fourth deportation: 588BC


Having been on holiday, and away from the news, it’s been a shock to come home and hear of the riots. Today’s reading with its talk of evil that cannot be cleansed seems tailor made for the situation in the news.
God’s judgement on Oholibah
Ezekiel 23:22-25
God’s judgement on Oholah and Oholibah
Ezekiel 23:46-49
The boiling cauldron
Ezekiel 24:1-14, 19-27
City’s capture approaches
Jeremiah 52:3-5, 2 Kings 25:1-2
Ezekiel’s wife dies
Ezekiel 24:15-18
832 captives taken
Jeremiah 52:29
Jeremiah’s first imprisonment
Jeremiah 32:1-5
Deceitful treatment of slaves
Jeremiah 34:8-11

This is the year before Jerusalem’s fall. The end has nearly come.
Ezekiel continues relentlessly with his condemnation of Judah and Samaria as prostitutes. There is rage and disgust in his voice. With the parable of the boiling cauldron, he reveals an awful truth - their wickedness cannot be cleansed,the iniquity cannot be burned away. Try as they might, Israel can never be righteous. Then Ezekiel suffers a terrible blow - his wife dies, and he is forbidden to mourn. In the same way, Judah will lose their dearest treasure - the Temple - and they will not mourn.
The besieging army capture another 832 people. Jerusalem is down to counting every last individual!

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