Ezekiel: Mercy to the Nations
The reading from Ezekiel 26-30 had some other surprising things to offer. In the this string of condemnations and proclamations on various nations (including Israel), we come upon lament poems of YHWH for these foreign entities.
King of Tyre, though a “puny god”, arrogant, and deserving a lesson in humility, is addressed in a poem of lament of Ezekiel 28. YHWH gets no pleasure in what happens to Tyre. “You were the seal of perfection”, full of wisdom and understanding. “You were in Eden, the garden of God.” All the gifts of Tyre were “prepared for you on the day you were created.” This is not Israel! This is Tyre. “ I established you….You were the holy mountain of God…You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created.”
But as they began to devour one another, they would be devoured. Their greed, materialism, and pride led to violence, corrupted wisdom, social injustice and iniquity in trading. These are the same things that cause Jerusalem to fall as we will read later in Ezekiel. Though the “ways and doings” of Tyre turned on them, God loved Tyre.
Egypt, “the great monster in the midst of the river", is addressed with the language of the curse: desolate, waste, desert,…no longer a river but a barren land. Israel wandered in the desert, led by God, but often looked back to Egypt, longing for its comforts. Solomon collected Egyptian horses, a thing Moses warned against in Deuteronomy. The strength, protection, and provision of Egypt became a temptation for Judah during the siege of Babylon. YHWH was ignored and they called on Egypt…again. He would humble Egypt so that they would never again rise to such heights. They would be a “puny god” to His people. Yet He would not crush them, this one to whom Israel listened rather than YHWH.
“Alway beautiful”…”I will gather the captives Egypt”…”I will return them to their land.” This is the way YHWH talked of Israel, yet here He is saying it of Egypt! Such Mercy! Jonah knew YHWH was like this. Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh, Assyria, the eventual conqueror of Israel, and proclaim God’s mercy. Jonah knew God was full of mercy and compassion. Even for our enemies? Jesus would demonstrate this as well, “yet while we were enemies, Christ died for us.”
Egypt would never be great again, soaring near the sun. Like Icarus, they would tumble from their heights. “The pride of her (Egypt) power will come down. (Ezekiel 30:5).” Israel will never look to them for confidence again. Babylon will get Egypt too. Pharaoh lived by the sword and will fall to it “when I put My sword in the hand of the king of Babylon.” Ezekiel 29:21 tells us “Israel’s strength will return.” God’s heart is not in destruction. It is for restoration. It is for relationship. If we choose to devour with pride and violence, He will give back to us according to our “ways and doings.” However, the heart that turns to YHWH, to shema, will be satisfied with His Presence and eat of the tree of life. This heart will be filled with mercy and compassion. Even for our enemies.
