Source: Marvin A. Sweeney, Reading Ezekiel: A Literary and Theological Commentary, Reading the Old Testament Series (Macon, GA: Smyth & Helwys Publishing, Incorporated, 2013), 161–165.
13. Ezekiel__A_Tale_of_Two_Oracles.mp4
13. Ezekiel_Shifts_from_Egypt_s_Fall_to_Watchman_Duty.m4a
This scholarly analysis examines Ezekiel 32:17–33:20, a significant section of the book that strategically groups two distinct components: the Final Oracles concerning the Nations and Ezekiel’s Role as Watchman. The first part, dated after the destruction of the Temple, focuses on YHWH's intent to bring about the impending downfall of Egypt and other powerful nations like Assyria and Elam, emphasizing that even the seemingly great will join the dead in Sheol. The second, and arguably more crucial, section re-establishes Ezekiel's prophetic and priestly duty as a watchman over the house of Israel, responsible for warning the people of approaching calamity from YHWH's judgment. Importantly, this section challenges the people's belief that they are hopelessly doomed, underscoring that repentance can save the people’s lives and thus serves as a signal that the time for change is at hand before the promised restoration.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the state of the world. We watch empires rise and fall, we see global systems straining under pressure, and we often wonder what role, if any, one person can play in the face of such massive, seemingly inevitable forces. It can breed a sense of fatalism, a feeling that the story has already been written and we are merely living out the final, predictable chapters.
Over 2,600 years ago, a priest and prophet named Ezekiel stood in the heart of a collapsing world. Exiled in Babylon after the destruction of Jerusalem, he was a man grappling with remarkably similar themes: societal collapse, personal responsibility in the face of catastrophe, and the shocking possibility of redemption when all seems lost. He wasn't just a distant, arcane figure predicting doom; he was an ancient voice wrestling with the very nature of fate and accountability.
This is not a story about ancient history. It’s about a few surprisingly modern and impactful ideas from a specific section of Ezekiel’s prophecies that challenge our own notions of power, purpose, and the chance to change our story.
1. Even the Mightiest Superpowers End Up in the Same Grave
In a stunning oracle, Ezekiel declares the downfall of Egypt, the regional superpower of its day. But the prophecy doesn't stop there. It includes a grim roll call of the era’s greatest empires, now reduced to ghosts in the underworld: Assyria, once the terror of the world; Elam, a mighty eastern power; Meshech and Tubal, formidable contenders on the world scene. And to make the point painfully personal, the list includes Israel’s neighbor, Edom, and the powerful Phoenician princes of Sidon. No one is exempt, not even those close to home.
The imagery is visceral and humbling. YHWH asks the once-glorious nation of Egypt a haunting question: "from whom are you more comely?" The point is not to admire its beauty, but to "signal the rotting state of a corpse." No matter how great or beautiful in life, all powers and principalities end up in the same grave, stripped of their former glory. This serves as a timeless and stark reminder of the mortality of power. It’s a cosmic leveling of the playing field, an ancient declaration that no nation, empire, or institution is invincible.