Context No. 4097 of 4322 · Ezekiel

Ezekiel 21:24-32: in context

24“Therefore the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you have caused your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are uncovered, so that in all your doings your sins appear; because you have come to memory, you will be taken with the hand. 25“‘You, deadly wounded wicked one, the prince of Israel, whose day has come, in the time of the iniquity of the end, 26the Lord GOD says: “Remove the turban, and take off the crown. This will not be as it was. Exalt that which is low, and humble that which is high. 27I will overturn, overturn, overturn it. This also will be no more, until he comes whose right it is; and I will give it.”’ 28“You, son of man, prophesy and say, ‘The Lord GOD says this concerning the children of Ammon, and concerning their reproach: “A sword! A sword is drawn! It is polished for the slaughter, to cause it to devour, that it may be as lightning; 29while they see for you false visions, while they divine lies to you, to lay you on the necks of the wicked who are deadly wounded, whose day has come in the time of the iniquity of the end. 30Cause it to return into its sheath. In the place where you were created, in the land of your birth, I will judge you. 31I will pour out my indignation on you. I will blow on you with the fire of my wrath. I will deliver you into the hand of brutish men, skillful to destroy. 32You will be for fuel to the fire. Your blood will be in the middle of the land. You will be remembered no more; for I, the LORD, have spoken it.”’”

This passage announces judgment on the failed rulers of Judah, and its words to the reigning prince are stark: remove the turban and take off the crown; things shall not remain as they are. And then, three times over, God says: I will overturn, overturn, overturn it. This will not be, until he comes whose right it is, and to him I will give it.

The crown is being taken from those who have proved unworthy of it, and the throne is left, as it were, held in reserve, until the one to whom it truly belongs arrives. There is a Messianic hope buried in this word of judgment. The kingship of Judah, so often abused by faithless kings, is not simply abolished; it is held in abeyance until he comes whose right it is, the true King, the coming Messiah, the rightful heir of David's throne. God overturns the failed and unworthy rulers to make way for the King who deserves the crown. The authorities of this world, so often in unworthy hands, are not the final word; they are, in a sense, provisional, awaiting the coming of the One whose right it is to reign.

Do I look beyond the failed and unworthy authorities of this world to the coming of the One whose right it is to reign, trusting that God is making way for the true King, Christ, whose kingdom will never be overturned?

Sources

Ezekiel 21:26: "Remove the turban, and take off the crown. This will not be as it was. Exalt that which is low, and humble that which is high."
Ezekiel 21:27: "I will overturn, overturn, overturn it... until he comes whose right it is; and I will give it."
Genesis 49:10: "The scepter will not depart from Judah... until he comes to whom it belongs."