Chapter 12

This verse:

2 "Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear, but hear not, for they are a rebellious house. [Eze 12:2 ESV]  I think this is saying that even those already in exile are unrepentant and still don't see their status as God's wrath being poured out.  They are too far gone to realize that He has removed His hand from them.  (MSB confirms)

2022 - Even further, I think we see that even before God cursed Israel with blindness and deafness, they already had those maladies in great measure.  God perhaps didn't give them what they didn't already have so much as intensify the rebellion and the internalization that already characterized them.

2025 - Ezekiel seems to be quoting Jeremiah again here"

4 But to this day the LORD has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear. [Deu 29:4 ESV]

21 "Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not. [Jer 5:21 ESV]

4 You have neither listened nor inclined your ears to hear, although the LORD persistently sent to you all his servants the prophets, [Jer 25:4 ESV]

2 "Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear, but hear not, for they are a rebellious house. [Eze 12:2 ESV]

13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. [Mat 13:13 ESV].

This idea comes up again and again.  I just don't think I'd noticed before how often Ezekiel quotes Jeremiah.  We also know that Daniel had read Jeremiah, because Daniel was aware of the 70 years.

Ezekiel is told to perform a symbolic going into exile, with baggage, and with his face covered, so that maybe they will finally believe this is a long term captivity.  In vss 8-12, God has Ezekiel interpret the symbolism, so they have no doubt about the prophesied end of Jerusalem.  This vs:

13 And I will spread my net over him, and he shall be taken in my snare. And I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, yet he shall not see it, and he shall die there. [Eze 12:13 ESV]  He, the prince -King Zedekiah, will escape through the wall, be captured, taken to Babylon - BUT WILL NOT SEE IT!!!  Neb has Zedekiah blinded.  Such an exact, detailed prophecy!

The land will be desolate, the cities laid waste.  Those who remain will eat and drink in fear.  This vs:

25 For I am the LORD; I will speak the word that I will speak, and it will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, but in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it, declares the Lord GOD." [Eze 12:25 ESV]

The time was on them.  Now.  Prophecy is about to be fulfilled!  Again, this vs:

28 Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: None of my words will be delayed any longer, but the word that I speak will be performed, declares the Lord GOD." [Eze 12:28 ESV]

This would also imply that Ezekiel is NOT talking about Revelation, but about right then, his time, his day.

2022 - I notice that in contrast to Isaiah and Jeremiah, Ezekiel seems to receive prophecy after prophecy, each with a specific precise message.  The others, for the most part, were long and encompassing prophecies.

2025 - Seeing this one with new eyes:

For I am the Lord . I speak, and the word which I speak will come to pass; it will no more be postponed; for in your days, O rebellious house, I will say the word and perform it,” says the Lord God .’ ”

Ezekiel 12:25 NKJV

This is God telling Ezekiel to tell the people that the prophecies of Ezekiel are about to be fulfilled.  That his are not prophecies for a time far off but for RIGHT NOW.  This eliminates the idea of near/far prophecies concerning...how much...of Ezekiel.  We have Ezekiel's Temple coming up, we have the Valley of Dry Bones coming up.  Are those including in the "right now", or was the notification of immediate fulfilment limited to what Ezekiel had just foretold - about Zedekiah having his eyes put out and then going to Babylon?  Whatever it was/is about, we best be very careful with near/far applications in this book.  And yet remember that we have seen the "eyes to see and ears to hear" of Jeremiah's prophecies in Ezekiel, and surely we understand Jeremiah to be talking about the New Covenant (perhaps...I still have my doubts) and the Millennial Reign with those words.  These things did not happen immediately.  So...to which prophecies does this apply?