Ezekiel 21:24-32: a reflection

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 is a passage of judgment against a corrupt ruler and a rebellious people. God declares that the crown will be removed, the exalted brought low and the lowly raised. And then comes a striking, ominous refrain: I will overturn, overturn, overturn it. The old order of proud human rule is to be torn down. It is a heavy word, spoken over thrones that had trusted in themselves and forgotten God.

But woven into the very heart of the judgment is a thread of hope. The overturning of the crown will continue, God says, until he comes whose right it is, and I will give it to him. Beyond the toppling of proud and failed rulers, God points to one who has the true right to reign, one to whom he will give the crown. Christians have long heard here a promise of the coming King, the Messiah, whose kingdom will not be overturned like the rest but will stand.

The passage speaks to a world weary of failed and corrupt leadership, where thrones rise and fall and human power so often disappoints. God's word here is that he will keep overturning what is proud and false until the rightful King comes. Do not put your ultimate hope in any earthly ruler or order; all of them are subject to the overturning. Set your hope instead on the King whose right it is, Jesus, whose reign alone will not be shaken. Wait for him, and live under his rule now.

Lord, you overturn proud and failed thrones until the one comes whose right it is to reign. Keep me from putting my ultimate hope in any earthly ruler or order, all of which will pass. Set my hope on Christ, the King whose right it is, whose reign will never be shaken. Let me live under his rule now, and wait with confidence for his coming. Amen.